Alex Bethea’s platform focuses on his more than 40 years as an educator in the Trenton school system. — Provided photo
Trenton mayoral candidates and their supporters prepare for Tuesday’s election by hosting several events at locations such as Rider University, Trenton Thunder Stadium, and Mercer County Community College over the past months.
The candidates are Alex Bethea, Walker Worthy, Paul Perez, Darren Green, Reed Gusciora, Annette Lartigue, and Duncan Harrison.
While some candidates face questioning students at Rider University, others like Bethea got support from students at the Trenton Thunder game, where they pitched ball and sang “God Bless America.”
HAMILTON, N.J. — Married with five children, this local officer has gone above and beyond the call of duty for his community.Hamilton Township police officer, David Barlow, is this year’s officer of the year. He was honored at an event yesterday. — Provided photo
Officer David Barlow of the Hamilton Township Police Department has earned this year’s distinction as Officer of the Year award because of his exceptional service to people of all ages in the community.
“He’s truly a community officer,” said David McWilliam, retired principal of Hamilton High West.
Barlow has held several positions in the community and has received numerous other awards over his 24 years of service with the township’s police department.
He is currently a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Hamilton High West for the past 14 years.
“He’s the kind of guy that makes our school feels safe,” said McWilliam.
Barlow even extends himself beyond his locale, he explains.
“When 9/11 happened, he was one of the first police officers to go to New York City to help other officers and firefighters. When (Hurricane) Sandy happened, he went down the shore to help relieve other police officers,” he stated.
Apart from being a senior police officer, Barlow is also a past fire commissioner at the Whitehorse Fire Company and a life member of Whitehorse Volunteer Fire Department.
A 1983 graduate of Steinert High School, he was owner of Hamilton Auto Body from 1986-89. He was a correction officer at New Jersey State Prison from 1989-94.
He has also been a Field Training Officer; spent two years as an undercover narcotics officer; and 18 years with the Hamilton HAZ-MAT Team.
Over the years, he has received several service awards from the Hamilton Township Police Department. These include:
• Two Grand Cordon awards for apprehending dangerous suspects
• Two Meritorious Service awards for pulling victims from fire and evacuating residents from
building fire.
• Two Exceptional Duty medals for apprehending car and house burglary suspects
• Two Life-Saving medals for saving drowning babies
• Award for 20 years of good conduct
• An Honorable Service award for evacuating residents from a smoking apartment building.
And after more than 14 years without an award, a group of Barlow’s peers from the police department have now selected him for the Officer of the Year honor that will culminate in a ceremony that was held at the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton Twp.
“This is a big honor for me,” said Barlow.
“You’re not doing the job for the awards, but it’s definitely an honor to receive them. I only wear the badges to funerals, etc., “ he said.
Barlow said his job is very rewarding and that he has not have any problems. He explains that in the light of police brutality and with police officers wearing cameras these days, “if you are not doing anything wrong, there is nothing to worry about.”
Yesterday, the Kiwanis Club hosted the 43rd Annual Hank Leverence Police Officer of the Year Award Banquet honoring Officer Barlow at the Ancient Order of the Hibernians Hall on Kuser Road.
Trenton Mayoral candidates and seven13 Films directors from L-R: Lee Kolinsky, film director; Walker Worthy, mayoral candidate; Paul Perez, mayoral candidate; Darren Green, mayoral candidate; Reed Gusciora, mayoral candidate; and Joseph Halsey, film director at Rider University Thursday where they present a Youth Symposium and film screening. — Photo by Alyson Coletta
LAWRENCE, N.J. — Along with local students and youth organizations, seven13 Films will stage a youth symposium with Trenton mayoral candidates, which will be moderated by CBS-3 Eyewitness News reporter, Alicia Nieves, at Rider University tomorrow evening.
The symposium will feature today’s youth from local schools and organizations, who will ask the panel of mayoral candidates questions about how they would improve the social challenges of Trenton. The candidates will have limited time to answer each question.
