Flemington Life - Hunterdon Healthcare's Faces of Resilience ... and Spring Fun! PAUL MARCIANO Communication Crusader Shelley and David Lyman's ...
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FlemingtonLife SPRING 2021 A Publication of the Bucks County Herald FREE PAUL MARCIANO Communication Crusader Shelley and David Lyman’s Historic Homestead Hunterdon Healthcare’s Faces of Resilience ... and Spring Fun!
Page 2 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
Flemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 3
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
12 PROFILE
“You write a book when
you have something
to say,” says Three
8 DREAM HOME Rivers, NJ native Paul
Marciano, grandson of
Shelley and David Lyman have made
the 1776 Reading House a warm highly-regarded author
family home without sacrificing the and illustrator, Ludwig
integrity of its remarkable history. Bemelmans.
28 TOP 10 THINGS TO DO THIS SPRING
Milk cows. Soar above the clouds. Get crafty. Celebrate spring. You
deserve it.
14 MAIN STREET
Flemington Borough is holding its own—and its
leaders are dreaming big.
30 DINING OUT
From the ocean to the inn, and from his garden
to his kitchen, Chef Stanley Novak keeps it fresh
20 THE ARTS at Harvest Moon Inn in Ringoes, N.J.
Flemington’s James
Fiorentino is in a league of
his own.
34 REAL ESTATE Cover Photo by Dave Norton.
When the law of supply and
22 HEALTH
demand rings true in Greater
Flemington’s sizzling market.
FlemingtonLife
A year later, a year stronger. Meet the faces of resilience at is a publication of the
Hunterdon Medical Center.
36 LOCAL VOICES
26 SPORTS Greater Flemington residents told
us what they are looking forward
Tucker Richardson is helping to lead Colgate’s basketball team to
to this spring.
victory, just as he did at Hunterdon Central. BUCKSCOUNTYHERALD.COM
Flemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 5
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At Home with History
For Shelley and David Lyman, living in the former residence of the governor of the British colony of New Jersey
has been about finding the perfect balance between respectful stewardship and family comfort.
BY TERESA POLITANO
On a warm spring day, Shelley Lyman likes to stand in the hallway
between her open front door and her open back door, basking in the
sunlight and feeling the swirling promise of the season, breathing in the
smell of the lilacs that grow alongside the cherry trees and forsythia on
the property.
Lyman’s home was built in 1760 and is a classic example of Old Co-
lonial Georgian architecture, built with symmetry and simplicity. The
front door is wide enough for a bride-to-be carried with ease across the
threshold. The back door is equally practical, built to accommodate a
coffin. When Lyman shares her favorite aspect of the house, she doesn’t
note that George Washington stayed here, nor does she point to the built-
in cabinetry with butterfly shelves, or the gleaming wide-plank floors, or
the hand-carved fireplace mantel. Lyman’s favorite aspect of her home
is not a thing but a feeling, a spring moment, intangible, as she stands in
the hallway between beginnings and endings, past and present, feeling
photo by juan vidal
the swirling breeze of the season.
Flemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 7
Alyssa Lyman credits her mother
with making the house “as much
a Lyman house as it was a
Shippen house.”
is also home. Shelley and David Lyman maintain the 40-acre
property with respect to its roots. When the roof needed to be
repaired, they reached out to a Vermont company that specializes
in slate, and they chose blue stone for the patio rather than a mod-
ern paver. Yet they also host Super Bowl parties and summer
barbecues, and encouraged their children to have sleepovers. A
downstairs room boasts a Joakim Hill grandfather clock built in
Flemington in 1833, and the walls are decorated with paintings
of Washington and Reading. Mixed in are pictures of the Lyman
family, weddings and graduations and high school portraits. On
Thanksgiving, the adults dine in the room once reserved for men
only, while the children’s table is set up in the room originally
photo by juan vidal designated for the women of the household.
The kitchen features an original fireplace for cooking and a breakfast table hewn from the property’s walnut trees Alyssa Lyman credits her mother, a former schoolteacher, for
by the home’s previous owners, the Walkers. The dining room table, pictured below, was also made from the
walnut trees.
Lyman’s daughter, Alyssa, who grew up in the
Reading House, talks too about living the history
– she and her two siblings Benjamin and Kurstin
eating breakfast at a round wooden table that was
hewn from the walnut trees on the property, Frosted
Flakes and Cap’n Crunch while sitting in well-worn
but uncomfortable wooden chairs. Alyssa Lyman
is so in love with her childhood home that she has
commemorated the experience with three tattoos on
her arm – including a rendering of Peggy Shippen,
the spy who once lived here.
The Reading House sits off River Road in Flem-
ington. The mansion is a testament to the wealth
and importance of John Reading Jr., governor of
the British colony of New Jersey in 1747 and again
from 1757 to 1758. (Reading was a founder of the
College of New Jersey, which later became Princ-
eton University.) The Reading House is built with
Flemish bond brick; one intriguing feature is the in-
lay on a side wall, darkened bricks denoting the year
of the home’s construction. The house was sold in
1776 to Edward Shippen, a loyalist escaping Phil-
adelphia during the turmoil of the Revolutionary
War. His daughter Peggy is the home’s most famous
resident. Peggy Shippen lived here as a teenager; she
hated her exile to the country and was eager to return
to the Philadelphia social scene. When she did, she
met her future husband: Benedict Arnold.
The house is on the National Register of Histor- photo by juan vidal
ic Places, but, for the Lymans, the Reading House Portraits of Colonel Thomas Lowery and his wife, Esther Fleming, are hung above the fireplace—a constant reminder of the home’s
storied past. It is said that it was Lowery who brought George Washington to the home for a visit.
