10-25 TD

downtowner Visions of Beauty Trenton’s City Paper

October 2025 | communitynews.org

Poet Yusef Komunyakaa and composer Vince di Mura premiere ‘O God ... Beautiful Machine’ at the Trenton War Memorial. Page 4.

‘Mel Leipzig at 90’ at Ellarslie, page 6; October calendar of events, page 13.

DOWNTOWNER

Phone: (609) 396-1511 MERCER COUNTY MERCER COUNTY COUNTY MERCER Website: communitynews.org LOW -INCOME HOME ENERGY A(LIHEAP) SSISTANCE ROGRAM (LIHEAP) W-INCOME HOME ENERGY AENERGY SSISTANCE PROGRAM LOW-INCOME HOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMP(LIHEAP) MANAGING EDITOR Sara Hastings 2026 PROGRAM BEGINS October 1, 2025 20262026 PROGRAM BEGINS October 1, 2025 PROGRAM BEGINS October 1, 2025

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Residents with GUIDELINES medical conditions mayGUIDELINES also be eligible to MONTHLY INCOME MONTHLY INCOME receive cooling assistance: Household Size LIHEAP Program USF Program Household Size LIHEAP Program USF Program 1 $4,167 $4,167 1 $4,167 $4,167 2 $5,449 $5,449 2 $5,449 $5,449 3 $6,732 $6,732An award-winning publication of Community News 3 $6,732 $6,732 Service, LLC. © Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.

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AREA’S BEST ALL NATURAL PET FOOD & SUPPLIES Youemail mayhousing@mercercounty.org. also call 609-989-6858 or email housing@mercercounty.org. all 609-989-6858 or Please call for incomes above 8 persons.

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information be obtained by visiting our website: Additional information can beAdditional obtained by visiting ourcan website: 1. Online - https://dcaid.dca.nj.gov/en-US/ https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/housing-community-development/housing-and-communityercercounty.org/departments/housing-community-development/housing-and-communitydevelopment-programs development-programs

Board County atof640 S. Broad St, Trenton NJ,Edward 08611.

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Daniel Benson, County Executive 3. By email Danielhousing@mercercounty.org Benson, County Executive Please include: full name, social security number, email address and a phone number.

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2Trenton Downtowner | October 2025

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October 2025 | Trenton Downtowner3

Collaborations showcase the intersection of art, music, and verse

By Dan Aubrey

T

here are two October Surprises for art lovers this fall.

Scheduled for the same weekend, the pair of events mix the art worlds of Trenton and Princeton and possess the power to reverberate beyond the region, state, and nation.

One of the events is the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey in Trenton’s October 25 world premiere of “Oh God ...

Beautiful Machine.”

The full-program concert features the music by Princeton University composer in residence Vince di Mura and a poetry text by Trenton-based Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa.

The work uses a symphonic orchestra, jazz ensemble, a women’s and children’s choirs, Chinese instrumentalists, and words to create a “love letter to the earth.”

As a statement from the CPNJ notes, “At the heart of this composition is Komunyakaa’s poetic vision — a reflection on environmental peril, resilience, and reverence for life on Earth.”

And that “the collaboration between di Mura and Komunyakaa has resulted in a masterwork that does not preach but in-

stead calls for gratitude and awareness.” ter cowboys who cannot “talk mercy or The title is taken from the following speak of love.”

Komunyakaa and di Mura say the acline written by the poet, “Oh, God, what a beautiful machine/ all this breathing tual 19th century American accounts of such slaughters provided a path from ivory/Speaking to the world.”

The use of the word “ivory” suggests past to present day phenomena.

Mentioning his interest in the work, di how the piece reverberates. The word’s multiple references include both a prized Mura talks about a need to honor nature.

That need turned to a conversation beproduct gleaned from elephant slaughter tween the two artists and soon engaged and a playful euphonism for piano keys. the two in what KoDuring an intermunyakaa calls a view at the poet’s “beckoning.” home, the two colThe spark for the It was one that laborators, speakalso called others, ing as one, say their opus started when di including the late work is reflective on Trenton-based arts instances of climate Mura was inspired to collector, arts comchange and aimed create music based on munity organizer, to promote awe, and philanthropist hence the evocation Komunyakaa’s poem ‘A Lawrence Hilton. in the title.

Song of Buffalo Grass.’

Others in the The spark for Trenton arts comthe approximately munity also heard 90-minute opus started when di Mura was inspired to cre- the call, and eventually The Lawrence ate music based on Komunyakaa’s poem, Hilton Foundation commissioned the work for the Capital Philharmonic of New “A Song of Buffalo Grass.”

The work that reflects on the slaughter Jersey’s season opener at the War Memoof buffalo evokes music in the opening: rial building in Trenton.

Both the composer and poet say the “As wind sang through the grass.” By the end of the 13-line poem readers encoun- work is “a meditation on the interaction

4Trenton Downtowner | October 2025

between human beings and nature — an interaction that can be benign, caring, abusive, and retaliatory.”

They also use the words “massive,” “important,” and “risky” to describe the work they have been obsessing over for the past year.

“It is all to honor the text,” says the composer about his varied and grand choices to provide the context for Komunyakaa’s “language-rich exploration of a universal phenomenon unfolding around us at this moment.”

Di Mura says his intent is also to make the music “accessible” and incorporate his many musical influences, ranging from the orchestral works of 19th century Romantic composer Gustav Mahler to rock to Broadway.

To reinforce that claim, di Mura points out that his resume includes his arrangement for “My Way. A Tribute to the Music of Frank Sinatra,” a show that has seen 1,200 productions since it was created in 2000.

“Oh God . . . Beautiful Machine” is one in a series of collaborations between di Mura and Komunyakaa that are also based in history.

One was “For Lost Words,” a concept album based on the poet’s works inspired

by his service in Vietnam.

