1-20 TD

DOWNTOWNER TRENTON’S CITY PAPER

JANUARY 2020 |

COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG

COLOR AND LIGHT Trenton’s bright stained glass legacy, page 6.

Detail of window of Saint Joachim Church

New chapter at Trenton Library, page 5; Downtown fashions, 10; Stars and suds, 12.

1179 NEWARK, NJ

Mercer County Curbside Recycling Information All recyclables must be in official buckets and at the curb by 7:00 a.m. • NO ITEMS IN PLASTIC BAGS WILL BE COLLECTED

2020 MERCER COUNTY Curbside Recycling Schedule MONDAY Lawrence

Jan. 13, 27 Feb. 10, 24 March 9, 23 April 6, 20 May 4, 18 June 1,15,29

July 13,27 Aug.10,24 Sept.12,21 Oct.5,19 Nov. 2,16,30 Dec.14,28

WEDNESDAY

Entire City of Trenton Jan. 8, 22 Feb. 5, 19 March 4,18 April 1, 15, 29 May 13,27 June 10,24

July 8,22 Aug. 5,19 Sept. 2,16,30 Oct. 14,28 Nov 11,25 Dec. 9,23

FRIDAY

Hamilton Zone 3

Jan. 3, 17, 31 Feb. 14, 28 March 13, 27 April 10, 24 May 8,22 June 5,19

July 3,17,31

Aug.14,28 Sept. 11,25 Oct. 9,23 Nov. 6,20 Dec. 4,18

TUESDAY Ewing

Princeton

July 6,20 Jan. 6, 20 Feb. 3, 17 Aug. 3,16,31 Mar. 2, 16,30 Sept. 14,28 April 13, 27 Oct. 12,26 Nov. 9,23 May 11,30 June 8,22 Dec. 7,21

Hamilton Zones 1 and 4

Jan. 4, 15, 29 Feb. 12, 26 March 11, 25 April 8, 22 May 6,20 June 3,17

July 1,15,29 Aug. 12,26 Sept. 9,23 Oct. 7,21 Nov. 4,18 Dec. 2,16,30

HOLIDAY COLLECTIONS

If collection day falls on a holiday (Christmas, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving) collection will be the following SATURDAY.

Jan. 14, 28 July 14,28 Feb. 11, 25 Aug. 11,25 March 10, 24 Sept. 8,22 April 7, 21 Oct. 6,20 May 5,19 Nov. 3,17 June 2,16,30 Dec. 1,15,29

THURSDAY

Hamilton Zone 2 Jan. 2, 16, 30 Feb. 13, 27 March 12, 26 April 9,23 May 7,21 June 4,18

July 2,16,30 Aug. 13,27 Sept. 10,24 Oct. 8,22 Nov. 5,19 Dec. 3,17,31

Hopewell Township Hopewell Boro and Pennington

Jan. 7, 21 Feb. 4, 18 March 3, 17, 31 April 14, 28 May 12,26 June 9,23

West Windsor

Jan. 9, 23 Feb. 6, 20 March 5, 19 April 2, 16, 30 May 14,28 June 11,25

SPECIAL RECYCLING EVENTS Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Electronics Recycling Events Dempster Fire School (350 Lawrence Station Road) March 28, June 6 and September 19 / 8am - 2pm

July 7,21 Aug. 4,18 Sept. 1,15,29 Oct. 13,27 Nov. 10,24 Dec. 8,22

July 9, 23 Aug. 6,20 Sept. 3,17 Oct. 1,15,29 Nov. 12,28 Dec. 10,24

OPEN TO ALL MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS!

Document Shredding Events Lot 4/651 South Broad Street (across from Mercer County Administration Bldg.), April 25 and October 17 / 9am - 12pm

NEW! Get the FREE ‘Recycle Coach’ APP!

NEVER MISS ANOTHER COLLECTION DAY!

Scan the code for instant access to all your recycling needs!

MUNICIPAL RECYCLING AND PUBLIC WORKS: Ewing / 882-3382 Hamilton / 890-3560 Hopewell Boro / 466-0168 Hopewell Twp / 537-0250 Lawrence Twp / 587-1894

Pennington Boro / 737-9440 Princeton / 688-2566 Trenton / 989-3151 West Windsor / 799-8370

East Windsor, Hightstown, Robbinsville: Call your Recycling / Public Works Office for your recycling schedule

Mercer County Participates in MERCER COUNTY

RECYCLES

SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING; ALL Recyclables EITHER Bucket!

No more separation anxiety!

Mercer County Improvement Authority / 609-278-8086 / www.mcianj.org 2Trenton Downtowner January 2020

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INFORMATION MERCER COUNTY RECYCLING INFORMATION

be in WILL official BE buckets and at the curb by 7:00 a.m. • NO ITEMS IN PLASTIC BAGS WILL BE COLLECTED NO ITEMSAll INrecyclables PLASTICmust BAGS COLLECTED

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Light Bulbs NO - sorry, you& Metal Milk Jugs & Plastic Aluminum Foil/Baking Pans Beverage Containers  Aluminum NO -Jars/Bottles sorry, (all you Beverage Bottles colors) can’t recycle that!  Styrofoam can’t recycle that!  Drinking Glasses. Dishes & Broken Window Glass  Ceramics & Pottery  Aerosol Cans Corrugated Cardboard Hard Cover Books Mixed Paper Phone Books  Motor Oil, & Anti-Freeze Containers (flattened and/or cut) (covers removed) Window Envelopes Soft Cover Books  Clothes Hangers Pizza Boxes Plastic Bags  Bandage Tins & Cookie Tins Juice Boxes & Detergent & Shampoo Plastics with Light Bulbs  Carbon Paper Juice/Beverage Cartons & Waxed Containers #1 or #2Pans Symbols Aluminum Foil/Baking  Tissue Paper, Napkins, Paper Plates & Paper Towels Styrofoam Pizza Boxes Plastic Bags FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 609-278-8086 OR VISIT WWW.MCIANJ.ORG All recyclables must be in official bucketsand at with the curb 7:00 • Dishes NO ITEMS IN Drinkinga.m.

Glasses, & Plastic #3 - #7by Symbols Broken Window Glass Light Bulbs Glass Food & Beverage Milk Jugs & Plastic Pet Food Cans Aluminum & Metal Ceramics & Pottery

YES - youGlass canFood recycle that! & Beverage

Pet FoodCans

MERCER COUNTY RECYCLING INFORM

MERCER COUNTY RECYCLING INFORMATI

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All recyclables must be in official buckets and at the curb by 7:00 a.m. • NO ITEMS IN PLASTIC B Beverage Bottles Beverage Containers Pans recycle YESFoil/Baking - you can that!

Jars/Bottles (all colors) Aluminum

Aerosol Cans Motor Oil & Anti-Freeze Containers Styrofoam Clothes Hangers Drinking Glasses, Dishes & Bandage Tins & Cookie Tins Broken Window Glass Carbon & Waxed Paper Tissue Paper, Napkins, Paper Plates Ceramics &be Pottery All All recyclables recyclables must must be in in official official buckets buckets and and at at the the curb curb by by 7:00 7:00 a.m. a.m. •• NO NO ITEMS ITEMS IN INPaper PLASTIC PLASTIC BAGS WILL WILL BE BE COLLECT COLLECT & TowelsBAGS Detergent & Shampoo Aerosol Cans Juice Boxes & Plastics with Plastics with #3 - #7 Symbols Juice/Beverage Cartons Containers #1 or #2 Symbols

MERCER COUNTY RECYCLING INFORMATION E L C RECY T T H G I R

YES YES --Oil you you can can recycle recycle that! that!

