Hamilton Post
FEBRUARY 2020
H A M I LT O N P O S T. C O M
Keys to musical success
Fire tax bills up for vote Township fire districts to hold elections Feb. 15
Pianist reaches Carnegie Hall stage for 2nd time
By NicOle ViVianO
By Julia Marnin Not every 17-year-old can say they performed a classical piano ballad where musical legends like the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Frank Sinatra took the stage. But Joseph Kesting can. The Hamilton resident is preparing for his second performance at NYC’s famed Carnegie Hall after his second year advancing in the Crescendo International Music Competition, a worldwide competition for instrumentalists ages 5-22. This year, Kesting is one out of over 5,000 instrumentalists that participated in auditions, which is the competition’s first round. Around 15% of those 5,000 have been selected to advance to the Winner’s Circle, the competition’s second and final round held at Carnegie Hall. Musicians are judged and scored based on style, technique and artistic maturity. Kesting, who is a junior at Notre Dame High School, has been practicing his most complex piano piece yet for his performance this year which was scheduled for Jan. 25, after this edition went to press. There are varying performance dates for all those who received First Place Honors. He has chosen to play Rondo Capriccioso in E major, Op. 14, a classical piece composed by See KESTING, Page 20
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Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin (second from left) takes the oath of office Jan. 1, 2020 during a ceremony at the Stone Terrace on Kuser Road. State Senator Troy Singleton (left) administered the oath, while Martin’s wife Scarlet Rajski and municipal clerk Eileen Core look on. (Photo by Mark Czajkowski.)
Martin era begins New mayor details plans for his administration By ROB AnThes A new era has begun in Hamilton Township. Democrat Jeff Martin took over the mayor’s office from Kelly Yaede Jan. 1, and the subsequent weeks have been a flurry of activity as Martin builds the framework of his administration. On his very first full day as
mayor, Martin tapped familiar faces Kathy Fitzgerald and Fred Dumont to serve as director of health, recreation, senior and veteran services and the head planning, zoning and inspections department, respectively. Then, on Jan. 15, Martin announced that he had selected T. Missy Balmir as interim business administrator and Chris Markley as public works director. The appointments continued through the rest of January, as Martin transitioned into the first Democratic administration in more than a decade. On
the council side, the all-Democratic legislative body—including newcomers Pat Papero, Jr. and Nancy Phillips—got in on the act, appointing Charles “Chuddy” Whalen Jan. 21 to fill Martin’s former seat. But filling positions will only be the beginning, as Martin has a whole host of issues waiting for him to solve—many of which took center stage during the 2019 campaign season. Martin met with Hamilton Post editor Rob Anthes in his office at the municipal buildSee MARTIN, Page 14
On the third Saturday in February, the public will have its say on the budgets and commissioners for Hamilton’s fire districts. In what might be the final fire election in Hamilton before consolidation, each of the township’s districts have proposed tax increases to counteract rising costs for insurance and salaries. New Mayor Jeff Martin has said he expects the years-long effort to consolidate Hamilton’s fire districts into a single municipal department to be completed this year. Some fire district employees have expressed apprehension on the details of such a move, while others are eager to see this next step finally happen. “It’s long overdue,” retiring District No. 9 Chief Mark Antozzeski said. “We look forward to working with the mayor and council and getting this project complete. We’ve been working on this project for many years. It will improve safety for our citizens. It will improve safety for our personnel.” Until that time, the districts will run independent annual elections, with their individual budget proposals and different commissioners up for vote. Residents can vote in their respective districts. This year’s elections are on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 2–9 p.m., at the fire station in each district. See FIRE, Page 12
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