Page 8 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
simultaneously creating an atmosphere her neighbors of the past,
that respects the home’s history but also with complex stories that de-
one of relaxed informality, with shoes serve respect. Peggy Shippen,
on the kitchen floor and chicken wings for example, fooled many
in the oven. “She’s made it as much a Ly-
revolutionaries. “Peggy actu-
man house as it was a Shippen house.”
Shelley Lyman is the daughter of Rich- ally had a mind under that hat
ard Stothoff, a venerated local historian and no one really saw it until
and past president of the Hunterdon Coun- it was too late. I can applaud
ty Historical Society. Stothoff has worked that.”
to preserve local historic sites since 1951; David Lyman proudly an-
his Eagle Scout project was to restore nounces that he gets tears in
the Geary’s Ridge Monument in Rari-
his eyes during the annual
tan Township. Stothoff, who is presi-
dent of Samuel Stothoff Company, Inc., Fourth of July reading of the
a well-drilling firm in Flemington, has Declaration of Independence
worked to preserve the Reading House at Washington Crossing.
and other local historic homes. Shelley “When you think of people photo by juan vidal
Lyman is also quick to credit the passion of leaving their homes, coming here, fighting for Shelley holds the original 1760
the previous homeowners, Josette and William their freedoms,” he says, his thoughts trailing. key to the house.
Walker, who worked to restore the structure and To him, the house is a responsibility and an
to fill it with historic artifacts, many of which
honor, a daily reminder that history is com-
were passed along when the property changed
hands, including the Windsor chairs at the kitch- plex, but also human. As for Peggy Shippen?
en table, pewter plates and a Dutch clock that is “Thank God she failed.” q
nearly 360 years old.
For Alyssa Lyman, those who lived here be- Teresa Politano is an award-winning writer,
fore – the beautiful teenager who would become author and frequent contributor to River Towns
a spy and the slaves who cooked the food – are Magazine.
photo by juan vidal
One of the Lyman’s most trea-
sured possessions: a Joakim photo by juan vidal
Hill grandfather clock built in David and Shelley enjoy downtime in their family room, one of seven rooms with a working fireplace.
Flemington in 1833.
Flemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 9
Page 10 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
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If I can assist you or anyone you know in 2021, please reach out to me.
I look for
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Paula Anastasio, REALTOR®
Cell: 908-319-3113
PaulaAnastasio@gmail.com
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Page 12 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
The Respect Doctor is In
Three Bridges N.J. native Paul Marciano is a published author,
just like his famous grandfather, Ludwig Bemelmans.
photo by dave norton
Paul Marciano, at home in Three Bridges, surrounded by art and collectibles from his grandfather’s famous “Madeline” series.
BY MELINDA RIZZO Through his writing, consulting, workshops and speaking engage-
ments, Marciano, the self-described “Respect Doctor,” is a man on a
Paul Marciano claims he has none of the artistic talents of his cel- mission. He wants everyone – from the boardroom to the kitchen table
ebrated grandfather, “Madeline” children’s book author Ludwig Be- – to have the skills and confidence to discuss any topic, even when
melmans. it’s hard. In “Let’s Talk About It,” he offers skills and strategies for
His gifts are more practical and straightforward. successfully dealing with difficult and emotionally challenging con-
Author of “Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work,” “Super Teams,” and versations.
most recently, “Let’s Talk About It: Turning Confrontation Into Col- Marciano says his years in academia, including teaching at Yale
laboration at Work,” Marciano is a nationally recognized human rela- University, where he earned a doctorate in clinical psychology, at
tions expert and executive coach for companies and their leaders look- Princeton University and Davidson College, laid the groundwork for
ing to improve workplace culture, increase employee productivity and his understanding of human relationships, personality types, leadership
develop mutually respectful relationships. effectiveness and, ultimately, how to build a culture of respect. “TheFlemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 13
It was in Bruges that
Marciano felt closest to
his grandfather.
photo by dave norton courtesy of the estate of ludwig bemelmans
more an employee feels respected and respects the leader- was palpable, and felt the most real. closest to him.”
ship, the more the employee will be engaged and willing “I was standing in the Market Square where my grand- Marciano’s mother, Barbara Bemelmans, Ludwig’s
to display higher levels of discretionary effort,” he added. father stood, looking at it from the same perspective he only child, grew up in New York and California. In 1965
Marciano believes that “dysfunction in personal and would have had 70 years earlier when he wrote and illus- she and Paul’s father bought a 100-acre, 250 year old
professional relationships are often caused or exacerbat- trated the children’s novel, “The Golden Basket,” Mar- horse farm in Readington, overlooking the South Branch
ed by a lack of skill or willingness to have difficult con- ciano remembered. “It was in that [moment] when I felt of the Raritan River. It’s been the family’s home ever
versations.” When it comes to the workplace, he added, since, shared with innumerable horses, dogs and other
“we don’t address things largely because we don’t feel four-legged inhabitants.
competent, or we fear looking bad in front of others.” Marciano, whose consulting firm, Whiteboard LLC, is
Marciano was born after the death of his Austri- located on Main Street in Flemington Borough, was re-
an-born grandfather who died in 1962. He discovered a cently elected for a second time as president of the Flem-
man who’d made a massive imprint on popular culture ington Community Partnership, a nonprofit charged with
through family stories, Bemelmans’ body of work, fam- the revitalization of historic Flemington. He said sup-
ily keepsakes and treasured art. porting the local community means being engaged with
He would learn that Bemelman, who arrived in Amer- it and in it. “I support our small business owners, and I
ica with a sixth-grade education, had been a popular au- want to promote a continued sense of collaboration and
thor and illustrator, becoming a regular contributor for community here,” he said, adding that he wants to help
The New Yorker, Vogue, and Town and Country mag- shape Flemington’s future as “the kind of place people
azines. He heard about how his grandfather traveled the can raise their families and where small businesses can
world on writing and illustration assignments, including thrive.”
the Trial at Nuremberg. He would read his novels and “When I was a kid I loved going to the Agway store on
see his painted murals, like those adorning Bemelmans Main Street in Flemington and coming out with a frozen
Bar on New York City’s Upper East Side – a fixture in- ice pop,” he said.
side The Carlyle Restaurant. And, of course, he would For fans of “Madeline,” it should be noted that he did
learn all about the success of the “Madeline” book series, not always walk in a straight line. q
and its impact on generations of young readers.
courtesy of paul marciano
But for Marciano, it was during a 2016 business trip to Melinda Rizzo is a regular contributor to the Bucks
Paul Marciano and his mother, Barbara Bemelmans.
