12-23 TD

downtowner Trenton’s City Paper

December 2023 | communitynews.org

Season’s Greetings From Mill Hill house tours to Colonial happenings, Trenton celebrates the season. Page 10.

Trenton Kiosk: Election results, upcoming exhibits, and a sensory garden in bloom, page 2.

TRENTON KIOSK Trenton Elects

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he City of Trenton elected three board school members in the first election held for the previously mayor-appointed board on November 7.

The winners included two previously mayor-appointed incumbents, Addie Daniels-Lane and Yolanda Marrero-Lopez, and first-time member Larry Traylor.

Daniels-Lane is a retired Trenton Public Schools principal with 37 years of experience. The holder of two master’s degrees from the College of New Jersey was appointed to the board by Mayor Eric Jackson.

Marrero-Lopez has served as co-pastor of the Church of God in Trenton, taught Spanish at Mercer Christian Academy in Ewing, and worked as a project assistant at Mathematica Policy Research in Princeton. She has a B.A. degree in biblical interpretation from Pentecostal Bible College in Puerto Rico.

And Traylor is an aide for Mercer County Commissioner Samuel Frisby and a 2020 Rutgers University graduate who served as compliance associate for Governor Phil Murphy’s 2021 reelection campaign, volunteer in the office of Assemblyman Dan Benson (now Mercer County Executive), and treasurer for the Mercer County Young Democrats The unsuccessful candidates are Keydotta Crawford, a past human resources staff member for two New Jersey boards of education and the owner of a consulting company; Mary Horne, an unsuccessful 2022 city council candidate; and Robin Vaughn, a past city council

member known for her discriminatory rantings and an unsuccessful 2022 bid for mayor.

The change from a mayor-appointed school board to a publicly elected one was enacted by the Trenton City Council in 2022.

Mayor Reed Gusciora, who opposed the change, posted the following social media announcement regarding the election results: “It’s critically important to elect the right people to continue the progress in our schools . . .

Yolanda Marrero-Lopez, Addie Daniels-Lane, and Larry Traylor have the smarts and ability to work together for our students. They deserve our support.”

Trenton Honors

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he sixth anniversary of Greater Trenton’s Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration is set for Monday, December 4.

The event brings together business, community, civic, education, and government leaders for an evening of cocktails and conversations about Trenton’s potential.

It is also the occasion to recognize individuals who have contributed to the revitalization of the Capital City.

The award is named in honor of Caren Franzini, the former New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO and founding member of Greater Trenton who died in 2017.

This year’s Capital City Award will be presented to professional and domestic partners John Hatch of Clarke Caton Hintz and David Henderson of Hx2 Development.

An architect, Hatch has designed and constructed various architecturally significant buildings, including George Pruitt Hall at Thomas Edison State University; the restoration of Morven, the former governor’s man-

St. George Preschool

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John Hatch, left, and David Henderson are set to receive the Caren Franzini Capital City Award on December 4. sion in Princeton; and multiple phases of the Roebling Complex Redevelopment in Trenton.

Henderson has been developing real estate in Trenton since 1994. As a principal member of Atlantis Historic Properties, he played a significant role in the revival of Trenton’s Mill Hill neighborhood.

In addition to the above, a 2023 Greater Trenton Business Impact Award will be presented to Reggie Hallett, executive chef at 1911 SmokeHouse BBQ, located at 11 West Front Street in Trenton.

The event starts at 5 p.m. at Cooper’s Riverview 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton. General tickets are $85. For more information or to register, visit GreaterTrenton. org/CapitalCityAward.

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2Trenton Downtowner December 2023

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“Building a foundation for a lifetime love of learning” St. George Greek Orthodox Church 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619 www.stgeorgepreschool.org

See KIOSK, page 4

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RWJUH Hamilton December Healthy Living / Community Education Programs PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM CYBER CRIMES Monday, Dec. 4; 10:00-12:00 p.m.

Cyber-crimes are more common than you might think. Join offi cers from the Hamilton Police Department and the US Secret Service to learn how to protect yourself from Cyber Scams. Light refreshments will be provided.

GOT STRESS?

Monday, Dec. 4; 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Support group about dealing with stress. When you experience stress, your body produces physical and mental responses. Gain valuable insight about how others deal with similar situations.

WHAT’S EATING YOU?

Wednesday, Dec. 6; 11:00-12:00 p.m.

A group for people experiencing emotional eating. Support is key.

We offer a safe space to connect with others going through similar experiences.

COOKING WITH CARDIOLOGY Wednesday, Dec. 6; 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Worried about overindulging during the holiday season? Dr. Shakil Shaikh from Hamilton Cardiology Associates will guide you with heart healthy recipes and tips for eating healthy.

SELF-CARE FOR WOMEN Thursday, Dec. 7; 6:30-8:00 p.m.

This interactive session with Anjali Bhandarkar, MD will go through the importance of self-care prevention, vitamins, social networking for women.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN – THE GIFT OF BEING PRESENT Thursday, Dec. 7; 5:00-6:00 p.m.

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS: SENIORS SUPPORTING FAMILY MEMBERS & FRIENDS

FROSTED WONDERLAND

Tuesday, Dec. 12; 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 4; 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Healthy eating starts early! Empower kids with culinary skills and nutrition knowledge to become their healthiest selves! For children 5 years and older.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $5 per person. Taryn Krietzman, RDN

Family members and friends play a critical role in supporting loved ones who have a mental health condition, and the questions and concerns are typically the same. What to do? When to intervene? Where to go? How to help?

This presentation is intended to help you better understand the issues you might face. This program will be led by Chelsea Kennedy, MAHS.

STRESS LESS: RESET YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM LETTING GO OF CLUTTER Monday, Dec. 11; 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Discover tools to help you move through your day with peace. You’ll find greater wellbeing and compassion, as well as the interplay between mental and physical wellbeing. Learn about your nervous system; how it influences your choices, habits and overall wellbeing; and tools to bring yourself into an optimal and relaxed state using something called Poly-Vegal Theory.

Fee: $15 per person. Michelle Gerdes, YT200

HOW SMART ARE HEARING AIDS TODAY? Tuesday, Dec. 12; 10:00-11:00 a.m.

We discuss the remarkable features of today’s hearing aids. Bluetooth, AI, Rechargeable Batteries, Tinnitus Therapy and more! Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato to learn more about the latest in hearing aid technology!

Tuesday, Dec. 12; 1:30-2:30 p.m.

This support group explores how our emotional ties to our “stuff” can create clutter and affect our mood. An Oaks Integrated Care caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

MANAGING STRESS AND DIABETES Tuesday, Dec. 12; 3:00-4:00 p.m.

This support group is for people living with diabetes. Learn how to cope with stress and diabetes in a healthy way.

ORTHOPEDIC OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, Dec. 13; 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Discover the latest advances in knee and hip replacement surgery and rehabilitation. Presented by Michael Duch, MD board-certified orthopedic surgeon; Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, GCS, Cert MDT; and Courtney Fluehr, PT DPT. Dinner is included.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX? **VIRTUAL**

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION-DRUM CIRCLE

All things seasonal, all the time!

Learn what wonderful fruits and vegetable are up to this time of year and how to make them shine! Taryn Krietzman, RDN

“Drum back the sun” on the longest night of the year. Celebrate with ritual, stories and of course, drumming.

Drums and light snacks provided.

Mauri Tyler, CTRS, CMP. Fee: $15

Thursday, Dec. 14; 12:00-1:00 p.m.

ASK THE DIETITIAN

Monday, Dec. 18; 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join our dietitian for a one-on-one Q&A. Registration is required. Taryn Krietzman, RDN

Wednesday, Dec. 20; 7:00-8:30 p.m.

DANCE IT OUT! WINTER BREAK EDITION Friday, Dec. 29; 11:00-12:00 p.m.

PREDIABETES CONNECT

After a holly, jolly season of indulging, join us for an hour of dancing. Bring your kids and grandkids during their winter break to get those sillies out.

Diagnosed with prediabetes? This group is for you to connect with others affected. Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR AT RWJUH HAMILTON

Tuesday, Dec. 19; 11:00-12:00 p.m.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Wednesday, Dec. 20; 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Meditation has been shown to quiet your restless mind and help your entire body to relax. Come experience what all the buzz is about. Beginners welcome. Patti McDougall, BSN, Integrative Therapies Nurse.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT

Wednesday, Dec. 20; 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Support and information for family and friends of people with Alzheimer’s. An Oaks Integrated Care specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive experience.

Wednesday, Dec. 6; 9:00-2:00 p.m.

Come out and shop from some amazing local crafters and small businesses while supporting a great cause! Located at the Roma Bank Café inside of the RWJ Hamilton Hospital.

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

Better Health Programs/Complimentary Membership at 65+ Years Old YOGA CLASSES

Tuesday, Dec 5 and 19; 10:00-11:00 a.m.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Tuesday, Dec 5 and 19; 11:15-11:45 p.m.

LET’S TALK, A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wednesdays; Dec 6, 13, 20, and 27; 10:00-11:00 a.m.

GAME TIME

Thursday, Dec 7; 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Join us for game time, snacks and some wholesome fun. A variety of board games will be available or you are welcome to bring your own.

Scan the QR code to register and become a member or call 609-584-5900 or email bhprogram@rwjbh.org to learn more.

*Registration and free Membership required to attend the Better Health Programs

“SOCRATES CAFÉ” DISCUSSION GROUP

Monday, Dec 11; 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Socrates Café is an opportunity for people to work together to seek a deeper meaning into a perplexing

question, issue, or problems that demand our consideration. Questions are voted upon by the group.

BETTER HEALTH HOLIDAY PARTY

JEOPARDY! WITH DR. ALI

We all love the Holidays, but with them comes one of the busiest times of the year for all of us. You deserve a break to sit, eat and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year. The Better Health Program is proud to present our annual Holiday Party! With food and friends, come celebrate the holidays with your fellow members.

