Author: Michelle Dryden

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Local News

Breast cancer survivors tell stories at arts event

Breast cancer survivor, Billie Smith, of Lawrence, N.J., tells her story through performance at RWJ Hamilton’s WE vs. C breast cancer awareness event, Sunday, June 4, at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton.
–Provided photo

HAMILTON, N.J. – Twenty-two breast cancer survivors recently participated in the Project WE vs. C event at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, where they told their stories in artistic ways.

Project WE vs. C was a two-day event led by Roxey Ballet and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, recognizing National Cancer Survivors Day.

Performances at the event featured personal stories of triumph from the 22 breast cancer survivors who are affiliated with RWJ Hamilton and YWCA Princeton Breast Cancer Resource Center.

One such survivor is Billie Smith of Lawrence, who has stage-one breast cancer, and who shared aspects of her journey, hoping to inspire others.

“Participating in a program like this gives you a different perspective,” said Smith. “When you hear the word cancer it is scary but this shows you can talk about it with people because you can live. We are all proof,” she said.

Smith said being a part of the breast cancer support group at RWJ and participating in the arts event at Grounds for Sculpture is good for her.

“So many people came up to me after the performance. This woman I didn’t know…hugged me and said, ‘I am going through cancer too.’ We just hugged and cried, but it makes you feel good when somebody got something out of what we did,” said Smith.

She believes in giving other breast cancer patients hope to fight the disease.

She said a benefit of being a part of RWJ cancer support group, she ‘’gets to hear from other women and…can tell her story and give others hope. I can fight this. We can fight this and give each other hope,” she said.

Smith got her diagnosis from a breast surgeon with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Program Director of the Cancer Center at RWJ Hamilton, Dr. Firas Eladoumikdachi, in July 2016 after an abnormal mammogram a month earlier.

At the Project WE vs. C event, her story inspired the performance, “Don’t Google ‘Til You Know What You Got.”

She explained that before she got her official diagnosis from her surgeon, she was reading about her illness and assumed she had stage four breast cancer, and was near dying.
“I had a really bad moment when I started reading, “ she said.

She also said her two sisters had breast cancer and have made so many advances since finding out. She believes that with the many advancements in technology, she too will make progress.

“So many things are different. New things are happening. My doctor is phenomenal,” she stated.

She said she tries to be strong for everybody and likes talking to survivors. She expresses her belief in medicines, and said RWJ Hamilton is redoing the cancer center, “putting the best technology for radiation.”

RWJ Hamilton believes that community involvement is critical to care and that was why the hospital created the Project WE vs. C, working with cancer survivors and the arts. They hope to spread the word about cancer in a meaningful and unique way.

Michael Ashworth, director of marketing and public relations at RWJ Hamilton, stated that the Grounds for Sculpture has designed and curated all of the Grounds for Healing gardens at RWJ Hamilton, and so they were inspired to hold their Cancer Survivors Day event at Grounds for Sculpture to showcase their arts – music, poetry, painting, fashion and printmaking.

The money raised will contribute to an $8.5 million, two-year project geared excusively for enhancements to RWJ Hamilton’s comprehensive cancer program, according to the hospital spokesperson.

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Local News

The City doesn’t sleep during Art All Night weekend

TRENTON, N.J. — Trenton’s 11th annual, 24-hours Art All Night extravaganza brought the anticipated upbeat energy and vibrancy to the Roebling area in the southward section. The party started at 3pm Saturday and continued through Sunday afternoon.

Among the variety of art exhibits, were 24-hours food vendors, music bands, International Film Festival, Trenton Circus Squad, Kidz Zone, Silent Disco, and Fire Spinning/LED Hula Hoop Demos.

Art All Night Trenton 2017 art exhibit.
– Photo by Michelle Dryden
Art All Night Trenton 2017 art exhibit.
–Photo by Michelle Dryden

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Local News

City Hall updates Mill Hill parking permits

Trenton City Hall issues two new visitors’ parking passes to each household in Mill Hill District. Parking enforcement began June 1.

TRENTON, N.J. — Trenton City Hall issued a memo late April to residents of Mill Hill District requiring them to obtain new parking permit decals and guests passes from City Hall by May 31.

Mayor Eric E. Jackson updated the old parking permits and passes as a result of issues and complaints from residents about not having access to enough parking in the residential neighborhood.

