APRIL 2023
Hamilton Post COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
Kidsbridge, Children’s Home Society join forces
Colleagues remember long-time AD Gazdek
‘The Wedding Singer’
BY RICH FISHER
BY SUE FERRARA
Local parents with children in Pre-K to 8th grade are likely to be familiar with a Mercer County program known as Kidsbridge, a 27-year-old endeavor with a mission “to provide young people with a foundation to grow as empathetic individuals who become positive advocates for themselves and others, empowering them to challenge racism, bias, bullying, and other forms of discrimination.” Since 2002, Lynne Azarchi, who is originally from Trenton but now lives in West Windsor, has led Kidsbridge as executive director, curriculum designer, promoter, and the champion of the idea that all children can learn to be kind and caring to one another. But as with many orchestras, there comes a time when the maestro hands the baton to a new conductor. That happened earlier this year when Kidsbridge found a new home under the auspices of the Children’s Home Society, a Trenton-based nonprofit which See KIDSBRIDGE, Page 12
FREE
Hamilton High School West students Sean Sobke, Anthony Supoy, Melodie Arzayus-Rigelon, Kamryn Mooney, James Murray (as Robbie Hart), Ellie Campbell, Sabria Spell, Alex Mogan and Ellie Povia perform in “The Wedding Singer” musical on March 9, 2023. For more school musical photos, turn to page 14.
Hamilton dance school imbues students with Irish traditions BY THOMAS KELLY
Irish dance is colorful, energetic and traditional. Originating in the 1600’s from Celtic celebrations, these dances are usually defined by limited upper body movements and energetic, fastpaced footwork. The Kotelnicki School of Irish dance continues teaching these
traditional dances in Hamilton at their studio on Route 33. Training children from ages 4 up through age 22 when students may be in competitions in the US and around the world. Justin Kotenicki and his sister Erinn Kotelnicki Rasin, have been operating the dance studio since 2010. Now located at 2251 Route 33 near the Hamilton and Rob-
binsville border, the school trains students 4 evenings a week after school and early evening. Their mother, Maria McKnight, was born in Ireland and was a championship dancer herself. When Justin and Erinn were growing up in Hamilton she drove them to Scotch Plains and Richboro, Pennsylvania, for Irish See IRISH, Page 10
Better Health Program
Rediscover your Mind, Body & Spirit in Retirement 609-584-5900 rwjbh.org/hamiltonjoinbetterhealth
Player, coach, administrator, volunteer, friend, husband, father. Those were some of the titles held in life by Steve Gazdek, not necessarily in order of importance. The list of superlative adjectives to place in front of them could go even longer – friendly, popular, energetic, loyal, unassuming, polite, tough, courageous; to name a few. Although born and raised in Piscataway and residing in Cranbury and Jackson as an adult, “Gaz” was woven throughout the Hamilton Township athletics fabric for 26 years and made an indelible mark. He retired as Steinert Athletic Director in late 2021 and his untimely death at age 63 on Feb. 27 sent shock and grief through the Hamilton school district and beyond. “Steve was an amazing person,” said Notre Dame High Athletic Director Nate Webber, who was hired by Gazdek at McCorristin (now Trenton Catholic) as its head basketball coach in the 1990s and became his principal when Gaz worked at Steinert in the 2010s. “He was always willing See GAZDEK, Page 30
Academy Dental CHILDREN & ADULTS Complete Dentistry for the Whole Family
AcademyDentalNJ.com
Currently Open for Emergency Dental Care See our ad on page 11
1179 NEWARK, NJ