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.
Registration can be done online or at a group session at Lawrence High School on March 13. Proper documentation, such as your child's birth certificate and proof of residency, will be needed.
On March 10, the Mercer County Clerk's Office will participate in “Passport Day in the USA,” a nationwide event held in conjunction with the U.S. State Department to process passport applications.
More than 85 people fell ill at Rider's campus in Lawrence Township in recent days.
Vote below or tell us in the comments about what you're doing for Valentine's Day.
Public input played a large role in the decision, state officials said.
With four suspects in custody, Lawrence Township police believe they have solved several burglaries, some dating back to September of last year and others as recent as this month.
Lawrence Township police issued a news release in response to a "false and inaccurate" article that appeared today on the front page of a local daily newspaper.
About 40 students from Rider University's Lawrence Township campus were taken to area hospitals late Wednesday and early today for treatment of vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms suspected to have been caused by norovirus.
Three budget balancing options - one of which would include the holding of a referendum to obtain voter approval for an additional 9-cent municipal tax rate increase - were presented to Lawrence Township Council this week.
The Cardinals will take on Steinert at 8 p.m. today, Wednesday, Feb. 8.
White powder - which tests revealed was a nonhazardous starch - was packed into a shotgun shell that was part of a harassing mailing sent to a Lawrence Township resident.
The Feb. 15 presentation will cover the cultural history of New Jersey’s historic cemeteries and burial grounds from the 17th century through the dawn of the 21st century.
“Life insurance coverage is just as important to consumers as auto or homeowners insurance.” ~ New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Tom Considine.
A longtime Lawrence Township resident, he worked for the township board of education for over 20 years.
Lawrence High School football player Edward Carrington has signed a letter of intent to play at Bucknell University.
The Lawrence Township Council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, Feb. 7).
From 6 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 14 Princeton Community Church will offer free child care. Participants need not be members of the church.
Increased bus and train service will help fans of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants get to the ticker-tape parade in Lower Manhatten on Tuesday.
The United Way of Greater Mercer County's Financial Empowerment Center offers free help with consumer credit counseling, debt management, foreclosure counseling, tax preparation and more.
The annual meeting of the Lawrence Historical Society will feature a lecture by Lawrence Township Historian Dennis Waters about the 400-year history of Lawrence’s main thoroughfare: Route 206.