Lunch will be provided.

Thursday, Dec.14; 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Put your medical knowledge to the test with Dr. Sara Ali. Join in the fun with your favorite geriatrician.

TAI CHI CLASSES

Thursdays, Dec. 14 and 28; 1:00-2:00 p.m.

CREATE YOUR OWN FESTIVE HOLIDAY CENTERPIECE

Friday, Dec. 15; 10:30-12:00 p.m. or 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Join Diane Grillo, VP of Health promotions, Yolanda Singer of Avalon Rehab and Antonia James of K’s Events and Decorations as we decorate with lives greens. Everyone will leave with a beautiful centerpiece they create.

Thursday, Dec. 21; 12:00-2:00 p.m.

PINOCHLE GROUP Coming in 2024

Interested in playing Pinochle?

Email us at CommunityEdHAM@rwjbh.org and we will let you know when this new group gets started.

A MATTER OF BALANCE: A 4 WEEK SERIES PARTICIPANTS MUST ATTEND ALL 8 SESSIONS

Monday & Wednesday Jan. 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31; 1:00-2:30 p.m.

A Matter of Balance is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of older adults who have this concern. The class utilizes a variety of activities to address physical, social, and cognitive factors affecting fear of falling and to learn fall prevention strategies. It was designed to benefit older adults who are concerned about falls, have sustained a fall in the past, restrict activities because of concerns about falling, are interested in improving flexibility, balance and strength, are age 60 or older, mobile and able to problem-solve. Linda Buckley, Nurse Educator will instruct.

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 December 2023 | Trenton Downtowner3

KIOSK, continued from page 2

T

he Downtown Trenton Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) has announced the winners of the 2023 Downtown Trenton NPP Small Business Plan Competition, an initiative to foster local entrepreneurship and support downtown revitalization.

A panel of judges made up of downtown community members has selected two business ideas that will each be awarded $5,000 towards the acquisition or lease of a downtown property to kickstart their ventures. The local entrepreneurs will also receive business mentorship, facade improvements, and opportunities for other ongoing business support.

The winners are: BlackFruitz, a health and readinginspired start-up dessert shop that will serve fruit salads, yogurt parfaits, strawberry shortcake, and other delicious treats to the downtown community. For more on owner Natasha Parker and BlackFruitz, visit www.blackfruitz.com Life of Lucid designs and manufactures its own line of nonglued wigs and provides a menu of hair services including extensions, braiding, and more. See additional information on owners Ka’Asia Washington and Taibika Dawsonand and their company at www.lifeoflucid.com “We thank everyone who shared their business ideas with us and congratulate BlackFruitz and Life of Lucid for winning the Small Business Plan Competition.

These local entrepreneurs represent the innovation and community spirit we aim to promote through this project,” says Scott Miller, downtown business owner, property owner, resident, and member of the NPP Stakeholder Group. “We look forward to their positive impact on Downtown Trenton.”

Trent Talks Trenton

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he Trent House Association hosts a free lecture on the father of Trenton’s name sake, William Trent, on Sunday, December 10, at 1 p.m.

Streamed live from Scotland, the lecture will feature Dr. James Mackay and highlight the life of William Trent, senior.

The elder Trent (who died in 1677) was a Scottish merchant and entrepreneur based in the port of Inverness in the 1650s, when it was occupied by Oliver Cromwell’s army.

Trent married Issobell Stewart, daughter of a prominent Inverness merchant, and had seven children. Their son, William (c. 1653 to 1724), moved to the American colonies and established a Philadelphia and New Jersey trading company. He also purchased 1,000 acres at the Falls of the Delaware and in 1719 built a home, now the William Trent House Museum.

Mackay is the author of several books

4Trenton Downtowner December 2023

Ken Alexander exhibits his paintings at Trenton Public Library beginning Tuesday, December 5. and articles and serves as chairman of the Kirkmichael Trust, located near Inverness. Having successfully restored that medieval property and established an award-winning display of pre-Reformation ornate gravestones within it, Mackay and the trust raise awareness of heritage sites by telling the story behind the families of the area.

The William Trent House Museum is a National Historic Landmark in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area and on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. It is owned by the City of Trenton and operated by the Trent House Association. The historic house is located at 15 Market Street and open Wednesday through Sunday, 1 to 4:30 p.m. $4 to $5 entry fee. For more information on the Trent House, visit www.williamtrenthouse.org. Members of the public can hear this free program at tinyurl.com/TrentHouseTalkDec10.

Trenton Makes Art

T

he Trenton Artists Workshop Association (TAWA) and the Trenton Free Public Library present the exhibition “Paintings by Ken Alexander” at the Trenton Free Public Library from December 5 through January 27, 2024.

An opening reception is set for Thursday, December 14, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Alexander is a Trenton-based paint-

See KIOSK, page 9

DECEMBER 2023

B I - M O N T H LY N E W S F R O M C A P I TA L H E A LT H

Capital Health First in Mercer County to Offer Minimally Invasive Procedure for Detecting and Removing Lung Cancer Nodules in One Visit Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, but getting diagnosed at the earliest stage significantly increases the likelihood of better outcomes. While early-stage diagnosis can be difficult, experts at Capital Health’s Lung Center of Excellence, part of Capital Health Cancer Center, now perform a minimally invasive procedure that uses the latest in robotic-assisted lung biopsy technology to detect and remove cancerous nodules in the same visit. Capital Health is the first hospital in Mercer County to offer this procedure.

DR. DIANA KOLMAN, director of Interventional Pulmonology at Capital Health, is trained to use the minimally invasive Ion endoluminal system to obtain tissue samples that facilitate a fast and accurate early-stage lung cancer diagnosis.

Ion is an advanced robotic-assisted platform that has greater flexibility and reach than previous systems, which allows physicians to navigate all parts of the lungs, including areas that were previously unreachable from this approach. Immediately after Dr. Kolman retrieves a tissue sample, a pathologist reviews the sample to determine if it is cancerous.

If cancer is diagnosed, DR. AFRICA WALLACE, director of Thoracic Surgery at Capital Health, then performs a minimally invasive surgical lobectomy to remove the nodule, all while the patient is still under anesthesia. This eliminates the need to schedule a separate procedure to remove the nodule at a later date.

“When a suspicious small mass or nodule is found on a patient’s lungs, referring physicians may recommend a lung biopsy to collect and analyze a lung tissue sample,” said Dr. Kolman. “With previous technology, our reach into the peripheral areas of the lungs was

limited, but the Ion system can be precisely placed to obtain a biopsy in all 18 sections of the lungs. This greatly improves our ability to detect lung cancer in its earliest stages when it is most treatable.”

“Until very recently, patients had to schedule lung biopsies and surgical resections separately,” said Dr. Wallace. “For appropriate patients, the single-anesthesia approach we’re now offering at our Lung Center allows diagnosis and treatment to occur in one visit. In patients where a cancerous nodule is detected during biopsy, they can wake up after our combined efforts and be told that the nodule has already been removed from the lung instead of having to come back at a later date to go through another procedure.”

Capital Health Cancer Center, located at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, is home to the Lung Center of Excellence as well as other centers of excellence specializing in breast care, liver health, neuro-oncology, pancreatic health, and robotic-assisted surgery. To learn more, visit capitalhealthcancer.org. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kolman, call 609.815.7390. For an appointment with Dr. Wallace, call 609.537.6000.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Trenton Downtowner 5

Understanding the Complexities of Concussions Concussion awareness, particularly in the sports world, has greatly improved in recent years. However, the permanent and catastrophic consequences caused by a concussion are now becoming more apparent in individuals who did not follow appropriate steps to prevent additional injuries before they fully recover.

Because the signs and severity of concussion symptoms can be different from one person to the next, providing care requires a multilayered approach that matches each person’s specific challenges with the appropriate treatments and support.

Capital Health offers a comprehensive Concussion Program as part of its Capital Institute for Neurosciences. DR. EMIL MATARESE, a board certified neurologist with experience in diagnosing and treating concussions, is director of the program.

“With no outward physical signs of injury, people unfamiliar with concussions tend not to take them seriously,” said Dr. Matarese. “Any delay in addressing a concussion could extend the time it will take to recover.”

“There is also a condition known as Second Impact Syndrome that can occur if a second concussion occurs before an individual fully recovers from their first concussion. This can trigger a serious sequence of events that can result in permanent and irreversible brain damage, most commonly intellectual impairment, or death.

This complication can occur in young athletes whose brains have not fully matured, typically under the age of 23 years old.”

“Our team of highly trained specialists provides comprehensive concussion care that takes into account the patient’s specific neurologic deficits that can include intellectual and academic performance, eye movement abnormalities, mood disorders, balance and impaired coordination.”

Capital Health’s Concussion Program includes a highly trained neurologist, neuropsychologists, and specialized rehabilitation specialists in concussion therapy. The program also works with expert pediatric doctors and nurses in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell.

Dr. Matarese is also an active partner in community health, offering workshops and educational programs to help teachers, nurses, athletic trainers, and other school staff better understand and plan for a student who is recovering from a concussion.

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION? A concussion is a sudden jarring of the brain inside the skull that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. This movement can stretch the brain cells, causing microscopic swelling of the cells and chemical changes in the brain.

6Trenton Downtowner | Health Headlines by Capital Health

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS? There may be no physical signs of a brain injury, but it is necessary to restrict the individual from any activity until they are seen by a medical provider who specializes in evaluating and treating concussions. Look for any of the following symptoms (some may be immediate, others may occur hours or days after the initial injury):

… Temporary loss of consciousness … Headache

… Fatigue

… Memory loss/confusion/ difficulty concentrating … Slurred speech

… Sensitivity to light and noise … Interruption in sleep patterns … Mood swings

… Dizziness

… Depression/anxiety

… Ringing in the ears

… Personality changes

… Nausea/vomiting Visit capitalneuro.org to learn more about the Concussion Program at Capital Institute for Neurosciences. To make an appointment with Dr. Matarese, call 215.741.9555.

