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WHAT’S IN A NAME? INSIDE:

PRIMARY page 2

An unusually large amount of voters cast ballots in this year’s Democratic races

SAY CHEESE page 5 Olsson’s Fine Foods remains open, optimistic despite pandemic Page 9

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Incumbents win in primary Incumbents David Cohen and Leticia mayor, and replace Liz Lempert once her term expires at the end of Fraga secured the top two 2020. Lempert has served as spots in July’s Democratic mayor of consolidated Princeprimary election, and are virton since 2012; she is the first tual shoo-ins for new terms on person to hold that office.

Princeton Council. Fraga led The council incumbents the way with 40% of the vote. provided statements to the Cohen had 35%. Challenger Echo in mid-July, prior to the Dina Shaw finished with 24%. results being certified. The The election officially candidates’ words follow: took place on July 7, but Leticia Fraga it took weeks for Mercer Cohen This election cycle has County to tally results due to been very different due to the massive amounts of balthe pandemic. We were not lots submitted in the state’s able to do the traditional camfirst mostly mail-in election. paign outreach such as meetMercer County Clerk Paula and-greets and door to door Sollemi-Covello told the canvassing. Also, I decided Echo July 17 that, 10 days early on that, because so after the election, the county many in our community are still had to count 8,000 outstruggling financially due to standing provisional ballots. our economic crisis, my camResults were not certified paign would not fundraise until a week later, on July 24.

Fraga nor spend money on paid outMore than 42% of Princreach, and instead directed eton Democrats cast a ballot, funds and potential donors an extraordinarily high numto local COVID relief efforts. ber for a primary election. It My team and I conducted our was more than double the campaign outreach via social participation rate in Novemmedia, emails, letters to the ber 2019’s general election. editor written on my behalf, The higher turnout could be and through word of mouth. attributed to the change to a In the end, we honestly did primarily mail-in election. All not know if our grassroots registered Republicans and outreach would be effective.

Democrats automatically Freda If the numbers hold up received a mail-in ballot for and I am given the opportuthe primary, due to an execnity to serve another term, I utive order signed by Gov. Phil Murphy aimed at preventing fur- will be overjoyed. Current events have highlighted areas that we need to focus ther spread of COVID-19.

Mark Freda, who is running unop- on and in some cases, expand. I am very posed for mayor, received 4,917 of the hopeful that I will have the opportunity 4,954 votes cast in the mayoral primary. to carry on with my work on council so Freda—barring an unforeseen circum- that I can continue my efforts to seek stance—will receive a four-year term as community-driven solutions that uphold our shared values, with a focus on equity, affordability, prosperity and inclusion.

David Cohen Obviously, I am happy about the results and the vote of confidence it represents from the residents of Princeton.

I heard that Princeton had almost 40% Democratic participation in the Primary, which is unheard of. If true, it may be a result of vote-by-mail participation being easier, but it could also reveal a high level of interest in the council race. I do think the stakes are high. With the mayor retiring, the many planning challenges facing Choose the company us, and the economic headwinds we will many families switched be subject to along with the rest of the country, the hard work for council is just to last season! beginning. I will do my very best to live South Jersey’s MOST EXPERIENCED up to the faith Princeton Democrats votfamily-owned propane company since 1919! ers put in me in this election.

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WHAT DID WE MISS? What are you noticing in your community? What stories do you think we should tell? Do you have news to share? We want to hear from you. Send your news or tips to news@communitynews.org.

Challenging racist legacies University, school district eye name changes

By Sam SCiaRRotta

Change has come just four years after Princeton University trustees voted to keep Woodrow Wilson’s name attached to its School of Public and International Affairs, and the same could happen for other local institutions.

The university released a statement June 26 stating that its board of trustees voted to rename the school, as well as Wilson College—reversing its 2016 decision. The school will now go by the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and Wilson College will be known as First College.

Princeton Public Schools is also eyeing a similar change, led by resident Geoffrey Allen, whose petition to rename John Witherspoon Middle School has racked up over 1,500 signatures since early July.

