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Striking gold
Helping the hungry
EHS girls’ bowling wins first state title in 19 years
Meals on Wheels of Mercer teams up with local restaurants
By Justin Feil
By NiCole ViViano Meals on Wheels of Mercer County will take part in the nonprofit’s national initiative this March to raise donations for its charity-based nutritional program. March for Meals has recruited local, small restaurants to participate in the month-long promotion sponsored by Meals on Wheels America. Last year, the promotion contributed $13,810 to MOW of Mercer County, helping them to continue serving their community, which now includes Lawrence as of last year. About five years ago, Meals on Wheels of Mercer County decided to use this initiative to highlight the issue of senior hunger in their community. Their slogan, “Dine Out to Stamp Out Senior Hunger,” is meant to bring to people’s attention the nearly 553 participants that MOW served last year, 88% of whom were over the age of 60 and 60% at high nutritional risk. The funds that are raised by March for Wheels will help subsidize meals for the people who can’t afford to contribute See MEALS, Page 10
Ewing resident Georgia Arvanitis, vice president of the township-based EASEL Animal Rescue League, holds one of the cats in the shelter. (Photo by Nicole Viviano.)
‘Pawsitive’ thinking EASEL program helps shelter cats find a forever home By NiCole ViViano
The Cat Pawsitive training initiative started by The Jackson Galaxy Project, was founded by TV star Jackson Galaxy from his hit Animal Planet show My Cat From Hell. The project started in 2014 along with greatergood.org, a public nonprofit, and was created with the understanding that animal shelters are often an overwhelming environment, especially for already frightened animals. Georgia Arvanitis, vice president of the EASEL board, says
that a major benefit of the program is assisting staff and volunteers in building good connections with the animals. “It helps them feel positive about the animals because they understand that they’re helping to reduce the stress,” she says. “From the animals’ perspective, it reinforces good behavior.” EASEL continues to further its mission to decrease the number of euthanized animals in the county with Cat Pawsitive and Cat Pawsitive Pro, which is See PAWSITIVE, Page 8
HEALTH
For the past two years EASEL Animal Rescue League—a no kill shelter in Ewing—has been implementing a new feline behavior training program which has helped it successfully adopt out cats that would have otherwise been looked over.
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HEADLINES B I - M O N T H LY N E WS F R O M
Marian Ordoñez is an altar server and active in youth group at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and she was an answer to the prayers of the Ewing High School girls’ bowling team. The junior’s decision to join the Blue Devils gave them a fi fth bowler, the minimum required to score as a team. Without her, the team would have been forced to use a “blind bowler” score that can vary widely. Ordoñez improved consistently and combined with established bowlers Sierra Reid, Olivia Ross, Mia Siminitus and Jazmyn Willis to bring Ewing its second sectional title and first since 2001. “We would never have been able to do this without five girls,” said Ewing head coach Dave Angebranndt. “We would not have been able to shoot 2,692 without five girls. Especially with Marian shooting 117124-152, that’s fantastic. Having consistency on your team is fantastic.” Ordoñez came a long way during the season. When she tried out, it was her third time ever bowling. “I was pretty nervous at first,” Ordoñez said. “I think I bowled a 70-something on my tryout. Others were bowling over 200. See BOWLING, Page 6
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