Home Page | Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton

SPONSOR A FLAG HERE

Hockey on Tap in Trenton

Circle October 24 on your calendar.
That’s Opening Night for the new Trenton Ironhawks professional hockey team - the first of 36 home games that Team President Bob Ohrablo told our Rotary Club will combine world-class action on the ice and a family-friendly experience at Trenton’s CURE Insurance Arena.
The Ironhawks are part of the ECHL, two steps from the National Hockey League and its affiliate, the New York Islanders.

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.

Timely Tips on Tomatoes

Former Club President Joe Cavone - affectionately known as “Tomato Joe” - shared his knowledge of tomatoes - and a sampling of different varieties - at our meeting on August 7, providing “news to use” on different types and kinds of tomatoes along with tips on buying, using and growing them.
Some of Joe’s basic info:
- Buy tomatoes locally or at farm markets.
- Store tomatoes upside down (to help the ripening process) in a shady area. Don’t store tomatoes in the sun or in the refrigerator.
- Plum or paste tomatoes are great for sauces, preserving and canning. When you make tomato sauce, add a whole peeled carrot and a whole onion to absorb the acidity and put the natural sweetness back in. No need for processed sugar.
- Beefsteak tomatoes - “this is what summer tastes like” - are very flavorful, meaty and juicy.

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.

A Friend Indeed

Hamilton businesses have a friend in the township’s Division of Economic Development.
Kate Kane, who heads the Division, spoke to our Rotary Club on July 31 about a variety of programs and initiatives designed to help businesses thrive in Hamilton.
“If there’s a program out there, our business community in Hamilton knows about it,” said Kate, providing statistics of Hamilton’s high percentage of involvement in assistance programs.

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.

Robbinsville Tone to Meeting

Our meeting on June 12 had an all-Robbinsville flavor as we presented our annual Police Community Service Award to Robbinsville Sgt. Wayne Haugh for his “profound and lasting impact” on safety, made a $1,000 donation to Robbinsville Meals on Wheels, and scheduled volunteers for the June 13 Robbinsville Community Festival.

The police award came with a $500 donation to Robbinsville Twp. PBA #344.

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.

Volunteering at the Food Bank

Five Rotarians joined three graduating seniors from the Hun School and two other helpers to package 15 pallets or 6,000 meals on May 28 at the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank. Typically at this monthly activity for our club we complete 1 pallet per person, but this time we were extra motivated and finished 1.5 pallets per person.

Students, Food Warriors Star at Meeting

It was a strong finish to our Students of the Month program for the 2025-26 school year on May 1 as our last set of students wowed us with their activities in and out of the classroom.
This month’s honorees are Alexandra (Allie) McCarthy, Steinert; Jackson Furyk, Robbinsville; Margaret Phillips, Nottingham; and Matthew Cullen, Hamilton.
We also heard from Mike Schaffer, founder of the Food Warriors initiative, a nonprofit he formed eight years ago to supplement food for active-duty military personnel and their families stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

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

Rotarians at Work

Eleven Rotarians participated in our club’s monthly food packing activity on April 23 at the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank in Ewing.

With the help of several students from The College of New Jersey, the team loaded bags that will provide an estimated 6,000 meals for area families in need.

Not bad for two hours of work!

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.

Winter Survival Kits Delivered to Rescue Mission

Thank you to our community members for helping us collect Winter Survival Kit items for the Rescue Mission of Trenton. Club members assembled the kits of clothing, hygiene items and non-perishable food after our meeting on January 16 and delivered huge box-fulls to the Rescue Mission.
Special thanks to program coordinator Marie Howard and assistant Sharon Lucidi and to Mary Jane Diener, who crocheted 125 scarves for the kits, adding to the hundreds she has made in previous years for the collection.

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!

Ceremony Celebrates Flags for Heroes

More than 100 community members, local and state officials and others joined the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton on November 8 in celebrating the range of heroes reflected in the 2025 Flags for Heroes display on the grounds of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton.
Under glorious skies, Rotary Club President Stan Plytynski thanked the flag sponsors and welcomed a series of speakers who joined him in paying tribute to heroes in all forms, from veterans and active military members to doctors and nurses working only a parking lot away.
Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin, State Police Lt. Luis Salgado, Mercer County Military Action Council Chair Regina Arcuri, and hospital Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Breza also spoke during the ceremony.

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.

A ‘Wheel' Big Success

A whopping total of 161 bikes in all conditions and sizes were donated in our Rotary’s Club’s 2025 bike drive on October 18 at Friendly’s in Robbinsville.
The bikes will be fixed up and sold by the BGC Bike Exchange with the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County.
Thank you to all who donated bikes and to the Robbinsville Township Police Department, Friendly’s, Bruno’s Bicycles in Allentown, Economy Bikes in Hamilton, the Robbinsville Public Works Department, the BGC Bike Exchange and our Rotary volunteers, particularly organizer Bill Boyles, and Steve Woods and George Ott, who loaned their trucks for the cause.

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.

Tree Program Expands Roots

On October 6 and 7, teams of Rotarians continued the club's annual conservation efforts by planting five trees and four bushes at sites in Hamilton and Robbinsville.

Two trees and the four bushes were planted at Megan’s Place, and single trees were installed at Linwood Park in Hamilton, the Miry Run Recreation Area in Robbinsville and the Miracle League of Mercer County field at the YMCA’s Sawmill complex.
It’s the fourth consecutive year the club has added to the area landscape in a program coordinated by Rotarian Joe Cavone in consultation with the respective townships and with the approval of the club’s Board of Directors.

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.

Big Award, New Members Kick Off Rotary Year

Our first meeting of the new Rotary year on July 11 featured a special award to the Miracle League of Mercer County and the addition of two new members - Robbinsville Township Councilman Hal English and Kevin Ott, a local Scouting America official whose membership creates our club’s first-ever father-son duo.
All this as Stan Plytynski, our club’s first president in 1992-93, began a new term behind the podium.
Accepting the George Prutky Vocational Service Award and a $500 donation on behalf of the Miracle League was Rotarian and League “Commish” Dan Sczweck. The award, named for one of our club’s founders, hit close to home as our club helped establish the Miracle League 20 years ago and has been a continuing supporter.

Rotary’s Polio Fight Continues

At our final meeting of the calendar year, our club was reminded in very personal terms of how important it is to continue Rotary’s flagship fight to eradicate polio around the world.
Rotarian John Nanni of Delaware, a polio survivor and a leader in Rotary’s PolioPlus campaign, said the wild poliovirus is still stubbornly present in two countries - Pakistan and Afghanistan - despite decades of work by Rotary and other organizations to wipe if off the map, an effort that has saved an estimated 21 million people from the crippling disease.
Our Rotary Club and individual members contribute thousands of dollars each year to the campaign. For more information about Rotary’s work to eradicate polio, visit www.endpolio.org.

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: