Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some men, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give men a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
TRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of TRT and HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
For men, getting older comes with its perks, like living life on their own terms and not having to "sweat the small stuff" day in and day out. At the same time, there are aspects of aging that men dread, like hormonal changes. Yes, you read that right – men, not just women, go through hormonal changes as they age. For men, the biggest change involves a drop in testosterone.
Lower levels of testosterone can wreak havoc on a male's mind and body and when left untreated, can result in symptoms like:
Those symptoms are concerning, but with testosterone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine, many males improve their quality of life with age. The good news is that TRT and anti-aging meds aren't only reserved for "old guys." In fact, there's no magic age at which men should start thinking about hormone replacement therapy. Everyone's body is different, so if you're experiencing the above conditions in your mid-30s, TRT could be a viable solution when you consult with a doctor.
Testosterone is a crucial hormone for men and plays an important role throughout the male lifespan. Most of a male's testosterone is produced through the testicles. Also called the male sex hormone, testosterone starts playing its part during puberty.
When a male goes through puberty, testosterone helps males develop:
As boys turn to men and men grow older, testosterone levels deplete naturally. Sometimes, events like injuries and chronic health conditions like diabetes can lower testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much T, it results in hypogonadism. When this happens, the testosterone must be replaced, or the male will suffer from symptoms like muscle loss, low libido, and even depression.
TRT is exactly what it sounds like: a treatment option for men that replaces testosterone so that your body regulates hormones properly and restores balance to your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates the symptoms that men experience with low T.
Originally lab-synthesized in 1935, testosterone has grown in popularity since it was produced. Today, TRT and other testosterone treatments are among the most popular prescriptions in the U.S.
Without getting too deep into the science, TRT works by giving your body the essential testosterone it needs to function correctly. As the primary androgen for both males and females, testosterone impacts many of the body's natural processes – especially those needed for overall health. For example, men with low T are more prone to serious problems like cardiovascular disease and even type-2 diabetes.
When your body quits making enough testosterone, it causes your health to suffer until a solution is presented. That's where TRT and anti-aging medicine for men can help. TRT helps balance your hormones and replenish your depleted testosterone. With time, your body will begin to heal, and many symptoms like low libido and irritability begin to diminish.
For men, aging is the biggest contributor to lower testosterone levels, though there are other causes like obesity, drug abuse, testicular injuries, and certain prescribed medications. Sometimes, long-term health conditions like AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease can lower testosterone levels.
When a man's testosterone levels drop significantly, it alters his body's ratio of estrogen and testosterone. Lower testosterone levels cause more abdominal fat, which in turn results in increased aromatase, which converts even more testosterone into estrogen.
If you're concerned that you might have low T, you're not alone. Millions of men in the U.S. feel the same way. The best way to find out if your testosterone is low is to get your levels tested.
For sustainable testosterone replacement therapy benefits, you must consult with hormone doctors and experts like those you can find at Global Life Rejuvenation. That way, you can find the root cause of your hormone problems, and our team can craft a personalized HRT plan tailored to your needs.
Are you used to blasting through a productive day and accomplishing all your daily goals? Do you find yourself losing muscle mass and the craving to be intimate with your partner? Does your partner complain about how irritable you have become? If you're not usually a curmudgeon, your body could be giving you a sign. It could be time to speak with a doctor about TRT and anti-aging medicine for men in Skillman, NJ.
If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, you might be battling against low testosterone:
One of the most common reasons that men choose TRT is because they have lost that "spark" with their partner. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not performing like they used to. Intimacy is a powerful part of any relationship. When a once-healthy sex life dwindles, it can cause serious relationship issues.
The good news is that low libido doesn't have to be a permanent problem. TRT and anti-aging medicines help revert hormone levels back into their normal range. When this happens, many men have a more enjoyable life full of intimacy and sex drive.
Weak erections – it's an uncomfortable subject for many men in the U.S. to talk about. It's even worse to experience first-hand. You're in the midst of an intimate moment, and you can't do your part. Despite being perfectly normal, many men put blame and shame upon themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while the inability to perform sexually can be caused by poor diet, obesity, and chronic health conditions, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.
Fortunately, weak erections are a treatable condition. The best way to regain your confidence and ability in bed is to speak with your doctor. Once any underlying conditions are discovered, options like TRT may be the best course of treatment.