Motor & Anti-Freeze Containers FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 609-278-8086 OR VISIT WWW.MCIANJ.ORG Clothes Corrugated Cardboard MixedHangers Paper Phone Books (flattened and/or cut) BandageEnvelopes Tins & Cookie Soft Tins Cover Books Window Carbon & Waxed Paper Tissue Paper, Napkins, Paper Plates & Paper Towels HardCover CoverBooks Books Corrugated CorrugatedCardboard Cardboard Hard Mixed Mixed Paper Paper Phone Phone Books Books Plastics with #3 #7 Symbols (covers (covers removed) removed) (flattened (flattened and/or and/or cut) cut) Window Window Envelopes Envelopes Soft Soft Cover Cover Books Books

NO NO -- sorry, sorry, you you can’t can’t recycle recycle that! that!

FOLLOW US AT FACEBOOK.COM/MCIANJ Hard Cover Books

(covers removed)

Pizza Pizza Boxes Boxes

Plastic Plastic Bags Bags

FOLLOW US AT FACEBOOK.COM/MCIANJ Glass Food & Beverage Pet Food Cans Jars/Bottles (all colors)

Light Light Bulbs Bulbs Aluminum Aluminum Foil/Baking Foil/Baking Pans Pans Milk Jugs & Plastic Aluminum Styrofoam Styrofoam & Metal Beverage Bottles Beverage Containers Drinking Drinking Glasses, Glasses, Dishes Dishes & & Aerosol Broken Broken Window Window Glass Glass Motor O Glass GlassFood Food&&Beverage Beverage Milk Milk Jugs Jugs && Plastic Plastic Pet PetFood FoodCans Cans Aluminum Aluminum&&Metal Metal Ceramics Ceramics && Pottery Pottery Jars/Bottles Jars/Bottles(all Beverage Beverage Bottles Bottles (allcolors) colors) Beverage BeverageContainers Containers Clothes Aerosol Aerosol Cans Cans Motor Motor Oil Oil && Anti-Freeze Anti-Freeze Container Container Bandag Clothes Clothes Hangers Hangers Carbon Bandage Bandage Tins Tins && Cookie Cookie Tins Tins Tissue P Carbon Carbon && Waxed Waxed Paper Paper & Paper Tissue Tissuewith Paper, Paper, Napkins, Napkins, Paper Paper Plate Plate Detergent & Shampoo Plastics Plastics Juice Boxes & Detergent & Shampoo & & Paper Paper Towels Towels Plastics with Containers #1 or #2 Symbols Juice JuiceJuice/Beverage Boxes Boxes&& Detergent Detergent &&Shampoo Shampoo Plastics Plastics with with Cartons Containers #1 or #2 Plastics Plastics with withSymbols #3 #3 -- #7 #7 Symbols Symbols Juice/Beverage Juice/Beverage Cartons Cartons Containers Containers #1 #1 or or #2 #2 Symbols Symbols FOL

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609-278-8086 OR VISIT WWW.MCIANJ.ORG FOLLOW FOLLOW US US AT AT

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 609-278-8086 OR VISIT FOR FOR MORE MORE INFORMATION INFORMATION CALL CALL 609-278-8086 609-278-8086 OR OR VISIT VISIT WWW.MCIANJ.ORG WWW.MCIANJ.ORG

FACE WWW.MCIANJ.ORG FACEBOOK.COM/MCIANJ FACEBOOK.COM/MCIANJ January 2020 | Trenton Downtowner3

up FRONT Trenton Public Library opens the new year with Mummers

‘M

ummers X 2” — a photographic exploration of the Philadelphian Mummers Parade — is set for Trenton Free Public Library from Saturday, January 11, through Friday, February 28.

The exhibition features 29 photographs of what is considered the oldest folk-art event in the United States.

The photographs are by two New Jersey based journalists: Bryan Grigsby and Dan Aubrey.

Grigsby is a retired newspaper photographer who spent the last 30 years of his career as a photo editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Aubrey, of Hamilton, is the arts editor of U.S. 1 Newspaper and editor of the Trenton Downtowner.

They were brought together by a fellow journalist and united in their interest in the Mummers.

Grigsby, originally from Florida, discovered the Mummers Parade in the mid-1980s and says, “It was love at first sight. I thought this event was the most bizarre thing I had ever seen, and I was determined to bring an outsider’s point of view to capturing the participants.”

He did so in the accompanying black and white photographs and the following statement:

Slouching up Broad Street

T

wo and a half miles long, upwards of 20,000 moving parts, and fueled mostly by alcohol, it moves slowly up Broad Street towards the Victorian monstrosity Philadelphians refer to as City Hall.

It moves with a gait, devoid of rhythm and thereby uniquely appropriate to its parts known as “strutting.”

Indeed most of its parts are Anglo-Saxon Males.

The things takes over 12 hours to run its course — making its way to music made by accordions, banjos, and saxophones. A combination that should relegate the thing to a place in Hell.

Instead, however, the thing traces its roots back to the lofty gates of Olympus and the Greek word Momus, which means to ridicule.

Legend says that Momus was a Greek god who was banished from Olympus for making fun of Aphrodite’s squeaky golden slippers.

Thousands of years later the citizens of Philadelphia celebrate, in the name of this ridicule, what historians consider America’s oldest authentic folk festival, the New Year’s Day Mummers Parade. It theme song: “Oh Dem Golden Slippers.”

The notion of raising hell on New Year’s Eve is not unique to our century. History suggests that the Swedes brought this ritual of mummering to this country in the 1600s.

downtowner Phone: (609) 396-1511 Fax: (609) 844-0180 Website: communitynews.org METRO Editor Dan Aubrey Senior Assistant Editor Sara Hastings Calendar Editor Christina Giannantonio CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Wendy Greenberg, Kellie C. Murphy Production Manager Stacey Micallef (Ext. 131) Ad Traffic Coordinator Stephanie Jeronis Graphic Artist Vaughan Burton Sales Director Thomas Fritts (Ext. 110)

Co-Publishers Jamie Griswold and Tom Valeri Administrative COORDINATOR Megan Durelli

A stylized photograph of a Mummer in Philadelphia by Bryan Grigsby. staggering past steely-eyed cops who look the other way.

Television and the addition of more women and children has civilized much of the event. The different clubs compete in front of judges for citysponsored prizes. The beast seems tame when viewed through the lens of the television eye. Sanitary and civilized. Colorful. Polite. Even professional.

The television eye has not found its way to the Streets of South Philly . . . down where the Beast is born.

A free reception with the two photographers takes place Saturday, January 18, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

The Trenton Free Public Library is located at 120 Academy Street in Trenton and is in the developing Creek2Canal Trenton Arts District. Hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the library call 609-392-7188.

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English and German immigrants also brought their version to New Year’s hellraising to Philadelphia in the 18th and 19th centuries.

By the mid-1900s things had gotten pretty well out of control, with drunken citizens shooting off firearms in the streets, wearing crazy costumes, and displaying drunken behavior. By the turn of the century the city decided to get involved and finally organized the first modern New Year’s Mummers Parade in 1901. The eminent American anthropologist, Margaret Mead, was born in Philadelphia that year. It’s interesting to consider the possibility that an early exposure to the Mummers parade might have helped lead her to a life-long study of ritual human behavior.

