Category: Local News

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Culture Local News

Mercer County celebrates Joyce L. McDade, first female freeholder clerk, during Women’s History Month of March

March is Women’s History Month! Mercer County draws strength and inspiration from women who came before us, and the remarkable women working among us today. They are part of our story, and a truly balanced and inclusive history recognizes how important women have always been in American society. 

 

Joyce McDade
Photo: The plaque in the vestibule of the McDade Administration Building in Trenton.

The heart of Mercer County government operations is the McDade Administration Building at 640 S. Broad St., Trenton. But do you know the namesake?

In 1987, the County Administration Building was renamed and dedicated to the memory of Joyce L. McDade, who served the public as the Clerk to the Board of Freeholders, now known as commissioners, from 1974 to 1986.

Mrs. McDade was the first female freeholder clerk as well as being the first woman to hold a top-level administrative position in the history of Mercer County. She was succeeded in 1987 by Jerlene “Cookie” Worthy, who today continues to serve as Clerk to the Board, overseeing that office and its myriad duties.

 

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Culture Lifestyle Local News

Mercer County Exec. Hughes, Clerk Sollami Covello recently lead 2023 Black History Month celebration

Black history is American history

To a packed room, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello co-hosted Mercer’s Annual Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 24.

Participants joined in song, storytelling and the sharing of history of African Americans and their contributions to the United States, during the event held at the McDade Administration Building Cafe.

This year’s special guests were members of the families of Gladys Hedgepeth and Berline Williams. Kyle Hedgepeth enraptured the audience with an accounting of his family’s part in the landmark legal case.

He recounted that Gladys Hedgepeth and Berline Williams of Trenton filed suit against the Trenton School Board when their children were refused admission to the newly built Junior High School No. 2. The new school was only a few blocks from their homes in the Wilbur section of the City, while the segregated Lincoln School was 2 miles away. With the assistance of the NAACP, Hedgepeth and Williams successfully fought the school district’s segregationist policy, and the landmark New Jersey Supreme Court case bears their names.

 

The case became a precedent for the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 and continued to influence many Affirmative Action and equal opportunity policies in New Jersey’s education system, as well as the eradication of laws supporting discrimination in New Jersey.

In addition to Clerk Sollami Covello and Mr. Hughes, others who spoke included Jocelyn White, retired Trenton educator; the Rev. Dr. John H. Harris Jr., pastor; and members of the Williams Family. Mercer County Deputy Superintendent of Elections Walker Worthy Jr. was the spirited emcee.

Additionally, Mercer County’s own Kya Collins, performed a soulful rendition of Ella Fitzgerald’s Summertime, composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the opera “Porgy and Bess.”  The original featured a cast of classically trained African-American singers—a daring artistic choice at the time.

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Local News Weather Weather & Environment

Tornado twister on Tuesday, leaves hazardous damages behind in Lawrence Twp.

LAWRENCE TWP., N.J. — A raging, windy tornado storm hit Lawrence Square Village condominium homes Tuesday afternoon, leaving behind very dangerous and hazardous lingering effects.

 

The storm that damaged the West Windsor, and Quaker Bridge area in Lawrence Township uprooted trees, ripped off rooftops, tore up shingles, zinc and tin sidings, ceilings in breezeways, and left many sharp-sided and metallic building materials hanging from ceilings, and blowing all over the neighborhoods.

 

Blog video – Tornado twister in Lawrence Tuesday

 

One neighbor said, “I was alone at home…” when all this was happening right outside my home.

 

NJ tornado aftermath
In the Lawrence Square Village housing complex in Lawrence Township, branches from a tree uprooted during a confirmed tornado on Tuesday, Feb. 21, caused extensive damages to this parked car, photographed on Wednesday, Feb. 22. — Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NJ.com reports below that tornadoes are unusual for this time of the year:

Rare February tornadoes

Tornadoes are rare in the New Jersey region during the month of February, when temperatures are normally cold and strong thunderstorms typically don’t develop.

 

However, weather service records show four twisters touching down in the Garden State in February since 1950, with the most recent occurrence — prior to Tuesday’s tornado — in 1999.

 

In that occurrence, a small tornado touched down in Cherry Hill in Camden County on Feb. 12, 1999.

 

Three small tornadoes were reported in Hunterdon County on Feb. 2, 1973, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Events Database. One touched down on a farm in Tewksbury, one 2 miles east of Lebanon and one 2 miles northwest of Califon.

