3-25 HP

tonHamilton Post

All smiles

Whether inspecting homes or working at his nonprofit, Carlo Vitale aims for satisfaction

BY THOMAS KELLY

A home inspection during the course of a home sale is an important step. A major purchase like a home, takes due diligence.

One part is the discovering the true condition of the home that is about to be purchased. That takes trained inspectors to have hard looks at what we might overlook during our excitement to purchase a new home for our family.

Carlo Vitale founded an inspection company in 2011 and recently expanded both his services and facility size by relocating in Hamilton. Vitale Inspections has remodeled the former PBA Hall on Klockner Road into a modern office and professional services building. Besides the office spaces and equipment storage needed for inspections, there is classroom space to host continuing education events and professional training classes for all in the See SMILES, Page 12

BY JOE EMANSKI

In January, Hamilton Township Public Schools revealed its 2025 Strategic Plan, a report seven years in the making. The plan is the result of nearly 30 meetings held since 2018 among a committee of administrators, board of education members, teachers and parents.

In the strategic plan, the district offers 10 top-level initiatives, ranked by the plan committee in terms of potential

Hamilton

Q&A: Schools superintendent Scott Rocco on district’s big plans

impact to the district. First on the list is a newly built preschool that would serve up to 900 students from across the district.

Another proposal in the plan includes turning two high school pools into classroom/ learning spaces, and building a new pool at Crockett Middle School.

The committee also considered a number of options for redistributing students among its 23 existing schools. The option it proposes in the strate-

gic plan is to convert current elementary schools to K-4 schools, turn Grice and Reynolds Middle Schools into Grade 5-6 schools, and turn Crockett into a Grade 7-8 school that every student in the district would attend for two years.

See SCHOOLS, Page 8

Big Fish

Rich Fisher’s journalist career celebrated with induction in Steinert Hall of Fame

BY EDDIE YOUNG

Rich Fisher has been covering all different sports for the past 44 years of his life.

From baseball to basketball, golf to swimming, and even from skiing to horse racing, if there is a sport that you can think of, odds are Fisher has written a story on it. While he has written stories at all different levels of sports in the past, it is high school sports where Fisher has made his mark as a writer.

On April 5, Fisher, or Fish, as he is known by everyone who has met him after his elementary school days, will be inducted in the Steinert High School Athletic Hall of Fame as a special contributor, adding another honor to his long list of accomplishments as a sports

See FISH, Page 27

The Hamilton Township School District’s preferred location for a new districtwide preschool is on the grounds of Robinson Elementary School. (Photo courtesy of Hamilton Township Public Schools.)

RWJUH Hamilton March Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Mar. 4; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Presented by The Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, this support group welcomes those who have received a breast cancer diagnosis in all phases of their journey. An oncology nurse navigator and certified oncology social worker will offer 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.

CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND IMMERSION

Tuesday, Mar. 4: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Sound healing uses special instruments to create a therapeutic atmosphere promoting deep rest, nervous system rebalancing, and emotional release. Participants sit or lay in a comfortable position while the practitioner takes you on a sound journey for mind, body and spirit. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow or anything that makes you comfortable. Fee: $15

THE POWER OF FOOD: NUTRITION STRATEGIES FOR DIABETES

Monday, Mar. 10; 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 25; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join Lori Hager, MS, RD, for our monthly series. Learn how to manage and control your diabetes through dietary choices. Learn the basics of diabetes and how nutrition affects blood sugar levels. Gain practical tips for meal planning and preparation to control your diabetes. These two sessions will

YOGA CLASSES

Tuesday, Mar. 4 & 18; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Tuesday, Mar. 4 & 18; 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

CHAIR YOGA

Tuesday, Mar. 4 & 18; 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

occur the 2nd Monday (daytime) and 4th Tuesday (evening) each month.

BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Mar. 11; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

If you are considering surgery, are in the process of preparing or have undergone surgery, you are welcome to attend our group. Family, friends and support persons are also welcome. This is a great opportunity to meet others going through the same weight loss journey. We focus on achieving optimal wellness through weight loss surgery. We will discuss different topics on nutrition, exercise and healthy living behaviors.

SPRING MINI MEDICAL SCHOOL

Wednesdays, Mar. 12, 19, 26, Apr. 2, 19, 16; 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Hear from a variety of RWJUH Hamilton medical professionals on different medical topics, and enhance your knowledge of different specialties and areas of study. A certificate will be provided for attending all six sessions.

FBI PRESENTS: FRAUD AWARENESS AND PREVENTION

Thursday, Mar. 13; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Special Agent Steve Rich of the FBI Newark Division will discuss how to protect yourself and the assets you have worked so hard for from scams and fraud. Learn strategies to help you safeguard your finances and personal information.

ALL THE “WRITE” STUFF

Monday, Mar. 17; 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Join a new writers’ group, a supportive and inspiring space to share stories,

explore creative expression and connect with others through the written word. We will start with a prompt and write our thoughts, sharing with others in the group. This is a safe, no judgement zone.

NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH: FOOD CONNECTS US

Thursday, Mar. 17; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join Lori Hager, MS, RD, for recipes and tips on how to use your crock-pot to make healthy, delicious, affordable and convenient meals for you and your family.

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP

Tuesday, Mar. 18; 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

For those diagnosed with prediabetes, this group is for you to connect with others affected, share and explore ways to improve your lifestyle.

GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday Mar. 18; 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

This group brings individuals with gynecologic cancer the support, education, and empowerment they need to move along the path to recovery. Topics discussed include coping with the emotional impact of cancer, adjusting to changes during and after treatment, and managing concerns about recurrence. For more information or to register, call 609-584-6680. This program takes place at The Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, 2575 Klockner Rd., Hamilton, NJ.

HOPE & PROGRESS: ADVANCES IN COLORECTAL CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

Tuesday, Mar. 18; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join our informative dinner lecture on colorectal cancer with Meera Yogarajah, MD, Medical Oncologist, The Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton; and Rachel Perez, Patient Gastrointestinal Navigator, RWJUH Hamilton. Learn the importance of early detection, innovative treatments, and lifestyle factors that can reduce your risk. Free colorectal screening kits will be provided.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Wednesday, Mar. 19; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Learn how to help heal your body and relax your busy mind. No experience necessary. All are welcome to join.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP

Wednesday, Mar. 19; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Support and information for family and friends of people with Alzheimer’s disease. A caregiver specialist will conduct this interactive group.

STROKE SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Mar. 25; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Join us for the Stroke Support Group, a place for survivors and caregivers to build a community. Share personal experiences, feelings, recovery strategies, and firsthand information on managing life after stroke. Meetings will be facilitated by two outpatient RWJUH Hamilton Rehab experts, Ashley Sarrol, Speech-Language Pathologist, & Allyson Panikowski-Berry,

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

FEED YOUR HEART: COOKING FOR HEART HEALTH

Wednesday, Mar. 26; 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Join Lori Hager, MS, RD, for our bimonthly heart-healthy cooking class. Have some fun and learn how to cook nutritious and delicious hearthealthy meals. Explore heart-friendly ingredients and cooking techniques.

WOMAN’S BOOK CLUB: THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY BY MATT HAIG

Wednesday, Mar. 26; 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Please come prepared to share your thought on this month’s read.

REIKI SHARE

Wednesday, Mar. 26; 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.

HOW SOUND HEALS: THE SCIENCE OF SOUND HEALING

Thursday, Mar. 27; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

In this workshop we will discuss the science behind sound and vibration and show you how and why certain sounds can help you sleep better, improve your mood, improve body function, and even reduce pain! Fee: $15

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

COMMUNITY CPR COURSE

Peripheral Endovascular Interventions at Newark

A SOCIAL HOUR ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS

Wednesday, Mar. 5, 12, 19, & 26; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Don’t miss an opportunity to participate in lifechanging conversations, listening, learning, and exploring for this time in our lives. Topics created for you by you. Every week is new and something different. Join us on all three dates, two, or even one. It’s your choice. New folks are always welcome.

NOURISH YOUR BRAIN: COOKING FOR BRAIN HEALTH

Friday, Mar. 7; 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

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

Thursday, Mar. 13; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or Wednesday, Mar. 26; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Join us for this hands-on program to gain insight into cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques. This course is for non-healthcare professionals, and those interested in learning basics of CPR. We encourage participants to wear comfortable footwear and clothing. *This program is being provided by a third party.

TAI CHI CLASSES

Thursday, Mar. 13 & 27; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. BREAKFAST & LEARN: HEART DISEASE PREVENTION, DETECTION & TREATMENT FOR WOMEN

Friday, Mar. 14; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Did you know heart disease is the leading cause of death in women? Join Edward A. Wingfield, MD, Interventional Cardiologist, Associate Director

Beth Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, for this informative program that will help you protect your precious heart.

GAME TIME!

Friday, Mar. 14 & 28; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ORIGAMI INTRODUCTION & WORKSHOP

Friday, Mar. 21; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Learn the history of origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, and create your own masterpiece to take home. All materials will be supplied.

LUNCH & LEARN: UNDERSTANDING YOUR HOSPITAL CARE & CARE UPON DISCHARGE

Monday, Mar. 24; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Have you wondered why you may not be seeing your personal physician when you are in the hospital? Learn from our lead Hospitalist, Samer Haddad, MD, Internal Medicine, Chair, Department of Medicine, RWJUH

Hamilton, why and how his team works to provide you the best possible care around the

The

Nurses Association will also discuss how they can aid in your recovery and help reduce readmittance.

BREAKFAST & LEARN: CANCER AND GENETICS—WHAT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY MEANS FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES

Thursday, Mar. 27; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Understanding your genetic predisposition to cancer is important. If you are concerned about your personal or family cancer history, this program will provide insight into prevention and early detection. Join Sandra D’Elia, MS, Certified Genetic Counselor, Rutgers Cancer Institute, for an informative program that will explore the connection between genetics and cancer and learn what you and your family need to know about hereditary cancer syndromes.

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

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FroM THE EdITor

Get weekly email updates with Community News newsletters

JOE EMANSKI

Many readers tell us that they wish our newspapers came out more frequently.

For those readers, we are happy to report that we now send out three free newsletters every week.

Our Community News Weekly Headlines newsletter offers a way for you to get fresh news delivered to your inbox on a regular basis. These include a mix of stories from the print editions, as well as web-only content.

Our Weekly Events newsletter provides a glimpse of 50 or 60 events slated for the week ahead, including dozens of weekday and weekend events that are intended for kids and families.

And our US1 Weekly Headlines newsletter offers a way for readers of US1

Newspaper, our business and entertainment weekly, to ensure that they always have access to our US1 content, even if they aren’t able to get their hands on a print edition.

Signing up for our newsletters could not be easier. You can go online to communitynews.org/newsletter to sign up for one, two or all three newsletters. Or, you can simply scan the QR code above with your phone’s camera. The code will take you to the sign-up page.

Provide your email address, and you’re done! Stay connected not only regular news and events updates, but also to be eligible for subscriber-only promotions run by Community News and its partners. It’s a win-win situation.

Hamilton Post

We are a newsroom of your neighbors. The Hamilton Post is for local people, by local people. As part of the community, the Gazette does more than just report the news—it connects businesses with their customers, organizations with their members and neighbors with one another. As such, our staff sets out to make our town a closer place by giving readers a reliable source to turn to when they want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood.

edITOr

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cONTrIBuTING WrITers

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cONTrIBuTING cOLuMNIsTs

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ad LayOuT & PrOducTION

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seNIOr accOuNT eXecuTIVe

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community News service 9 Princess Road, Suite M Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

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You’re in the prime of your life. Also a prime time for a colon cancer screening.

The one place for comprehensive cancer screening and care.

Along with eating healthy and regular exercise, your best bet for good colon health is to get a colon cancer screening. Individuals at average risk for colorectal cancer should begin screening at age 45. Individuals at higher risk should speak to their doctor about getting screened sooner. Regular screening can detect and prevent colorectal cancer in its earliest stages, which is when the cancer is most treatable. Should your screening indicate the need for treatment, we offer the latest options, from complex surgical procedures and radiation therapy to clinical trials and precision medicine. The best screening is the one that gets completed, so schedule yours now at rwjbh.org/colonscreening

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Around Town Pickleball Kingdom holds grand opening

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The all-ages sport of pickleball has reached the stage where new facilities are opening or set to open all over the place. Pickle House opened in Robbinsville late last year (in the former Robbinsville Field House), Mercer Bucks Pickle Club in Ewing, and Pickleball Kingdom on Negron Drive in Hamilton, which has been open to the public for a few months, but which held its grand opening on Feb. 16 and a ribbon cutting on Feb. 21.

Pickleball Kingdom Hamilton is a franchise, envisioned by franchisee Sam

Sood as one of 20 locations to open soon in the New Jersey area.

Pickleball Kingdom Hamilton features 14 indoor courts, more than 70 hours of open play weekly, group play, instruction options including video analysis, and a pro shop. It also hosts parties and corporate events.

Pickleball Kingdom is an enterprise with more than 350 franchises awarded nationwide, only a small fraction of which have yet opened.

Web: pickleballkingdom.com.

$100 prize in email newsletter contest

Shirley Solarski, center, a resident of Bordentown, was the winner in Community News’ Email Newsletter Sign-Up Gift Card Giveaway. By signing up for our email newsletters, Shirley entered our contest with a chance to win the grand prize: a $100 gift card to Rossi’s Bar and Grill in Hamilton. With Shirley are Jennifer Steffen, senior account executive for Community News, and Hal Rose, Rossi’s owner. To sign up for our e-newsletters, go to communitynews.org/newsletter.

A. PennAcchi & SonS. co.

This last proposal is the clearest example of looking to fulfill the “One Hamilton” motto that is part of the district’s seal.

The Hamilton Post spoke with superintendent Dr. Scott Rocco last month about the strategic plan. The following is an abridged version of the interview, edited for clarity and shortened for space.

Hamilton Post: Let’s start with the number one item in the plan, the proposal to build a districtwide preschool.

Scott Rocco: As long as I have been here, we have talked about the need for a preschool program for our youngest students. It is a needed piece that’s been recognized even prior to me becoming superintendent in the district. It’s an initiative in the state to expand preschool to all school districts, but one of our limitations would be space.