The thing is a beast unto itself. The stench of urine and stale beer juxtaposes with the beauty of colorful ostrich feathers gently flowing in the winter wind.

Rowdiness and debauchery of the comics co-exist with polished choreography of the fancy divisions. Burly blue-collar workers from South Philly put on dresses and drink to excess,

To advertise

E-mail to tfritts@communitynews.org or call (609) 396-1511, Ext. 110.

4Trenton Downtowner January 2020

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the state of the CITY New library director on a mission

By Wendy Greenberg

A

lmost a decade ago Trenton lost four branch libraries due to budget cuts. But the only surviving municipal library in Trenton, the Trenton Free Public Library on Academy Street, is turning that page by reaching city residents with information and resources that are relevant to an evolving urban population.

A ribbon-cutting last December celebrated the opening of a young adult space, a new area to the left of the entrance to the 1976 library addition.

Opening in time for the winter school break, the room offers study carrels, computers, charging stations, DVDs and CDs. The selection of books includes a section dedicated to college and career readiness.

And in an effort to bring the library to Trenton residents, last summer the library sent staff and books in a van to Columbus Park and George Page Park twice a week. The pop-up library allowed residents who wanted to check out a book to get a library card on the spot.

“It was quite successful,” says new library director Rebecca FrancoMartin, and it made people feel a part of the library. “We are hoping to continue to find opportunities such as the ‘mobile library’ to provide access to library services to city residents that may be unable to visit the library in person.”

Being a part of the New Jersey community is one reason FrancoMartin came to Trenton from a job at the New York Public Library in 2018 when she was hired as the Youth Services Librarian (a post now held by Damaris Azan). She was made director this past August. A lifelong New Jersey resident (mostly Monmouth County) she decided she would prefer to contribute to the local community “by serving the public in the capital city of New Jersey.” She holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University (history and political science) and a master’s degree in library science from Drexel University.

Active in community organizations such as the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution at Brookdale Community College, where she served on the executive board, she also earned an associate’s degree in early childhood education.

She initially wanted to be a teacher, but began to investigate the field of library science and realized it can serve all populations and offer a broad range of social services.

FrancoMartin, the daughter of a firefighter and stay-at-home mom, had a small library in her home’s foyer and

learned the pleasures of reading at an early age. Her grandmother and mom took her to the library weekly, where her favorite book was “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B.White. “Reading just expands a child’s mind” she said. “It’s very important. We promote literacy across the board.”

The Trenton Free Public Library, founded in 1750, is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, public library in New Jersey, and the second free library in the U.S., after Philadelphia’s free library. When the Trenton Library Company was started by Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, it is said that Benjamin Franklin purchased the first 50 books.

The original 1902 building, still part of the present day library building, was built by architect Spencer Robert of Philadelphia and boasts a grand marble staircase, fireplaces, and an inspiring wood-accented reading room.

But the building, because of its age, needs repair. On the five-year “wish list” are capital projects such as rehabilitating the reference and adult

The library’s challenge is not only physical maintenance but getting the word out about the library’s many services, and at the same time getting its services more deeply into the community. space, which will be presented as part of a grant request when the Library Construction Bond Act opens for submissions from New Jersey libraries.

The board of trustees and the director are working toward a complete technology upgrade in 2020 as well.

The library’s challenge is not only physical maintenance but getting the word out about the library’s many services, and at the same time getting its services more deeply into the community. “There’s not an easy way to get downtown,” says FrancoMartin.

But the library also deals with competing priorities like activities, television, and online entertainment. To promote the new young adult room, flyers were sent around the city and through schools. “We do outreach on the ground,” says FrancoMartin, such as tables at events around Trenton.

Some of the services at Trenton include book clubs, community spaces, resources for housing, adult basic ed-

ucation, microfilm and digital resources, and programs and workshops. The library is opening a health corner for information on medical conditions, and Youth Services offers early literacy help and tutoring.

Especially welcoming is the renovated children’s room in the lower level, brightly painted with a mural, three-dimensional trees, and a section where youngsters can snack.

Unique to the original building is the Trentoniana room, with artifacts dating back to Revolutionary War, such as a collection from the Battle of Trenton. The full Trentoniana collection includes photo records of almost all buildings in Trenton (if you want to see what your building looked like before it was renovated or an addition completed).

It boasts the section of the Washington Triumphal Arch over the bridge at Trenton, which greeted Washington on his 1789 Trenton stop on the way to his inauguration, and includes the William Pedrick painting of Washington crossing the Delaware. When the original library company was destroyed by British and Hessian occupation, notices were put in newspapers asking for any outstanding books to be returned. Three of those books survive in the Trentoniana collection.

Funding from the City of Trenton is about $2 million, which is a decrease from the approximately $3.5 million in 2010, according to newspaper reports from that year. Funding from the city is enhanced by some grants, a state contribution.

N

ew Jersey ranks 34th in the nation for state aid to local public libraries, according to the New Jersey Library Association. State funding took a hit of a 42 percent reduction in fiscal year 2011 and has not recovered. The Briggs, Cadwalader, East Trenton, and Skelton branch libraries were closed around that time.

The loss of the branches was ironic, points out FrancoMartin. “When you have a recession, people look to the library for help, for jobs, resume writing, a fax machines, homework help when parents have to work more

New Trenton Free Public Library director Rebecca FrancoMartin, left, and the view of the Academy Street library from its garden. hours.”

Today’s libraries face the digital divide: those who don’t have access to WiFi and computers, and those who do, and do research at home. The library provides 31 public computers and WiFi, but even for those who are digitally connected, the library provides guided research and reliable resources, notes FrancoMartin.

The staff of 33, 13 of whom are fulltime, partners with colleges and a wide range of Trenton social services, in meeting the varied needs of residents, says FrancoMartin. This past November, Medicare open enrollment was a popular topic and the subject of a workshop. A Friends of the Library group helps add to the 200,000-plus collection.

FrancoMartin has been engaging with community organizations. “We night be able to say, ‘go here in Trenton for what you need.’ We’ve been using this model in Trenton. A database can be daunting. We can provide guidance.” In addition to 12 databases of scholarly resources, the library has a “mamava” lactation station for nursing mothers, a poetry cafe, and an art gallery showcasing locally created art.

Among many other offerings, there are death records, marriage records, and World Book online.

While the future of the Trenton Free Public Library includes community meeting spaces, information resources and the availability of popular CDs and DVDs, the core users like physical books. In fact, says FrancoMartin, recent library visitors have sought out urban fiction.

“There is something about putting a book in your hand,” she says. “Nothing replaces that.”

Trenton Free Public Librar y, 120 Academy Street. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

609-392-7188 or www.trentonlib. org.

January 2020 | Trenton Downtowner5

The hidden history of Trenton’s stained glass

By Dan Aubrey

T

he stained glass piece pictured at right, the Three Kings over the Brooklyn Bridge seen at Trinity Cathedral on West State Street, is just one of Trenton and the region’s vast collection of stained glass — much of it world class.

And while a lot of it is on view and something to consider during this time of the year when seasonal celebrations emphasize light, they’re worth a visit all year.

