Home Care In Hopewell, NJ

New Jersey American Water continues to expand its customer base across the state, with its latest system acquisition planned for Hopewell Borough.

A representative for the Camden-based utility company said more than 58% of Hopewell voters approved a Nov. 4 referendum to sell the borough’s water system to NJ American Water. The representative noted Nov. 5 that the tally was based on unofficial results.

According to the announcement, the company will pay Hopewell $6.4 million and invest about $7 million in infrastructure during the first five years of ownership.

In March, Hopewell announced that the borough council passed a resolution approving a proposed contract with NJ American Water and that residents would have the opportunity to weigh in on the sale.

Hopewell will use the proceeds of the sale to pay down municipal debt, help stabilize property taxes, and free up resources for services such as public safety, parks and roads, according to the media representative.

NJ American Water President Mark McDonough thanked residents and community leaders who supported the referendum and “for entrusting us with the water system.”

“We will be working with the Borough to begin integration efforts and will be ready to get to work the day we transfer ownership,” McDonough added. The statement was also posted to a dedicated webpage for the transaction. “We look forward to fulfilling our promises and providing safe, affordable, and reliable service to all of Hopewell Borough.”

According to the Mercer County website, the borough has a population of roughly 1,900, as of 2019.

Flowing across NJ

The company also recently announced it would acquire the privately owned Gordon’s Corner Water Co., which serves about 15,000 customers in Colts Neck, Manalapan and Marlboro townships.

The Gordon’s Corner deal follows several acquisitions by NJ American Water over the past five years. The transactions have added more than 26,000 new water and/or wastewater customers to its service area, including:

The subsidiary’s parent company, American Water, also announced Oct. 27 that it will merge with Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based Essential Utilities Inc. in a deal valued at $40 billion.

The 5-seed, Neptune, relied heavily on its defense and got some power running from Kingston Pinnock late in the contest to defeat 4-seed Hopewell Valley 21-11 in a first round game in the NJSIAA/Xfinity Central Jersey, Group 3 Tournament in Pennington Friday night.

Although the Scarlet Flyer offense was spotty at best, Neptune’s defense was able to limit Hopewell’s running game and also held the bulldogs to just 68 yards passing to come away with the win.

Neptune will now advance to the semifinal round next Friday at top seeded Holmdel, a 43-10 winner over 8-seed Cinnaminson in their quarterfinal matchup Friday night.

“Our defense has been holding us in this all year,” Neptune coach Mike Seber said after the win. “The defense wins championships, and the offense did just enough to sneak out a win again. And I’ll take it. That’s a good football team over there.”

While Seber might not have gotten as much offense from his squad as he would have liked, the Scarlet Flyers were able to put points on the board early, jumping out to a 7-0 lead by covering 62 yards in 11 plays on the first drive of the game.

Pinnock, quarterback Caleb Brown, and Hassin McMillan combined to cover 40 yards on three consecutive carries on the drive, moving Neptune to the Hopewell five yard line.

Two plays later, Brown completed a six yard touchdown pass to Mike McLennan to give the Flyers the early lead.

Neptune’s first touchdown push was methodical and ate up the first five minutes of the game, but it would be the last that the Flyers would score in the first half.

Even still, the Bulldogs were gaining no traction offensively as Neptune forced a three-and-punt on Hopewell’s first possession and then allowed only six plays before Hopewell had to punt again.

Both teams would make serious offensive pushes over their next possessions, with Neptune reaching the Bulldog 18 yard line before being forced to turn the ball over on downs, and Hopewell pushing down to the Flyer 19 before the Neptune defense returned the favor.

But Hopewell Valley finally got its running game on track late in the half. After the Bulldog defense had forced Neptune to turn the ball over again, this time at the Hopewell 32 yard line, Ho Val covered 51 yards down to the Neptune 17.

Quarterback Grayson Vlasac ran for 21 yards on four carries in the drive, while also completing a 20 yard pass to Mike Whitlock.