SIX09

Seasons Greetings

Special section starts on pg 8 thesix09.com DECEMBER 2023

ARTS > FOOD > CULTURE

Taste the Love

No matter how the cookie crumbles, Lawrenceville baker Arline Conigliaro, better known as “Aunt Cookie,”elevates classic recipes with modern flair. Page 2.

Photo by Gale Zucker Photography.

DO YOU SUFFER FROM

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY?

Taste the Love of the Holiday Season with Aunt Cookie’s Artisanal Treats

HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS?

BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

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UROPATHY

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HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE NERVE DAMAGE? Peripheral neuropathy is the consequence of damage to your peripheral nerves.

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HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE NERVE DAMAGE? Peripheral neuropathy is the consequence of damage to your peripheral nerves.

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On the Cover

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Arline Conigliaro, the retired school counselor behind “Aunt Cookie,” understands that good things come in “gifted” packages.

When she launched her business, “Aunt Cookie, Taste the Love,” in August 2020, Conigliaro equipped the one-car garage of her Lawrenceville home with a doubledoor convection oven, a 20-quart mixer, and all the ingredients she needed to ship her small-batch products—baked fresh daily— across the country.

A native of Rochester, New York, Conigliaro has lived almost exclusively in Lawrenceville since graduating from college.

She was a school counselor for Ewing Township, working at both Fisher Middle School and Ewing High School before switching to the Moorestown School District, where she wrapped up her 26-year career in June 2019.

But Conigliaro is no cookie-cutter retiree.

In her transition from compassionate care to a cottage license, she established an online retail site, auntcookie.com, selling cookies by order in themed gift boxes.

SIX09

EDITOR Rebekah Schroeder ARTS EDITOR Dan Aubrey AD LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Stacey Micallef SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jennifer Steffen (Ext. 113)

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“The big gift-giving time of the year is in December, and it’s just bringing a little piece of nurturing childhood memories and all of that into your home and helping you

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Arline Conigliaro, opposite page, runs “Aunt Cookie” from her Lawrenceville home, shipping products like the bestselling salted chocolate chunk cookies, left, and the raspberry shortbread “retro bars,” above right. Cookies are available for sale by the bag or in themed gift boxes, above left, that deliver a feeling of comfort to any doorstep the same day they leave the oven. feel the warmth of the holiday season, no matter what holiday you’re celebrating,” Conigliaro said.

Aunt Cookie reimagines classic flavors utilizing higher-quality ingredients like Barry Callebaut Belgian chocolate to create a sentimental throwback for the taste buds with a newly tied bow.

“Everything is done with my two hands, and the recipes have been created and changed up since the recipes from back

in the day,” she said, swapping the lard for butter—save for the ginger snaps and the granola bars, the latter of which uses coconut oil—for the finest, yet still reassuringly familiar, baked goods.

Conigliaro said that her bestsellers are the salted chocolate chunk cookies made with both Belgian white and dark chocolate, the rainbow sprinkle-covered NYC confetti cookies, and the range of Italian biscottis.

Each order contains an approximately 1-pound bag of the chosen cookie for $24.95, with other varieties including oatmeal chocolate cherry cookies, lemon poppy seed shortbread, pecan sandies, powdered walnut shortbread, peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies, and gingersnaps that feature pieces of crystallized ginger scattered throughout.

Aunt Cookie also goes beyond its namesake baked goods with a new collection

of “retro bars,” a nostalgic return to traditional treats more conscious of health and dietary restrictions.

In tastes all evocative of the warm, fuzzy memories of youth, the line includes flourless chocolate brownies, blondies, raspberry shortbread bars, grain-free granola bars with dried sour cherries, and oatmeal caramel bars that play on the gooey layers

See AUNT COOKIE, Page 4

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Conigliaro’s parents, Jean and Sheldon Phillips, with her grandmother, Sonia, center, who taught her the recipe for the mandel brot cookie with walnuts that she eventually turned into the biscotti loaded with toasted almonds, at right.

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AUNT COOKIE, From Page 2 of carmelitas.

Conigliaro launched the retro bars in October to a positive reception, adding that the raspberry shortbread and flourless brownies became fast favorites.

The retro bars are available in a 6-pack drawer box with the customer’s choice of flavors for $44.95 each.

Auntie Cookie also sells themed gift boxes for occasions ranging from birthdays, bereavements, celebrations, expressions of gratitude, and care packages, each containing a selection of cookies paired with accompanying items.

Commemorate those special days with balloons, blowers, and a birthday crown, or send condolences alongside packets of forget-me-not seeds that say “Forever in Our Hearts.”

The goal, Conigliaro said, is to present someone with the “taste of love.”

“It’s not just a box of cookies—it’s an experience. I try to create the wonder of first receiving the box, but also when you open the box, there’s real joy, and there are things to look forward to instead of just receiving a box of cookies,” she said.

“In my age group, we don’t need another candle; we don’t need another basket of fruit. If you can get these cookies and put them in the freezer, or use them right away for company that’s coming over, or a college kid just dying for some homemade treats, it’s just an eclectic way to give some comfort to somebody.”

The specialty boxes are available in three sizes: small, a choice of two cookie varieties, for $34.95; medium, a choice of four

cookie varieties, for $59.95; and large, a choice of eight cookie varieties and recommended for families, for $99.95.

Options like the fall gift box include a cinnamon-scented candle, faux leaves, and Harney & Sons’ hot cinnamon spice tea, a deeply aromatic, rich blend of black tea leaves, three types of cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves known as “the brand’s most popular flavored tea worldwide.”

The only price difference is for the holiday gift box, which comes with an assortment of Hammond’s Candies, a handmade cinnamon-scented candle, a holiday card, and seasonal cookie cutters with a choice of red-and-white or all-white packing confetti.

This bundle also offers an incremental selection of cookies and related goodies at $39.95 for small, $69.95 for medium, and $119.95 for large.

All Aunt Cookie orders can be customized with a handwritten message, combining the intimate, personal touches of the past with the professional standards of today, while the recently redesigned packaging is made from “earth-friendly” recyclable materials.

For a full catalog of products, ingredients, and nutritional information, see the Aunt Cookie website at auntcookie.com.

Conigliaro, née Phillips, grew up the second youngest of four sisters with her mother, Jean, and her father, Sheldon, an optical engineer. Sheldon worked for the Eastman Kodak Company, better known as Kodak, for more than 30 years.

According to Conigliaro, when a new grant program promised to pay tuition for those who wanted to become teachers because of the shortage during the Viet-

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The lemon poppy seed cookies are a redux of a recipe from a close friend of Conigliaro’s mother and feature a light coating of lemon powdered sugar. nam War, Jean decided to go back to school full time to earn her master’s degree in education from SUNY Brockport.

Having grown up around others who enjoyed preparing meals and desserts for their family, Arline began doing the same when she was just 12 years old.

She had always observed her Russian grandmother Sonia, whom she referred to as “the matriarch of the family,” host Sunday night dinners and cook nearly every holiday until she was no longer able to.

Watching as she ran the kitchen without recipes, simply relying on feeling and past experience, Conigliaro followed along, measuring ingredients and writing down each step.

“I enjoy the word nurture. The word nurture—through food, through company, through environment, through any form of kindness—is just something that I really thrive on, so I think watching her enjoy feeding people was a big inspiration for me, and the joy that it brought,” she said.

It should come as no surprise that to fully “taste the love” of Auntie Cookie, one should try the plain, toasted almond biscotti adapted from her grandmother’s recipe for mandelbrot, or mandel bread, a traditional Jewish cookie derived from the original Italian treat.

Both are baked twice as a log, then cut into individually crunchy slices, perfect for dunking in tea or coffee.

Although mandelbrot directly translates to “almond bread,” Conigliaro’s grandmother, who lived through the Great

Depression, used walnuts, which were less expensive at the time.

“She used them very sparingly. I am a big personality, and I like things big, and I like things luscious and making a statement, so mine are just jam-packed with toasted almonds, then I did variations on it by adding toasted almonds and chocolate chunks, and then toasted almonds, chocolate chunks, and cherries.”

“Last year, I came out with the double chocolate, so the dough is chocolate, as well as having the toasted almonds and the chocolate in the chocolate chunks and the dough,” Conigliaro added.

Conigliaro also shared that the lemon poppy seed cookies follow a recipe from one of her mother’s friends, but with an added lemon powdered sugar coating.

“The pecan sandies were supposed to be like drop cookies, and I made them more into a bar that I could slice and bake, just trying to streamline some of the waste as opposed to scooping everything,” she explained.

“Aunt Cookie” comes from Conigliaro’s godchildren, who affectionately call her by the nickname when they visit and bake cookies together.

Since the title “Aunt Cookie” was already in use, Conigliaro started her business under the full trademark “Aunt Cookie, Taste the Love,” yet she was able to secure the coveted auntcookie.com domain.

Conigliaro studied to be a recreational

See AUNT COOKIE, Page 6

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Customers can purchase the popular rainbow sprinkle-covered NYC confetti cookies, near and lower right, in a palette of holiday hues palatable for any hungry Santa, as portrayed by former Moorestown teacher Chuck Gill, upper right.

AUNT COOKIE, From Page 5 therapist at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, a co-op school where she worked at both the University of Washington Hospital’s spinal cord injury center in Seattle and for Eunice Kennedy Shriver at the Special Olympics main headquarters in Washington, D.C., to get an understanding of the occupation.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Conigliaro worked at the Carrier Foundation in Belle Mead, a behavioral health facility now known as the Carrier Clinic under Hackensack Meridian Health.

But Conigliaro, in all of her spirited energy, still found herself fatigued.

