2019 10 TD

DOWNTOWNER TRENTON’S CITY PAPER

OCTOBER 2019 |

COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG

Drop in to Trenton’s skateboard scene.

Page 10

New charter school puts college first, page 9 • Circus Squad isn’t clowning around, 12 1179 NEWARK, NJ

up FRONT

Trenton’s John Harmon gets state recognition

R

Trenton Free Public Library gets new director

T

he Trenton Free Public Library board of trustees recently selected Rebecca FrancoMartin as the library’s new director, charged with developing collaborative partnerships to maintain Trenton’s cultural and educational activities.

Formerly a librarian with the New York Public Library, FrancoMartin was hired as the youth services librarian for TFPL in 2018. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers and a master’s degree in library and information science from Drexel, and has professional affiliations with the American Library Association, Library Leadership & Management Association, Association for Library Services to Children, and the New Jersey Library Association.

Trenton Music Makers starts new partnership

T

he Trenton Music Makers and Union Baptist Church in Trenton have developed a partnership to consolidate the music organization’s fiveyear-old orchestra at the church and

transport students to the church for rehearsals, lessons, and leadership development four days a week.

“Music is one of God’s most precious gifts,” said Union Baptist Church Pastor Rev. Simeon Spencer. “We are tremendously blessed and excited to be a part of this effort to develop the talents of and provide opportunities for young people to share that gift with the larger community.”

In a statement, Music Makers chairman and noted composer Julian Grant, said: “The commitment of (Union Baptist’s) faith community to young people’s growth, and our shared vision of their role as an asset to their city, fills us with anticipation for what we will accomplish together this year.”

The Music Makers provides free

music education to students in grades 2 to 12 who demonstrate a deep time commitment. Orchestra rehearsals, studio-based sectionals, and string instruments are provided, along with leadership training and performance opportunities that highlight their natural role as assets to their community.

Trenton Music Makers has funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Carnegie Hall PlayUSA, the George H. and Estelle M. Sands Foundation, El Sistema USA, the Frank & Lydia Bergen Foundation, and individuals and family foundations.

The organization recently was awarded a grant from the I Am Trenton Community Foundation to host a series of “First Thursday” dinners for the families of participating students to build a community of broad intergenerational support and provide midconcert opportunities for the young musicians. www.trentonmusicmakers.org

OI-NJ — the online media company created to inform and connect businesses in New Jersey — recently listed John Harmon Sr. as one of New Jersey’s top 10 Influential People of Color for 2019.

A Trenton native and community member, Harmon is the founder, president, and CEO of the Trenton-based African American Chamber of Commerce (AACCNJ).

Tom Bergeron, Return on Information-NJ (ROI) founder, said via a statement, “A leading voice for the African American community, Harmon continues to fight for greater access to capital and push for greater inclusion of the community in conversations at the state and federal level. More so, Harmon is not one who is happy to just talk the talk. He pushes — hard — for greater access for his members. The chamber’s board has been a clear reflection of the status it has with major corporations in the state.”

According to its website, AACCNJ, a nonprofit organization established in 2007, has 700 active members and is a “beacon for minority and non-minority advocacy building, community and government relations, business development, job retention, and education attainment. The Chamber serves as a mechanism for communication, program creation, and strategic implementation of initiatives and resolutions that help build New Jersey’s economic landscape.”

For more on the ROI list, visit www. roi-nj.com. www.aaccnj.com

downtowner Phone: (609) 396-1511 Fax: (609) 844-0180 Website: communitynews.org METRO Editor Dan Aubrey

Co-Publishers Jamie Griswold and Tom Valeri

Senior Assistant Editor Sara Hastings

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Mayor W. Reed Gusciora has appointed Steven J. Picco as interim director of the Department of Water and Sewer, which operates Trenton Water Works.

Mr. Picco is an accomplished executive with nearly 40 years of experience as a lawyer, regulator and administrator in the environmental industry, including water asset management and national water policy. He will champion the ongoing reorganization of TWW while the Gusciora administration conducts a national search for a permanent director. Additionally, Mr. Picco will audit TWW’s books to prepare the water utility to take on millions in needed capital projects. The audit will help TWW achieve financial objectives, complete the reorganization of staff and departments, improve customer service, increase the rate of collection of accounts, and ensure that the utility continues to meet federal and state water-quality expectations. Under the leadership and support of Mayor Gusciora, TWW is positioning itself to deliver consistently high-quality water and achieve operational success.

W. Reed Gusciora, Mayor



Steven J. Picco, Interim Director



City Council

MWCNSPICCO10012019

October 2019 | Trenton Downtowner3

the state of things

Trouble in River City

By Dan Aubrey

N

ews from Trenton City Council and a report on New Jersey’s financial health add up to one conclusion: trouble in River City.

The Trenton City Council situation, of course, is related to council president Kathy McBride’s casual use of the anti-Semitic phrase “Jew down” during a city meeting.

Obviously one would expect more of a person in a city filled with people with various backgrounds, especially at a time when racial and ethnic tensions are rising.

But McBride, like all of us, is a product of our culture and susceptible to using derogatory terms that have been allowed to seep into our language in order to isolate others.

And with her apology and other comments, it seems plausible she had not fully understood what she was saying and how her words could be considered harmful.

The harm, however, comes from the reaction she and council members George Muschal and Robin Vaughn displayed. Rather than use it as a moment to reflect, demonstrate political responsibility, and start a conversation to promote social unity, they attempted to dismiss the matter by saying that it was just a regularly used phrase that doesn’t hurt anyone.

And by doing so, they actually demonstrated how such a bigoted phrase can fix itself into our language and perpetuate a stereotype and injustice.

That they got publicly spanked by Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, fellow council members, Governor Murphy, and local and national media was no surprise and fitting.

What was a surprise was an unprecedented whooping from the full New Jersey Congressional delegation, who signed a joint statement and called on the council members to apologize or resign.

The council members have apologized, but the incident adds yet another stain to Trenton’s already blemished reputation — and leaves taxpayers hoping for something more from a council currently planning to give itself a raise.

M

eanwhile, thanks to Truth in Accounting’s (TIA) new 2019 Financial State of the States report, the State of New Jersey gets another stain on its financial reputation.

The Chicago-based watchdog group, which has been issuing such reports for the past decade, lists states according to their financial health. “New Jersey has held its last place position since 2014 and now

needs $65,100 from each state taxpayer to pay off the debt accumulated to date. New Jersey’s financial condition worsened by 7 percent from the previous fiscal year despite a prosperous economy. This is largely due to a $20 billion increase in debt related to unfunded other postemployment benefits, mainly retiree health care.”

The underfunded state pension system started when Governor Christine Whitman (1994 to 2001) borrowed money from it. Since then it has became a bipartisan practice to kick the problem to next administration.

Another bipartisan pension situation involved Republican Governor Chris Christie and Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney’s plan that saw public employees provide concessions to their contracts only to see the state renege on its obligations to pay into the system.

Recently New Jersey officials announced administrative changes that would result in lower costs for current and retired state employees — but only put a small dent in the overall project.

Gov. Murphy, who had served on a pension reform task force over a decade ago, hailed the actions as a means towards fiscal responsibility and touted his partnership with state unions to help make it happen.

Senate president Sweeney gave credit for the savings to a fellow senator and called the savings “the first down payment on hundreds of millions of dollars in savings on prescription and medical payments that will be produced through the Pharmacy Benefits Manager and Third-Party Administrator programs’ claims monitoring.”

But as NJ Spotlight noted, “It was no surprise that Murphy and Sweeney viewed the savings in different ways as the two Democratic leaders have been locked in an ongoing debate about the cost of public-worker benefits for well over a year.

“At the heart of their conflict is a strain on the state budget caused by an ongoing ramp-up in state pension contributions, which was set in motion by former Republican Gov. Chris Christie. The ramp-up is intended to address an unfunded pension liability that totals more than $100 billion by some estimates. But unfunded healthcare costs for retirees are also a significant challenge for the state, and that liability is estimated at nearly $100 billion. (The annual state budget is $38.7 billion.)”

