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.
Costco Wholesale Corp. recently expressed its interest in building a store at the corner of Quakerbridge Road and Lawrence Station Road, but before they can do that Lawrence Township would have to rezone the 37-acre parcel to allow commercial use.
A celebration commemorating the school’s 100th anniversary will be held next spring. To raise money for that celebration, the school will be holding a series of events, beginning with a fundraiser on Sept. 22 at Captain Paul’s Firehouse Dogs.
Overlook Medical Center psychologist Rosalind S. Dorlen suggests practicing healthy stress management habits at home, as stress can increase during the school year.
Residents of the destroyed home on Featherbed Court in Lawrence Township were able to escape to safety after they were alerted to the blaze late Wednesday evening by the sound of a smoke detector going off.
Former New York Giants player Carl Banks and former Philadelphia Eagles player Hollis Thomas will visit Lawrence Township on Sept. 29 to take part in a celebrity bowling event to benefit the United Way of Greater Mercer County.
Live music by local bands will be featured every Saturday and Sunday and on Columbus Day through Oct. 28.
Several small fires have occurred since August 2011 at Cintas Document Management on Whitehead Road.
Located in the northwest corner of New Jersey, Kittatinny Valley State Park offers glacial lakes, 75 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, secluded fishing and hunting spots, and kayaking and canoeing.
The members of Lawrence Township Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 119 will host a fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 8, at Captain Paul's Firehouse Dogs to benefit Autism New Jersey.
Three residents were rushed to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, while several volunteer firefighters narrowly escaped serious injury or death when the burning home's second floor collapsed and kitchen appliances fell to the floo
According to the New Jersey Teen Safe Driving Coalition, teens crash at three times the rate of more experienced drivers, and that crash risk increases dramatically when teen drivers carry passengers and drive at night.
College freshman can reduce the risk of contracting infectious diseases by following a few simple rules.
The restaurant, which is part of a major facelift at the mall in Lawrence Township, will open on Sept. 19.
Lawrence Township plans to solicit competitive bids to determine if police dispatching and emergency medical services should be privatized, but any savings, under state law, can't be applied to cutting the $750,000 municipal tax levy cap overage fo
The event will benefit Ben Franklin Elementary School. Vendors, crafters, businesses and yard sale sellers wishing to take part in the Nov. 3 event have until Oct. 26 to register.
In other Lawrence Township community news, adult English classes will begin at Slackwood Elementary School during the evening of Sept. 18. Meanwhile, registrations are still being accepted for the Lawrence Lightning Junior football program.
The semi-annual fundraiser for Lawrenceville Elementary School will take place on Oct. 6. Electronic registration for sellers wishing to take part will be held Sept. 7-10.
Lawrence Township Cub Scout Pack 28, headquartered at Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church, will host a meeting/reception for prospective new scouts on Sept. 14.
The event will take place on Sept. 12. Customers who present a special flyer will see 20 percent of their purchase be donated to the school.
Bicycling organizations throughout state call on both bike riders and drivers to work together.