I got interested in regional stained glass when I was working for the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and started a database of public art in the region. While cataloging the New Jersey State House’s stained glass, I decided to start collecting information on the glass in regional churches.

After all, sacred glass in public places is for many a primary art experience.

It was then that I discovered that while some churches maintain information and have the company signatures on the glass, many do not and the artistic identities of their makers — and the potential values of the glass -— are a mystery.

So off and on over the past decade I’ve been visiting and communicating with churches, hunting through libraries, and contacting stained glass associates and makers — both at home and in Europe.

And what follows are some observations about this important regional treasure and where to see it.

Let’s start with Louis Comfort Tiffany. It is the name most people connect to stained glass in America. His company, established in New York in 1878, is represented in at least three regional churches (and maybe more, but that is undocumented).

In Trenton, St. Michael’s Church on Warren Street has a tall Tiffany landscape on the sidewall abutting the cemetery and was installed during the historic church’s 1906 renovation. It can be seen during services or during special events.

Other Tiffanys can be found in the Lawrenceville School’s Edith Memorial Chapel, Princeton United Methodist Church, Princeton University’s Alexander Hall, and the Princeton University Art Museum’s remains from the fire-ruined Marquand Chapel.

While Tiffany glass is impressive, it is the 20th-century American stained glass makers who gave the region its treasures.

One person connected to the region’s stained glass is Ralph Cram (1863-1942). He is the Boston-based architect who served as Princeton University supervising architect from 1907 to 1929. He was also a proponent for neo-Gothic architecture and designed the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City (started

in 1912 and recognized as the largest Gothic-style church in the world), Lady Chapel of Trinity Church in Princeton (built in 1912), and numerous other campuses and churches.

You can stop in to view one of his masterworks almost any time: the Princeton University Chapel. But as you gaze at the colored light spilling through the nave, it is difficult to realize that in 1924 this was something revolutionary — or reactionary.

Cram wanted the drama of flowing colored light piercing the interior in such a way to “lighten the hearts so that, through true lights they can reach the one true light.”

To get that effect, Cram created a movement against the era’s most fashionable glass style, Tiffany’s opalescent glass. Cram felt the style hindered light from flowing into the chamber, called attention to itself, and was distinctly too modern.

When the Tiffany Company would not accommodate Cram’s request to adjust its approach, Cram hired and groomed other designers. And Prince­ ton Chapel is a showcase for a generation of artists whose careers grew while Tiffany glass waned.

One of North America’s largest (10,000 square feet) and beautiful col-

6Trenton Downtowner January 2020

lections of stained glass, the chapel is filled with treasures that include frequent Cram collaborator Charles Connick and Philadelphia-based stained glass maker Henry Willet (1899-1983) who also rebelled against Tiffany glass and worked with Cram on several projects, including St. John the Divine and Trinity Church.

Another stained glass artist working in the region was Nicola D’Ascenzo (1871-1954). In addition to providing glass for Princeton Chapel, St. Joseph’s Seminary (now Princeton Abbey), and the now-lost windows for several Trenton government offices and banks, his work also became the focus of a collection by Trenton parachute manufacturer Stanley Switlik.

W

hile Princeton is a grand destination, it is not the end of the glass road. The New Jersey State House Complex is a center for secular stained glass with a few surprises of its own.

As the second oldest operating state house in the nation (Annapolis, Maryland, is the first), there is the expected traditional 19th and early 20th-century colored glass that bathes the chambers with a combination of soft colors

and natural light.

Since the State House is currently closed, one will have to wait to visit the period decorative glass and the lunettes and skylights designed by a combination of anonymous glass makers and early 20th-century state house renovation architect Arnold Moses (1862-1934).

But there are weekly tours of the 1920s-era State House Annex that provide an eyeful of surprises, especially contemporary New Jersey-based stained glass artist J. Kenneth Leap’s “360 Degrees of New Jersey.” In this large skylight-like ceiling unit are some of the state’s famous moments, people, and even legends in brilliant colors.

Yes, that’s the Trenton-bound George Washington and the Delaware, Albert Einstein at Princeton, Martians attacking Grovers Mill, the State House, the Jersey Devil, and more. It’s both a delight and a hoot.

Then in the chamber that once housed the New Jersey State Museum there is glass showing the state dinosaur (Hadrosaurs Foulkii), insect (the bee), and animal (horse).

The new works by Leap join or replaced other state house glass created in the late 1920s by Cram-influenced painter and stained glass artist George Sotter (1879-1953). Since he also indirectly created a stained glass movement, Sotter is another person of regional importance.

Originally from Pittsburgh, where he — like Willet — had worked with Cram, Sotter studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, settled in Bucks County, opened a stained glass studio, and created works for regional and national clients.

Two former Sotter students also settled in Bucks County and established their own studios. They also created glass for Trenton’s two cathedrals.

At Trinity Cathedral, a 1956 Gothicstyle structure on West State Street, Valentine d’Ogries (1899-1959) created the jewel-like glass images of Christ, saints, and even the Brooklyn Bridge, to honor the Roeblings. It’s open for services and special occasions.

The other is St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, where Edward Byrne (1898-1968) surrounds deep colored Biblical figures with light-hued panels to let brilliant beams and luminous glow fill the air of the 1956 structure.

So where did other Trenton glass come from?

Trenton’s Sacred Heart Church is one of the best documented churches in the region. The glass is clearly marked with the company logo-signature John Morgan and Sons, and the church’s website also talks about the glass and when it was built.

However, other churches were unwilling to allow glass markers to mark

their work, mistakenly considering it advertising. Then as time and administration changes, the records were lost.

But research has shown that a good number are from New Jersey.

“Our firm made the stained and faceted glass at several Trenton churches,” said Judith Hiemer, president of the Clifton, New Jersey, Hiemer & Company glass maker.

Her list included St. Joachim, St. Stanislaus, and some windows for Holy Cross and Saint Hedwig in Trenton.

The J.R. Lamb Company in Midland, New Jersey, also forwarded a list that included work for Prospect Street Presbyterian Church and St. Matthias.

The company also did glass for St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. Luther Studios in Passaic created the windows for Mosaic Baptist Church, formerly the Hungarian Lutheran Church.

And according to communications with the Willet Company — now Willet Hauser in Minnesota — they made the glass in the First Presbyterian, Galilee Baptist, and Saint Mark’s Lutheran in Hamilton, and Princeton Presbyterian.

O

ther Trenton-area stained glass comes from Europe.

Both Trinity Cathedral and St. Michael’s Episcopal in Trenton have glass from the Charles Kempe Studios in London (1866 to 1934). A student of influential Pre-Raphaelite and medieval-influenced artist William Morris, Kempe was one of the prominent glass designers in his day — creating more than 4,000 Medieval-inspired glass images.

The now closed Maumejean Company in Paris made the glass for Saint Anthony Church on Olden Avenue on the border of Hamilton and Trenton.

The Whipple Company in England provided the glass for St. Peters IGBO Anglican Church on South Park Avenue not far from the Trenton border in Hamilton.

The prestigious (Franz) Mayer Company in Germany — the same

company that fabricated the contemporary public art work in front of the Princeton University Art Museum — is represented in two area churches: The Virgin, St. Shenouda & St. Thomas Coptic Orthodox Church, the former Holy Angels Church on the border of Hamilton and Trenton, and the Episcopal Cristo Ray Church on Hamilton Avenue in Trenton.