“There have been requests from residents in the area who had concerns about lack of parking due to individuals who were using residential parking spaces who do not have the proper permit,” said the City of Trenton Director of Public Works, Merkle Cherry.

For many years, residents in Mill Hill and seven other permit-parking districts in Trenton have been required to have parking stickers or decals and visitors’ parking permits.

However, about 10 years ago, the City did not issue new parking stickers to residents and so they were no longer using them. Instead they would display the visitors’ passes in their vehicles, stated Mill Hill resident, Jean Bickal.

Many non-residents park without the proper permits by obtaining counterfeit or duplicates of the visitors’ passes, and this is the issue for residents who frequently cannot find parking spots.

Ronald Pott, treasurer of Old Mill Hill Society stated that since the State of New Jersey and other government

The City requires Mill Hill residents to have these new parking sticker decals on their vehicles effective June 1
agencies occupy so much land in the downtown area and do not park in their allocated parking spots, they are a part of the problem.

“For Convenience or whatever other reason, many people park in the residential areas and there have been quite a few cases in which people have duplicated parking passes or created counterfeits,” he stated.

Another neighbor, George Faulkner, a 30-year Mill Hill resident, said, “When I get off work in the mornings at 8, I have trouble finding spots to park because non-residential folks are parking here.” He added, “I don’t think enforcement does a good job because there are too many unauthorized vehicles here without residential stickers in their cars. Some consistently park here,” he said.

Visitors should use the permits on all or parts of the following streets: Jackson Street, (all); South Broad Street, (300-366); Mercer Street, (all); Clay Street, (all); East Front Street, (207-253); Greenwood Avenue, (all); Livingston Street, (43); Market Street, (309-416); and South Montgomery Street, (109-119).

There is a $55 fine for Mill Hill guests who park without the proper parking permits. The accelerated enforcement was effective June 1.

The new parking permit decals expire within two years. They have a security feature to help prevent duplication, said Cherry.

And the individual guests or visitors’ passes are limited to two per household.

The City is hoping these measures will help residents to secure adequate parking spaces.

According to Cherry, “the Mayor heard the concerns of the residents and he’s responded to them.”

There are seven other permit-parking districts in Trenton and they will receive updated permits as well.

Those districts are: Circle F, Ewing-Carroll, St. Francis, Mercer County Stadium, Mercer Medical Center, Train Station, and Woolverton-Hancock districts.

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Local News

Bromley Center celebrates expanded food pantry

Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede with staff from the Bromley Food Pantry performed the ribbon-cutting at the grand re-opening ceremony May 16.
– Photo by Michelle Dryden

HAMILTON, N.J. — With the summer months almost here, parents of young children on break from school will be responsible for preparing all their meals unless they enlist the assistance of someone else like the new and improved food pantry at the CYO at Bromley Neighborhood Civic Center in Hamilton.

Recently, the CYO Bromley Center launched the grand re-opening of the newer and bigger space for its food pantry, which was at a 60-square-foot location and has relocated across the hall to a 300-square-foot space, where the CYO Bromley staff hopes to enhance better quality outreach to the community.

Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede, who cut the ribbon at the grand re-opening said, “to see the CYO at the Bromley Center expand their food pantry emphasizes the township’s commitment to serving more residents.”

An application and approval for a community development block grant from Hamilton Township made the expansion of the food pantry possible. Donors, supporters and volunteers generously give their money, food and time.

“The idea of the expansion began when we saw how generous businesses and individuals could be with all their donations,” said Patrick Hardiman, Yardville branch/Bromley Center director.

The new pantry includes new features such as shelves for more foods, a state-of-the-art stainless steel freezer and a refrigerator that the Assistant Director of the Bromley Center, Donna Marie Clancy suggested will allow them to serve Hamilton residents more efficiently.

Tina Baah, a mother of three who lives in Hamilton, said she has limited income and the food pantry helps her feed her children. She commends the food pantry and its staff for assisting her family.

Bromley Civic Center’s expanded food pantry.
–Photo by Michelle Dryden

“It’s very excellent. It’s very, very good. My daughter came to summer camp and Ms. Donna told me about it and that same day I signed up.”

The Executive Director of the CYO, Tom Mladenetz, acknowledged and thanked donors and supporters of the food pantry and of the other programs at the CYO.