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Education Healthcare Lifestyle Local News Science

Amid record nurse shortages, a top-ranking NJ nursing school is filling in the gap

Leading NJ nursing school prepares students for successful healthcare careers

  • TCNJ’s nursing program boasts simulation labs to safely give students hands-on professional experience.
  • The program’s students consistently exceed testing standards.

 

“TCNJ’s reputation speaks for itself. We have consistently had a 94-100% pass rate…”

— Dr. Tracy Perron, Professor & Chair, Nursing, TCNJ

 

Image

EWING, N.J. – Healthcare faces a staffing crisis like it has never seen before.

 

One study finds nurse turnover surged 8.4% between 2020 and 2021, propelling the national average to ~27%. In the face of this unprecedented industry-wide challenge, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SNHS) at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is preparing young healthcare professionals to exceed standards and deliver best-in-class care.

 

To get a better idea of just how SNHS accomplishes this, look no further than TCNJ alumnus and Penn Medicine Princeton Health Labor & Delivery nurse, Sydney Doyle, BSN, RN. “My experience studying nursing at TCNJ helped me after graduation by equipping me with the tools to succeed in both clinical and professional environments. Through rigorous coursework and studying under highly-esteemed nurse leaders and experts, I was able to refine my time management, clinical, and critical thinking skills and develop professional etiquette,” says Doyle.

 

Beyond academic and hands-on experience, Doyle suggests TCNJ’s alumni network adds equal value. She explains, “TCNJ’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences has afforded me a network of colleagues both near and far that fostered my growth while I earned my BSN and continually support me in my professional endeavors.”

 

TCNJ’s SNHS offers an undergraduate Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, as well as a BSN to Registered Nurse (RN) track.

 

Dr. Tracy Perron, Professor and Chair of TCNJ’s Nursing Department, argues SNHS stands out as a leader in accelerating students directly into professional healthcare careers or advanced studies. “TCNJ’s reputation speaks for itself. We have consistently had a 94-100% pass rate and our students are gainfully employed within six months of graduation in some of the most notable healthcare facilities, such as Duke, Hopkins, CHOP, NYU, Sloan Kettering just to name a few. Also, our alumni get into some of the top graduate programs, like Duke, PENN, NYU, Rutgers, Hopkins, and Jefferson,” Perron says.

 

The success of TCNJ’s nursing program at state and national levels has increasingly attracted students seeking a high-quality education in healthcare. For transfer student Adriana Pagnillo, the unique benefit of pursuing TCNJ’s nursing track is access to hands-on experience before graduation. “One experience at TCNJ that has helped to shape my understanding of the nursing field has been the lab experiences the program provides. The hands-on simulation labs, including mannequins that mimic real-life scenarios, give students the closest thing possible to a human experience. This allows the students to make errors and learn from their mistakes without the risk of harming real patients.”

 

TCNJ’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Dean Carole Kenner explains, “The national healthcare staffing shortage should worry just about everyone in the industry. Our School is honored to do its part to prepare medical professionals to perform at the top of their license.” The School rebranded in 2022 to reflect its robust and diverse, cross-disciplinary health science curricula.

 

TCNJ’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences educates aspiring health professionals to become future leaders across the healthcare industry. Faculty work closely with local healthcare partners to provide students with applicative skills and foundational knowledge. The nationally acclaimed school is dedicated to preparing individuals—through programs in nursing, public health, exercise science and physical education teaching—for the many rewards of guiding people, communities, and populations toward improved health outcomes. The School is nationally recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion.

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Lifestyle Local News Politics Travel & Leisure

Mercer County Clerk, US Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman to host passport event for Hopewell Valley residents

TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello and her staff, in partnership with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, will be offering passport services at the Pennington Borough Municipal Building in March.

 

Mercer residents interested in renewing or applying for a passport are encouraged to come out and take advantage of this outreach service at 30 North Main St. in Pennington Boro. on Wednesday, March 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Passport photos are also available on site.

 

To apply for a United States passport, applicants will need 1) Proof of U.S. Citizenship in the form of a state-certified birth certificate, a U.S. naturalization certificate, or a previous U.S. Passport; and 2) Proof of Identity in the form of a current driver’s license or State-issued identification card. No cash or credit cards will be accepted at this event. A check or money order is required. Appointments are recommended and you may call 609-989-6473 to reserve your spot. 