Preschool is an important part of a child’s success. What we’re seeing is some kids coming in who are not ready for kindergarten, but I think we are also realizing that there are more academic demands on students at a much earlier age. We have a committee of kindergarten teachers right now developing some programming for next year, and some communication to our incoming kindergarten families on some of the things they can do to prepare their children for kindergarten.

April 10, 2025

When we can offer preschool, it helps kids get focused on not just academics but all the other things associated with coming to school.

The plan right now is for the preschool to be built behind Robinson Elementary School. They will be two completely separate buildings, with different staff, different classroom space, everything separate, maybe with just a hallway between them or something like that.

It’s going to start with four-year-olds in a half-day program. Three hundred and fifty seats, so we can accommodate 700 kids, which is almost our entire universe of four-year-olds. Some families are going to choose to send their children to private preschools, but we will have children that will be bused from all around the district to our Robinson preschool facility.

We do have preschool programs in some of our buildings now. Some current preschool programs will stay where they are, and some will be brought into new facility. We are evaluating which will stay where they are, and which will go into new buildings. What we don’t want is students moving from one preschool facility to another to another.

HP: The strategic plan proposes changes to the grade levels that will be in the elementary and middle schools. Elementary schools will now be for K-4, Two SCHOOLS continued from Page 1

5:00PM to 8:00PM Crockett Middle School 2631 Kuser Road, Hamilton, NJ 08691

Who: Students, Parents, Staff, & Hamilton Community

What: A showcase of the technology in our schools featuring:

● Technology in the Classroom Showcase

● Robotics & Coding Club Demonstrations

● Careers in Technology Expo

● Esports

● STEAM Playground

● Food Trucks and Giveaways

Cost: FREE Admission!

middle schools grades 5-6 and a third, Crockett, would be expanded to accommodate all seventh and eighth graders in the district.

Rocco: The only way that we can move forward as a district is if we make adjustments and improvements to our facilities and we modernize. Our current facilities aren’t going to take us into the future effectively and for the benefits of the kids. The focus is on our students getting what they need to be successful, and providing our staff with what they need to be successful.

As we look at the developmental readiness of children, the K-4 structure is a great environment for younger children. Grouping grade 5-6 students together is a great environment for kids. Students in seventh and eighth grade are middle school students.

What the committee did when it looked at this piece is, what we need to do, where do we start looking to create space? Creating an addition onto Crockett for 7-8, creating Reynolds and Grice as 5-6 buildings means opening space in other buildings. But things have to fall in place for that to follow through. When we move forward, we also want to be able to balance out the enrollments in buildings.

HP: The district has 17 elementary schools, several of which are more than a hundred years old, and many of which

central to neighborhoods. The strategic plan calls for “14 to 16” K-4 schools, with possible additions to some schools. This suggests that some elementary schools in the district may be closed and consolidated with other schools.

Rocco: The community can rightly question, “What does this mean for my community school?” We all have enjoyed community schools. But we have 17 elementary schools that are aging facilities, that we continue to work to keep operational, and that is not working for our students. Our students and staff deserve good facilities to be in every day. We work to do that now with upgrades and updates.

One of the things people say is, you’re talking about redistricting. When we do a facilities plan, we are not here to do redistricting. Redistricting is a by-product of the plans as they are implemented.

If we go to the grade structure that is being suggested, we are going to have to make adjustments to the sending areas of our district. But other things will have to come online before we get to that point, and we’re not talking about six months from now. We are talking about five to seven years. There are a lot of things in here that would have to be adjusted.

Every school community is proud of their community, and we’ve enjoyed the See SCHOOLS, Page 10

neighborhood model for a very long time. But we’re looking at this from the perspective of what is best for students and staff and the community when it comes to the facilities that we use for school. And that’s going to require some potential adjustment for the future.

If we are talking about keeping the same grade structure, that doesn’t necessarily enable us to modernize our buildings. What the committee presented themselves with is, what is the best grade configuration that enables us to deal not only with the academics but also social-emotional development, and helps us group students in ways that are appropriate?

HP: The strategic plan also calls for shutting down the pools at Steinert and Hamilton West.

put pool at the middle school. A brand new pool, where the high school teams would all compete. The reality is that high school kids don’t want to change for swim class. They get doctor notes saying they’re allergic to chlorine, so they don’t have to. I get that and I respect that, but I also feel that swimming is an important skill for our students to learn.

And it would be better at the middle school than the high school, frankly, and would also be a much more cost-effective way of maintaining the facility.

At any given time when I’ve been superintendent, one, two or all three school pools have been offline. The older they get the more expensive it gets to fix them. This way, we can have a really nice facility for the whole community, and I think that would be really important.

Rocco: We have three aging pools in the district. Two of the three need significant, expensive repairs. We also have growing enrollment at the high school level and we need to add classroom space.

One way of doing that without putting massive additions on is to use existing space in our buildings. We have no intention of stopping the swim program. Competitive swimming will still exist. But we would like to use one of our pools, and make that the pool everyone swims at.

Eventually, the recommendation is to

None of the high school pools are large enough or good enough spaces that we would ever open them to the community. If we design something in the middle school with that in mind, then we can do that.

HP: Another proposal in the strategic plan is to introduce different “academies” at the high school level — say a STEM academy at one, a vocational academy at another, a performing arts academy at the third. This would presumably mean that high school students who choose the academy model would end up attending

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a different high school than they would otherwise attend.

Rocco: With the academy model, the idea is to provide additional programming that interests our students. That may happen in a student’s home school, or it might happen in one of the other schools, and there would be a certain number of seats for programs around the district. Your home school could be Steinert, but the academy you apply for could be in Nottingham, and then you’ll go to Nottingham.

The details have to be worked out, but the conversation is about students applying to an academy that interests them. That’s also how we could work to balance out enrollments in the buildings, by getting students interested in different types of programming.

HP: Why was it important for the district to embark on this strategic plan?

Rocco: The focus by the committee is on our mission of “One Hamilton.” Having the opportunity for our kids to come together in grades 7 and 8 builds camaraderie, builds respect among each other. We have rivalries at our high schools, and that’s fine, but at the same time it would build respectful rivalries by spending time with your fellow classmates when you normally don’t.

I think it would also dispel some of the rumor and misinformation about one

another’s schools. I think this would be a great way of building our One Hamilton by having all of our students come together for two years. And when they go off to their high schools, they have that Hamilton pride.

HP: In your presentation of the plan to the public in January, you encouraged the board of education to move forward with the plan, especially in terms of getting construction for the new preschool underway. Where do things stand as of now?

Rocco: This is not a plan that is going to go on a bookshelf and collect dust. Many committee members gave a lot of their time. I think its important that they see some of this work happening. We want to make progress in the district, and we want the committee to see that the district is better off because we are implementing some or all of their recommendations.

We were awarded funding from the state (to build a preschool). We are in a design stage right now. We are working on plans which I want to present to the public and to the Robinson community soon. Then we would be looking to secure the remainder of the funding. That’s where we’re at right now.

The full report can be viewed online at htsdnj.org/community/ facilities-strategic-plan.

home sales business.

The growing home inspection business is one thing that Vitale is a part of. Another is the charity organization he founded that focuses on giving back to the community in simple ways that can make a difference for all involved. * * *

Growing up in the Fords section of Woodbridge, Vitale was faced with some serious medical issues from a very young age.

“I spent a lot of time in hospitals, enduring 16 surgeries before the age of 12. It was a challenge and thank goodness all turned out well.”

In 2019, Vitale and wife Katy began Happy Smiles, a nonprofit organization with the simple mission of “Being committed to making people happy. Even if it’s just for a moment.”

The Happy Smiles board and volunteers collect and distribute clothing, food and toys to those in need year round.

“I think helping others came to me at a very young age, both from my family and also from the fact that I spent a lot of time in hospitals as a patient. It was there that I saw what a kind word or a small gesture can really lift people up.”

When Happy Smiles visits area schools, they do what is call a Care Plane initia-

tive. Students are asked to write a need, feeling, thought, affirmation or a need to unburden on a piece of red paper. The papers are folded into airplanes and are shared by flying them. The thoughts are then discussed and positive discussions ensue.

The Happy Smiles board of 20 consists of Vitale family, friends and professional associates.

“We put on about 20 events, visits or other experiences each year, and we love it. No one’s life is perfect we all need help. Lifting up others is the best exercise. We work with area schools, The Miracle League and Mill Hill Child and Family Development Center. We distribute, food, clothing, funds and school backpacks. We have funded more than 100 charities and we are still growing.”

The acts of kindness Vitale finds cathartic and enjoyable. “If I am down, which we can all get, I feel better when I can help others. When you bring a smile we all feel better,” he says.

The Happy Smiles foundation supports the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, NAMI Mercer, Association for Bladder Exstrophy Community, Breast Cancer Resource Center of Princeton and many others.

Happy Smiles is in the midst of a children’s book drive with the goal to collect 1000 books for the Dr. Seuss Day, Read

gala theme was Willy Wonka, with Vitale playing the title part. * * *

Vitale’s father was a contractor, a framer, building homes in developments in the area. The family moved into a home built by the senior Vitale in South Brunswick while Carlo was in high school.

“I grew up in construction. Learning so much from my dad and his associates. Their experience in the construction methods and how homes are built really laid the foundation for me and my later business.”

“I learned from my mom to be who you are and dedicate time and effort to helping others. I also learned as one does in an Italian family how to make sausage, tomato sauce and wine. We still join together and make these today. Delicious,” he says.

The home inspection is critical to the finalization of the home purchase process. The home buyer initiates the home inspection to make sure all is in order and that the home is sound. If there are needed repairs or structural issues the inspection report will report this.

Across America Day on March 31st. Major fundraisers for Happy Smiles are their annual Golf Outing on May 15 at Mountain View Golf course in Ewing and an annual Gala in September. Last year’s

The home will be inspected for foundation issues, roof life and viability, exterior soundness, electrical system, heating and air conditioner functionality and plumb-

See VITALE, Page 14

Katy Vitale, Carlo Vitale (as Willy Wonka), Jamie Girard and Justin Girard at the 2024 Happy Smiles gala.

•

ing system. All appliances, doors, windows, insulation, basements and crawlspaces are inspected.

Fireplace and chimney inspections, wood destroying insects, radon testing, stucco, sewer line clarity and lead are other items that are inspected. An oil tank sweep using ground penetrating radar will insure that an unused oil tank is not present or if one is and will need removal.

These are things that the average home buyer may be aware of, but not skilled enough to determine the degree of potential issues.

“Homebuyers and some realtors will not see what we see. We are educated, trained and certified home inspectors. We are not emotional about the home. The current owners sometimes live with serious issues that will fail an inspection. The new owners may use the home in a different way, so these issues must be remedied.”

After the home inspection, the detailed reports are shared with the prospective home buyers and become part of the negotiation process. The Certificate of Occupancy inspection which is performed by the municipality where the home

is located is performed separately and may be done prior to or after the buyers inspection.

“We of course find major issues, but also a slew of minor easy to rectify issues. We find GFCI receptacles which are inoperative, water heater issues, exterior drainage issues. These are common finds during inspections.”

Though he started as a one-mangang, Vitale has around 20 people on staff now. Eight full time inspectors, 2 full time chimney specialists, three office personnel, and three handymen in the Home Services division. Many are longtime employees that Vitale considers his “work family.”

“We also have four growth, business development positions. These people seek out opportunities and generate sales for the business. They work in the areas we cover, North, Central and South New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. These four make it all happen.”

The newly renovated office space will have a grand opening in late March or early April. Besides the offices for the staff there is a large central room. In part designed with the help of Kimberly Heljenek and Kellie O’Heron of 4Th House

Design.

This space will be able to seat 35-40 for continuing education classes and other learning based educational programs for both realtors and prospective home buyers. It will be modern and comfortable for the learning based activities.

“We feel education is the key to making sound decisions and knowing the facts about how the inspection works and how it impacts the home sale is vital.”

* * *

Balancing work, family and community is a role that Vitale relishes. He has growth on all fronts.

“I know we are all busy. Taking the time for my family, work family and community is something I love. We really try to be supportive of all. It really makes me feel good.”

Carlo is married to wife Katy, who is a guidance counselor at Nottingham High School. The Vitales are parents to twins, Valentina and Leo, age 8. They live in Yardville.

An older sister and younger brother, along with his parents, cousins, aunts and uncles rounded out the large family. “We were very close and still are,” he says. Web: vitaleinspection.com.

Summer campS 2025

Sawmill Summer Day Camp

Replacing Wi-Fi with Wonder

The Hamilton Area YMCA’s Sawmill Summer Day Camp, situated in the heart of Mercer County, offers your child, ages 5 – 15, an unforgettable summer experience. With 50 acres of vast outdoor space and the largest pool in Mercer County, our camp is a haven for fun, learning, and adventure. Over five exciting days packed with activities, campers are encouraged to participate in a variety of options including STEM, art, sports, games, special events, theme weeks,

and more!

Unplug. Summer camp is the perfect antidote to screen time. Your child can make genuine connections with peers, free from the distractions of technology. Engaging in unstructured outdoor play sparks kids’ creativity and energizes their bodies and imaginations.

Explore. Every day at camp presents a new adventure for kids to stretch their imaginations and embrace creativity without fear of failure. Our camp offers opportunities in arts and crafts, music, science, dance, sports, and swimming, allowing children to explore and express themselves in ways they might not be able

to elsewhere.

Grow. Our camp provides a safe, nurturing environment where kids develop essential skills, build confidence, and forge new friendships. As they engage in a variety of activities, from outdoor play to swimming lessons, they acquire valuable personal development skills. These experiences help shape their identities and passions, influencing their academic pursuits, relationships, and future career choices.

It’s not just about acquiring new skills and life lessons; it’s also about forming lifelong friendships and creating unforgettable memories. The laughter, sense of accomplishment,

and community spirit come together to create an amazing summer experience that your child will cherish forever.

Kids view camp as a fun way to enjoy their summer in the sun and play in the pool, but parents understand that camp provides children with many life benefits that will remain with them long after their summer camp days have ended.

Join us at Sawmill Summer Day Camp for a Summer where kids unplug, explore & grow! To learn more about our vibrant camp community, please visit hamiltonymca.org/summer-camp/sawmill-branch-2025.