Another was “Echoes on the Great Migration,” inspired by the African American movement from the oppressive rural South to Northern cities in the decades before and after World War II. That work was designed as a choreopoem, a theater approach that combines poetry, dance, and song. It was developed by internationally known Trenton-born artist Ntozake Shange, author of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf.”

Despite their different backgrounds and art forms, di Mura and Komunyakaa say it seems that something moved them to work on this piece.

Di Mura, 65, grew up in Middlesex, New Jersey. The son of a father who operated a body shop and hairstylist mother demonstrated an early aptitude for music that was supported by his parents.

Piano lessons led to more serious training at the French School of Music in Plainfield and the Manhattan School of Music, then graduate studies at Temple University Trained in composition and classical approach to piano, Di Mura made a switch in his late 20s and turned to jazz and show music.

He initially worked playing music for community theater productions before joining nonprofit professional theaters in

poet says he learned the value of work and self-governing.

Inspired by the men in his family who had served in World War I and World War II and looking for his own path, Komunyakaa enlisted in the United States Army in 1968 and was sent to Vietnam in 1969.

There he was selected to work as a correspondent and later an editor for the military newspaper The Southern Cross and received a Bronze Star for his military journalism.

After leaving the military, he attended the University of Colorado, where he received a bachelor of arts in 1975 and discovered his ability as a writer. Within four years, he had earned a master’s from Colorado State University and self-published two books, “Dedications and Other Darkhorses” and “Lost in the Bonewheel Factory.”

He began using personal and blues music references from his early life in Louisiana in the 1984 volume “Copacetic.”

Later, his experiences in Vietnam found their way into his critically lauded 1988 book, “Die Cai Dau.” Composer Vince di Mura, left, and poet Yusef Komunyakaa collaborated Komunyakaa received the Pulitzer to create ‘O God ... Beautiful Machine,’ being performed by the Capital Prize and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Philharmonic of New Jersey on October 25.

Awards for his book “Neon Vernacular: New & Selected Poems 1977-1989.” poser, arranger, and jazz pianist. central New Jersey.

From 1985 to 1996, he taught English Komunyakaa, 78, was born and raised The North Brunswick resident joined at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Princeton University in 1987 and is now in Bogalusa, Louisiana. The son of a See KOMUNYAKAA, page 6 known as an internationally active com- Southern Baptist-raised carpenter, the

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October 2025 | Trenton Downtowner5

KOMUNYAKAA, continued from Page 5

Prior to retiring recently from New York University, where he started in 2006, Komunyakaa joined the faculty of Princeton University in 1997 and purchased a house on West State Street in Trenton, where he resides.

The two collaborators met at Princeton University, where Di Mura says he was initially drawn to Komunyakaa’s poetry but connected deeper through their mutual interest in jazz and the blues.

It is no surprise that their new work draws on those musical styles.

“It’s based on the jazz format,” says di Mura about the shape of the new work.

“We start with a statement, move to improvisation, and then back to statement.”

He adds that the work involves movements that pay homage to visionaries or “saints,” such as Paul Robeson, Herbie Hancock, and Carlos Santana, and threads styles ranging from Native American, Afro-Caribbean, Bossa Nova, and Mississippi Gospel.

However, most importantly, the work is infused with the sound and spirit of “The Blues.”

As di Mura explains in his Spotify series “Conversation with the Blues,” available on YouTube, the blues is an American sound born from African slaves and rooted in a three-chord musical progression.

Connecting it to jazz and rock-n-roll, he says “the blues is in our (musical) DNA.” Komunyakaa calls the blues “the poetry of sound” and “language of music.”

Additionally, as he says in a past U.S. 1 interview, “The blues is political. We don’t think about the blues as political, but the blues musician could talk about things that were universal or public. And if not directly, through innuendo or signifying [a form of wordplay], which takes us back to the heart of folklore.”

Talking about his connection with the blues, Komunyakaa says, “(My) whole thing with the blues goes back to when I was five years old. I was listening to the music, but I was making up the words.

I would make up the lyrics. It may have been my initiation to poetry. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I loved the musicality of language.”

Di Mura also got interested in the blues at a young age, crediting his older brother with introducing him to it. He also confesses to stealing a family member’s album by legendary blues singer B.B. King.

Jazz and Blues also formed the connection to Hilton, who was one of the prime movers making Trenton’s Candlelight Lounge a serious jazz destination (the series ended when the building was sold).

Hilton also was an important figure in the visual art world. In addition to operating his own galleries in Trenton, he has interacted with national and regional mu-

A self portrait by Mel Leipzig, whose work is featured in ‘Mel Leipzig at 90’ opening Friday, October 24, at the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie. seums and is connected to the New Jersey State Museum’s noted collection of art by African Americans.

Calling the commission “an exciting development,” the CPNJ describes the concert as “the culmination of a vision commissioned by Larry Hilton, a devoted supporter of the arts in Trenton, whose sudden passing on July 2 has given us a bittersweet urgency to carry this project forward.”

In an early statement of intent by di Mura and Komunyakaa, they referred to the work as a “timely and worthy collaboration … [that] promises to be and seminal musical and social event, with far reaching effects. “ They also say that the work has a “diverse and eclectic sound.” One reflective of Trenton and New Jersey — a small but small but densely populated state with one of the most diverse populations in the world.

The premiere will be directed by Sebastian Grand, music director of the Delaware County Symphony, Youth Orchestra of Bucks County, and McLean Symphony, and assistant conductor of Bucks County Symphony.

The event includes a pre-concert festival with vendor tables, pre-concert talk with the composer, and a pre-concert performance.

O God ... Beautiful Machine, Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton. Saturday, October 25, 7:30 p.m. 800-514-3849 or www.capitalphilharmonic.org.

6Trenton Downtowner | October 2025

T

he other significant event occurring that same weekend is the Trenton City Museum’s exhibition “Mel Leipzig at 90,” featuring an overview of the nationally known Trenton-based artist.

That exhibition opens on Friday, October 24, continues through January 4, and marks a series of events celebrating Leipzig’s artistry, humanity, and cultural influence on the region — he taught thousands of art students through his 40year tenure as an art professor at Mercer County Community College.