“I wanted to take all the patients home with me. At 22 years old, you think you can save the world, but you can’t. You can try, and I tried, and I just got a little burned out a little too quickly,” she said, acknowledging how this initial exhaustion led her to realize how important change is.

“I’m of the belief that when you get burned out or you’re not happy at work anymore, it’s time to reinvent yourself and go do something else. Because life is too short,” Conigliaro explained. “You can’t be miserable.”

While at the Carrier Foundation, Conigliaro had started a catering business on the side, High Expectations Catering, and continued to run the culinary operation after she left. She then designed community maps for cable television installations and sold subscriptions door-to-door.

Conigliaro eventually returned to school for her teaching certificate from the Col-

lege of New Jersey and worked in a vocational school, where she taught students in a special education program about food and basic healthcare services.

According to Conigliaro, the owners of the Princeton Charcuterie, a new gourmet deli and catering business on Nassau Street, then “approached” Conigliaro “to open, manage, and be the face of the establishment.”

But a year and a half into a demanding 16-hour, seven-day-a-week schedule, she left in 1987 to manage a short-lived gourmet grocery store, Kaufelt’s Fancy Groceries, in the newly opened MarketFair shopping center on Route 1.

She worked in the admissions department of a nearby technical school, the former Cittone Institute in Princeton, before continuing her studies at Rider University, where she earned a master’s degree in counseling services with a concentration in school counseling.

Her mother started teaching kindergarten in Rochester, but when its principal switched to the suburban district where the Phillips family lived at the time, he invited Jean to join him there, where she taught fourth grade until retirement.

Conigliaro explained that her mother’s actions not only encouraged her to see food as an expression of love, but also inspired her to embark on an educational journey of her own.

Conigliaro expressed a similar sense of fulfillment in combining these interests, adding that a shared activity like baking can be a way to get younger children, “especially boys,” to open up.

“You’re working side by side, and it

became a therapeutic environment in many ways,” Conigliaro said. Since not everyone responds to traditional methods, these creative “diversions,” or alternative methods, may just be the communication style that “helps heal the soul.”

Conigliaro explained that she loves helping people and bringing positive changes to the world, which has likely been her “impetus” for every occupation along the way.

This wide range of career choices, from cartography to catering, relates to her endless zeal for finding the joy in life—never one to dwell on a chapter that no longer serves her or fails to spark that same infectious joy she so easily passes on to others.

But Conigliaro also gets her ambitious nature from various role models throughout her life, citing an “entrepreneurial” aunt with a similar disposition who had opened several stores of her own.

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Rochester. After it burned down during the race riots, he continued to operate on a client-by-client basis.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own successful business, and when you’re paying a mortgage, and you have responsibilities, it’s not necessarily the time,” she explained, noting that although she opened side ventures before her full-time professional commitment to the Princeton Charcuterie, “Aunt Cookie” was a perfect match in both timing and interest.

Conigliaro said that although the pandemic was undoubtedly a major factor in shaping the early trajectory of her business, her shift to the modern cottage industry presented an even bigger opportunity for growth.

Although “technology was my Achilles heel,” she said, Conigliaro was able to create a brand through connecting with others across the world—a web designer in Idaho, an artist in Texas, and another in Japan—

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Get up close with seasonal sweets like gingersnaps, peanut butter cookies, and a 6-pack of retro bars, which offer new versions of classic treats like flourless brownies and granola bars with healthier ingredients. and a treasured friend close to home.

All of Conigliaro’s promotional images on the website were professionally shot by commercial photographer Gale Zucker, her best friend since 11 years old.

Zucker has worked for entities like the New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Penguin Random House, and the Berroco yarn company.

For more from Zucker’s portfolio, see her website at gzucker.com.

Arline’s husband is Sebastiano Conigliaro, better known by his nickname “Iano” (or “Uncle Pizza” to the godchildren), who moved from Sicily to America at the age of 21 and started making pizza.

He owned Iano’s Rosticceria on 86 Nassau Street—now the location of MTea Sushi & Dessert, which opened this year—from 2005 to 2012. Arline noted that Iano could go out in Princeton and recognize people by their orders, complete with perfectly memorized preferences.

While they no longer have the storefront, Iano remains his wife’s greatest advocate.

When Arline realized how much physical strain the motions of cookie-making were putting on her shoulders and neck, Iano, with his over 30 years of pizza experience and ability to “scoop a 20-quart batch of dough in minutes,” stepped in to assist.

“He’s just a huge source of help for me,” she said. “It’s just getting so big that I couldn’t do it all on my own.”

Conigliaro is currently focused on the upcoming holidays, which includes planning social media promotions with her former colleague Chuck Gill, a Moorestown teacher who became a full-time professional Santa after retiring.

She is still in the early stages of developing the next collection, and while she expects to expand to a larger location in the future, Conigliaro has no interest in open-

ing a brick-and-mortar store.

Instead, she wants to focus on what Aunt Cookie means to her—delivering a sincere “warmth in the heart” sensation that encourages everyone to indulge in nostalgia and cultivate community.

When schools closed at the beginning of the pandemic, Conigliaro explained, she went to her garage bakery and assembled “home economics boxes” for all the neighborhood children.

Toting three pounds of sugar cookie dough, cookie cutters, five colors of sprinkles, parchment paper, and instructions, Conigliaro, joined by Iano and their new puppy, dropped off a package at each home with children and listed her own number as the “bakery hotline” for any questions.

They also ordered a case of toilet paper— a hot commodity at the time—and distributed 48 rolls with invitations taped to each roll, all of which welcomed a household to the Conigliaro backyard for fresh, brick oven pizza.

While the neighbors congregated around the back gate of the house at a safe distance and chatted, Arline delegated the orders to Iano, who churned out pie after pie.

Both Conigliaros recognized that these much-needed moments of normalcy were forged through coming together, conveying that message through grand gestures and gregarious, warm personalities, as well as their respective trades in dough.

“For me, it’s all about building community, and that’s why we do the things we do, so the cookies are part of that,” Arline said, adding that strengthening those relationships and sharing a mutual “sense of belonging” is what drives her.

Food, according to Conigliaro, is the perfect way of doing so—a “united front.”

Aunt Cookie, Taste the Love. auntcookie.com.

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Driving Hunger Out of Our Community: New TASK To-Go Truck Means More Access to Food More meals, more places. That’s the goal.

A recent report indicates that nearly 17 million households across the country are experiencing food insecurity, an increase of nearly 3.5 million households in just one year.

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Every year, thousands of people sit on their dental insurance and benefits until the new year rolls around, losing out on their past year of coverage. While some may use it to cover routine dental checkups, most pay for these yearly benefits without ever using them, leaving them unused and therefore going to waste. Instead of eating it as a sunk cost, consider scheduling some dental work with Hamilton Dental Associates!

Dental insurance can be much less confusing for patients to understand compared to medical insurance. The language used in dental insurance policies directly tells people what procedures receive coverage, how much you have to pay, and how much the insurance provider pays. However, people wind up leaving money on the table when their insurance plan rolls over at the end of the year.

Whatever the difference between their maximums and what they spent on dental procedures is, they lose that

money. To maximize the benefits of their dental insurance plans, patients need to understand what is currently offered, what kind of procedures are offered, and how much their insurance will cover.

Knowing Your Coverage. Most dental insurance plans follow the 10080-50 structure. They will cover 100% of the costs of minor procedures such as bi-yearly visits, teeth cleanings, xrays, and dental sealant procedures.

For things such as cavity fillings, root canals, and gum disease, your insurance will cover around 80% of the total cost after the deductible is met.

The major procedures like crowns, bridges, inlays, or dentures will only have about 50% of the procedure covered. Knowing how much your insurance will cover helps you plan out your visits and maximize the money still left on your account before losing it at the end of the year.

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Aquatic Performance Training

Trenton Farmers Market

The Safest and Most Effective Exercise Program

Residents of the Trenton region have relied on the Trenton Farmers Market to provide locally grown Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables since 1939. Starting off along the river in South Trenton, the Market moved to 960 Spruce Street in Lawrence Township in 1948. We’re celebrating 75 years on Spruce St. this year!

During the summer season, Trenton Farmers Market boasts half a dozen farmers from Mercer, Burlington and Atlantic Counties, many who are third generation family famers. The local season starts in April with cool weather crops like lettuce, arugula, asparagus, bok choy, leeks and spinach. May brings our famous local strawberries, kale, & leeks. June brings the first local blueberries, a brief cherry season, early beans, cabbage and carrots, and of course, sweet Jersey corn. That can only mean that Jersey tomatoes, peaches, nectarines and plums are coming in July! Local Jersey Fresh fruits and produce (including organics) will be available at Trenton Farmers Market now through November. We even have a mushroom farmer who brings both beautiful and flavorful mushrooms in many varieties.

Local fruits and vegetables are just part of the story at the Trenton Farmers Market. The Market has worked very hard to change with the times and to bring vendors in who help make the Market a destination beyond the area’s best produce.

The Trenton Farmers Market just wouldn’t be complete with our two Amish vendors, Cartlidge’s Meats, and King Foods. Fresh, top-quality meats and prepared foods with that homemade Amish country goodness are what brings so many people back week after week. Another top vendor is Pulaski Meats, the areas best connection for amazing luncheon meats, pierogies, and many other Polish and Eastern European specialties.

If that isn’t tempting enough, consider the Market’s TWO vegan eateries — Lady & The Shallot and the Savory Leaf Café! Every Saturday the Market features Terra Momo Bread Company — baguettes, croissants, focaccia, simple sandwiches, whole grains, rye and sweet treats, too! Speaking of sweet, our own Pie’d Piper has its own following for overstuffed donuts, pies, cakes, salads and more, they are way more than a

Jersey fresh since 1939

Aquatic Performance Training was born out of necessity for anyone looking to improve their overall health but may be limited at a traditional gym due to an injury or physical limitation.

