Hopewell Valley March 2018
Ray Disch and Family They’re All About Spirit Cover photo by Benoit Cortet Photography
A community magazine serving the residents of Hopewell Township, Pennington Borough and Hopewell Borough Hopewell Valley
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Natalie Kalibat
University of Southern California Class of 2016 The Lewis School of Princeton 2007 - 2012
• 2011 USC Early Acceptance on a four year Athletic Scholarship • 2012 Honors College Preparatory Graduate, The Lewis School • 2012 - 2016 Member of USC’s elite Trojan Diving Team • Student Ambassador for USC’s Trojan Athletics Development & Outreach • 2016 USC Graduate BA in Sociology; Minor in Sports, Business & Media Studies • Voted USC’s 2016 “Outstanding Student for Academic & Overall Achievement” • Two Time NJ State Girls’ Diving Champion, NJSIAA Elite Diver 2011 & 2012; 2011 Eastern Interscholastic Diving Champion
“The Lewis School was very supportive of me both as a student and as an athlete. My teachers believed in me all the way. It was a great experience. The Lewis School provided such a special and personalized way of learning that helped me to understand my learning differences and build confidence. The skills I developed at Lewis allowed me to maintain a B average at the University of Southern California, something that I would never have dreamed prior to attending Lewis.”
• 2012 London Olympic Trials competitor, 10 meter synchronized diving • 2015 Lewis School Distinguished Alumna & Honors Society Inductee • NJ Legislature Tribute for “Meritorious Achievement, Competitive Spirit & Sportsmanship as a Champion State Diver”
• Sports Anchor, Annenberg TV News: highlighted athletes’ off-field volunteer & community service, & stories of personal courage among aspiring young athletes
• On-campus reporter & news anchor for ESPN Affiliate WeAreSC & California Telecommunications Media
• 2015 ESPN Rose Bowl Assistant to the Producer • Sports & Field Reporter for the PAC12 network including UCLA, University of Arizona & Stanford • Won February 2016 PAC12 Diving Conference Championship “I studied and worked so hard in school and got horrible grades on exams. I also struggled with reading comprehension before I joined Lewis. I now work as a sports anchor and reporter for WBOY, an NBC affiliate, and I am living my dream!”
53 Bayard Ln, Princeton, NJ 08540 | (609) 924-8120 | www.lewisschool.org 2
March 2018
Dear Residents,
Publisher’s Letter
T Publisher: Rachel Donington rdonington@bestversionmedia.com Content Coordinator: Catherine Bialkowski cbialkowski@bestversionmedia.com Designer: Robin Stachura
Contributing Photographer: Benoit Cortet Photography www.benoitcortet.com Phone: 917-597-6297 benoit@benoitcortet.com
his issue, almost everyone we feature—from Ray Disch of Sourland Mountain Spirits to Nick Pirone of Cutting Edge Lawn & Landscaping—has a distinct sense of ambition, a kind of genuine entrepreneurial spirit. After becoming thoroughly impressed by their stories, I realized upon reflection that we at Hopewell Valley Neighbors have embarked upon an enterprise as well. My own calling, not too long ago, was to fill a void I had sensed somewhere in our beloved community, a way to talk about ideas and to show how wonderful things are here. I wanted a way to tell the stories of my neighbors—people I am so proud to know. Somewhat ironically, one of the first people I talked to about my idea for the magazine was none other than Ray Disch. After all, he is, in many ways, “Mr. Hopewell.” To me, he embodies the spirit of community and love we cherish here in Hopewell Valley. And after reading his story, I think you’ll agree with me. I’m glad to say I received his full blessing and support, and now, in a moment of serendipity, I get to give back to Ray in a big way by sharing his story with you. I hope you are able to take something away from it—Catherine and I most definitely did.
Contributing Writers: David Blackwell, NJ DeVico, Lisa Wolff Advertising Contact: Rachel Donington Phone: 609-462-6786 rdonington@bestversionmedia.com
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. © 2018 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.