Bruges, Belgium, that his connection to his grandfather County Herald.Page 14 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
NOW
THE POWER OF
Despite the challenges of seismic changes in their local economy, an epic
development battle and a historic pandemic, Flemington leaders are feeling
pretty optimistic about the borough’s future.
photo by dave norton
ROBIN LAPIDUS MARC SALUK BETSY DRIVER
FCP’s Executive Director Economic Development Director Mayor
BY LIZ JOHNSON A VICTIM OF SUCCESS
After enduring a decade of planning battles, Flemington residents eye new de- To understand Flemington’s future, one needs to know its past. Artisan indus-
velopment taking shape in the borough cautiously. tries such as Flemington Cut Glass and Stangl Pottery offered discounted sec-
“Everybody still says ‘knock on wood’ when talking about how it looks like onds, putting Flemington on the map as an outlet center. In its heyday, busloads
things are moving forward,” said Dave Norton, a three-year resident who, with his of New York City shoppers flocked to the town each weekend in search of cheap,
quality goods.
wife, Ally, opened a photography studio and retail store on Main Street this Jan-
Then things changed. Outlet centers became ubiquitous and shoppers aban-
uary. “But absolutely there’s a shift in the perception of the future of the town.”
doned Main Streets for big box stores. In 2008, Union Hotel owner John Bla-
Among the projects being discussed: a new housing proposal at the defunct nos sold the borough’s only liquor license to a Raritan Township restaurant and
Agway on North Main Street and a mixed-use housing project on Route 12. Lib- closed the hotel that had hosted national reporters covering the Lindbergh baby
erty Village’s owners are soliciting public input about new uses for the antiquated kidnapping trial in 1935. It was a death knell for the once thriving county seat.
outlet center. Attorney Lee Roth is seeking to convert offices to apartments in his Over the next few years, Flemington officials tried to attract developers, deem-
Main Street Victorian. And the borough-owned Filling Station at 144 Main Street ing vacant buildings blighted, a precursor for offering attractive property tax in-
has been sold to a restaurateur who has plans for a diner. centives.
And developers came, each meeting with obstacles that left officials scram-Flemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 15
tion of the Opportunity Zone,” said Saluk.
“It didn’t happen immediately. We’ve re-
ally all worked at getting the word out.”
A summit in July 2019 drew 125 devel-
opers and a promise from Clinton-based
Unity Bank to set up a $25 million low-in-
terest loan fund for development in the
borough.
Then in the fall of 2020, the borough
won a $100,000 Opportunity Zone grant
that it used to hire Stantec, a global plan-
ner, to solicit public input on the bor-
ough’s future.
A report on Stantec’s findings is to be
released at the end of March, along with
a commitment from the Flemington Com-
munity Partnership to fund one of the sug-
gested projects.
But the meetings highlighted another
advantage for the borough.
THE PLANETS ALIGN
IN FLEMINGTON’S FAVOR
“This is a right time, right place situation
photo by dave norton
for Flemington,” said David Dixon, a Stan-
Dave and Ally Norton opened The Corner, a new photography studio and retail shop on Main Street this January. They are optimistic about
Flemington’s future. tec planner.
The next generation of homeowners will
be singles or couples without children look-
bling for alternatives and residents increasingly frus- The pandemic created other changes that favored ing for a walkable, historic downtown with
trated and cynical. the borough. cultural attractions and places to meet friends for a drink.
Then Jack Cust arrived with plans to tear down the “When you’re being told to go get takeout from the “We’ve never been in a comparable situation before,”
historic hotel and replace the entire block with a sev- place closest to you, it changes the way you look at he said. “These are the folks who most attract jobs and
en-story complex that would remake the borough. He where you live,” said Flemington Community Part- investment.”
won redevelopment plan approval in 2018 but was nership Executive Director Robin Lapidus. Jeff Sauser of Stantec estimates that Flemington
barraged by lawsuits brought by residents unhappy Business owners quickly adapted to COVID re- needs to build 1,000 new housing units in the next 10
with what they believed was the undoing of the com- strictions, offering curbside and delivery services or years.
munity’s historic character. agreeing to meet customers privately when restric- “That’s the tipping point when you have enough new
tions were eased. In the past year, 18 borough busi- housing to bring retail to life,” he said.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A nesses have either expanded or launched, said Lapi- Stangl Factory owner and real estate investor George
PANDEMIC MAKES dus. Ecklmann says the housing plans “would be nice for our
“The pandemic has definitely changed people’s vitality, but it’s not a silver bullet to cure all of the prob-
“We can thank the pandemic that we got a project habits,” said Saluk, whose agency last year launched lems.”
that fits Flemington,” said Mayor Betsy Driver, who a countywide Main Street marketing program. “Peo- “Main Streets need to be populated with businesses
was elected in 2018 in a backlash to the project. She ple were looking for shopping and entertainment op- that can’t be replaced online,” he said. “An average busi-
said it forced the players sidelined at home to sit down tions close at hand.” ness that survived in the 1960s, 70s or 80s isn’t going to
and talk. “Nobody could say ‘I can’t make it, I have cut it,” he said.
another meeting.’” IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULTY LIES He points to Barkley’s Gourmet Marketplace, an up-
Council approved a scaled-down redevelopment AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE scale Main Street pet food store expanding into Branch-
plan with Cust in the fall of 2020 that left the hotel burg.
