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.
Since February 2010, which was the low point of private sector employment during the recession, there has been a gain of 74,500 private sector jobs in New Jersey.
The freak accident on Interstate 95 in Lawrence Township caused only minor injuries to bus driver.
Following a third night of testimony on a controversial variance application needed for a daycare center to relocate into a residential neighborhood, the Lawrence Township zoning board has scheduled a special meeting next week to vote on the application.
Lawrence Township-based etemologist and bed bug expert Jeffrey White offers some advice.
The disease is transferred by the bite of a deer tick. The most common symptom of the disease is a rash around the bite area that resembles a bulls-eye.
Last week's introduction of Lawrence Township's $43.35 million spending plan for 2012 sets the stage for the municipal tax referendum that will be held April 17. A public forum to discuss the referendum will be held this Thursday, March 29.
Kristin Tsuo, an 11th-grader from The Lawrenceville School, will represent New Jersey in the national Poetry Out Loud finals in Washington DC in May and compete against 52 other champions from every state and territory in the nation.
At a "Town Hall" meeting Wednesday evening at the Lawrence Library, Lawrence Township Councilman Greg Puliti criticized the Senate Democrats' tax relief plan as being "not sustainable" and offered his own suggestions for "direct property tax relief."
Here's a roundup of notable police activity in Lawrence Township from March 13 through March 20.
School district highlights the recent academic and athletic successes of several students.
A former resident of Lawrence Township and Lawrence High School graduate, he worked for General Motors in Ewing for 30 years.
Lawrence Township volunteer firefighters Tuesday night rescued a cat that was stuck about 18 feet up a tree at the White Pine apartment complex.
Lawrence Township Health Department officials want to know if anyone or their domestic pets had contact with the rabid raccoon in the past 14 days.
Municipalities appeal to Assembly committee to end the practice, which can add up to hundreds of millions
The Lawrence Township school board still plans to spend $875,000 to buy a warehouse in Ewing to serve as Lawrence schools' maintenance shop despite the Ewing mayor's protest that the purchase will cause Ewing to lose tax revenue.
Performances will take place April 18-22 at the at the Bart Luedeke Center Theater on Rider's Lawrence Township campus.
State Police and the N.J. Office of Emergency Management can now provide emergency information to residents via text.
With its tiered approach to education inequities, the Christie administration may be on the right track.
“Fur, Feathers, Scales and Skin,” a fun program for children in preschool through second grade, will be presented by the Philadelphia Zoo’s “Zoo on Wheels” in Lawrence Township on Saturday, March 24.
Rita's Italian Ice is giving away a free regular size ice from noon to 9 p.m. today (March 20).