C
Publisher Rachel Donington 609-462-6786
reating can give us an incredible sense of satisfaction. To see a finished product at the end of a long day of hard work—there’s nothing like it. Ray Disch creates craft spirits; Nick Pirone creates beautiful landscapes; and Rachel and I create this publication. We find a lead, we investigate, and we present a finished product to you, our neighbors. For me, still a college student, it is a first entrepreneurial adventure, a chance to create a finished product out of thin air—a collection of words that tell an amazing story. And what amazing stories these men have. They are dedicated and hardworking, but most importantly, they have spirit. Their jobs aren’t just ways to make a living—they pour themselves into their work each day, determined to make something they can take pride in. Content Coordinator Catherine Bialkowski Hopewell Valley Neighbors is on Facebook! “Like” us @hopewellvalleyneighbors for updates, photos, & more.
Our advertisers make Hopewell Valley Neighbors possible. Be sure to thank them by supporting their businesses. Tell them you saw their ad in Hopewell Valley Neighbors.
Expert Contributors Construction and Home Repair A&E Construction & Design Center | Greg Fontaine – Owner 2479 Pennington Road, Pennington, NJ 08534 | 609-737-4425 greg.aeconstruction@gmail.com | www.AEconstructionNJ.com Financial Advisor Knox Grove Financial LLC. | Christina Nash – President & CEO 23 Route 31 North, Suite B10, Pennington, NJ 08534 | 609-216-7440 Christina@knoxgrove.com | www.knoxgrovefinancial.com Heating & Cooling Princeton Air Conditioning, Inc. | Adam Czaplinski - Marketing Coordinator 39 Everett Drive, Building D, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550 | 609-337-3627 adam.czaplinski@princetonair.com | www.princetonair.com
To learn more about becoming an expert contributor, contact Hopewell Valley Neighbors publisher:
Lawn and Landscaping Cutting Edge Lawn and Landscaping, LLC | Nick Pirone - Owner 1652 Reed Road, Pennington, NJ 08534 609-356-3465 | nick@ce.land | www.ce.land
Rachel Donington: rdonington@bestversionmedia. com / 609-462-6786.
Real Estate Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate | Hopewell Valley 800 Denow Road, Suite N, Pennington, NJ 08534 609-737-9100 | www.glorianilson.com
Hopewell Valley
Resident Feature
Ray Disch
Ray Disch and Family
They’re All About Spirit By Catherine Bialkowski | Photos by Benoit Cortet Photography
H
opewell Valley is a place of great community spirit—hard to describe, but undeniably present, it’s what makes the area so special to those who have planted their lives here.
If that spirit were to be embodied by a person, perhaps that might be Ray Disch. Long before Ray, who was born in Jersey City, moved to the community, he lived in Bedminster in Somerset County. There, he was part of the Tewksbury Foot Bassets, a foot hunter organization of basset hounds that chased rabbits. On Saturdays, the group would travel through the Amwell Valley, full of dairy farms, and a little town called Hopewell Borough. Memories of the place would stay with Ray for many years, and would eventually lead him back to start a family with his wife, Erica. Ray and Erica met in college—she was studying Spanish at Georgetown University and he was taking a semester off from his industrial and labor relations studies at Cornell to intern at the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. during the first Reagan Administration. Their first meeting was a blind date. A friend of Ray’s introduced them, promising, “You’ll like her.” “And I did,” says Ray. After getting married, Ray and Erica lived in Manhattan for three years before deciding to relocate in order to 4
start a family. Ray still held images in his head of the quaint little town he used to pass through when foot hunting, and mentioned it to Erica. The very next day, she was reading The New York Times and came across a property for sale in the Borough. Not long after, the couple moved to the community. It was 1984. Ray has been deeply involved in the Hopewell community since he first stepped foot here. Until recently, he was the head of the Economic Development Committee in Hopewell Borough. He and others on the committee are responsible for the spirit of innovation so synonymous with the essence of Hopewell Borough, the community of creators that thrives here. “We decided amongst ourselves that we weren’t Princeton, because didn’t have a university, and we weren’t Lambertville, because we didn’t have the Delaware River,” he says, describing the thought process he and his team enacted in order to bring the vision they had for the community to life. “We tried to think what we had.” That, the committee realized, was artists and artisans. “I thought it would be cool if we could attract creative people who made things. I didn’t want a bunch of service businesses,” says Ray. In his mind’s eye, Hopewell Borough was abundant with restaurants, car mechanics, independently-owned clothing stores, March 2018