The drive stalled out, but the Bulldogs were able to salvage a score when kicker Josh Rheinhardt drilled a 34 yard field goal to close the gap to 7-3 with just 31 seconds remaining in the half.

The Hopewell special teams made a big play on the ensuing kickoff, as Jacob Berman recovered a fumble on the Neptune 40 yard line.

Two quick passes by Vlasac, first to Valenza, and then to Jude Berman, covered 21 yards and gave the Bulldogs another chance at a field goal with two seconds left in the half.

But the Neptune defense stepped up once again, blocking the 36 yard attempt and preserving the Scarlet Flyers’ 7-3 lead at the intermission.

The Neptune defense was able to present the offense with a short field to start the second half and the Flyers took full advantage.

After Hopewell was forced to punt from its own 13 yard line, Neptune took over on the Bulldog 35. The Flyers would be able to score a touchdown, and increase their lead to 14-3, but yards continued to be tough to come by, as the Flyers needed 12 plays and burned more than six minutes off the clock to cover the 35 yards to the end zone.

Brown completed three passes for 28 yards in the series, including an 11 yard scoring strike to Daaron Lynch. Neptune had converted three fourth down plays on the drive. First, when Pinnock gained three yards on a fourth and two at the 27 and again, when Brown completed a six yard pass to MacMillan on a fourth and six at the 20.

The third time would come on the touchdown play as Brown scrambled out of the pocket on a fourth and seven on the Hopewell 11 yard line.

Drawing most of the defensive attention, Brown seemed destined to try to run it over before he lofted a pass to Lynch, who was standing all alone in the end zone behind the Hopewell defense.

“I was rolling out,” Brown said of the touchdown play. “I’m a dual threat quarterback, so it’s run to pass. I wasn’t surprised that he was open, because they were all started biting down on me while I was running the ball.”

But just when Neptune seemed it might be able to pull away, whatever problems Hopewell Valley had moving the ball were quickly forgotten, as the Bulldogs struck back four plays later for a touchdown and a two point conversion to close the gap to 14-11 with 3:07 still remaining in the third quarter.

Luke Hemmer did most of the heavy lifting for Hopewell on the 66 yard drive, breaking off a 29 yard run around the left end that moved the Bulldogs down to the Neptune 29, and then running it into the end zone from 24 yards out for the touchdown.

Hemmer was nearly tackled three different times on the run but miraculously managed to stay on his feet, before breaking a final tackle at the goal line.

A short punt on Neptune’s next possession gave Hopewell the ball near midfield, but the Flyers’ defense refused to relent, forcing the Bulldogs to punt.

Neptune would not score on its next possession, but it did manage to move the ball to midfield and MacLennan’s 41 yard punt pinned Hopewell down on its own eight yard line.

Once again, the Neptune defense forced the Bulldogs to punt. With time running short, Hopewell counted on making a quick stop and making one last scoring drive.

But the Flyers had other ideas, and it was Pinnock, who made those ideas a reality.

Pinnock was the game’s leading rusher with 115 yards on 24 carries, but none were more important than the 27 he picked up on Neptune’s final drive of the game.

Pinnock’s number would be called on seven of the eight plays in the drive as he pounded his way through an obstinate Hopewell defensive line, often gaining yardage only on his forward momentum.

After he covered 24 yards on six carries down to the Hopewell Valley 14, Brown kept the ball and sprinted 11 yards for a first and goal on the three.

Then it was back to Pinnock, who covered the final three yards, as he plowed over the goal line as he was brought down.

“He looked at me on third and one and said, ‘Just give me the ball, Coach,’ Seber said of Pinnock. ”Pretty much, that’s what I did. I kept feeding him the same play. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

“He’s a bowling ball, and he keeps his legs going at all times.”

The game was a rough slog for Neptune, but Seber was happy with the way his team responded, especially when Hopewell had closed to within three in the third quarter and subsequently threatened to take the lead.