He mentioned their partnership with Hamilton Township officials – the leadership of Mayor Yaede, the administrative team there; community supporters that include businesses such as Shop Hamilton; Department of Agriculture; Doctors Express; churches; and individuals.

“They recognized the importance of what we do here and really want us to be successful in reaching out to serve the community as best we can,” said Mladenetz.

According to the food pantry staff, one of the most successful services of the food pantry is the 8-weeks USDA summer lunch program, where the CYO has partnered with the Department of Agriculture and Mercer Street Friends to make this happen.

For this program, the feeding site receives children ages 5 to 18 from Mondays through Fridays at 1pm. Otherwise, the food pantry is generally opened Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 to 11:30 am and 2:30pm.

Generally, the programs are designed to distribute federal and state funded food and privately donated food to eligible, needy persons of Hamilton Township with proof of income and ID on a once a month basis.

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Local News

Award-winning Modern Recycled Spaces brings back Bromley’s buildings, benevolence

Modern Recycled Spaces converts old, dilapidated buildings into modern, inviting, loft-style spaces for businesses, artists, storage, and other commercial uses. (Provided photo)

HAMILTON, N.J. — When Modern Recycled Spaces emerged as a restorer by converting the area’s old, dilapidated buildings into aesthetically pleasing, loft-style commercial spaces, it also brought unique, creative and philanthropic companies to Hamilton’s Bromley neighborhood.

Where others tend to ignore longtime-neglected factories and warehouses, the award-winning Hamilton-based developer has a focus on reinventing such historic buildings by transforming them into inspirational and beautiful spaces for businesses that also help the surrounding communities by giving back.

Daniel “Max” Popkin, director of leasing and marketing at Modern Recycled Spaces, stated that the developer “specializes in refurbished commercial space for rent or lease for office, industrial, shops, factories, studios, warehouse, distribution, showrooms and retail spaces and units.”

His flagship projects in Hamilton’s Bromley neighborhood are Studio Park and Mill One that attract creative companies, entrepreneurs, and jobs to the arts and cultural district.

Popkin named specific projects that Modern Recycled Spaces has helped developed, stating that some of them have been kind in giving back to the immediate communities.

He said they are excited to work with the Bromley Center, and recently their companies assisted in the Bromley Center’s neighborhood clean up.

Another example of benevolence was when David Fine, a tenant of Mill One, owner of Bark-N-Bag, and member of Shop Hamilton, approached Modern Recycled Spaces asking for help to raise money so he could afford a gift donation to the Bromley Center, and he received immediate support from another tenant, Mixbin, whose CEO is Corey Zeiter. They helped him to quickly meet his goal, Popkin reported.

“As Modern Recycled Spaces is dedicated to bringing startups, businesses, entrepreneurs, artists to these buildings, they are also focused on helping the surrounding communities,” he said.

He also said Talksoft, whose CEO is Ken Walsh, is another creative startup in the Studio Park and Mill One complex that grew, is very successful and is also involved with assisting the local community.

According to Popkin, in the last two years, they have had many startups and have tried to do “cool stuff with art and artists” in their Studio Park and Mill One buildings.

“Studio Park has about 30 different companies including Mixbin, local and other artists, real estate companies and so on,” said Popkin.

He said Isles is their partner at Mill One, and Isles will move their headquarters there.

Popkin said they are just the developers of the buildings that usually get neglected because sometimes they are in rough neighborhoods, are too old and are usually falling apart.

He said, “We are the best in the area. We are unique. No one around does this. We keep old architecture like the bricks and wood and make them beautiful.”

He added, “We’ve been doing this for at least 30 years now. The majority of our buildings are in Hamilton, and we have one in Trenton. Our next project will be in Bordentown.”

Modern Recycled Spaces is working to transform and redevelop the former Ocean Spray building in Bordentown, he said.

Among other notable projects, the developer has renovated a golf bag factory and an old mill in Hamilton. It turned an aging pottery factory in Lambertville into Canal Studios with a complete vibrant artist and ballet studio; a brick-oven pizzeria, and a small-batch coffee roaster and café. He said the company even saved a vintage stainless-steel diner from the wrecking ball and is turning it into a job training facility for underprivileged youth.