“The town of Princeton has made clear demonstration of their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, and Princeton Public Schools has issued multiple statements claiming to counter racism for the sake of all Black employees, students in the district, and the rest of the community,” Allen wrote. “This change is imperative, as

the school’s name and Witherspoon’s legacy creates a hostile environment for both the middle school and district’s racially diverse student body.”

At the university, the fight to remove Wilson’s name from the school began in 2015. Students urged officials to reexamine his legacy—he served as president of the university, governor of New Jersey and president of the United States, but he also enacted segregationist policies and allowed a racist system to thrive under his administration.

Students protested, including a nearly two-day-long sit-in at Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber’s office, and the school responded by establishing the Wilson Legacy Review Committee. Members examined Wilson’s legacy over the course of a year, and while the conclusion of the process brought a number of reforms to Princeton as a whole, the board ultimately decided in 2016 to keep Wilson’s name on the School of Public and International Affairs.

Change was overdue this year, though, Eisgruber said in a statement issued by the university.

“Wilson’s racism was significant and consequential even by the standards of his own time,” he wrote. “He segregated the federal civil service after it had been racially integrated for decades, thereby taking America backward in its pursuit of justice. He not only acquiesced in but

added to the persistent practice of racism in this country, a practice that continues to do harm today.”

Eisgruber specifically cited the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Rayshard Brooks as motivation to once again reexamine Wilson’s legacy and what his name could contribute to the school.

“When a university names a school of public policy for a political leader, it inevitably suggests that the honoree is a model for students who study at the school,” he wrote. “This searing moment in American history has made clear that Wilson’s racism disqualifies him from that role. In a nation that continues to struggle with racism, this University and its school of public and international affairs must stand clearly and firmly for equality and justice.”

Eisgruber wrote that the distinction between Wilson’s “achievements and failures” will differ between some.

He added that while Wilson’s brand of racism wasn’t necessarily as overt as that of other historical figures, like Robert E. Lee, it was still racism, and that is why change was overdue.

“Princeton honored Wilson not because of, but without regard to or perhaps even in ignorance of, his racism,” he wrote. “That, however, is ultimately the problem. Princeton is part See NAMES, Page 4

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NAMES continued from Page 3 of an America that has too often disregarded, ignored, or excused racism, allowing the persistence of systems that discriminate against Black people.

When Derek Chauvin knelt for nearly nine minutes on George Floyd’s neck while bystanders recorded his cruelty, he might have assumed that the system would disregard, ignore, or excuse his conduct, as it had done in response to past complaints against him.”

*** A similar reckoning has begun in Princeton proper. Geoffrey Allen, a Princeton Public Schools graduate, and other alumni started a petition to rename John Witherspoon Middle School. Witherspoon owned slaves and opposed abolition, and Allen— and the 1,500 others who have signed his petition—is ready for his attachment to the school district to end.

In response, the school district hosted

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a remote meeting July 23 to discuss the potential for renaming the school. The meeting lasted for two hours, and over 100 residents participated. The discussion, held over Zoom, was recorded and can be watched on the district’s website.

“There are many members of the Princeton community who deserve to be honored,” Allen said during the meeting. Princeton is home to many figures, such as the activist Paul Robeson. There are even several former slaves, such as Betsy Stockton and Silvia Dubois, who have positively impacted local history.

This is the opportune time to highlight these contributions.”

Others suggested first lady Michelle Obama, a Princeton University graduate, and civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis, who died last month. Princeton Public Schools, however, has a policy in place that prevents naming buildings after people.

Princeton Public Schools alumnus Benito Gonzalez, who now teaches and is a member of the Equity Committee at the middle school, spoke at the meeting and thought the policy could use an update.

