Hamilton Post DECEMBER 2019
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Senior Living
DECEMBER 2019
1 1 D E C E M E B E R 2 6 TH - 3 1 ST 2 0 1 7 1 1 FREE
Martin wins big
Half century of a cappella
INSIDE:
Team Campus
Dr. Ronak Patel brings the fight against chronic pain to new levels. Page 11
Democrats take control of mayor’s DOWNTOWN TRENTON WWW. PATRIOTSWEEK. COM office, entire council
HISTORIC WALKING & BUS TOURS + CANNON FIRING BATTLE REENACTMENTS + THE COLONIAL BALL CONCERTS + KIDS ACTIVITIES + MUSKET DEMOS
In their 50th year, Garden Statesmen to host annual holiday show Dec. 7
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By roB anthes ranthes@communitynews.org
By roB heyMan Singing in the shower may not be a surefire predictor of a successful vocal career, but it could be enough to open a door to one busy vocal group in the area. One thing that has continued to unite members of the Princeton Garden Statesmen a cappella group throughout its 50-year history is their simple love of singing, and there’s always an open spot for newcomers with the same passion and ability to carry a tune. The Statesmen have been entertaining music lovers in central New Jersey with their brand of four-part barbershop harmony since 1969. The chorus consists of about 20 active members who stay busy performing at various venues and events throughout the year, including holiday and dinner shows as well as business and community events. On a particularly cold night in November, the group was polishing its vocals at a local school for an upcoming holiday show to be held Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Nottingham Ballroom in Hamilton. Coaching the men that night was Katie Blackwood, an accomplished vocal coach and singer, who helps direct the Statesmen with Jack Pinto, himself an internationally recSee STATESMEN, Page 16
Regenerative Spine & Pain Institute
Luxury senior apartments will create a place to live, work, and play in Bordentown. Page 4
Hamilton resident Roman Engel holds the script for this year’s Christmas Spectacular in front of Radio City Music Hall. Engel plays the role of Ben in the show.
Rockin’ with the Rockettes University Heights student stars in Radio City’s annual Christmas show By lois leVine Hamilton resident Roman Engel is nearly bursting at the seams with excitement—and you can’t really blame him. Since Nov. 8, the 10-year-old has been performing onstage in this year’s Radio City Music Hall’s “Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes” in midtown Manhattan, and he can scarcely still believe
it himself. “I was coming back on the train [from New York City], where I had had five auditions [for other projects] and I got a phone call from my manager,” he said. “I gave the phone to my parents and my mom said, ‘Roman, you got the part in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular as Ben.’ I said, ‘I’m Ben? I’m Ben!’ And then I sobbed.” As Roman explains it, in the show Ben is a 7-year-old boy who has to find a gift for his sister and the magic of Christmas for his brother. When I asked him if he has to speak onstage, he assures me, “I have to speak a lot! I think I have three sheets
of lines, or no, not really (his mother gently corrects him). Two scenes of lines.” Playing at the stunning Art Deco theater that holds nearly 6,000 seats would be daunting for any actor, let alone a 10-yearold boy. But as Roman recalls opening night, he said, “Well, I was a little calm and a little nerSee ROMAN, Page 18
Changes are coming to town hall, with Democrats sweeping Hamilton Township municipal races on Election Day 2019. The biggest change will be in the mayor’s office, where challenger Jeff Martin won a four-year term handily. The current council president defeated Republican incumbent Kelly Yaede by 12 percentage points, and will be the town’s first Democratic mayor since Glen Gilmore lost a re-election bid in November 2007. Martin will have an all-Democratic council to work with, after partymates Pat Papero and Nancy Phillips (13,149 votes and 12,735, respectively) beat Republican candidates Rich Balgowan (9,449 votes) and Vinnie Capodanno (9,253) in the race for Hamilton Township Council. Papero and Phillips will join Rick Tighe, Anthony Carabelli and whoever the Democrats appoint to take Martin’s seat on the governing body. It’s the first time in 15 years the Democrats have held the five seats on council and the mayor’s office. Martin, in an interview with See ELECTION, Page 14
What’s happening in the Hamilton school district? New superintendent’s column on Page 50.
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