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Education

For 100 years now, Trenton College Club awards scholarships to public high school girls

The Trenton College Club recently awarded these nine girls $9000 in scholarships awards at a ceremony at First Presbyterian Church in Hamilton. (Provided photo)

HAMILTON, N.J. — The Trenton College Club branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) recently awarded $9000 in scholarships to deserving high school girls during a ceremony at First Presbyterian Church in Hamilton.

Trenton College club is 106 years old and has been awarding scholarships since 1917. It is a local 50-members branch of the AAUW that has chapters all over New Jersey and is a national organization.

The President of Trenton College Club, Maggie Kramer, said they are invested in the education of Mercer County public schools’ female students because “it is the mission of the AAUW and we are the Trenton branch.”

The overall mission of the Trenton College Club branch and that of the AAUW state that it is interested in “advancing equality for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.”

This organization has grown in size and in giving over the last 106 years and has donated money to causes beyond education.

“In the last 10 years, we have given over $51,000 to the Kiwanis Club, $1,000 each year to Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), $1,000 to the Salvation Army…,” stated Kramer.

While some of their charities and donations are available just by word-of-mouth, the Trenton College Club chapter reaches out to guidance counselors in all Mercer County public high schools to inform them of scholarship applications for their female seniors.

The Scholarship Committee Chairperson, Mary Margaret Murphy, said, “We get tremendous satisfaction in seeing the bright, engaged, focused and smart girls that the schools in Mercer County are turning out. They are focused on their goals and we are happy to award them these scholarships.”

Corresponding Secretary, Marilyn Silverman, said that at the award dinner, each girl stood up and thanked the Trenton College Club for their scholarships and “told us what she’s going to do with the money and how the money is going to help her achieve these goals.” She added, “they’ll be studying in very interesting fields such as accounting and medicine.”

The nine Mercer County high school female senior awardees were students from Hamilton West, Steinert, and Ewing High School. From Hamilton West were Ashley Gerstnicker, Victoria Blankenmiller, and Amanda Sensi; from Steinert were Nicole Bumbera, Danielle Standifer, and Sabrian Queval; and from Ewing High School were Olivia Czelusniak, Caroline Unger, and Chidiebube Nwadiobgu.

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Local News

All day, night Trenton Standoff drags on

A more than 30-hour Standoff in Trenton continues as police and special team surround the area of the house of a shooting suspect whom they attempted to serve a warrant yesterday when he opened fire killing an innocent bystander and wounding three police officers, authorities have reported.

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Local News

Hamilton celebrates Arbor Day, Tree City USA designation

The Angiolino and Quinn families join Hamilton’s Mayor Kelly Yaede on Arbor Day to dedicate memorial plaques and plant redbud shade trees in celebration of their deceased loved ones. (Courtesy photo)

HAMILTON, N.J. — To mark Arbor Day in April, and to acknowledge Hamilton’s designation as Tree City USA, two local families joined the township’s Mayor Kelly Yaede to dedicate memorial trees and plaques to their deceased loved ones.

For the 11th year, Hamilton has continued to enjoy its Tree City USA award from the Arbor Day Foundation partnering with US Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters. On Arbor Day this year, the families of the late Joey Angiolino (Joey’s Little Angels), and Navy Veteran, John Quinn, joined the celebration by planting redbud trees with memorial plaques in Sayen Park in Hamilton.

“Our ongoing commitment to protecting our local environment through the planting of shade trees and through other forestry efforts has helped our community retain the Tree City USA designation over the past decade; and there is no better opportunity than Arbor Day to celebrate this honor, ‘’ explains Yaede.

Tree City USA recognizes communities that demonstrate a commitment to urban forest management efforts such as having a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, and invest at least $2 per capita in community forestry efforts.

“I am also proud that we continue our longstanding memorial program, which allows residents the ability to purchase trees and plaques to honor the memories of their loved ones,” stated Yaede.

This complements the community’s ongoing forestry endeavors. The Angiolino and Quinn families who participated in the efforts this year felt Arbor Day was the opportune time to keep the memories of their late loved ones alive.

Joey’s father, James Angiolino, commented, “What a better way to celebrate Arbor Day than planting a tree in Hamilton where Joey and Joey’s Little Angels roots are!”

Quinn’s widow, Patricia said, “My son-in-law belongs to the Shade Tree Commission and so we came up with the idea to plant the tree and Arbor Day was a very good day for that.” She continued, “because of the tree being planted in the park, everyone will remember him and that’s very nice.”

