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Three elected to city board
Your new flame Candle business heats up during quarantine
Two incumbents, one newcomer sworn in May 20
By SAM SciArrOTTA
If you had told Emily Ayers a year ago that she’d be running a successful candle business out of her home, she would have laughed in your face. Now, though, it’s ver y much her reality—Ayers is the woman behind Dancing Flame Candle Company, which sells both online and in Bordentown City at Mimosa Goods. “I’ve always been a candle person,” she said. “My mom, my grandmom, it’s how you felt at home in our house. One of the first things we do when we get home is light a candle.” So you can imagine how many candles she went through while quarantining during the pandemic. “I couldn’t keep buying them ever y week or two,” she said. “That’s a little ridiculous.” So she took matters into her own hands last April. Ayers, a special education and science teacher, decided to combine her interests and craft her own. “When I nerd about about something, I really nerd out about it,” she said. “I spent time researching candles and thought, ‘Let me make one or two. That might be fun.’” But then she started to read about what goes into the candles she’s used to See CANDLES Page 8
By SAM SciArrOTTA
Jennifer Sciortino (center) was sworn in as the new mayor of Bordentown City at a ceremony May 20. She’s pictured with partner Molly Dwyer (left) and city clerk Grace Archer.
Meet the new mayor City commission’s newest member to serve as mayor By SAM SciArrOTTA
Jennifer Sciortino is active in Bordentown City. She’s a member of the Parks Committee, Elks Lodge 2085 and Bordentown City Cats. She’s been a presence at the Cranberry Festival, Street Fair and Green Fair. This year, though, she decided to take it a step further and do something she’d been pondering
for a while now—run for the Bordentown City Board of Commissioners. And she won. Not only that, Sciortino was the top vote-getter in May’s election. She was sworn in as mayor last month. “We have amazing history, we have an ideal location, we have a fantastic business community, we have incredible volunteers unlike any I’ve ever seen anywhere and I just promise you that as mayor my door will always be open, I will always be here to listen,” she said during the swearingin ceremony. “I recognize my experiences may not be the
same as yours, but because you’ve opened your doors to me, already I have a better insight into what your experiences are and also what your concerns are, and I promise to be here whenever you need anything.” Sciortino said she considered running last term but decided against it. This time around, though, she heard the call. She has a background in government—she currently works as the director of communications for the New Jersey State Treasury DepartSee SCIORTINO, Page 15
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Five candidates ran, but three candidates pulled ahead in the Bordentown City Commission race: Jennifer Sciortino, incumbent Joe Myers and Mayor Jim Lynch. All three were sworn in at a ceremony on May 20. Sciortino will serve as mayor, and Myers will serve as deputy mayor. Sciortino received 645 votes, Myers 628 and Lynch 608. Runner-up Edward Foley IV received 400 votes. Incumbent John Brodowski, who dropped out of the race in April, received 161 votes. The results are are official and were certified by Burlington County May 18. Sciortino, 46, grew up in Middlesex County and attended Woodbridge High School. She went on to study journalism and English at Rutgers University. She has lived in Bordentown City for 13 years and currently works as the director of communications for the New Jersey State Treasury Department. This is her first time running for public officer. Sciortino was recently appointed to the Bordentown City Parks Committee. She is also a member of Bordentown Elks Lodge 2085 and is the vice president of Bordentown City Cats, through which she has orgaSee ELECTION, Page 3
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