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 team of undergraduate students from Rider University recently placed in the top 10 of the Small Business Institute Association’s Consulting Project of the Year competition.
Radon kits will be available from the lawrence Township Health Department for township residents on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a limit of one free test kit per household.
Longtime Lawrence Township resident was an Army veteran of World War II.
Rider Dances with American Repertory Ballet will take place on March 30-31 in the Yvonne Theater on the Lawrence Township campus of Rider University.
Patti Esser, school counselor at Lawrence Middle School, has been named “Counselor of the County” for 2012 by the Mercer County Professional Counselors Association.
On March 19, Amy Ricco, associate professor in the Horticulture Department at Mercer Community College, will give a talk entitled “'Plant Division, Seed and Cutting Propagation for both Garden and Houseplants.”
As part of an expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers, the IRS is offering penalty relief to the unemployed and making Installment Agreements available to more people.
Lawrenceville Elementary School PTO's 2012 "Night of Giving” Live and Silent Auction will take place on March 31 at the Educational Testing Service campus on Rosedale Road in Lawrence Township.
Tell us where you're going to party on Saturday.
Lawrence Township police allege suspect William Clayborn tried to break into the seafood market early Thursday morning and also broke into the same business on Feb. 27 and March 1.
Readers of Lawrencville Patch have voted Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church Nursery School as their favorite preschool in Lawrence Township during this week's "Readers' Choice" poll.
The program on March 31, “Heroes of the Women’s Movement,” will chronicle the lives women who have promoted and expanded the rights and opportunities for all women.
New Jersey's unemployment rate is at 9.0 percent
Mercer County residents can dispose of household chemicals and old electronics by visiting the county's fire academy in Lawrence Township tomorrow, March 10, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During the Lawrence Township chapter of the League of Women Voters forum on March 12, Lawrence Township Manager Richard Krawczun will discuss the 2012 municipal budget and the municipal tax increase referendum that will take place on April 17.
The guided walk will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 11.
Wednesday afternoon blaze in Lawrence Township sent up a column of smoke that could be seen for several miles.
Average sewer customer in Lawrence Township will pay $85 more in 2012.
"A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential” today (Wednesday, March 7), according to the National Weather Service.
The fire broke out about 11:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6.