Liberty Lake Day Camp

Summer Camp: The Antidote to Screen-Based Society

By Andy Pritikin

At a restaurant last week, I watched a family order their food, then immediately bury themselves in their phones — for the entire meal. Sadly, this isn’t surprising. In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt highlights how today’s teens spend 8-10 hours a day on screens, with constant notifications fragmenting their attention. Childhood has shifted from real-world interactions to isolated digital consumption.

Before smartphones, kids played together, watched TV as a group, and even gamed in the same room. Now, they “hang out” alone, on separate devices. This social deprivation is fueling an anxiety epidemic. Once kids get phones, their real-life friendships decline. Online interactions don’t replace the need for in-person social development. The perfect antidote? Screen-free summer camp.

Haidt suggests four solutions to counteract screen dependency, all of which align with the values of summer camp:

1. No Phones in Schools — It’s already happening! Eighteen U.S. states, plus the UK and Canada, are banning phones in schools, leading to improved test scores and happier students. At my camps, we’ve never allowed phones, and kids consistently

Summer campS 2025

thank us for it.

2. No Smartphones Until High School — Kids get smartphones because “everyone else has one,” yet it brings unnecessary stress and social pressure. Giving younger kids a flip phone is a better option. Parents are stuck in a no-win situation—until summer camp offers them a muchneeded screen detox!

3. No Social Media Until 16 — Social media, especially TikTok, is addictive and damaging, comparable to gambling. If another product harmed kids this much, we’d ban it. Yet we overprotect kids from the real world while under protecting them from the online one. Camp provides a safe,

screen-free environment where kids can be kids.

4. More Unstructured, Unsupervised Play — Kids need real-world play, risk-taking, and adventure to develop social and problem-solving skills. Society has prioritized test scores over play, but camp restores this balance.

At summer camp, kids form deep friendships, learn resilience, and build social skills — all while immersed in an encouraging, screen-free community. Haidt believes one of camp’s greatest benefits is teaching kids to take safe risks — a crucial skill for facing life’s challenges.

Encouraging children to put down

YMCA Camp Mason

Welcoming Campers for 125 Years

For 125 years, YMCA Camp Mason has welcomed campers to be a part of our community. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. We engage and encourage youth and deliver meaningful and memorable experiences.

Our campers say it best!

“I made so many friends!”

Campers can try new programs while developing confidence, gaining independence, having fun and

their screens and embrace real experiences is more than nostalgia —it’s essential for their development. Summer camp isn’t just a getaway; it’s a necessity in today’s digital world.

Andy Pritikin is the owner/director of Liberty Lake Day Camp in Bordentown, NJ, as well as the co-owner of Everwood Day Camp in Sharon, MA, and Camp Southwoods in Paradox, NY. He’s the Past President of the American Camp Association NY/ NJ, and the host of the “Day Camp Podcast”

Liberty Lake Day Camp, 1195 Florence Columbus Road, Bordentown. www.libertylakedaycamp.com.

making lifelong friends.

“I come to camp for all of the great activities.”

Camp offers archery, pool swimming, boating, arts/crafts, drama, music, climbing tower, zipline, movie making, field/court sports, skateboard park, mountain biking, FREE trips and countless other activities.

“At camp I can be myself.”

98% of parents report their child felt a sense of belonging at camp. We teach and live our values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

For THE BEST SUMMER EVER, register at campmason.org, call 908-362-8217 or email shani@ campmason.org.

RSM Princeton

Advance Your Child’s Math Learning This Summer!

Summer math classes at RSM Princeton are now enrolling!

RSM’s award-winning program can help your child reinforce their math skills over the summer. RSM’s program has been trusted by parents for over 25 years across 75+ locations in North America. We take pride in ensuring each student learns in an environment that is optimal for them while boosting their confidence in math and learning abilities.

About RSM. At RSM, we use the rigorous study of mathematics as a vehicle to develop our students’ math fluency, intellect, and character, empowering them for life. Our unique approach consists of a continuous K-12 curriculum, taught by expert teachers, in a classroom environment of peers who study together year after year.

RSM’s curriculum is inspired by elite mathematical schools in the former Soviet Union, adapted to meet

Summer campS 2025

the needs of students in the U.S. educational system. Our curriculum has continually been perfected by our curriculum department over the past 25 years.

Why Choose RSM’s Summer Program? A Program for All Students: RSM offers summer classes for K-12 students looking to strengthen their grasp of the fundamentals, prepare for the upcoming school year, or experience additional challenges.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss: RSM’s program ensures that students retain and strengthen their math knowledge, keeping them on track when they return to school in the fall.

Talented Faculty: All of our teachers have a background in mathematics or a related field and a deep passion for the subject.

Summer Program Details: 6-Week and 3-Week Offerings. This summer, RSM Princeton is offering courses that run for six or three weeks. Our 6-Week program has two classes per week and starts in June. Class durations vary depending on the student’s grade. Our 3-Week program

has four classes per week and begins in July. Classes in our 3-Week program run for three hours per day.

Classroom Environment: Students are instructed by an expert teacher leading an interactive lesson in an in-person class environment. Who Can Join? RSM Princeton

has summer classes for students in grades K-12 and is also offering math competition classes for students looking for an additional challenge. Get Started Today! Visit our website at mathschool.com/Princeton to view the summer schedule for RSM Princeton and enroll your child today.

Summer campS 2025

Leaping Dog Art Studios

Let Your Imagination Run Wild This Summer

When you enter Leaping Dog Art Studios on 325 Farnsworth Street in downtown Bordentown City, you are immediately transported to a vibrant, creative atmosphere. Approaching the entrance, you will pass a Little Free Art Gallery welcoming anyone to share or take art. Upon entering the building, there is a colorful and welcoming mural about kindness painted by the students of Leaping Dog. Good music is usually pouring out of the studio sound system and a plethora of eye-catching paintings and clay projects sit on shelves that line almost every wall of the interior.

On their website, Leaping Dog Art Studio’s promise is to be “A place where imaginations are allowed to run wild, creative expression is the norm, and fun is had by people of all ages.” Stopping in during any class proves this to be true. Kids and adults

alike cannot wait to come to the next class and are sad when they have to leave or miss a class. Founder and director Jennifer Szeto says, “As a small business owner in these times especially, I am thankful each day to be open and booming. When classes and camps and workshops fill up,

I know that there is a need for the services we provide and I am happy that there is a community of people who, like me, value the arts and want creative activities to be a part of their lives.”

For the summer of 2025, Leaping Dog will offer nine weeks of 5 day

camps — with the exception of the week of July 4th — which is only a four-day week due to the holiday. Each week promises fun and exciting themes including the popular “Kawaii & Cartooning” week, “Sculpture & Clay” weeks, “Fashion Design” week and “Fantasy Art” week and our newer “Game Creation Week” and “We Love Music & Musicals!” Weeks. This summer, we are also happy to offer a camp for older teens interested in more serious drawing and painting experiences called “Art Portfolio Camp.”

“Camps fill up quick so I recommend registering as soon as possible,” says Jennifer, who earned a Masters in Art Teaching from the University of the Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Syracuse University and has more than 18 years of experience as an art educator and 11 years running her studio.

For more information on art classes and art camps or booking a private party or lesson, please visit www. leapingdogartstudios.com.

Summer campS 2025

Tomato Patch Summer Workshops

Reach for the Stars — Register Now!

A few weeks can last a lifetime! Find out at Tomato Patch Summer Workshops in Theater, Dance, Vocal Music, Video and Visual Arts! Students make lasting friendships and wonderful memories while becoming an accomplished performer and artist. Now in its 52nd year, Tomato Patch is the longest-running, most successful multi-disciplinary Visual and Performing Arts program in Central New Jersey. Featuring classes for all school age students, Tomato Patch is taught by a talented staff of professional artists.

Visual and performing arts wotrkshops explore arts, dance, theater, and vocal music. Session one is a four-week session for ages 13 to 18. Session two is a three-week session for ages 10 to 12. Master class is for students ages 13 to 18 who have attended Tomato Patch or had other formal theater training.

Tomato Patch Workshops is a multidisciplinary full-day Theater, Dance, Music, Visual Art and Video summer program for ages 10-18 in two sessions:

Session 1: Grades 8-12; minimum age 13.

June 30 through July 24. No Tomato Patch July 4. Only $1,175.

Session 2: Grades 4-7; minimum ages 10.

July 28 through August 14. Only

$1,100.

Tomato Patch Workshops culminate in an Evening of the Arts!

Unlike every other performing arts camp, Tomato Patch allows you to major in one subject and take classes in other areas. Become a triple threat! The majors to choose from are Acting, Vocal, Dance, Visual Arts, and Video Production.

The Master Class is full-day acting intensive summer program for ages 13-18 only in two sessions:

Session 1: June 30 through July 25 – No Class July 4, 5. Only $1,175.

Session 2: July 28 through August 15. Only $1,100.

Hours are 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. with before and after care available.

The Master Class in Theater culminates in A Night of One Acts!

Hours for all programs are Mondays through Fridays from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. with before and after care available. Before care starts at 7:15 a.m. and costs $50 per week. After care ends at 6 p.m. and costs $75 per week.

Still looking for something during the school year? Junior Tomatoes is 10 week-long Saturday morning theater workshops exploring creativity, movement, improvisation, and more from September through June for ages 4-12 in three sessions. All classes culminate in performances for family and friends!

Tomato Patch Workshops are conveniently located on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College. Visit us online at www.tomatopatch.org or call 609-5703566 for more information.

PBS Trainees Lauren Grace Onderko, Avery Alley, and Finlay Nyce. Photo by Megan Teat Photography.

artistry, collaborating in a dynamic creative environment. They gain a deeper understanding of how ideas evolve into choreography and performance, and how the technical and artistic elements seamlessly come together.”

The Summer Intensive Advanced is an excellent way to begin Princeton Ballet School’s Trainee Program, which serves as a bridge between the student phase of training and a professional dance career. The Trainee Program is ideal for homeschool students ages 15 and up, as well as posthigh school dancers, who are looking to further extend their training as they transition

Summer campS 2025

toward professional careers. Princeton Ballet School’s Trainee Program also offers international students the opportunity to complete the twoyear program, as the school is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll nonimmigrant students on F-1 visas. Based on individual progress and performance, trainees will have the opportunity to perform in American Repertory Ballet productions. Visit www.arballet.org or call 609-921-77458 to learn more and enroll today!

Bob Smith Soccer Academy

Soccer camps for ages 5 to 14

The Bob Smith Soccer Academy has been a family-owned and operated business since the early 1990s. This summer, it offers camps at two locations for boys and girls ages 5 to 14.

The first camp takes places outdoors at Robbinsville Community Park from July 14 through 18 and August 11 through 15. The second is at the Multisport Kingdom in Manalapan from July 21 through 28, August 4 through 8, and August 18 through 22.

Full-day camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and half-day camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Camps have skill stations from 9 to 11 a.m., games from 11 a.m. to noon, lunch from noon to 1 p.m., and group training and games until 3 p.m. Before and after-care are available, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bob Smith, A United States Soccer Hall of Fame member since 2006, played internationally and in the USA for nine years with the Philadelphia Atoms, Fury, and the New York Cosmos alongside the great Pele, Beckenbauer, Chinaglia, and countless pioneers of

Building Character & Community

the game. He then played for the Phila Fever, the San Diego Sockers, and finally, the Montreal Manic.

After he retired he turned to passing on his love of the game to the young players of New Jersey by having soccer camps at Mercer County Park for many years. He has always had the most qualified staff by his side, Including his own four children, who served as junior trainers at the camps.

His soccer academy first moved to the Robbinsville Fieldhouse, where his skilled staff and manager Joe Donigan provided training for players ages 4-15, hundreds of youth travel teams, and men’s leagues.

Operations have since relocated to Multisports Kingdom in Manalapan, where they continue to train players of all ages and levels, host summer camps, and run travel leagues for 225 youth teams from all around the state. Bob Smith’s son Dylan, who also played in college and some internationally, helps run the academy and is the director of coaching for Freehold Soccer.

Bob Smith Soccer Academy, 150 Woodward Road, Manalapan. www.bobsmithsoccer.com email: info@bobsmithsoccer.com. Register today and get a $25 discount for early registration.

U.S. News & World Report Recognizes Capital Health on Best Hospitals for Maternity List

U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell as a 2025 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care. This is the highest award a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study.

Capital Health is one of 25 hospitals in New Jersey and the only hospital in the Greater Mercer County area to earn this recognition. This is the second consecutive year that Capital Health earned a place on the U.S. News High Performing Hospitals list for Maternity Care and the third time in four years since U.S. News published its first list of Best Hospitals for Maternity. In April 2024, Capital Health was also recognized by U.S. News for achieving excellent outcomes for cesarean section and unexpected newborn complication among black patients.

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as severe unexpected newborn complication rates, birthing-friendly practices and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.

“Being named a high performing hospital by U.S. News & World Report means a lot for everyone involved in our Maternity Services Program at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell,” said Kira Przybylko, medical director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Capital Health. “For the incredible teams at our Josephine Plumeri Birthing Center, it validates their dedication to providing the highest level

of care to expectant mothers. For the communities we serve, it lets them know they can count on us to help their growing families get off to the healthiest and safest start possible.”

“The hospitals recognized by U.S. News as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care showcase exceptional care for expectant parents,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “These hospitals demonstrate significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.”

The Maternity Services Program at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell makes up the most complete maternity facility in the area. From routine deliveries to high-risk needs, staff at the Josephine Plumeri Birthing Center at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell provide a full range of prenatal, obstetrical, postpartum, and neonatal care options so newborns have the greatest chance for a healthy start. The designated Regional Perinatal Center provides neonatal care, including Mercer County’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for at-risk births.

To learn more, visit capitalhealth.org/maternity.

Renowned Bucks County Surgeon Joins Capital Health, Leads Heart and Vascular Institute

DR. JOSEPH AUTERI, a board certified, fellowship trained cardiothoracic surgeon with more than 25 years of leadership and clinical experience, has been named medical director of Capital Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute. As part of Capital Health Cardiac Surgery Specialists, his clinical focus is on minimally invasive and traditional surgical approaches to coronary artery disease, aortic and mitral valve disease, and general thoracic conditions.

Before joining Capital Health, Dr. Auteri held leadership roles in cardiothoracic surgery programs throughout the country, including serving as medical director of the Doylestown Heart Institute in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where his program earned regional and national recognition for quality. In academic settings, Dr. Auteri has served as an associate professor of Clinical Surgery at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York City and a clinical instructor in surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

“Capital Health’s commitment to innovation and outstanding patient care has made it a health care leader in our region,” said Dr. Auteri. “I am excited to be a part of the growing Heart and Vascular Institute as we expand access to highly trained specialists and cutting edge services for patients in Mercer, Bucks, and Burlington counties.”

After completing undergraduate studies in biochemistry at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dr. Auteri received his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New

York City, he completed a general surgery residency (serving as Chief Resident) and fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Auteri is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Chest Physicians. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves Medical Corps at the rank of Major.

Dr. Auteri joins Dr. Pasquale Luciano as part of Capital Health Cardiac Surgery Specialists, a practice dedicated to surgical treatment of patients with cardiac conditions ranging from those who have recently suffered a heart attack (or are at high risk for one) to those who present with coronary artery disease, aortic and mitral valve disease, or a range of general thoracic conditions.

The practice is part of Capital Health Heart and Vascular Institute, a comprehensive program with a multi specialty approach highlighted by the most up-to-date techniques and treatment options. With multiple locations throughout the greater Mercer and Bucks county region, the Institute features the most sophisticated technology guided by highly trained clinical experts in medical fields such as cardiac surgery, general and interventional cardiology, nephrology, podiatry, interventional radiology, vascular surgery, and wound management and hyperbaric medicine.

To make an office appointment with Dr. Auteri in Newtown, PA or Hopewell Township, NJ, call Capital Health Cardiac Surgery Specialists at 609.537.7277 or visit capitalhealth.org/cardiacsurgery for more information. To learn more about Capital Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute, visit capitalheartandvascular.org.

Preventing Colon Cancer: What You Should Know

Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

Take charge of your health. Join DR. JOHN BERRY, a board certified colorectal cancer surgeon at Capital Health Surgical Group, who will discuss the risk factors for colon cancer, options for screening, and how screening reduces the risk for colon cancer. Melissa Phelps, a registered dietitian and board certified oncology nutrition specialist at Capital Health Cancer Center, will also share evidence-based nutrition recommendations to reduce your colon cancer risk. Register for this event at capitalhealth.org/events.

Thoracic Surgeon with Expertise in Minimally Invasive Techniques Joins Capital Health Surgical Group

DR. JAMES MCPHERSON, a board certified thoracic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, 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. As director of Thoracic Surgery and co-director of the Lung Center of Excellence, Dr. McPherson focuses on minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer and other thoracic (chest) diseases.

“Capital Health is known for its commitment to innovation and providing people of our region with the highest quality care,” said Dr. McPherson. “I’m thrilled to be part of Capital Health Cancer Center and a growing team of surgeons who are expanding access to the latest minimally invasive surgery options for a broader range of cancer patients. With expertise in robotic surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System and nonsurgical lung biopsies with the Ion robotic bronchoscopy platform, we are reassuring patients that they don’t have to travel far to get the advanced treatment they need for lung cancer and benign conditions of the chest cavity.”

Dr. McPherson received his medical degree at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he also received his Master of Public Health degree. After general surgery training at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center (now Mount Sinai) in New York City, Dr. McPherson completed his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the University of Southern California (USC) and served on the USC faculty for four years. He founded the Los Angeles Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Group, focusing on early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer and minimally invasive heart valve surgery. As medical director of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, he introduced robotic assisted thoracic surgery for treatment of lung cancer. Dr. McPherson is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Dr. McPherson 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, gynecological oncology, hepato-pancreato-biliary, thoracic, vascular and surgical critical care.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. McPherson, call 844.303.LUNG (5864) or visit capitalhealthcancer.org for more information.

Seasonal Allergies

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

When spring is in the air, do you experience congestion, a runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, throat irritation, or other allergy symptoms? DR. RUBY ZUCKER, an internal medicine physician from Capital Health Primary Care – Mountain View, will discuss the latest treatments for seasonal allergies.

Register for this and other events at capitalhealth.org/events.

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS:

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW: CONCUSSION UPDATE

Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 6 p.m. Zoom Meeting

FOOD, INFLAMMATION AND HEALTH

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 | 6 p.m. Zoom Meeting

WAYS TO PREVENT AND MANAGE DIABETES

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | 6 p.m. Zoom Meeting

Capital Health Earns National Recognition for Social Responsibility

Capital Health, a leader in providing progressive, quality patient care in the central New Jersey region, recently earned national recognition from the Lown Institute as a standard-bearer of social responsibility across a range of metrics for health equity.

In the Lown Hospital Index, a report by the Institute that evaluates more than 3,100 hospitals across the nation, Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC) in Trenton ranked first in New Jersey for racial inclusivity and received ‘A’ grades for community benefit and several other categories. Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell in Pennington, New Jersey received an ‘A’ grade and ranked in the top five in the state for patient safety, also earning ‘A’ grades for racial inclusivity and other areas.

“Capital Health’s commitment to providing high-quality, equitable care to the people of Trenton and neighboring communities goes back more than 130 years,” said DR. ERIC SCHWARTZ, vice president of Community Health and Transformation and executive director of Capital Health’s Institute for Urban Care. “Having both of our hospitals receive honors from the Lown Institute validates the hard work of all our staff and reaffirms our tradition of health care excellence for residents in central New Jersey and surrounding areas.”

“Great care is only great if everyone can access it,” said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute. “We need hospitals that are not only leaders in clinical care, but also strong community partners—and these socially responsible hospitals are showing the way.”

from the Lown Hospital Index are based on several key metrics that measure social responsibility. Among those metrics, RMC received ‘A’ grades for social responsibility, racial inclusivity, health equity, community benefit, and inclusivity. The Trenton-based hospital also ranked number one in New Jersey and among the top 10 in the nation for racial inclusivity and is a top hospital for fair share spending due to its significant efforts to improve community health through free education programs, subsidized services, improvements to the social determinants of health, and more. Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell is among the top 5 hospitals in New Jersey for patient safety, receiving an ‘A’ grade in that category as well as inclusivity, cost efficiency, and racial inclusivity. Hopewell is also a top hospital for fair share spending.

The Lown Institute, founded in 1973 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Bernard Lown (developer of the defibrillator and cardioverter) is an independent, nonpartisan organization that conducts research to help bridge the gap between existing public policy solutions and improved access to care for all Americans. The Lown Hospital Index is the first ranking to assess the social responsibility of U.S. hospitals by applying unique measures such as racial inclusivity, avoidance of overuse (how well hospitals avoid unnecessary tests and procedures), and pay equity (how well hospital staff are paid compared to executives), among others. Data sources include Medicare claims, CMS patient safety data and hospital cost reports, among others.

Rankings

“When I got the phone call, I was beyond belief, I was so excited,” Fisher said. “There are so many people in that hall of fame that when I was a kid I idolized. Steinert has had such a great athletic tradition over the years. It’s a great honor.”

Fisher, a class of 1976 graduate from Steinert, earned his first byline writing for the Steinert Spectrum during his senior year of high school. It was at Steinert, the school that will be honoring his career, where he first found his love for journalism.

Fisher was always a big sports fan growing up, and according to his fourth grade teacher, he always had the ability to write. After encouragement from a teacher at Steinert, Fisher decided to give the journalism route a go, studying it at Point Park University in Pittsburgh and never looking back after that.

Over the years, Fisher has covered many different sporting events in the area: Rutgers

sports, Princeton sports, Giants game, you name it. However, high school sports have been his forte, and it has been in the Mercer County area where he grew up where he has spent most of his career.

“I enjoy it,” Fisher said. “The high school kids appreciate that you’re there.” He also then compared the interviews to interviews with professional and collegiate athletes, and said that it is much nicer to be dealing with the athletes one-on-one and on a more personal level rather than being “one in a million” reporters trying to get a question in with a professional.

The love between Fisher and the high school sports he covers does not just go one way, though.

“His approval rating is like 100%,” Charlie Inverso, the former head coach of both Rider University and Mercer County Community College’s men’s soccer teams, said. “You never hear anyone say he’s a bad writer, and it’s very unique that everyone likes your pieces in an industry where you’re not

always looking to make friends.”

If there is one thing Fisher has done in his career, it is make friends. Whether it be coaches, former players, or even refs, Fisher always stays in touch with the people that he has covered and is friendly with, giving him the reputation of being a very social guy.

John Wagner, a retired coach,

teacher and athletic director at Hightstown High School, told a story of a “Christmas Eve Club,” which started as a small event for a handful of about five or six teachers and coaches to wish each other happy holidays.

“One year fairly early on, we invited Fish,” Wagner said. “It’s been going on ever since then, but it’s close to 40 people that

OPEN HOUSE FOR YARDVILLE SUMMER CAMP!

come now. He’s responsible for most that come. It’s a standing joke that it was a small gathering until Fish joined.”

“Fish loves people and people love Fish,” Inverso said. “The place will be packed [for his hall of fame induction] and Fish will get a standing ovation.”

To last in an industry as long as he has and be celebrated the way he has been, there has to be more at play than just friendliness and kindness. For Fisher, his work ethic and his creative ability as a writer have helped to prolong his career.

“He wrote a weekly ski column even though he’s never touched a ski in his life,” Wagner said. “All the travel he’s done is a credit to his work ethic.”

For Fisher, having any sort of work ethic is the bare minimum to make it as a journalist.

“If you work hard, people respect what you do,” Fisher said. “These coaches put a lot of time into their craft. They don’t want some guy coming up not paying attention to things, they want a guy that knows what’s

See FISH, Page 28

Rich Fisher meets Mike Schmidt in the Philadelphia Phillies’ television broadcast booth in August 2023.

RYANS COMMERCIAL MAINTENANCE

going on. I try to know what’s going on.”

Fisher guesses that he has had in the “high, high thousands” of articles published during his career. After spending 44 years working for weekly paper the Princeton Packet, where he would write seven or eight stories a week, running his own website, fish4scores.com, where he would write five, six or seven stories in a day, and freelancing, it makes sense that Fisher’s byline count would be way up there.

Being able to write an interesting story and keeping people intrigued while reading is a necessity for a journalist. For Fisher, it’s one of his strong suits.

“He’s an amazingly creative mind, his stories always have a flow,” Inverso said. “He’s really good at finding parallels from something that happened in a game to something else. He doesn’t repeat too many things.”

“Sometimes he’d sneak a zinger in that only I would know about,” said Joe Fink, a high school classmate of Fisher’s and retired coach of Trenton High School’s boy’s soccer team. “His articles about our team were always positive. He’s a very positive guy.”

For Fisher, constant positivity is one of the basics when it comes to covering high school sports.

“They’re high school kids, it may be the only time they get mentioned in a story,” Fisher said. “You want to give them something to enjoy.”

The fact that he may be the only person covering an athlete in their life, or the “singular documenter” as he called it, is something that Fisher values in his writing.

Mercer County area icon.”

“I like to write about these kids as more than athletes,” Fisher said. “I like to present these athletes as a complete person rather than just a kid running around playing sports.”

The decision to induct Fisher into Steinert’s Hall of Fame was an easy one for the committee to make, as they unanimously voted him in. With his body of work as a journalist covering Steinert and other high school’s sporting events around the area, it was going to be hard to keep him out.

“His resume speaks for itself,” said Mary Ann Tarr, a retired journalist and current co-chair of the Steinert High School Athletic Hall of Fame committee. “He’s versatile. You could send him to a chicken dinner at your church, and he would come back with a good story.”

Now 66 years old, Fisher is still regularly covering Mercer County high school sports. While he did say that it gets harder to do this work as he gets older, he still really enjoys getting out and watching these games that he’s covering.

“The people that are involved really make it great,” Fisher said. “They make my job easier, they sit for interviews when they maybe don’t feel like it. I owe them.”

Tarr, on the other hand, believed that his ability to interview is part of what makes him a great reporter. “You can just see people relax when he starts to interview. He’s just so comfortable with it.”

Fisher will enter a 2025 Steinert Hall of Fame class with nine other people and two teams.

“He values that parents may put his story into a frame and it becomes a family keepsake,” Inverso said. “You can’t put a price tag on that, and it’s why Fish is a

Fink, a Steinert Hall of Fame inductee in 2014, said: “He’s the kind of guy you could call for a favor and he’d be over in a minute. He’s someone you can always count on.”

Web: steinertathletichof.com.

CALEndAr oF EVEnTS

Below is a selection of events taking place this month in our area. For even more events, go online to our website, communitynews.org/events.

Details below were believed to be accurate at time of publication. We always recommend that you confirm all necessary details when planning to attend an event.

saTurday, March 1

Toy Library, First Presbyterian Church. 9:30 a.m. Bring toys or tokens to exchange for new-to-you toys. Receive tokens by contributing at collection events or at the shopping event. 420 Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown.

Winter in the Farmhouse & Orchard care, Howell Living History Farm. 10 a.m. howellfarm.org. 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell. reock and roll revue’s John Lennon — the solo recordings, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. kelseyatmccc.com. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

suNday, March 2

Family sundays at the Nature center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 1:30 p.m. Naturalistguided program geared towards kids and families. No registration required. All ages. abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton.

Tuesday, March 4

stand Tall yoga, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Bring mat. All levels welcome. Cathy Frank, certified yoga instructor. $5; free for Friends for the Abbott Marshlands. abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton.

WedNesday, March 5

Wednesday Wonder Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Easy walk with group. Explore the trails of Roebling Park. Free. No registration required. abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton.

Thursday, March 6

cosmic Jerry Band Grateful dead Tribute, Cooper’s Riverview. 7 p.m. coopersnj.com. 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton.

FrIday, March 7

split decision Band, Cooper’s Riverview. 7 p.m. coopersnj.com. 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton. Oklahoma!, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

saTurday, March 8

Visit from the horse doctor and shoer, Howell Living History Farm. 10 a.m. howellfarm. org. 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell. hamilton st. Patrick’s day Parade, Nottingham Way. 1 p.m. Rain date March 22. Starts at Nottingham Fire House, 200 Mercer St., Hamilton. hamiltonparade.com. successful Failures, Trenton Tir Na nOg. 3 p.m. 1324 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. dJ Mighty Mike presents the Vinyl Nights Freestyle dance concert with electrifying performances by, Cooper’s Riverview. 6 p.m. 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton. Oklahoma!, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

suNday, March 9

Family sundays at the Nature center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 1:30 p.m. Naturalistguided program geared towards kids and families. All ages. No registration required, abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton.