So even without TIA’s report, the above numbers tell two stories. One is about elected officials leaving NJ taxpayers to pay for their poor management. The other is about Murphy and Sweeney needing to figure out how to get things working — or face a public spanking.

FALL 2019

OPEN HOUSES SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

Speak with our faculty, staff and students to learn: What You’ll STUDY Where You’ll LIVE

How to Get INVOLVED

Why We’re AFFORDABLE

Discover why learning is different at Rider –

how we engage the minds and hearts of our students on a new level through small classes, outstanding career preparation, hands-on work and research experiences, and leadership development.

Other Visit Opportunities CAMPUS TOURS Weekdays and many Saturdays, student-led tours offer a student’s view of life and learning.

BE A RIDER BRONC FOR A DAY

Prospective students can attend a class, tour campus, talk with Rider students and more.

BUSY ON 10/20? Register for our Open House event on Sunday, Nov. 10 4Trenton Downtowner October 2019

rider.edu/visitrider

HEALTH

HEADLINES OCTOBER 2019

@capitalhealthnj

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

Gynecologic Cancer Specialist Joins CAPITAL HEALTH CANCER CENTER DR. JOYCE VARUGHESE, a board certified, fellowship trained gynecologic oncologist, has joined Capital Health Surgical Group and is now part of the nationally accredited Capital Health Cancer Center, located at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell. Dr. Varughese offers expertise in the most advanced treatments for all gynecologic cancers, including ovarian, uterine/endometrial, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal as well as pre-cancerous conditions in the female reproductive system.

“We are always working to expand Capital Health’s cancer care program, so we are excited to have Dr. Varughese join our team,” said Dr. Cataldo Doria, medical director of Capital Health Cancer Center. “Her expertise fills an important surgical gap in the region and allows us to offer advanced gynecologic care for women in in our area who might otherwise have to travel some distance to find the specialized services and expertise she provides.”

Dr. Varughese completed her fellowship training in gynecologic oncology at Yale University and focuses on traditional and minimally invasive surgical approaches, including laparoscopic and robotic surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System.

From diagnosis through treatment, Dr. Varughese works closely with referring physicians and an integrated team of medical, surgical, radiation, and allied cancer specialists at Capital Health Cancer Center to develop a comprehensive, individualized plan of care.

“I was drawn to a career in gynecologic oncology in part because of the strong connections I make with my patients and their families,” said Dr. Varughese. “I’m thrilled to be part of an organization that shares my patient-centered approach and my passion for advancing cancer care, particularly in an area of specialization that may not always be readily accessible for women.”

Dr. Varughese is part of Capital Health Surgical Group, a multispecialty surgical practice comprised of experienced surgeons who are experts in the surgical fields of acute care, bariatrics, breast, colorectal, general, hepato-pancreato-biliary, thoracic, vascular and surgical critical care.

Meet

DR. VARUGHESE Dr. Varughese completed her fellowship training in gynecologic oncology and residency in obstetrics and gynecology, serving as administrative chief resident, at Yale University. She received her medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in Bronx, New York and her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Harvard University. She is frequently invited to lecture and present research at local, regional, and international medical conferences and has multiple peer-reviewed publications in Cancer, Gynecologic Oncology and other journals.

To make an appointment with Dr. Varughese, call 609.537.6700 or visit capitalsurgical.org for more information.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Trenton Downtowner 5

Capital Health Earns National Reaccreditation from the

Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons Capital Health Cancer Center, located at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, has again received national accreditation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for another three-year term.

To earn accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 quality care standards established by the CoC, be evaluated every three years through an extensive survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.

Capital Health last earned this accreditation in 2016.

advanced treatment options such as CyberKnife Radiosurgery, da Vinci Robotic Surgery, TrueBeam Linear Accelerator (traditional 3D conformal radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, RapidArc radiotherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery), high-doserate radiation therapy, advanced imaging technology (digital mammography, 3D mammography, molecular breast imaging, PET/CT, and 3T MRI), nuclear isotopes (SIR-spheres), and more.

Visit capitalhealth.org/cancer to learn more.

As a CoC-accredited cancer center, Capital Health takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires individualized care among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care.

“This is significant. Being reaccredited as a comprehensive community cancer center by the Commission on Cancer demonstrates our ability to provide cancer treatment and care that meets the highest standards in the nation and regionally,” said Dr. Cataldo Doria, medical director of Capital Health’s Cancer Center and an internationally renowned surgeon. “It also reaffirms that we have an extraordinary team of medical specialists committed to providing patients with individualized treatment plans tailored to their needs across all disciplines involved in care.”

The CoC Accreditation Program provides the framework for Capital Health to maintain its high quality of care through various programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long follow-up for recurrent disease, and end-of-life care. When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient-centered services including psycho-social support, a patient navigation process, and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.

Like all CoC-accredited facilities, Capital Health maintains a cancer registry and contributes data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society and the largest clinical disease registry in the world.

Data on all types of cancer are tracked and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer centers use this data to create national, regional, and state benchmark reports that help CoC facilities with their quality improvement efforts.

Capital Health Cancer Center is the area’s most advanced provider of cancer treatment delivered by some of the most experienced medical experts. At Capital Health, a team of physicians from related fields such as medical oncology, radiation oncology, gynecological oncology, neurosurgery, hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery, interventional GI and pulmonology, colorectal surgery, radiology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, thoracic surgery and other specialties collaborate and provide patients with a network of physicians trained in the most complex oncology issues. Capital Health is the only center in the region that offers

6Trenton Downtowner | Health Headlines by Capital Health

SHIFT

A 12-Week Group for Adults Experiencing Depression

Every Tuesday of every month | 2 – 3 p.m.

Capital Health – Hamilton 1445 Whitehorse – Mercerville Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619 SHIFT will teach you new, healthier ways of thinking, feeling and behaving while you gain new perspectives on how to manage your depression.

Group therapy provides benefits that individual therapy may not. Psychologists say, in fact, that group members are almost always surprised by how rewarding the group experience can be. Groups can act as a support network and a sounding board. Other members of the group often help you come up with specific ideas for improving a difficult situation or life challenge, and hold you accountable along the way.

Regularly talking and listening to others also helps you put your own problems in perspective. Oftentimes, you may feel like you are the only one struggling — but you’re not. It can be a relief to hear others discuss what they’re going through, and realize you’re not alone.

The time to SHIFT to a healthier, happier you is now. To sign up, call Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists at 609.689.5725.

CON

3 p.m.

NJ 08619

CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THE REGION’S MOST ADVANCED CARE FOR

Stroke and Neurovascular Diseases For more than a decade, Capital Health has been providing advanced neurological care to patients in Central New Jersey and parts of Bucks County.

Patients with complex conditions affecting the brain and spine continue to rely on its Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center (part of its Capital Institute for Neurosciences) for diagnosis and treatment of all types of neurovascular diseases, including cerebral aneurysms, strokes, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and more.

“The commitment Capital Health has made over the last decade to comprehensive stroke care is something very few places do, and is completely unique in this region ,” said DR. VERNARD FENNELL, who soon after joining Capital Health last year became the first dualtrained neurosurgeon in New Jersey (and among the first in the country) to use the FDA-approved EMBOTRAP II Revascularization Device to safely remove a blood clot from an artery in the brain that caused a stroke. Dr. Fennell was also involved in some of the initial research on the device’s design.

Dr. Fennell is co-director of the Capital Health Stroke Program and a dual fellowship trained neurosurgeon specializing in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery, with additional expertise in microsurgery, skull base surgery, brain and spine tumors, spine trauma and reconstruction as well as epilepsy surgery.

In the event of an emergency, “call 9-1-1” is a common refrain, but when a 911 call is received for symptoms that suggest a patient is having a stroke, Capital Health’s Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) can be co-dispatched with basic and advanced life support services.

In 2017, Capital Health deployed the innovative MSU designed to bring time-critical stroke care to patients at their home, or wherever the MSU is dispatched to assess them. At that time, it was the first unit of its kind in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or the Delaware Valley to go live and only the second on the East Coast.

The Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center at the Capital Institute for Neurosciences is the only Joint Commission certified Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center in the region. Located at Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC) in Trenton, the Center provides emergency stroke and neurovascular services 24 hours-aday, seven days-a-week.

