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Nearly 300 U.S. flags that flew proudly day and night for three weeks on the grounds of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton with medallions dedicated to personal heroes were retired as scheduled on November 14.
Rotarians and friends were assisted by volunteers from Sewa International South Jersey in taking down the flags, packing a portion away for next year and preparing others for delivery to those who paid to keep them - all in just over an hour.
The flags to be delivered will be properly folded by Scouts BSA Troop 91 (B and G) in a few weeks. All sponsors will receive the medallions that hung from the flags.
Last Saturday, nearly 150 people turned out for the Flags for Heroes field dedication ceremony.
Net proceeds from the flag sponsorships will help send junior enlisted personnel home for the holidays and benefit area nonprofit organizations.

Bringing Thanksgiving Cheer

The Rotary clubs of Robbinsville Hamilton and Princeton Corridor teamed up to provide supplies for a full Thanksgiving dinner for more than 40 area families served by HomeFront.
The $4,000 in supplies - purchased with funds from the individual clubs and with a Rotary District 7475 matching grant - were packed on November 13 by more than two dozen members of the clubs.
Each of the families will also receive $35 gift cards to purchase turkeys.

Meeting Features Students, Long-Time Members

Our club meeting on November 13 featured an impressive group of Students of the Month who have clearly made the most of their high school experiences. The seniors are Ethan Neagle, Robbinsville; Kailyn Le, Steinert; Hana Abdelnabi, Hamilton West; and Madison Lipman, Nottingham.
We also learned more about two long-time members and former club presidents - Sharon Lucidi and Wally Sawka - who were invited to share their stories of growing up, finding careers and joining Rotary.

Supporting Joey’s Little Angels

On October 30, our club presented a $500 check to Joey’s Little Angels, a Hamilton-based non-profit providing financial aid and emotional support to families with children undergoing medical treatment.
Club President Joseph Bellina presented the award to James Angiolino, who with his wife, Nicole, founded Joey’s Little Angels after the death of their son, Joseph Thomas, 15 months, from a rare genetic disease.

Trees Planted in Hamilton, Robbinsville

The number of trees planted by the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton in our communities sprouted by two on October 26 as club members installed a Weeping Willow in Hamilton’s Sayen Gardens and an Eastern redbud in the Miry Run Recreation Area on Sharon Road in Robbinsville.
This is the fifth consecutive year the club has added to the area landscape in a conservation program coordinated by Rotarian Joe Cavone in consultation with the respective townships. Since 2022, the club has planted 14 trees and four bushes.

Flags for Heroes Hits New Record

Nearly 300 flags - a record number exceeding the anticipated 250 - are flying strong at the intersection near Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in this year’s Rotary Flags for Heroes display.
The flags, which honor heroes in the lives of area residents and businesses, will be on display at the corner of Klockner and Whitehorse-Hamilton Square roads through November 13. A Field Dedication and Veterans Day Ceremony will be held on the hospital grounds on November 7 at 11 a.m.

Kuser Family Highlighted at Meeting

Our thanks to Chick and Nello’s Homestead Inn on Kuser Road in Hamilton for providing the appropriate setting for our club meeting on October 23 as Club Past President George Ott told the fascinating story of the Kuser family’s far-reaching business and philanthropic activities.
After Rudolph Kuser achieved success in Newark with a game-changing steam engine for small businesses, he purchased a large farm in Hamilton (on which the Homestead Inn now sits). His son, Fred, later bought an adjacent property that became Kuser Mansion.
Business ventures by his sons involved beer brewing, early automobiles, trolleys, gas and electric power (that led to the establishment of PSE&G), ice and coal deliveries, Lenox china, racetracks and movie-making, among others.
The family’s legacy also helped establish the New Jersey Audubon Society, and finance and guide St. Francis Hospital in Trenton and its charitable efforts.

Club Presents Food Bank with Cash from Shoppers

Our Rotary Club presented the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank with a check for $911. The funds were the financial contributions from the shoppers at Foley's Family Market in Hamilton during Rotary’s two 2026 food drives. Accepting the check on behalf of the Food Bank were James "Butter" Allen and Hope Martin.
In addition to the cash from shoppers, the two drives generated 1,422 pounds of food. At the Food Bank on October 22, Rotarians packed 2,256 meals for the Send Hunger Packing program for Mercer County children.

