P P Hamilton ton ost Hamilton ost AUGUST 2025
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
Community Educa�on and Be�er Health Programs located on page 2
FREE
From Grandma’s kitchen to a market near you Little Balkan brings Macedonian treats to Central Jersey BY PaTriCK WaLSH
Miracle League members in front of Philadelphia A’s exhibit at Baseball Hall of Fame: volunteer Reid Bigger, Tom Valois, Cole Bigger, volunteer Nate Bigger, executive director Dan Szcweck, Michael Jeannette, Aidan Quinn, Cristian Valois, player/media relations man Harrison Mylowe and coach Jenn McVicker. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)
In historic Cooperstown, Miracle League makes baseball memories BY riCH FiSHer Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York, has played host to such immortals as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron and countless others. Add to that list new legends such as Evan Noble, Jade Pearson, Cole Bigger, Christina DeGregory, Tyler Siwczak, Jarrett Kane, Michael Jean-
nette and Jamie Van Morter. They were the Hamilton Township residents on the Mercer Miracle League’s combined Miracle Division, travel team and competitive skills travel team that made the league’s first-ever trip to the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame June 24-27. Other superstars rounding out the squad were Tomas Valois, Azaliah Farkas, Troy Jaworowski,
Marissa Reggimenti, Zach Esposito, Aidan Quinn, Charlie Mott, Tanner Millemann and Cristian Valois. The visit featured games at Doubleday on Wednesday and Thursday against Miracle League teams from around the country, and a Thursday evening reception for all the participants. “It’s been exciting to go on a legSee MIRACLE, Page 24
Built to silence cancer The new Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center
It’s nearly four in the afternoon in the Macedonian town of Strumica, and guests will soon arrive. Time to break out the homemade baked items and pour water in the cezve to start brewing the rich, concentrated coffee so beloved in this part of the world. In Macedonia, afternoons like these are a cultural tradition, a time to visit neighbors, friends, and family to share conversation over coffee and treats. Blending time-honored ingredients with local Jersey Fresh products, Zora Levkovski, chef and owner of Little Balkan, brings a delicious sampling of authentic goodies to a weekly circuit of farmers markets. “I started Little Balkan in 2022 after culinary school. I was working in New York at the Fulton Stall Market as their seasonal cook. It was there that I learned so much from other local producers and farmers,” Levkovski recalls. “It started with halva, as it’s naturally shelf-stable and a popular retail product.” Halva is a dense delicacy made from finely ground sesame seeds, or tahini. It has a velvety, somewhat grainy texture like fudge, and is a genetic match for coffee. Levkovski often blends other flavor components into her halva, as her menu attests: Hazelnut & Turkish Coffee; Pistachio & Sour Cherry; and Vanilla Chocolate Swirl. In some ways, though, Little Balkan started See BAKERY, Page 12
Academy Dental CHILDREN & ADULTS Complete Dentistry for the Whole Family
AcademyDentalNJ.com
rwjbh.org/MorrisCancerCenter
Currently Open for Emergency Dental Care See our ad on page 11
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SPRINGFIELD,1179 MA NEWARK, NJ PERMIT NO. 142