Oklahoma!, Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College. 2 p.m. kelseyatmccc. com. 1200 Old Trenton Road, Windsor.

Tuesday, March 11

stand Tall yoga, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Bring mat. All levels welcome. Cathy Frank, certified yoga instructor. $5; free for Friends for the Abbott Marshlands. abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton.

WedNesday, March 12

March Business Before Business Virtual speed Networking. 8:30 a.m. Free to Princeton Mercer Chamber members. Virtual networking event. Register at princetonmercerchamber.org.

Wednesday Wonder Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Easy walk with group. Explore the trails of Roebling Park. Free. No registration required. abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Avenue,

a featured speaker and panelist regarding issues in nursing home litigation and has worked to obtain favorable decisions on behalf of nursing home residents, including a notable case involving forced arbitration. Her efforts have resulted in millions of dollars for her injured clients. Together, PR&A and Ms. Warfel will provide unrelenting representation to nursing home clients to ensure they are compensated fairly.

Hamilton.

Thursday, March 13

Lovelight Grateful dead Tribute with Pete Tonti!, Cooper’s Riverview. 7 p.m. coopersnj.com. 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton.

FrIday, March 14

Oklahoma! at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College. 8 p.m. kelseyatmccc. com. 1200 Old Trenton Road, Windsor.

saTurday, March 15

usa Wrestling NJ state Finals, CURE Insurance Arena. 9 a.m. juniors and intermediates. Session 2 1 p.m. cadets and girls. Times subject to change. cureinsurancearena.com. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. Workhorse rides, Howell Living History Farm. 10 a.m. howellfarm.org. 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell.

st. Patrick’s day Weekend in the Winery, Terhune Orchards. Noon. Music of Shamrock Shenanigans with Mike Tusay. terhuneorchards.com. 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. The Verdict reggae/soca Band, Cooper’s Riverview. 7 p.m. Reggae, soca and world beats. coopersnj.com. 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton.

Oklahoma!, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. kelseyatmccc.com. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

suNday, March 16

usa Wrestling NJ state Finals, CURE Insurance Arena. 9 a.m. tots, bantams and novices. cureinsurancearena.com. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton.

st. Patrick’s day Weekend in the Winery,

Terhune Orchards. Noon. Irish Tunes with Bill O’Neal and his wife, Mary. terhuneorchards.com. 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. Family sundays at the Nature center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 1:30 p.m. Naturalistguided program geared towards kids and families. All ages. No registration required, abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton.

Oklahoma!, Kelsey Theatre. 2 p.m. kelseyatmccc.com. kelseyatmccc.com. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. capital Philharmonic of New Jersey spring serenades, Patriots Theater at the War Memorial. 4 p.m. Pre-concert lecture at 3 p.m. Wind musicians of the Philharmonic with Sebastian Grand, conductor. Music of Mozart, Strauss, Ibert, Dvorak. Reception onstage following the concert. capitalphilharmonic.org. 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton.

MONday, March 17

Irish Music for st. Patrick’s day, Trenton Tir Na nOg. Diarmuid MacSuibhne at noon, Successful Failures at 4 p.m., Some Assembly Required at 8 p.m. 1324 Hamilton Ave, Trenton.

Tuesday, March 18

stand Tall yoga, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Bring mat. All levels welcome. Cathy Frank, certified yoga instructor. $5; free for Friends for the Abbott Marshlands. abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton.

sesame street Live, CURE Insurance Arena. 6 p.m. cureinsurancearena.com. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton.

WedNesday, March 19

Wednesday Wonder Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Easy walk with group. Explore the trails of Roebling Park. Free. No registration required. abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton.

Thursday, March 20

cosmic Jerry Band Grateful dead Tribute, Cooper’s Riverview. 7 p.m. coopersnj.com. 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton.

FrIday, March 21

Il Trovatore, The College of New Jersey. 7:30 p.m. Boheme Opera NJ production of Verdi’s tale of love, lust and revenge. At Kendall Main Stage Theater. bohemeopera.org. 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing. richie Minervini, Catch a Rising Star, Hyatt Regency Princeton. 8 p.m. Stand-up comedy. catcharisingstar.com. 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton.

Kinky Boots | Presented by Thank you 5 Productions, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. Featuring Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper, and book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein. kelseyatmccc.com. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

Poor Man’s Gambit at Princeton Folk Music society, Christ Congregation Church. 8 p.m. The Princeton Folk Music Society presents Philadelphia-based Irish music band. Poor Man’s Gambit. princetonfolk. org. 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton.

saTurday, March 22

sawmilling & horse-drawn road Grading, Howell Living History Farm. 10 a.m. howellfarm.org. 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell. disney’s Tangled animated Movie Play-along,

Kelsey Theatre. 11 a.m. Rapunzel and Flynn Rider guide guests in a sing-along & playalong adventure. kelseyatmccc.org. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Wine & chocolate encore Weekend, Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery. Noon. Special wine and chocolate pairings featuring Pierre’s Chocolates of New Hope and Terhune wine. Pairings include wine flight, chocolates and a souvenir glass. Live music from 1-4 p.m. terhuneorchards.com. 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. richie Minervini, Hyatt Regency Princeton. 7:30 p.m. Stand-up comedy. catcharisingstar.com. 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton. Kinky Boots, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

suNday, March 23

Wine & chocolate encore Weekend, Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery. Noon. Special wine and chocolate pairings featuring Pierre’s Chocolates of New Hope and Terhune wine. Pairings include wine flight, chocolates and a souvenir glass. Live music from 1-4 p.m. terhuneorchards.com. 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton.

Family sundays at the Nature center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 1:30 p.m. Naturalistguided program geared towards kids and families. All ages. No registration required, abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton.

Kinky Boots, Kelsey Theatre. 2 p.m. kelseyatmccc.com. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

Il Trovatore, The College of New Jersey. 3 p.m. Boheme Opera NJ production of Verdi’s tale of love, lust and revenge. At Kendall Main Stage Theater. bohemeopera.org. 2000

ARY CELEB R ATING

Pennington Road, Ewing.

Tuesday, March 25

stand Tall yoga, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Bring mat. All levels welcome. Cathy Frank, certified yoga instructor. $5; free for Friends for the Abbott Marshlands. abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton.

Virtual author Talk: New Jersey Women during World War II, New Jersey State Library. Noon. Dr. Patricia Chappine examines the critical role the women of New Jersey played as they stepped into newly formed military branches and entered the labor force in areas never before opened to them. Register at njstatelib.org.

Princeton sound Kitchen presents Barbara White, ‘Lorica,’ riley Lee, Princeton University. 8 p.m. Shakuhachi grand master Riley Lee. performs. princetonsoundkitchen.org. 68 Nassau St., Princeton.

WedNesday, March 26

Wednesday Wonder Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Easy walk with group. Explore the trails of Roebling Park. Free. No registration required. abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton.

Thursday, March 27

young Professionals Kickoff Networking, Killarney’s Publick House. 5 p.m. An evening of networking among the area’s young professionals. Geared for attendees between the ages of 21-44. princetonmercerchamber.org. 1644 Whitehorse Mercerville Road, Mercerville.

FrIday, March 28

Kinky Boots, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

dena Blizzard, Catch a Rising Star, Hyatt Regency Princeton. 8 p.m. Stand-up comedy. catcharisingstar.com. 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton.

saTurday, March 29

shredded stars: Mysterious signals from hearts of Galaxies, New Jersey State Museum Planetarium. 4:15 p.m. Free talk with Philippe Yao, Princeton University about black holes at the centers of galaxies. Reserve seats at forms.office.com/ g/0vJ0yXMrBC. 205 W State St, Trenton. dena Blizzard, Catch a Rising Star, Hyatt Regency Princeton. 7:30 p.m. Stand-up comedy. catcharisingstar.com. 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton.

Kinky Boots, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

suNday, March 30

Family sundays at the Nature center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 1:30 p.m. Naturalistguided program geared towards kids and families. All ages. No registration required, abbottmarshlands.org. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton.

Kinky Boots, Kelsey Theatre. 2 p.m. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

PPM Presents carmina Burana with roxey Ballet, TCNJ Main Stage Theater at Kendall Hall. 4 p.m. Two choruses, two grand pianos, percussion and a cast of professional ballet dancers. roxeyballet.org. 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing.

At Greenwood House, our residents, families and caregivers LOVE HOW MUCH WE CARE! AND YOU WILL, TOO. But don’t take our word for it.

“the only choice for my patient’s”

–

DR. KEVIN McGUIGAN Medical Director of Rehabilitation

Enrolling ages 16 Months to 5 Years

Senior Healthcare

Personalized high-quality care, safety, security, expert staffing, kindness and love are all the things our clients, residents, and families love about Greenwood House the most! But don’t take our word for it. Hear it straight from them. Visit our website and read the many letters of thanks and appreciation at GreenwoodHouse.org/testimonials

• Post-Acute Rehabilitation

• Orthopedic Surgery Recovery Rehab

• Stroke Rehab

• Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation Programs

• Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy

• Long-Term Care

• Skilled Nursing

“After I completed my residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania, I joined the medical staff of St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center and practiced there for 33 years, 27 of those years as the Medical Director. When St. Lawrence was sold to a corporation, I made the decision to move my practice, and the ONLY call I made was to Greenwood House. Throughout my many years in Mercer County, I knew that Greenwood House was a 5-star facility that was highly regarded by fellow physicians and patients in Mercer County.”

• Respite Care

• Home Care Assistance*

• Home Health Aide

• Assisted Living

• Kosher Meals on Wheels

• Hospice Care**

Greenwood House is a nonprofit, mission-based organization rooted in cherished Jewish traditions and an industry leader in providing high-quality senior health care in the state of New Jersey. Seniors of all faiths are welcome.

2024 AWARD WINNERS

Michele Garzio

Michael Giovanelli

Renate Gribbin

Gail Dellaira

Lori Giberson Leadership Club 2024 Marc Cuniglio

Thomas Elliott

Kaitlin Spurgin Leadership Club 2024

joan sander Leadership Club 2024

smires

Olga VanMorter

Anny Servellon Leadership Club 2024

SPorTS

Football stars to be honored at annual George Wah dinner

By rIch FIsher

While watching high school football players on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons, all the focus is on their athletic ability and few spectators are thinking of them sitting at their classroom desks Monday through Friday. But they do, and some thrive in that setting as much as on the gridiron.

Four such players from Hamilton Township will be honored for their academic, athletic and leadership skills on March 9 at the 63rd Annual George Wah Scholar-Leader-Athlete Awards Dinner. Sponsored by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, the event is 2 p.m. at Princeton Marriott @ Forrestal.

The township honorees feature Hamilton West’s Jacob Smith, Nottingham’s Carlos Almonte, Notre Dame’s Wyatt Moore and Steinert’s Jon Weaver. Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship and are eligible for larger scholarships to be revealed that night.

* * *

Smith was a three-year starting varsity lineman for Hamilton and served as a captain last fall. He was injured throughout his senior season yet still grinded it out. After missing three games,the center returned for Thanksgiving despite the pain. He earned 12th-Man TD Club Player of the Week honors, and was West’s Impact Player of the Year and Offensive Lineman of the Year as a junior.

But this latest honor is his best yet.

“This means the world to me,” Smith said. “It shows how much my hard work has paid off. It shows that the player can not only put in work on the field but be disciplined in the classroom. It was important to me to be someone that my teammates could rely on and this award validates that I have been that person both on the field and in my school community.”

It was his participation in football that has aided other aspects in his life.

“Football helped me tremendously because of the hard work and discipline needed to excel on the gridiron as a team-

mate,” he said. “I have applied that same mentality to school and in my personal life.

“Focus and commitment are also critical to success on the field and having those qualities helps me stay on top of school work, strive to get good grades and prepare me to be successful in life.”

The results bear that out as Smith is in the top seven percentile of his class with a 4.1 unweighted grade point average and 4.6 weighted.

“Academics has always been something I’ve focused on,” he said. “When I started playing football freshman year nothing changed. I have prided myself on my academics since early middle school. I want to thank my mom for always being on top of me to be the best I can on the field and in the classroom.”

A valuable member of the West student body, Smith is a member of GALARE and the Unified Club, and has volunteered at an elementary level aftercare program and middle school athletics program. In the spring he is a catcher for the varsity

was

baseball team.

“What I find most inspiring about Jacob is the caring spirit that he exhibits within our school community,” Hornets coach Anthony “The Meatball Master” Papero

Jacob Smith

a 3-year starting varsity lineman for Hamilton West.

Receiver Carlos Almonte caught 18 passes for 211 yards for Nottingham last season.

said. “I’ve witnessed firsthand his ability to be an effective, open-minded, and natural leader. I have had the pleasure to watch Jacob closely as he has participated in countless and varied activities at West

Almonte was a two-year varsity receiver for the Northstars and three-year member of the program.This past season he caught 18 passes for 211 yards and was a Student-Athlete of the Month winner.

“It means a lot to me to get this award because my hard work and dedication is paying off,” Almonte said. “It says a lot about a player being recognized in this fashion because they get rewarded for their work ethic.”

That is something synonymous with Almonte, according to Northstars coach Milo McGuire.

“He was never the biggest or fastest,” McGuire said. “But he has the heart of a lion and he’ll never give up on any task. The thing that impresses me most about Carlos is his work ethic and his selflessness.”

That work ethic comes through off the field as well. While compiling a gradepoint average of 3.1, Almonte has been an active member of Nottingham’s Key Club and has volunteered at several events, including the school’s Cookies with Santa Night in December.

An avid fisherman, Almonte knows the importance of reeling in good grades.

“Academics has always been important

See GEORGE WAH, Page 38

to me because I’ve always loved to learn new things and have challenges to overcome,” he said. “In the future I plan on going into the carpentry union, but I’ve also been thinking about going to college for criminal justice.”

As he moves forward, Almonte will carry the lessons learned on the gridiron.

“Football helps you stay disciplined, work with others, and keep on going when things get hard,” he said. “These lessons make it easier to focus on school and handle challenges in my life.” * * *

Despite battling injuries through his career, Moore became one of the great receivers in the storied history of Notre Dame.