booksellers—“people who make things. I thought it suited this old community very well.” Ray does not simply recruit artisans to the Hopewell community. He is one himself. Dabbling in the family construction business before college, he continues to work today as one of two owners and operators of Total Home Manager, which does all home repairs, maintenance and management of properties both residential and small commercial. But his experience as a “maker” does not stop there. In 1991, Ray was working at Merck & Co., Inc., a global pharmaceutical company. He watched his relatives, one by one, begin to build various businesses. “Even though I enjoyed my career at Merck, I was always looking for that thing to satisfy my entrepreneurial calling,” he says. The idea came to him as if sent from above. One day, he heard a story on the radio about a husband and wife starting a brewery in Chicago. The story stuck with him. A big fan of craft beer, Ray went home and said to Erica, “We’re going to do this.” There was, however, an obstacle before the entrepreneurial couple: at the time, it was illegal to build a brewpub due to laws enacted during Prohibition. He and his co-founders, Adam Rechnitz and Erica, had to lobby the New Jersey State Legislature to get the law changed so they could start their business. Surprisingly, this effort took only six months. It was another year before they found the property they wanted. Finally, in 1995, Triumph Brewing Company opened its doors on Nassau Street in Princeton as New Jersey’s original brewpub, and continues to be a popular eating and drinking spot to this day.
Resident Feature
Sourland Mountain Spirits was born, and why he and Erica traveled to Hungary in 2016 to pick up state-of-theart distillery equipment. “Craft beer was the predecessor to craft spirits,” says Ray. So it is only fitting that after a brewery came a distillery. And the process overall was not completely new to him. “It wasn’t my first alcohol rodeo.” For Ray, being a part of the alcohol business gives great satisfaction for a few reasons. Firstly, he can see success climbing before his eyes—in 1995, craft beer represented less than one percent of the national beer market, and at the end of 2016, it represented 20 percent. And he projects that craft spirits will “replicate the trajectory craft beer is taking.” Secondly, he loves nothing more than holding his finished work physically in his hands. “I love that I can see a bottle sitting on the desk, something we made from scratch.” He speaks like a true creator. And of course, Ray says, he loves the drinking aspect. It also doesn’t hurt that his current home in the Sourland Mountains, to which he and his family moved in 1998 after almost 14 years in the Borough, is two miles from the distillery. He and Erica live on what he calls a “gentleman’s farm,” explaining that there is no milking of cows or collecting of eggs. Ray compares running Sourland Mountain Spirits with construction, something he knows equally well. “It’s like building a wall, or a desk. There’s something tangible about it.” Where, then, did Ray get his spirit of entrepreneurship, his desire to create? Continued on page 6
Although Ray and Erica later sold the business, that was not the end of Ray’s fling in the alcohol business. Reviewing the success of Triumph and the craft beer industry as a whole, he later made the decision to start another business—this time in craft spirits, rather than beer. In 2013, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a law making craft distillery legal. In 2015, Ray founded Sourland Mountain Spirits, New Jersey’s first farm distillery since prohibition. “I never had more fun or more satisfaction from my work life than when we owned Triumph,” says Ray, explaining the thought process behind building a local distillery. So that is why
Hopewell Valley
Sourland Mountain Spirits’ iconic gin
Erica and Ray 5
Resident Feature Continued from page 5