Leipzig is an artist who embraced a personal approach to realism during the ascendancy of abstract expressionism and pop art.

His persistent vision and discipline have resulted in his work now being part of important museum collections, including the Whitney Museum and American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York City, New Jersey State Museum and the Zimmerli Museum in New Jersey, and around the nation. He is also represented

by Gallery Henoch in New York City.

In addition to training with important 20th century artists, such as Josef Albers, Neil Welliver, Morris Kantor, and James Brooks, he also boasts artistic interaction with important American artists and designers. That list includes Lois Dodd, Audrey Flack, Michael Graves, and Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown.

Also, in connection to another important fall event, Leipzig’s triptych of the late American ceramist Toshiko Takaezu will be on view with Takaezu’s work when the Princeton University Art Museum reopens on Friday, October 31.

The Trenton City Museum and subsequent exhibitions are designed to spotlight the artist’s development through various stages of his career — culminating in more than 500 paintings.

It is a path that starts with a disciplined adherence to traditional Western techniques and leads to an innovative and bolder style inspired by contemporary street artists.

As Leipzig says in a transcript from a conversation at Rider University, “When I first became interested in painting the figure realistically around 1970, I felt that my main compositional concern was integrating the figure with the background.

And since I made a commitment to being a realist I thought that I should record as much realistic information as I could in both the figure and the background.”

As a model for several Leipzig paintings and an arts writer, I noted the following about Leipzig’s approach to approach in the introductory brochure for a 1985 solo exhibition at the New Jersey State Museum: “(Leipzig) explores a scene for possibilities, arrangements and variations, then records his decision in a sketch that clearly defines the ‘set’ to hold his still drama. The characters are then brought in (sometimes alone, sometimes in groups) into the actual physical scene and are encouraged to find that comfortable point between the environment and themselves. After examining the grouping for its design richness, he blocks some of his models until the composition is fully enhanced. Sometimes he records a model’s pose that he likes in a drawing, transfers it to scene already recorded and uses a cutout and searches with it on the drawing to find the perfect complement to the scene. Sometimes he uses the same model in different poses in the same painting, so if one looks closely at a work the same figure can be seen several times. Once the composition is made in drawings, a color sketch is completed and the work finally reaches the canvas.”

The approach resulted in a skill that one New York Times reviewer said exacted “precision, empathy and a volume of detail that would overwhelm a photograph.”

The empathy comes from his interest in human beings. As Leipzig wrote for one of his exhibitions, “I love painting people.

And I like looking at people. All people. I don’t like the idea of having to paint ‘perfect’ or ‘ideal’ people. I like people who look like people, like real people.”

However, another New York Times critic focused on the artist’s approach.

“Mr. Leipzig is a talented but idiosyncratic artist whose style can take a little getting used to. In addition to never working from photographs, since 1990 he has also been painting with a limited palette, in four colors: dark blue, dark red, yellow and white.

See LEIPZIG, page 8

RWJUH Hamilton October Healthy Living / Community Education Programs CANCER: THRIVING AND SURVIVING

Wednesdays; Oct. 1, 8, 15 & 29 and Nov. 5 & 12; 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

This evidence-based class offers techniques to deal with cancer symptoms and treatment such as fatigue, pain, sleeplessness, shortness of breath, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration related to cancer, cancer treatment, and cancer recovery. This is a very experiential program.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Tuesday, Oct. 7; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Presented by our oncology nurse navigator and certified oncology social worker at The Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, this support group welcomes those who have received a breast cancer diagnosis in all phases of their journey, and offers participants an opportunity to share personal experiences, helpful resources, and methods of coping with feelings of anxiety and distress. Please call 609.584.2836 to confirm attendance.

2ND ANNUAL, IN YOUR BREAST INTEREST: YOUR BREAST CARE QUESTIONS ANSWERED LIVE Wednesday, Oct. 8; 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Join our panel of breast specialists, from the Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, Firas G. Eladoumikdachi, MD, FACS, Breast Program Director, Surgical Oncology; Meera Yogarajah, MD, Medical Oncology; and Rachana Singh, MD, Clinical Director of Radiation Oncology for an informative Q&A session. Learn the facts about breast health, the latest treatments, and the importance of early detection, screening, and prevention.

Registered attendees will be offered a wellbalanced and healthy dinner.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP

MIND YOUR MIND

ASK THE DIETITIAN

Support and information for family and friends of people with Alzheimer’s disease. A caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups and facilitate a supportive group experience.

There is a strong correlation between mental and physical health. We will learn about strategies to help deal with stress on a daily basis, as well as foods to help enhance mental health. Ekta Makani, FNP-C, MSN, APN.

Meet with our Registered Dietitian for a 30-minute appointment to discuss your unique nutritional needs.

Tuesday, Oct. 7; 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 15; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

THE POWER OF FOOD: NUTRITION STRATEGIES FOR DIABETES

Monday, Oct. 13; 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 28; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join us to learn how to manage and control your diabetes through dietary choices.

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Monday, Oct. 13; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 24; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Join RWJ Rehabilitation at RWJUH Hamilton for this fun hour of Wii games and learn about safe mechanics. Mastering body movement is the key to safe living. Play smart, move like a pro, and stay in the game longer!

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Wednesday, Oct. 15; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Learn how to help heal your body and relax your busy mind. No experience necessary.

Wednesday, Oct. 15; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND BATH

Thursday, Oct. 16; 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Relax to the soothing sounds of crystal bowls, allowing your body and mind to return to a restful state. Please bring a yoga mat, blankets, and anything else that makes you comfortable. Chairs available as well. Fee: $15.

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP Tuesday, Oct. 21; 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Diagnosed with prediabetes? This group is for you to connect with others affected.

Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.

REIKI SHARE GROUP

Wednesday, Oct. 22; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

For folks who have been Reiki certified (at any level) to come share the gift with fellow practitioners. Give a session, get a session. Please bring a sheet and small pillow.