“I do appreciate the board’s efforts to move on from the name of John Witherspoon, but I do think we should use this opportunity to honor another influential individual from a historically underrepresented group of people,” he said. “It could be a person of color, a member of the LGBT community, another historically marginalized group. I guess these feelings are coming from a lot of different places, whether it’s being Latino, whether it’s being a member

of the equity team at JW, being a social studies teacher, a former student. But I just think if we don’t actively name our school after someone from one of these groups and instead choose something plain, direct and straightforward, I think we’re just going to be ignoring the real issue of the relative lack of representation of people of color, Black people, women, LGBTQ, others in history.”

He cited the former Thomas Mundy Peterson Elementary School in Perth Amboy, named after the first Black man to vote in the United States. Gonzalez attended the school and said the name instilled a lot of pride in both students and the city as a whole. This, he said, is possible in Princeton, too.

The meeting, Allen said, was the school board’s largest-ever. He considers it a success, but added that there is more he and his group hope to accomplish.

Another meeting was scheduled for July 28, after this edition went to press.

“It has been an honor to be a part of something greater for our Princeton community,” he said. “I look forward to making more ‘good trouble’ with you all.”

Gonzalez expressed a similar sentiment.

“It shouldn’t be the only thing we do to address issues of equity, for sure,” he said. “It’s only one part of it. But I think intentional representation does really matter, and it would be a step in the right direction.”

Contact SAM SCIARROTTA: ssciarrotta@ communitynews.org, (609) 396-1511, ext.

121, facebook.com/samsciarrotta1.

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www.khauto.com The school board met July 23, 2020 to discuss changing the name of Witherspoon Middle School. More than 100 residents participated in the meeting.

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Say cheese!

Olsson’s Fine Foods remains open, optimistic despite pandemic

By Joe Emanski

Like so many businesses, Olsson’s Fine Foods in Palmer Square has long relied on Princeton’s numberone employer and economic engine— Princeton University—to keep the cash registers ringing.

Olsson’s artisanal cheeses, gourmet party platters and specialty foods have a devoted following among the local community, there is no doubt. And their oneof-a-kind menu of grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese plates and house-made soups is a favorite of residents, students and faculty members alike.

The university closed its campus in March, early in the COVID-19 pandemic. No one knew for sure at the time that Princeton would remain closed for the rest of the semester, leaving local businesses to adapt to life without their main economic driver.

As a food purveyor, Olsson’s Fine Foods—owned and operated by Rudie and Jennifer Smit— has been open for the duration of the pandemic. Rudie Smit is blunt about how COVID-19 has affected the prepared foods segment of his business: “Basically, the bottom

fell out of that,” he says. “We do still have our grilled cheese sandwiches and soups, but that side of the business has gone down considerably.”

Olsson’s has also done a great deal of catering for Princeton University events over the years. That revenue stream has dried up as well. But Smit says he has a good feeling about the future.

“Our sales are way down, but it could have been much worse,” he says. “We’re looking to the future with optimism, and moreso because the university is coming back, and the university is a big customer for us.”

The shop has been able to remain open thanks to its devoted, gourmet cheese-loving residential customers, as well as some quick thinking and internet tinkering that has allowed Olsson’s to reach a wider audience online.

Even before the pandemic, Olsson’s customers could use the store’s website to browse cheese varieties by milk type, texture and place of origin. But inventory would sometimes change before the site could be updated, meaning web customers might zero in on a particular product only to find out that it was out of stock when they went to make an order.

Smit says he and his staff have diligently kept the site up to date in See OLSSON’S, Page 6

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OLSSON’S continued from Page 5 recent months, to make online shopping a better experience for people who aren’t able to visit in person.

“We have a very loyal customer base,” Smit says. “People that haven’t been able to physically come into town to come into the store, taste and select cheese, have been able to place orders online. They’ve been able to get their favorite cheeses nevertheless.”

As has been the case for so many businesses, online sales have helped keep the lights on.

“Our internet sales went up very quickly (at the outset of the pandemic), so we were very happy with that,” Smit says. “The funny thing is, not only do local people buy from us on the internet, but we (also) have customers from as far away as California ordering from us now.”

The reason for that may be related Rudie Smit, owner of Olsson’s Fine to the decision to actively maintain the Foods in Palmer Square, with a wheel of shop’s inventory in the online store. “It cheese inside his shop. may be now that when people look for a specific cheese we pop up (in their coronavirus was ravaging Spain and search),” he says. “It’s been good.”

For the first few weeks of the pan- Italy, those products were difficult to demic, Smit ran the store on his own. come by.

“Overall, we managed to keep a He never laid anyone off, he says, but he didn’t feel like he could ask good inventory and find good alternahis staff to work in the shop until he tives if we couldn’t get a product we could guarantee that they could work were looking for,” Smit says.

Another area of Olsson’s business safely.

“It’s one thing to do something that has been affected by the pandemic yourself, but you can’t expect your is their cheesemaking and cheese taststaff to work under conditions are not ing classes. However, Smit is happy to safe,” he says. “That was obviously reveal that cheese tasting classes will challenging, but not as challenging as soon be revived as Zoom classes. Parfor some other companies, because ticipants can go online to order tasting we’re in the food business so it’s all boards, including cheese and accompaniments, replete with instructions on about cleanliness.”

The Olsson’s shop is too small to how to lay the boards out.

In a similar vein, Olsson’s has introallow customers to safely shop during the pandemic. But staff are available duced “Happy Hour boxes” for people to talk cheese by phone, and many who have been having virtual cocktail shoppers take advantage of their curb- parties online with friends.

“Nothing’s better than a Zoom cockside pickup service.

Olsson’s is also offering free deliv- tail party with a Happy Hour Box,” ery to the Princeton and Hopewell Smit says. “They make it so it’s possiarea. And while the sandwich busi- ble to be physically distant but socially ness may not be as brisk as it normally close. That’s what we’re trying to is, customers can still get their favorite achieve with these things.”

Olsson’s Fine Foods, 53 Palmer grilled cheese or tomato soup by delivSquare W., Princeton. Phone: (609) ery or to go.

The pandemic has affected Ols- 924-2210. son’s in other ways. Many of their cheeses and specialty foods originate Contact JOE EMANSKI: (609) 396-1511, ext. in Europe, and particularly when the 120, jemanski@communitynews.org.

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6Princeton Echo | August 2020

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HEADLINES

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

KEEPING YOU SAFE to Get the Care You Need

Wondering if the time is right to reschedule that doctor’s appointment, lab or imaging test or hospital procedure?

Capital Health is ready to see you again.

All of our hospital and outpatient care locations are open and ready to accept appointments or reschedule any visits you may have canceled or postponed over the past few months. If you suspect you are having a medical emergency like a heart attack or stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE STEPS WE ARE TAKING TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE DURING THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES: Everyone must wear a mask when inside our locations.

Everyone must maintain appropriate social distancing. Signage has been placed at all locations to help guide this. Public seating areas have been rearranged. Only four people are permitted per elevator, spaced out to the corners.

Staff regularly clean common areas and high-touch surfaces with hospital-approved disinfectant cleansers.

Patient care areas are cleaned between patients using disinfectant cleansers and portable ultraviolet lights.

All COVID-19 positive inpatients are cared for in one area. Non-positive inpatients are cared for in completely separate areas and are never in the same units as COVID-19 positive inpatients.

Everyone entering our locations is required to have their temperature taken. Some locations use zero contact thermal monitors that take your temperature from a greater distance than the standard temporal thermometer. Anyone with a temperature equal to or greater than 100° F is not allowed to enter.

Visitors are currently restricted. Only one visitor at a time is allowed for each patient in the facility.

Multiple visitors may not enter and gather in lobby or waiting areas. The visitor must wear a mask and clean hands when entering and exiting the patient room. Visitors are strongly encouraged to remain in the room and not travel throughout the facility. Visitors are not permitted in the designated COVID-19 units at Capital Health Regional Medical Center (video visits with these patients can be arranged through our patient advocates).

