Home Care In Kingston, NJ

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - The Kingston Volunteer Fire Company No.1 recently issued a letter to the community expressing concerns about the leadership and practices of South Brunswick Fire District #3. The letter was co-signed by Chief John Luck and President David Luck to encourage the community to attend the public district meeting tonight at 7:00 P.M at the Kingston Firehouse (8 Heathcote Road, Kingston, NJ).

The letter accuses members of the board of interfering with business operations, elections, and contract negotiations. Specific board members are not identified in this letter, nor are there specific examples of these allegations.

According to the letter, District #3 has increased the number of paid staff as well as the hours paid staff can work, which poses “a burden to the taxpayers of the district.”

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“These actions have caused what we feel is a negative impact on the morale of the members of the volunteer department as many members do not feel that we are fully supported by the district,” the letter reads.

The Fire Company also raised concerns about the recent removal of Chairman Stephen Manobianco. Manobianco was elected Chairman back in March and worked to repair relationships between the board and the fire company. Members were “feeling hopeful” that some of their issues would be addressed.

Manobianco was removed as the Chairman at the last district meeting. The company called this an “unfair action and in violation of the by-laws which the district operates by.”

South Brunswick Fire District #3 has been the subject of scrutiny in the past. In 2014, a former commissioner pleaded guilty to stealing over $700,000 from the District while serving as treasurer. Charles Hoens III admitted to writing checks from the Fire District accounts in various amounts between May 2009 and November 2012 and depositing the money in his personal accounts. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Earlier this year, Kingston Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 captain Jeffery Buksar sued the district after they repeatedly failed to comply with OPRA requests regarding their financial practices. A trial for this case is scheduled for December 19th, 2022 in Middlesex County Superior Court.

“We are encouraging members of the public to attend district meetings as we feel that the actions of the board should be open, and our residents need to be informed as to what is going on;” the letter reads, “We feel that actions of members of this board have cost the taxpayers unnecessary money and will continue to if we do not all get involved.”

Members of the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 were not available to provide additional comments. South Brunswick Fire District # 3 declined to comment on this story.

Michael Politz, now a Somerville resident, grew up going to the PA Dutch Farmer's Market of Wyomissing. He started when he was about four-years-old, accompanying his mother who frequented the market due to its fresh meats and produce sold by Pennsylvania Dutch farmers.

“She always said that the food you found there was better than what you could find in a grocery store,” he said.

Now, almost 40 years later, Politz still heads to local Dutch marketplaces twice a month for homemade pretzels, chips, meats, produce and sticky buns. These days, he can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market in the Kingston Mall in Princeton on select Thursday afternoons.

“I like the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market in Princeton because it’s small and conveniently located for me," said Politiz, who writes the Spirits of NJ column for the Courier News and Home News Tribune. He also appreciates that the food is always fresh.

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Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market in Princeton

Politz isn’t the only one regularly heading to the indoor, year-round Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market, which is open each week from Thursday to Saturday on Route 27 in the Kingston Mall in Franklin Township (it has a Princeton address online). According to Vernon Beiler, manager of the market, about 1,000 to 1,200 people go there weekly, with about half of them being regular customers.

The market was started by Beiler’s father, Isaac Beiler, in 1992 with five vendors. Today, the market has 11 vendors, including Beiler’s Dairy, Beiler’s Fresh Meats, Stoltzfus Poultry, Lynn’s Soft Pretzels, King's Salads and Jellies, Mom's Candy Corner, King's Seafood and Grill and Sun Rise Bakery.

“My father was from Lancaster, and as a general rule, our people usually farm,” Beiler said. “However, it’s getting harder and harder for us to do that, so he was looking for alternative ways to sell. Other people had started markets in Maryland and other areas of New Jersey, so he scooped up the idea.”

According to Beiler, many people raising families enjoy trips to the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market, and they have told Beiler they enjoy the freshness of its products and its friendly customer service.

These days, the market has been selling more and more antibiotic- and preservative-free foods in its produce and meats, said Beiler, reflecting customers' interests in such products.

Dutch Country Farmers’ Market in Flemington

The Princeton market isn’t the only destination that Central Jerseyans consider when they’re looking for high-quality meats, produce and other items. The Dutch Country Farmers’ Market on Commerce Street in Flemington is also a community staple, bringing in 800 to 1,000 weekly customers to its indoor, year-round market during its open hours from Thursday through Saturday.

According to John King, market manager, about 85 percent of their customers come regularly, especially when the holidays come around and they feel more inclined to drive long distances for specialty items.

They have been doing so since the market opened in Flemington in 2000 — before that, it operated at a more northern location for three years, and before that, it was at another Flemington location for an additional seven years.