WISE WOMAN DISCUSSION GROUP: WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Thursday, Oct. 23: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Join a community of women to discuss relevant topics and find purpose, meaning and community.

Friday, Oct. 24; 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 29; 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

CAREGIVER CONFERENCE

Monday, Oct. 27; 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Supporting a person with memory loss can bring both communication and financial challenges. A geriatric specialist will discuss the progression of dementia and share verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to help strengthen relationships. An elder care attorney will present guidance on asset preservation within the context of Medicaid planning for long-term care, as well as the importance of estate planning documents.

HEART-HEALTHY NUTRITION

Monday, Oct. 27; 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Join us for our bimonthly nutrition education class. Learn about making dietary choices that support cardiovascular health.

Discuss the principles of heart-healthy nutrition. Gain tips for meal planning and preparation. Explore heart-healthy recipes.

CREATIVE ARTS: JUNK JOURNALING

Tuesday, Oct, 28; 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Junk journaling is a stress-reducing activity that allows you to express yourself through creativity. This unique way of journaling involves repurposing old items and transforming them into beautiful and personal works of art. Grab some “junk” and get crafty while working on your mental health and wellness.

STROKE SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Oct. 28; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

A place for survivors and caregivers to build a community through shared personal experiences, feelings, and recovery strategies on managing life after a stroke.

Join the RWJ Rehab team, Ashley Sarrol, Speech-Language Pathologist, & Allyson Panikowski-Berry, Occupational Therapist.

Survivors and care partners at any stage of recovery are encouraged to attend.

IS IT LAZINESS, ADHD, OR PERHAPS AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER?

Wednesday, Oct. 29; 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is often mistaken for hearing loss, as those diagnosed may struggle to follow conversations or understand instructions.

Join Lorraine Sgarlato, AuD, from the Balance and Hearing Center, to learn how APD affects children and adults, and the most effective treatment options available to improve quality of life.

BASICS OF ESTATE PLANNING Thursday, Oct. 30; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

This informational presentation includes concepts such as wills, trusts, probate, and the advantages of naming beneficiaries.

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SCAN THE QR CODE TO JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

*All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.

Better Health is a free program for VIP’s 65+ that combines medical education, interesting topics, and fun activities. Join today!

A SOCIAL HOUR ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS Wednesday, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Don’t miss an opportunity to participate in life-changing conversations, listening, learning, and exploring for this time in our lives. Every week is new and something different. Join us on all the dates, two, or even one. It’s your choice. New members are always welcome.

HOPE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE LUNCH: BREAST CANCER AWARENESS & CRAFTING Thursday, Oct. 2; 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Join us for a meaningful and uplifting afternoon designed to inform and inspire. After lunch, create a simple craft you can donate to the Better Health Education Center for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, or take it home to enjoy. After we’ll join Firas G. Eladoumikdachi, MD, Breast Program Director, Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, who will discuss what you need to know about breast cancer after age 65.

MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT IS HERE: WHAT’S NEW FOR 2026?

NOURISH YOUR BRAIN: COOKING FOR BRAIN HEALTH

Join us to learn what you need to know about your 2026 Medicare benefits and how to compare health and drug plans to find the best coverage and save money.

Kelly Ott, Director of the NJ State Health Insurance Assistance Program, (a Medicare information program sponsored by the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services), and Michele Lee, Medicare and Program Specialist, will present.

Light Refreshments will be served.

Have some fun while learning recipes that can help fuel your brain.

Tuesday, Oct. 7; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

FALL HEALTH FAIR AND BREAKFAST Thursday, Oct. 9; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 17; 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

LUNCH & LEARN: MEET SARA ALI, MD, & THE RECENTLY EXPANDED GERIATRIC TEAM Tuesday, Oct. 21; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

A compassionate, multidisciplinary team welcomes patients, led by board-certified geriatricians Dr. Sara Ali and Dr. Bianca Estropia, along with a nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurse, and medical assistant. Together, they provide personalized care that supports older adults and their families—prioritizing independence, quality of life, and overall well-being.

Join our RWJUH Hamilton team members for this informative fair designed to empower you with the tools GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE PUZZLING you need to live healthier lives. A variety of screenings and assessments will be available. Breakfast included. PAINTING Wednesday, Oct. 22; 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 24; 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

TO BECOME A BETTER HEALTH MEMBER FOR FREE SCAN THIS QR CODE

NJ STATE SENIOR RESOURCE PROGRAM Thursday, Oct. 23; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Discover state programs that provide seniors with financial, health, and food assistance. Presenters Include: NJ Division of Aging Services, NJ Division of Taxation, NJ SNAP .

AGELESS GRACE: SEATED EXERCISE FOR THE BRAIN & BODY Monday, Oct. 27; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

New to the Better Health Program is Ageless Grace, a practice designed to intentionally nourish the brain-body connection and support overall health and wellbeing. It helps reduce stress, keep the brain agile, and the body responsive. When body, mind, spirit, and emotions are in balance, health and well-being become more attainable.

RECURRING MONTHLY PROGRAMS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE

Scan QR code to view, learn more & register on-line for the programs listed above.

Or visit rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms Email CommunityEdHam@rwjbh.org or call 609-584-5900 to learn more October 2025 | Trenton Downtowner7

many posing on the same couch.

While he may modify the couch’s color “I can understand his desire to work and design, he stays focused on his core from sketches or in situ, but the limited approach. “I paint the person first, bepalette is bizarre. For starters, it makes cause the person is the reason that I am many of the paintings seem similar at first doing the painting. And since the people glance, which is never good for an artist. I paint are not professional models, but It also makes it difficult for Mr. Leipzig persons with work schedules and often to achieve realistic flesh tones, especially busy lives, I want to make sure that I am since he uses acrylic paints, which tend able to portray them on canvas. I imagine to be much brighter and more intensely you could say that it is the human face that most captivates me.” colorful than oils.