Purple Nails Put Focus on Polio

There were plenty of purple-painted pinky nails at Hamilton Township’s Octoberfest on October 18 as Rotary Club members decorated the fingernails to build awareness of Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio.
Even Emma the giant kindly witch stopped over to the Rotary table to get the special nail painting from Rotarian Nikki Graham, who organized Rotary’s appearance.
Why the purple pinky? In many countries, when a child receives the polio vaccine, their pinky finger is marked with purple ink, helping health workers identify who has received the vaccine and ensures that no child is missed.
October 24 was World Polio Day.

Drive Nets 62 Bikes to Help Boys & Girls Clubs

We collected more than 60 used bikes in our Rotary Club’s 2026 bike drive on October 3.
The bikes will be fixed up and sold by the BGC Bike Exchange with the proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County.
Special thanks to Rotarian Bill Boyles and his wife, Lenore, for organizing the drive.

Thanks also to the Robbinsville Township Police Department, to our youth volunteers from SEWA International South Jersey, and to the Rotarians who helped collect and load the bikes.

Students Wow; Speaker Discusses Trafficking

We heard from an impressive set of students on October 2 to kick off our Students of the Month program for the 2026-27 school year.
The students - Addison Leigh Bozarth, Hamilton West; Joseph Martinez, Nottingham; Samuel Silva, Robbinsville; and Gwenyth Lekfchak, Steinert - wowed us with their current activities and their plans going forward.

Meanwhile, we also learned from our guest speaker, local photojournalist Tim Sexton, about the pervasive issue of human trafficking. For more on the trafficking issue, visit safernj.org.

Club Visits Roebling Museum

Thank you to Rotary Club President Joe Bellina and Past President George Ott for arranging a visit for club members and family to the Roebling Museum on October 1. George and his colleagues at the museum shared fascinating stories about the Roebling family and walked us through the cool exhibits at the museum, a hidden gem in our area. Check out the museum website - roeblingmuseum.org - for hours and information for a visit of your own!

Volunteer Work Draws New Member to Club

Ethel Gaynor became our newest member on September 25, bringing her strong family background in volunteer work to our club. Ethel volunteered for 17 years as an EMT for a local fire, rescue and ambulance squad, averaging about 200 calls a year. “The (Rotary) club offers so much of what I’m looking to do,” she said after being sworn in beside her sponsor Nikki Graham.

Class in Session

A little civics, a little history at our September 18 meeting as we welcomed the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services (OLS) and answered quiz questions from none other than former U.S. President and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, aka Nolan Higgins of Freehold.
Mike Feld, director of the OLS Central Management Unit, described OLS as the non-partisan, behind-the-scenes staff support agency for the New Jersey Legislature.
The OLS website - njleg.state.nj.us - has a host of basic information and makes it easy to search bills, contact your legislator, watch proceedings, and if you’re up for it, review the state budget.
Meanwhile, Club President Joe Bellina invited former Freehold Borough Mayor Higgins, a friend and former colleague, to deliver a monthly history quiz to members. To our delight, he dressed in period costume.

9/11 Remembered on 25th Anniversary

It was an emotional club meeting on September 11 as members were given the opportunity to recount their experiences on 9/11 25 years ago.
There were tears for friends lost that day and a stillness to the room as each member relived where they were and what they did on that shocking morning and the time that followed.
Though Rotary is not a religious organization, one of our members, Pastor Robin Palmer Burton, offered a beautiful prayer in remembrance and in support of those still grieving and hurting.
Thank you to Club President Joe Bellina for scheduling this communal, cathartic sharing on the 25th anniversary of a day we will never forget.

Backpacks Delivered to Hamilton Schools

Club members stopped by Greenwood and Wilson elementary schools in Hamilton on August 18 to deliver 218 donated backpacks filled with school supplies collected during our recent drive. Special thanks to Rotarians Linda Gearren and Janice Miller who coordinated the drive. Hats off also to Robbinsville Township and the Nottingham Animal Hospital for serving as public drop-off points.

