Mike is the editor of Lawrenceville Patch. A lifelong New Jersey resident who was raised in Metuchen (Middlesex County), he is a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. Mike came to Lawrence Township in 1991 to attend what was then known as Rider College. He spent the first semester of his junior year attending Queen Mary and Westfield College in London, England, as part of Rider's Study Abroad program. Although he graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications in 1995 (by which time Rider had become a university), Mike chose to remain in Lawrence Township, having built strong ties to the community.
Mike spent 15 years working as a reporter and photographer for The Times of Trenton, specializing in covering the crime and breaking news beats. During his career with The Times, Mike was honored for his writing and photography with seven awards from the New Jersey Press Association, Garden State Journalists, the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the North Jersey Press Club. Mike has also worked as a freelance reporter and photographer for several other publications, and his work has appeared in The Trentonian, The Virginia-Pilot, The Tampa Tribune, Business Travel News and Firehouse Magazine.
In 1992, still in his freshman year at Rider, Mike joined Lawrence Road Fire Co., one of the three volunteer fire companies that protect Lawrence Township. Mike has been an active firefighter ever since and has held several fire-line and administrative positions over the years. Mike also served for a year as an emergency medical technician with Lawrence Township First Aid Squad, back when the township's ambulances were staffed by volunteers. Unable to commit the time necessary to remain active in both volunteer organizations, Mike gave up riding the ambulance.
Mike is a diehard New York Giants fan whose interests include photography, local history, and most British television shows. Mike and his wife Ann bought their home in Lawrence Township in 2003. Their son James was born in 2007.
<strong>Beliefs</strong>
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
<strong>Politics</strong>
How would you describe your political beliefs?
I understand the need for politics and political debate, and for political news coverage. But, truth be told, politics in not my favorite subject. I do vote, but I have no allegiance to any particular party.
<strong>Religion</strong>
How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)
I was raised Roman Catholic, but I have not been a regular church-goer in a very long time. I guess I would described myself as non-religious.
<strong>Local Hot-Button Issues</strong>
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?
Property taxes are obviously one of the biggest issues facing Lawrence Township and the entire state of New Jersey. The amount in taxes that New Jersey residents pay is amazing in comparison to what those in other states pay. With the new 2 percent tax cap, Lawrence Township is going to have some difficult decisions to make in terms of what services are going to be cut. And everyone is going to have a different opinion of what should or can be cut.
The next meeting of Lawrence Township Council will take place today, Tuesday, Oct. 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building at 2207 Lawrence Rd. (Route 206).
The number of crashes at Route 1 and Bakers Basin Road/Franklin Corner Road has nearly doubled since the red light cameras were turned on there, according to police statistics, which also show over 9,000 tickets have been issued since November.
Bill Felder announces on behalf of the Lawrenceville Main Street Artists' Network that the gallery on Main Street (Route 206) will close Oct. 27 as a result of the artists' group being ordered to separate from the Lawrenceville Main Street or
Winners of the Lawrence Township Growth and Redevelopment Committee's 14th Annual Awards Program for Economic Development were honored on Oct. 10.
Organizations received $1,000 grants through the Wells Fargo Community Partners Program.
The Friday night blaze was contained to the fireplace and chimney, with no damage to the house on Bergen Street.
Testimony about the proposed redevelopment and adjacent vacant lots along Route 1 at Bakers Basin Road will continue Oct. 29.
At 1 and 3 p.m. today, Oct. 13, Mercer County Wildlife Center Director Diane Nickerson will show off some animals and make presentations about how the center works to rehabilitate and release injured and displaced wildlife.
Gordon Thomas Ward, author of "Ghosts of Central Jersey: Historic Haunts of the Somerset Hills," will speak at the New Jersey State Library in Trenton from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25.
Only 30 limited edition timepieces will be produced. Each will retail for $8,650.
As part of its plan to stock New Jersey waters with over 20,000 trout this fall, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife will stock Colonial Lake in Lawrence Township with about 170 trout on Wednesday.
The funding, in excess of $380,000, will support training programs for New Jersey’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and help ensure that local investigators are trained to use technology needed to combat online predators.
If you want to vote in the Nov. 6 general election, and you are not registered, you need to do so fast. Registration information and applications are available online and in several languages.
Triggered by shorter days and cooler weather, deer disperse and move around considerably as they search for mates. Deer behavior is likely to be sudden and unpredictable.
The clinics on Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 are for Lawrence Township residents only, and proof of residency will be required.
Individuals affected by the military’s “stop loss” policy since 2001 can apply for a $500 bonus for each month their service was involuntarily extended beyond their scheduled separation date.
Testimony about the proposed redevelopment of the Mrs. G TV and Appliances property and adjacent vacant lots along Route 1 at Bakers Basin Road will continue Oct. 29 before the Lawrence Township Zoning Board of Adjustment.
The annual drive sponsored by Saul Funeral Homes and Lawrence Township's police unions this year seeks to raise $14,000 to fill holiday food baskets for 500 senior citizens living at the Lawrence Plaza Apartments and Alvin E. Gershen Apartments.
It is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated every year.
Here are highlights from some recent Lawrence Hamnett Soccer Association matches. If you have any photos from the games you'd like to share, upload them here!