and several other historic buildings intact and ended The 2017 federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act led to the “They have great products and they’re very helpful.
the lawsuits. “Certainly it sent a message to Fleming- creation of 169 Opportunity Zones in New Jersey, in- You feel like it’s worth going there,” he said. q
ton at-large and the development world at-large that cluding the entire borough of Flemington.
elected officials want development, but they want the “There’s no question there’s been an uptick in calls Liz Johnson is a freelance writer who lives in
right project,” said Driver. from companies or developers ever since the designa- Frenchtown, N.J.Page 16 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
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Page 18 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
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Phone: (908) 638-0221 ٠ www.solitudestationcafe.comFlemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 19 Make the Stangl Factory your basecamp to explore the art, culture, fashion, and cuisine of Hunterdon’s County Seat. Step inside our pottery kilns with your Factory Fuel cappuccino or experience another world at the Kev Von Holt Gallery. At The Knowing, Armand Edegi shares his insights into your personal questions. At A Life in Balance, you can lose the pain and gain mobility in an atmosphere dedicated to wellness. Enjoy a delicious meal at Blue Fish Grill, where you can bring along a pint from Lone Eagle Brewery, a short walk down Stangl Road. While you are here, find that perfect gift for someone special at N’Joy Yourself. Check out the fashions at 39 Mine Boutique and tour the showroom at Kissimmee River Pottery for unique handmade artwork. On Saturdays, you can stock up on fresh produce, meats, and fresh baked goods at the Stangl Factory Farmers’ Market.
Page 20 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
Flemington’s
National Treasure
World-class artist James Fiorentino artist brings his exquisite eye for detail to all he creates.
BY FREDA R. SAVANA beyond his years.
By the time he reached 15, Fiorentino was the youngest
His works hang in museums, corporate boardrooms and gal- artist to ever have his art featured in the National Baseball
leries across the country. His extraordinarily realistic illustra- Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. His rep-
tions of the nation’s most prestigious athletes are featured on resentation of Reggie Jackson hung beside the paintings of
countless baseball cards and canvases. His portraits of world Norman Rockwell and Andy Warhol. Today, his painting
leaders and entertainment icons are incomparable. His Hunter- of Roberto Clemente is a part of the museum’s permanent
don County-inspired landscapes and wildlife art are displayed collection.
nationally. “I’ve always been honest with myself and paint what
Whatever the subject, a James Fiorentino watercolor is un- inspires me,” said the acclaimed artist. And he’s inspired
mistakable. Each telling its own compelling story. by many things.
“It’s my passion, a blessing,” said the Flemington-based art- Fiorentino, a Central New Jersey native, his wife, Jes-
ist of his love of, and gift for, painting. At the tender age of sica, a school social worker, and their two sons, Dylan, 7,
three, his mother, Jackie, realized he could draw a complete and Tyler, 11, made a home just outside the historic town
and accurate picture of the human body, with a maturity far 16 years ago.Flemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 21 “We were looking for something private,” he said, where he could not only have his studio, but also have a discreet gallery for his many famous clients who commission his work. Flemington was the perfect fit. The family loves to walk the area’s trails and vol- unteer in the community, where the artist has held a few pop-up shows. Both his sons play in the town’s Diamond Nation Little League, taking after their father, who was an all-star varsity shortstop at his Middlesex, N.J. high school and a starting shortstop throughout his four years at Drew University, where he majored in fine art. “It was a wonderful experience,” said Fiorentino, of his college years. His love of sports and detailed knowledge of the athletic form are immediately evident in his powerful portfolio that includes the likes of Yogi Bera, Mickey Mantle, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Mohammad Ali, to name just a few. He’s also painted Congressman John Lew- is, President George W. Bush, and Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union. A born nature lover, Fiorentino said, he’s been in- spired by the rich natural beauty of Hunterdon and Bucks counties. “I have worked with many environ- mental organizations in both areas. Hunterdon Coun- ty is just so beautiful, and I think my wildlife art took off when moving out here.” As a trustee of the D&R Greenway Trust, Fioren- tino is deeply committed to the land protection and preservation nonprofit. He’s supported the organi- zation in many ways, including a show titled “Birds of Point Breeze,” planned to open next year. He also supports The Raptor Trust, a wild bird rehabilitation center in Morris County, N.J. “My whole career, I’ve raised a lot of money for or- ganizations like the D&R and Raptor. They’ve been a great influence on my work.” Fiorentino’s watercolor landscapes and wildlife art are considered among the finest in their genre and are highly sought after. While “sports will always be there,” he said, he’s also enjoying exploring the coun- tryside and the creativity it provokes. “I paint every day, from 9 to 5. I’m very disci- plined.” Many of his works are commissioned and he spends much of his time working on those pieces. While Fiorentino’s work is widely recognized across the country, he’s happy to be just another Flemington resident when he sees his friends and neighbors. “I love representing myself and being accessible,” he said. “Being based in Flemington and Hunterdon County is how I represent New Jersey and my com- munity.” It’s here, he said, where he and his family find a comfortable and fulfilling life. “We really enjoy liv- ing here, close to so much beauty. The Delaware Riv- er, the Jersey beaches, New York City and beautiful hiking.” q Freda R. Savana is a regular contributor to the Bucks County Herald.
Page 22 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
Faces of
RESILIENCE
A year later, a year stronger at Hunterdon Healthcare
BY MARIN RESNICK
After a year of standing in the deadly Covid-19 storm, Hunterdon Medical Center
will never be the same. The employees were tested like never before, and they met un-
precedented challenges with the kind of adaptation to change that might happen over
years, not days, weeks or months.