The Yardville resident was a three-year varsity starter and captain his senior year. He was the West Jersey Football League Capitol Division’s Player of the Year last fall, and was a two-time, first-team AllConference pick, a two-time NJSIAA AllNon-Public selection and a two-time firstteam All-Area pick.

But like his peers on the George Wah dinner dais, Moore is being honored as more than just a player.

“This means a lot because it recognizes the hard work and commitment I had to being a student- athlete that is behind the

scenes,” he said “People may not know that on top of performing on the the field I am performing in the classroom as well. I think as a player this is a great honor because to be able to juggle both a football schedule and continue to perform at a high academic level shows character.”

Moore checks in with a cumulative grade score of 93.4 out of 100 and is a three-year National Honor Society Member. He earned the English 2 award, Honors Accounting award and Honors Calculus award for the highest grade in those courses, and earned the ScholarAthlete Award at ND. Beyond earning good grades, Moore was Leader of Catholic Athletes for Christ and the Campus Ministry, a Head Eucaristic Minister and, for good measure, a member of the Ping Pong Club.

He also has a boating license, and realizes without good grades, his football career might go down with the ship.

“Academics have always meant a great deal to me,” Moore said. “My parents never checked my grades because they trusted that I would always do exceptionally well and I always made sure to hold up my end. I always wanted to go to a good school on top of being a football player in college so academics was always at the forefront for me.”

He found that school and has earned

Last season, Wyatt Moore become one of the top receivers in Notre Dame history.

a scholarship to Division I Stonehill, a Northeast Conference member in Massachusetts. He will study accounting and plans on getting an MBA and pursuing an

accounting career.

As the grandson of legendary Irish coach Chappy Moore and the son of former ND quarterback Bill Moore, Wyatt knows the importance of football and life.

“Being a football player builds confidence, accountability, and time management,” he said. “This all translates into the classroom and if you utilize these skills correctly they will benefit you both in school and in the future.”

* * *

Weaver was a three-year starter and two-year captain for Steinert, grabbing 27 catches for 308 yards and four touchdowns last fall while making 44.5 tackles (nine for loss) with a forced fumble and interception on defense.

“I take a lot of pride in receiving such an honor,” Weaver said. “It reflects all of the hard work, dedication, and passion that I’ve put into football. It feels great that my efforts on and off the field are being recognized and appreciated. It also motivates me to keep striving for success.

“For a player to be recognized in such fashion really says a lot about that person. It shows all of the untalked-about hours that were put in, the passion and love that they have for the game. It shows that when times get tough this is the guy that we lean on, and overall it shows what a great role model they are for the youth

“Academics have always been a big priority to me,” he said. “The first thing I was told as a student-athlete is that the student always comes first. I’ve witnessed great athletes fall just because they couldn’t get themselves in check in the classroom. I told myself from the very start that won’t be me. I set myself high standards when it comes to the classroom going into everyday with a growth mindset and take a lot of pride in what I do.”

That attitude is not lost on Steinert coach Thaddeus Richards.

“Jon has demonstrated many admirable qualities consistently that will stick with our school far past his graduation,” Richards said. “He’s consistently tried to find opportunities to learn, challenge himself and most importantly grow.”

Much of that growth has been instilled by football.

and motivating them to strive for such success.”

Weaver also plays varsity basketball, and when off the field and court he has a 3.3 unweighted GPA and 3.6 weighted. In giving time to others, he has volunteered at Trinity Table in Bordentown by helping prepare food for people in need; and has worked with the YMCA Special Needs basketball program teaching young players on the basics of the sport. Weaver has earned Steinert’s Student Spotlight award and Student of the Month honor. He will continue his football career at The College of New Jersey while majoring in Business.

“Football has taught me tremendous amounts of life lessons that I will carry on with me for the rest of my life,” Weaver said. “The biggest thing that I take away is that every minor setback is an opportunity for an even bigger comeback. I’ve dealt with numerous injuries during my time playing football but I felt a little lost after spraining my ankle my sophomore year.

“But when coach (Kyle) Flanagan reached out to me and told me that every setback is an opportunity for a great comeback it lit a spark in me that wanted to reach that big comeback. From that point forward I haven’t let any little setback seem like the end of the world because they were just an opportunity for me to grow and become the young man that I am today.”

Tickets for the George Wah ScholarLeader-Athlete Dinner can be purchased by calling (609) 202-4166 or emailing delval.nffhf@gmail.com.

We are a dedicated team of board certified physicians who provide high quality healthcare to newborns, children, and adolescents through college age.

Scheduled appointments and same day sick visits are available weekdays, evenings, and Saturday mornings.

Jonathan Weaver caught 27 balls for 308 yards and 4 touchdowns for Steinert.

Alon Baker, DO, FAAP, FACOP • Sonya Boor, MD, FAAP

Laura Brandspiegel, MD, FAAP • Stefanie Fiderer, DO, FAAP

Conte helps lead Hornets hoops to best season in 15 years

By rIch FIsher

Isabella Conte is not your usual point guard.

Forget the fact she started playing basketball as a forward and moved to the backcourt. That’s mere commonplace.

What makes the Hamilton West senior so unique, is that she plans on going into aerospace engineering after having the desire to be an astronaut while growing up. Which is only fitting, since the Hornets girls’ basketball season actually blasted off after Conte moved to the point.

Despite missing the state tournament by one spot, the Hornets enjoyed their best season and posted their most wins since a 13-13 finish in 2010-11. And that came after an 0-5 start.

“Izz Conte running the point was phenomenal,” coach Rob Farina said. “With her providing that leadership moving to point guard we won two out of three in the West Windsor Christmas tournament and that totally changed the entire season.”

Hamilton had a proven scorer in Zaire Galloway, but had no one to run the show. After starting 0-2 and falling behind 18-5 at halftime against Trenton, Farina decided to try Conte as the facilitator. After looking awful for one half, West outscored Trenton 20-16 after intermission. At first the switch seemed

moot as Hamilton lost its next two badly, but a 40-33 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North sparked a five-game winning streak, and Hamilton was respectable for the rest of the way.

“A lot of people didn’t think we were going to have as successful a season as we did,” Conte said. “Losing those first five games made the morale go down. Once we won the first game we were like ‘OK, we’re starting to figure ourselves out.’

“We had a lot of new people in our rotation. I feel like we needed to learn to play together well. Once we figured it out we came together as a team. Winning those five games in a row definitely was a morale boost and helped us know that even if we lost a few games we could find our way back and win some more.”

The athletic Conte, a fouryear varsity performer in soccer, basketball and lacrosse, averaged 5.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while leading the Hornets in assists.

“Honestly it was a little stressful at first,” she said of the new position. “He always reiterated ‘‘It’s not your job to win the game for the team, you just bring it up with composure and start getting something going and rely on your teammates to also help with the offense.’

“Seeing everyone else do it

for the last three years helped. And since I sometimes play goalie in soccer I know how to direct people and see everyone on the field. I think that helped translate to basketball in seeing everyone on the floor and running the point.”

Conte said that the longer she handled the position, the more comfortable she became.

“Some teams would challenge us and it would be more of a struggle and there would be challenges we had to get through,” she said. “I found

it interesting to see new challenges as they arose, and figuring out how to get through each new challenge. I liked finding new ways to adapt to what we needed to do based on how we were playing and the way the game was going.”

Farina realized early on that Hamilton might not win a game if he could not find someone to handle the ball. The fact he asked Conte to do it wasn’t just a panic move. He knew she had the right temperament for the experiment.

“She just has that mindset,” the coach said. “There’s kids out there when things get hard they quit. I’ve got girls where I say ‘Fo to the high post right now,’ and they say ‘I can’t do that coach.’ Izz Conte is the opposite of that. Wherever you tell her to go, she’s gonna go.

“I have a phenomenal coaching staff. We’ve got real basketball people on our staff, some old school players, and they all said ‘You’ve gotta make Isabella Conte the point guard.’ She accepted that. Never said a word. She knew we didn’t have any ball handlers.”

Conte realized a change was necessary. She wasn’t sure if she was the answer, but knew things couldn’t keep going as they were.

“After the first couple of games it felt like we needed something,” Conte said. “We didn’t really know what it was. I think that I sort of saw myself succeeding and being the point guard even if it wasn’t necessarily scoring all the points. It helped to move the game along and really fuel us into being able to play well together and not just turn the ball over and get flustered. We started keeping our cool and being able to score just from being calm and collective. “

Although not a scorer, Conte did tallie double figures four times and also played strong

Isabella Conte in action against New Egypt for Hamilton High West girls’ basketball.

defense with 47 steals. What really impressed was her rebounding. It was in her blood from being a forward, but playing on the perimeter she didn’t have as many opportunities and still got her share.

“I started playing forward my freshman year and I knew I wasn’t necessarily a great scorer,” Conte said. “But I knew I could rebound. I was strong enough to be able to box out and put a body on the girls under the basket. I think it comes from that and working on the defensive side of things rather than just offensive.

“I didn’t have as many opportunities to get those rebounds playing guard. But when I had the opportunity, just having the work ethic and hustle the entire game is something that helps with that.”

Farina will vouch for that work ethic. In fact, he will gush about it.

“I use her as an example every single year of what boxing out looks like,” the coach said. “The kid boxes out every play. She played hurt the entire second half of the season and she still was just a beast. She was our captain, she wanted to be captain and she provided great leadership.

“She’s an incredible kid. I wish we could have more Isabella Contes. A phenomenal young lady. She has a great basketball IQ and off the court she’s brilliant.”

Brilliant enough to have some big-time career goals.

She took several classes at Mercer County Technical School, including a number of engineering courses that she found interesting.

“I’ve always been interested in space the whole time I was growing up,” she said. “I sort of combined those classes with that interest and decided I wanted to further my career with what I was learn-

ing in my classes.”

Just what was it she loved about space?

“I’ve always said I wanted to be an astronaut,” she said. “I’ve always found it interesting, just everything out there, everything about it. Also just being able to learn about all the stars and all the planets. I always loved doing that.”

Conte has been preparing for that future with numerous activities. She has made several planetarium trips, was the president of Hamilton’s Robotics Club and has taken engineer-based electives with her classes at West. She also paints and draws pictures of landscapes and such, and has found a way to incorporate that talent into her interest.

“I’m into designing,” she said. “I took an intro to engineering class and we did technical drawings. I found that to be really fun as well. The designing and math aspect is fun to me.”

If it sounds like Conte is smart, she is. She has a 3.96 unweighted grade point average and is planning on doing Air Force ROTC wherever she goes to college. She’s unsure if she still wants to be an astronaut but won’t rule it out, saying, “I don’t know. . .if it takes me there.”

Conte’s course load is the kind that can cause a lot of stress and pressure at times. Fortunately, she has athletics to fall back on. “I think that being able to go to practice you’re not really thinking about the pressures of your school work; it gives you an escape from that for a couple hours,” she said. “Even if the game you’re playing is a little stressful, it’s still having fun with your friends and your teammates. So that works well as an escape.”

Having Conte take over at point guard worked well as an escape from what could have been a rough season for the Hornets. And turned it into their best campaign in 15 years.

MERCER COUNTY CONNECTION’S MARCH 2025 EVENTS

Notary Oath Night

Thursday, March 6, 2025 3:00PM - 7:00PM

The Mercer County Clerk’s office will administer the oath to newly commissioned and renewing Notaries

Please call the Mercer County Clerk’s office to schedule an appointment: (609) 989-6466 or email: espagano@mercercounty.org

Penn Medicine/Princeton Health Presents: Beginner Yoga at Mercer County Connection

Thursday, March 6, 2025 5:30PM - 6:30PM

Thursday, March 13, 2025 5:00PM - 6:00PM

In collaboration with Mercer County Connection, the Public Education Committee of the Mercer County Bar Association offers FREE 15-minute consultations with an attorney *All Lawyers C A R E meetings will take place virtually *

To register please call (609) 890-9800

For additional information please call (609) 585-6200 or visit www.mercerbar.com AHA Homebuyer Counseling & Education and Mortgage Default Counseling

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 10:00AM - 1:00PM

Mercer County Connection, in partnership with the Affordable Housing Alliance, provides an opportunity for Mercer County residents who are experiencing difficulties with mortgage payments to speak with a HUD Certified Counselor

Please call (609) 890-9800 to register Greater Mercer TMA Travel Training & Public Transportation Education Program

Thursday, March 20, 2025 11:00AM - 12:30PM

Travel training is a group of services used to teach safe and independent travel skills on public transportation, including bus, rail, and light rail Training skills can be taught for many services provided by NJ TRANSIT, Mercer County, municipalities, and private companies Trainings are conducted by Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association and the New Jersey Travel Independence Program

Riders learn how to plan their trips, read schedules, pay fares, use accessibility features and take safety precautions during their travel

DESTRIBATS CAMPBELL

Caruso the latest top goalie for Hamilton tri-op hockey

By rIch FIsher

When he first started playing hockey, Mason Caruso would attend the learn-toplay practice sessions and come off the ice in tears.

“My mom asked me why I was crying and it was because I wanted to be a goalie,” he said. “I didn’t want to be a skater, I wanted to be in that net. I always had that mentality. When I was doing the learn-to-play I just wanted to block a shot, do the butterfly move. It really is a fun position.”

Caruso got his wish soon enough and for the past 11 years he has been a netminder for club teams such as the Mercer Chiefs, Virtua Hockey, the Titans and the Minutemen. The Steinert senior just completed his fourth season playing for the Hamilton Township NottinghamHamilton-Steinert tri-op team, for which he set a program record with 1,002 saves his junior season and 2,274 career saves.

Caruso is the latest in a line of stellar goalies from Steinert, which included Trevor Malik and Troy Callahan. During his first two seasons Mason shared time with Callahan and took over full-time last year.

“Troy was always friendly with me; he would give me advice from time to time,” Caruso said. “I always had the knowledge of goaltending from playing club hockey. But he was always supportive, never rude. I was completely fine backing him up for two years to see what high school was like.”

Caruso began skating at age 4 and got the hockey bug at age 7 when his mom took him to a New Jersey Devils-Tampa Bay Lightning game.

“I was playing baseball and hockey but from that point on I was just really into the sport,” he said. “I think Martin Brodeur was playing that game, but mostly I just remember they played Tampa Bay. (Brodeur) was a big inspiration. My number 30 is based on him.”