Hair Loss
Do you find it harder and harder to work out and lift weights in the gym? Are you having problems lifting heavy items that you once had no problem lifting?
Recent studies show that when men are inactive, they lose .5% of muscle strength every year, from ages 25 to 60. After 60, muscle loss doubles every decade. While some muscle loss is common as men age, a significant portion can be tied to low testosterone levels. When a man's T levels drop, so does his muscle mass.
Testosterone is a much-needed component used in gaining and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors prescribe TRT Skillman, NJ, for men having problems with strength. One recent study found that men who increased their testosterone levels using TRT gained as much as 2.5 pounds of muscle mass.
Whether your gym performance is lacking, or you can't lift heavy items like you used to, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.
If you're like millions of other men in their late 20s and 30s, dealing with hair loss is a reality you don't want to face. Closely related to testosterone decline and hormone imbalances, hair loss is distressing for many men. This common symptom is often related to a derivative of testosterone called DHT. Excess amounts of DHT cause hair follicles to halt their production, causing follicles to die.
Because hair located at the front and crown is more sensitive to DHT, it grows slower than other follicles and eventually stops growing permanently. Thankfully, TRT and anti-aging treatments for men in Skillman, NJ, is now available to address hair loss for good.
While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone on your body. Whether you're suffering from thinning hair or hair loss across your entire head, TRT and other hormone therapies can stop hair loss and even reverse the process.
Also called "man boobs," gynecomastia is essentially the enlargement of male breast tissue. This increase in fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances and an increase in estrogen. For men, estrogen levels are elevated during andropause. Also called male menopause, andropause usually happens because of a lack of testosterone.
If you're a man between the ages of 40 and 55, and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.
Decreased energy was once considered a normal part of aging. Today, many doctors know better. Advances in technology and our understanding of testosterone show that low T and lack of energy often go hand-in-hand.
If you're struggling to enjoy activities like playing with your kids or hiking in a park due to lack of energy, it could be a sign of low T. Of course, getting tired is perfectly normal for any man. But if you're suffering from continual fatigue, a lack of enjoyment, or a decrease in energy, it might be time to speak with a doctor.
Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish activities you used to love, TRT could help.
A study from 2011 showed that men who lose a week's worth of sleep can experience lowered testosterone levels – as much as 15%, according to experts. Additional research into the topic found almost 15% of workers only get five hours of sleep (or less) per night. These findings suggest that sleep loss negatively impacts T levels and wellbeing.
The bottom line is that men who have trouble sleeping often suffer from lower testosterone levels as a result. If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, you might have low T.
TRT and anti-aging medicines can restore your T levels back to normal, which can help you sleep better with proper diet and exercise.
You're feeling down about everything, and there's no solid explanation for why you're in such a crummy mood. Your daily life is great and full of success, but you can't help but feel unexcited and unmotivated. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed – and it may stem from low testosterone.
A research study from Munich found that men with depression also commonly had low testosterone levels. This same study also found that depressed men had cortisol levels that were 67% higher than other men. Because higher cortisol levels lead to lower levels of testosterone, the chances of severe depression increase.
Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option gaining in popularity is TRT for depression. Studies show that when TRT is used to restore hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more improved mood. That's great news for men who are depressed and have not had success with other treatments like anti-depression medicines, which alter the brain's chemistry.
Ask anyone over the age of 50 how their memory is, and they'll tell you it wasn't what it used to be. Memory loss and lack of concentration occur naturally as we age – these aren't always signs of dementia or Alzheimer's.
However, what many men consider a symptom of age may be caused by low testosterone. A 2006 study found that males with low T levels performed poorly on cognitive skill tests. These results suggest that low testosterone may play a part in reducing cognitive ability. If you're having trouble staying on task or remembering what your schedule is for the day, it might not be due to your age. It might be because your testosterone levels are too low. If you're having trouble concentrating or remembering daily tasks, it could be time to talk to your doctor.
Why? The aforementioned study found that participating men experienced improved cognitive skills when using TRT.
Even though today's society is more inclusive of large people, few adults enjoy gaining weight as they age. Despite their best efforts, many men just can't shed the extra pounds around their midsections, increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer.
Often, male weight gain is caused by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism and cause weight to pile on. This phase of life is called andropause and happens when there is a lack of testosterone in the body. Couple that with high cortisol levels, and you've got a recipe for flabby guts and double chins.
Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.
The benefits of hormone replacement therapy for men are numerous. TRT not only grants relief from low-T symptoms but can help give protection against age-related diseases. Additionally, doctors now recognize male testosterone as an important role in alleviating depression.
Some of the most exciting benefits of TRT can include:
Because men do not go through a specific period of hormonal changes like women do (called menopause), many doctors refer to "male menopause" as androgen decline. This is just another term for low testosterone, but like female menopause, the symptoms can be serious and affect your quality of life.
The best way to fight back against male menopause is with male HRT treatment from Global Life Rejuvenation. We provide the following HRT treatments for men:
Our treatment options are personalized for your body and are available as creams, gels, injectables, and implantable pellets. To find out if testosterone replacement therapy is safe for you, contact Global Life Rejuvenation today to schedule your comprehensive testing and anti-aging treatment consultation.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Benefits of Sermorelin include:
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it is suitable for both men and women. It provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies, boosting patients' overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life. When growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland using Ipamorelin, clients report amazing benefits.
Some of those benefits include:
Whether you are considering our TRT services, HRT for women, or our growth hormone peptide services, we are here to help. The first step to turning back the hand of time starts by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation.
Our friendly, knowledgeable TRT and HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933
CorrespondentWith so many big-name bars and restaurants around, sometimes the little, hometown bars get overlooked. However, these are the places where we feel the most comfortable in, the ones that welcome us with open arms when we enter and shake our hands when we leave.The Tiger’s Tale in the Skillman section of Montgomery is one of those places. Located on busy Route 206, I have driven by it many times on my way to the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market in Kingston. This local bar always seems to call my...
Correspondent
With so many big-name bars and restaurants around, sometimes the little, hometown bars get overlooked. However, these are the places where we feel the most comfortable in, the ones that welcome us with open arms when we enter and shake our hands when we leave.
The Tiger’s Tale in the Skillman section of Montgomery is one of those places. Located on busy Route 206, I have driven by it many times on my way to the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market in Kingston. This local bar always seems to call my name when I drive by, so I finally recently stopped in, and it has become my new spot to head to after shopping in the area.
READ:Hard cider is on tap at these Central Jersey farms
READ:On a budget? These liquors are best bang for your buck
Seating a whopping 40 people and in its square, wooden bar, 33-year-old Tiger's Tale never has a shortage of bartenders who serve you a drink quickly, and with a smile. Plus, it has a great selection of 25 beers on tap, bottled and craft beers, as well as wine and both low- to high-end liquor alongside a food menu with pub favorites.
The real reason that I keep coming back is the hospitality, though, and what Tiger's Tale does for the community and the support the local business shows for our country — it provided all veterans with a free meal on Veteran's Day on Sunday, Nov. 11. This bar also frequently participates in community service efforts, including collecting coats and socks for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and St. Mark's Food Pantry, participating in Clean Ocean Action events, as well as events for The Valerie Fund — just to name a few recent efforts.
Last week, I took on the Tiger's Tale two-pound burger challenge, in which participants have to finish a $22 two-pound burger topped with cheese and vegetables within 30 minutes.
Not only did I fail miserably, but I was outshined by someone my senior, who ended up finishing the challenge in the last few seconds. Upon winning, he was given a T-shirt, a picture on the Tiger's Tale Wall of Fame, and a chance to win his meal for free or at a discount if he rolled a pair of dice to certain numbers.
To my gratitude, General Manager Mark Gola gave me a T-shirt as well for trying the challenge. Winners only are supposed to get the shirts, but upon talking about Veteran's Day and realizing I'm a United States Marine Corps veteran, he gave me the shirt as well as a discount on our bill. Of course, this wasn’t necessary but he went above and beyond to make sure that we were taken care of.
Sometimes it’s the small things in life that make us happy. I'm lucky to have found this local gem bar and I always look forward to returning as I feel welcomed each and every time. If you are in the area you, consider visiting Tiger's Tale to see what a real hometown bar should be like.
Where: 1290 Route 206, Skillman section of Montgomery
Michael Politz, a lifelong New Jersey resident, has worked in the restaurant and bar industry for 20 years. He currently bartends at Water and Wine Ristorante, an upscale Italian eatery and bar in Watchung. His beer, wine and liquor column, Spirits of N.J., appears Wednesdays.