Helping to Strike Out Polio

Rotary Club members, family and friends enjoyed our annual Philadelphia Phillies game on August 6. A portion of our ticket proceeds will be returned to us by the Phillies to benefit Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio. Along with another 2-1 match, our club alone will generate nearly $2,000 for the polio effort. We used some of our 70 tickets to invite Miracle League of Mercer County families to join us. The Phillies also collected non-perishable food from fans to supply a local food bank - making the game a big win for beneficiaries near and far and a fun fellowship night for us.

Club Members Host Exchange Students

Three of our club members - Nikki Graham, Judy Goldstein and Robin Palmer Burton - are serving as host families along with others in Central Jersey as part of our Rotary District 7475’s long-running Youth Exchange Program with Japan Rotary District 2670.
The group of 20 students and their leaders from Japan are here for three weeks and will stay with host families across our District while visiting historic, cultural, sports and amusement locations in New Jersey, New York City and Pennsylvania.

Click here to see some of the activities planned for the students

National Night Out for the Club

Lots of fun at the Rotary Club booths at National Night Out events in Robbinsville Township and Hamilton Township on August 4. Our members were promoting this fall’s “250 Flags for 250 Years” Flags for Heroes display, letting residents know how they can sponsor flags to honor personal heroes in their lives.

Declaring a Fourth of July Tradition

What a way to kick off the nation’s 250th birthday!!
In a moving ceremony, a parade of residents and local officials took turns reading lines aloud from the Declaration of Independence on July 4 at the Gazebo on Lake Drive in Robbinsville.
Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton President (and event organizer) Joe Bellina thanked the township and the gathered crowd and said the goal is to make the reading an annual Independence Day event.
Also highlighting the morning were the singing of the Battle Hymn of the Republic and the raising of the 13-star Betsy Ross flag on the gazebo’s newly-installed flagpole. Click here to view event photos and here to view ceremony video.

Speaker Brings History Alive

We can’t get enough American history in this, our 250th year. At our meeting on July 17 we were reminded of the critical actions that took place in our area to keep hope alive in the war for independence in late 1776 and early 1777.
Local historian and communications executive Mark Herr gave us a dynamic presentation, filled with fascinating anecdotes and narrative, about the importance of the Battle of Princeton and the prior battles of Trenton - actions that revitalized the Patriot cause following a string of British victories that had pushed George Washington’s army to the brink.

Changing of the Guard

A full ballroom of Rotarians and family witnessed the passing of the gavel from Club President Stan Plytynski to incoming President Joe Bellina on June 24. Stan and Joe each delivered remarks - Stan looking back at a highly successful year and Joe, preparing for his third term as president, outlining plans to build on that foundation.
The evening - wonderfully arranged by Club Secretary Janice Miller - also included the installation of a new Board of Directors and an awards ceremony. The new Rotary year begins July 1.

Inspiration All Around at Club Meeting

A busy meeting on June 5 as we awarded our Vern Applegate Community Service Award and a $500 nonprofit donation to Greenwood Elementary School EarlyAct advisor John Malloy, presented a $1,000 scholarship award to Steinert senior Daniela Santoro, and learned of the inspiring work being done in the African country of Malawi by the Allentown nonprofit Villages in Partnership.

We’re Cookin’

Members of the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton joined members of the Miracle League Board of Directors on June 5 for our annual Grill n’ Chill at Mercer County Special Services School District End of School Year party!!
We served up over a couple hundred burgers and hot dogs to the students and staff, and provided water ice for dessert.
Thanks to all who came out for a fun time of service.

Students Plant Flowers at Megan’s Place

Fifth graders from Sayen Elementary School in Hamilton joined Rotary Club members in planting flowers on June 4 at Megan’s Place park.
The students planted 76 pink vincas and pink geraniums donated by Chris Ciaccio of Tony’s Farm & Garden Center on Route 130 North in Windsor.
Megan’s Place was created in honor of 7-year-old Megan Kanka of Hamilton who was murdered in 1994 in a former house on the site. The Rotary Club, then only two years in existence, raised funds to purchase the house, tear it down, and build the park in its place.