FOR A FULL LIST OF WAYS WE ARE KEEPING PATIENTS SAFE, VISIT CAPITALHEALTH.ORG. When you’re ready to get back to health, rest assured that Capital Health is ready for you.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Princeton Echo7

NEW LOCATION FOR CAPITAL HEALTH PRIMARY CARE – BORDENTOWN Capital Health Primary Care – Bordentown, part of Capital Health Medical Group and a trusted provider of pediatric, adult, and geriatric care in Burlington County, New Jersey, has moved to a new location at 100 K Johnson Boulevard N., Suite 101, Bordentown, New Jersey 08505 (on the northbound side of Route 130, across from the Team 85 Fitness & Wellness Center).

Although the office is new, patients receive care from the same board certified physicians they know and trust, including Drs. Jamie Flynn, Janey Hughes, Maria Lugo, Joshua Mleczko, and Natalie Redziniak, as well as nurse practitioner Stephanie Shapiro.

They are all available for appointments to provide check-ups, sick visits and preventive care for children and adults (including care that’s specific for women and older adults).

“Now more than ever, finding a health care provider that inspires confidence and trust is important for anyone who needs care,” said DR. MARIA LUGO, lead physician at Capital Health Primary Care – Bordentown. “We take our role in the community very seriously, and while it’s exciting to be in a brand new building, it’s important for our patients

and anyone looking for a primary care provider to know that the move reaffirms our commitment to safe, convenient care.”

Capital Health Primary Care offices have put into place safety measures to make in-person office visits safer. All individuals are required to wear face masks at our facilities and must have their temperatures taken prior to entering the facility. If they have been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days or have a temperature equal or greater to 100° F, they will not be permitted in the office and will instead be asked to schedule a video visit. Our offices are cleaned with hospital-approved disinfectant on a regular basis, and seating areas have been rearranged to support social distancing. Patients are also encouraged to enter the facilities by themselves whenever feasible or schedule video visit appointments over secure connections on their computers or mobile devices from home.

Office hours at the new Capital Health Primary Care – Bordentown location are Monday and Tuesday ( 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). To make an appointment, call 609.298.2005 or learn more by visiting capitalhealth.org/bordentown.

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell Receives THIRD CONSECUTIVE CHEST PAIN CENTER ACCREDITATION When you or someone you know is having a heart attack, getting the appropriate treatment in a timely manner greatly increases the likelihood of a better outcome. Through its commitment to an evidence-based, protocoldriven approach to care that can reduce the time to treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack, Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell has earned accreditation as a Chest Pain Center with PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for the third consecutive time.

care and improve heart health by ensuring that participating health care organizations like Capital Health meet systemic quality-of-care measures and implement necessary protocols, processes, and systems in order to earn accreditation.

“Now, more than ever, it’s important for the community we serve to know that when they need us most, we are here and ready to provide care safely and efficiently,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. “In addition to reaffirming our role as a leader in providing state-of-the-art care for cardiac emergencies, this shows our community that we remain up to date with the latest best practices for managing heart attacks with increased speed and efficiency, as well as providing education about the early signs of heart attack, all of which leads to better outcomes for our patients.” The goal of the ACC and its Chest Pain Center Accreditation program is to transform cardiovascular

If you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack, calling 9-1-1 should be your first step to talk with a trained dispatcher and have an ambulance sent to your location as quickly as possible. Treatment can begin on site when the ambulance arrives, which saves valuable time when every second counts toward a better outcome.

8Princeton Echo | Health Headlines by Capital Health

“Earning a third consecutive accreditation from the ACC is a great accomplishment and a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire team,” said Dr. Lara Samson, medical director of Capital Health’s Chest Pain Center. “Implementing rigorous ACC guidelines to provide our patients with the highest quality emergency cardiac care requires a concerted effort and is only possible thanks to the hard work of our experienced doctors, nurses, and other dedicated professionals.”

To learn more about Capital Health’s Chest Pain Center, visit capitalchestpain.org.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone you know is experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

CAPITAL HEALTH OPENS NEW PRIMARY CARE OFFICE IN HAMILTON Capital Health Medical Group, Capital Health’s network of more than 400 physicians and other providers who offer primary and specialty care, has opened Capital Health Primary Care – Nottingham, a new primary care office conveniently located at 1700 Nottingham Way, Hamilton, New Jersey 08619.

The new office features three board certified doctors who are available for appointments to provide check-ups, sick visits and preventive care for children and adults (including care that’s specific for women and older adults). This office accepts most insurances and was previously located at 1235 WhitehorseMercerville Road in Hamilton.

“If you don’t already have a primary care doctor, our office offers daytime and evening appointment hours for routine check-ups and follow-up visits, as well as sick visits for when you’re not feeling well,” said DR. NAILA WASTI, a board certified internist and lead physician at Capital Health Primary Care – Nottingham. Dr. Wasti is

joined by Dr. Rubina Raza, a board certified internist, and Dr. Catherine Cicco, a board certified family medicine physician with experience in providing care for adolescents and adults, including women’s health, men’s health, and geriatric health.

In July, Nurse Practitioners Kathleen Bornhoeft and Neida Hernandez-Lewis joined the practice.

Like all Capital Health Medical Group primary care offices, Capital Health Primary Care – Nottingham offers video visits, in addition to office visits, to safely and conveniently provide patients with the most appropriate care. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and Wednesday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

To make an appointment at Capital Health Primary Care – Nottingham, call 609.303.4870 or learn more by visiting capitalhealth.org/nottingham.

INTRODUCING CAPITAL HEALTHY LIVING A New Idea in Senior Living If home is where the heart is, then home is where independent seniors would rather be.

Capital Healthy Living is a new program starting August 10 designed to provide the services that empower seniors to stay independent and in their own homes, for longer. From transportation to scheduling assistance with Capital Health primary and specialty care providers including video visits, engagement and coaching, Capital Healthy Living is available every step of the way.

“Certainly with the COVID-19 crisis, one thing it has taught us is how important it is to have a highly qualified health care team around you, whether for routine care or more acute needs,” said David Dafilou, vice president and chief administrative officer of Clinically Integrated Network at Capital Health. “With two, top-rated health care facilities in our community, more than 40 outpatient locations and more than 400 primary and specialty care physicians, Capital Health has all of the resources to provide seniors with the health care support they need, right here where they live.”

CAPITAL HEALTHY LIVING OFFERS: … EASIER ACCESS TO CARE Including a dedicated life care manager (LCM) who assists in scheduling all Capital Health Medical Group physician appointments and helps develop a customized healthy living plan tailored to meet individual needs and goals. … TELEHEALTH SUPPORT AND SCHEDULING Guidance and assistance in scheduling secure telehealth video visits to safely and conveniently provide you with the care you need from home. … TRANSPORTATION Scheduled via UBER Health or Capital Livery through your LCM, the program includes costs for transportation to all Capital Health Medical Group appointments and Capital Health hospital services, as well as two non-medical roundtrips per month (within 15 miles of your residence) and up to four roundtrips per month to a Capital Health hosted social event or wellness class.

… ENGAGEMENT AND COACHING One-on-one discussions with your LCM on your medical care, including: • Help with chronic disease management • LCM-shared updates with your primary care physician for more coordinated care • Post-discharge and Emergency Room follow up with your LCM to better understand your plan of care and next steps • Availability of LCM to family members or caregivers (upon your approval) … SOCIAL AND WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES • Capital Health hosted social event or wellness/exercise class (four per month) • Free training session with a Capital Health trainer at the Capital Health Wellness Center to develop a customized exercise regimen (one per year) • Linkage to community events • Social media and newsletter • Emotional and cognitive support Capital Healthy Living is a new program, with plans to provide non-medical offerings and additional services specifically selected to help make living at home easier and more convenient. All customized, individualized and coordinated by a dedicated Capital Health Life Care Manager. Capital Healthy Living is currently being offered as a pilot program for just $50 a month.

For a limited time, a free two-month trial period is being offered to allow seniors to try this program risk-free.

To learn more, call 609.537.7087, email healthyliving@capitalhealth.org or visit www.capitalhealth.org/capitalhealthyliving.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Princeton Echo9

HAMILTON STUDENT EDUCATES TEACHERS ABOUT CONCUSSIONS

that I had recovered nicely and could return to school and sports without restrictions.”

Helping children return to play as athletes is important, but their success in school is Dr. Matarese’s top priority. He provides workshops for teachers and other school staff so they can gain a better understanding of concussions and make accommodations that allow students to return to learn. Dr. Matarese was so impressed

by Joseph’s commitment to recovery that he invited his young patient to help with a program for faculty and staff at a Mercer County school.

“This was the first time that I had a middle school student assist me with a presentation for teachers, and Joseph was very motivated to teach others about the need to prevent repeat injuries and permanent brain damage,” said Dr. Matarese. “Learning about concussion from a student’s perspective was particularly powerful, and we were fortunate to have Joseph share his experience.”

To learn more about Capital Health’s Concussion Program, part of the Capital Institute for Neurosciences, visit capitalneuro.org. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Matarese, call 609.537.7300.

Joseph DiClaudio assists Dr. Emil Matarese at a concussion presentation for teachers prior to COVID-19 school closures.

Like many children his age, 12-year-old Joseph DiClaudio of Hamilton, New Jersey enjoys the competition that comes with sports, especially when he’s representing his school on the basketball court. Joseph thrives when he’s part of a team, but after being injured during a game on January 27, 2019, he feared that his season would be cut short.

“The first symptoms that I had were all over head pain and some vision problems,” said Joseph. “I was taken to the ER at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, where they diagnosed me with having a concussion and referred me to Dr. Matarese for follow up.”

Bruises and scrapes are easy to spot, but concussions are unseen injuries that require special care and management to avoid potential long-term consequences. Getting an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible is a crucial first step on the road to recovery. Fortunately for Joseph, Dr. Emil Matarese would be guiding him the rest of the way.

Dr. Matarese is director of the Concussion Program at Capital Health’s Capital Institute for Neurosciences and a regional leader in treating concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. According to Joseph, Dr. Matarese helped everyone understand what they were dealing with the day after his injury.

“Dr. Matarese is very knowledgeable and caring,” said Joseph. “He did a great job explaining my symptoms, like the change in my eye movement and my headaches. My grandfather, who went to the office with me and my mother, was very impressed!”

Impaired eye movement is common after concussions and makes reading or focusing on a computer screen for extended periods of time difficult for the patient. Rest for the body and the brain is the best course of action for recovery. To many adults, keeping all activity to a minimum may sound like a nice break, but brain rest (which includes no texting, no computers or video games, and minimal TV) can be a real challenge for today’s constantly connected young people. “Not resting can make matters worse and extend the time it takes to recover from the concussion,” Dr. Matarese warns.

“Dr. Matarese gave me a note for school excusing me from class work, tests, homework, and gym class,” said Joseph. “Along with resting my eyes as much as possible to allow my brain to heal, he gave my mother massage exercises to do on my neck to help relieve my headaches. At my appointment the next week, he said 10Princeton Echo | Health Headlines by Capital Health

CONCUSSION FACTS What is a CONCUSSION? A concussion is an injury to the brain. A concussion can be from a direct hit to the head or from getting checked or tackled.