“Employees took on multiple duties to get things done quickly,” said Patrick Gavin,
president and CEO. “Our maintenance department converted 140 patient rooms to
negative pressure rooms, helping prevent cross-contamination, and upgraded the air
vent system, in three weeks. We also increased our bed capacity by 93%, from 178
beds to 366 beds by converting two floors of offices into patient rooms--in one week.”
For nurse Emily Malzone, time was of the essence, and increased challenges led to
more autonomy. “My unit was changed to a COVID ICU, and staff had more auton-
omy with patient care,” said Malzone. “We had multiple admissions, multiple critical
patient situations, and staffing issues that needed to be resolved ASAP to ensure best
PATRICK GAVIN patient outcomes.”
The pandemic is far from over, but employees, many of whom are volunteering their
President and CEO
time to help make the mass vaccination effort a success, are seeing a light at the end
Hunterdon Healthcare of the pandemic tunnel. As of March 19, Hunterdon Healthcare had provided 18,000
vaccinations, with 617 patients discharged and recovered and over 40,000 outpatient
tests completed.
Through the year of reinvention and resilience, hospital staff are hoping some
changes may be lasting. Telehealth, or virtual appointments is one that’s likely to
stay awhile. “Our hope is to continue offering telehealth and that insurers will expand
coverage for this service. In addition, we created a team to help patients connect with
families and loved ones through virtual visits. I would like to see us continue to offer
this service to loved ones not able to visit in person,” Gavin said.
Malzone hopes that Hunterdon will continue the use of video monitors in patient
rooms. “They have helped the nursing staff immensely in determining if patients are
sleeping, trying to jump out of bed, which IV pump is beeping, and just generally
check on our patients more frequently,” she said.
Dr. Cindy Barter, who was on the front lines admitting and caring for Covid-19
patients when the outbreak began last spring, recalls days of “flying by the seat of
our pants” and “months of trial and error.” Things are much calmer now, but Barter
photo by laura billingham remains cautious. “Testing is quick enough to make a difference and with the vaccina-
tion, our anxiety levels have dropped. But, we still have to be careful.”
DR. CINDY BARTERFlemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 23
CHRIS HUNT KELSEY BROWN
Director of Safety & Patient Financial Services
Security, Coordinator, Analyst, Central Billing
Disaster Preparedness Office
“During Hunterdon Health- “During this pandemic, I’ve
care’s Response to COVID-19, been focusing on giving my all in
I coordinated with local, state, not only my work life but in my
and federal agencies to acquire personal life as well. My Mom,
critical supplies and personal who passed away when I was 18,
protective equipment. This pan- taught me to show kindness and
demic challenged all of us to compassion to everyone.”
think differently and act quick- When she wasn’t working,
ly.” Brown kept busy making and
donating hundreds of “ear sav-
ers” for mask-wearing healthcare
workers all over the country,
earning her recognition in Read-
er’s Digest as a contributor to
“20 Acts of Kindness.”
DR. AMNA YAQUB
Hunterdon Infectious
Disease Specialists
“During this battle, the hardest part was
seeing patients suffer in isolation. While
COVID-19 forced us to stay apart, the vi-
rus brought the hospital workforce togeth-
er. There’s been a great degree of camara-
derie and teamwork that has gone into this.
I am proud to be part of the team finding
our way forward through uncertainty, pain
and fear with intelligence, resilience and
perseverance.”
CHRIS SMALL MARIE DAVIS
Chaplain, Hunterdon Universal Environmental
Medical Center Services Worker, Envi-
ronmental Services Dept.
“There was this strong sense of support in the (ICU)
community. Community members brought food
to the hospital for workers, families of patients, “During the COVID-19 pan-
sat in the parking lot to be close, and prayed. The demic, my job was cleaning
patient’s resilience impacted me. Even though and disinfecting the rooms in
loved ones were ripped away from them, they the ICU. I was especially ner-
had strength and perseverance to do everything vous during this time since my
they could. We saw amazing turnarounds with husband has heart problems, but
patients getting off of ventilators. It seemed mi- the nurses always helped me to
raculous. This is the first time, as an adult and a make sure I was safe.”
faith leader, I have seen people come together as
Americans and humans.”
- Photos by Dave NortonPage 24 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
LISA RASIMOWICZ DR. RACHEL BRAUNER
MSN, RN, CIC Director Hunterdon Pediatric Associates
Infection Prevention and
Patient Safety Officer “As a pediatrician, I am proud to
help keep children safe and healthy.
“I joined the Infection Prevention Depart- During the COVID-19 pandemic, it
ment in 2009, and though our plans have al- was inspiring to see how the com-
ways included preparing for a pandemic, I hon- munity and hospital came together to
estly hoped I’d never need to implement any of support the county, and I was honored
them. That all changed. During that time, I spent to be a part of the effort. As Hippo-
a lot of time away from my husband and two crates said, ‘Wherever the art of med-
sons. But, even the longest days were worth it icine is loved, there is also a love of
knowing what I was doing helped protect our humanity.’”
patients, staff, and community. ”
CYNTHIA JONES-GAFFNEY
RN Clinical Coordinator,
Emergency Department
“As an ER nurse, it’s my responsibility to
maintain seamless care. On a normal day,
that’s a challenge, but during the COVID-19
crisis, it was more than challenging. The
staff was fearful, the patients and their fam-
ilies were fearful, and I was fearful. There’s
so much good to come out of times of stress
and uncertainty, and this was no exception. I
feel blessed to be a nurse and love caring for
people living within my community and am
blessed to do so.”
ERICK COOPER EMILY MALZONE
RRT Registered Respiratory MSN, RN-BC
Therapist, Respiratory Care Clinical Coordinator,
Services 5 West/CCU
“I know it will never go
“Anyone who knows me knows my smile ,
back to the way it was, but
the one I carry with me whether I’m helping re-
I remain optimistic that our
spiratory patients, visiting my wife, who works
new normal is coming soon.
in the same hospital, hanging out with my ER
With the vaccine and know-
nurse daughter, or video chatting with my son
ing more about the disease
and grandson. But, I wore my signature smile
process, I am remaining opti-
(most) proudly when a COVID-19 patient
mistic we can beat this.”
asked for me to personally escort him out of
the building after being discharged, a moment
which I’ll carry with me for a long, long time.”