What Leipzig says in 1985 still holds “But there is no doubting the freshness and immediacy of his best paint- today: “What I like about realism is that ings; Mr. Leipzig in the last couple of everything is open game. You can paint years has achieved a peak in his art. He everything. It broadens you. “ However, he adds, “I don’t think an has become so confident that he has begun to play around with visual distortion, artist is always aware of why he’s doing extending, twisting, or exaggerating the things. What I do in composition is intuiperspective of ceilings, walls or floors to tive. Things that look poetic are practical.

But all of a sudden art explains some create interesting visual effects.”

Then a change of approach and palette things to yourself. That’s what Hopper said: ‘When I do my painting, my paintmark a new phase in the artist’s career.

As he said during that Rider discussion, ings tell me things about myself.’ Words “Around 2005, I was doing a painting of really can’t express it. Sometimes you my son, Joshua, and his girlfriend at the may have some feelings and the paintings time, in an apartment they rented in Ew- can really capture those things.” ing. I realized that Leipzig also my son might all of painted the abovea sudden say that he mentioned Hilton, ‘I want people to want was moving. What titled “Larry Hilton, to look at my paintings was I to do with the Champion of African painting, as I needed American Art.” That and want to be drawn the background of image will be used into them,’ Leipzig says. by the CPNJ and in the apartment? I decided to cut out ‘My paintings don’t have theHeexhibition. doing a sketch and also painted color study and go Komunyakaa and any message.’ directly to the paintVince di Mura. ing and just see what Summing up his happens. I think my paintings became work, Leipzig is on record as saying, “I much more fluid by painting directly, want people to want to look at my paintwithout any studies. So I have continued ings and want to be drawn into them. My with direct painting. I believe it made my paintings don’t have any message. Except paintings more fluid. Also in using that if I paint people realistically, I guess you method I was able to do some large, com- could say that I am a humanist. plicated compositions.”

“Painting, as hard as it often can be, is Additionally, he noted, “Since 1990, I very life giving,” he says about his comlimited my palette to four colors a dark mitment to his art. “I don’t know what I red, a blue, a yellow and white. Margaret would do if I didn’t paint...just sit around?”

O’Reilly, who was the chief curator of fine Beyond the Trenton City Museum arts and is now the director at the New exhibitions, there are several city-and reJersey State Museum, suggested I add gional celebrations are set. In addition to the color black. Strong darks or blacks his works on view on the permanent colare important for me in structuring the lection of the New Jersey State Museum, space in my paintings. I prefer now to use Leipzig’s Graffiti and Tattoo Artists Paintblack. However, since I use black I am us- ings will be on view at the Trenton Free ing black outlines in my paintings. Also I Public Library, December 1 to February am now using pure brilliant blue, red, and 21, and a exhibition of work by Leipzig yellow in the backgrounds of many of my and artists who trained with him will be paintings. In that, I have been influenced on view at Mercer County Community by the work of the young graffiti artists of College in West Windsor from January Trenton, who I have been painting as part 12 to February 27. Other small exhibits of my ongoing Artists Series. You will and programs are also being developed. notice that I have yellow, red and green Mel Leipzig at 90, Trenton City skies in some of my paintings.”

Museum, Ellarslie Mansion in CadWhile his past paintings had the artist walader Park, Trenton. Opening recepvisiting the subjects in their homes or oftion Friday, October 24. On view through fices, his most recent approach has been to invite artists to his home and model in January 4. Free. www.ellarslie.org. his studio — aka his living room — with LEIPZIG, continued from Page 6

YEARS

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, left, and Mel Leipzig with a portrait he painted of Gusciora.

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OCTOBER 2025

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

Capital Health Primary Care – Hamilton Offices MOVE TO NEW, CENTRALIZED LOCATION Capital Health Medical Group, a network of more than 600 physicians and other clinicians who offer primary and specialty care, has consolidated three of its Primary Care – Hamilton practices into a brand new, spacious office located in the Mercerville Shopping Center.

The new Capital Health Primary Care – Hamilton, located at 346 Route 33, Hamilton, New Jersey will be led by a team of experienced physicians, including Drs. Jerrold Gertzman, Christine Castillo, Andrew Chiromeras, Nauman Diwan, Siddiq A. Faisal, Navjot Kaur, Smriti Sharma, John Stabile, Michael Stabile, Laisa Vadakara, and Lukose Vadakara.

“Capital Health Primary Care – Hamilton was one of the offices that helped launch our primary care network, and it’s amazing to see how much the practice has grown since it first opened more than 20 years ago,” said Dr. Jerrold Gertzman, Chief Medical Officer at Capital Health. “With our entire Primary Care – Hamilton team working together under one roof, patients will benefit from more streamlined access to care and the collaborative environment we maintain in all our primary and specialty care offices.”

As part of Capital Health Medical Group, the board certified team of physicians at the brand new Capital Health Primary Care – Hamilton is available to keep you on the path to better health.

As part of Capital Health Medical Group, Primary Care – Hamilton also offers easy access to experienced specialists and surgeons

when necessary and the most advanced care in the region at nearby Capital Health hospitals when patients need it most.

Office hours at Capital Health Primary Care – Hamilton are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Wednesday and Friday (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and Saturday for same-day appointments by calling ahead (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). To make an appointment, call 609.587.6661 or visit capitalhealth.org/hamilton.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Trenton Downtowner 9

Capital Health Hospitals Achieve NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR STROKE CARE Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey and Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell recently received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get with The Guidelines® – Stroke Quality Achievement Award.

This award recognizes Capital Health’s commitment and success in ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

As one of 15 state-designated comprehensive stroke centers in New Jersey and home to Capital Institute for Neurosciences (for patients who require the most advanced treatments for neurovascular and stroke care), Capital Health Regional Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite Plus award and the Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Advanced Therapy award. To qualify for these recognitions, Capital Health Regional Medical Center must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with clot-busting medication. Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell received the American Heart Association’s Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite Plus award.

Additionally, Capital Health Regional Medical Center and Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell each received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award.

Hospitals that qualify for this recognition ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

“Our community depends on Capital Health to provide the most advanced stroke care possible according to the latest treatment guidelines,” said DR. DUSTIN ROCHESTIE, director of the Stroke Program and director of Neurology and

10Trenton Downtowner | Health Headlines by Capital Health

Stroke is a time-sensitive emergency. If you suspect you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke, B-E F-A-S-T to know the signs of a stroke and call 911 immediately.

B Balance Is the person experiencing a sudden loss of balance?

E Eyes Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes?

Drooping F Face Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb?

Weakness A Arm Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Difficulty S Speech Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

to call 911 T Time If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and check the time so you’ll know when the first symptom appeared.

Neuro Critical Care at Capital Institute for Neurosciences. “The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines initiative fosters environments at both hospitals where our teams can put proven knowledge to work and help patients in the Mercer and Bucks County region experience better outcomes and longer, healthier lives.”

To learn more about Capital Health’s commitment to providing advanced care for stroke patients and those with other complex disorders of the brain and spine, visit capitalneuro.org.

MAJOR EXPANSION OF HEART AND VASCULAR CARE in Trenton at Capital Health Regional Medical Center board certified, fellowship trained cardiothoracic surgeon and medical director at Capital Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute.

“This new suite of operating rooms will allow us to provide the latest treatment options - often combining open procedures and endovascular procedures into a single operative case for patients.

This allows for quicker recovery and better outcomes, and it allows us to treat more complex problems. We’ve already assembled a multidisciplinary team of physicians that work together for the best patient outcomes; now we have the facilities to execute this exceptional care.”

Capital Health has officially opened a new, state-of-the-art Heart and Vascular Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC), located at 750 Brunswick Avenue in Trenton, marking a significant expansion that covers 12,650 square feet with three operating rooms: one cardiac surgery room for open-heart procedures, one hybrid operating room, and one catheterization laboratory for interventional procedures. The new center also includes six pre-/post-op bays (two dedicated to cardiac surgery), support offices, and staff accommodations.

“Born in Trenton, I take great personal satisfaction in knowing what this means for our neighbors and community — and their health care. For more than 125 years, Capital Health has been a part of the Trenton community. Preserving cardiac surgery and developing this resource for patients was incredibly important to all of us,” said Samuel J. Plumeri, Jr., chairman, Capital Healthcare Inc. Board of Trustees. “Thanks to the support of our elected officials, the Department of Health, and other partners, our new Heart and Vascular Center provides residents of Trenton and surrounding neighborhoods greater access to the most advanced cardiovascular care possible.”

“The people who live in New Jersey’s capital city deserve to have a health care system that provides the full range of acute life-saving services. With cardiac surgery, advanced stroke and neuroscience care, and trauma services all under one roof, our Regional Medical Center is an incredible health care resource - which is what Trenton deserves,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. “I am enormously proud of the entire Capital Health team and grateful to all of our partners in state government and the community for the work it took to get this done.”

“As physicians, we are excited to be able to begin caring for patients in these state-of-the-art facilities,” said Dr. Joseph Auteri,

The project was made possible through $22 million in state grant funding awarded in partnership with Governor Murphy and representatives for state Legislative District 15, which includes Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli.

Clinical teams from the Capital Health Heart and Vascular Institute will be providing a wide range of advanced services in the new Center, including cardiac surgery, open and minimally invasive vascular surgery, cardiac catheterization, cardiac electrophysiology (minimally invasive treatments for irregular heartbeats and other disturbances of the heart rhythm), and structural heart care (minimally invasive treatments for heart valve conditions, atrial septal defects, patent foramen ovale and other structural issues of the heart).

The Heart and Vascular Center at RMC is part of the larger Capital Health Heart and Vascular Institute, which offers comprehensive care with a multi-specialty approach. For more information, visit www.capitalheartandvascular.org.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Trenton Downtowner 11

FREE UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS

Register by calling 609.394.4153 or register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Please register early. Class size is limited.

Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date.

Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

Peripheral Vascular Disease Update Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 6 p.m.

Location: Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell NJ PURE Conference Center, One Capital Way, Pennington, NJ 08534 Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a progressive disorder that can affect any blood vessel outside the heart and lead to complications in your legs, feet, and other areas of the body. Join DR. KOGULAN NADESAKUMARAN, a board certified vascular surgeon from Capital Health Surgical Group, for the latest information about PVD, including risk factors, prevention, detection and treatment. Staff from the Capital Health Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Department will also discuss current rehab options for PVD.

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Learn What to Do Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at certain times of the year, typically in winter months. Jenna Straus, a licensed clinical social worker from Capital Health Behavioral Health Specialists, will discuss symptoms, causes, and evidence-based treatments.

12Trenton Downtowner | Health Headlines by Capital Health

Wednesday October 1

Yom Kippur begins at sundown.

Morning Movies, Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton. www.trentonlib.org.

“A Haunting in Venice.” 10 a.m. to noon.

Live Band Jam, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj. com. PA, full backline with drums, amps, and house band to sit in with. Sign-up for musicians starts after 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m.

Thursday October 2

Cosmic Jerry Band, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj.com. Grateful Dead tribute. 7 p.m.

Author Lecture, Old Barracks Museum, Trenton Masonic Temple, 100 Barrack Street, Trenton. www.barracks.org. David Price, historical interpreter, writer, and speaker, discusses the how and why of Washington’s victories at Trenton and Princeton in late 1776 and early 1777 during a presentation on his new book, “Winning the Ten Crucial Days: The Keys to Victory in George Washington’s Legendary Winter Campaign.”

Q&A and book signing follows. Free. 6 p.m.

Friday October 3

The Launch, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj.com. Tribute to Boston, Styx, and Queen.

Reserved seating via EventBrite. $10 and up. 8 p.m.

Saturday October 4

Painting in the Park, Artworks Trenton, Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton. www.artworkstrenton.org. Plein air landscape instruction with John Gummere. Emphasis on composition, color, and basic rendering of space. Beginners welcome. 11x14 gessoboard panels provided; bring all other materials including easel and

OCTOBER HEADLINERS

stool. Register. $35. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Eduland Staged Reading, Passage Theater, Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street, Trenton. www. passagetheatre.org. Part drama, part Wonderland, part circus performance, EDULAND (working title) follows a Trenton-based family as they navigate the U.S. education system. Inspired by real-life events and interviews, the play explores what happens when a person who has fallen through the cracks of a broken system begins to reclaim their power. Register. Free. 7 p.m.

The Verdict, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj. com. Reggae/Soca band leads Caribbean party with DJ Cesar Cab. 7 p.m.

Pritam: A Musical, CURE Insurance Arena, 81 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton. www.cureinsurancearena.com. Pritam, is an Indian music director, composer, and singer, widely recognized for his work in Bollywood. He’s known for blending Indian classical music with Western styles, creating a unique sound. $45 and up. 8 p.m.

Storytelling Festival, William Trent House, 15 Market Street, Trenton. www.williamtrenthouse. org. Celebrate AMERICA250 with over 30 storytellers, who spin and sing “A Tapestry of Tales” (1776-2026) in commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the following 250 years of the American story. Free.

Visit njstorynet.org for more information. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday October 5

It’s All About the Benjamins R&B Bash, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609393-7300. www.coopersnj.com. With guest host Lil Kim and co-host Lil Cease. Music By DJ William H, DJ Fah D, and DJ X. Tickets via Event-

Brite, $50 and up. Dress code enforced. 6 p.m.

Wednesday October 8

Morning Movies, Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton. www.trentonlib.org.

“The Ring.” 10 a.m. to noon.

Thursday October 9

Lovelight, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj.com.

Grateful Dead tribute. 7 p.m.

Friday October 10

Bright Lights and Dancing: Bailemos!, Department of Health and Human Services, Franklin Park, Trenton, 609-989-3332. Latin dance social and salsa class with music by DJ Coqui. 6 p.m.

The Nerds, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj.com. Jersey Shore cover band with DJ John Rossi. Tickets via EventBrite, $15 and up. 8 p.m.

Sky Observing Nights, New Jersey State Museum Planetarium, 205 West State Street, Trenton. www.statemuseum.nj.gov. Extended star talk in the Planetarium followed by a drive to the Simpson Observatory in Washington Crossing State Park to look through the historic telescope.

Dress warmly. 6:15 p.m.

Saturday October 11

Family Workshop: Create Cyanotype Artwork, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, 609-989-1191. www.ellarslie.org.

Learn about the cyanotype process that turns objects into silhouettes when photosensitive paper is exposed to light. All materials provided.

Workshop led by Janis Purcell. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Register. Free. 10

a.m. to noon.

Painting in the Park, Artworks Trenton, Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton. www.artworkstrenton.org. Plein air landscape instruction with John Gummere. Emphasis on composition, color, and basic rendering of space. Beginners welcome. 11x14 gessoboard panels provided; bring all other materials including easel and stool. Register. $35. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Toad the Wet Sprocket, CURE Insurance Arena, 81 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton. www.cureinsurancearena.com. California alt-rock band on its Good Intentions tour with KT Tunstall and Vertical Horizon. $66 and up. 7 p.m.

Sunday October 12

Sundays on the River, South Riverwalk Park, Trenton. Live music by Amazing Grace & GLB, beer garden, and family fun zone. Free admission.

Noon to 4 p.m.

Wednesday October 15

Morning Movies, Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton. www.trentonlib.org.

“M3GAN.” 10 a.m. to noon.

Thursday October 16

Revolutionary Mile, Front & Warren streets, Trenton. runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Trenton/RevolutionaryMile. 1.55-mile run/walk winds through the heart of New Jersey’s capital, guiding participants past historic markers that illuminate Trenton’s Revolutionary legacy. Costumed re-enactors bringing history to life along the route. Register. Team or individual participation options. $30 to $35. 5:30 p.m.

Friday October 17

Bright Lights and Dancing: House Undah the Stars, Department of Health and Human Services,

See EVENTS, page 14

October 2025 | Trenton Downtowner13

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14Trenton Downtowner | October 2025

The Trenton Artists Workshop Association hosts ‘Fascinating Rhythm,’ an exhibit

by Kathleen Hurley Liao, opening at Trenton Free Public Library with a reception on Saturday, October 18. Pictured above is ‘Fugue.’

EVENTS, continued from Page 13 George Page Park, Trenton, 609-989-3332. A night of house music under the stars with music

by DJ Toote and DJ Swell. 6 p.m.

Trenton Makes Jazz, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, 609-9891191. www.ellarslie.org. “A Blue Night” features Joe Zook and Paul Plumeri. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for light refreshments. Register. Free; donations welcome. 7 to 9 p.m.

Saturday October 18

Fascinating Rhythm, Trenton Artists Workshop Association, Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton. Opening reception for exhibit by Kathleen Hurley Liao, who works in mixed media, combining materials like charcoal, graphite, acrylics, and oils to create visual abstracts that often take on a life of their own.

On view through December 6. 2 to 4 p.m.

Seven Band Dance Party, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www. coopersnj.com. Philadelphia-based Top 40 and party classics cover band. 7 p.m.

Sunday October 19

Sundays on the River, South Riverwalk Park, Trenton. Live music by Rumbaille, beer garden, and family fun zone. Free admission. Noon to 4 p.m.

Wednesday October 22

Morning Movies, Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton. www.trentonlib.org.

“Little Shop of Horrors.” 10 a.m. to noon.

Friday October 24

Mel at 90 Opening Reception, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton. www.ellarslie.org. Opening reception for exhibit celebrating the Trenton-based painter’s 90th birthday, curated by Joan Perkes. On view through January 4, 2026. 6 to 8 p.m.