OUR PROGRAM OFFERS: n

n

n

A multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuroradiologists, neuro-intensivists, neuro-anesthesiologists, physician assistants and nurses who provide highly specialized, coordinated care.

A state-of-the-art neuroendovascular interventional suite — the only one of its kind in the region — specially designed and equipped for the treatment of neurovascular disease.

One of the largest and most advanced neuro-dedicated intensive care units in New Jersey and the Delaware Valley

Visit capitalneuro.org to learn more.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING SIGNS OF A STROKE, CALL 911.

IF YOU SUSPECT A STROKE,

B-E F-A-S-T B

— Balance

E

— Eyes

F

— Face Drooping

A

— Arm Weakness

S

— Speech Difficulty

T

— Time to call 9-1-1

Is the person experiencing a sudden loss of balance?

Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes?

The MSU features: n

a CT scanner,

n

point-of-care laboratory testing, and

n

a specialized team, including a paramedic, critical care nurse and CT technologist

The MSU team conducts critical assessments and works with neurologists, neuroradiologists and emergency room physicians at Capital Health to diagnose and treat patients in the field who are having an acute ischemic stroke.

“Calling 9-1-1 is key to better outcomes if you think you are having a stroke,” said DR. CHRISTIAN SCHUMACHER, co-director of the Capital Health Stroke Program and a board certified stroke neurologist at Capital Health. “If the patient is experiencing an acute ischemic stroke, our specialized team in the MSU can initiate intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to help break up the clot while he or she is taken to the hospital for additional care. This can save time and help provide treatment more quickly.”

Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

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

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?

If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Trenton Downtowner 7

Unless otherwise noted, call 609.394.4153 or visit capitalhealth.org/events to sign up for the following programs.

UNDERSTANDING HIP AND KNEE SURGERY Monday, October 14, 2019 | 6 p.m.

Capital Health – Hamilton Join DR. ARJUN SAXENA from Trenton Orthopaedic Group at Rothman for a discussion of surgical options that are available to help you maintain your active lifestyle.

HOW TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER WITHOUT THE WINTER BLUES Tuesday, October 15, 2019 | 6 p.m.

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell NJ PURE Conference Center Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that most commonly occurs during the winter months, typically starting in the late fall. Join DR. CHRISTI WESTON, medical director of Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists, to learn more about SAD and depression risk factors.

2019

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 4 – October 19

Hope is in the bag Shop for Hope. Shop to Help.

Join a unique two-week shopping and dining event to raise awareness about breast cancer that affects one out of eight women, and help educate women (and men) on the importance of early detection.

All funds raised through Hope is in the Bag enhance supportive services for women (and men) cared for at the Capital Health Center for Comprehensive Breast Care.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! For more information to support Hope is in the bag, contact Joanne McGann at 609.303.4346 or jmcgann@capitalhealth.org or visit our website at capitalhealth.org/hope.

FREE HIP AND KNEE SCREENINGS Wednesday, October 23, 2019 | 5 – 7 p.m.

Capital Health – Hamilton Meet one-on-one with orthopedic surgeons DR. ARJUN SAXENA or DR. CHRISTOPHER SELGRATH of Trenton Orthopaedic Group at Rothman, who will conduct a free screening and recommend next steps.

ROOM TO BREATHE: What Is COPD and How Do We Treat It Tuesday, November 12, 2019 | 6 p.m.

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell NJ PURE Conference Center COPD is a major cause of disability that may prevent you from performing everyday activities like walking, cooking, or climbing stairs. Join DR. DIANA KOLMAN, director of Interventional Pulmonology at Capital Health, to learn about COPD risk factors, symptoms, and the latest screening and treatment options.

AARP SMART DRIVER COURSE Thursday, November 14, 2019 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Capital Health – Hamilton This course teaches valuable defensive driving strategies and provides a refresher of the rules of the road. You must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid driver’s license to attend this course. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members.

PANCREATIC CANCER: Managing Risk, Making and Understanding a Diagnosis Thursday, November 21, 2019 | 6 p.m.

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell NJ PURE Conference Center Led by DR. JASON ROGART, director of Interventional Gastroenterology and Therapeutic Endoscopy at the Capital Health Center for Digestive Health and a genetic counselor from the Capital Health Cancer Center.

Capital Health – Hamilton 1445 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619 Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell One Capital Way, Pennington, NJ 08534 8Trenton Downtowner | Health Headlines by Capital Health

CAPITAL HEALTH WELLNESS DAY FRIDAY, October 25, 2019 · 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

D&R Greenway Land Trust at the Johnson Education Center One Preservation Place · Princeton, NJ 08540 Wellness results from the active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.

Please join us for an exciting day of wellness-promoting activities as we host Capital Health Wellness Day at D&R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton, NJ with planned events including yoga, laughter therapy, meditation, art therapy, music therapy, Tai Chi, chair massage, and aromatherapy.

The event is provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of Capital Women in Philanthropy.

The event is open to the public, but you must pre-register by calling Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists at 609.689.5725.

Achievers Early College Prep aims to enhance student landscape

By Wendy Greenberg

L

ast summer Achievers Early College Prep (ECP) Charter School in Trenton was tackling all that opening a new school entails: getting a building in shape, securing the first sixth grade class, and completing meticulous paperwork.

But what a difference a year makes.

Achievers ECP is now welcoming most of last year’s sixth graders as seventh graders, and is ready to teach a new sixth grade class. And next year at this time, the original sixth graders will be eighth graders, as the new public charter school is growing, one grade at a time.

Located in the former St. Stanislaus School, built in 1925 on Smith Street in the South Trenton neighborhood, Achievers ECP is equipped with an all-purpose room, offices, and classrooms. But it also has a built-in philosophy: that college is attainable, and by fostering partnerships among other educators and colleges, the school will graduate digitally literate graduates who are prepared for jobs that may not even exist today.

The idea that college is attainable is evident throughout the building.

Co-founder Efe Odeleye has made it a point to hang college pennants throughout — and even name homerooms for the colleges of the homeroom teachers — to get students familiar with college names and to show that college is ahead for them.

The public charter school highlights STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics)based experiences such as lessons in coding and engineering challenges designing a catapult and building robots from model kits. Each student has a computer.

Achievers ECP is the result of creative thinking by two sisters who were raised to respect education and, through their church outreach experiences, were taught to make an impact in their communities. The daughters of Nigerian immigrants who settled in New York before moving to New Jersey were raised by a taxi driver father who eventually earned a master’s degree in business administration. Their mother cleaned to make a living until they started a beauty supply business that grew to three shops.

The sisters used to talk about what should change in schools and education. Odeleye was a journalism major at Rutgers and got her master’s degree in government administration at the University of Pennsylvania after learning to love teaching in a Salvadorian neighborhood for Teach for America. She spent five years in Nigeria with her husband and family, and there, acquired the perspective of a developing country, and what it means when the baseline is low and everyone

Achievers Early College Prep Charter School founders and sisters Osen Osagie, left, and Efe Odeleye. students that they discussed all those has common goals.

As adults, Odeleye and her sister, years. Says Osagie: “My ultimate goal Osen Osagie, who earned a bachelor’s is to ensure that all students receive an degree from Rowan University and a excellent education that will get them master’s in educational leadership and to and through college and beyond, administration from New York Uni- specifically in the areas of STEAM. versity, were still talking about what I want to ensure the opportunity for they would change in education. They students to choose college or a highasked each other questions like, “why growth career. Students should be are kids in the United States not jump- able to leave Achievers ECP with the ing on the digital bandwagon? Why is mindset that ‘I can achieve anything I want to,’ because so much attention we prepared placed on brick them well, giving Odeleye has made and mortar?” them the skills Soon the sisand resources to ters decided to it a point to hang be able to accomtest their ideas college pennants plish whatever and held a sethey want to sucries of pop-up throughout — and even ceed in.” discussions and name homerooms This Septemfocus groups, for ber the school example, at the for the colleges of the is fully enrolled.