“Our market really holds its own,” King said. “We’ve always had a steady pace of customers.”

The Dutch Country Farmers’ Market in Flemington has 12 vendors, including Marty's Candies & Canned Goods, Lil's Pretzels & Ice Cream, Beiler's Cheese & Pickles, Esh's Crafts, Hubby's Watch Service and MY Restaurant, an on-site restaurant for homestyle cooking with all meals made from scratch.

“People tell us that our meat and breads are fresher than what they can find at grocery stores,” King said. “All of our bread is baked here at the market and you can actually watch the pretzels being made from scratch.”

King said that customers love their homemade pretzels and sausages, both of which have no preservatives and are made on the premises. The market also carries a line of grass-fed beef.

“Our customers also come to our market to buy salads and other prepared foods to take home as well,” King said. “You can buy a full-course meal from us, pop it in the microwave and be ready to go since many people don’t have time to do a lot of cooking.”

Going to the markets

Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market is at 4437 Route 27, in the Kingston Mall, Franklin Township, and can be reached at 609-683-5260 or padutchfarmersmarket.net.

Dutch Country Farmers Market is at 19 Commerce St., Flemington, and can be reached at 908-806-8476 or dutchfarmersmarket.com.

Jenna Intersimone's "Destination Jersey" column appears Tuesdays. Her "Life Aboard The Traveling Circus" blog is at LifeAboardTheTravelingCircus.com. Tweet her at @JIntersimone or email her at [email protected].

When Gennaro’s Restaurant in Princeton closed in 2015 after 19 years it was missed by its loyal customers. In time, it would also be missed by the owner.

Gennaro Costabile had closed the restaurant in order to focus on his new endeavor: Gennaro’s Italian Market in Kingston, which kept his busy enough that it took some time for him to realize how much he missed operating the restaurant.

For Costabile, his restaurant has always been like a home where he could welcome guests, telling them it was nice to see them and making sure they had an enjoyable evening. His market has become popular for takeout meals and quality catering of his classic Italian cuisine, but he realized he had really enjoyed one-on-one contact with his customers.

To resolve that problem he bought the building next door to the market and renovated it as a restaurant featuring a pleasantly comfortable combination of wood floors, soft grays and black and white photos.

He connected the two businesses so they could share the same kitchen and chef Benjamin Brault, who had worked at the Princeton restaurant for 16 years.

He brought back most of the menu from Princeton, with some changes, but mostly it is his familiar version of upgraded Italian classics.

We started our meal with the aruguletta, $12, a towering salad of impeccable baby arugula with cherry tomatoes that were flavorful despite the time of year. A sprinkling of excellent gorgonzola and a light, bright vinaigrette brought the dish into perfect balance.

We also tried the zucchini rollatini appetizer, $13, which was tender and flavorful. Topped with the outstanding house tomato sauce, it is no surprise this dish is a customer favorite.

From among the entrees we tried the linguine Nero, $32, and a chef specialty, short ribs, $36. The linguine was a lovely tangle of black pasta, white calamari rings and pink shrimp. The pasta was al dente, but had absorbed just the right amount of the diced tomato and garlic broth, while the calamari was tender and delicate and the shrimp perfectly cooked and flavorful.

The generous portion of boneless short ribs was tender, moist and cooked in a perfectly seasoned tomato ragout with plenty of mushrooms. It was served on top of ribbons of house-made pappardelle that had been cooked to the perfect al dente.

For dessert we shared the dolce Italiano, $12, a sampler that included a cannolo, chocolate-covered marzipan and a tender, golden svogliatelle pastry. We enjoyed them all, and there was plenty to share, but the pastry, which is made in-house and sold at the market, was our favorite.

Dinner at Casa Gennaro was excellent. We enjoyed everything from the décor to the owner’s sincere pleasure in greeting us, to the food, which stands out for the quality and freshness of the ingredients and the restrained application of salt, garlic, and olive oil that allowed the ingredients to shine. Casa Gennaro is only open three nights a week, so reservations are recommended, but diners should find it well worth the wait.

Short ribs: Ditto: Tender and moist, the pappardelle had absorbed the right amount of sauce. Also, a generous portion.

Nice bonuses: Warm housemade rolls, the best and most perfectly executed espresso I’ve had in many moons (that goes for regular as well as decaf!), warmed milk for your tea.

Dessert: A must-have! I expected a good cannolo, but not the superb svogliatelle and the multi-colored marzipan square. That last is often cloying, too dense, and lacking in almond flavor. This was the opposite in all regards.