The owner of Aquatic Performance, John Dohanic, was inspired to create the business after having four shoulder surgeries by the time he was 19 years old, including a shoulder replacement. Being active in sports and traditional workouts such as weight lifting and powerlifting all of his life contributed to the extensive injuries that John was experiencing that left him out of shape, gaining weight, and full of pain.

Doctors told John to get in the water and he joined a local aqua aerobics program that included noodles, foam dumbbells, and kickboards.

Although the water felt good on his injury, the program and the equipment were not effective enough to deliver the results John was looking for. He started doing extensive research and education on more specialized equipment for the pool and began investing in underwater bikes, aquatic treadmills, and strength training equipment for the pool that would deliver the results he was looking for.

Aquatic Performance Training has been growing since 2010 and has helped more than 5,000 local clients accomplish their health goals. The

different programs offered at the new Quakerbridge Road facility are a wide range of high-energy group sessions that are led by amazing instructors. Aquatic and land-based personal training are geared towards individuals who need more one on one attention and accountability. You will find the world’s first all aquatic gym that includes aqua bikes, underwater treadmills, aquatic ellipticals, and swimming. Anti-gravity treadmills increase your cardio health and leg strength without the wear and tear of normal land treadmills.

The mission of Aquatic Performance Training is to provide the safest, most effective exercise and soon to be aqua therapy company in the country. We look forward to the opportunity to help you with your goals very soon!

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in that account. These pre-tax dollars come out of your paycheck over the year and are then used to help cover the cost of these procedures.

The FSA plans work similarly to a debit card in that the money in the account can be withdrawn to cover the expenses. However, like other benefits, once the new year comes and the plan rolls over into 2021, you lose whatever balance is left on the FSA account. This is why you should take the time to plan out what dental procedures you need done throughout the year and do what you can to maximize the money in your FSA account.

Where Do I Go From Here? That’s the most important question right now.

Since you only have a set amount of time left in the year to utilize your dental insurance benefits to their fullest, don’t wait!

We can help you schedule your routine checkups, schedule any additional dental work you may need, and work with your insurance provider to figure out how much is covered and what you need to pay out of pocket.

We’re an in-network option for various insurance plans and can work with plans that offer out-of-network benefits. Contact our team to learn more about how we can help today!

Visit Hamilton Dental Associates today, and come see what all the smiles are about!

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bakery. Nothing goes with great baked good like an awesome cup of locally roasted and ground coffee at Kafe Ojala or any one of hundreds of loose teas, matcha, bubble teas and fresh PMS 485 quiche at the Tea for All tea shop.

What’s that irresistible smell? No matter where you enter the market, chances are you’ll notice the unmistakable smell of BBQ — beef, brisket, pork, chicken, beans, corn bread and more at Hambone Opera — praised by both the Food Network and the New York Times always pleases hungry shoppers. Great for take-home dinner or eat-in lunch!

Since no one lives on food alone, the Trenton Farmers Market also features over a dozen artisan makers, creators and sellers who have been carefully curated for our shoppers.

You will find handmade soaps, bath products and skin lotions, you will find our wildly popular Sea Moss vendor, textiles, woodcraft, jewelry, hand poured candles, oils and scents even a gluten free / vegan baker! And because we know pets are an important part of the family, the market has a dog treat “barkery” and vendor who sells anything you might need for your pet’s health and happiness. Need a watch or clock repaired? We have a guy. Need something from a variety store? We have a guy. We even have a smoke shop outside the market where you can try your luck at the lottery or stock up on smokes and supplies. Try the Lunchbox: a full-service lunch spot just outside the market offering sausage & peppers, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. Check out our holiday market through Christmas Eve and our artisans market starting in January!

When was the last time you made a visit to the Trenton Farmers Market?

Rediscover what thousands already know, that Jersey Fresh is ALWAYS in season at the Trenton Farmers Market. 960 Spruce Street, Lawrence.

Hours: Thurs-Sat 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit www. thetrentonfarmersmarket.com, Like us on Facebook & Instagram. See ad, page 10.

December 2023 | SIX099

SEASON’s GREETINGs Special Section

Hamilton Y’s Summer Day Camp A Journey of Discovery and Fun The Hamilton Area YMCA’s Sawmill Summer Day Camp, nestled in the heart of Mercer County, is your child's gateway to an unforgettable summer experience. With 50 acres of sprawling outdoor space and the largest pool in Mercer County, this camp is a haven for fun, learning, and adventure. During five fun-filled days packed with excitement, campers are encouraged to find their spark, embrace a sense of wonder, forge new friendships, and embark on thrilling adventures.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE at Sawmill Summer Camp!

Discover What Makes Sawmill Camp Special: Find Their Spark: Our camp is a nurturing ground where kids develop essential skills, grow in confidence, and form new friendships. As they engage in diverse activities, from outdoor play to learning to swim, they

gain valuable personal development skills. These experiences help shape their identity and passions, influencing their academic pursuits, relationships, and future career choices.

Find Their Sense of Wonder: The great outdoors is a world of discovery at Sawmill Camp. We understand the importance of outdoor play. Our camp promotes active engagement with the environment and with their peers, fostering respect and consideration for the world around them. Camp provides kids the perfect opportunity to discover the outdoors and get their bodies and imaginations more active.

Find Their Adventure: Every day at our camp is a new adventure, a chance for kids to stretch their imagination and embrace creativity without the fear of failure. This freedom allows them to explore and express themselves in ways they might not elsewhere.

Find Their Friends and Fun: Sawmill Camp is more than a summer getaway; it's a social hub where lifelong friendships are formed. Here, children learn to collaborate, build relationships, and navigate conflicts, all while having the time of their lives.

A Summer of Enrichment: Recognizing the multifaceted benefits of camp, we've planned an exciting summer filled with theme weeks, special events, and new experiences.

Campers will immerse themselves in a wide-range of activities, including arts and crafts, music, science, dance, sports, and swimming. Our highly trained counselors are committed to making your child's summer both safe and exhilarating.

Children look at camp as a fun way to spend the summer in the sun and splashing in the pool, but parents understand that camp allows kids to

reap many life benefits that will follow them through their lives long after the sun has set on their summer camp days.

Join Us for a Summer where ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. At Sawmill Summer Day Camp, we're dedicated to creating an environment where every child can find their adventure and fun. We invite you to be a part of our vibrant community this summer. For more information and to register, please visit hamiltonymca.org/camp.

See ad, page 13.

THE TRENTON FARMERS MARKET Visit our Holiday and Makers Market THURS 11/30 9:00am thru SUN 12/24 2:00pm

VOTED#1 MARKET IN MERCER COUNTY HOLIDAY HOURS: THURS-SAT 9-6 SUNDAY 9-3 OPEN EVERY DAY 12/15 THROUGH 12/24 • JERSEY FRESH PRODUCE • BREADS & BAKED GOODS • AMISH MEATS • WATCH REPAIR • EASTERN EUROPEAN FAVORITES • LOTTERY/SMOKE SHOP • DELI • CLOTHING • BURGERS, FRIES, HOT DOGS, • JEWELRY, SKIN & HAIR CARE CHICKEN & MORE • COFFEE & TEA VENDORS • AMISH, BBQ, & VEGAN EATERIES

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PMS 485

Rumble Boxing Knocks Out Princeton

revolves around authenticity and single, seamless class. Each a departure from the clichés often round symbolizes a distinct associated with group workouts. challenge, weaving together It champions the celebration of boxing-inspired movements individual uniqueness while fostering and targeted strength training a collective environment where exercises. From jab-cross everyone fights for shared fitness combinations to bodyweight goals. circuits, participants engage Rumble Boxing’s dedication to in a fusion of disciplines that authenticity doesn’t mean sacrificing elevate heart rates while style or grace. On the contrary, it sculpting and toning muscles, melds an edgy vibe with a touch of making each session a elegance, mirroring the multifaceted complete, full-body workout. nature of its workouts — raw, The inclusive nature of powerful, yet executed with finesse.

Rumble Boxing’s community At Greenwood House Hospice, our families and caregivers The spirit of Rumble Boxing is evident in its diverse Princeton is LOVE echoed through the clientele.WE Novices and HOW MUCH CARE! AND YOU WILL, TOO. stories shared by its members. They seasoned athletes find celebrate their individual fitness their place within the gym’s journeys while acknowledging the welcoming embrace, fostering “I am and honored serve asand Greenwood House Hospice Medical collective support thatproud fuels their a senseto of belonging Directorof and alongside some of the best nurses, social workers, progress. This celebration unity to work encouragement. and individuality within a fitness and volunteers As RumbleinBoxing chaplains the business. Our team provides intimate community marks Rumble Boxing becomes a fixture in and comprehensive care for ourlandscape, terminally ill patients. We support not At Green as a standout in Princeton’s fitness Princeton’s fitness ring, embrace the challenge, and just those in their butmerge also the their families and loved ones.” scene. its final ability months to seamlessly LOVE emerge stronger, fitter, and more HOW At the core of Rumble’s appeal art of boxing with the science of empowered than ever before. lies its high-octane 10-round fight HIIT, MetCon, and cardio solidifies Rumble Boxing Princeton, “I am proud and concept. This distinctive approach its status as a revolutionary fitness 3495 Route 1, Suite 120B, Windsor – DAVID R. BARILE, MD Director and offers an authentic blend of Highdestination. With each round Green Shopping Center. 609-464chaplains a Medical Director, Greenwood House Hospice Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), symbolizing a step closer to personal 8722. www.rumbleboxinggym.com/ and compreh metabolic conditioning (MetCon), triumph, Rumble Boxing Princeton princeton. See ad, page 8. just those in and the full benefits of cardio in a beckons individuals to step into the

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only choice only cho

A New Fitness Haven Lands in Town

If you’ve been in the Whole Foods complex recently, you’ve seen the new gym that’s opening soon.