Prior to the youth symposium, seven13 Films will be screening an episode of their docuseries, and the Rider University students will be screening their featurette respectively: Generation Change and Generation Change: It Starts with Us.Alicia Nieves of CBS-3 moderates the Youth Symposium, Trenton Mayoral Candidates and seven13 Film screening event at Rider University Thursday. — Photo by Alyson Coletta
“It is amazing to see the film we have created has brought together the world of politics and education all in one place,” says Lee Kolinsky, co-owner of seven13 Films. “With CBS-3 and Alicia Nieves participating in the event, it’s the right step for great things to come.’’
The docuseries, Generation Change, is directed and produced by Joseph A. Halsey and written and produced by Kolinsky with a mission to increase social awareness about issues affecting our local youth. The film features Good Morning America’s Adrienne Bankert and youth from the local organization PEI Kids.
“We created this episode of Generation Change to find out what Trenton youth would do in their community if they were mayor,” says Halsey, co-owner of seven13 Films. “Now, these kids will get a chance to ask the mayoral candidates what they would change if they were elected,” Halsey adds. “Our film was designed to inspire a conversation and promote positive change in the community.”Teens who are students from local schools and community organizations pose questions to Trenton Mayoral candidates during a Youth Symposium at Rider University Thursday. — Photo by Alyson Coletta
Trenton mayoral candidates for this event will include Darren Green, Reed Gusciora, Annette Horton-Lartigue, Paul Perez, and Walker worthy.
The symposium is being planned and produced by Rider University students in the COM341 Publicity Methods course that is currently being taught by Adjunct Professor Kathy Magrino.
Magrino’s class has been working closely with seven13 Films and media consultant Margaret Fontana of Margaret Fontana Media since January.
“Producing and promoting this event has provided a great ‘real-world’ learning experience for everyone involved,” says Magrino. “My students and I are very excited to be working with Joe and Margaret and the entire seven13 Films crew. We are so grateful to them for this opportunity and for all of their time and guidance.”
For more information about this event, or to register to attend, visit the Eventbrite registration page at http://bit.ly/RiderScreeningEvent. You may also contact Kathy Magrino at kmagrino@rider.edu, or Margaret Fontana at seven13filmsandmedia@gmail.com.
Robbinsville mayor, Dave Fried will discuss his charitable plan for the C.A.R.E. program at his State of the Township address May 8. — Trenton Times file photo
ROBBINSVILLE, N.J. — With the success of the benefit segment to his State of Robbinsville annual address since 2015, Mayor Dave Fried will continue to “Pay it Forward” to the Community Addiction Recovery Effort (C.A.R.E.) program this year.
According to the Township’s website, C.A.R.E. is an ongoing effort that offers treatment options for those suffering from opiate/opioid addiction.
For the past three years, Fried and his constituents have included this charitable effort that they have dubbed, “Pay it Forward,” and this year’s benefit for the C.A.R.E. program will take place May 8 at his annual address.
“Robbinsville Township and the C.A.R.E. program recognize addiction as a disease, and we are committed to providing every possible resource during the short window of opportunity when the arrested addict is at his/her most receptive moment,” Fried said.
C.A.R.E. has been the standard operating procedure used by the Robbinsville Township Police Department since Jan. 2016. On-duty officers coordinate an action plan to aid those arrested in the Township who are struggling with such addiction at the time of arrest.
“This is a nationwide epidemic and Robbinsville is not immune. But we are determined to do our part by providing a pathway for recovery. We can’t save everyone. But we can save one. That alone will make it all worthwhile,” said Fried.
The C.A.R.E. program helps arrestees who have no current arrest warrants or detainers in their names. Officers assist by offering a pathway to recovery: providing resources, access to treatment, and guidance from trained addiction professionals.
Since 2015, the State of the Township and Pay it Forward have raised nearly $150,000, reports the Township’s website.
This year, the Township of Robbinsville in conjunction with MidJersey Chamber of Commerce, The Way Foundation, and Recovery Advocates of America will support the C.A.R.E. program at various sponsorship levels.
Beverage/cigar sponsorship opportunities are available for $500. Keep it Local sponsorships are $250.
Reservations are $110 per person, and $1000 for tables of 10 persons. Anyone who cannot attend, but would like to donate $25 anonymously, or in an addict’s name, may do so prior to the event.