View full sizeMike Dill/For the Times of TrentonMONTGOMERY — Somerset County officials are deciding how they can turn Skillman Village, a one-time sanctuary in Montgomery for epileptics, into a web of walking trails that fans out across its 247 acres.Soon, possible trails will be plotted on the former asylum grounds, with h...
View full sizeMike Dill/For the Times of Trenton
MONTGOMERY — Somerset County officials are deciding how they can turn Skillman Village, a one-time sanctuary in Montgomery for epileptics, into a web of walking trails that fans out across its 247 acres.
Soon, possible trails will be plotted on the former asylum grounds, with hopes for a firmer idea of a layout by next month, said Somerset County Freeholder Director Patricia Walsh.
The mix of trails — hiking, biking, horse riding, etc. — is still uncertain, and initial ideas should be presented next month to an advisory committee of Montgomery representatives who are to create a plan for what will be known as Skillman Park, bordered by Route 601 and Burnt Hill Road.
It’s the first major sign of movement in transforming the derelict property into Skillman Park, months after the county bought it from Montgomery Township for nearly $16 million. And it’s a sign the tortured, decade-long effort could be nearing a conclusion.
"That property probably hadn’t been touched in nearly 20 years," Walsh said.
The facility opened in 1898 as Skillman Village for Epileptics. In 1953, it became the New Jersey Neuropsychiatric Institute and, in 1983, North Princeton Developmental Center. The property fell into disrepair after the state-owned North Princeton facility shut its doors in 1998.
Montgomery Township purchased the land in 2007 for $5.9 million in hopes of preserving it, but incurred nearly $10 million in environmental cleanup costs. The tract has some woods but has many flat, grassy areas.
After some legal wrangling, the county acquired the sprawling property in October with a plan to keep it development-free, with the only construction being parking lots connecting walkers to hiking trails and signs showing them where to go.
Almost all of the buildings have been demolished to make way for the park, but a few structures, including the active Village Elementary School, remain. Walsh said the need to keep roads open in the area, particularly to serve the school, could complicate rehabilitation of the property.
STAY CONNECTED 24/7
Download our
free NJ.com mobile and tablet apps
to keep up with the latest New Jersey news, sports and entertainment.
It wasn’t immediately clear when a plan for Skillman Park will be finalized or how it might look.
Related coverage:
Every Saturday at 2 p.m., Michael Oliver heads up a steep, rickety set of stairs, down a walkway, past neatly organized loveseats, to a workshop tucked away on the top floor of Skillman Furniture. Planks of wood are stacked up in the corner next to a long workbench with a few tools lying on it. A row of empty, decorative beer bottles line the counter behind the bench.Since the late 1970s, Oliver has worked at the family business he now owns. He heads up to his workshop just after closing up early for the weekend. He doesn’t want...
Every Saturday at 2 p.m., Michael Oliver heads up a steep, rickety set of stairs, down a walkway, past neatly organized loveseats, to a workshop tucked away on the top floor of Skillman Furniture. Planks of wood are stacked up in the corner next to a long workbench with a few tools lying on it. A row of empty, decorative beer bottles line the counter behind the bench.
Since the late 1970s, Oliver has worked at the family business he now owns. He heads up to his workshop just after closing up early for the weekend. He doesn’t want to miss “The Moth,” his favorite NPR show. He turns on the radio and listens as he cuts wood to assemble into bookcases, stopping only to switch to a music channel when “The Moth” is over.
Oliver enjoys his routine in the family store that has been in business for more than a century. Skillman Furniture dates back to the 1800s, but the Skillman name in Princeton goes back further than that – perhaps to a time before America was even founded.
“From what I understand, it started as a stagecoach line between I think Trenton and Philadelphia. I found pieces of wagons up in the warehouse,” Oliver says. “Every once in a while, we get a phone call asking us if we’ve been in business longer than the country has existed. We can’t prove that though.”
Nowadays, Oliver runs Skillman Furniture at 212 Alexander Street, with occasional help from his wife and son. Skillman Furniture sells secondhand pieces of furniture to people from the Princeton area. University students have been coming to the store every fall for decades to buy discounted couches, chairs and other dorm room furniture.