“The kids don’t back down,” he said. “We don’t back down, we don’t give up, we don’t quit. It’s a beautiful thing. We’re resilient. There’s nothing else to be said about it, we fight to the end. I tip my hat to these kids.”

While Neptune moves on, the loss ended Hopewell Valley’s season. Bulldog coach Dave Caldwell was clear about the reasons for the season ending loss.

“We just couldn’t establish a run game or a pass game on a consistent basis,” he said after the loss. “We couldn’t put six positive plays together. We’d get two or three and then we’d go backwards.

“I thought we moved the ball, but just not well enough, and we didn’t finish drives.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

We Make continues to grow and expand to more communities in New Jersey, and just added a new culinary program with Brick Farm Tavern.

Hopewell, NJ—As We Make: Autism at Work continues to expand its footprint across New Jersey, the organization is launching a bold and exclusive new chapter at its Pennington location. This new program will blend purpose, partnership, and innovation. In late September, We Make entered into an exclusive partnership with Otto and Maria Zizak, owners and proprietors of the Hopewell Hospitality Group which includes Brick Farm Tavern, The Brick Farm of the Sourland Mountains, and Hopewell Fare (formerly Brick Farm Market.) The two entities are working together to introduce a groundbreaking culinary and community partnership that integrates farm-to-table training, community engagement, healthy living, and meaningful inclusion.

This collaboration was developed exclusively with We Make and represents the first inclusionary workforce development initiative within the Hopewell Hospitality family. The partnership will feature three core elements: Inclusionary Fare, the Community Garden, and a Weekly Pop-Up Experience, each designed to connect purpose with practice and inclusion with impact!

Together, We Make and the Zizaks are not just coining a new term, “Inclusionary Fare” they are bringing it to life through action, defining a movement toward true representation and inclusion within the culinary world. The initiative opens pathways for individuals with autism and developmental differences to participate fully in the art, science, and community of food. At a recent tour of the Brick Farm Tavern kitchen and restaurant, Otto Zizak excitedly explained , “True world integration is not artificial, we will make sure this collaboration will succeed because of our sense of purpose and without anyone feeling this culinary employment program is staged.” The We Make participants will be fully integrated into the Brick Farm team and will work alongside the culinary director, two executive sous chefs and all the other restaurant employees. Otto added, “Hospitality is not what happens to you, it is for you!” His leadership as a longtime successful restauranteur is infectious as he explained the vision.

At the heart of this exclusive partnership is Inclusionary Fare itself and will become a daily feature on the Brick Farm Tavern menu, where the items created by We Make’s culinary teams will be highlighted. Participants will take part in preparing handcrafted items made from scratch, such as empanadas, pierogies, sausage, mozzarella, ice cream, and more, all showcasing the creativity, care, and craftsmanship that define both We Make and the Brick Farm brand. These dishes won’t just feed guests; they’ll tell a story of inclusion, skill, and shared humanity.

The second element, the Community Garden and Greenhouse, will be located in Hopewell on Brick Farm Tavern’s historic 50-acre property nestled in the scenic Sourland Mountains. The estate, with deep agricultural roots, sustainable practices, and carefully preserved architecture, has long been a destination for exceptional dining experiences rooted in local flavor and craftsmanship. Through this partnership, participants will not only learn what farm-to-table means within a restaurant, but also experience how farm-to-table happens. From cultivating and harvesting produce to preparing it for service, the entire holistic practice will encompass the curriculum. The garden will supply ingredients directly to Brick Farm Tavern while also serving additional communities including local schools and senior facilities to food-insecure neighborhoods across the region. By cultivating and sharing the harvest, We Make aims to nourish both body and spirit and will create bridges through food, inclusion, and shared purpose.

Rounding out the partnership is the Weekly Pop-Up Experience, where participants will bring their creations directly to the community — blending service, hospitality, and customer engagement with an opportunity to educate, inspire, and wow guests through hands-on interaction. The Pop-Up will serve as a living classroom, allowing participants to showcase their talents while deepening the community’s appreciation for inclusion, culinary excellence, and connection.