Both families want the public to remember their loved ones even though Joey lived in Hamilton only seven months and was just about a year and three months old
when he died, and Quinn was a lifelong resident after serving in the Navy and died at 82 years old.

Joey died from a rare genetic disease called Hurler’s Syndrome in 2010. When he was seven months old his family moved to North Carolina to seek treatment for him at Duke Hospital, but even after a chord blood transplant, several tests and chemotherapy, the baby passed about seven months later.

Angiolino and his wife started a non-profit organization called Joey’s Little Angels (JLA) that has donated over $50,000 to Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Family Support Program. The JLA also holds annual Toy Drives at Nottingham Ballroom during the holidays.

“Joey’s legacy continues and shows that good can come from a devastating loss; that his story continues to inspire others; it shows the importance of faith and hope and that motivation, perseverance and strength will continue to be our driving force,” stated Angiolino.

Reynolds Middle School and Steinert High School in Hamilton have planted weeping cherry trees in memory of Joey and Joey’s Little Angels.

On the other hand, Quinn will be remembered for other reasons. He was a Navy veteran who served in the Korean War. He belonged to the local VFW and American Legion in Hamilton, and he graduated from Drexel University. Quinn worked for New Jersey Department of Transportation as a civil engineer. He has been deceased since 2013.

In reference to planting the trees in Quinn’s memory on Arbor Day, his surviving widow said, “It’s very nice that the trees are planted that day and when they get big they give shade and people will enjoy that, especially in the park.”

In addition to Hamilton’s Planning Division leading the town’s efforts to plant new trees across the community, the Township and its volunteer Shade Tree Commission is currently seeking grants to conducts a community-wide street tree inventory to address the negative effects that Emerald Ash Borer beetles have on trees in the area. They hope to replace the trees that are dying as a result of these beetles.

For more information about Hamilton’s Shade Tree Commission, visit www.HamiltonNJ.com/trees.

Those who are interested in purchasing memorial trees and/or plaques displayed in Hamilton’s parks, you may visit www.HamiltonNJ.com/memorials.

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Local News

Children’s advocate to receive CASA honors

– Courtesy photo
Amy Mansue will be honored at CASA of Middlesex County annual Toast 2017 for her exceptional work with children.

HIGHTSTOWN, N.J. – Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Middlesex County will honor dedicated and longtime children’s advocate, Amy Mansue, at an annual fundraiser brunch — Toast 2017 — at Steakhouse 85 in New Brunswick, May 7.

Mansue has witnessed first-hand how critical it is for vulnerable children living in the state’s foster care system to have an adult looking out for their best interests. She was president and chief executive officer of Children’s Specialized Hospital, which treats children facing special health challenges.

“I saw up close the health issues that can arise when children suffer the trauma of abuse or are born with disabilities due to parental substance abuse,” Mansue said. “They need the caring and watchful eye of an adult who has only their best interests at heart.”

To ensure that these children get the support and assistance they need in foster care, trained volunteer CASAs are assigned to individual children or sibling groups.

“For CASA, it’s all about the kids,” Mansue said. “Their sole focus is the protection and well-being of these children. It cannot be overstated how important that is. Every other entity in the child protection system has other interests.”

This is why Mansue is delighted to be an honoree for CASA of Middlesex County.

“It is only through that CASA volunteer that the child is watched over,” Mansue added. “That volunteer acts as a conduit to the other systems these children are involved with.”

The CASAs assist children in foster care to find safe, permanent homes as soon as possible, according to Stephanie Brown, director of CASA of Middlesex County.

However, in 2016 only 21 per cent of more than 600 Middlesex County children in foster care had a CASA in their corner, Brown noted. She explained that children without a CASA are more likely to stay in foster care longer, struggle at school and return to foster care because of repeated abuse.

Mansue has been concerned about the welfare of children since the 1990s when she served as deputy commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Human services, overseeing programs for children and people with developmental disabilities, among other services.
A Middlesex native who grew up in Plainsboro, with parents who were local school teachers, she is keenly aware of the need for all children to have an advocate in their corner.

“Children in foster care are among the most vulnerable children in the state,” she said. “When I was working at the Department of Human Services, many of these children simply did not have one person dedicated to looking out for them. I came to understand the critical role that CASAs play,” she reflected.

These days, Mansue’s work position entails more. She oversees seven hospitals, including six acute care hospitals in the Raritan River South, as well as the 12 locations of Children’s Specialized Hospitals across New Jersey.