Symptoms of a concussion may appear immediately or may not appear for several hours or even days. It’s important not to hide the fact that you are experiencing symptoms of a concussion, and to tell your coach immediately.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS of a Concussion SIGNS ARE THINGS OTHERS SEE:

… Appears confused or dazed … Can’t recall things prior to being injured … Can’t recall things after being injured … Loss of balance or coordination … Loss of consciousness — no matter how long … Seems irritable or other personality changes … Forgets routine plays or position on the field

SYMPTOMS ARE THINGS YOU FEEL: … Headache … Dizziness … Sick to your stomach and/or vomiting … Feeling foggy or confused

… Sensitivity to light or noise … Feeling sluggish or tired … Problems concentrating … Feeling “off” or “don’t feel right”

HAVING ONLY ONE SYMPTOM MAY INDICATE YOU HAVE A CONCUSSION FOR EMERGENCY CARE, Capital Health offers a dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell.

Neurology and neuropsychology experts from the Capital Institute for Neurosciences can provide thorough evaluation, follow-up, and treatment for teens and adults at our Hopewell and Langhorne locations.

Measure for measure PIA DE JONG PARTING SHOT

While my socially distant friends in the Netherlands are getting used to the one-and-a-half-meter society, America, far from the metric system, has opted for the six-foot society. Converted, that is 183 centimeters, just a little longer. Or, as Governor Murphy jokingly says, “Always keep at least 1.043 Einsteins of space between yourself and others.” The great scholar, according to his immigration papers, was 5 feet and 7 inches long.

Princeton University has enlisted its own mascot into service. Everywhere on campus there are signs that urge to keep “one tiger apart.” A reader wrote to me that the Dutch 1.5 meters is almost the same as the ancient Roman measurement of one “passus,” or two steps. An accepted modern value is 1.48 meters long. A thousand steps gives a mile. Mile, pass, foot. The human dimension is completely back.

You don’t have to explain this to the students at MIT, the renowned technical university near Boston. In 1958, members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity decided to convert the height of a freshman, Oliver R. Smoot, Jr., into a measure of length.

Thus, the smoot was born. By the way, it was exactly the same length as the einstein, 5 feet 7. One of the reasons was that it just sounded good. Meter, ampere, watt—why not smoot?

To put the theory into practice, fellow members decided to measure the nearby Harvard Bridge over the Charles River between the univer-

taller which would mess everything up. Later the father confessed that he was actually worried to find out that he had shrunk over the years.

The smoot stripes have been preserved, now painted in bright colors.

Some of the original markings can be found in the MIT Museum. And the construction company has made the concrete pavement tiles just a little shorter than the usual 6 feet, exactly 1 smoot long. There is also a plaque memorizing how the smoot was added to the light year, the ångström and other famous units of length. The renovated bridge has become a bit longer, by the way: 372 smoots. Plus 11 ears.

I would say that there is an excellent opportunity for politicians to follow Oliver Smoot’s example and be immortalized as their unique unit now. Where is the merkel (5 feet 5), the macron (6 feet) or the trump (officially 6 feet 2, although he himself Harvard Bridge is 372 smoots, 11 ears long—lengthier than it was when measured claims 6 feet 3)? Yes, that would be a in 1958 using former MIT student Oliver R. Smoot, Jr. (Illustration by Eliane Gerrits.) bad outcome for the Dutch. After all, we are the tallest nation in the world.

Our prime minister Mark Rutte is 6 ft sity and their fraternity house by roll- local newspapers managed to find Oli- 3. Plus or minus an ear. ing the poor student head over heels ver Smoot. He was now 48 and direcacross it. Every 10 smoots they drew tor of an organization of, yes, standard Pia de Jong is a Dutch writer who lives in a thick marking with paint. The bridge measurements. But he had absolutely Princeton. Her bestselling memoir, “Savturned out to be exactly 343.4 smoots no intention of being rolled over the ing Charlotte,” was published in 2017 in long. Plus an ear. Since then, the bridge again. His son, also a student the U.S. She can be contacted at pdesmoot has become a well-known mea- at MIT, volunteered, but he was a bit jong@ias.edu. sure of length among the MIT nerds.

When the students walk home across the bridge on the cold winter nights, they know exactly how many smoots they have to make.

When the bridge had to be repainted in 1987, an important cultural heritage was endangered. The

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