Trenton's next city council?
There was a full house at Shiloh Baptist Church this past Sunday at the "1,000 Strong Voter Registration & Candidate Forum." All At-Large candidates who publicly made an announcement that they were running for office showed up and spoke about their plans for the city and took questions from the audience. The event was held in conjunction with the Trenton Journal and the Trenton Chapter of the NAACP. The candidates in attendance were Crystal Feliciano, Kadja Manuel, Michael Ranallo, Taiwanda Terry Wilson, Yazminelly Gonzalez, Waldermar Ronquillo, John Howell, and Jasi Edwards. The event was facilitated by community activist, Caitlin Fair, who created a series of YouTube videos called, "Council Cliff Notes" to educated the public on local government. We appreciate everyone for coming out and being a part of our city's political process. Our next forum will be at Shiloh Baptist Church in September. Stay tuned for more updates as the campaign trail heats up before Election Day on November 8th.
 |
Trenton's Athing Mu sets another record
Congratulations are in order for our very own, Athing Mu, for becoming the first woman to win the 800m at the World Track and Field Championships on Sunday. Mu, a 20-year-old, two-time Olympic gold medalist, edged out Britiain's Keely Hodgkins by finishing in 1 minute 56.30 seconds compared to Hodgkins' time of 1:56.38. "At the end of the race, golly, I was just happy it was over,” Mu said. “Today was kind of a rough day for me. I was just happy I could make it to the line and finish the race. Thank God I won gold." Mu struck gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, breaking a national record set by Ajee Wilson in 2017. The Trenton native also scored another gold medal in the 4×4 Olympic relay. Mu's success should serve as an inspiration to all Trentonians that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
 |
Trenton historical society wants to prevent the sale of a historical treasure
The Trenton Historical Society revealed that they just learned that Thomas Edison State University (TESU) President, Dr. Merodie A. Hancock, asked the Board of Trustees to approve the sale of one of the city’s great treasures; N.C. Wyeth’s monumental painting of George Washington’s reception at Trenton on his inaugural journey in 1789. Commissioned in 1930 by Trenton’s First Mechanics National Bank, the mural was painted by Newell Convers Wyeth, the American master illustrator, to grace the wall of the bank’s new headquarter building at 1 West State Street. For 83 years, the painting hung there as one of the city’s artistic jewels. Every Trentonian, every citizen of New Jersey, and every visitor from afar could walk into the grand banking room and view a true American masterwork dedicated to Trenton’s seminal place in American history.
By 2013, Wells Fargo, which had previously acquired the old bank building at 1 West State Street with its purchase of Wachovia Bank, had sold the building and prepared to move the branch. Wells Fargo generously loaned and then, in 2019, gifted the painting to Thomas Edison State University with the understanding that the educational institution had both the ability to keep the painting in Trenton and to make it readily available to anyone who wished to view it.
Wells Fargo’s gift agreement stipulated that TESU could not sell N.C. Wyeth’s masterwork for a period of three years. "While it may well be within TESU’s legal right to sell the painting, choosing that path will break faith with those who worked to secure Wells Fargo’s benevolent gift, and more broadly, with the public and the people of Trenton," a statement from the Trenton Historical Society read.
Like what you read? Subscribe to the Trenton Journal
Be social! Join the conversation with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
✉️ Got questions, story ideas or comments, contact: Kenneth@trentonjournal.com