“All thanks to my dad,” he says. His father started his own construction company after World War II, and his entire family, especially his mother’s side, was extremely entrepreneurial. One of his uncles had a printing company, another few had bars and restaurants, yet another still had an insurance company. Everyone around him was starting something new. So it was only natural that he felt compelled to become a founder, too. Unsurprisingly, Ray and Erica’s sons inherited the entrepreneurial gene. Cody, 30, and Sage, 27, are the founders of Ace & Everett, a successful up-and-coming company that sells American-made socks. Cody, who studied entrepreneurship and finance at Syracuse University and then went to Brooklyn Law School, originally came up with the idea. The company is named after the brothers’ grandfather, Ray’s father, for whom he was named. “Ace” comes from their grandfather’s nickname, “Big Ace,” and Everett is his— and their father’s—middle name. Growing up, Cody loved basketball. “I was passionate about sneakers. I was drawn to the attention to detail, the aesthetic and performance elements.” His grandfather’s attention to detail, he explains, started in his socks. So, socks—a category of fashion not too different from Cody’s childhood fascination—became the focus of the company. Cody pitched the idea to Sage, who, because
of Cody’s years in law school, was graduating Haverford College with a degree in sociology at the same time his brother was finishing school, and he was fully on board. Ace & Everett was launched in 2014. Bergdorf Goodman recently began carrying the luxury socks, and the Disch brothers certainly have even bigger dreams. “We hope to be a U.S. market leader in fashion socks by 2020,” says Cody. “The focus is what takes it from a kernel of an idea to a tangible product you can actually sell.” Cody attributes much of his strong work ethic to his father, who taught him about the “passion that goes into creating an amazing product, specifically in the mason stages.” Hard work and dedication to quality seem to run in the Disch family. Yet after all of Ray’s projects, accomplishments, and businesses, he is definitely most proud of his family. He credits everything he’s done to Erica, who currently teaches Spanish to fifth and sixth graders in Montgomery, and notes his gratitude for her patience. Of Cody and Sage, he says, “My boys are awesome. They’re nice people, productive, and very hardworking.” It sounds like fate that Ray Disch ended up in Hopewell, and perhaps it is. “I fell in love with Hopewell back in the late 60s, early 70s. I never forgot about it and I’ll never leave. I get tremendous energy from being part of this community,” he says, calling it “a throwback to when life was simpler.” He recalls a game he used to play with his
Cody and Sage playfully model some of their sock designs 6
March 2018
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sons at Vincenzo’s on Mercer Street, when he would say, “I’ll know everyone who walks through the door.” And he did, almost. “I feel responsible for the random dog running across Broad Street,” says Ray. “I want to make sure it gets to its owner.” Clearly, Ray has had a tremendous impact on his beloved community of Hopewell. With his spirit of entrepreneurship, spirit of community, and dedication to hard work, he has truly made Hopewell Valley his forever home.
Benoit Cortet PHOTOGRAPHY
benoitcortet.com 917 597 6297
“I’m addicted to embracing people on a daily basis,” he says. “It’s the poetry of my life.” For more information about Sourland Mountain Spirits or to schedule a tour of the distillery, visit www.sourlandspirits.com. Ray can be reached at ray@sourlandspirits.com or 609-334-8575. For more information about Total Home Manager’s services, visit www.totalhomemanager.com. Don’t forget to stop by www.aceandeverett.com to check out Cody and Sage’s sock company. 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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Hopewell Valley
7
Real Estate
HOPEWELL VALLEY MARKET ACTIVITY JANUARY SOLDS Address
Beds Baths Sold Price
JANUARY SOLDS Address
Beds Baths Sold Price
202 Hopewell Princeton Ave
4
2.5
$261,000
207 Penn View Dr
5
2.5
$550,000
57 Woolsey Court
3
2.5
$310,000
116 Featherbed Ln
3
2.5
$555,000
40 Stanford Rd E
2
2
$335,000
251 Old Penn Lawrenceville Rd
4
2.5
$600,000
91 Haddon Ct
3
2.5
$345,000
3 Merrick Pl
4
4
$650,000
151 Coburn Rd
3
2.5
$369,000
200 Pennington Rockhill Rd
4
4.5
$725,000
13 Eaton Pl
3
1.5
$417,500
19 W Shore Dr
4
3.5
$732,000
542 Scotch Rd
3
2.5
$430,000
61 W Shore Dr
4
335 Watkins Rd
3
2.5
$432,000
148 Harbourton Woodsville Rd
4
24 E Welling Ave
3
2.5
$530,000
3.5 & .5 $810,000 2.5
$1,100,000
Best Version Media does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. Any real estate agent’s ad appearing in this magazine is separate from any statistical data provided which is in no way a part of their advertisement.