Rumble Boxing, renowned for its immersive workouts that seamlessly blend the sweet science of boxing with the transformative power of strength training, has expanded its domain, bringing its unique brand of fitness to the Mercer County area.

Rumble Boxing has quickly become a buzzworthy destination for fitness enthusiasts seeking a thrilling, yet challenging, workout experience.

What sets Rumble Boxing Princeton apart isn’t just its exceptional workout regimen; it’s the philosophy that underpins every jab, hook, and squat within its walls. Emphasizing the power of collective effort while celebrating individuality, Rumble Boxing curates an experience that’s group fitness for the individual.

The ethos of Rumble Boxing

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the

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At Greenwood House Hospice, our families and caregivers Hospice is about living the fullest possible according Our Hospice TeamWILL, consists of: LOVElife HOW MUCH WE CARE! AND YOU TOO. to a patient’s capabilities within a life-limiting condition.

• Hospice Medical Director, In hospice, your choices guide the care we provide. a board-certified hospice physician “I am and honored to serve as Greenwood House Hospice Medical Hospice care affirms quality of life.proud Our goal is to • Registered Nurses (RNs) monitoring Directoranxiety and to work alongside some of the best nurses, social workers, prevent and relieve pain, discomfort, and fear. pain, managing symptoms and chaplains and volunteers in the business. Our team provides intimate guiding patient’s plan of care and comprehensive care for our terminally ill patients. We support not We provide emotional and spiritual support to patients • Hospice Home justisthose in theirwherever final months but also theirCertified families and lovedHealth ones.” and their loved ones. Hospice care provided Aides (CHHAs) providing personal a patient feels most comfortable or where they call patient care and companionship home. We help families and caregivers prepare for end–• DAVID R. BARILE, MD patients Social Workers supporting of-life challenges and find creative ways to share in life Medical Director, Greenwood House Hospice and families and connecting them review and legacy projects so that our patient’s wisdom with community resources and memories can be treasured for future generations.

• Spiritual Counselors providing emotional support and personal counseling Hospice is about living the fullest life possible according to•aBereavement patient’s capabilities within a offering life-limiting condition.

Services In hospice, your choices guide the care we provide. guidance and education concerning Hospice care affirms quality of life. Our goal is to anticipatory griefdiscomfort, to families prevent and relieve pain, anxiety and fear. throughout care and bereavement We provide emotional and spiritual support to patients • Hospice withwherever and their loved Volunteers ones. Hospice assisting care is provided a patient feels most comfortable where they call a variety of patient andorfamily home. We help families and caregivers prepare for endpersonalized activities of-life challenges andsupport find creative ways to share in life review and legacy projects so that our patient’s wisdom and memories can be treasured for future generations.

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Greenwood House Hospice is a nonprofit, mission-ba industry leader in providing high-quality senior health c

Greenwood House Hospice 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.

Call us today: (609) 883-6026 Or email us at info@greenwoodhouse.org Call us today: (609) 883-6026

greenwoodhouse.org

Or email us at Hospice is about living the fullest life possible according Our Hospice Team consists of: to ainfo@greenwoodhouse.org patient’s capabilities within a life-limiting condition.

• Hospice Medical Director,

@GreenwoodHouseNJ

• Spiritual Counselors providing emotional support and personal counseling In hospice, your choices guide the care we provide. a board-certified hospice physician Hospice care affirms House quality ofis life.

Our goal is to agency of • Bereavement Services offering Greenwood a beneficiary the Jewish Federation of Princeton, Mercer, Bucks.

• Registered Nurses (RNs) monitoring prevent and relieve pain, discomfort, anxiety and fear. managing symptoms and *Greenwood House Hospice was establishedpain, in memory of Renee Denmarkguidance Punia.and education concerning anticipatory grief to families guiding patient’s plan of care We provide emotional and spiritual support to patients throughout care and bereavement • Hospice Certified Home Health and their loved ones. Hospice care is provided wherever • Hospice Volunteers assisting with Aides (CHHAs) providing personal a patient feels most comfortable or where they call a variety of patient and family patient care and companionship home. We help families and caregivers prepare for endpersonalized support activities • Social Workers supporting patients of-life challenges and find creative ways to share in life

greenwoodhouse

Greenwood House is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation *Greenwood House Hospice was established in memory of Renee D

@GreenwoodHouse

December 2023 | SIX0911

SEASON’s GREETINGs Special Section Greenwood House Senior Healthcare Serving the Aged Since 1939 Greenwood House Senior Healthcare, its campus located in Ewing Township, NJ, off I-295 at Scotch Road and Parkway Avenue, has been serving Mercer County and the local community with personalized quality care, through its comprehensive network of senior health care services since 1939.

What historically started as a local Home for the Jewish Aged, today continues to operate as a nonprofit, nonsectarian, reputable senior healthcare organization offering a continuum of care including skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory care, assisted living, home care, hospice care, and Kosher meals on wheels.

Greenwood House provides care with a person-centered approach that greatly enhances well-being and an enriched daily life. The goal is to ensure each and every resident, patient, and client experiences quality care in an atmosphere that promotes not

only dignity and empathy, but embraces aging with quality, expertise, respect, and compassion. The care and services focus on social, emotional and spiritual support to create a resource unlike any other. Greenwood House Skilled Nursing Facility is CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid) 5-Star Quality Rated, and Greenwood House Home Care is a certified New Jersey CAHC (Commission on Accreditation for Home Care) accredited agency with “distinction.”

Greenwood House Hospice is unique in the network as not only do we provide treatment and compassionate care to seniors and the elderly population, but any individual, all ages, who may be enduring a life ending disease or are terminally ill.

The hospice team provides a highquality upscale program customized for each patient, and includes a support team there for the patient, family and their loved ones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Our team provides intimate and comprehensive care for our terminally ill patients wherever they call home. I am proud to work alongside some of the best hospice healthcare professionals in

THE GIFT OF A SMILE With the end of the year in sight, now is a great time to assess your family’s unmet dental needs. Consider your annual benefits that expire at the end the Contact us With the end of the year in sight,of now is year. a great to help you plan your time to assess your family’s unmet dental needs.

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the business,” says Dr. David Barile, Greenwood House Hospice Medical Director, board-certified in geriatrics and internal medicine.

Greenwood House Senior Healthcare has on staff medical directors, board-certified in geriatric and internal medicine, an ancillary team of specialists consisting of a dentist, podiatrist, optometrists, audiologist, and psychologist, as well as nurse practitioners, a dietician, nutritionist, social workers, life enrichment and activities staff, spiritual counsel and 24/7 care team consisting of RNs, LPNs, CNAs (Certified Nursing Aide), dietary aides, housekeeping and maintenance.

“No matter what possible challenges face our team of professional experts in today’s world, our residents, patients and clients will have everything they personally need to keep them healthy, safe and secure, and in turn allowing their families & caretakers peace of mind their loved ones are being cared for by one of the best healthcare organizations in our area,” says Richard Goldstein, Executive Director, Greenwood House Senior Healthcare.

To receive information email info@ greenwoodhouse.org, call 609-7180587 or read more and apply on the website at www.GreenwoodHouse. org. See ad, page 11.

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at your service Complete Home Improvements

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To book a classified ad in this section, please email your text and any other information to sjeronis@communitynews.org. Classifieds run at 75 cents per word with a $20 minimum per month. For more information, call 609-396-1511, ext. 130.

classified Part time office work: 10-12 hours per week from mid-January- mid-April.

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LOCAL CLASSIFIED SERVICES Guitar Lessons available $20 per lesson.

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Contact: idm.edm.vega@ gmail.com Anthony M. Vega, instructor.

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

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WANTED TO BUY Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards, autographs, photos, memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel.

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HELP WANTED Head Teacher and a Teacher’s Aid wanted for Hopewell Township preschool. Full Time or Part Time. Starting $15 -$20 per hour depending upon position and experience. If you are interested in either position, emailinfo@ camelotschool.net LUNCH COOK wanted for Hopewell Township preschool. Preparation of children’s lunch from 10-2, MTRF. $16 -$20 per hour depending upon skill. Call or text David 609-577-5584 Dating Attention Single Men 64 - 71 local matchmaker

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Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you.

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16SIX09 | December 2023 RWJ-169 SYSTEM_Cardiac_TAVR_GrandmaBaby_9.375x10.375.indd 1

11/7/23 12:12 PM

Capital Health Surgeon Becomes First Black Woman to Lead Regional Surgical Society DR. AFRICA WALLACE, director of Thoracic Surgery at Capital Health, was recently named the president of the Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society (ECTSS).Dr. Wallace is the first black female president for ECTSS and the first of any cardiothoracic surgery society.

“The Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society works to advance the highest standards of excellence in patient care through education, research, and surgical training programs,” said Dr. Wallace. “I’m excited to lead an organization that aligns with my personal commitment to quality, diversity and inclusion in health care and Capital Health’s mission of improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves.”

Thoracic surgery is used to treat diseased or injured organs in the chest. Dr. Wallace, a board certified thoracic surgeon, performs procedures at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell to treat cancer and other conditions, with a focus on minimally invasive techniques using video-assisted or robotic approaches. She is

part of Capital Health Surgical Group and Capital Health’s Robotic Center of Excellence, a team of experienced surgeons who provide a multidisciplinary suite of robotic-assisted procedures that meet the highest national quality standards. Dr. Wallace is also co-lead of Capital Health’s Lung Center of Excellence (part of Capital Health Cancer Center), which provides comprehensive care in the detection, evaluation, monitoring, and treatment of lung disease.

Along with her new role as president of the ECTSS, Dr. Wallace serves on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Work Force of the Society of Thoracic Surgery. She is a member of the Women in Thoracic Surgery and Association of Women Surgeons. Dr. Wallace’s current research interests include racial disparities in the surgical management of thoracic cancers and clinical outcomes as they pertain to minimally invasive approaches to pulmonary and esophageal surgery.