CASA GENNARO

4585 Route 27, Kingston

609-683-1212, Facebook

HOURS: 5-9 p.m. Thu.-Sat.

CREDIT CARDS: Most major.

FOOD: Excellent classic Italian dishes raised to a higher level.

SERVICE: Friendly and informed.

AMBIANCE: A relaxed but sophisticated atmosphere set in a former home decorated in soothing shades of gray with black and white photos of Italy and Italian celebrities.

COST: Antipasti and salads $12-$15, entrees $22-$36.

BYOB

RESERVATIONS: Recommended.

The village of Kingston has hosted colonial taverns, armies during the American Revolution, canal boats, railroad trains and travelers on the Lincoln Highway. One of the oldest settlements in central New Jersey, Kingston evolved with America over its 340-year history.

Kingston: On The Map will be exhibited from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through November, in the History Room at the D&R Canal Locktender’s House, on old Lincoln Highway off Route 27, in Kingston.

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The display uses journal entries and prints of a dozen historical maps to illustrate Kingston’s evolution, from settlement to commercial center to modern community. One map shows how Kingston moved between the colonies of east and west New Jersey. Another shows both Kingston and Princeton divided by county lines.

Railroads appeared in the 19th century, disappearing by the 20th.

The Delaware and Raritan Canal was built for commerce, but is now a recreation destination.

This display follows a talk by George Luck, Jr. and Charlie Dieterich, titled “Why is Kingston Here?” given in February.

Dieterich explained that “in preparing for our talk I looked at dozens of historical maps of central New Jersey. I was struck by the ways Kingston reinvented itself in every generation. In the 1600s it was a place to rest after crossing the Millstone River. In the 1700s Kingston thrived as the midway tavern stop on the Kings Highway and a place to change horses. During the American Revolution, Washington used the Kingston hill to gain perspective, returning to pass through the settlement in several directions during the war,” according to a prepared statement.

“In the 19th century Kingston changed to a prosperous mill town, a port on the canal, a station on two railroads (now long gone) and a stop on the Lincoln Highway. The village included two schools and supported two industries: Kingston Quarry and Princeton Nurseries. In the 21st century Kingston has become a multicultural community with many parks and open space,” he said in the statement.

The display allows visitors to go deeper on each of these “Kingstons.”

The Kingston Historical Society is planning events, including a community walk on May 21 and a panel discussion later this spring.

Details of future events and a video of the February talk are available at www.khsnj.org/.

The Kingston Historical Society (KHS) was formed in 1997 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization to preserve, enhance and promote the history of the village of Kingston. The society has its headquarters in the Locktender’s House on the Delaware and Raritan Canal where it maintains the original circa 1834 home of families who operated the Kingston locks on the canal.

Air circulation is limited, so masks and distancing are requested when visiting the exhibit

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- To mark the sixth annual World Autism Awareness Day, 450 students at Kingston Elementary in Cherry Hill, N.J., on Tuesday filled the playground with wind-whisked bubbles.

It was a simple way to teach a socially complex concept, said Meg Kobb, a parent who organized the event.

"Every bubble is beautiful," said Kobb, whose 7-year-old son, Ian, has autism.

"Each one is unique and, given a little wind, each one can soar."

A recent government survey found one in 49 school-age children in New Jersey and one in 50 children nationally has been diagnosed with a form of autism, an increase from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's earlier estimate of one in 88.

It's the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the country, according to the advocacy group Autism Speaks.

And more children with autism are in mainstream classes for part of the day.

A study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found children who were taught how to socialize with autistic kids were more likely to include them in playground interactions and more likely to name them as friends.

At Kingston on Tuesday, teachers read to students about autism spectrum disorder and handed out worksheets provided by the local chapter of Autism Speaks.

Fifth-grader Logan Phillips said he has grown up with a student who has autism and that experience has taught him a lot.

"It's pretty amazing, because he's been doing really well," said Logan, 10. "I've talked to him, and tried to help him.

"It makes me feel really good."

Kobb said the school has created not just a tolerant environment for children with autism, but one that is warm.

"The thing that's been really wonderful is it's been such an inclusive environment," Kobb explained. "There's never been a feeling that we're different or apart, or set aside from other kids."

Dawn Schafle, a fifth-grade teacher at Kingston for 21 years, wore her "Autism Awareness" T-shirt in honor of the day. One of her students has been diagnosed with the disorder and is mainstreamed with typically developing children.

"I think it really helps the kids understand a little bit more and really show compassion for others," Schafle said. "Not just autism, but for any kind of disability."

Added Kobb: "Don't underestimate kids. They get it on a deeper level than some realize."