 

If you are unable to take advantage of the passport event, the County Clerk’s Office processes United States passport applications on a regular basis, Monday through Friday, at the County Clerk’s Office, 209 South Broad St., Trenton.

 

Passport applications are also processed at the Mercer County Connection at the Hamilton Square Shopping Center on Highway 33 and Paxson Avenue. To make an appointment at the Mercer County Connection in Hamilton, call 609-890-9800.

 

For more information regarding our passport services and what to bring when you visit, please visit the Mercer County Clerk’s Passport Services Page. For more information, please call 609-989-6473 or 609-989-6131

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Culture Lifestyle Local News Politics

Most Mercer County government offices to close for Presidents’ Day

TRENTON, N.J. — Most Mercer County government offices, including all branches of the Mercer County Library System, will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, in observance of Presidents Day.

 

The following County offices and facilities will remain open: Trenton-Mercer Airport (except for administrative offices), Correction Center, Sheriff’s Office and the Emergency Services Communication Center.

 

  • Mercer County Park Commission facilities will have the following hours on Presidents Day: Ice Skating Center, 8:30 to 10 a.m. for senior skating (62+), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for public skating;
  • Tennis Center, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Mercer Oaks East, Mercer Oaks West, Mountain View and Hopewell Valley golf courses, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting;
  • Mercer County Stables, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Wildlife Center, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only.
  • Howell Living History Farm, Tulpehaking Nature Center, Princeton Country Club golf course and Park Commission administrative offices will be closed.

 

For more information on Park Commission facilities, visit www.mercercountyparks/org.

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Business Culture Lifestyle Local News Politics

County Exec. Hughes announces projects, funding within $3M ARPA set-aside for municipalities

Making good on his promise to share $3 Million of Mercer County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes is pleased to announce the municipal grant amounts and the projects to be supported under the County’s Community Investment Initiative.

 

First announced in October by the County Executive and Commissioner Board, the $3 million set-aside was to assist Mercer municipalities with programs and services aimed at older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities.

 

Specifically, the set-aside parameters were that the funds must be used to support, create or augment municipal programs and services in the areas of health, social services and transportation. The program is being administered by GrantWorks, the firm managing the county ARPA allocation, which provides ARPA program compliance, documentation management and reporting.

 

Mr. Hughes said each of the 12 mayors pitched thoughtful projects that met the criteria. “Our mayors know what they need, and I was pleased and impressed by the depth and breadth of their requests,” Mr. Hughes said.

 

“In a perfect world, I wish we could fund each and every project that seeks to touch and improve the lives of our residents, and I appreciate this collaboration with the mayors.”

Mercer County applied the federal government’s ARPA funding formula to allocate portions of the $3 million to each municipality.

 

  • East Windsor: $74,000; Funds must be applied to the bus driver’s salary, programs, tables, chairs, and/or A.V. equipment for the senior center.
  • Ewing: $164,000; Funds must be applied to the Hollowbrook computer learning center, A.V. equipment, and/or senior programs.
  • Hamilton: $445,000; Funds must be applied to a generator for the senior center, the installation of a new field for Miracle League at the YMCA, a freezer for the Mercer County CYO, and/or COVID-19 senior services.
  • Hightstown: $14,000; Funds must be applied to HVAC repairs at the firehouse and/or at the municipal library.
  • Hopewell Borough: $5,000; This allocation will be pooled with the other two municipalities within the Hopewell Valley for a total of $60,000.00 and must be applied to the design and planning of a senior/community center.
  • Hopewell Township: $48,000; This allocation will be pooled with the other two municipalities within the Hopewell Valley for a total of $60,000.00 and must be applied to the design and planning of a senior/community center.
  • Lawrence: $88,000; Funds must be applied to accessibility improvements to the Nature Center and/or lead remediation.
  • Pennington: $7,000; This allocation will be pooled with the other two municipalities within the Hopewell Valley for a total of $60,000.00 and must be applied to the design and planning of a senior/community center.
  • Princeton: $151,000; Funds must be applied to WeDriveU transportation services, dental services for seniors, veterans, and residents with disabilities through the Princeton Health Department, and/or mental health support through the Princeton Senior Resource Center.
  • Robbinsville: $39,000; Funds must be applied to inclusive playground equipment.
  • Trenton: $1,889,000; for ongoing renovations at Reading and Sam Naples senior centers, and enrichment programs.
  • West Windsor: $76,000; To be determined.