Sponsorships and donations to the C.A.R.E. program will be used for partial scholarships, travel expenses to get into recovery, lodging expenses, and essential items for treatment and recovery.
Treatment options and essentials are based on eligibility and availability.
Admission to the C.A.R.E. program does not exclude the arrestee from his/her legal obligations.
If you or someone you love is in need of intervention, call Recovery Advocates of America at 888-360-7788.
To become a sponsor at the various levels, or to attend the event, contact Jodi Stephens at jstephens@robbinsville.net.
PRINCETON, N.J. – Stories about lucky heirs and their unusual fortunes return tomorrow night on FOX Business Network’s (FBN) hit reality series, Strange Inheritance, and will feature a local couple.
Sandy and Tim Perkins, who now live in Hopewell, inherited an original, furnished French chateau that was moved to a Princeton address.
Strange Inheritance host Jamie Colby talks about the home‘s furnishings.
“This is one part of the chateau that is most impressive. From the gilded front doors to the light fixtures, plaster detail and furnishings. So much of this home is authentic ‘Vanderbilt,”’ she said.
The Perkins renovated the house after it fell into serious disrepair when the previous owners, Sandy’s mom and her stepfather became elderly and could no longer maintain it.
The couple loves the home that they restored to its original features.
Colby states that Sandy loves the house, “and has been probably the most patient home renovation partner…”
She said the couple planned a yearlong project that spanned more than a decade, and according to Sandy, her husband Tim was more than convincing about bringing the chateau back to its original glory days “despite so many issues they endured” to get it to its magnificence today.
Sandy and her siblings inherited the home in 2000 and her and her husband have been living on the property since around 2005 while they were rehabbing the main mansion.
According to Colby, the chateau is “big enough that we may not have seen all it has to offer!” She said it has more than one couple needs, and that it even has an indoor swimming pool that is spectacular, period appropriate in design and elegant.
Strange Inheritance is in its fourth season on FBN, and according to Colby they recently shot their 100th episode of a family’s inheritance.
Tomorrow night, the show will start at 9 to 10 p.m. EST.
During the first half hour, the episode is entitled, “Screen Gems,” where a mother and son inherit 200,000 pieces of jewelry worn in classic Hollywood movies.
The next half-hour episode at 9:30 p.m. is entitled “Gilded Age Money Pit,” featuring the Perkins from Princeton, where Sandy is a retired school teacher who inherits a French chateau that has been moved to New Jersey and is filled with furnishings from the Vanderbilts’ mansions.
The reality series chronicles stories of inheritances from people and places across the country. Folks with inheritance stories that they would like to share can email them to jamie@strangeinheritance.com.
Colby says that they consider hundreds of submissions from their viewers and that they find at least half of the 26 half-hour shows on their own each season.
Donated dresses from the ”dress collection” for Princess Prom Project at the 14th Legislative District offices in Hamilton. –Provided photo
HAMILTON, N.J. — The organizers of Princess Prom Project have recently announced its 7th year of assisting teenage girls in the local community to afford dresses for their proms and other memorable formal events of their youth.
The annual Princess Prom Project, launched in the spring of 2011 by Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), alleviates the financial worry that young ladies may face when shopping for their junior or senior high school proms, or other formal celebrations.
DeAngelo announced this year’s project stating that, “over the last seven years, the generosity of individuals donating new or gently worn dresses to the Princess Prom Project has helped put smiles on faces of countless young ladies who have found the perfect dress for a special night.”
According to DeAngelo, the project has grown and remains popular this year.
“Our dress room is bursting at the seams with beautiful dresses of all designs and sizes perfect for any youth formal occasion,” he said.
DeAngelo adds that, “through collaboration with youth-service and community-outreach agencies combined with local and word-of-mouth, we are able to expand our program this year to young ladies attending not only the prom but other memorable formal events.”
Princess Prom Project assists the young ladies and their families to browse through their large collection of dresses – provided at not cost to them – by hosting “shopping parties” during the afternoons on several dates before their proms.
“As a father of two daughters, I know how important these special occasions can be in creating treasured high school memories. The Princess Prom Project continues to be a great avenue for families who want their daughters to have memorable evening that will last a lifetime without the burden of an overwhelming price tag,” said DeAngelo.
