Princeton Resident Among New CERT Program Graduates

Sara Braverman of Princeton was one of 19 people to graduate from the 2012 

Community Emergency Response Team training on Tuesday, April 14 at the County’s Dempster Fire Training Academy in Lawrence.

Each year, the County trains new volunteer CERT members through an intensive program designed to teach communication skills as well as proficiency with emergency management and rescue equipment. 

On Tuesday County Executive Brian Hughes congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments, and thanked them for their commitment to emergency public safety efforts in Mercer County.  

“Your participation in the CERT program makes all the difference for County residents in need of assistance during an emergency,” Hughes said. “The support provided by CERT professionals allows this County to carry out highly sophisticated remediation efforts in a variety of emergency situations.”

With the new  graduates, the number of CERT members across the County, including the municipal CERTs, totals more than 300.

CERT was developed and started by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. CERT members in Mercer County receive nine classroom training sessions followed by a final day of practical training at the Fire School. Tuition and supplies are provided through the State and County Homeland Security Grant programs.   

In years past, CERT members have assisted County Emergency Management personnel and law enforcement officers with operations such as flood remediation and search/rescue missions. Mercer County offers the course through a partnership with Mercer County Community College and Mercer County Office of Emergency Management.

Graduates are:

• Sara Braverman, Princeton
• Kip Burnett, Lawrence
• Nick Fondoules, Hamilton 
• Charles Formanek, Hamilton 
• Audrey Garnier, Hamilton
• Celeste Giancola, Hamilton
• Shirley Hicks, Ewing
• Amna Hijab, Ewing
• Edward Livingston, Hamilton 
• Osborn Livingston, Trenton
• Tracy Livingston, Trenton
• Paul Miller, Mercerville 
• Janet Morris, Ewing
• Joseph Morris, Ewing
• Linda Pica-Carucci, Bordentown 
• Robert Reinhardt Jr., Hamilton
• Raymond Sanfilippo Jr., Lawrence
• Shirley Solarski, Bordentown
• Gerald Solarski Sr., Bordentown