Hamilton Post DECEMBER 2018
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December 2018
1 1 DE C E M E BE R 26 T H - 31 S T 2017 1 1
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Hall lone school board surprise
Musician to the core Karly Coleman’s ‘earthy’ voice gains notice locally and abroad
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Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center
A safe, nurturing environment for loved ones. Page 4
Arthritis, Rheumatic & Back Disease Associates
New Jersey’s largest rheumatology practice. Page 9
H I STO R I C WA LK I NG & B U S TO U R S + C A NNO N FI R I NG B ATTLE R E E NA C TM E NTS + TH E C O LO NI A L B A LL C O NC E RTS + K I D S A C TI V I TI E S + M U SK E T D E M O S
DOW NTOW N TRENTON
by keLLIe c. MUrPhy A 25-year-old singer from Hamilton Square is poised to become a sensation. Karly Coleman, known for her work as Karly C., writes her own songs and performs locally, a fresh and original new voice on the local rock music scene. The 2011 Steinert High School graduate released her debut album of 10 songs in February and is signed to a production music publishing deal with a label in Australia who pushed it out to BMG Music and Warner Chapel, two of the largest music publishers in the world. She’s got four or five other producers that she’s either working with now or cued up with for singles and/or an EP in the near future. “Karly’s a musician to the core,” said Mike Matisa, her manager and boyfriend. “She loves to sit and create and record all day. She can stay in my studio for hours and hours.” Coleman says she doesn’t want to be famous. “I’m not shy,” she said. “But I don’t ever want to be followed. I fish. I have a bow and arrow. I go out in my pajamas. I don’t want to be photographed. I don’t want to be huge to where I need a circle of bodyguards around me. I want to make enough money so I can survive doing this. If it happens it happens but I wanted to do this before I even knew I could get paid.” See KARLY, Page 10
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Incumbents also win, while Crockett and Simon to run for council (maybe) by rob Anthes ranthes@communitynews.org
Hamilton resident Dominick Azzaro gets a lick to the face from a friendly dog last December. Each year, Azzaro visits the Veterans Park dog park as Santa Claus.
Here comes Santa Paws Whim from group of dog park regulars becomes Veterans Park Christmas tradition by rob Anthes ranthes@communitynews.org Dominick Azzaro doesn’t quite remember what led him into that Trenton costume store 20 years ago, but he does remember the feeling when he walked out. In his hand, he held a Santa suit of his very own. It was a nice one, deep red and of quality material. He couldn’t deny there was something special about it. He still owns it, looks good as
new. With it, he has picked up a few gigs here or there—at Rho, Papa’s Tomato Pies, family parties. He loves the smile children have when he puts on the suit, how every time he wears it he becomes a small part of the legend of Santa Claus. But that suit has made him a legend in his own right. He’s Dog Park Santa. For the past two years, Azzaro has put on his special suit one day in December, and driven to the dog area in Veterans Park. There, he’ll play with the dogs, pose for pictures and, sometimes, even hand out gifts to some of “Santa’s favorites.” This year, Santa will be out at the dog park the morning of Dec. 13. Azzaro and his black Labrador Retriever, Harley, were
“founding members” of the Veterans Park dog park when it opened in 2004, and he still goes nearly every day. Azzaro now brings his black Lab Alvin, who he called “Santa’s helper” before correcting himself with a more apt description. “He’s a big moose, that’s what he is,” Azzaro said. Azzaro is part of a group of five or so regulars who spend an hour each day at the dog park. They didn’t know each other before meeting at the park, but after sitting and talking every day as their dogs played, they became friends. One day, Azzaro mentioned he owned a Santa suit, and the group encouraged him to come to the park with it on, figuring it’d be a good photo opportunity. See SANTA, Page 14
Election Day didn’t return much in the way of surprises this year in Hamilton, with incumbents ruling the day. There was, however, one result that even shocked the winner. In the race for three seats on the Hamilton Board of Education, incumbents Sue Ferrara and Rich Kanka finished first and second, respectively. Angelo Hall claimed the third and final seat, an outcome that left the candidate “very surprised and encouraged.” Hall, 56, has been active in the community and with the schools for years, but had been notably absent this autumn. He left his job as executive director of the John O. Wilson Neighborhood Center in Hamilton several months ago, and did not run an active campaign for school board despite filing to be a candidate. He did not appear at any candidate forums or respond to questionnaires, such as the one published by the Hamilton Post, and also stopped attending school board meetings. Hall previously had been a frequent presence at meetings and even served on several Hamilton school board committees. See ELECTION, Page 12
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