The Princess Prom Project is opened to high school girls who live in the 14th District, Mercer and Middlesex counties.
This year’s shopping parties will be held at the 14th Legislative District Outreach Center at 4621A Nottingham Way, Hamilton Twp. from 3 – 6 p.m. March 5 and 28, April 10 and 26, May 9, 17 and 30, and June 7.
Families may also schedule appointments by calling the 14 Legislative District Outreach Office at 609-631-7501.
Individuals who would like to support the Princess Prom Project may do so by donating formal or cocktail gowns to the Shoppes at Nottingham Pointe at the 14th Legislative District Outreach Center.
They will accept all size dresses that are in good condition and previously cleaned, to add to their “dress collection.”
To help complete the perfect head-to-toe look, they will also accept gently worn or new accessories such as purses and jewelry.
Brian Nicolas at The Bronc Radio Station, WRRC 107.7 FM at Rider University where he signs his Letter of Intent to attend Bryant University to play division one baseball in fall 2018. — Photo by Michelle Dryden
LAWRENCE, N.J. — Brian Nicolas, a senior at Neshaminy High School, is a star baseball player, and has been accepted to Bryant University in Rhode Island to play division one baseball for fall 2018.
Brian signed his Letter of Intent to attend Bryant University at The Bronc Radio Station, WRRC 1017.7 FM at Rider University Thursday afternoon.
His father Alexander “Dr. Suave” Nicolas was moderator of the radio program where he hosts his show “In the mix.” Some of Brian’s coaches, his family members, friends and the press were in attendance.
Brian is also a potential draft for the 2018 MLB Organization, his father said.
TRENTON, NJ — Luckily for residents who lived in the burnt out homes on Colonial Avenue, no one died last Sunday.
A big, devastating fire damaged five homes in the middle, right side of the block, and left homeowners and residents to find shelter in hotels and with families and friends.
Many lost their lives’ belongings and some said they do not want to return to the block even if their homes are repaired.
A resident said the fire started on the third floor of his mother’s home and that he believed it was due to electrical problems.
However, officials have not reported a sure cause.
Area high school students from Mercer County participate in annual Consumer Bowl sponsored by Division of Consumer Affairs. – Provided photo
HAMILTON, N.J. -– Students from seven Mercer County high schools will compete in the 22nd annual NJ High School Consumer Bowl at 9 a.m., Thursday at the Stone Terrace in Hamilton.
Last year, Hightstown High School was the champion, defeating other Mercer County high schools, and then competing for the Regionals against high schools from Hunterdon, Middlesex, Ocean, Monmouth, Somerset and Union counties.
Each year, the Consumer Bowl tests students’ knowledge of state’s consumer protection laws and regulations. The competition features a game-show format where teams buzz in to answer questions posed by a moderator from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
“This event, and the preparation that goes into it, is a great opportunity for students to gain knowledge they can use to become smarter consumers,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “Education is your best defense against consumer fraud.”
This year’s game-show style event will boast a diverse line up of moderators, referees, judges, scorekeepers and timekeeper.
Those moderating include: Anthony Brennan, New Jersey Consumer Affairs investigator, and Melanie Hazim, NJ Consumer Affairs outreach director. Referee will be Mercer County Consumer Affairs Chief, John Worth. The plan for judges will be Andrew Tucker, special assistant to the director of NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello, County Surrogate Diane Gerofsky, Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Cook, Undersheriff Jason Salvatore, County Planning Director Leslie Floyd, and Assistant County Counsel John Maloney. Rebecca Shaw, Mercer County Weights and Measures inspector; and Dulcelina Pena, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs Consumer Bowl coordinator will keep scores. And, timekeeper will be David Donahue, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs Building Services coordinator.
The Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs holds the event in conjunction with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
The Mercer County office handles complaints from individual consumers against local businesses. It protects Mercer County residents from fraudulent and unconscionable business practices. It also provides free consumer counseling and complaint resolution services to Mercer County residents.
The Division of Consumer Affairs can be reached at (609) 989-6671.