5 Top Professionals you need for your 2018 home purchase! 1) Knowledgeable Local Real Estate Agent 2) Mortgage Representative 3) Real Estate Attorney 4) Home Owner’s Insurance Representative 5) Licensed N J Home Inspector
Hopewell Valley Office 609.737.9100
Gough ”Winn” Thompson – Sales Associate Lisa LeRay – Sales Associate gthompson@glorianilson.com 609.468.3838 lleray@glorianilson.com 609.954.0177 YOUR MORTGAGE PARTNER FOR THE PATH AHEAD Helen ”Sandy” Brown – Broker Sales Associate Barbara Facompre – Sales Associate sbrown@glorianilson.com 609.468.8545 bfacompre@glorianilson.com 609.731.1189
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March 2018
Expert Contributor
Chatting with Christina By Christina Nash | CEO of Knox Grove Financial, LLC Reader’s Question
D
ear Christina,
I am married and we have three young children. We just bought a new home and took out a mortgage to make the purchase. My in-laws suggested that we take out mortgage life insurance to pay off the mortgage if something were to happen to either one of us. Do you think this is a good idea? - John, 43, Pennington Christina’s Advice:
Hi John, thank you for your question. “Mortgage Life Insurance” is commonly marketed to new home buyers as a way to pay off the mortgage balance in the event of your death. It’s basically a voluntary term life insurance policy that terminates the same date in the future that you are scheduled to pay off your mortgage. If you were to die during that term, the insurance company would pay a lump sum of money to pay off the balance of your mortgage. This type of insurance is not to be confused with “Private Mortgage Insurance,” or PMI, which is usually required by a lender to cover the lender’s risk if you foreclose and the lender is not able to sell your home for enough money to cover the mortgage balance. To answer your question, do I think mortgage life insurance is a good idea? Anytime you are buying life insurance, you are better off taking a look at your whole financial picture to determine your overall need for life insurance. To simply cover only one risk or liability may not be enough. You mentioned you have three young children. If you and/or your spouse were to unfortunately die, it may become more important to replace a stream of income for the remaining spouse or your children. We have had cases where it didn’t make sense for the survivor to pay off the mortgage and the insurance proceeds were put to use elsewhere. I suggest that you take some time to meet with a professional who can do an insurance needs analysis based on your holistic financial situation. This will help you and your family determine your level of risk and how much of that risk that you would like to insure. Congratulations on your new home. Wishing you success! - Christina Nash
Here are a few other common uses of life insurance: Pay Final Expenses: Life Insurance may provide a lumpsum to pay funeral, burial costs, and estate settlement. Cover children’s expenses: Oftentimes, clients will purchase life insurance to make sure that their children’s expenses, such as college education and general expenses, will be covered in case of a parent’s premature death. Debt payoff: Insurance proceeds are oftentimes used to pay off business or personal loans that an individual has incurred. Equalize inheritances: This is common when there is a family business where one or more of the children are working in the business and will inherit the business. The life insurance proceeds could be used to equalize the inheritance for the children not active in the business. Key employee insurance: Key employees are often owners and/or critical to the success of the business. Losing a key employee can place a financial strain on business operations. Key employee insurance provides an inflow of cash to allow the business to attract and train a new employee and to assist with business continuity. Buy out a business partner: If one partner dies, the insurance proceeds are used to buy-out the business interest from the deceased partner’s heirs without having to sell the business.