For more information about Capital Health Surgical Group, visit capitalhealthsurgicalgroup.org. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Wallace, call 609.537.6000.

Capital Health Opens New Primary Care Location in Ewing Township If you live or work near Ewing Township, you may have noticed a new Capital Health building on Scotch Road. Whether you’re scheduling a wellness check-up or not feeling well, advanced medicine starts with your primary care provider. Capital Health Primary Care – Ewing, part of Capital Health Medical Group and a trusted provider of primary care for children and adults in Mercer County, New Jersey, is now located at 51 Scotch Road, Ewing, NJ 08628, just minutes away from the original Ewing location.

Consolidating the physicians from two previous Ewing offices on Parkway Avenue and Parkside Avenue, the new 11,000-square-foot location offers patients medical care from the same board certified providers, including DRS. KASHIF ANWAR, SYLVIA BOLOCK, ROBERT HOGAN, DANIEL JASS, MERIAM KHAN, SHODHAN PATEL, and PAUL PIERROT. They are all available for appointments to provide check-ups, sick visits and preventive care for children and adults.

“Primary care providers are the first line of defense for maintaining good health, and it’s important for patients to find clinicians they can trust,” said Dr. Jerrold Gertzman, Chief Medical Officer – Medical Care for Capital Health Medical Group. “Our practices are built on that trust, and now our Ewing-based physicians are offering safe, convenient care in one brand new, state-of-the-art facility.”

In addition to office visits, most of the physicians at Capital Health Primary Care – Ewing offer easy access to sick visits from the comfort of your home or on the go through the Capital Health Virtual Primary Care Program. Appointments for this service can be requested online (seven days a week, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.) at capitalvirtualcare.org. They can also provide easy access to experienced specialists and surgeons when necessary and the most advanced care in the region at nearby Capital Health hospitals when it is needed most – virtually everything patients need to keep them on the path to better health.

Office hours at the new Capital Health Primary Care – Ewing are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Thursday (10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.). To schedule an appointment, call 609.883.5454 or visit capitalhealth.org/ewing for more information.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Trenton Downtowner 7

FREE UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS Register by calling 609.394.4153 or register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Please register early. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

The Knee: A to Z Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting The knee is one of the largest joints in the human body and one of the most complex. Learn more from an expert at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, DR. ARJUN SAXENA, a fellowship trained and board certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in primary and revision hip and knee replacement/reconstruction and director of the Marjorie G. Ernest Center for Joint Replacement. Dr. Saxena will discuss the anatomy and physiology of the knee, common injuries, and the latest surgical techniques available.

Achieve More with a Healthy Pelvic Floor Thursday, December 7, 2023 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting Are you experiencing pain in your pelvic area during sex, personal care, or urination/bowel movements? It’s time to advocate for yourself! Join Kathie Olson, nurse practitioner and program director for Capital Health’s Center for Incontinence and Pelvic Health, to learn strategies for living your life without pelvic pain. Kathie will be joined by Natalia Ochalski, a certified pelvic floor physical therapist, to discuss the benefits of pelvic floor physical therapy. All genders are welcome!

8Trenton Downtowner | Health Headlines by Capital Health

six-year capital plan. This level of investment is necessary to remove lead service lines from water-utility infrastructure, upgrade the Water-Filtration Plant and water distribution system, comply with federal and state regulatory mandates, establish decentralized water storage to protect the water supply, and increase operational efficiency.

KIOSK, continued from page 4

er who explores human experiences through abstraction.

Despite having severe glaucoma and being legally blind, Alexander continues to work in his Mill Hill studio.

His style ranges from small, colorful portraits of jazz artists to huge, wall-size canvases with bold colors, words and occasionally he uses broken pottery and found objects. Some of his larger pieces include strong messages about human suffering and injustice.

The exhibition is part of a series that showcases the talent of area artists which is slated to continue as an ongoing series.

TAWA is a Greater Trenton nonprofit organization and has a 40-year history organizing exhibits in such venues as the New Jersey State Museum, Trenton City Museum, Artworks Trenton, Prince Street Gallery in New York City, and more.

The Trenton Free Public Library is located at 120 Academy Street and is located in the Creek2Canal Trenton Arts District. Hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the library, call 609-3927188.

More information on the Trenton Artists Workshop Association can be found on the organization’s Facebook page.

Trenton Swings

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he Candlelight Lounge, one of New Jersey’s destination jazz spots, released the following December schedule of Saturday afternoons sessions as follows: December 2, noted Trenton saxophonist James Stewart; December 9, Philadelphia sax player Robert Landham; December 16, New Jersey saxophone artist Audrey Welber; and December 23, keyboardist Bill Schilling. Performance and free buffet. $20 cover, $10 bar minimum. 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, Trenton. www.candlelighteventsjazz.com.

Trenton Blooms

A

vacant lot in the heart of downtown Trenton has been transformed into a Sensory Garden.

Located at the corner of Montgomery and Olive streets, the park was initiated

by Ken Hill, an alumnus of Trenton Climate Corps, an AmeriCorps project managed by Isles.

According to a press release, he chose to envision a space as “an environment that appeals to all the senses — smell, sight, touch, taste, and hearing. After careful consideration of available spaces for the garden, Ken, along with staff from Isles’ Community Planning and Development department identified a vacant lot

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Ken Hill has transformed a vacant lot at the corner of Montgomery and Olive streets into a sensory garden as part of Trenton Climate Corps, an AmeriCorps project managed by Isles. where plans to create a parklet in the front of the lot were already underway.”

The support for the project came from a $5,000 grant from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Commission, mulch from the City of Trenton, and guidance and physical support from Isles’ community planning and development division.

In addition to flowering native vines and plants, the garden includes murals painted by Trenton artists Raven George and Dayanna McKay and chairs and picnic tables available in the adjacent parklet.

Further plans to make the garden more inviting and useful to the community are in development.

renton Water Works is temporarily suspending its practice of shutting off residential customers for bill nonpayment. This is to comply with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Winter Termination Program.

The program prevents service discontinuation for eligible residential customers receiving electric, sewer, and water service from a local authority, municipal utility, or rural electric cooperative from November 15 through March 15.

Utility services cannot disconnect residential customers during this period who demonstrate at the time of the intended termination that they are: Recipients of benefits under the Federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or certified as eligible therefore under standards set by the New Jersey Department of Human Services; Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF); Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD); General Assistance (GA) benefits; Universal Service Fund (USF); Low-income Household Water Assistance Program; and the Lifeline Credit Program.

Persons unable to pay their utility bills because of circumstances beyond their control. Such circumstances include, but are not be limited to: unemployment, illness, medically related expenses, recent death of an immediate family member, and any other circumstances that might cause financial hardship.

For more information regarding the program and eligibility, call 1-866-TWWBLUE or visit the TWW at 333 Cortland Street in Trenton to speak to a customerservice representative.”

ilton Township starting in December (weather permitting), followed by Trenton, Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, and Hopewell Township. Dewcon plans to install 15 flushing assemblies a week. TWW awarded the work to Dewcon through the public-contracting process.

Once all flushing assemblies are in place, TWW water-distribution-system personnel will operate the flushers and open fire hydrants as needed as part of the water utility’s low, conventional, and high-velocity water-main flushing schedules. Discharging water from the distribution system using various water-industry methods improves water quality by reducing water age, removing sediment, tuberculation and biofilm, and maintaining targeted chlorine levels for disinfecTrenton Improves tion. renton Water Works (TWW) will In 2019, TWW launched a $405 million, install water-main flushing assemblies in December in targeted areas of its 683-mile water-distribution system to strengthen its system management and FELTUS maintain high water quality.

“The flushing devices will enable the INSURANCE water utility to flush water mains of aged SERVICES water and sediment, improving overall water quality,” said Sean Semple, director of the City of Trenton’s Department of BETH FELTUS Water and Sewer, which operates Trenton Water Works. “This $1.7-million capiEMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST tal project is part of TWW’s Legionella Specializing in Small Businesses of 2 - 50 Employees mitigation.”

The first of the 170 flushing assemblies manufactured by Red Hed Manufactur(609) 393-1556 O. (609) 233-4113 C. (609) 498 7900 F. ing & Supply Company will be installed Email Beth@BethFeltus.com www.bethfeltus.com by contract vendor Dewcon, Inc. in Ham-

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December 2023 | Trenton Downtowner9

Trenton welcomes the holidays

By Dan Aubrey

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he year may be winding down, but Trenton is stepping up its events to celebrate the holiday season and welcome the new year.

As shown in the following listings, those activities include an annual tour of Victorian-era houses, concerts, and the return of a major community attraction — the annual Patriots Week recreation of the world changing battle of Trenton.

So, start preparing for a busy holiday — Trenton Style.

Mill Hill Holiday House and Window Tour. The 56th annual house tour of 19th century homes in Trenton’s historic downtown district features window displays and special decorations, with some of the homeowners hosting visitors with holiday music, refreshments, and insightful conversation on their stoops and sidewalks. Tickets available in advance or the day of at Artworks. The tour begins at Artworks located at 19 Everett Alley and South Stockton Street. Saturday, December 2, noon to 5 p.m.

Capital Singers of Trenton. “Winter Songs XVII” with conductor Vinroy D. Brown, Jr., continues a Trenton holiday tradition with a seasonal concert featuring music by Peter, Paul and Mary, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Camille Saint-Saens’ “Oratorio de Noël.” Sacred Heart Church, 343 South Broad Street. $20 to $25. www.capitalsingers.org. Sunday, December 3, 4 p.m.

American Repertor y Ballet. “The Nutcracker,” the company’s annual holiday presentation of Tchaikovsky’s musical journey through an enchanted world, arrives at the Trenton War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive. $25 to $55. arballet.org.

Saturday, December 9, 1 and 5 p.m.