- Photos by Dave NortonFlemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 25
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Winning Streak
Tucker Richardson led the Red Devils to record-breaking wins.
Now he’s helping to lead Colgate to victory.
BY DON LEYPOLDT At Hunterdon Central, Richardson led the Red Devils to their
single season wins record, their first Sectional title and first Hunt-
How did Colgate junior Tucker Richardson respond to his first erdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament* championship.
meaningful basketball game in almost 300 days? “He works as hard as any kid we’ve had in the program regard-
With perfection. ing individual improvement,” declared Central head coach Mike
Richardson sank all five shots and added a free throw in Col- Falco. “He really improved his shooting. He had some of the at-
gate’s January 2 101-57 opening day rout of Patriot League for tributes that you can’t coach: he is a winner, he’s tough, he always
Army. found a way to get to loose balls and he’s smart.”
Enhancing a winning culture is nothing new to Richardson. His “I’ve been on teams that haven’t been as successful. There is
first two seasons at Colgate were the most successful in Raiders’ definitely a difference in terms of attitude, work ethic and every-
history. Last year, Colgate repeated as Patriot League champions body buying in that you find on winning teams,” Richardson said.
and set a school wins record (25), topping Richardson’s 24-11 “There were role players on Central who, if they were at other high
freshman campaign. schools, would have been one of the best players. They bought inFlemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 27
where I grew into my toughness and became a better
basketball player.”
Richardson’s complete game in the 2017 NJSIAA
Central Jersey Group 4 Tournament final helped Cen-
tral overcome a 10-point halftime deficit to avenge
Freehold Township 41-39.
“My junior year,” Richardson recalled, “we were in
Sectional semis at home and had an awesome crowd.
We lost to Freehold. It was devastating because that
was supposed to be our year. The next year, to make it
back to the Sectional Final at Freehold, that’s obviously
the most special memory from Central.”
“That was the experience we needed: to feel a little
heartache as a group and be able to rally and get over
the hump the next year,” Falco echoed.
A sociology major, Richardson earned a spot on the
Patriot League All-Academic team in early March. He
hopes to play professionally after school although his
many passions could take him elsewhere. “I love the
courtesy of justin wolford of colgate athletics
atmosphere at Colgate,” Richardson said. “My family
Tucker Richardson recorded three double-doubles over five Patriot League games earlier this winter. loves it. It’s been a really special place for us.”
“[Tucker] understands the game, what his team is
because it meant they would have a chance of doing “For me personally and for the rest of the team, trying to do and what the opposition is trying to do. Af-
something special. we were just having fun. There was no pressure and ter that, is his ability to dribble, pass and shoot. That is
“It’s the same thing at Colgate,” Richardson contin- I didn’t feel nervous at all,” Richardson commented. why he is having the career that he is having,” Langel
ued. “That is an important part of culture: a selflessness “It’s something I always dreamed about, growing up as feels. “I can’t say enough good things about him.” q
that is hard to come by. I’m really thankful that I’ve a kid watching March Madness and the fact I got to ex- *Hunterdon Central won 8 of the final 10 Hunterdon/
been on these teams.” perience it, it still honestly doesn’t feel real. I hope I getWarren tournaments.
Colgate concluded its regular season with an 11-1 to experience it again.” Weeks after
record as Richardson, a third-team All-Patriot honoree, this interview, Richardson led Colgate
led a deep Raiders team in minutes. As a sophomore, with 17 points in the Patriot League
Richardson paced Colgate in assists nine times and championship game and the Raiders
boasted one of the best three-point percentages in the did in fact punch another ticket to the
Patriot League. NCAA tournament.
“Physically, he is a strong guy now as a junior,” Col- Basketball flows through Richard-
gate head coach Matt Langel observed. “He can get in son’s bloodlines. His mother Wendy
the paint and put a shoulder on somebody whereas his was an All-State prepster at Georgia
freshman year, he might have been pushed a little bit. who grew up coaching her two kids in
He has developed different shots.” rec leagues. Sister Tess was the best
player on an 18-win Central team in
2014-2015. She likely could have
“He had some of the attributes that you played in college but chose to pursue
a career in modeling. Richardson’s
can’t coach: he is a winner, he’s tough, he father is now a renowned education-
always found a way to get to loose balls al thought leader; when he taught at
and he’s smart.” Central, he coached the Red Devil
JV basketball team and assisted with
varsity.
Richardson won the Patriot League Rookie of the “Even in elementary school, my
Year in a freshman season that culminated in front of mom always wanted me to get around
20,000 fans. Colgate returned to the NCAA Tourna- and play against the best competition,”
ment after a 23-year absence and gamely fell 77-70 to Richardson remembers. “When I was
#6 Tennessee and its four future NBA players. Rich- young, I would go to Trenton and play
ardson scored ten points and dished out four assists. in summer league games and really
His three-pointer briefly gave Colgate the lead with get pushed. It was very high-level courtesy of hunterdon central regional high school athletics
11:35 left in the game. basketball for that age. I think that was Richardson with Mike Falco, mother Wendy, father, Will and sister, Tess.Page 28 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
10
Spring
Cool things
to do this
1
courtesy of the united states hot air balloon team
Go ballooning
Experience the thrill of a lifetime in a hot air balloon ride offered by
several local companies within close proximity to the Flemington
area. With flights at sunrise and sunset, you can experience breathtaking
views of vineyards, horse farms, wildlife, rivers and towns from a
completely different perspective. Google “hot air balloons near me” to find
a company with locations, prices and offerings. Up, up and away!