Hopewell Valley
Build cash-value for retirement income: Some insurance policies provide a death benefit and allow for cash value to accumulate within the policy that can potentially be withdrawn in later years as tax free income. This type of policy is not for everyone. Keep in mind that you are paying for life insurance and this could drag down your overall investment performance. Carefully consider all of the options available and what may work best for your overall financial picture. Christina Nash is the founder and President of Knox Grove Financial, LLC, located at 23 Route 31 N, Suite B10 in Pennington. You can reach her at 609-216-7440. Knox Grove Financial, LLC is an independent of Signator Investors, Inc., Registered Representative/ Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Signator Investors Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC., a Registered Investment Adviser 290 West Mount Pleasant Ave.,Suite 2300, Livingston, NJ 07039 (973) 994-0100 374-20180124-428718
Feel free to reach out to our Knox Grove Team at 609-216-7440 if you would like help in deciding what insurances may work best for you and your family. 9
Hopewell Happenings
March 2018
Pet Adoption Days
@Rosedale Mills Puppies & Adult Dogs looking for their forever homes. Call 609-737-2008 for dates and times
Sat., March 3
Maple Sugar Brunch and Hike
Every Tuesday in March
Tax Help: AARP Foundation Tax Aide
@Mercer County Library Hopewell Branch Free Tax Preparation with E-Filing to Federal and State returns, also PTR ‘Senior Freeze’ forms. Time: 10am-2pm By appointment only, please call 609-7372610 to schedule.
Every Wednesday in March
Story Time with Ms. Kim! @Pennington Public Library Time: 11am Geared for Children Ages 2-4 years
Thurs., March 1
Color Me Calm – Adult Coloring
@Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Hike with Teacher-Naturalists to tapped trees, learn how to convert maple sap to syrup. Pancake brunch served with homemade maple syrup! 2 Sessions Time: 9:30-11:30am and 11am -1pm Fee: Adult $22, Child $15 Children under 3 no charge
Sun., March 4
Sangria Making!
@Hopewell Valley Vineyards Enjoy an afternoon learning to make Sangria. Participants take home a jar of the final product. Time: 11am-1pm To sign-up go to www.hopewellvineyards.com Must be 21 or older to participate
Sun., March 4
@Pennington Public Library Books and supplies available all day
Documentary Film Screening: Time to Choose
Fri., March 2
Get Balanced: Don’t Fall
Time: 10-11:30am Registration required, please call 609-7372610 or go to hopeprogs@mcl.org
@Mercer County Library Hopewell Branch Lecture and free balance screening with University Medical Center of Princeton PT Patricia O’Shea.
@Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Academy Award Winning film by Charles Ferguson on world-wide climate change challenges and solutions. Time: 1-3pm Enjoy free locally sourced, organic popcorn. Free, all ages welcome.
Mon., March 6 – Sun., March 11
Hopewell Restaurant Week The most delicious week in Hopewell Valley! Restaurants and Eateries will feature special menus and other promotions for a wonderful week benefitting F.I.S.H., our local meals on wheels program.
Wed., March 14
Pennington Business & Professional Association @Sourland Coffee, Pennington Monthly Meeting Time: 5:45pm
Thurs., March 15
Hopewell Business Association
@1st Constitution Bank, Hopewell Monthly Meeting Time: 6:30pm
Sat., March 17
Sangria Making!
@Hopewell Valley Vineyards Enjoy an afternoon learning to make Sangria. Participants take home a jar of the final product. Time: 11am-1pm To sign-up go to www.hopewellvineyards.com Must be 21 or older to participate
Mon., March 19
Early Dismissal All Schools @Hopewell Valley Regional School District
CHATTING WITH CHRISTINA
President and CEO of Knox Grove Financial, LLC of Pennington, NJ Hello Hopewell Valley Neighbors!
As a Pennington business owner and Hopewell Township resident, I am delighted to contribute to the Hopewell Valley Neighbors Magazine. Some people feel intimidated when speaking about their financial plan because they find the information too confusing to understand. My goal is to provide easily understood financial information to empower you to make informed decisions about your financial future. Knowledge is Power! In this issue, I highlight a question about Life Insurance from our readers; check it out! Submit your questions via E-Mail: Christina@knoxgrove.com or our Facebook page: KnoxGroveFinancial Wishing You Success,
Christina A. Nash
Christina’s March Tip:
Meet with a professional who can do an “Insurance Needs Analysis” based on your holistic financial situation. This will help you and your family determine your level of risk and how much of that risk that you would like to insure.