And the Tiroler Glasmalerei in Austria wrote to tell me that the company was the one that created the glass for Immaculate Conception Church in Trenton and forwarded a hand-drawn outline showing image placement.

It was the representatives of both Mayer and Tiroler who also provided some surprising information.

One was about record keeping. An email from the Mayer Company told me, “Most of our old documents were destroyed in 1944 by bombs and fire.

We could save only a few books with photos of windows and designs and lists showing the churches with our stained glass windows, which are not complete.”

The other from Tiroler’s Gemot Fusseneggar showed he too was on a search: “Do the windows of St. Francis Assisi Church still exist? Or even the church itself? And could you find out, if the windows of the primary St. Francis Hospital (now St. Francis Medical Center) have remained? With these windows I feel connected in a very personal manner; my grandfather (Konrad Mignon) designed the cartoons of three of them. The artist who designed the other cartoons was Alois Declara.”

My answer was that no former chapel glass remains, and the glass of the former St. Francis Church on Front Street had gone to an out-of-state church glass supplier that returned my questions with only silence. But there is nothing to be silent about Trenton’s stained glass. It is important and needs to be protected.

Continue the conversation or provide information on the region’s stained glass by joining the Stained

Glass Project of Greater Trenton and Princeton at www.facebook.com/ groups/174284746555593/about or sending an e-mail to trentonprincetonglassproject@gmail.com.

Join Dan Aubrey for a glass talk and walk at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Trenton, on Saturday, January 25, and at Princeton United Methodist Church, 7 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, on Sunday, January 26, at 12:30 p.m., part of the church’s regular 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tour of its glass created by Tiffany and its former studio’s artists.

Trenton stained glass treasures include images, such as this dragon detail, left, created for Immaculate Conception Church by Tiroler Glasmalerei in Austria; Edward Byrne’s depiction of Jonah and the Whale at the Cathedral of St. Mary Assumption on Warren Street; and a pastoral scene created by Tiffany at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.

January 2020 | Trenton Downtowner7

Trenton glass tradition still shining commission I have to rely on my 40 years of stock. It’s hard to get stuff.” ith design and work in three Looking back, Hector says, “One Trenton churches and a stu- of my first jobs was removing glass in dio in Bucks County, stained Trenton.”

The city is also where he lived and glass artist and fabricator Don Hector is following a tradition set up in the worked before turning to stained glass design. region in the early 20th century.

Hector was raised in Oradell, New That was when noted Bucks County artist and stained glass maker George Jersey. His father was vice president Sotter opened his studio and attracted of Prentice Hall Publishing and his or trained glass makers Edward By- mother stayed at home.

After studying English at Rutgers rne and Valentine d’Ogries.

Sotter moved to the region in part and planning to teach, he changed his to work with Princeton University ar- direction and ended up working for chitect Ralph Cram, a proponent of the the State of New Jersey Department Neo-Gothic approach where stained of Insurance.

Playing music on the side, Hector glass would let bands of brilliant light pierce the atmosphere and stimulate — then married and with a house in East Amwell — came in contact with the imagination or soul.

And while the three worked nation- Bucks County musician, sculptor, and ally, they also had an effect on Tren- engraver Charles Ellis.

“When I saw his work I was blown ton. Sooter created stained glass for the New Jersey State House Annex. away, and I said to myself, ‘Let me see d’Ogries created the glass for Trin- if I could be an artist,’” says Hector.

He left the state job around 1980, ity Episcopal Cathedral, and Byrne provided the colorful windows for St. sold the house in East Amwell, and moved to Tyler Street in Trenton to Mary’s Cathedral.

Even though Hector, 67, only met keep his expenses low.

While living in Trenton, he began and talked to Edward Byrne Jr, who worked with his father on St. Mary’s, to learn to draw and took informal lesHector was actually picking up the sons from an associate who convinced pieces of a shattered Trenton stained him to “get his feet wet” by entering competitions. glass tradition.

After getting “I met (Edward honorable men‘I try to master every Byrne Jr.) when tion in the anthey were selling period. I do traditional nual Phillips Mill off his assets,” juried art show, says Hector in saints. I do very he says he was his Upper Black traditional portraits, yet encouraged and Eddy home that to take the houses his stuI do abstract. That’s the ready next step to make dio. a living as an artThat was in the way it is.’ ist. early 1980s, and His medium despite some ocof choice was casional work, the stained glass industry started fall- stained glass. “At the time you could make money at arts crafts fairs,” he ing on tough times.

“There isn’t much money in it,” says says. “There was also Jinx Harris ProHector, who has created glass designs ductions. She’d have artists for malls. for restaurants and private homes. After about a year of doing that, I was in Flemington and people were open“And getting glass isn’t easy.”

He says the problems are related ing a restaurant, and asked if I could to fewer churches being built and na- do their glass. I said, ‘Of course I tional Environmental Protection Act could,’ but I hadn’t done a large-scale regulations involving stained glass work. They gave me my first big commission to do the inside of the restaumanufacturing.

The latter involves the use of met- rant.”

“I taught myself everything,” he als that cause cancer and the need to says.

“I had to teach myself how to build taller smokestacks.

“A lot of (glass providers) were real- carve and paint glass. No one was ly old and weren’t making too much in teaching (stained glass). You could the first place. So they just stopped,” pick things up, but there weren’t any old guys taking apprentices. It was rehe says.

The result is less available qual- ally hard to get guidance.”

Hector credits word of mouth referity glass, higher prices, and churches struggling to keep open and service ences for his 39 years of business.

Some of his early work involved their communities.

Hector says that when he started in restoring Trenton churches, but he the business, there were 10 major sup- stopped because of health concerns related to chipping and breathing in pliers. Now there are two.

“Stained glass is really on hard powder from lead-based putty. “I got times,” says Hector. “Even if I get a a lead test and it spiked, and I said I

By Dan Aubrey

W

8Trenton Downtowner January 2020

Don Hector, above, in his Bucks County studio. At right, the window he designed to honor the late Caren Franzini. wasn’t going to do it,” he says.

While early clients included Trenton’s Diamond’s Kent Cafe and other restaurants, later ones included Catholic churches, synagogues, the Lawrenceville School, and Princeton University.

About his artistic approach, Hector says, “I try to master every period. I do traditional saints. I do very traditional portraits, yet I do abstract. That’s the way it is. You look for juxtapositions that are interesting. To work in one particular style is boring.”

Although he says he emulates no particular stained-glass artist or painter, he readily mentions fin-desiecle Irish stained glass maker Harry Clarke. “What he did with glass no one else did.”

Hector says his current business includes “an English Folly” for Helen Chaitman, the Frenchtown-based lawyer who is suing Bernie Madoff.

“We’re doing a Greek temple, and all around the exterior we’re doing the stained glass.” “We” includes his partner, muralist Joann Mazzeo.

He also created 12 windows for a Jewish congregation in New Hope, one of which remembers the late Trenton boaster Caren Franzini, former head of the New Jersey Economic Development Association and a catalyst for the creation of the development corporation Greater Trenton.

And he is working with English architect Sarah Susanka. “The book she’s famous for is “The Not So Big House” — a modernist style with efficient use of space. I’m working on a stained glass mosaic of Katsushika Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave’ for a pool area. And I still do commissions for private homes,” he says.

Then, he says, there are a lot of things he makes for himself and then sells. That mainly means a series of rosettes — round glass pieces, ranging in price from $2,000 to $3,000. Other works can reach into the five figures.