Over the last several years, the university offered to buy houses and the properties of businesses on Alexander Street as part of the school’s expansion plans. Larini’s and every other business Princeton University officials approached eventually sold their properties — except for Skillman Furniture. Oliver was not reserved in explaining why he refused to sell: “They pissed me off with all the stuff they were trying to do here. It wasn’t the university so much; it was one guy in particular who was the project manager.”
Oliver claims a project manager promised to take care of any nuisances on the Skillman Furniture property that occurred because of the nearby construction of the new Dinky train station and arts neighborhood. It never happened, he says. Work on the new parking lot next door kicked up dust and dirt that clung to the side of the store, eventually becoming so thick that Oliver had to use a power washer to get it off. Next, the university knocked down a fence that was technically on the university’s newly-purchased land. They replaced it with a row of trees, which inevitably led to a pile of leaves in Oliver’s side-yard on windy days. Oliver claims the university never cleaned them up until he told them to.
“The guy from the real estate department told Princeton at one point, ‘I’m not even gonna talk to (Skillman Furniture) until this project is done because you keep making them mad and I have to agree with them,’” Oliver says. “The university was stepping on our toes.”
Oliver eventually got the project manager to agree to put up a new fence on his side of the property. The university told Oliver they would give him the funds to hire a contractor because they didn’t want to be liable if something happened to the property. That seemed to be the end of the story, until Oliver glanced at a picture of Roy Skillman, his grandfather and one of the store’s former owners, that hung over the kitchen table. All of a sudden, he remembered a piece of advice Roy once gave him. “He said, ‘Don’t ever take a purchase order from Princeton University, cause it takes forever to get your money.’ I turned around, walked back into the office, called his office and said, ‘No, you hire the guy and you pay the guy.’”
Even if Oliver didn’t have issues with the university’s construction process, he’s pretty sure he wouldn’t sell the business for what the school offered him.
“They’re looking at it as the property, the value of the property,” Oliver says. “I’m looking at it as, if you didn’t do this project, I would just be going along on my merry way. If I sell, that’s the end of Skillman Furniture. There’s not enough money in it anymore. So you have to compensate me for the business end of it too.”
Besides, Oliver’s perfectly happy as he is.
“I don’t know what it’s worth, but I’m not ready to retire yet anyway,” he says.
Its not clear what the long-term future holds for Skillman Furniture. Oliver is in his early 60s. His mom, Vivian, who used to help out around the store, just retired at age 90. Both of Oliver’s kids have other plans.
“I don’t think they would take it. My daughter is set and James, my son, is doing computer programming and robotics,” Oliver says. “Unless he builds a robot that can move furniture, I’ll just hang out as long as I can.”
He seems content with that. His next project is to convert the second floor of Skillman’s offices, which are separate from the building that houses all the furniture, into an apartment so he can sell his place in Lawrenceville and live there full-time. Maybe he’ll even have more free time to make bookcases, his favorite leisure activity.
And when retirement day finally comes, Oliver will put the property up on the market, although he’s already pretty sure who the buyer will be. “The university is going to outbid everyone else, but at least then I’ll know I got a fair market price for it,” he says.
Until that day, that property will be Skillman Furniture, just like its been for more than a century. And on Saturdays, the sounds of power tools and NPR will continue drifting out of the shed’s second-floor window.
At a time when the Internet, Route 1 and chain stores compete for customers, some locally-owned businesses have staying power. This story is the first feature in a series about longtime independent businesses in the Princeton area.
Subscribe to get our latest content by email.
Community Events
Daily News Digest
Weekly News Digest
Each Post Via Email
We promise we won't spam you. Unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time.
(SKILLMAN, NJ) -- The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM), central New Jersey’s only Black history museum, will hold its first Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18, from 11:00am to 3:00pm. This family-friendly event, “Freedom Forward,” will feature live music from The Jonathan Ware Quartet, food from Trenton BBQ restaurant “The Big Easy,” artist talks, theatrical performances, activities for kids, and insp...