At the October announcement about the program, the concept of which was brought to the County Executive by the Commissioner Board, then-Chair Nina Melker said, “The collaboration between the County Administration, the Commissioner Board and our local elected leaders is a perfect example how together we can work diligently in the best interests of our residents.”

The County Executive agrees.

 

Under the federal ARPA, Mercer County received $71.25 million in fiscal recovery funds intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the Mercer County ARPA allocation, municipalities received the following in ARPA funds:

 

  • East Windsor: $2,680,560
  • Ewing: $6,070,873
  • Hamilton: $16,894,038
  • Hightstown, $521,023
  • Hopewell Borough: $187,230
  • Hopewell Township: $1,741,165
  • Lawrence: $3,186,161
  • Pennington: $253,046
  • Princeton: $6,057,088
  • Robbinsville: $1,428,591
  • Trenton: $73,786,424
  • West Windsor: $2,740,187
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Education Healthcare Local News Regulations & Security

County Exec. Brian M. Hughes makes statement on mass shooting at Michigan State University

TRENTON, N.J. — Unthinkable. Senseless. Terrifying. Devastating. Once again, these words invade our worlds as we mourn for the loss of life that has occurred at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan on Monday.

 

As we again try to make sense out of a senseless act, our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones.

 

We are learning more about the assailant, his ties to Mercer County and Ewing Township and his longtime struggle with

mental illness, remarked Hughes.

 

In response to what was deemed an unconfirmed threat to Ewing schools, Ewing Township temporarily closed its schools Monday out of an abundance of caution, while police investigated.

 

Fortunately, no incident occurred, and the investigation determined there was no threat to Ewing schools. I commend the Ewing Police Department and Ewing school officials for their swift action that put the safety of the community first, and the police department’s Mercer County law enforcement partners for their assistance. This illustrates how important it is to have a plan in place – as was the case here — so appropriate action can be taken in the event of an emergency, Hughes said.

 

Our County mental health team reached out to the Ewing School District  to offer their services, and I have reached out to Mayor Bert Steinmann and offered any other assistance that the County might be able to provide, he stated.

 

I ask that we also use this as an opportunity to refocus our efforts on the safety and security of our schools, our children, and our neighbors.

 

https://www.fox7austin.com/news/threat-michigan-state-shooter-anthony-mcrae-promots-closure-ewing-schools

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Business Healthcare Lifestyle Local News Science

Investigational therapy UGN-102 may be delivered at home for the treatment of bladder cancer

–In a Small Feasibility Study, UGN-102 Achieves a Complete Response in 75% (6 of 8) Patients

–UGN-102 is Being Studied in Low-Grade Intermediate-Risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

 

PRINCETON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: URGN), a biotech company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions that treat urothelial and specialty cancers, today announced preliminary results of a study to assess the feasibility of home instillation of UGN-102 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution, an investigational therapy in development for primary chemoablation of low-grade, intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC). In this study, UGN-102 was suitable to administer at home by a visiting nurse under the supervision of a treating physician and resulted in 75% of patients achieving a complete response, defined as no detectable disease 3 months after starting treatment.

 

“Many bladder cancer patients are elderly and suffer from comorbidities that make frequent office visits for treatment a real burden,” said study investigator David Morris, M.D., F.A.C.S., Urologist at Urology Associates PC, Nashville, TN. “Moving healthcare out of the clinical setting and into a patient’s home would represent a new treatment paradigm for bladder cancer, which may reduce clinic and hospital costs while increasing patient comfort and convenience.”

 

Eight patients were enrolled and treated with UGN-102 by 4 investigators. Median age was 75 years (range 55-84). Six patients completed treatment (6 doses), and 2 patients discontinued the study (5 doses and 4 doses, respectively) due to adverse events (AEs) unrelated to treatment. All 8 patients were evaluable for treatment response, and 6 of 8 (75%) achieved a complete response 3 months after starting treatment. The 2 patients who discontinued were assessed as non-responders. Treatment-related AEs were mild to moderate in severity (most common: dysuria and fatigue in 2 patients), and 3 patients with significant comorbidities had a serious AE, all of which were unrelated to treatment with UGN-102.

