Hamilton Hamilton PPost ost
OCTOBER 2020
Mayor: Town faces financial hurdles
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
Salon owner named Mrs. New Jersey
‘Safe and secure’ New Jersey joins list of states conducting elections by mail
Martin strikes somber tone in first township address
By Michele Alperin
By Rob Anthes
Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin always planned to try something new for his first State of Hamilton Township address, but surely he didn’t expect this. Nearly six months after postponing his first attempt, Martin posted a 15-minute township address to the township’s YouTube page Sept. 3 that brought into sharp focus the challenges faced by the township, many of which did not exist a year ago. “2020 has been a year like no other,” Martin said. “It has challenged us to adapt, to overcome and to persevere through challenges.” Martin insisted that the township’s foundation is strong, but said Hamilton faces “very serious fiscal and infrastructure challenges.” He pinned the blame on the administration of Kelly Yaede and what he called a “kick-thecan” philosophy of budgeting. Martin said the COVID-19 pandemic grew the budget hole even more, forcing the township to furlough employees in July, institute wage freezes and cut spending. See TOWNSHIP, Page 11
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Their courage and compassion inspire us all.
Chimere Haskins, owner of Chimere Nicole Salon on Nottingham Way, was crowned Mrs. New Jersey America 2020 on Aug. 8, 2020. She plans to compete in the Mrs. America 2020 in Las Vegas. The Mrs. New Jersey America 2020 pageant was held at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
Small stature, big triumph
One morning, a message written in chalk appeared in front of an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words couldn’t have been simpler, or more Despite soul stirring, the fact Hartwick— freshman Billy Gazonas sat or more withaccurate. tears welling in his eyes which in the 1970s was to col-
Now retired, soccer great Billy Gazonas recalls glory days
lege soccer what Notre Dame and a fire igniting in his gut. Gazonas had just suited up is to college football—took a for his first meaningful “Heroesscho- 1-0 season-opening victory, lastic game since the previ- Gazonas was devastated. He work here.” ous November, when he cap- was the only Hawk player not By Rich Fisher tained St. Anthony’s High to get in the game, and with his School in Hamilton (now parents in the stands no less. It was Sep. 21, 1974 and Three words of gratitude and encouragement that What could have been the darkness had enveloped Trenton Catholic Academy) capture the courage and compassion of health to a 4-0 win over Union Catho- end of one man’s story, was the Hartwick College socworkers and across America. To share the yourbeginning of a lic inhere the NJSIAA Parochial A actually cer team’s bus as it rolled thanks or to supportgame. our Emergency Response Fund, compelling book. championship from Montclair State back to No one knew it at the time, What a difference 10 its campus in Oneonta, New visit rwjbh.org/heroes York. In the back of the bus, months made. See SOCCER, Page 12
In an atmosphere rife with misinformation and political divisiveness, confusing messages have spawned concerns about mail-in voting—a process that has proven safe and secure in the several states where it is now the norm. The western states of Utah, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Colorado have for years conducted their elections entirely or mostly by mail-in ballot. New Jersey will join them for this year, after Gov. Phil Murphy issued Executive Order No. 177, mandating all active registered New Jersey voters receive a mailin ballot with prepaid return postage for the Nov. 3 general election. In Mercer County, ballots began to be mailed to voters in the last week of September. This switch has not sat well with some, and disinformation about the process and safety of vote-at-home elections started to spread as a result. One piece of disinformation—one that could land voters in jail—came from President Donald Trump, who suggested to North Carolina citizens Sept. 2 that they vote twice, once by mail and once at the polls, to test the See VOTING, Page 14
And please, for them, stay home and safe.
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