While Hector is now in the process of transitioning like the stained glass makers before him, he actually has seeded the Trenton-Bucks County connection to another generation.

In Trenton he became friends with a couple who had a son, Zach Green, who became interested in art and stained glass and now owns and operates Princeton Stained Glass in Jersey City.

In addition to taking class with taking classes with contemporary New Jersey stained glass maker J. Kenneth Leap, Green also received guidance from Hector, who gave him a box of Tiffany glass.

“He’s done some Irish bars in New York City,” says Hector who sums everything up by saying, “If you get into an art form, you have to know it all.”

Don Hector/Art Glass, 1345 Mahlon Mills Lane, Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania. www.donhectorstainedglass.com

Your weekly guide to Trenton Arts and Culture From Executive Director, Tom Gilmour As the new year kicks off, the Trenton Downtown Association (TDA) Staff and Board of Directors would like to take a moment to thank all the individuals, government entities, fellow nonprofits, and companies that supported us this past year. The downtown continues to move forward as it welcomes new businesses, residents, and visitors. Our profile events: The Capital City Farmers Market, Levitt AMP Trenton Music Series, Patriots Week, and the BSB Gallery all set attendance records, 2019 has been a rewarding year! Our Clean and Safe team has done a wonderful job in keeping our downtown looking great, people are eager to move back into the city and the movement has begun! This is now Trenton’s time. We are grateful for your continued support and could not make it happen without you. Thank you and warm wishes for a prosperous 2020.

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High end fashion goes downtown

By Kellie C. Murphy

T

renton fashion may not be a “thing” at the moment. But it soon might be. From the fashion program at MCCC to the buzz about Trenton Fashion Week, there is some noise on Trenton fashion and merchandising.

And if Nazir Hampton, 25, has his say, dress shops and Trenton-based designers will help make the city’s downtown district relevant again, like it was until the 1970s and ’80s.

Hampton’s House of High End dress shop on the corner of North Broad and Perry streets is a rebirth of his East Hanover Street shop where he attracted a clientele of young women looking for an alternative to the mall — and looking to also stand out, way out.

His merchandising skills are creative and imaginative, focusing on bright, tropical colors and patterns, definitely not what you’ll find at the Gap. His style and his enterprising personality come together into a youthful, but classy brand, and it runs in the family.

“I’ve always had my own sense of style. My mom is very stylish. People think she’s my sister. I pretty much stopped going to school (Rutgers) because it was just too expensive. I took a break for a while with a goal to save

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to go back, and I enrolled at Mercer for a while, until I just decided to go for it and open my own shop that summer,” he says.

Hampton was raised in West Trenton in the West State Street neighborhood. Hampton’s grandfather is Nazir Hampton, above, at the grand Ira Blackman of the old Blackman’s opening of his House of High End. Record Shop on the commons, where many Trentonians got their cassette different they were. After a while he tapes, wall posters, and incense back needed to make ends meet and get in the day. Blackman actually found stuff that he knew would sell rather than the bomb pieces that are sitting Hampton’s original space.

“I pitched the idea to my grandfa- on the racks, which sucks the fun out ther and he found the shop for me. of it sometimes.

“I have to have more of that miniI’m very much into fashion. I’m selftaught. I have a vision for fashion. You mal, casual, everyday wear … things can get so caught up in working other you can either dress up or dress down. jobs, putting so much of your energy Things you can wear with heels with into building up their company when or wear with sneakers or slides to add I could be putting that same energy that versatility so if you wear someinto my own establishment. I was will- thing during the day, you can go out ing to sacrifice and take the chance,” at night and just change your shoes and create a whole other look. I have he says.

“There’s different stuff here that peo- to strategically choose my inventory,” ple aren’t accustomed to,” he says. “It’s he says.

Hampton has his favorite wholeway out of some salers, mostly people’s comfort from California zones. Once I see and Florida. The If Nazir Hampton has on outfit on you, shipping costs I can give you a his say, dress shops of the pieces hairstyle. I can acare factored into and Trenton-based cessorize you. It’s the cost of the easy for me,” he designers will help make goods. When he says. first opened his According to the city’s downtown first shop he was Hampton, all the getting a lot of district relevant again. girls who come to stuff from overhim and who tag seas. But that his shop on Instagram feel really good in his clothes. takes too much time — dealing with He just started carrying plus sizes, customs and delays — and he would which were in high demand when he be babysitting partially empty racks first opened. The best sellers at House with gaps in replenishing his invenof High End for fall are his jackets and tory for sometimes a week or two at coats, items ladies can pick up that a time. So he found new wholesalers serve a purpose, as well as provide and now gets most things shipped out style. Nothing in the shop costs more in four or five days. This brings him to than $110, so everything is a bargain. the greatest piece of advice his grandHe loves that about owning the shop dad Ira taught him.

“My granddad is very business-mindbut still insists there’s no bona fide ed. I learned from him to appreciate fashion scene here … yet.

“Trenton does not have a fashion when business is slow. Because it’s goscene,” he says. “Trenton has some ing to happen,” he says. “It’s not always dope designers like Qaysean Williams going to be just fast, fast, fast. You’ll of Manikin Mob LLC and Shahedah have those seasons when you just have Textiles, who specializes in swimwear. to patient. When you do hit those seaThere’s Courtney Samone, who’s an sons you just have to plan and figure out amazing designer. There are so many ways to generate some foot traffic, figfashion influencers in the city but ure out ways to get people in, and bring there isn’t much of a scene,” he says. any type of attention to the business.

Hampton thought about opening Things don’t happen overnight. Everya location in Philadelphia. He con- thing will work itself out,” he says.

House of High End Boutique, formed to the sense of fashion here because he was getting a lot of feed- 200 North Broad Street. www.houseback about the pieces he has and how ofhighend.com

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January 2020 | Trenton Downtowner11

Astronomy on Tap brings stars and suds to Trenton Social

By Susan Van Dongen

A

stronomy on Tap: Trenton (AoT: Trenton), where members of the scientific community visit local bars to share their knowledge, kicked off in 2019 at Trenton Social with a presentation “The Star That Ate Its Planets.”

It was presented by Melinda SoaresFurtado, a doctoral candidate in the department of astrophysical sciences at Princeton University.

Since then, AoT: Trenton has met monthly (with a couple of summer months off) to explore a variety of topics, from black holes to galaxies to the beginnings of the Universe.

Its next session is set for Wednesday, January 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Trenton Social on South Broad Street.

Astronomy on Tap (with the punny subtitle “Drink in the Universe”) was launched in New York City about six years ago as a series of events in which professional astronomers give informal talks at a local bar on topics of interest in astronomy and astrophysics.

Now presented across the nation, the events consist of two 10 to 15-minute presentations, followed by questions and comments. There’s also food, beer and soft drinks, and prizes for trivia winners.

The next Astonomy on Tap meeting is January 15 at Trenton Social.

Sessions are free, but a $5 suggested donation helps to keep things afloat.

This time last year the PrincetonTrenton area didn’t have an AoT at all, and Soares-Furtado says a major force behind its creation was Andres Plazas Malagon, an associate research scholar at Princeton University.

“I thought it would be great to create AoT in Princeton,” he says. “People started expressing their interest in helping with the organization, in particular Melinda, Sean Johnson,

Call for Lunch and a Tour!