10
www.KnoxGroveFinancial.com 23 Route 31 N, Suite B10, Pennington, NJ 08534 • 609-216-7440
March 2018
Hopewell Happenings
March 2018 Fri., March 30
Friday & Saturday Night Music & Merlot
Good Friday
@Hopewell Valley Regional School District All Schools Closed
This month at Hopewell Valley Vineyards: Visit www.hopwellvalleyvineyard.com for Artist Listings
Every Sunday
Jazzy Sundays
Light Fare menu & Sicilian Pizza Time: 2-5pm
Thursday Night Music & Merlot
Live Music
Light Fare menu & Sicilian Pizza Time: 5:30-9pm Band Takes the Stage at 6pm
Live Music
Enjoy Brick-Oven Pizza & light fare menu Time: 5:30-9pm Band Takes the Stage at 6pm Don’t worry, they serve more than just Merlot!
For Hopewell Valley Seniors: Every Monday
Social Bridge
@Hopewell Valley Senior Center 62 Reading Ave., Pennington Time: 2-4pm
Every Tuesday
Men’s Billiards Club
@Hopewell Valley YMCA 62 South Main Street, Pennington Time: 1-3pm
Every Thursday
Active Aging Exercise Class @Hopewell Township Municipal Building 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd. Time: 10-11am
Mahjongg
@Hopewell Valley Senior Center 2 Reading Ave., Pennington Time: 1:30-3:30pm
Let us help promote your local event! Please join our Hopewell Happenings Page by sending us your Event Listing. Open to all Hopewell Valley organizations, clubs and local businesses. You can email your submissions to rdonington@bestversionmedia.com.
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Hopewell Valley
11
Business Profile
Getting to Know Nick Pirone Owner of Cutting Edge Lawn & Landscaping By Catherine Bialkowski
F
or Nick Pirone of Cutting Edge Lawn & Landscaping, it’s all about getting to know people. Designing and installing landscapes, planting trees and maintaining beautiful properties are all part of his daily work routine, but so is forming a relationship with his client. Perhaps Nick’s personal approach to business is a direct result of his company’s basis in a place like Hopewell Valley, where, he says, a lot of the people he works for are his own neighbors. “We go to the same pizza places, we shop at the same stores,” says Nick. “I try to have a personal relationship with the people I work for.” Nick has been practicing what he preaches for as many as 15 years. At 29, Nick learned to use a wide array of outdoor power equipment as a young teen, and has been beautifying outdoor spaces ever since. Nick, who grew up in Lawrence, didn’t really know what he wanted to do after high school graduation.
“Right after high school, I worked at Rite Aid in Pennington full-time,” he says. Growing up, he helped his father with the family paving business, which his grandfather had started in the Princeton area over 50 years ago. In a way, an entrepreneurial spirit was in his very genes. “One day, I got an idea,” says Nick, remembering when the idea for Cutting Edge was initially conceived. “I figured I’d try to make some extra money cutting lawns on the side.” Today, it’s been over 10 years since his business was born, and it continues to attract more clients every month. Nick considers resilience one of the most important qualities a small business owner can have. “Being in business is constantly up and down,” he says. “You think you have it all figured out, and then something happens. Somebody quits, a truck breaks down, a long time client sells their home. It’s important to be able to keep going, have a thick skin. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff.” Nick considers his business his “life,” giving every detail, every client, every property his full, undivided attention.
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March 2018
Getting along with the people he works for is of utmost important to Nick. “I like getting to know someone on a one-to-one level, becoming friends,” he says. “You care about them as a person, and their needs.”
HO2
Wine, Food, Music & Friendship
As Cutting Edge is on the smaller side, Nick and his team know most of their clients on a first-name basis. “Being local helps,” he says. “We work a lot right in Hopewell Valley.” Nick Pirone’s work ethic combines excellent service with a personal touch, and that’s what has allowed him to harbor so much success at such a young age. “It’s important to me to have a reputation in our community, both as a neighbor and as a business owner,” he says. The idea of perseverance is rooted in his upbringing. “Hard work was always preached. If you want something, you have to go and get it. It might not be easy, but it’ll be worth it in the end.” And, he adds, “No one can ever say any of this was given to me.” For more information about Cutting Edge Lawn & Landscaping, visit www.ce.land. Nick can be contacted at nick@ce.land or 609-610-3088.