Bright Lights and Dancing: The Mill Hill Tango, Department of Health and Human Services, Mill Hill Park Bridge, Trenton, 609-989-3332. Tango music and dance lessons with music by DJ Coqui. 6 p.m.

Shot of Southern, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj.com. Country band. Tickets via EventBrite. $15 and up. 7 p.m.

Pearl Jubilee Gala, Mount Carmel Guild of Trenton, Trenton Country Club, 201 Sullivan Way, Trenton. mtcarmelguild.org. Signature event that unites mission-driven businesses, community leaders, and philanthropic partners in support of our vital services. Register. 6 to 10 p.m.

Sky Observing Nights, New Jersey State Museum Planetarium, 205 West State Street, Trenton. www.statemuseum.nj.gov. Extended star talk in the Planetarium followed by a drive to the Simpson Observatory in Washington Crossing State Park to look through the historic telescope.

Dress warmly. 6 p.m.

Saturday October 25

Spooktacular Halloween Event, New Jersey State Museum Planetarium, 205 West State Street, Trenton. www.statemuseum.nj.gov. Fun and spooky activities in Riverview Court, like slime making, skeleton puzzles, cauldron bean bag toss, and more. Trick-or-Treat Costume Parade starts at noon with a prize drawing happening directly afterwards. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday October 29

Morning Movies, Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton. www.trentonlib.org.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” 10 a.m. to noon.

Thursday October 30

Dutchman and the Slave, Passage Theater, Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street, Trenton. www.passagetheatre.org. “Dutchman” is an emotionally charged and highly symbolic version of the Adam and Eve story, set on a subway car, which was the first critical success for playwright/activist Amiri Baraka. “The Slave” is the story of Walker Vessles, a Black man who visits the home of his ex-wife, a white woman now married to a white professor. $35. 7 p.m.

Friday October 31

Halloween.

Dutchman and the Slave, Passage Theater, Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street, Trenton. www.passagetheatre.org. “Dutchman” is an emotionally charged and highly symbolic version of the Adam and Eve story, set on a subway car, which was the first critical success for playwright/activist Amiri Baraka. “The Slave” is the story of Walker Vessles, a Black man who visits the home of his ex-wife, a white woman now married to a white professor. $35. 7 p.m.

CLASSIFIED

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Fort Myers Beach, Fl. Dates are still available 1 br condo on beach. Call for details @ 609-577-8244.

LEGAL SERVICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Federal and NJ Taxes, Education Law. House calls available. Bruce Cooke, Esq. 609-799-4674, 609-721-4358.

SERVICES

Guitar, Ukulele and Drum lessons for all. Call Jane 609 510-1400. $25.00 per lesson.

My name is Karolina, and I’ve always enjoyed creating order around me. Cleaning is not just a job for me, but true satisfaction seeing a home sparkle or an office shine. I offer cleaning for homes and offices with care and attention to every detail. 640-466-1378.

Emergency child care Emergency child care – need a date? At a loss for child care sometimes?

Need a few hours to yourself? Hello, I’m Eileen. I taught preschool for 39 years as well as being a clown. Ages 2 1/2 -6 years. 609-477-4268.

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MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS I Buy Guitars All Musical Instruments in Any Condition: Call Rob at 609-577-3337.

WANTED TO BUY Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey.

Cards, autographs, photos, memorabilia.

Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel. 4theloveofcards, 908-596-0976. allstar115@verizon.net.

Cash paid for World War II Military Items.

Helmets, swords, medals, etc. Call: 609-6582996, E-mail: lenny1944x@gmail.com

HAPPY HEROES used books looking to buy old Mysteries, Science Fiction, kids series books ( old Hardy boys-Nancy Drew-etc WITH DUSTJACKETS in good shape), Dell Mapbacks - PULP magazines , old role playing stuff, good conditioned pre 1975 paperbacks old COLLIER’S magazine. Call 609-619-3480 or email happyheroes@gmail.com .

NOTICE I Vijay Singh father of Vaishnavi, holder of Indian Passport No B6233719, issued at New York on 10/18/2024, permanent resident of C-28 Gokul Vihar, Rohta Road, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, 250002 and presently residing at 9108 Tamarron Dr., Plainsboro, NJ, 08536, do hereby change my daughter name from Vaishnavi to Vaishnavi Singh, with immediate effect.

I Vijay Singh father of Dhurv, holder of Indian Passport No B6233718, issued at New York on 10/18/2024, permanent resident of C-28 Gokul Vihar, Rohta Road, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, 250002 and presently residing at 9108 Tamarron Dr., Plainsboro, NJ, 08536, do hereby change my son name from Dhruv to Dhruv Singh, with immediate effect.

Cash paid for SELMER SAXOPHONES and other vintage models.609-658-2996 or e-mail lenny1944x@gmail.com

DESTRIBATS CAMPBELL STAUB & SCHROTH, LLC established 1972

criminal law • municipal court law • wills & estates criminal law • municipal court law medical malpractice • personal injury • general litigation wills & estatescompensation • medical •malpractice employment • workers corporate/tax law real Estate • real estate tax appeals litigation • family law personal injury • general

employment • workers compensation Anthony J. Destribats corporate/tax law • real Estate Bernard A. Campbell, Jr. real estate tax appeals • family law Raymond C. Staub

David P. Schroth Kimberly A. Greenberg

Adam Lipps Anthony J. Destribats ••• Bernard A. Campbell, Jr. Jay G. Destribats (1969-2015) Raymond C. Staub David P.Avenue, Schroth 247 White Horse Avenue 795 Parkway Suite A3 Hamilton, NJ 08610 Ewing, 08618 Kimberly A.NJ Greenberg Phone (609) 585-2443 • www.destribatslaw.com John Ferner ••• Jay G. Destribats (1969-2015)

247 White Horse Ave • Hamilton • NJ • 08610

(609) 585-2443 • www.destribatslaw.com October 2025 | Trenton Downtowner15

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16Trenton Downtowner | October 2025