609-371-7007

and Rachel Beaton (post-doctoral fellows in astrophysical sciences), who suggested doing it in Trenton instead of Princeton to reach a more diverse audience. Sean is friends with T. C Nelson, the owner of Trenton Social, and was able to find us that very cool venue.”

Astronomy and astrophysics have been enjoying a popular renaissance in the last decade or so, with celebrityscientists like Neil DeGrasse Tyson publishing best-selling books and making the rounds on TV talk shows.

“I feel like it’s always been popular, but maybe I was always looking for it,” Soares-Furtado says. “Even before Neil, Carl Sagan had such an immense presence. He was so skilled in science communications. Then there are all the great science-fiction writers, these beacons from the past.”

“People are curious about science in general, and there’s Science on Tap events, too, featuring a broader field of scientists,” she says. “But we’re very lucky in astronomy because it’s a rare person who is not fascinated by new planets or black holes. Even a fiveyear-old can be excited about space.

It’s an excellent entry point for science overall.”

Movies have also helped folks get energized about astronomy, astrophysics, and space travel, from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” to the “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” sagas, to more recent films with masterful computer graphics.

“Movies like ‘Gravity,’ ‘Ad Astra,’ and ‘Interstellar’ are so immersive because of the amazing CGI,” SoaresFurtado says.

Soares-Furtado’s childhood was spent on a dairy farm in the San Francisco Bay Area, where her immigrant grandparents, who arrived in the U.S. in 1966, did back-breaking work as tenant farmers, as did her mother,

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who is now a professional house cleaner. Her stepfather is a building superintendent in the Bay Area.

Young Melinda dreamt of pursuing college and research studies, especially in science and astronomy, but also in philosophy and psychology.

S

oares-Furtado says popular astrophysicists, especially Sagan, helped spark her youthful interest in astronomy.

“Carl is absolutely one of those people I want to emulate, but not just in the field of science,” she says. “He also never forgot the value of outreach. He really enjoyed sharing his knowledge, and there wasn’t an audience he favored, which is beautiful and rare.”

Although Soares-Furtado had natural academic acumen, she felt she needed to take some time away, and spent about a year backpacking through Mexico and Guatemala after high school.

“I didn’t have any direction at the time, and I thought traveling would help illuminate a sense of purpose,” she says. “During that chapter of my life I witnessed immense political and economic adversity. I started feeling a lot less sorry for myself and started leveraging the opportunities I had as an American citizen. It was at that time I decided to attend college, and so I returned to the U.S.” Reality got a little messy, SoaresFurtado says, and just as she was com-

mencing her studies, she gave birth to tinues. “The good news is that I’m not afraid of hard work, and I definitely a son.

“In many ways, my son and I grew appreciate all the benefits that come up together,” she adds. “Today I am along with a secondary education. very glad I made the decision to be- No matter how hard graduate school come a mother, but I also recognize feels, it’s nothing compared to workthat becoming a parent so early in life ing two jobs at a mall to make ends added an increased level of stress and meet.”

In 2007 she received an A.A. in libadversity that I could not have possibly anticipated. There’s a reason that eral studies from Gavilan College in Gilroy, California, young mothers then went on to don’t often purU.C. Santa Cruz, sue scientific deIn order to reach a graduating with a grees.”

B.S. in physics in She notes that more diverse audience, 2013. “haphazard traAstronomy on Tap She came to jectories” are Princeton Univercommon for peoorganizers arranged to sity as a graduate ple with challenghost their gatherings student researching socioeconomer in 2014 and ic backstories. in Trenton rather than was a National Soares-Fur tado Science Foundaspent years Princeton. tion graduate felworking in an aslow from 2015 to sortment of jobs — as a personal trainer, Starbucks 2018. Soares-Furtado earned her M.S. drive-through attendant, Walmart in astrophysical sciences in 2016 and stockperson on the overnight shift, expects to receive her doctorate in the field in 2020. daycare center employee, etc.

She lives in Princeton with her “I’ve worked since I was 14 years old, often multiple jobs at once,” she two children, a 13-year old son, and a says. “This is the reality for a teenager daughter, 8.

Soares-Furtado is also a dancer, and who has parents that are financially struggling. You have to become inde- one of her most interesting outreach projects was her performance in May pendent at an early age.”

“In facing this sort of adversity, you for Princeton Research Day, when learn to maximize your opportunities she danced in “Astrophysics Through and build a broad skill set,” she con- Dance: From Stellar Death to Chemi-

cal Rebirth.”

Reflecting on her array of interests, Soares-Furtado says, “I’ve always liked to read about other subjects (than science), and I find all sorts of inquiry interesting — the human brain, how consciousness emerges, solving problems like climate change, etc.”

Although she and her colleagues look to and investigate distant stars and galaxies, she acknowledges the importance of also studying Earthbound problems like climate change and sees the need to raise awareness and seek solutions for such man-made misfortunes.

Happily, Soares-Furtado has observed her own children and recognizes the exceptional potential of their age group. Even in the face of climate crisis after crisis, she feels optimistic about the future.

“I’m super excited about this next generation, there’s even a Climate Change Club that meets at lunchtime at my kid’s school,” she says. “This next generation is so eager to address these problems.”

“My own generation was consumerdriven, but these kids are creative,” Soares-Furtado says. “Their level of innovation is so high and their initiative is remarkable. They’re brilliant.”

Astronomy on Tap, Trenton Social, 449 South Broad Street.

Wednesday, January 15, 7 to 9 p.m. $5 donation. www.astronomyontap.org

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JaNuaRY heaDLINeRs

1/4 & 5

F����� 1/3

Calendar Girls, Kelsey Theater, Mercer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www.kelseyatmccc.org. Based on the true story of 11 Women’s Ins�tute members who pose nude for a calendar to raise money for leukemia research. Through January 12. 8 p.m.

S������� 1/4

Josh Lee, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, Trenton, 609-695-9612. www.jazztrenton. com. $15, $10 drink minimum. 3:30 p.m.

Colonel Hand Historic March, Lawrence Township Municipal Complex, 2207 Lawrence Road, Lawrence, 609-844-7067. www.patriotsweek.com. Historic program and musket firing. Free. 10 a.m.



Season of Light, Laser Holiday Magic, and Tales of Mayan Skies, New Jersey State Museum Planetarium, 205 W. State Street, Trenton, 609-292-6464. www.statemuseum. nj.gov. Planetarium shows. $5-$7. See website for schedule. Also January 5. Noon.

S����� 1/5

Local Wildlife, Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westco� Avenue, Hamilton, 609-888-3218.

Overview on local wildlife and crea�ng a backyard refuge, for teens and older. Register. 2 p.m.

M����� 1/6

Art Chill Night, Championship Bar, 931 Chambers Street, Trenton. www.championshipbartrenton.com Crayons and drinks. Art supplies provided. Free. Every Monday. 8 p.m.

1/18

T������ 1/7

Ci�zenship Class, Literacy New Jersey Mercer, Hamilton Free Public Library, 1 Jus�ce Samuel A. Alito Jr. Way, Hamilton, 609-5876027. Free 12-week course meets Tuesdays and Thursdays through March 31. Must have green card and basic English language skills.

Register. 10 a.m.

W�������� 1/8

Dick Gra�on, Trenton Social Restaurant, 449 S. Broad Street, Trenton, 609-989-7777. 6 p.m.