(SKILLMAN, NJ) -- The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM), central New Jersey’s only Black history museum, will hold its first Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18, from 11:00am to 3:00pm. This family-friendly event, “Freedom Forward,” will feature live music from The Jonathan Ware Quartet, food from Trenton BBQ restaurant “The Big Easy,” artist talks, theatrical performances, activities for kids, and inspiring community speakers and leaders celebrating African American resilience and freedom. It will take place at the National Historic Register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church in Skillman and the adjacent True Farmstead, a historic African American-owned property recently purchased by SSAAM and the Sourland Conservancy. This celebration marks the first time visitors will be welcomed back to the museum’s home in-person since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among the day’s highlights will be artistic workshops at the True Farmstead. Noted Princeton artists, activists, and educators Judith Brodsky and Rhinold Ponder will present “Black Artists: Elevating the Community,” a talk about five Black artists who lived in and around the Sourlands 50 years ago. These artists believed that art was for everyone and could elevate the quality of life for individuals in the community.
Immediately following the presentation, Emmy-winning artist and educator Dr. Ronah Harris will give community members a chance to create art of their own: guiding visitors through the craft of quilt-making as an artistic and storytelling tradition in the African American community. Visitors will have the opportunity to make quilt squares representing their own culture, the future, and social justice. The squares will be incorporated into SSAAM’s first community quilt, representing the beautiful mosaic of people in the Sourlands region.
Actors from the Allegra School of Music and Arts will present To Be Free, an original Juneteenth performance written by dramatist Ryan Kilpatrick. The inspirational play offers a candid view of this new American holiday and the historical events surrounding its origin story, as well as our collective responsibility for shaping a more just and equitable shared future.
Educational offerings at the event will include a talk by Rutgers University undergraduate Isabella Ruiter, who recently traveled to Benin for a study abroad program. Ruiter will discuss her travels as well as the history of Africans’ trans-Atlantic contributions to African American culture in the United States.
Local organizations will also host tables and booths at the event, such as SSAAM’s partner organization, the Sourland Conservancy, which will present an interactive exhibit titled “Nature in the Sourlands.” The exhibit will feature maps of the Sourland Mountain region and a display of local natural objects for children to interact with, including deer bones, bird nests, a small tree and planting tube, nuts and rock samples, and native seed packets to give away.
“Freedom Forward” is co-sponsored by the Princeton University Art Museum. SSAAM is grateful to Princeton University for their generous support, as well as to all of the private donors making this event possible.
To sponsor “Freedom Forward,” register a vendor table, or purchase tickets, please click here. Adult general admission is $25 by online pre-sale only and $30 at the door; tickets for children 12 and under are $10.
SKILLMAN, NJ – Somerset County’s Agricultural Development Board received the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award (GEEA) for outstanding support of “Healthy and Sustainable Communities.” County Commissioners Melonie Marano and Paul Drake went on-site at the Hidden Spring Lavender/Alpaca Farm to discuss how the Ag Board developed creative ways to help safely provide the public with access to food during the pandemic. ...
SKILLMAN, NJ – Somerset County’s Agricultural Development Board received the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award (GEEA) for outstanding support of “Healthy and Sustainable Communities.” County Commissioners Melonie Marano and Paul Drake went on-site at the Hidden Spring Lavender/Alpaca Farm to discuss how the Ag Board developed creative ways to help safely provide the public with access to food during the pandemic. Watch the video and share.
“In 2020 when the world virtually shut down, the county realized that there would be a need for a safe and sustainable food supply,” said Somerset County Commissioner Melonie Marano. “That’s when County Commissioners created a Roundtable with the Ag Board and other experts to develop a plan on how to deliver food safely to the public.”
Find out how the Ag Board successfully implemented the plan, learn why they received recognition from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and why they were honored with the GEEA. Watch now and share.
Sign Up for FREE Bernardsville & Bedminster Newsletter
Get local news you can trust in your inbox.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Somerset County Agricultural Development Board (SCADB)
The SCADB, supported by the Office of Planning, Policy and Economic Development, has partnered with the Board of County Commissioners to preserve over 8,900 acres of farmland. The SCADB supports the County’s farmland preservation program; works with farmers and residents to mediate Right-to-Farm matters throughout the County; assists farmers in implementing Best Management Practices for their operations; and hosts seminars and workshops on pressing agricultural issues, pending legislation, and new practices and technology.
Hidden Spring Lavender/Alpaca Farm
The farm is located in Skillman, NJ and is managed and operated by a team of two farmers, a husband and wife, who have cultivated 15 types of lavender. The lavender is distilled in July and is used in products sold at the farm’s store. They also raise alpacas and use the alpaca’s fleece to make items for sale at the store.
To stay up to date with Somerset County events and information, sign up for free email alerts at www.co.somerset.nj.us/subscribe or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