Caruso put up numbers that would make the Hall of Fame goalie proud as he faced a torrent of shots game after game. And yet his save percentage was over .900 all but one year, and even then it was .897. He finished with a career save percentage of .904 and was at .906 this past season after facing 1,083 shots.

Despite Hamilton Co-op’s porous defense and struggling offense, the team lost just four times by the 10-goal mercy rule.

“If it wasn’t for him there would have been a lot more games that would have happened,” coach John Patterson said. “We have a really young team and we had a really young defense. We have freshmen and sophomores up and down our lineup.

“We give up tons and tons of shots. A lot of those are second, third, fourth chances. Are some of those gonna go in? Yeah. There’s good hockey players in the CVC, everybody’s gonna get sniped once in a while. But Mason pulls our fat out of the fire so much, it’s a bit of a blessing having a goalie like that cleaning up other deficiencies we might have.”

It was a rough year for the township team as it finished 1-16. It would have been easy for Caruso to just throw his gloves in the air and give up.

But he isn’t wired that way.

“It was always the mentality of ‘I’m basically playing to prove who I am and show that I’m not a one-win goalie,’” he said. “I always just play to better myself. It was also a big part of having fun.

“Going into games, especially this season, I knew it wasn’t always a guaranteed win but I would always do the best I could and I wouldn’t give up any game. If I looked like a quitter it would represent the team as well. I don’t want those kids, with their future in hockey, to be quitters at all. That’s now how hockey players are.”

Patterson was not surprised to see the See CARUSO, Page 44

Mason Caruso tends goal for the Hamilton tri-op hockey team.

Sharif Hatab

Michael Gerstnicker

Iris Nitzan

Brian Smith

Nina Cestare Maria Garcia-Herreros Jessica Leale

Dale Michele Parello

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way Caruso reacted to the adversity of defeat.

“He’s a competitor,” the coach said. “There’s definitely games where I’m sure it wears on you. He’s captain for a reason, he’s got that mentality of ‘Guys I’m gonna lift you up. If you make a mistake I’m gonna do everything I can to eliminate that mistake.’ He wants guys to know he’s there and has their back.”

It all stems from a labor of love.

Caruso’s first goalie gear came when he got a set of blue pads from the Mercer Chiefs and his mom bought him gloves, a stick and a bald eagle helmet similar to that worn by Blackhawks goalie Ed Belfour.

“I still remember that set so much,” he said. “I remember just starting out I was decent. I was just trying to have fun, trying to learn.”

And did he like it right away?

“I think if I didn’t like it I wouldn’t still be playing,” Caruso said. “So I’m pretty sure I loved it.”

He immersed himself in it, going to Z-Tending training at Mercer rink and attending camps in the summer.

“It was always a chance to have practice,” Caruso said. “It’s really good for you as a player, especially a goalie.”

Mason learned his lessons well, and became a human backboard for Hamilton Co-op over the past four years.

“He tracks the puck well, he’s got great movements; he’s super quick,” Patterson said. “I don’t think you can be the level he’s at and have the ability he does without being sharp mentally all the time. I don’t know if it’s necessarily a breakdown-film kind of thing. But he definitely knows where guys like to shoot.”

He also knows where his teammates should shoot at times.

“A lot of times in the locker room he’ll talk to our forwards about what he sees with the other goalie,” Patterson noted.

“He’ll be like ‘Hey this guy is slow to get down or slow putting his hands down.’

He’s giving all our guys tips on how they can potentially score on the other goalie. He’s seeing the entirety of the ice and the entirety of the game, not just the shots coming in.”

When it comes to playing goalie, Caruso is a true student of the craft. He understands what it takes mentally and physically.

When it comes to the athleticism aspect, he said “A big part is hand-eye coordination, really following that puck. Staying centered is also a huge point, Knowing your surroundings and skating.

“People don’t think goalies are good skaters, but you have to be one of the best skaters on the ice,” he continued. “Our skating is so much different than offen-

sive and defensive guys. We have way different pushes and slides. It’s really an athletic ability to play goalie.”

It also takes strong mental toughness, especially when one is seeing over 50 shots per game, as Caruso did on a steady basis.

“It’s about your level of competition and having the mentality of worrying about the next shot,” he said. “If you focus on that goal you let in then it’s gonna get to your head. If it gets to your head it gives you a disadvantage in the game. It can also affect you after the game and you beat yourself down.

“It’s a lot of just how hard you work, how much time you want to put into it, how much you’re battling just to save that puck. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done all I could to keep the puck out of the net and all I can do is not worry about letting in a goal. Just shake it off.”

The sheer career numbers he put up is an indication of just how well Caruso could shake things off. On Jan. 22, against Nutley at Mercer rink, he recorded his iconic 2,000th save.

“My freshman year I would never think by the time I’m a senior I’d have over 2,000 saves,” Caruso said. “It’s unreal. I’m proud of myself for reaching that mark and never backing down. I always had doubts about the team and if I wanted to keep playing. But I knew in the end it’d be worth it and making a milestone and having fun was the best part of the journey.”

Unlike some talented players who would forego high school hockey to play strictly club — especially when their team wins just one game — Caruso was loyal to his township teammates.

“I grew up around these kids, I’m meeting new people, I’m still getting good practices, I’m playing with kids of all different ages,” he said. “When you see all your friends in the stands congratulating you after the game that’s a fun part of it.”

Caruso is now preparing for lacrosse season with Steinert, although he does not play goalie there.

“Noooo, I need a break,” he said.

After that, he’s looking to play high level club hockey in college. He was asked to apply to the University of North Carolina by its coach, and has gotten interest from good academic schools like Lehigh, West Chester, Pittsburgh and Delaware.

“They’re all club programs,” Caruso said. “If you want to play NCAA hockey you have to do one or two years of juniors and I don’t see that being worth it.”

Grades should not be a problem for Mason, who has a 3.9 GPA and 4.5 weighted GPA.

“I’m a smart cookie,” he said with a laugh. “Not smart enough to avoid facing 2,000 shots, but at least it didn’t dumb me down so I’m glad about that.”

YOUR HOMETOWN AGENT

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YOUR HOMETOWN AGENT

Jennifer Woloszyn

Paper boy

Jennifer Woloszyn

1260 Route 33 South

1260 Route 33 South

1260 Route 33 South

1260 Route 33 South

Jennifer Woloszyn

Jennifer Woloszyn

1260 Route 33 South

1260 Route 33 South

Hamilton, NJ 08690

Hamilton, NJ 08690

Hamilton, NJ 08690

Jennifer Woloszyn

Jennifer Woloszyn

Jennifer Woloszyn

Insurance Counselor

Jennifer Woloszyn

Insurance Counselor

Insurance Counselor

Insurance Counselor

Insurance Counselor

Insurance Counselor

Insurance Counselor

As I write this, I’m in my fourteenth day of withdrawal.

rapper Paper Boi on the TV series Atlanta, so for those younger than 30, allow me to explain: in much the same way my older relatives once explained “breaker boys” in coal mines.

newspapers since I was a kid. In recent years, they provided a welcome respite from staring at screens, which occupies an increasingly large chunk of every day for most people.

Ink stains and the smell of wood pulp? Sign me up. I’d even take a visit to a smoky newsroom circa 1985 or so.

Hamilton, NJ 08690

Ph: (609) 631-4286

1260 Route 33 South Hamilton, NJ 08690

Ph: (609) 631-4286

Hamilton, NJ 08690

Ph: (609) 631-4286

1260 Route 33 South Hamilton, NJ 08690

Hamilton, NJ 08690

Newspapers used to be delivered by children, often with the aid of a bicycle. Child-labor laws seemed to exempt such work, so unless you wanted to wait until you turned sixteen to get a job, delivering newspapers was pretty much the only game in town.

1260 Route 33 South Hamilton, NJ 08690

Ph: (609) 631-4286

Cell: (609) 337-2366

Cell: (609) 337-2366

Ph: (609) 631-4286

Ph: (609) 631-4286

Cell: (609) 337-2366

Ph: (609) 631-4286

Ph: (609) 631-4286

Cell: (609) 337-2366

Ph: (609) 631-4286

Cell: (609) 337-2366

Cell: (609) 337-2366

On Feb. 2, the Times of Trenton ended publication of its print edition, switching to an online-only format. I still have a backlog of print newspapers to get through, but eventually my morning routine of eating breakfast while reading the paper will be a thing of the past.

Cell: (609) 337-2366

jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com

Cell: (609) 337-2366

jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com

jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com

Cell: (609) 337-2366

jwoloszyn@aca.aaa.com

jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com

jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com

jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com

jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com

For me, it’s the end of a long relationship with print newspapers.

The disposability of a newspaper was as appealing as its heft. You could tear out a recipe or an article without guilt, file it away or pass it along to someone who might appreciate it. People can download or share news stories electronically today, but it’s different, like sending an e-mail instead of a handwritten letter.

jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

A long time ago, I was a paper boy. That’s not a reference to the fictional

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

I recently reminisced with some childhood friends, now spread across the country, about our days delivering newspapers; I delivered the New York Daily News in the morning and the Staten Island Advance after school. In those days, nearly everyone subscribed to at least one daily newspaper, and economies of scale allowed those publications to be sold cheaply.

Newspapers were the source for everything: world news, local news, sports, comics, and classified ads to sell stuff or find a job or who knows what else.

Essentially, a paper boy bought newspapers at a discounted rate and then “sold” them to his customers. The newspapers would get delivered to a street corner near your house every day, and you’d take it from there, depositing them in mailboxes, railings, or inside storm doors, often cutting across perfectly manicured lawns to shave a few seconds off the task.

I get sent so many links from people, I often ignore or forget about them, but a ripped page from a newspaper will always capture my attention. Upon completion, plopping a newspaper into the recycle bin provided a brief, physical sense of accomplishment that closing a tab on a computer desktop will never match.

Unlike an iPad, you could spill milk on a newspaper without a major repair bill. If it got wet, you could dry it out and read it later, and when you were done you might leave it for some poor, informationstarved passenger on a subway or bus. It’s not just me who relied on the existence of print newspapers: comic book and television creators depended on them (and their highly relevant headlines) in the backgrounds of scenes, providing opportunities for silent, subtle exposition; movies did the same, especially during their heyday in the 1940s to 1960s, when the classic but notso-subtle “spinning newspaper” trope reigned supreme.

Once a week (or whenever you needed money to pay your newspaper bill) you’d go door-to-door, collecting your money from customers and recording their payments in a little black book—which, I realize now, has a whiff of organized crime to it. Luckily, I never had to hire any muscle to get someone to cough up their $2.50 a week, but I did have a good amount of money “on the street” for a 14-year-old.

I learned a lot about the efforts some people will take to avoid laying out money, most memorably a woman who tried to pretend she wasn’t home even as I watched through the living room window while she crouched down and waited for me to leave.

I always ordered an extra copy of the Daily News to read while eating breakfast, after my deliveries were complete. I enjoyed paging through the Staten Island Advance before dinner, but my parents, along with most of Staten Island, were already subscribers, so there was no need to buy my own.

The point is, I’ve been reading print

Time travelers, fresh from a traumatic journey, often glanced at a copy of a newspaper to orient themselves. Back in reality, kids made paper hats, planes, boats; adults covered floors for painting, and bird owners lined the bottoms of their pets’ cages. Proof that an image was current was easily accomplished by holding up that day’s newspaper in a photo—what will suspicious online daters and aspiring kidnappers do now?

Nostalgia, durability, and versatility aside, a good print newspaper also boasted a balanced, expansive approach, in many ways the opposite of today’s heavily algorithmed news feeds, which mostly deliver news about stuff you’ve searched for in the past and points of view you tend to agree with. I wondered if an electronic newspaper could replicate the daily dose of serendipity that a print edition offered, presenting

interesting articles I hadn’t sought out but enjoyed reading, and contrarian opinions—labeled as such—that might be infuriating but also forced one to reconsider one’s own stance on an issue. My wife had been reading the news online for years, and seemed to think there was no reason to be upset. As I prepared for the switchover, I acknowledged I’d probably be losing something in the process, but at least I’d be saving money—right?

In 1988, newspapers cost 35 or 40 cents for a weekday edition. Adjusted for nearly forty years of inflation, that’s a bit less than $1 today. If everything else had stayed the same, home delivery would now cost about $30 a month; the actual cost of a monthly print subscription to the Trenton Times in December 2024 was approximately $110.

It proved to be an unsustainable price, unaffordable for some people, simply not worth it for others. I went to the Trenton Times website to find out how much the electronic edition would cost me, and was shocked at the figure: $22.99 per week. A representative dropped that to $18.99 when I asked for a better price, and later, $8.99 a week.

It seems the Times, along with much of the newspaper industry, hasn’t figured out its electronic price points yet, so if you’re in the market, use your negotiating skills. If an online subscription is out of reach, make use of the Hamilton Library’s online resources to access a free electronic edition from home.

I’m happy to report that the quality of the electronic edition is still high, and it’s easy to download or screenshot an article for sharing or later reference. But unread print newspapers stack up, a visual reminder (and in my case, a guiltinducing prompt) to get back to them, while electronic editions are easy to forget about.

Within a few days, I’d fallen behind and the daily morning ritual of newspaper reading began to fade. This worries me, because if it’s that easy for me to drift away from newspapers, even temporarily, how easy is it for people without a longtime attachment to the medium? * * *

The distinction between newspapers and other, less reliable news sources is often well disguised, but when was the last time you saw (or heard) an unforced self-correction on the internet, or cable news? They’re few and far between, and it’s not because they get everything right. Meta’s reluctant steps to identify misleading posts have all but been abandoned.

Maybe the next step is to establish a journalistic oath like the ones taken in

other public service roles, like doctors, lawyers, police officers, and members of the armed forces. But there are bad apples in every bunch, so perhaps, as in so many other occupations, a recognized designation is needed, managed by a professional organization, with the loss of press credentials as the ultimate punishment for intentionally spreading false information.

This could be a valuable gatekeeper, separating real journalism from “feel” journalism. In a land where free speech is among our most prized rights, it would be a tricky line to delineate. But some people will do anything for a buck, and without changes, “news” will continue to degenerate into intoxicating cocktails of lies, garnished with a slice of truth.

One school of thought says to simply call them “alternate facts” and go our separate ways. But some things are facts, not alternate facts, and need to be agreed upon before solutions to problems are found.

Polls show that more and more Americans get their news online. The same friends and relatives who entertained themselves forwarding jokes and chain letters via e-mail twenty years ago now share political memes that are at best simplistic, and at worst outright lies. Younger folks turn to influencers whose job is to have an opinion about anything, whether that opinion is informed or not. With some Americans vindicating the likes of Luigi Mangione and Vladimir Putin, I wonder if a line has already been crossed.

The Trentonian still carries the local daily journalistic torch, though its approach often befits its tabloid format, with occasional tasteless NY Post-style attention-grabbers like “Roasted Nuts,” an infamous 2002 headline about a fire at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital. But, unlike so many modern examples, the editors of the Trentonian didn’t double down, dig in their heels, and insist they were being treated unfairly. Instead, they apologized.

Of course, the Hamilton Post continues. Though its reporters don’t typically cover national or international news, they serve a vital role as a local news source, and we’re lucky to have them. Support the Hamilton Post, the Trenton Times, and the Trentonian, as you can.

Meanwhile, next month, I’ll be writing about sound machines as sleep aids. God help us all.

Peter Dabbene’s website is peterdabbene.com. His poetry collection “The Lotus Eater (and Other Poems)” is available through Amazon.com for $20 (print) or $10 (ebook).

GENOLY CARING CENTER

11 questions with sculptor Frederick Morante

Thomas Kelly

FIGhT IN The MuseuM

Frederick Morante is a famous sculptor. He has made pieces that multitudes of people have viewed and enjoyed. He has worked at Johnson Atelier since 1977 and just retired this January. He works in any media and can fabricate other artist’s ideas into monumental works. His own work focuses on figures and their relationship to the world. Shaking Morante’s big hand, one can feel the strength, experience and confidence, that these hands can shape metal into exquisite shapes and forms.

What inspired you to study art?

Once I discovered I was not fast enough to make the Olympics in swimming, I looked into my second passion, art. I was always making art in the classes from elementary through high school, but in junior college in San Diego things really took off. I learned drawing, sculpture and ceramics. After transferring to San Diego State, I learned bronze casting. What is the main idea you are communicating with your art?

I relate to figures and faces. People interest me. I am an observer, I sit back and watch things develop. I am the third child, with two older sisters, so I knew to stand back and be quiet.

I always had a drive to draw and sculpt figures. I was and am interested in the “How” to produce the art, not the “Why?”

The Why is the easy part!

Working on so many artists work at Johnson Atelier, can you name a few that really stand out?

The first famous artist I worked with was George Segal. The legend says that Segal was friends with Seward Johnson and a pallet of the plaster gauze material got wet. Seward asked Segal if he could use the material in any way. That was the story of how the plaster gauze pieces began.

I also helped enlarge an abstract piece for Georgia O’Keeffe. The piece ended up 15 feet tall.

As apprentices at Johnson Atelier we would sometimes visit famous artist’s studios and see exactly how they worked. These were things that you could never learn is school.

Who are your inspirations?

My inspirations are like sampling from

MEGAN S. SEIBER, ESQ. ATTORNEY AT LAW

Hamilton, New Jersey

Estate Planning

■ Wills, Living Wills, POA, Codicil

■ Mental Health Power of Attorney

■ Deed Transfers

All Municipal Matters

■ Criminal and Traffic

■ License Restoration

■ Expungements

meganseiber@optonline.net

www. meganseiberlaw.com

(609) 631-9012 Telephone (609) 631-9109 Facsimile

a Pu Pu platter at a Chinese restaurant. I love Henry Moore for his semi-abstract sculpture that still embodies figures. I like of course the George Segal plaster bandage inspired works. Ernst Trova and his Falling Man sculptures are terrific. As we learned in college about Alexander Calder and his bent wire sculptures which made three dimensional pieces, from the thinnest of materials. Also I learned from my own family. I made an early sculpture for my Uncle Manny, who was a musician. I made a bent wire bass player sculpture for him that I was very happy with.

Which media are your favorites? Or most challenging?

I just love wax. There are many different kinds for different needs. The green wax I use for eventual casting needs. I love plaster. Both water clay plaster and plastalina are very good to work with. Now I am into plastics to, specifically 3D printing. I find this media to be both challenging and rewarding.

What fight/struggle do you have regarding your art?

I find that after all these years of experience that I still am learning from the materials. How best to utilize them, discovering what they will and will not do. What are their strengths, how the surfaces will turn out. For sculpture, I come up with a concept, then I decide on the materials and how to use them.

7. Now that you are retired for the Atelier how do you fill your days?

I have been retired now for two months. I love coming to work in my own studio instead of working on someone else pieces. In the old days of the Johnson Atelier we would work on our own work after hours in the studios. Now I can work on my own pieces right from the beginning of the day.

What are you working right now?

I am working on the maquettes or models for a series of 4 female figures. Sole or Sun, Vento or wind, Piovere or Rain and Nevicare or Snow. The names are in Italian as I studied in Italy when I first began as a sculptor and learned a lot there. The finished sizes can be anything. Making the model or maquette is where all the design work is done. The finished size depends on the collector. I works on large pieces like Unconditional Surrender, where the sailor is kissing the nurse. I also worked on The Awakening, where the large figure is coming out of the ground, also by Seward Johnson which stretches to 72 feet. I have no trepidation about working large or small.

What is most difficult about being

All the business part of it all. There

should be a class in college about the business end of art. The promotion needed, the ability to turn a profit with the quoting, and what to do if you become wildly successful.

What do you find most fulfilling looking back at all the art you have created or worked on?

I enjoy the fact that I worked with and learned from very famous artists. I worked with Tom Otterness, with George Segal, John Newman, Phillip Grausman and Georgia O’Keefe. Some sculptors really relied on me and the team to figure out how to fabricate these large pieces. They relied on me and valued my expertise and know how. We were able to create masterpieces.

What is on the horizon? What are you looking forward to?

I am looking forward to my new situation of being self-employed. I wish to be an instructor, a consultant, mentor and a teacher of the technical aspects of fabricating sculpture.

I will teach how to work with wax from the initial ideas, basic casting, chasing and finishing. Also how to work with copper and bronze powders, and finishing with patinas.

I can teach quite a bit and am still learning myself.

Web: groundsforsculpture.org/artists/ frederick-morante.

Thomas Kelly is a Hamilton-based artist. On the web: thomaskellyart.com.

Frederick Morante installing the Nude Descending the Stare Case enlargement at Grounds for Sculpture.

CLASSIFIEd

Booking a classified ad has never been easier! Simply scan the QR code or visit www.communitynews.org/place_an_ad. Questions? Call us at 609-396-1511 ext. 132.

VACATION RENTAL

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

HELP WANTED

PreK teacher wanted PreK teacher wanted on a temporary basis due to the current teacher leaving on an extended family leave. This can lead to permanent employment. Required hours would be from 8:30 – 1:00, M-F. Will be sharing a group with the 3-4 year-old group head teacher. Position will be open for 1 -2 months. Camelot School is a family-owned preschool in Hopewell Township. Email info@camelotschool.net or call 609-577-5584.

Aff iliates Needed Immediately! Work from Home or Anywhere! PT/ FT Without Disturbing your current work. Must be 18 or older. Students, Housewives, Professionals, Retired, Employed and Unemployed. Earn Extra Income work 2-4 hours per day. Training and Support Provided. No Experience and Qualifications Required. For more information Email the word INFO to antiox247@gmail.com Please include your name and number and the best time to call.

OFFICE RENTALS

OFFICE SPACE & VIRTUAL OFFICE for START-UPs and SMALL BUSINESSES!!! OFFICE SPACE & VIRTUAL OFFICE for STARTUPs and SMALL BUSINESS!!! 5 Independence Princeton City Office, LLC, 1 day/month/ year or longer. Princeton Route 1. Flexible office space to support your business. Private or virtual offices, conference rooms, high speed internet, and friendly staffed reception. Easy access 24/7 and ample parking. Call Marga at 609-514-5100, www.princetoncityoffice.com, mre@ princetoncityoffice.com

SERVICES

F,D, Mason Contractor, Over 30 years of experience. Brick, Block, Stone, Concrete. No job too large or small. Fully Insured and Licensed. Free Estimates 908-385-5701 Lic#13VH05475900.

Are you single? Try us first! We are an enjoyable alternative to online dating. Sweet Beginnings Matchmaker, 215-539-2894, www.sweetbeginnings.info.

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.

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

Cleaning Services My name is Karolina, I’m a cleaning lady. If you are looking for somebody to clean your house - I’m here! I offer one-time, monthly, biweekly, weekly who can help make your house shiny clean, give me a chance and you will be happy -Dm me with all your questions 640-466-1378.

Music Lessions Acoustix Music Studio offers customized music lessons at your home! Voice, Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Drums, Bass, Woodwinds, and Brass! E-mail acoustixmusicstudio@gmail.com or visit www.acoustixmusicstudio.com for more information!

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: 609658-2996, E-mail: lenny1944x@gmail.com

Cash paid for SELMER SAXOPHONES and other vintage models.609-658-2996 or 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 .

45 is the new 50 for colorectal cancer screening

And please, for them,

Ask The Doctor

Why did the recommendation change?

See our ads in SIX09 section pgs 5 and 7

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that people begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45, rather than 50, which was the previous recommendation. The updated guidelines consider the benefits of early detection and treatment for adults with no personal history or increased risk of the disease. Meera Yogarajah, MD, at the Cancer Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute -Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, shares more about this change and why it is important.

Research shows a recent increase in colorectal cancer occurring in younger adults. These cancers may be associated with poorer outcomes, as they are diagnosed later. In response to this trend, the USPSTF, an independent volunteer group of experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, reviewed new data and concluded that screening for colorectal cancer in adults who are 45 to 49 years old can be helpful in preventing more people from dying of colorectal cancer.

In colonoscopy, the rectum and entire colon are examined using a colonoscope, a flexible lighted tube with a lens for viewing and a tool for removing tissue. If your doctor finds polyps, they are removed and sent to a lab for further testing. Most patients receive some form of sedation during the test. The advantage of colonoscopy is removal of benign polyps will prevent these growths from turning into a cancer.

What does colorectal cancer screening entail?

Colorectal cancer screening is used to detect cancer and remove precancerous polyps. There are several types of colorectal cancer screening methods.

In sigmoidoscopy, the rectum and sigmoid colon are examined using a sigmoidoscope, a flexible lighted tube with a lens for viewing and a tool for removing tissue. During sigmoidoscopy, abnormal growths in the rectum and sigmoid colon can be removed for analysis (biopsied). People are usually not sedated for this test. However, only the last 20 percent of the colon is examined.

Both polyps and colorectal cancers can bleed, and stool tests check for tiny amounts of blood in feces (stool) that cannot be seen visually.

for those at average risk or earlier for those at higher risk.

Stop colon cancer—get screened!! Visit rwjbh.org/colonscreening to make an appointment near you.

Programs at RWJUH Hamilton this month

The following programs are sponsored by RWJUH Hamilton Community Health, open to all and all ages, and Better Health Program, open to all 65+ years old. All programs take place at the Center for Health & Wellness located at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, unless otherwise noted. Registration is required to attend programs. View the calendar of programs available online at rwjbh.org/hamiltonprograms, or for more information, call 609-584-5900.

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Experience the Juniper Difference

Juniper’s H’art and Soul of Dining signature program is about more than great food –it is a joyous social experience that nourishes our bodies and spirits. Come dine with us and learn why Juniper Village at Hamilton is the area’s most welcoming assisted living community.

Please call 609.439.6859 to schedule a personal tour and complimentary lunch and see what all the excitement is about before we are SOLD-OUT!

With these tests, stool samples are collected by the patient using a kit, and the samples are returned to the doctor. People who have a positive finding with these tests will need to have a colonoscopy. Additionally, some newer stool tests rely on detection of DNA from tumors in the stool sample, increasing the accuracy beyond using detection of trace blood alone.

Why is it important to follow these guidelines?

According to the American Cancer Society in 2025, an estimated 107,320 new cases of colon cancer and 46,950 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the US, and a total 52,900 people will die from these cancers. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the nation.

Hope & Progress: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Treatment. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Join our informative dinner lecture on colorectal cancer with Meera Yogarajah, MD, Medical Oncologist, The Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton; and Rachel Perez, Patient Gastrointestinal Navigator, RWJUH Hamilton. Learn the importance of early detection, innovative treatments, and lifestyle factors that can reduce your risk. Free colorectal screening kits will be provided.

tuesday,

MarcH 25

Stroke Support Group. 4-5 p.m. Join us for the Stroke Support Group, a place for survivors and caregivers to build a community. Share personal experiences, feelings, recovery strategies, and firsthand information on managing life after stroke. Meetings will be facilitated by two outpatient RWJUH Hamilton Rehab experts, Ashley Sarrol, Speech-Language Pathologist, and Allyson Panikowski-Berry, Occupational Therapist. Survivors and care partners at any stage of recovery are encouraged to attend.

Wednesday, MarcH 26

Feed Your Heart: Cooking For Heart Health. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join Lori Hager, MS, RD, for our bimonthly heart-healthy cooking class. Have some fun and learn how to cook nutritious and delicious heart healthy meals. Explore heart-friendly ingredients and cooking techniques.

tHursday, MarcH 27

Juniper Village at Hamilton 1750 Yardville-Hamilton Square Road, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 Hamilton.Sales@JuniperCommunities.com

Colorectal cancer usually does not cause any symptoms until it is advanced and starts to spread through the body. Most colorectal cancers can be prevented through screening and testing at regular intervals, leading to detection and removal of polyps.

Colorectal cancer is largely preventable. This is why it is extremely important to follow the recommended guidelines and get an initial screening at 45 years of age

Breakfast & Learn: Cancer and Genetics— What Your Family History Means for Your Health. 10-11:30 a.m. Understanding your genetic predisposition to cancer is important. If you are concerned about your personal or family cancer history, this program will provide insight into prevention and early detection. Join Sandra D’Elia, MS, Certified Genetic Counselor, Rutgers Cancer Institute, for an informative program that will explore the connection between genetics and cancer and learn what you and your family need to know about hereditary cancer syndromes.

Dr. Meera Yogarajah

2025 special events

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