 

Patients, nurses and investigators completed home instillation feasibility questionnaires. These standardized feasibility questionnaires highlighted that all 8 patients preferred at-home to in-office treatment, and 5 of 6 patients recommended UGN-102 home instillation instead of transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT). Home instillation was reported as feasible for visiting nurses, and 3 of 4 investigators considered at-home treatment “not different” than in-office treatment.

 

“As a urologic oncologist, I feel confident that the home instillation study results, appearing on the heels of our Phase 2 program and following the complete enrollment of our pivotal Phase 3 ENVISION study for UGN-102, provide us with even more reasons to believe that our novel approach to treating LG-IR-NMIBC has the potential to address genuine unmet needs of patients with bladder cancer,” said Arie Belldegrun, M.D., Board Chair of UroGen.

 

The study enrolled patients with recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC who agreed to receive UGN‑102 at home. Six weekly doses of UGN-102 were administered. The first dose was administered on-site by a physician and the five remaining doses were administered at home by a visiting nurse. Patients were followed for AEs and treatment response was evaluated by visual observation, for cause biopsy, and urine cytology 3 months after treatment initiation. Complete response was defined as the absence of disease by white light cystoscopy, cytology, and histopathology.

 

“This study is another example of how UroGen continues to advance its mission to pioneer the way urothelial cancers are treated,” says Liz Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer, UroGen. “2023 will be a pivotal year for UroGen as we report on the ATLAS study of UGN-102 and start combinatorial treatments in the Phase 1 study of UGN-301. UroGen is in a strong position to achieve leadership in uro-oncology.”

 

About LG-IR-NMIBC

Approximately 800,000 people are living with bladder cancer in the U.S., of that 80,000 suffer from LG-IR-NMIBC. Patients with LG-IR-NMIBC face a future of recurrence and additional surgeries. Currently, the only primary treatment available is a surgical procedure known as TURBT, which requires anesthesia. Every time TURBT is performed it may impose more burden and serious risks on patients, including pain, bleeding, infection and injury (including perforation).

 

About UGN-102

UGN-102 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution is an investigational drug formulation of mitomycin in Phase 3 development for the treatment of LG-IR-NMIBC. Utilizing UroGen’s proprietary RTGel® technology, a sustained release, hydrogel-based formulation, UGN-102 is designed to enable longer exposure of bladder tissue to mitomycin, thereby enabling the treatment of tumors by non-surgical means. UGN-102 is delivered to patients using a standard urinary catheter in an outpatient setting. Assuming positive findings from the ENVISION Phase 3 study, UroGen anticipates submitting a New Drug Application (NDA) for UGN-102 in 2024. If approved, UGN-102 would be the first non-surgical primary therapeutic to treat a subset of bladder cancer characterized by high recurrence rates and multiple surgeries.

 

About UroGen Pharma Ltd.

UroGen is a biotech company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions that treat urothelial and specialty cancers because patients deserve better options. UroGen has developed RTGel® reverse-thermal hydrogel, a proprietary sustained release, hydrogel-based platform technology that has the potential to improve therapeutic profiles of existing drugs. UroGen’s sustained release technology is designed to enable longer exposure of the urinary tract tissue to medications, making local therapy a potentially more effective treatment option. UroGen’s first commercial product, and investigational treatment UGN-102 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution for patients with LG-IR-NMIBC, are designed to ablate tumors by non-surgical means. UroGen is headquartered in Princeton, NJ with operations in Israel. Visit www.urogen.com to learn more or follow us on Twitter, @UroGenPharma.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Home Instillation Study of UGN-102, and the encouraging results from this study; the design and potential benefits of UGN-102 for the treatment of LG-IR-NMIBC, including benefits related to at home administration; the ongoing Phase 3 ENVISION trial and the design, timing and potential benefits thereof; UroGen’s plans to submit an NDA for UGN-102 and the expected timing thereof; UroGen’s optimism regarding the clinical potential of UGN-102, including UroGen’s belief that UGN-102 meets unmet needs of patients with bladder cancer; UroGen’s expectations for 2023, including that 2023 will be a pivotal year, the reporting on the ATLAS study of UGN-102 and start of combinatorial treatments in the Phase 1 study of UGN-301; management’s belief that UroGen is in a strong position to achieve leadership in uro-oncology; the potential of UroGen’s proprietary RTGel® technology to improve therapeutic profiles of existing drugs; and UroGen’s sustained release technology making local delivery potentially more effective as compared to other treatment options. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to: preliminary results from the Home Instillation Study of UGN-102 may not be indicative of results that may be observed in the future; the timing and success of clinical trials and potential safety or other complications thereof, including the Phase 3 ENVISION trial; unforeseen delays that may impact the timing of progressing clinical trials and reporting data; the ability to obtain regulatory approval within the timeframe expected, or at all, and to maintain regulatory approval; complications associated with commercialization activities; UroGen’s ability to attract or retain key management, members of the board of directors and personnel; the labeling for any approved product; competition in UroGen’s industry; the scope, progress and expansion of developing and commercializing UroGen’s product and product candidates; the size and growth of the market(s) therefor and the rate and degree of market acceptance thereof vis-à-vis alternative therapies; and UroGen’s RTGel technology may not perform as expected and UroGen may not successfully develop and receive regulatory approval of any other product that incorporates our RTGel technology. In light of these risks and uncertainties, and other risks and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of UroGen’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 10, 2022 and other filings that UroGen makes with the SEC from time to time (which are available at http://www.sec.gov), the events and circumstances discussed in such forward-looking statements may not occur, and UroGen’s actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied thereby. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to UroGen as of the date of this release.