Theoria. The a cappella group specializing in Eastern European sacred music performs a Christmas-themed concert at the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Byzantine Catholic Church. The group was founded by Andrew Skitko, a Westminster Choir College graduate who serves as the cantor of the church celebrating its 130th anniversary. Donations accepted.

202 Grand Street. www.avmbcc.org. Saturday, December 9, 4 p.m.

Artworks Trenton. The annual “10X10 Red Dot Fundraising Exhibition,” featuring works by regional artists for sale for $100, is a chance for the novice to test the waters of original art, experienced artists to help Artworks fund continued programming, and collectors to build their collections. The exhibition opens with a reception on Saturday,

December 9, 6 to 9 p.m., and continues through January 6. 19 Everett Alley and South Stockton Street. artworkstrenton. org.

New Jersey Capital Philharmonic.

The Trenton orchestra presents its 10th anniversary New Year’s Eve celebration featuring a world premiere by composer John Dickson, Richard Strauss’ “Don Juan,” and music by Johann Strauss, George Gershwin, and Richard Rogers. Trenton War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive. capitalphilharmonic.org. Sunday, December 31, 8 p.m.

Patriots Week

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he week-long commemoration of the Battle of Trenton, the event that put the American colonists on the path to victory, returns to downtown Trenton on Monday, December 26, and continues through December 31 with historic tours, talks, and reenactments.

The schedule is as follows: Tuesday, December 26. Trenton Battlefield Tour with Ralph Siegel, 10 a.m. to noon. Free. Meet at Starbucks, corner of Front and Warren streets.

NJ State House Tours. Join a guided tour of the General Assembly and Senate chambers and discover the storied history of New Jersey’s State House. 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.

Free. 145 West State Street. Advanced reservations required. Call 609-847-3150.

Also December 27, 28, and 29.

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, “Tea, Sugar and Chocolate in 18th Century America.” Join Michael and Deborah Raab of Tea-For-All to learn how tea, coffee, sugar and chocolate were vital to the diets of colonial Americans. Explore the light and dark sides of each. Selected tastings included. Free. 140 North Warren Street. 2 p.m. Come at 1 p.m. for a tour of the church Wednesday, December 27. NJ State House Tours. 10 a.m., 11 a.m., Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Free.

New Jersey State Museum Planetarium, Stars of 1776 and Holiday Star Shows: Season of Light featuring 1776 Star Talk, 10:30 a.m.; “Laser Holiday Magic,” 11:30 a.m.; and “Touch the Stars featuring 1776 Star Talk,” 1 p.m., $5, 12 and under, $10, adults, 205 West State Street. Also December 28, 29, and 30.

Trenton Free Public Library, “A Revolutionary Conversation: Whose freedom anyway?” A “living museum” project featuring students from Sprout U School of the Arts sharing the perspectives of African Americans on the Revolutionary War and its meaning for enslaved people.

Free. 120 Academy Street. Noon to 2 p.m.

10Trenton Downtowner December 2023

Trenton Free Public Library, “Alexander Hamilton and the 24 Cannon at the Battle of Trent-Town,” examining the critical ingredient in the December 26, 1776, battle: American cannons and how General Washington and his artillery commander deployed them. The discussion features a 9 foot by 12-foot tabletop map to provide a birds-eye view of individual fighting units. Presented by David Bosted. Free. 120 Academy Street. 2 p.m.

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, “Make A Quill Pen Try Your Handwriting.” Free. 140 North Warren Street. 2 p.m. Also December 28.

Masonic Temple, “Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War,” a discussion led by Friederike Baer, associate professor of history at Penn State Abington College. Free. 100 Barrack Street. 4 p.m.

Thursday, December 28. Trenton Free Public Library, “Tavern Beverages of the American Revolution.” Historian and mixologist David Emerson’s exploration of Colonial-era drinking customs.

Free. 120 Academy Street. 2 p.m.

Trenton Friends Meeting House, “Revolutionary-era Trenton,” a virtual walking tour led by Dr. Sharon Ann Holt, historian and Trenton resident. Free. 142 East Hanover Street. 2:30 p.m.

Patriots’ Pub Crawl, a downtown Trenton pub experience. Pay on your way, 5 p.m. Location TBA. Friday, December 29. Old Barracks Museum, open for tours, free for children 5 and under, $10 for adults, $8, seniors and students. 101 Barrack Street, Trenton Friends Meeting House, “A Cappella Hopewell Hall Ensemble” presents Colonial-era songs from the grand to the everyday, including American shape note, British West Gallery, and folk songs. Free. 142 Hanover Street. 3 p.m.

Masonic Temple, Colonial Ball, the annual event to return to 1776, mingle with Revolutionary War soldiers, and learn dance steps of the era. Period dress is neither discouraged nor required. $40, 100 Barrack Street. 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 30. Battle of

Battle of Trenton reenactments take place as part of Patriots Week festivities on Saturday, December 30.

Trenton Reenactment/First Battle, an on-the-spot recreation of Washington’s December 26, 1776, surprise attack on British forces in Trenton. Free. Broad Street. 11 a.m.

Trenton Friends Meeting House, “Colonial Town Walking Tour,” Dr. Sharon Holt, historian and Trenton resident, will lead participants along 7 or 8 blocks where Revolutionary history happened.

The tour concludes with refreshments and conversation. Free. 142 Hanover Street. 1 p.m.

William Trent House, Hogmanay, a Scottish New Year’s celebration recreated in memory of Scottish immigrant and founder of Trenton, William Trent. The celebration includes bagpipers, period shortbread cooking lessons, and Scottish folktales and treats. It also includes the Scottish ritual of using the writing and burning of personal messages to start the new year fresh. Free. 15 Market Street. 2 p.m.

Battle of Trenton Reenactment/ Second Battle, on-the-spot recreation of Washington’s January 2, 1777, return to Trenton. Free. Mill Hill Park. 3 p.m.

Mill Hill Park, Assunpink Firewalk and Reading of “The American Crisis,” featuring traditional music, warm beverages and cookies, the lighting of 13 torches along the waterside, and a reading from Thomas Paine’s spirited pro-Revolutionary War pamphlet. Free. Mill Hill Park Iron Bridge and Canal Walk. 5 p.m.

Sunday, December 31. Trenton Friends Meeting House, “Peace Singalong with Solidarity Singers,” featuring the Solidarity Singers of the NJ Industrial Union Council, led by guitarist Bennet Zurofsky and known for its support of workers, unions, peace, and justice.

“Candlelight Peace Vigil & Light Dinner,” a quiet time of reflection as the new year unfolds, follows. Free. 142 Hanover Street. 4 p.m.

Jan: 2, 16, 30 Jul: 2, 16, 30 Jan: 6, 15, 29 Jul: 1, 15, 29 Jan: 9, 23 Jul: 9, 23 Aug: 13, 27 Feb: 12, 26 Aug: 12, 26 Feb: 6, 20 Aug: 6, 20 Feb: 13, 27 Mar: 12, 26 Sep: 10, 24 Sep: 7, 16, 30 Mar: 11, 25 Sep: 9, 23 Sep: 3, 17 Mar: 5, 19 Oct: 8, 22 Oct: 7, 21 Apr: 2, 16, 30 Oct: 1, 15, 29 Apr: 9, 23 Apr: 8, 22 Apr: 1, 15, 29 Oct: 14, 28 Nov: 5, 19 May: 1, 15, 29 Nov: 12, 26 May: 7, 21 May: 6, 20 Nov: 4, 18 May: 13 Nov: 11, 25 Jun: 4, 18 Dec: 3, 17, 31 Dec: 2, 16, 30 Jun: 11, 25 Jun: 3, 17 Jun: 1, 10, 24 Dec: 9, 23 Dec: 10, 24

Jan: 8, 22 Feb: 5, 19 Mar: 4, 18

Jul: 8, 22 Aug: 5, 19

Jan: 3, 17, 31 Feb: 14,28 Mar: 13, 27

Jul: 3, 17, 31 Aug: 14, 28

Apr: 10, 24 May: 8, 22 Jun: 5, 19,

Sep: 11, 25 Oct: 9, 23 Nov: 6, 20 Dec: 4, 18

Jan: 11, 25 Jul: 11, 25 Jan: 4, 18 Jan: 10, 24 Jul: 6, 18 Jul: 10, 24 Feb: 8, 22 Aug: 8, 22 Feb: 1, 15, 29 Aug: 1, 15, 29 Feb: 7, 21 Aug: 7, 21 Sep: 5, 19 Sep: 4, 18 Mar: 14, 28 Sep: 12, 26 Mar: 7, 21 Mar: 6, 20 Oct: 3, 17, 31 Oct: 2, 16, 30 Apr: 11, 25 Apr: 3, 17 Oct: 10, 24 Apr: 4, 18 May: 2, 16, 30 Nov: 14, 30 May: 1, 15, 29 Nov: 13, 27 May: 9, 23 Nov: 7, 21 Jun: 13, 27 Dec: 12, 26 Jun: 12, 26 Dec: 5, 19 Dec: 11, 28 Jun: 6, 20

Jan: 12, 26 Jul: 12, 26 Feb: 9, 23 Aug: 9, 23 Sep: 6, 20 Mar: 8, 22 Apr: 5, 19 Oct: 4, 18 May: 3, 17, 31 Nov: 1, 15, 29 Jun: 14, 28 Dec: 13,27

MUNICIPAL RECYCLING AND PUBLIC WORKS: Ewing / 882-3382 Hamilton / 890-3560 Hopewell Boro / 466-0168 Hopewell Twp / 537-0250 Lawrence Twp / 587-1894

Pennington Boro / 737-9440 Princeton / 688-2566 Trenton / 989-3151 West Windsor / 799-8370

East Windsor, Hightstown, Robbinsville: Call your Recycling /Public Works Office for your recycling schedule

Mercer County Participates in MERCER COUNTY

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December 2023 | Trenton Downtowner11

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12Trenton Downtowner December 2023