F����� 1/10

Dick Gra�on and Kim Rogers, Cook Athle�c Associa�on, 411 Hobart Avenue, Hamilton, 609-941-8114. 6 p.m.

Freedom Friday, Ellarslie Mansion, Trenton City Museum, 299 Parkside Avenue, Trenton, 609-989-3632. www.ellarslie.org. Local musical, hip-hop, and spoken word performers. $5. 7 p.m.

S������� 1/11

Opening Recep�on -- “Badlands”, BSB Gallery, 143 East State Street, Suite 4, Trenton, 609599-3268. www.bsbgallery.com. Featuring work by Chicago ar�st Dominic Sansone who uses pedestal based and free-standing sculpture, made mainly from easily accessible and found materials, and relief-style “pain�ngs” to explore environmental and social themes.

On view through February 8. Free. 5 p.m.

James Stewart, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, Trenton, 609-695-9612. www. jazztrenton.com. $15, $10 drink minimum.

3:30 p.m.

Assisted Living and Memory Care with

a whole lotta heart.

COMMUNITY OPENING EARLY 2020 INFORMATION CENTER NOW OPEN NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS

Listen on-air at 107.7 FM, online at www.1077TheBronc.com or via The Bronc’s free Google Play and Apple apps.

Search and download: WRRC

14Trenton Downtowner January 2020

1750 Yardville-Hamilton Square Road • Hamilton 609.241.9538 • TheLandingOfHamilton.com License Pending

1/18

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Winter Duck Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center, Spring Lake at Robeling Park, Sewell Avenue, Hamilton, 609-888-3218. Program on the migra�ng pa�erns of waterfowl, for teens and older. Free. Register. 1 p.m.

F����� 1/17

12 Angry Men, Kelsey Theater, Mercer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. wDrama about the prejudices the jurors in a murder trial. Through January 26. 8 p.m.

S������� 1/18

Mar�n Luther King Jr. Day. Bank and postal holiday.  Daryl Yokley, Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, Trenton, 609-695-9612. www. jazztrenton.com. $15, $10 drink minimum.

3:30 p.m.  WVRM, Championship Bar, 931 Chambers Street, Trenton. www.championshipbartrenton.com Live music. Other performers include Barishi and Zombie Apocalypse. $13.

6 p.m.

S����� 1/19 

If These Quilts Could Talk, Ellarslie Mansion, Trenton City Museum, 299 Parkside Avenue, Trenton, 609-989-3632. www.ellarslie.org. Opening recep�on for a juried exhibit featuring the Sankofa S�tchers and the Friendly Quilters. On view through April 19.

1:30 p.m.

M����� 1/20

Art Chill Night, Championship Bar, 931 Chambers Street, Trenton. Crayons and drinks. Art supplies provided. Free. 8 p.m.

S������� 1/25

Rosie Revere, Engineer, Kelsey Theater, Mercer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www. kelseyatmccc.org. Musical based on the

AT YOUR SERVICE

SQUE A V Z JR tREE SERVicE

tREE REmoval, tRimming and stump gRinding.

FREE EstimatEs! 609-203-7821

1/19 books Rosie Revere, Engineer; Iggy Peck, Architect; and Ada Twist, Scien�st. 2 and 4 p.m.

Eden Dreams in Cinema�c, Eden Au�sm, Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton. edendreams.org. Cocktails, dinner and dancing. $175-$350. 6 p.m.

Improvisa�onal Quil�ng, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, 609-989-3632. www.ellarslie.org. Workshop with Rose Miller. 1:30 p.m.

M����� 1/27

Art Chill Night, Championship Bar, 931 Chambers Street, Trenton. Crayons and drinks. Art supplies provided. Free. 8 p.m.

T������ 1/28

King Lear, Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, 215-785-6664. www. brtstage.org. Shakespeare’s tragedy is an epic tale of sorrow, forgiveness, madness, and reconcilia�on. Through February 16.

7:30 p.m.

HumanTrafficking is in Our Midst, Robert Wood Johnson Fitness & Wellness, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton, 609-5845900. Presenta�on by Dreamcatchers. Register. 6 p.m.

W�������� 1/29

The Mouth-Body Connec�on, Robert Wood Johnson Fitness & Wellness, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton, 609-584-5900. Informa�on on how mouth health affects overall health. Register. 6 p.m.

F����� 1/31

Cabaret, Kelsey Theater, Mercer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www.kelseyatmccc.org.

When American writer Cliff Bradshaw arrives at Berlin’s Kit Kat Club looking for inspira�on, he falls for its star performer, Sally Bowles. However, their decadent lifestyle is soon threatened by the Nazis’ impending rise to power. Through February 9. 8 p.m.

The Three Kings come to Westminster

W

estminster Presbyterian Church’s interfaith, intercultural, and intergenerational Three Kings Day Celebration is set for Sunday, January 5, at 11 a.m. Designed to reflect Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of children of all ages, races, cultures, and genders gathering together, the service closes the holiday season with songs of Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, and el Dia de los Reyes. Also included is a minidrama performed by Sprout U of the

Westminster Pastor Karen Hernandez-Granzen, top center, members of the Trenton Police and Fire Departments, and young church performers invite the community to celebrate Three Kings Day on January 5.

Arts, songs by Westminster’s Worship Team, and gift books from author Lisa Willever and her family. Trenton public officials, police, fire fighters, and community leaders will help distribute children’s gifts. All are welcome.

1140 Greenwood Avenue, Trenton, 609-695-8025.

FELTUS

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BETH FELTUS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST Specializing Small 50 Employees Licensed in NJ ·inNY · PABusinesses · KY · TN · of OH2 ·- WV · GA · LA · IN Phone (609) 393-1556 • Fax Email Beth@BethFeltus.com (609) 393-1556 O. (877) (609)393-0996 233-4113• C. (609) 498 7900 F. 104 Jackson St., Trenton, NJ 08611 Email Beth@BethFeltus.com www.bethfeltus.com www.BETHFELTUS.com January 2020 | Trenton Downtowner15

Truth in numbers

1

Average New Jersey household credit card debt.

Take charge of your debt with a fixed-rate Lifestyle Loan.

As low as

6.24% APR2

for 36 months.

No payments for

90 Days3

Apply today at gocunj.com/lifestyle or by calling (609) 538-4061.

1 Data regarding 2018 credit card debt in New Jersey households was pulled from ValuePenguin: (https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-credit-card-debt#by-region).

2 Annual Percentage Rate (APR) effective as of July 1, 2018. Subject to credit approval. Financing available up to 60 months. Rates as low as 6.24% for 36 months, 7.24% for 48 months, and 8.24% for 60 months. Rates are based on credit worthiness. Payment amount is determined by APR and term. The loan payment is $30.54 per $1,000 borrowed at 6.24% for 36 months. The loan payment is $24.07 per $1,000 borrowed at 7.24% for 48 months. The loan payment is $20.40 per $1,000 borrowed at 8.24% for 60 months. Rates subject to change at any time.

3 Each personal loan closed during this promotional period will make no payments for 90 days. Accepting the terms of "no payment for 90 days offer" will extend the maturity of your loan for at least 90 days but less than 110 days. If accepting the delayed first payment, you will not be eligible for any other skipping/delaying your payment during 2020. Interest will accrue during this period. Loan amounts of up to $25,000 are available. Processing fee of $35 will apply.

Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.

16Trenton Downtowner January 2020