Contacts

INVESTORS:
Vincent Perrone

Sr. Director, Investor Relations

vincent.perrone@urogen.com
609-460-3588 ext. 1093

MEDIA:
Cindy Romano

Director, Communications

cindy.romano@urogen.com
609-460-3583 ext. 1083

Categories
Business Education Local News Sports & Gaming

Hightstown High School wins 2023 Mercer County Consumer Bowl trophies

EWING, N.J. – A team of Hightstown High School students captured the annual Mercer County Consumer Bowl for the seventh consecutive year, defeating three other schools Feb. 10 at The College of New Jersey’s Gitenstein Library.

Photo: Members of the winning Hightstown High team with their trophies.

 

Also taking part in this year’s quiz-show style competition on good consumer practices were Ewing, Hamilton West and Nottingham high schools.

 

The Mercer County Consumer Bowl, part of the statewide New Jersey Consumer Bowl, is hosted by the Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs in conjunction with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, and tests students’ knowledge of the state’s consumer protection laws and regulations.

 

“I congratulate the Hightstown team on another impressive performance and commend all of the participants for making the effort to be an informed consumer,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

 

“Education is the best defense against consumer fraud.”

 

This year’s Hightstown High School team was composed of Aprameya Kannan, captain; Aparajit Kannan, Marko Alimpijevic, Rohan Vittal and Alexander Wong. The team’s adviser is teacher David Teleposky.

 

The Ewing High School team, under teacher/adviser Angelina Gummel, was composed of Uhart Bradnock, captain; Davon Letran, Christian Ciron, Ashley Tyson and Haile Pereira.

 

The Hamilton High School West team, under teacher/advisers Phil Panfili and Matt Dempsey, was composed of Zachary Kunkle, captain; Skylar Kunkle, Dominik Panfili, Jocelyn Calle Suquitana and Santino Panfili.

 

The Nottingham High School team, under teacher/adviser Michael Bendorf, was composed of Jack Burke, captain; Zobia Chaudhry, Daniel Leon, Mark Tezak, Zachary Shah and Sunny Carpinello.

Photo: The 2023 Mercer County Consumer Bowl at The College of New Jersey’s Gitenstein Library.

 

Melanie Hazim, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) outreach director; and Jared O’Cone, DCA investigator, served as moderators for the Mercer County competition and Mercer County Consumer Affairs Chief John Worth served as referee. Judges were Anthony Carabelli Jr., Mercer County director of economic development; Leslie Floyd, Mercer County planning director; John Maloney, assistant county counsel; and Andrew Tucker, special assistant to the director, DCA. Dana Thompson, office manager, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County; and Dulcelina Pena, DCA Consumer Bowl coordinator, served as scorekeepers, and Madeline Guzman, DCA outreach coordinator, served as timekeeper.

 

The Consumer Bowl was created by the Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs in 1994 as a way to encourage students to become smarter consumers, to be wary of scams and unfair business practices, and to be knowledgeable when obtaining services like home improvements or buying products such as vehicles or appliances. The Division of Consumer Affairs can be reached at 609-989-6671.