2
courtesy of sugar maple jerseys
See cows a-milking
3
Get outside and milk a cow or two. Working dairy farm
Sugar Maple Jerseys in Stockton, NJ offers amateur
milkers a hands-on experience and chance to feed Hop onto the Bunny Express
calves. Like all beginners, you’ll need a farm chaperone, but Here comes Peter Cottontail! On Black River and Western Railroad’s
that’s half the fun. For more information and availability, visit Easter Bunny Express, running March 27-28 and April 3 (with Flemington
Sugarmaplejerseys.com. Station departure times of 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.), kids can meet and
get pictures with the big bunny himself and hunt for eggs. For more information
and for availability, visit Blackriverrailroad.com.4
Flemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 29
Get spirited away
Tour and taste your way through Flemington’s Skunktown
Distillery open for tours and tastings on Fridays from 5 p.m.-9
p.m. or Saturdays from 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Guests are encouraged
to come with food and friends while enjoying a changing menu of
creative libations. For more information, visit Skunktowndistillerynj.com
5 Get
artsy
Artisan made jewelry, home
decor, wearable art, photography
and paintings will once again
6
fill the historic Stangl Factory
when the beloved Flemington
Keep calm and climb Fine Artisans Show returns
May 30-31 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
There’s no worry about slippery or unstable rocks when you can
enjoy the thrill of rock climbing indoors at The Gravity Vault in The venue provides a perfect
Flemington. An indoor rock climbing facility for the adventurous, stage for arts and crafts, with
the space features 17,500 square feet of climbing and 80 rope stations. a restaurant, coffee shop, and
There are classes for all ages, and a high ratio of instructors to galleries on site. Entrance
students, with 1 teacher for every 4 climbers. For more information, visit to the show and parking are
Gravityvault.com. free. For more information visit
Flemingtonfineartisansshow.com.
7 8
art by donna gratkowski
Walk the walk
Immerse yourself in the history of Historic Flemington by putting
on your self-guided walking shoes. With over 30 stops, you’ll
Enjoy the ride
see sites such as the Fleming Castle, named for the town’s Enjoy a perfect spring bike ride in the fresh Hunterdon County
air as you travel the Round Valley Reservoir, an intermediate to
namesake, Samuel Fleming, and the gravesite of the revered Chief
advanced seven mile trail system that winds through country roads and
Tuccamirgan. Legend says Chief Tuccamirgan was buried in a sitting provides great rural views. Pack a picnic with your favorite dessert—
position facing the east, with his tomahawk. To download the walking because you earned it! For more information, visit Bikehunterdon.org.
guide, visit Loveflemington.com.
9
courtesy of flemington pickleball club
Go day dinking
10
courtesy of hunterdon county parks and recreation
Learn moves like ‘day dinking’ when you play pickleball Commune with nature
at the Flemington Pickleball Club. A cross between Bask in the beauty of spring with a visit to the beautiful
ping pong, tennis, and badminton, this sport (that has nothing to Hunterdon County Arboretum. Located in Lebanon, N.J.,
do with pickles) is gentle on the joints, easy to learn...and social! this 135-acre slice of heaven features two miles of walking
Feeling competitive? Build a team and register for an upcoming trails through mixed hardwood and evergreen woods and along a boardwalk
tournament such as “Luck of the Pickleball” on March 27 and the through a rich wetland alive with indiginous flora. There are lovely display
“Cinco de Mayo Round Robin” on May 5. For more information visit gardens with a pond, gazebo and places to picnic with a view. For more
Flemingtonpickleball.com. information, visit Co.hunterdon.nj.us.Page 30 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
From the Ocean to the Plate
Harvest Moon Inn Chef Stanley Novak reveres fresh ingredients so much that there’s a
chance you’ll be eating something he’s caught or grown himself.
BY TERESA POLITANO says, a matter-of-fact statement that he delivers in a Novak says he loves the business in part because
matter-of-fact tone. Novak is not one for hyperbo- he’s never bored. He’s the tech guy and the social
On Mondays and Tuesdays from April to De- le. He’s been tending that garden for twenty years, media director; he’s the landscaper and the book-
cember, Chef Stanley Novak goes fishing with well before farm-to-table restaurant gardens be- keeper. “I wear all the hats.” Still, what he likes
his wife, Theresa, launching their 32-foot Boston came a thing. The vegetable scraps from the kitch- best is to play with ingredients – combining flavors
Whaler from the docks at Waretown. Their catch en help create a fine compost heap. and discovering the joys of unexpected pairings.
– fluke, black sea bass, porgies – is featured on Novak began his career in the restaurant business Chanterelles and sweet corn, for example, an un-
the menu of their restaurant, Harvest Moon Inn, in in 1979, as a dishwasher for Pfenninger’s Hilltop expectedly great marriage thanks to the sweetness
Ringoes, NJ. Inn in Flemington, working his way up, in five of the corn, the earthiness of the chanterelles, the
Call it ocean-to-table dining if you must, but years, to line cook. His culinary career includes the buttery flavors of both. Novak especially likes to
Novak, a longtime revered New Jersey chef, one Fromagerie in Rumson, The Frog and the Peach in bridge the seasons – surprising the customer by
with classical training and a degree from the Cu- New Brunswick and the River Café in Brooklyn pairing an ingredient from the end of one season
linary Institute of America, has always prioritized – each known for its innovative cuisine rooted in with an ingredient from the beginning of the next.
fresh ingredients. He tends the restaurant garden classical tradition. At the Harvest Moon Inn, No- Through the pandemic, Harvest Moon stream-
himself, a half-acre behind the restaurant, which vak still makes a veal stock, a two-day process, lined its operations, offering online ordering and
he fills with heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, roasting the bones first for a deeper flavor. “We curbside pickup. The menu is simple and focused.
strawberries, cucumbers, lettuces, zucchini, herbs have done that for the past 25 years,” he says. All Innovative daily specials cannot be a priority when
and fresh flowers. “It’s very convenient,” the chef the breads are made from scratch. The ice cream you’re trying to stay afloat. After two decades in the
too. And the pastas. restaurant business, Novak didn’t think of closing.Flemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 31
“I’m a survivor.”
