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.
A controversial application that would have allowed Agape International Children’s Academy to move its child daycare operation into an empty building on Brunswick Pike was denied by Lawrence Township's zoning board on Wednesday.
Rove, senior advisor and deputy chief of staff at the White House under President George W. Bush, will be a guest of Rider's Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics on April 2.
New Jersey's free saltwater fishing registry complies with federal requirements, yet avoids a $15 saltwater registration fee imposed by the federal government on Jan. 1, 2011.
The goal of the United Way of Greater Mercer County's Emerging Leaders program is to "groom the next generation of leaders."
The big box retailer also announced it will cut 400 jobs.
The Adrian Project, developed by the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS, is an interactive learning experience that provides students an opportunity to participate in a simulated criminal investigation using forensic accounting techniques.
Yes, we are looking a little different today.
Stop by and have a cup of coffee on us.
One of the suspects was taken into custody after the van he was driving crashed into three parked vehicles on Princeton Pike, according to Lawrence Township police.
Fire danger is currently rated as high throughout most of the state, meaning wildfires, once started, can spread rapidly, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The Lawrence Township school budget hearing will be held tonight, March 29; the next school board meeting will be held April 2; tickets are still available for the "Night of Giving" fundraiser on March 31; Ben Franklin PTO Spring Sale cancelled; and more.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she lived in Lawrence and Ewing townships for many years.
Lawrence Township police believe the two houses, located just doors apart, were burglarized between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on March 21.
Lawrence Township taxpayers will have to decide whether to go to the school board's formal budget hearing or Township Manager Richard Krawczun's public forum about the municipal tax increase. Both meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29.
A 1981 graduate of Lawrence High School mhe lived in Lambertville for the past nine years.
Earlier this year, David Kelly was fired from his job at Lawrence Middle School after a Pennsylvania jury found him guilty of shooting at two teenage trespassers. On Friday, a judge decided not to send Kelly to jail, sentencing him to time already served.
What retailer, restaurant or other business is Lawrence Township in desperate need of?
A native of Rhode Island, she moved to Lawrence Township last year.
For the second day in a row, strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will once again create "explosive fire growth potential" throughout New Jersey today (Tuesday, March 27).
Lawrence Township's Memorial Day Parade will be held May 19 - one week earlier than planned because township schools, having used no "snow days" this winter, will now be closed the three days prior to the holiday weekend and many more people may go away.