“This is a very different job for me and I’m grateful to be able to work with so many talented and dedicated healthcare professionals across the state,” Mansue said. She admits that she does, “miss the interaction with the kids.”

Brown said that Mansue’s decades-long dedication to improving the health and well-being of New Jersey children led CASA to recognize her many accomplishments.

“We truly feel privileged to be able to honor Amy at Toast 2017,” Brown stated. “When you have people like Amy being a voice for the children at the state level, it is immensely helpful to us achieving our goals of safeguarding children at the local level.”

Mansue said it is just one way of giving back.

“Many of us have been blessed with healthy children and wonderful circumstances that allows us to be good parents, good aunts, good uncles,” she said. “When a child doesn’t have that, they need the resources to overcome those adverse circumstances. CASA provides a vehicle to make sure that happens.”

In addition to event tickets, CASA of Middlesex County is offering sponsorships and ad journal opportunities, as well as accepting donations from individuals and businesses for a silent auction.

“Proceeds from Toast 2017 will be used to recruit, train and support more CASA volunteers to serve the hundreds of Middlesex County foster children who, sadly do not have someone solely dedicated to looking out for their best interests,” Brown said.

Categories
Entertainment News

Saxophonist woos audiences at Trenton hotel

Dr. Alexander “Dr. Suave” Nicolas is a saxophonist and instrumental musician who attracts international audiences. (Provided photo)

Even though Dr. Alexander “Dr. Suave” Nicolas took a four year hiatus from music, it was not too long before he made The Return album his fans will love to hear at upcoming shows in Trenton at the Wyndham and at other locations.

Nicolas, a 30-year veteran saxophonist, a composer and a producer was born in Panama and has been living in the United States since 1988. He received his college education here and has been an educator in the Trenton public schools and is currently an adjunct Spanish professor at Mercer County Community College.

When Nicolas is not in the classroom, you can find him in the recording studio at AR Records, making smooth instrumental Gospel and Jazz music that is featured on his new CD, The Return, which consists of 11 songs.

Music lovers who enjoy instrumentals will have a chance to listen to and enjoy an evening with Nicolas featuring his 13-year-old daughter, Yasmine Nicolas as vocalist, selected Saturdays at Trenton Wyndham Hotel on Lafayette Street, from 7:30 to 10 pm.

“My experience in Trenton is usually positive. I do instrumental Gospel so I reach people of faith. People say I sound better live. I have done music overseas too and I have a positive experience with live audiences,” Nicolas related.

He noted that instrumental music does not have limits of who can make connections to it because of its form without words. Therefore, it reaches a wide audience “touching their hearts and allowing people to reflect on their daily lifestyles. It doesn’t have barriers,” he added.

“Most of my music is original, but I do cover music – a mixture of everything from Adele’s, Hello to Charlie Puth’s, Im just one call away,” Nicolas said.

Nicolas said his biggest gratification is reaching different cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds with his music.

Nicolas instrumental music has been played in more than 120 countries since the early 1990s, he said. He also said he has had audiences of more than 10 to 20,000 people.

In his native country, Panama, Nicolas is compared to the likes of Dave Koz and Kenny G. because of his successful albums and musical performances.
His new CD, The Return, represents his creativity and is a musical way of sending a message to all his fans and music followers, he said.

“The Return is my new birth inspiration because 90 per cent of the songs were written, performed and composed by me,” he said. “I hope that my new release will inspire and encourage someone out there,” he added.

Nicolas had been away from the music scene because he had to address personal and family matters. He said he needed time to figure out what kind of music he really wanted to do.

Over the years, he has performed at the Latin Grammy’s in 2006, been featured on various television shows such as Telemundo in 2006, had interviews on ABC in 2002 and 2008, performed at Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y., in 2004, sang the national anthem at the 76ers game in Philadephia, among other professional ventures.

His all-time musical releases include: Because He Lives, Fidelity, Merry Christmas, Faith, Canto A Jesus, New Heart The Groove, There Are Moments, and his latest, The Return.

Fans can see Nicolas, aka Dr. Suave at his upcoming concerts this year in Trenton on Saturdays, March 18, March 25, April 29, May 27, June 24, July 29, Aug. 26, Sept. 30, Oct.28, Nov. 25, and Dec. 16.