46 Yard Road Pennington, NJ 609-737-4465
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Hopewell Valley
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Our Community
Hopewell Is for Artists Finally a Full-Time Artist By NJ DeVico
W
hat do Alfred Leslie, Al Held, Robert Rauschenberg and Steve Smith have in common? They all attended the Art Student’s League on the G.I. Bill. However, Pennington’s Smith went in the late sixties; the others after World War II. It was a logical choice for Smith. “I was encouraged and I just gravitated to it,” he says. He drew caricatures as a child, the result of reading comics in the Daily News. After earning his BFA from the School of Visual Art, he joined the United Scenic Artist Union and painted sets for theater, TV, films and the Metropolitan Opera. He also did courtroom art before TV cameras were permitted.
Bob Beck’s studio in Lambertville. Now that he’s retired, he’s a full-time artist and teaches at the Princeton Arts Council, where he keeps learning—and getting much satisfaction in the process. ”It’s all about the community and growing as a person,”says Smith. At the moment, Smith thinks a lot about one of his favorite artists, Paul Cezanne. “His landscapes... the way he paints; he was a pioneer—in a lot of ways, the bridge between realism and abstraction.His painting was so much about the process of painting, about its formal qualities, and that‘s what I’d like to get closer to.” NJ DeVico is a contributing writer, art lover, and artist who lives in Titusville.
But he was always serious about his fine art career. He’d w ake up at 5:15 a.m., work all day in New York City, then c ome back and attend life-drawing groups in the evening at the now-defunct Mixed Media art supply store in Doylestown, at the Princeton Arts Council, and
Painting by Steve Smith
Painting by Steve Smith
sPummer S
ROG R A M
Register now for camps for ages 10–15!
www.pennington.org/Summer 14
March 2018
Our Community
Force of Nature
By Lisa Wolff | Executive Director, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space
A
n often-told story in FoHVOS circles is the preservation history of Baldpate Mountain. This decade-long battle against development earned FoHVOS founding member, Ted Stiles, permanent association with the legendary win. Even today you will see “The Ted Stiles Preserve” listed atop every Baldpate Mountain sign. Ted has been gone for 10 years, but FoHVOS “Force of Nature” recipient Carol Kleis remembers those early days, especially the challenges and tales of the Ted Stiles Preserve, as one of the most significant forest preservation success stories in the entire state.
Open Space Advisory Committee and a former member of the Hopewell Valley Deer Management Task Force. Her advocacy doesn’t stop there. Carol Kleis has chaired the local democratic committee and worked with community leaders to help shape the pro-environment and open space policies of the municipality. Although she plans on continuing as a FoHVOS trustee, Carol will be retiring as President this year in order to encourage fresh leadership and ideas on the FoHVOS Executive Committee. Everyone who has worked with Carol has been enriched by her enthusiasm and passion to preserve Hopewell Valley lands. We are happy to recognize Carol Kleis as our March FoHVOS Force of Nature.
She took on a leadership role at FoHVOS in order to continue Ted’s legacy. She appreciates the significance of the broad stretches of preserved land throughout the entire region. As an avid hiker and native plant enthusiast, memories of the early days of FoHVOS often come to mind as Carol enjoys the splendid vistas and forest wildlife scenes that Hopewell Valley trails provide. A hike to the grassy summit of Baldpate Mountain, the highest point in Mercer County, offers a spectacular view of the Delaware River. Carol enjoys visiting the FoHVOS offices at Strawberry Mansion high atop the mountain. Always connecting with local land, Carol is not only the Trustee President to Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, but also chairs the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County Native Plant Garden working group. She is a long standing member of the Hopewell Township
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Hopewell Valley
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Hopewell Valley 1925
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