Hamilton Detective Receives Award

It was our honor on May 29 to present the club’s 2026 Hamilton Police Department Community Service Award to Detective Benjamin (Ben) Zuzzio.
Hamilton Police Chief Kenneth DeBoskey nominated Detective Zuzzio for the award, describing him as “one of the most compassionate and well-loved and respected officers we have in the entire department.”
The award cites his “high level of professional excellence” and comes with a $500 contribution to the Hamilton Police PBA.

Founding Member Edna Stout Remembered

Our club was saddened to learn of the passing of Edna Stout, a Founding Member and Past President (1997-1998) of our club who was at the forefront of some of our most significant projects and initiatives.
Edna, 89, died peacefully at home in Pennington, NJ on April 18 surrounded by family, according to her obituary linked below.
A person of integrity and compassion, it was always a treat when Edna sat at your table at a Rotary meeting.
Her Rotary accomplishments are highlighted in her obituary, including her key roles in our club’s EarlyAct; Adopt-a Child, Save-a Life; and Megan’s Place projects.
All three major initiatives are still supported by our club, a testament to the enduring legacy of our beloved friend and former leader.

https://www.wilsonapple.com/obituaries/Enda-Stout?obId=48202534

Learning Something Every Meeting

One of the cool things about our Rotary meetings - besides the getting together with friends and the reminders of the community service we provide - is that you learn something new each week.
On April 3, we learned about Share My Meals, a Princeton-based nonprofit that has figured out how to safely provide excess prepared food to people in need around the state - food that would have been wasted and sent to a landfill for disposal. For info, visit sharemymeals.org.
We also learned about the talents and activities of our newest set of Students of the Month - Zuriela Pindo, Nottingham; and Daniel Savoca and Shayan Chatterjee, Robbinsville.

‘Looking for Something Just Like This…’

With a pace of more than one new member a month, our club on February 27 welcomed our newest member, Jean Mantuano.
Jean has lived in the Hamilton area for more than 35 years and spent her career primarily in the biopharma industry, managing internal and external communications.
After being sworn in, she told club members, “Everyone has made me feel so welcome. I was looking for something just like this where I could give back to the community, where I could meet other folks in the community…”
Jean volunteers with several animal rescue organizations, including Trenton Cats Rescue, Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue and Hamilton Animal Shelter. In addition to her love of animals, Jean enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling and knitting. Welcome, Jean!

What’s Rotary?

Past Club President Kalpana Patel brought us back to our roots at our February 13 meeting, providing a mini-tutorial on Rotary and how our Robbinsville/Hamilton club fits into a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and leaders volunteering skills and resources to meet community and international challenges.
Or as one Rotarian put it, if you’re looking to mix good deeds with good company, Rotary is a place for you.
To learn more about Rotary and membership, check out the links on this site. And come to one of our weekly Friday, 7:30 a.m. meetings at the RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center in Hamilton. You’ll feel welcome.

Working Together to Help Families

A team effort by the Robbinsville Hamilton and Princeton Corridor Rotary Clubs to provide 47 baskets of turkey dinner supplies and gift cards for turkeys to benefit families served by HomeFront.
The Robbinsville Hamilton Rotarians, led by Lauri Harbison and Tom Park, loaded the laundry baskets and attached gift certificates after the November 21 Rotary meeting. An assembly line of volunteers packed the baskets with non-perishable food items purchased at discount prices from our friends at Foley's Family Market in Hamilton.
Thanks to all involved and Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

MCMAC Sending Heroes Home for the Holidays

Our Rotary Club on November 21 presented the Mercer County Military Action Council with a $5,000 donation - almost all of which will be used for MCMAC’s Send a Hero Home for the Holidays program.
The funds are part of the proceeds from our annual Flags for Heroes display.
MCMAC officials Regina Arcuri and Gregory Kruse said their program has provided financial support to between 250 and 300 junior enlisted military personnel each year to return home for the holidays.
Also at the meeting, we welcomed our newest member, Steven Servillo, sponsored by Club Vice President Chris Merlino. Welcome, Steve!