Trenton Free But there is more Public Library homeroom teachers — work to do. Runand Family Suc- to get students familiar ning a charter cess Center. They school is a conselected a STEM with college names and tinuing intensive (science, technolprocess, says ogy, engineering to show that college is Odeleye, with and math) cur- ahead for them. requirements riculum called for leadership, a Project Lead The Way, a hands-on, problem-solving ap- board of governors, a facilities plan, and curriculum. “We are held to very proach to teaching.

Odeleye says they also thought high standards, and renewed every about, “How do we learn from past four years,” she says. (In fact, the mistakes? What happened at the char- school had to scramble to meet state ter schools that were forced to close?” requirements to open on time last fall.)

The school is almost 100 percent They sat down with other school leaders and built trust, she says. “We let it funded by federal state and local dolbe known we weren’t stepping on toes lars. According to the New Jersey but were here to enhance the land- Department of Education (NJDOE), a scape.” Achievers ECP opened with charter school is a public school that 70 students (they are approved for 90 operates as its own Local Education Agency under a charter granted by in each grade).

A recurring theme is reducing the commissioner. In New Jersey, the barriers that discourage applying to Department of Education is the sole college. Students at Achievers ECP authorizing agent for charter schools, can earn 60 credits toward colleges, which operate under a charter and partnering with Burlington County are independent of the local school Community College in Mt. Laurel, district’s board of education but govand soon, other nearby community erned by an independent board of trustees. As of May, 2019, there were colleges.

The sisters are finding that they 88 charter schools operating in New are meeting the goals for educating Jersey, serving approximately 52,000

students enrolled across the state.

Achievers ECP charter school has made a difference in the lives of its pupils, Odeleye says. She spoke of one student she called Lacey, from a single parent home. Lacey had come from a Trenton charter school that had closed, and her morale was low because of that. “Expectations for her had gotten lax,” says Odeleye.

“We needed to reshape the expectations. Challenge, rigor, hold students to a higher bar. Lacey has a strong personality, but her mom is a true partner, and I credit her too. Lacey’s attitude improved; there has been academic growth.”

This past summer, Achievers ECP sent 18 students to participate in the Princeton-Blairstown Center’s Summer Bridge program, a week-long leadership and enrichment program in which they live in a rustic, outdoor setting, with one goal of sustaining learning momentum through the summer.

E

ducation in Trenton is a vital and volatile topic. With an eye on building the Trenton Public School system and attempting to halt funds going to charter schools, those in the school system oppose them. As outgoing Trenton School Superintendent Fred McDowell said in 2018 about the estimated $33,579,954 going to charter schools from the school system’s total operating budget of $260,015,923, “We in Trenton are adamantly opposed to charter school expansion. We are united in that statement.”

However, families looking for immediate results only have to consider the current statistics to think about opting for a charter school. Combining U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 review of Trenton’s three different high school campuses operating during the construction of a new central high school (see story, page 24), Trenton’s high school graduation rate is 67 percent, ranking it 342 of the state’s 350 schools. Its national ranking was 12,935 out of 17,245.

Meanwhile, Odelye and Osagie feel a sense of accomplishment. “The first year was amazing,” says Osagie.

“Through our ups and downs — but mostly ups — we were able to achieve so much in one year. Our parents, community advocates, teachers and students really showed us what it really means to be an ‘achiever.’ They did not only believe, but they engaged in the process, challenging us to think, to strengthen our sense of what’s possible, and to act on our most important values. It was a great year indeed and I am looking forward to many great years at Achievers.”

Achievers Early College Prep Charter School, 500 Smith Street.

609-429-0279. www.achieversecp.org.

October 2019 | Trenton Downtowner9

Trenton’s fresh new breed of wheelers and dealers

By Kellie C. Murphy

C

heck out the half dozen young men on skateboards wheeling along a vertical ramp. Now check out the one with the 1970s styled ’stache. That’s Trenton skateboard activist Jake McNichol — one of several city advocates, community organizers, and alternate sports enthusiasts working to build yearround skate facilities in Trenton.

He does it by hosting a weekly skate jam open to the community. It’s called Freedom NJ. “I realized that skating has this potential for underserved communities like Trenton, to give (young people) an outlet they may not get through school or through sports because that may not be what they’re into,” says McNichol during a recent interview.

Living and working in Trenton — he is press secretary for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority — the Ewing-raised McNichol says he started skateboarding when he was 12 and stayed with it.

Part of the appeal, he says, was “to learn how to face obstacles and face challenges, not as something that’s in our way, but as an opportunity to do something new and interesting.”

He continues with a personal example. “I spent a month every day out in

Jake McNichol shows off his skateboarding chops during the Jersey Fresh Jam at TerraCycle in August. front of my house trying to learn how to kick flip, and once I finally did it, I had this feeling of success,” he says.

The son of newspaper reporters for the Star-Ledger and Bergen Record, McNichol says he was in high school at the George School in Newtown, Pennsylvania, when he worked with Homefront and launched his first skateboarding activity, a skateboarding summer camp.

After he graduated from Washington University in Saint Louis in 2016, the economics and political science major went to New Brunswick and worked as a campaign organizer for the environmental group We Are Impact. He also got more involved with skating and became the New Jersey Ambassador for Boards for Bros, a nonprofit that promotes giving skateboards to kids unable to afford them

and using boards as a means to promote self growth.

Then back in Trenton in 2017 to work with the political consulting firm FiftyOne percent, he helped organize events with the Boys and Girls Club in Trenton.

The reason was, he says, “to provide an alternative way to learn these life lessons about commitment and setting goals for yourself, while it also creates this really diverse, incredibly accepting community, and getting kids involved in that is really important as well.”

The newest challenge for McNichol and the skate community is working with the city and raising enough funds to open a permanent space. As he puts it, “The biggest need in the skate community is someplace to skate when it’s too dark, rainy, or cold to skate outside.”

That project, a safe indoor space to skateboard and that will potentially be a hub of a large skate community based in Trenton, is why McNichol and Freedom NJ are restarting their winter Saturday Skate Jams on November 2 at Roebling Wireworks.

The decision builds on last winter’s 12-event pilot that successfully attracted roughly 100 people per session.

To keep the wheels moving there have been other actions. The Trenton

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Circus Squad provided “pop up” skate events during its Wireworks performances during which Freedom NJ gave away more than 100 skateboards to Trenton kids.

Then there was Trenton “Go Skate Day” in June, another free skate event after Freedom NJ won a $10,000 grant from the Sheckler Foundation to increase its skateboard giveaways to 200 or more.

P

utting his actions in perspective, McNichol says, “When I went away to college there were three or four indoor skate parks in the New Jersey/ Philly area. When I came home there were none. They’d all shut down. And it wasn’t because they weren’t making money, just not as much as the people who owned them wanted to make. So that’s where I got the idea to start it as a non-profit that recognizes that this is really about place-making and making the kids feel comfortable to grow and develop those connections among people who might never meet each other otherwise.”

During the summer McNichol’s nonprofit, Freedom NJ, began partnering with Friends of Amtico Square, another community group of skaters and non-skaters from Trenton who are planning for an outdoor skate park here. Both organizations work together to run skate clinics at the Sonny Vereen Playground, which end this month for the season.

Friends of Amtico Square member, community organizer, and Trenton radio program host Jacque Howard provides some background. “Marc Leckington (longtime skateboarder and Trenton native) found the East Trenton location. I would see people skating in downtown Trenton all the time and none of them were from around here. So Marc filled me in on how it happens mainly at night and on weekends. He told me no one’s ever really

A young skateboarder receives instruction during the Jersey Fresh Jam. tried to open a space. Well, that’s all I don’t understand what’s happening here. This is not the Trenton that they needed.”

Amtico Square is right along the think they know. This is a city that has lines of the Assunpink Redevelop- a vibrant cultural scene, and there’s a ment, making that area all protected lot of things happening here that are really great. We green space. had people comLeckington and ing to Trenton Howard gave a ‘I realized that skating from Philadelpresentation to phia, from New the East Tren- has this potential York City on a ton Collaborative for underserved Friday night. about the project.

That doesn’t hapThe area falls communities like pen. That’s imbetween the 100portant for this year flood plain, Trenton, to give (young city because we so nothing struc- people) an outlet they need to create tural can be built opportunities for there. It abuts the may not get through people to come old Taylor Pork school or through here.

There’s Roll property. It a music scene makes sense to sports,’ McNichol says. here. There’s an build a skate park. art scene here.

“We want to emphasize those connections and build There’s a skate scene here,” he says.

Partnership is how Freedom NJ and those bridges because we can bring together skaters, artists, and musi- Friends of Amtico Square plan to fincians,” McNichol says. “There are ish this project of building permanent some old narratives and a lot of people indoor and permanent outdoor skate-

Learn to Square Dance

parks and, in turn, this community needs to be as inclusive as possible.

According to Howard, the original conceptual design includes space for bike polo, “papi” soccer (small ball), and an area large enough to accommodate skaters of all levels.

Area skaters John Marks and Tom Hernandez are involved volunteers.

John Bulloch, founder of Old School Skateboards who has built a partnership with the local Salvation Army, is also a regular. The local Dogwood Skate Shop and Trenton Photo Club are involved in Trenton’s skateboarding events as well.

“The city owns the land and we need to do some fundraisers for the money for the design. It’s slow moving, but we’ll be doing some cross promotion with Jake’s group Freedom NJ and our Friends of Amtico Square,” Howard says.

All feel that this could represent something exciting for Trenton and build on the awareness generated by some popular YouTube skate videos featuring famous skaters, such as Bordentown’s Ishod Wair, using the brink banks in Mill Hill Park.

Thinking about the return to the Roebling Wireworks in November, McNichol is also thinking ahead. “The city uses that building for all sorts of events, so it can’t be a permanent location for us. We want to be able to provide a place a kid can go on any day of the week, no matter what the weather is, that they can connect with another skateboarder. That’s the long-term goal. We’ll be the only public indoor skate park in the state of New Jersey.”

All he has to do is keep moving.

Saturday Skate Jams, Roebling Wireworks, 675 South Clinton Avenue. Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m., from November 2 through February.

For more information, visit www.

FreedomNJ.org. Look for Friends of Amtico Square on Facebook.

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Trenton Circus Squad: Not (just) clowning around

By Susan Van Dongen

T

o the casual observer, the circus seems like fun and games.

For the performers, however, it is hard work, hours and hours of behind-the-scenes practice until they’ve sharpened their skills enough to dazzle an audience with stilt walking, tightwire maneuvers, acrobatic feats, and bold moves on the trapeze.

For the young people within the Trenton Circus Squad, learning their preferred act and art form is as challenging as developing an athletic ability, maybe more so.

Circus arts also require an incredible amount of faith and reliance on each other. Say you’re practicing on a trapeze: you need to know someone’s there to catch you, right?

If it’s an acrobatic ensemble, everyone has to work together, or it’s going to be chaos.

One of the major reasons the Trenton Circus Squad (TCS) was formed was to foster and build this kind of trust between its students, encouraging healthy and helpful relationships.

“Circus arts are challenging, and there’s a lot of trust and team building involved,” says Bradd Marquis Jackson, the squad’s new program manager.

“I like to say that circus arts are

easy to learn but difficult to master, requiring focus and discipline,” he adds. “With us, through these learning experiences and habits the youths build, they can take those habits into any area of life and, for example, to grow academically. What they learn here can help them persevere through anything they’re dealing with.”

“The best thing about the group, though, is its family atmosphere,” Jackson says. “It’s a safe space to

TCS is a family. ‘It’s a safe space to come and congregate, do their thing and grow, whether it’s through the circus arts, or the other things we help them with.’ come and congregate, do their thing and grow, whether it’s through the circus arts, or the other things we help them with: homework, advising about college, just staying out of uncomfortable situations.”

The Trenton Circus Squad was cofounded by Thomas von Oehsen, who

is currently the group’s executive director, and Zoe Brookes, the group’s previous program manager. TCS is a nonprofit group that teaches circus skills to children as well as providing meals and several kinds of mentorship.

Another cornerstone of the TCS philosophy is to provide an atmosphere of safety and inclusivity in which people feel able to participate, express themselves, and be heard independently of their gender, race, color, religion, physical ability, mental diagnosis, national or ethnic origin, social status, age, size, sexual orientation, or gender identification.

Basically, if you’ve been shut down or shut up by the inflexibility of modern society (family, school, peer pressure, social stratification) here’s a welcoming place that encourages you to open your heart and blossom.

During the school year the Trenton Circus Squad runs two tracks of student programs, and fall classes and workshops began in early September at the Roebling Wire Works building on South Clinton Avenue.

According to its website the Trenton Circus Squad makes participation free for all members. Donations support the underlying costs of the program and make the experience available to all youths regardless of their

Trenton Circus Squad program manager Bradd Marquis Jackson. ability to pay.

There are eight-week sessions for kids ages 6 through 11, Monday through Friday, where they develop their talents at stilt walking, trapeze, juggling, acrobatics, and more. Workshops are taught by professional circus arts staff and older members of the squad, as well as past members who have graduated.

For youths ages 12 through 18 there are 12-week sessions. Members commit to attending regular sessions,

MERCER COUNTY 2019-2020 ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS The County of Mercer working in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs will be accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) beginning on October 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020.

Mercer County is currently accepting applications for the Universal Service Fund (USF) Program. Families who pay their own heating costs, and meet the following income guidelines, may be eligible to receive financial assistance with their winter heating bill.

TANF and Food Stamp recipients must consult their caseworker regarding the automatic benefit application.

MONTHLY INCOME GUIDELINES

Household Size

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$1,926

$2,082

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$2,607

$2,819

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$3,289

$3,555

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$3,970

$4,292

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$4,652

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6

$5,333

$5,765

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$6,015

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$6,696

$7,239

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$7,377

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They could...go.... all...the way!

* Federal income limits are subject to change during the program year.

Clients who received assistance the previous year will receive a re-certification application by mail prior to October 1st to complete and return to the County LIHEAP office. To request an application if you did not receive a benefit the previous year, please call the Mercer County Housing and Community Development Office at (609) 989-6858 or (609) 989-6959. Applications can also be obtained by visiting the Housing office at 640 South Broad Street, 1st floor, Room 106, Trenton, NJ 08650.

Applications will be processed until August 31, 2020.

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working with others, and giving back to their community through circus.

“The older kids have to be really dedicated because fall, winter, and spring, it’s Monday through Friday, 4 to 7:30 p.m.,” Jackson says.

The squad partners with such organizations as the Boys and Girls Club of Trenton, Catholic Youth Organization, and Homefront, whose participants come by the busload for workshops from 4 to 5:30.

Experienced squad members who commit to learning an especially challenging set of circus and team-related skills have the chance to join the touring Road Squad, which travels all over the United States. Jackson says they spend most of their time in New Jersey, but have visited circus programs in San Diego, Chicago, and Boston.

The Road Squad also does weeklong residencies throughout New Jersey, where they perform and do workshops, Jackson says. This year the squad was in Asbury Park, Camden, and New Brunswick.

In addition to Road Squad appearances, the Trenton Circus Squad performs at public and private events throughout central New Jersey. Last March TCS was part of the Princeton University theater program’s staging of “Odyssey” at McCarter.

The squad has appeared at a private event at the Trenton Country Club, and threw a Spring Extravaganza last June to showcase all the new moves learned throughout the year The squad will soon be gearing up to show its stuff at this year’s annual fundraiser, slated for Saturday, October 19, and titled “Step Right Up,” with the theme of “Good Vibes.” The show will be held under a “Big Top” tent at the Princeton YMCA at 59 Paul Robeson Place in Princeton.

The performers will balance, swing, twirl, and make you laugh, accompanied with live music provided by the Ever After Band. A special addition this year includes an installation by noted artist and educator Eva Mantell.

Jackson says he has seen some of these young people really flourish through the Trenton Circus Squad, transforming from silent, shy wallflow-

ers to creative, assertive leaders.

Students learn juggling, acrobatics, and more. Photos by Steve Sarafian.

“They’re working hard but they love it, and I choke up a little each time I ing Trenton Circus Squad, he ran a and a former Packard Electric supersee such growth in an individual, es- two-week summer program in Princ- visor mother — and extended kinfolk pecially some of the young ladies eton called Clown Academy. “When had a gospel troupe called “Family and — they’re so reluctant to do stuff,” I expanded the pool of students to Friends” that performed and toured Jackson says. “Maybe they’re a little include kids from Trenton and added up and down the East Coast.

Jackson was a precocious singer, out of shape, or they don’t think they a service component to the program, have the right skill sets, but once they that’s when I knew I had something noting that his mother has a newspaper clipping and photo of him onstage find even one small thing, that grows special,” he says.

Brookes had been an executive at age 4. and grows. The next thing you know, “I still sing, but not as frequently,” they’re doing acrobatics, or they’re up with Isles, the Trenton community development agency, but she had also he says. “Even when I was singing on the trapeze.”

“Because of a mental block, they run the Stone Soup Circus program in part time, though, I was still working thought they couldn’t do any of this,” Princeton, as well as Circus Place in in nonprofits. I was never just a musician.” he says. “So I love to see them break Hillsborough.

The two met and realized they both He says he has found that working through. It’s a beautiful thing. We had a desire to with youths is where he is most comhope these young utilize circus arts fortable. There he can be a leader and people might as a way for men- direct them into positive outcomes — have these rela- ‘They’re working hard toring youths. and that’s regardless of whether he is tionships 20 or 30 They began onstage or in an office cubicle. years from now.” but they love it, and I brainstorming in In 2003 he earned a bachelor of arts Von Oehsen the summer of from the University of Cincinnati with and Brookes, the choke up a little each 2014 and opened a concentration in African-American co-founders of the time I see such growth the doors to the studies.

Trenton Circus Trenton Circus He says the opportunity to join the Squad, had been in an individual,’ Jackson Squad in 2015 Trenton Circus Squad came out of on the nonprofit, says.

In addition to nowhere in late 2018 and is one of the executive, and cultivating an in- most comfortable fits he has ever had academic scenes dividual’s skills in his career. in the Trenton“I’ve had a lot of the same experiPrinceton area for years, but they and self-esteem, the squad likes to also had a passion for the three rings pair participants from different back- ences and challenges these kids are tucked alongside their more tradition- grounds — inner city kids with sub- still going through in Trenton, so I urban youngsters for example — to can be an asset, I can help them perseal roles.

Von Oehsen, who was longtime teach acceptance of others, and nur- vere through the challenges and keep building confidence through themadministrative director of Princeton ture diversity.

Fifty percent of the youths are selves,” Jackson says. “The Trenton Academy of the Sacred Heart, studied in 1981 at the Ringling Brothers from the inner city neighborhoods of Circus Squad is one of the best organiand Barnum & Bailey Clown College Trenton, but kids also travel in from zations for doing this, and the fact that at its winter headquarters in Venice, the Jersey Shore and from North Jer- it’s also entertaining is a plus, plus, sey. “We even have a lot of folks from plus.”

Florida.

The New Jersey State Council on His experiences there, learning Princeton,” Jackson says. “It’s a lot of from such famed clowns as Lou Ja- collaboration, a good opportunity to the Arts seems to have agreed and cobs, have carried forward to the be around others not from the Tren- awarded the Trenton Circus Squad a Trenton Circus Squad, especially for ton community. They meet and help three-year grant as part of a $15.7 million investment in arts groups across the kids learning the art of clowning. each other with different issues.”

Jackson is a Trenton native who the state.

“Lou was one of my instructors, and I spent a lot of time with him because formerly worked for Millhill Child Step Right Up Annual Fundhe was in charge of teaching slapstick and Family Development, the Trenton raiser, Trenton Circus Squad, and pratfalls,” Von Oehsen says. “My Area Stakeholders, and Campfire New Princeton YMCA, 59 Paul Robeson fondest memory is of him teaching me Jersey.

Place, Princeton. Saturday, October He is also a vocalist, performer, and the proper way to hold a mop. To this 19, 6 to 10 p.m. Individual tickets $150; day, some of my favorite Circus Squad recording artist who grew up in a musponsorships are also available. www. clown skits utilize a mop. Lou would sical family affiliated with the Union trentoncircussquad.org.

Baptist Church.

His parents — a New be so proud.”

For more than 15 years before start- Jersey State corrections officer father

October 2019 | Trenton Downtowner13

Old Barracks music remembers when Britain won

By Dan Aubrey

T

he Old Barracks is notably tied to George Washington’s daring and tide-turning Revolutionary War attack on Trenton on December 25, 1776.

Yet it is also important for its status of being the nation’s only extant and restored structure created to house British soldiers during the French and Indian Wars (1756 to 1763) — part of a major international conflict known the Seven Years War. A pivotal moment of the war in the colonies occurred on September 13, 1759.

That was the day British General James Wolfe’s army conquered French General and Commander Louis-Joseph Marquis de Montcalm’s powerful army in Quebec, Canada, and marked both the end of the war and the beginning of Britain’s golden age of global power.

Now 200 years and one-month later, the Old Barracks commemorates that British victory with the musical celebration “Loyal Song — Music of the French and Indian War,” on Saturday, October 12.

The event features the Practitioners of Musick, an ensemble founded to survey the musical riches of 17th and 18th century Great Britain and Ireland

and the Colonial and early Federal periods in America.

The songs celebrate the ultimate success, might, and power of the British land and naval forces, notes John Burkhalter, who cofounded the Practitioners of Muick.

The concert includes a rare presentation of the song “Britannia’s Invitation” — one that invites British soldiers “to punish once more the injustice of France.”

The rarity, says Burkhalter, is because there are only two known copies of the work. One is in the British Library and the other in the Princetonbased Burkhalter’s own private collection of 17th and 18th-century printed music. He says he obtained it from British dealer who alerts him to unusual musical publications.

The two-part “Loyal Song” program also includes the musical ode “Hail England” with its line “Bid the bold cannon roll Thunder to France”; an air from a London theatrical Seven Years War-themed entertainment “Thomas and Sally”; “Heart of Oak” featuring celebrated theater artist David Garrick’s lyrics celebrating the Royal Navy; and “The British Grenadiers” in the first half.

The second portion features seldom-heard music from the French American colonies and includes “re-

ligious music for spiritual fulfillment and secular music to satisfy the desire for social harmony and the pursuit of refinement,” says Burkhalter. Also included is a small Latin text musical work adapted into Native American by French Jesuit priests.

The Practitioners of Musick ensemble has presented programs for the National Park Service, New Jersey Council for the Humanities, National Trust of Great Britain, Colonial Williamsburg, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Princeton University Art Museum, Yale Center for British Art, and others.

Performer Burkhalter studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston under Daniel Pinkham and studied the performance of Baroque music at Harvard University under the noted Dutch recorder virtuoso, scholar, and conductor Frans Bruggen.

He will be joined by keyboardist Donovan Klotzbeacher, composer and music director of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury; and soprano Rebecca Mariman, a Westminstertrained performer who has appeared locally with the Dryden Ensemble and

Donovan Klotzbeacher, Rebecca Mariman, and John Burkhalter.

Le Triomphe de l’amour as well as nationally.

Loyal Song, Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street. Saturday, October 12, 7 p.m. $25. www.barracks.org.

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October 2019 | Trenton Downtowner15

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The concert will benefit the patients and residents of St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center and Morris Hall.

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FELTUS INSURANCE SERVICES BETH FELTUS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST Specializing Small 50 Employees Licensed in NJ ·inNY · PABusinesses · KY · TN · of OH2 ·- WV · GA · LA · IN Phone (609) 393-1556 • Fax Email Beth@BethFeltus.com (609) 393-1556 O. (877) (609)393-0996 233-4113• C. (609) 498 7900 F. 104 Jackson St., Trenton, NJ 08611 Email Beth@BethFeltus.com www.bethfeltus.com www.BETHFELTUS.com 16Trenton Downtowner October 2019

OCTOBeR heaDLiNeRs

T������ 10/1

Open Mic Night, Trenton Social, 449 South Broad Street. www.facebook.com/trentonsocial. Hosted by Sean Ladden and Kyle Walter, 8 p.m.

W�������� 10/2

An Act of God, Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, 215-785-6664. www.brtstage.org. God, assisted by her devoted angels Gabriel and Michael, answers some of the deepest ques�ons that have plagued mankind since Crea�on. Through October 13. 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Country Line Dancing Class, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, 609-393-7300. www.coopersnj.com. $10. Every Wednesday. 7 p.m.

Guitarist Dick Gra�on, Trenton Social, 449 South Broad Street, 609-989-7777. Solo jazz guitar performance. 6 p.m.

Resilience: Healing and Preven�ng Trauma, Trenton Health Team, Trenton War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive. www.trentonhealthteam.org. Dinner, film screening and discussion on disrup�ng cycles of violence, addic�on and disease. Free. Registra�on required.

5 p.m.

T������� 10/3

Blues Jam, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, 609-695-9612. www.jazztrenton. com. $5. 6 p.m.

Capital City Farmers Market, Mill Hill Park, 165 East Front Street. www.des�na�ontrenton. com. Farmers, ar�sans, and makers every Thursday through October. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

F����� 10/4

State House Artwork Tour, New Jersey Statehouse, 145 West State Street, 609-8473150. www.njstatehousetours.org. Tour celebra�ng the 40th anniversary of the Public Buildings Arts Inclusion Act. See artwork incorporated into the capitol complex including stained glass, �lework, pain�ngs, and sculptures. Reserva�ons required. Every Friday. 1:30 p.m.

Gordon Thomas Ward and Caroline Co�er, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing.

Americana. $20. 8 p.m.

Capital Singers of Trenton, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 801 West State Street, 609-4342781. www.capitalsingers.org. Donor recep�on and season preview includes cocktails, live music. $50. Register. 6:30 p.m.

S������� 10/5

 Fiber Bombing, Mill Hill Park, 165 East Front

Street. www.bsbgallery.com. Par�cipants will install fiber crea�ons on the trees of Mill Hill Park, alongside food and fiber cra� vendors and local music. 11 a.m.

Aaron Larget-Caplan, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. www.1867sanctuary. org. Classical guitar. $20. 8 p.m.

Saxophonist James Stewart, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, 609-695-9612. www.jazztrenton.com. $15, plus $15 drink minimum. 3:30 p.m.

Guitarist Dick Gra�on, Halo Pub, 4617 No�ngham Way, Hamilton Square, 609-586-1811.

Vocals by Kim Rogers. 7 p.m.

Open Mic Night, Starbucks, 102 South Warren Street. Music, spoken word, poetry, comedy, storytelling, and more. Every Saturday. 3 p.m.

Southside Wanderers, Ivy Tavern, 3108 South Broad Street, Hamilton, 609-888-1435. Playing oldies, Motown, Bri�sh invasion, and classic rock. No cover charge. 9 p.m.

Motown with the Philly Pops, Founda�on of Morris Hall/St. Lawrence, Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive. www.�cketphiladelphia.org. Motown hits with vocal quartet Spectrum. Register. $35 to $90. Benefits the pa�ents and residents of St. Lawrence Rehabilita�on and Morris Hall.



10/5

7:30 p.m.

S����� 10/6 

City of Homes and others, Championship Bar, 931 Chambers Street, 609-394-7437. / www.championshipbartrenton.com.

Live music event. $10. 7 p.m.

M����� 10/7

Monthly Mee�ng, West Trenton Garden Club, Incarna�on Church, 1545 Pennington Road, Ewing, 609-883-5804. www.wes�rentongc. org. “Introduc�on to Peonies” presented

by Kathleen Gagan of Peony’s Envy Nursery. $10. 7 p.m.

Art Chill Night, Championship Bar, 931 Chambers Street. Crayons and drinks. Art supplies provided. Free. 8 p.m.

T������ 10/8

Yom Kippur begins at sundown.

Open Mic Night, Trenton Social, 449 South Broad Street. www.facebook.com/trentonsocial. Hosted by Sean Ladden and Kyle Walter, 8 p.m.

W�������� 10/9

Patrick Bamburak, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. Contemporary acous�c music with Conor Peacock, guest openers 3.26, and special guest Funhaus. $20. 8 p.m.

T������� 10/10

Music at St. Michael’s, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 140 North Warren Street, Trenton, www.stmichaelstrenton.org. Volan� Flute Quartet performs. Bring a bag lunch. Free.

12:15 p.m.

Blues Jam, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, 609-695-9612. $5. 6 p.m.

F����� 10/11

Tartuffe, Kelsey Theater, Mercer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www.kelseyatmccc.org.

Ranjit Bolt’s new transla�on of Moliere’s 1664 comedy of lust, deceit, and false piety.

Through October 20. 8 p.m.

Guitarist Dick Gra�on, Cook Athle�c Associa�on, 411 Hobart Avenue, Hamilton, 609941-8114. Vocals by Kim Robinson. 6 p.m.

Andrew Beals, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. $20. 8 p.m.

Kids Count ALS Conference, Hope Loves Company, Robert Wood Johnson Conference Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton. www. hlckidscount.org. Informa�on and resources for those who want to provide support to a child affected by ALS. $20 and up. Free for those living with ALS. Register. 8:15 a.m.



S������� 10/12

Opening Recep�on -- “Anxiety Side Show”, BSB Gallery, 143 East State Street, Suite 4, 609-599-3268. www.bsbgallery.com. Featuring works by Maplewood-based painter, mixed media ar�st, and performer Sco� Lewis. Through November 2. Free. 5 p.m.

Walter Staib, Trent House Associa�on, Trinity Episcopal Church, 801 West State Street, 609-989-3027. www.williamtrenthouse.org.

Talk and book signing by the chef, author and television host. $40. Register. 4 p.m.

Loyal Song: Music of the French and Indian War, Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, 609-396-1776. www.barracks. org. The Prac��oners of Musick perform of sacred and secular music. Refreshments served. $25. Register. 7 p.m.  Drummer Winard Harper, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, 609-695-9612. www.jazztrenton.com. $15, plus $15 drink minimum. 3:30 p.m.  Big Lo and Raymond Strife, Mill Hill Basement, 300 South Broad Street. 9 p.m.

Trenton Rotary Corn-Hole Tournament, Trenton Thunder Arm & Hammer Ball Park, One

10/10 Thunder Road. www.trentonrotary.org. A Trenton Rotary Club fundraiser. $25 spectators, $150 team. 11 a.m.

Stars Awards, Smith Family Founda�on, State Museum, 205 West State Street. www. sffnj.org. Honoring Donald W. Davis, life�me achievement; Monica Carmichael and Stephani Register, Trenton Stars; La’Keisha Su�on and Chris Munn, rising stars; James Jackson, business awardee; Revs. Jose and Lydia Rodriguez, clergy awardee, and Luis Gasca, youth star. Register. $50. 2 to 6 p.m.

S����� 10/13

Flamenco Dancing and Music, Malaga Restaurant, 511 Lalor Street, 609-396-8878. www. malagarestaurant.com. Music and dancing by Flamenco Flavor. $10 to $12 cover charge. Reserva�ons suggested. 5 p.m.

M����� 10/14

Columbus Day. Bank and postal holiday.

Art Chill Night, Championship Bar, 931 Chambers Street. www.championshipbartrenton. com. Crayons and drinks. Art supplies provided. Free. 8 p.m.



10/12



T������ 10/15

10/12



10/19

CASA Informa�on Session, CASA of Mercer and Burlington Coun�es, 1450 Parkside Avenue, Suite 22, Ewing. www.casamb.org.

CASA for Children is a non-profit organiza�on that recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who speak up in family court for the best interests of children who have been removed from their families due to abuse and/or neglect. 10 a.m.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609258-2787. www.mccarter.org. David Catlin’s interpreta�on of the classic story. Through November 3. 7:30 p.m.

Open Mic Night, Trenton Social, 449 South Broad Street. www.facebook.com/trentonsocial. Hosted by Sean Ladden and Kyle Walter, 8 p.m.

The Road to Assunpink Creek: Liberty’s Desperate Hour and the Ten Crucial Days of the American Revolu�on, Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, 609-396-1776. www.barracks.org. Author David Price presents. Free. 7 p.m.

F����� 10/18

TAACC Poetry Cafe, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. www.1867sanctuary. org. Spoken word. Free. 5:30 p.m.

Annie the Movie Sing-Along, Kelsey Theater, Mercer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www.kelseyatmccc.org. Interac�ve experience for children of all ages. Come in costume and enjoy a costume parade. 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Blues Jam, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, 609-695-9612. $5. 6 p.m.

See EvEnTS, Page 18

W�������� 10/16 T������� 10/17

Seth Adam and Steve Rodgers, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. www.1867sanctuary.org. Americana. $20. 8 p.m.

S������� 10/19

October 2019 | Trenton Downtowner17

A toast to 300 years

T

he Trent House celebrates its 300th anniversary by serving up history with celebrity chef and food historian Walter Staib (pictured), the Emmy Award-winning host of PBS’ “A Taste of History,” The Saturday, October 12, event takes place at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 801 West State Street, and is divided into two portions.

At 4 p.m., Staib — noted for reviving the historic Philadelphia’s City Tavern — will speak on the diet and dining habits of European colonists and his work on researching recipes found in his books. He will also be available to sign his cookbooks, “A Sweet Taste of History,” “The City Tavern Cookbook,” “Black Forest Cuisine,” and his recent companion to his PBS series, “A Taste of History,” all available for purchase at the event.

At 6 p.m. come a Colonial-themed

dinner and cocktails catered by Chez Alice. Diners will have a choice of entrees, and hard cider from Melick Cider will be available along with colonial grog, wine, and beer.

Tickets for Chef Staib’s talk are $40 and includes tastings of sweets from EvEnTS, continued from page 17 City Tavern. Cocktail and dinner tick-  Capital Philharmonic Orchestra, Patriots ets can be purchased separately at Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, 215-893-1999. www.capitalphilhar$125 or in combination with the talk monic.org. Performing works by Wagner, for $150. 609-898-3027 or www.

Mozart, and Holst with Maja Rajkovic. $30williamtrenthouse.org. $65. 7:30 p.m.

Watson A�er Dark, Watson House, 151 Wesco� Avenue, Hamilton. www.njdar.org/ watson.html. Guided candlelight tours led by costumed re-enactors. $10, $5 ages 12 and younger. 5:30 p.m.

S����� 10/20

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS YEAR ROUND When you learn that your child’s needs are not being met at school, you want to get your child back on track — feeling safe and understood, and seeing academic success — immediately. The Laurel School accepts applications year round for that reason.

We are here when you need us.

We offer tours and information sessions that provide an opportunity to meet and interact with teachers and students, and to tour our beautiful school.

For more information or to schedule a visit, please go to:

laurelschoolprinceton.org/admissions OR email us at:

info@laurelschoolprinceton.org Specializing in educating students with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia and its co-existing symptoms, The Laurel School provides individualized instruction and support to meet the learning challenges of our students.

The Laurel School of Princeton Serving Students in Grades 2-12

75 Mapleton Rd, Princeton, NJ laurelschoolprinceton.org | 609-566-6000

18Trenton Downtowner October 2019

Alxeandre Djokic and Roburt Gajdos, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. www.1867sanctuary.org. Music for violin and piano. $20. 3 p.m.

S��ungsfest, Donauschwaben Verein Trenton, 127 Route 156, Yardville. www.trentondonauschwaben.com. Club anniversary celebra�on. $25. 1 p.m.

M����� 10/21



10/23

James Kerney Campus, Mercer County Community College, 137 North Broad Street, 609-586-4800. www.mccc.edu. Opening for “Pequena Hoguera,” a collabora�on between two Venezuelan-born ar�sts, photographer Veronica Sanchis Bencomo and poet Cris�an Galvez Martos. Running through Tuesday, November 12. 5 p.m.

T������� 10/24

Blues Jam, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, 609-695-9612. www.jazztrenton. com. $5. 6 p.m.

Quarters: The Accommoda�on of the British Army and the Coming of the American Revolu�on, Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, 609-396-1776. www.barracks. org. Author John Gilbert McCurdy presents.

Free. 7 p.m.

F����� 10/25

Halloween Oldies Dance, Knights of Columbus Council #6213, 1451 Klockner Road, Hamilton, 609-584-1472. Dinner, DJ and dancing. $30. 7 p.m.

The Ul�mate Tour Named Death, CURE Insurance Arena, 81 Hamilton Avenue, 800298-4200. www.CUREInsuranceArena.com.

Swedish rock band Ghost performs. 8 p.m.

CASA Informa�on Session, CASA of Mercer and Burlington Coun�es, 1450 Parkside Avenue, Suite 22, Ewing. www.casamb.org.

CASA for Children is a non-profit organiza�on that recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who speak up in family court for the best interests of children who have been removed from their families due to abuse and/or neglect. 5:30 p.m.

Art Chill Night, Championship Bar, 931 Chambers Street. www.championshipbartrenton. com. Crayons and drinks. Art supplies provided. Free. 8 p.m.

S����� 10/27

Open Mic Night, Trenton Social, 449 South Broad Street. www.facebook.com/trentonsocial. Hosted by Sean Ladden and Kyle Walter. 8 p.m.

M����� 10/28

T������ 10/22

W�������� 10/23 

Recep�on and Ar�st Talk, JKC Gallery,

AT YOUR SERVICE Advertise for $49 a month. For more information, call 609-396-1511 ext. 110.

SQUE A V Z JR tREE SERVicE

tREE REmoval, tRimming and stump gRinding.

FREE EstimatEs! 609-203-7821

S������� 10/26

La Fiocco Period Instrument Ensemble, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. www.lafiocco.org. “Stravaganza in Eco.” $25. 7:30 p.m.

Riverview Consort, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. Bucks County ensemble explores music that expresses fear in “O Let Us Howl.” $20. 3 p.m.

Art Chill Night, Championship Bar, 931 Chambers Street. Crayons and drinks. Art supplies provided. Free. 8 p.m.

T������ 10/29

Open Mic Night, Trenton Social, 449 South Broad Street. www.facebook.com/trentonsocial. Hosted by Sean Ladden and Kyle Walter, 8 p.m.

Before Penn: An Illustrated History of the Delaware River Colonies 1609-1682, Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, 609-3961776. www.barracks.org. Author Hal Taylor presents. Free. 7 p.m.

W�������� 10/30

Trio Fontes, 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. Chamber music with the GMP “Young Virtuosos” Violin Ensemble. $20. 8 p.m.

T������� 10/31

Halloween.

Blues Jam, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, 609-695-9612. $5. 6 p.m.

Your weekly guide to Trenton Arts and Culture Try Vegan – It’s More Than a Food Truck!

One of the newest additions to the Capital City Farmers Market (CCFM) is Try Vegan, a food truck started by Central Jersey native Vince Gulino in 2015.

Since then he has added a 2nd truck, operates a meal prep service, has a mobile app and merchandise. When he first started, most people in the area were unaware of veganism and there were few large-scale events celebrating it. Today, Try Vegan participates in vegan food festivals throughout the state.

Check out their website at TryVegan.tv and visit Try Vegan during CCFM in Mill Hill Park! The market runs every Thursday, now through October 31.

e y h T iet x ow n A Sh d e v 2n d i No S

0th 1 t Oc

-

Opening Reception: Sat, Oct 12th, 5-8pm Anxiety Side Show Revue: Sat, Oct 19th, 6-7:30pm Scott Lewis Art All Day Artist Talk: Sat, Nov 2nd

Best Burgers In Town!

bsbgallery

143 East State Street Suite 4, Trenton, NJ 08608

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The Fiber Arts Festival

Free Admission, Open to All Thurs - Sat 11am - 5pm

(609) 599-3268 bsbgallery.com

@thebsbgallery @trentondowntown

fresh. organic. delicious.

Sat, Oct. 5th | 11:00am - 5:00pm Rain Date: Sun, Oct. 6

Mill Hill Park 165 E. Front Street, Trenton, NJ

bsbgallery.com

.com

October 2019 | Trenton Downtowner19

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20Trenton Downtowner October 2019