This new culinary expansion marks a powerful resurgence of a vision first sparked in 2020, when We Make partnered with acclaimed chefs Kwame Onwuachi and Jeremiah Josey to host a virtual culinary tutorial during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. That experience highlighted the connection between creativity, confidence, and community in the kitchen. In essence, it planted seeds that, six years later, have blossomed into a full-scale culinary and wellness program.

“There is an old saying from the 19th Century that the way to a person’s heart is often through their stomach, so by that same path, we will try and open minds and understanding that persons with autism are valuable members of our society,” said Moe Siddiqu, Founding Executive Director of We Make. “Through Inclusionary Fare, we’re showing how individuals with autism can thrive as integral members of vibrant, community-driven establishments that nourish and connect people.”

Tony Lesenskyj, We Make’s Founder and Board Chairperson chimed in by stating, “When autistic young adults are given opportunities on a farm or in a fine-dining restaurant, they don’t just contribute—they thrive. On the farm, they find grounding and structure in nature’s rhythms, where tending plants or caring for animals provides both purpose and calm. In the restaurant, they bring extraordinary attention to detail, consistency, and pride in their work, qualities that elevate service at the highest levels. These settings show the world that inclusion is not charity—it is an investment in human potential that enriches the workplace and the community alike.”

Maria Zizak, is a gentle communicator and one of those persons who speaks infrequently, but when she does, the whole table listens…Maria stated, “We are going to all work together as valuable members of society. There should no longer be waiting lists for services, everyone deserves a chance to work and contribute.” Zizak added context to the broader importance of inclusion in industry and society, noting that the data underscores just how critical this work is. The United Nations estimates that 80% of adults with autism are unemployed, as discriminatory hiring practices and workplace environments often present impossible challenges for neurodivergent people to overcome. The numbers are quite shocking compared to unemployment rates for all people with disabilities (about 69%) and for the general population (43%). Job interviews and traditional hiring screening processes can be extremely challenging to neurodivergent and autistic people, as adjusting to a new workplace might require time and support.

Austin Fellows, An employee for over five years and We Make’s Director of Operations stated, "We are excited for the partnership with Otto and Brick Farm Tavern. It's another opportunity for our group to showcase their skills to the community and to have a fulfilling experience."

The same characteristics that can make individuals with autism exceptionally successful in the workplace — extreme focus, accuracy, innovative thinking — often bar them from entering the workforce in the first place. Fostering acceptance of neurodivergent people in society requires a conceptual shift and discernment from a deficit-based model to a strength-based model, looking at the particular skills of individuals with autism and how those can contribute in positive ways to the workplace. This shift is exactly where We Make thrives and where they have experienced growth and success.

This exclusive partnership complements the organization’s expanded program offerings at its Pennington site, which now include vocational development, technology and life immersion, cultural arts, social-emotional wellness, physical wellbeing, and financial literacy. These experiences, combined with community engagement opportunities and holistic supports for individuals and families, reflect We Make’s whole-person approach to growth, empowerment, and sustainable inclusion.

Siddiqu added, “Our mission has always been to achieve industry inclusion and to prove that individuals with autism can excel in every corner of the workforce. We began by setting a standard in manufacturing, packaging, and assembly, and now we’re extending that same spirit into the culinary and hospitality fields. This is inclusion in action and it is rooted in purpose, fueled by passion, and shared with our community, a community that grows daily because of our mission-driven work.”

We Make is redefining what inclusion looks like one job, one meal, and one relationship at a time. A formal ribbon cutting will take place during We Make’s Harvest Under the Stars celebration and fundraiser on the evening of Sunday, November 2nd, at Brick Farm Tavern in Hopewell, NJ. This five-course dining experience that will showcase the very dishes and spirit of Inclusionary Fare. Tickets are available now through Eventbrite at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1...

To learn more about We Make and to support We Make in their efforts to continue to provide employment options and opportunities to persons with autism and/or a developmental disability, visit their website.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?