“I’m a survivor.” Still, he looks forward to better Even his regulars, customers for fifteen or twenty
days. People, he says, have a real need to get out. years, have never seen his face. “I’m not a people
Novak opened the Harvest Moon Inn in 1995, no person.” The kitchen, he says, is no place to get fa-
shy undertaking, as the chef likes to put it, 120 seats mous. The kitchen is about patience and hard work.
inside and five acres outside to accommodate bigger As a teenager, Novak spent a year refurbishing a
events. Novak, on the other hand, is no showboat. small hydroplane boat that had been in his father’s
barn; he cruised down the Delaware with
friends. He became a boat owner again
five years ago, after the children left
home. His wife is his business partner and
fishing buddy, and the chef’s next project
is coaxing her to fish for tuna, 70 miles
off the Jersey coast to what is known as
the canyons, where the ocean floor sud-
denly drops.
Novak is a man of few words, but one
needn’t look far for evidence of his com-
mitment and tenacity. His wife’s maiden
name? Pfenninger. q
Teresa Politano is an award-winning
One of Novak’s signature dishes: pan seared tuna wrapped in
Stanley Novak with a striped bass caught several miles off of Island writer, author and frequent contribu- prosciutto.
Beach State Park. tor to River Towns Magazine.Page 32 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
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Page 34 • Flemington Life | SPRING 2021
Greater Flemington’s Sizzling Market
Demand in the local housing market is on the rise—but are there enough homes?
This unique Delaware Township log home was listed for $549,000 and received multiple offers over the asking price in less than five days.
BY KIM WARD BACSO below the Hunterdon County average of 33%.
This year, as pandemic restrictions began to ease up in January, low interest rates
The early spring real estate market in the Greater Flemington area has been de- and consumer confidence fueled the pent-up demand. This situation was quickly
fined by one of the first theories taught in economics class: the law of supply and reflected in higher sale prices. In the Greater Flemington area, the median listing
demand. This “interaction between the sellers of a limited resource and the buyers price in January 2020 was $488,800. In January 2021, the median listing price was
for that same resource” has heated up an already sizzling real estate market. $543,200 - an increase of more than 10%.
Simply put, there are buyers ready to buy but not While prices were increasing, days on market
enough houses available for sale. were quickly decreasing, and activity was fast, fu-
In the winter 2020-2021 real estate market there rious, and frustrating for many buyers. First time
was strong sales activity in all segments of the mar- $300-500,000 single family homes buyers in the $300,000 to $500,000 range were in
ket, including first-time, move-up, luxury and second in Raritan Township have been a competitive buying segment, where homes were
home buyers. Initially, inventory from the weak under contract in under 45 days (compared to 69
spring 2020 market was high. But by the close of selling in just five days. days in 2020 - a 35% drop). Interestingly, the
2020, there were significant reductions on the num- drop in days on market closely parallels the drop
ber of available listings. in inventory. First-time buyers were even more
The statistics used for the Greater Flemington mar- challenged in certain locations. For example, in
ket include data from the Garden State MLS for the municipalities of Delaware, Raritan Township, single family homes in that price range lasted just five days on
Kingwood, Raritan, Readington, East and West Amwell Townships, and the Bor- the market! Buyers (and their agents) quickly learned that offers needed to be strong
ough of Flemington. In these areas there were 330 homes available for prospective right at the start, utilizing previously rare offer escalation clauses and other strategies
buyers at the start of 2020. By January 2021, there was a 45% drop in inventory, well to prevail in multiple offer situations.Flemington Life | SPRING 2021 • Page 35
Year over year, there is a
46% drop in Flemington-
area housing inventory.
There are several economic and social indicators that may impact the second, third and Rural hideaways and non-traditional homes in the farther reaches of our market are also
fourth quarters of 2021. Historically low interest rates are expected to continue into 2022, becoming more desirable. Barb Berardo, a seasoned Realtor with River Valley Realty’s
contributing to the post-pandemic economic recovery. That should keep buyers moti- Flemington office, was startled by the recent demand for a log cabin home on 9 acres in
vated, and homeowners with no plans to sell may want to explore refinancing. As vac- Delaware Township. “In the past, we expected unique properties like this home to have a
cinations become more widely available, (and perhaps fearing that this bubble will pop) longer marketing time,” she explained. “We received multiple offers within three days, and
sellers that were reluctant to list their homes may decide to cash in their equity gains and an agreed upon purchase price exceeding the asking price.”
put their homes on the market sooner rather than later, thus easing the inventory shortage. Some economists are predicting that the active spring market will continue into the sec-
It is expected to take some time, however, to catch up to the current buyer demand. At ond half of 2021. The pandemic stimulus plan and a rebounding economy will also add fuel
least in the short-term, multiple-offer situations will continue. In hot suburban markets such to this fire, and there are few reasons to think that this hot market will cool down anytime
as the Greater Flemington area, buyers looking for home offices and larger outdoor spaces soon. q
will continue to drive demand, and bidding wars for homes that check off those boxes
should be expected. As work from home policies become more permanent, and commutes Kim Ward Bacso is the owner of River Valley Realty, with offices in Flemington, Lam-
become shorter or even nonexistent, the outer ring of suburban real estate markets will bertville and New Hope. She also serves as the vice president on the Board of Directors of
benefit. the Flemington Community Partnership.
RARE & EXOTIC
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ORNAMENTAL
GARDENS Flemington Life
DELAWARE
RIVER TOWNS
DELAWARE
M A G A Z I N E
in print and online everywhere.
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