A Freshness to the Meeting

Everything was new at our Rotary Club meeting on November 7.
We have a new venue for our Friday meetings - RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center on Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton.
We had a new set of Students of the Month - impressive as always.
And we got a new perspective on how children and others deal with grief from our guest speaker, Chris Heiss, Executive Director of Good Grief.
Our Students of the Month - Ava Iorio, Hamilton West; Aurora Bergren, Nottingham; and Cameron Braud, Steinert - gave us a rundown of their activities in and out of school.
Chris Heiss described the programs offered by Good Grief that provide support for young people and other family members dealing with major loss. For more information, visit good-grief.org.

EarlyAct Clubs Ready to Go - Including a New One!

Rotary EarlyAct Club service programs are gearing up this fall in four Hamilton elementary schools.
Last week, McGalliard Elementary became the latest school in the township to form an EarlyAct program to promote community service and leadership among its students.
Also, the George E. Wilson Elementary School installed 17 officers who will lead the entire 4th Grade in EarlyAct activities in its fourth year.
Morgan Elementary and Greenwood Elementary will officially start this year’s programs shortly.
Congratulations to all of the participating schools, students and advisors, and to our club’s EarlyAct coordinator Kalpana Patel.

Club Receives ‘Pay it Forward’ Award

Thank you to Robbinsville Township and Mayor Dave Fried for honoring the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton with a 2025 Pay it Forward Award “in appreciation for extraordinary community support.”
It was nice to hear the mayor refer to our club as “a beacon for all of us to follow” and a “treasured” partner with the township.
It’s been our pleasure for 33 years to put “service above self” for our communities.

Club Marks Miracle League's 20th Year

A special outdoor club meeting was held on October 10 at Miracle Field to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of one of our club’s most impactful projects - the Miracle League of Mercer County NJ.
Rotarian and League “Commish” Dan Sczweck described the tremendous growth in the league in terms of players, families and programming since our club raised the funds to build the field for special needs individuals two decades ago.
Also at the meeting, Club President Stan Plytynski reviewed our club’s bustling fall lineup of upcoming activities.

Kalpana Patel to Serve as District Governor

Kalpana Patel, club member and past Club President, has been selected as District Governor to lead our entire Rotary district - 75 clubs in central and northern NJ - for the 2027-28 Rotary year.
That’s a big deal and has only happened once before in our club’s 33 years.

Kalpana joined the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton in 2020 and has served in various leadership roles, including Club President in 2022-2023, the club’s 30th Anniversary year.

Kalpana is a multiple Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, recognizing her continued support for the Rotary Foundation, a charitable arm of Rotary helping people access clean water, education, health care and disaster relief, while working steadfastly to eradicate polio.
Congratulations, Kalpana. Read the full press release above.

What it Means to Be a Rotarian

A bevy of guests at our August 9 meeting heard Rotarians offer their thoughts on what it means to be a member of the club.
Said one, whether you’ve had a good week or a rough one, there’s something comforting about coming to a Friday morning meeting and knowing you’re among friends.
Similarly, another said, “It’s like Cheers, you walk in and everyone knows your name.”
Others focused on the opportunities to serve the community, particularly those in need. For example, Rotarians will be receiving food items in front of Foley’s Family Market in Hamilton on August 10 from 10-4 for the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, and we’re busy collecting backpacks and school supplies for students at Wilson Elementary School.
The international reach of Rotary, including a major effort to eradicate polio, was also cited as an attractive aspect of the organization, as well as local programs like Flags for Heroes.
Club President Joe Cavone boiled it down to one word - hope. “We give people hope, We’re in the hope business.”

More Than Three Decades of Service

Videos Highlight Club’s Service Above Self

The Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton is featured in a series of videos marking the club’s first 30 years. Since 1992, the club has made a positive difference in our communities. We started as a spinoff of the Hamilton Rotary Club and took little time to establish our own identity as a club of action.
Check out the videos below: