The actor gives us a dark and determined figure who confidently maintains his composure while seething viciously below the surface.

The announcement of the McCarter Theatre's production of "Baby Doll"--a Tennessee Williams play adapted primarily from a 1956 screenplay by Williams and starring Hollywood leading man Dylan McDermott-- raised two considerable concerns.

The first is that the adaptation by Emily Mann and Pierre Laville would seem like some sort of affected imitation of the great playwright. The second is that its star would prove little more than a handsome face and a marquee name. 

Turns out there was little to worry about. This new "Baby Doll" fits comfortably into the dramatic world of Tennessee Williams, rife with suppressed burning desires, dangerous manipulation, and opaque morality. And McDermott is a compelling lead, giving us a dark and determined figure who confidently maintains his composure while seething viciously below the surface. 

RELATED: A buzzy new play in Princeton resurrects Tennessee Williams

Set on a dilapidated plantation in the Mississippi Delta of 1952, "Baby Doll" examines the volatile union of desperation and desire. Archie Lee Meighan (Robert Joy) is a middle-aged farmer and cotton ginner who acquired a teenage wife, Baby Doll (Susannah Hoffman), through a deal with her dying father.

But Archie Lee is also struggling financially -- the new Syndicate Plantation, run by Silva Vacarro (McDermott), has recently built its own cotton gin. When Vacarro's gin burns down under mysterious circumstances, Vacarro arrives at Archie Lee's plantation, deeply suspicious and willing to use the naive Baby Doll as a pawn in his dealings with Archie Lee.

The play is mostly an adaptation of the 1956 film "Baby Doll," which starred Karl Malden, Carroll Baker, and Eli Wallach. Williams -- a serial reviser of his own work -- created the play's characters and story in early one-acts, and revisited them first for the screenplay and then later in his own stage adaptation. Mann and Laville drew material from all these sources in order to create a cohesive arc. The play flows smoothly and coherently, and seems very much the product of Williams rather than latter-day adapters.

RELATED: 16 new shows to see on Broadway this fall

McDermott, Hoffmann, and Joy are joined by Patricia Conolly as Baby Doll's Aunt Rose Comfort. (The show also features Brian McCann in a small role, and one live chicken, appearing twice.) Each performance is at once distinct and essential.

Susannah Hoffman and Robert Joy in "Baby Doll," now in performances at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton.Richard Termine 

McDermott's Vacarro clearly struggles to subdue a rage built up from years of mistreatment as an ethnic outsider in the South; Joy's Archie Lee does his best to channel all his desperation into courtesy towards this outsider to whom he cannot help but be beholden. As Baby Doll, Hoffmann embodies all the confused energy swirling around an awakening to new and frightening desire.

All this plays out on Edward Pierce's stunning set. The imposingly three-story Meighan home seems to approach dangerously the stage's apron, as if it could collapse on the audience at any moment. Like a dollhouse, its front is missing, but the dolls who populate this house move around freely, always flirting with the potential of toppling out, and all too aware that their circumstances can change with the slightest misstep.

Patrick Maley may be reached at pmaley@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

 

The group objects to the routine circumcision of male newborns, saying it is a form of genital mutilation.

If you're in Princeton Wednesday and happen to see a bunch of people who appear to be wounded in a very painful manner, don't call 911.

They're part of a group called The Bloodstained Men who are opposed to circumcision, and they've been traveling to cities in the Northeast to draw attention to what they believe is needless surgery on baby boys.

Their attire is designed to shock: white pants with red paint daubed over the groin. They refer to themselves as "intactivists," or activists who favor intact genitals.

Craig Adams, of Dover, one of the demonstration organizers, said he became interested in the issue after the birth of his son in 2013. He and his wife declined three separate inquiries about circumcision while at the hospital, prompting one nurse to remark to their newborn, "You're a lucky baby."

That triggered memories of a painful surgery he had at the age of five - surgery he now suspects was caused by his own infant circumcision. (The problem it addressed is called meatal stenosis, or a narrowing of the urinary tube within the penis.)

"I was born healthy. Why was I altered?," he said. "This seems completely unethical to me."

Adams is Catholic, yet understands that circumcision is a time-honored Jewish religious rite. But even then, he doesn't fully agree that a parent has the right to irrevocably change another person's body - even if that person is a newborn.

"When you alter the child, you alter the man or the woman your child becomes," he said. "This is a permanent change."

Adams said he expects only a small number of demonstrators, and their goal is non-confrontational education.

They've been chastised for their graphic attire by passersby at previous demonstration who have said, "There are children here!," Adams said. He finds that criticism ironic, since The Bloodstained Men considers itself an advocacy group for children.

Circumcision, the removal of all or a portion of the foreskin of the penis, has the backing of the American Academy of Pediatrics because it confers some health benefits: reduction of the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including the HIV virus. However, the medical group stopped short of recommending it as part of routine care, saying parents should decide for themselves.

The demonstration - which Adams said with be a quiet affair - will be held along Nassau Street, close to Princeton University. The intent is to get college-aged onlookers to think about the issue, he said, adding, "Older people, they get stuck in their ways."

Kathleen O'Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Trenton schools Superintendent Francisco Duran abruptly announced his resignation Monday night

TRENTON -- Trenton schools Superintendent Francisco Duran who abruptly announced his resignation Monday night is taking a new job in Virginia's largest district.

Duran, whose last day is Oct. 2, has been named the new chief academic officer of the Fairfax County Public Schools, according to a release on the district's website.

He will start his new job Oct. 20. A district spokesman said his salary will be $196,197 -- an increase over the $192,474 salary that he made last school year.

Duran joined the Trenton district as superintendent in July 2012. He previously worked in the Albuquerque, N.M., San Francisco and Philadelphia school districts.

Last year, Duran was one of three finalists to take the helm of the much larger Anne Arundel County Public Schools, but the Maryland district passed him over for an in-house candidate.

RELATED: Trenton schools superintendent resigns

In a letter to faculty and staff, Duran said he had sought to close the opportunity gap for students and increase academic achievement. Over the course of his three-year tenure, he said the district saw growth and is on track to continue improving.

He said that more students now have access to the arts and music, athletic opportunities and improved quality instruction.

Duran said 2015 preliminary data showed that graduation rates increased 20.8 percent to 68.4 percent.

He noted that two schools -- Trenton Central High School West and Robbins Elementary School -- were removed from federal "focus" status, meaning the schools have improved student achievement.

"It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve the Trenton community," he wrote in the letter. "I am proud of the work that we have done to serve the students, parents, community and staff of the Trenton Public School system.

"There are many great things happening in the district and I know that there will be much success in the future," he continued.

Just last week, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts selected Trenton for its Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child program, which aims to create a long-term plan for improving arts education.

Duran's decision to leave the district came as surprise to many.

Naomi Johnson-Lafleur, president of the Trenton Education Association, said Duran was an "excellent educational leader for the district" who worked collaboratively with all those involved.

"I really have nothing but positive things to say as far as the state of the district and the advances that we made under his leadership," she said.

School board President Jason Redd, who was notified late last week, said the board had a good working relationship with Duran. Among his achievements, Redd said, was improving reading skills at an earlier age and restructuring the schools.

"We're moving in the right direction as a district," he said. "He put a lot of things in place."

On Monday, the board voted to appoint Lucy Feria, the district's chief academic officer, as interim superintendent while efforts get under way to find a permanent superintendent. Feria, a colleague of Duran in the Philadelphia schools, was the board's second choice to take the top post in 2012.

"She's somebody that's been a part of the wonderful work that the superintendent has done," Redd said. "She's very capable of stepping right in to continue what we're doing."

Johnson-Lafleur said she was also confident in Feria's ability to lead the district during the transition period.

"She knows our plans, knows the trajectory of the district and is more than competent to lead us," she said. "This was unexpected by most of us, but I think that we're all in a place where we're willing to work together as a community so we can continue to make progress."

Wilfredo Ortiz, director of student, parent and community support, will take Feria's position as interim chief academic officer.

The school board will hold a special meeting Oct. 5 to begin the process of retaining a search firm.

Redd said Duran wasn't actively looking for a new job, but there were some frustrations over his contract situation.

Duran has been working under a contract that expired in June. The board approved the terms of a new contract, but approval was still pending from the state Commissioner of Education, district spokesman Perry Lattiboudere said.

Redd said the board and state went back-and-forth all summer long and were still in the midst of negotiations when the Virginia opportunity arose.

Fairfax, the largest district in Virginia and the 10th largest in the U.S., has 188,545 students across 196 schools, according to its website.

Fairfax Superintendent Karen Garza said Duran has a proven track record of success in improving student learning and implementing programming.

"Dr. Duran is considered a strong, collaborative leader who works diligently with stakeholders to build consensus, while valuing varied perspectives," she said in a statement. "Dr. Duran has studied our strategic plan ... and he embraces the direction that we have established away from high-stakes testing to more authentic engagement around 21st century skills."

Duran was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

Hamilton YMCA's Miracle League of Mercer County aims to keep expanding as it marks 10 years of service.

HAMILTON - Hamilton YMCA's Miracle League of Mercer County, a non-competitive baseball league for children with developmental or physical disabilities, marked 10 years of service during its opening games held Sept. 12.

The seven-week fall season kicked off at the Miracle Field in Hamilton with 60 participants, Executive Director of the Miracle League of Mercer County Dan Sczweck said, adding the league was formed in 2005 as a "family-fun experience."

"The objective is to allow kids to play baseball who may otherwise not have had the opportunity," Sczweck said. "It's for the parents too to come have a hot dog, watch the kids run around the bases. They can kind of relax."

Music, games and food vendors are always available for the family, friends and players not on the field.

Sczweck said currently 25 high school and college students assist at the games, but the organization is always looking for more volunteers and sponsors.

Recently, he said the Trenton Thunder became a sponsor for the Miracle League and just before its season ended, the Thunder invited all of the players out on the field with them.

"That was a great experience," Sczweck said. "They had players come out and high-five all of the kids. Trenton Thunder has helped big time to get the word out."

RELATED: Miracle League of Mercer County celebrating 10th anniversary

Sczweck said each Miracle League player gets a personal jersey for whichever major league team they want.

"If they are a Mets fan, they get a Mets jersey," Sczweck said.

The players also get a nickname that is used to introduce them when they step out onto the field, Sczweck said.

He said each player gets to bat twice per game. There is a seven-week fall season and an eight-week spring season.

"It allows kids with any type of disability to be on the field just to have fun and play," Sczweck said.

The league has two upcoming fundraising events, its annual Golf Outing on Sept. 28 at the Old York Country Club in Chesterfield and a food and cheer tasting at the Sawmill Facility in Hamilton on Sept. 24 to benefit the Special Kids Organized Recreation program.

Sczweck said these fundraisers help spread the word, raise money and connect with volunteers and sponsors for the league.

"We have a great group of volunteers," Sczweck said. "We're always looking for more volunteers, new partners and connections to improve the league."

Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The board voted to hire Richard Katz, who currently oversees the Saddle Brook School District in Bergen County

EAST WINDSOR -- The East Windsor Regional Schools has named a new superintendent after more than a year-long search.

The board on Monday voted to hire Richard Katz, who currently oversees the Saddle Brook School District in Bergen County.

Former Superintendent Edward Forsthoffer announced his resignation in February 2014 and later took the top post in the Bordentown Regional School District. He was succeeded by two interim superintendents, James Baker and Thomas Gialanella.

PLUS: Trenton superintendent headed to 10th largest district in U.S.

A starting date for Katz has not yet been determined, a school official said Tuesday.

"We are very pleased to appoint a seasoned professional we believe is the right person to lead the East Windsor Regional School District to the next level," school board President Alice Weisman said in a statement.

Katz began working as a teacher before later becoming an administrator in the Ringwood and South Orange-Maplewood school districts. Before joining Saddle Brook, he served as the superintendent, principal and director of special services in the Clinton-Glen Gardner School District.

He is also an adjunct professor at Montclair State University.

"I look forward to working with all stakeholders in the educational community to ensure that we uphold the great traditions of the school system while simultaneously leading the district into the future," he said.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

Michael Houston, 25, is charged with attempted homicide and weapons charges for allegedly stabbing a 45-year-old Trenton man at the D & A Market and Deli Friday Sept. 18.

EWING - An ongoing feud between two Trenton men erupted in a Ewing deli recently when one man stabbed the other in the neck area about seven times, Ewing police said.

Michael Houston, 25, is charged with attempted homicide and weapons charges for allegedly stabbing a 45-year-old Trenton man at the D & A Market and Deli Friday Sept. 18.

Ewing Police file photo
 

Police were called to the Calhoun Street deli at about 11:20 p.m. and found the victim standing inside the deli with a laceration to his cheek and holding a bloody tissue against the back of his neck.

The victim told police that he and the suspect had an ongoing dispute since August. The victim said he was already inside the deli when Houston walked in, and they immediately started arguing, police said.

Houston then pulled a knife out of his pocket and started stabbing the victim, striking him about seven times, police allege.

Houston then fled the area before police officers arrived.

The victim was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton and was released sometime the next day. Police did not make the victim's name public.

Detectives charged Houston with the crime a short time later and arrested him without incident at his Trenton home at about 7 p.m. Saturday, police said.

Houston is being held on $150,000 bail at the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell Township.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook. 

 

Maria Elena Ubina is on the squash team. Audrey Abend in on the fencing team.

PRINCETON - Two Princeton University student athletes were arrested this past weekend on alcohol-related infractions, Princeton police said.

At about 1:50 a.m. Saturday, an officer pulled over Maria Elena Ubina, 20, of Greenwich , Conn. on William Street at Washington Road. During the stop, Ubina was arrested her for drunken driving, police said.

Princeton Police file photo 

Ubina, a junior on Princeton's squash team, earned first-team All-America and All-Ivy League honors and ended the 2014-2015 school year ranked fifth in the nation in the sport, according to her university biography. She is also a former no. 1 ranked squash player in the country in the under-19 age category.

Ubina was released on her own recognizance after being booked at police headquarters.

On Sunday at about 4 p.m., an officer stopped Audrey Abend, 19, of New York City, who was on foot on Prospect Avenue, police said.

Abend allegedly gave police false information during the stop and was found in possession of alcohol. She was charged with hindering apprehension and possessing alcohol as a minor, police said.

Also a junior, Abend, as a member of Princeton's fencing team, placed seventh at a NCAA regional and was on a third-place team at the National Squad Championships, her Princeton biography says. Abend was ranked no. 5 in the country as a junior fencer.

Abend was also processed at police headquarters and later released on her own recognizance.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

 

The homesteading program allows buyers to purchase city-owned property for as low as $1 and as much as $10,000

TRENTON — First-time homebuyers and non-residents who are looking to rehabilitate a vacant, city-owned property as part of Trenton's homesteading program are invited to attend a workshop on how to secure financing.

The Sept. 30 workshop is reserved for those who already signed up for the program at restoringtrenton.org and is limited to 100 attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.

RELATED: Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson's vacant property initiatives

The homesteading program allows first-time buyers and non-residents to purchase city-owned property for as low as $1 and as much as $10,000. The purchasers must document financial capacity to rehabilitate the property and commit to maintaining the property as their primary residence for a minimum of 10 years.

During the workshop, participants will receive information about what is needed to qualify for a renovation mortgage such as a Federal Housing Administration 203K loan.

M&T Bank will have several advisors on hand to answer questions about the loan program and application process.

"Our goal is to entice new homebuyers with the prospect of owning a quality home in the city by connecting them with a lender that will facilitate financing for home rehabilitation," Mayor Eric Jackson said. "Providing eligible homebuyers with information and a renovation mortgage loan source will add horsepower to our efforts to eliminate blight in Trenton."

For more information, call 609-989-3511. Prospective homebuyers can apply to participate in the homesteading program at restoringtrenton.org.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

Frank Marchione, who has been suspended since August 2013, makes $97,932 a year

HIGHTSTOWN -- A Hightstown police officer who has been on paid suspension for more than two years was fired Monday night.

Hightstown Officer Frank Marchione who was fired Sept. 21 after a two-year paid suspension.Cristina Rojas | For NJ.com 

The council voted 5-1 to terminate Officer Frank Marchione, following the recommendation of a hearing officer who found that he "was and remains unfit for duty as a police officer."

Councilman Charles "Lee" Stults was the only council member to vote against the resolution.

The borough will also look to recover his salary from the time of his suspension.

Marchione, who has been suspended since August 2013, makes $97,932 a year, public records show.

RELATED: Town to vote on firing suspended cop accused of sex on duty

The case stemmed from 2005 incidents where he allegedly had sex while on duty with the girlfriend of Scott Jenkins, who is now chief of Hightstown's volunteer fire department.

The allegations, however, did not surface until June 2013 when Marchione was confronted by Jenkins at the police station.

Marchione, in a lawsuit he later filed, alleges that Jenkins threatened to "ruin (his) life and get (him) fired."

Following the confrontation with Jenkins that left him shaken up, he voluntarily sought inpatient treatment and was cleared for duty by multiple doctors.

The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office reviewed allegations of misconduct and found that criminal charges were not warranted. A separate administrative investigation was also done.

Marchione filed suit last September challenging whether he could remain suspended when he had been found fit for duty and there were no pending charges against him.

This January, Hightstown brought disciplinary charges against him after a fourth evaluation found him unfit for duty.

In March, four other charges related to the alleged on-duty sexual encounters from 2005 were lodged against him, but later thrown out by the hearing officer.

On Monday, residents made a strong show of support of Marchione.

"You're getting rid of an officer that has served the community and has made a difference," Nancy Lastra said.

Many said he was unfairly penalized for asking for help.

"Officer Marchione came to you guys and the department asking for help. What is wrong with that?" said Evan Kane, Marchione's neighbor in Monroe. "He's been cleared by three doctors who have told you all that he's fit for duty. The charges have been dropped. ... All he did was ask for help and 27 months later, we're still here."

Jeremy Katz described Marchione as an officer who consistently went above and beyond the call of duty.

"I find it abhorrent that we have a governing body that ultimately is playing God with someone's career," he said. "This is a man who loved his job, loved his community ... and what you're doing is a travesty. Come on, put him the hell back to work. Do something, be proactive."

Tom Sweeney, who worked as a Hightstown police dispatcher, questioned why Jenkins was never charged with harassment.

"This guy's career of 17 years and you're going to hang him over something that happened 10 years ago and it's not even guaranteed that it occurred," he said.

Republican council candidate Lynne Woods said council members Susan Bluth and Seth Kurs should have recused themselves from voting because their campaign signs are on Jenkins' lawn. But borough attorney Fred Raffetto said the presence of the signs wouldn't necessarily create a conflict of interest. Bluth and Kurs voted to fire Marchione.

Marchione's attorney, Christopher Gray, has said that he would appeal council's decision.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

The four-day conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center this week is expected to draw more than 17,000 attendees, a record for these triennial meetings.

Lost in the excitement of Pope Francis coming to Philadelphia is the very reason for his visit - to celebrate, pay homage to and proclaim the importance of the most basic unit of society - the family.

Ever since 1994, when Pope, now Saint, John Paul II hosted the first World Meeting of Families in Rome, it has provided a platform for families from around the globe to come together and share their thoughts on the Christian family's role in the church and society.

The four-day conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center this week is expected to draw more than 17,000 attendees, a record for these triennial meetings.

RELATED: Complete coverage of the pope's visit

Conference-goers can choose from more than a hundred motivational speakers on nearly 80 topics ranging from theological matters to such hot-button issues as divorce and domestic violence.

Some of these discussions are bound to be spirited. But since the speakers come with the church's imprimatur, expect the emphasis to follow traditional Catholic teachings.

Indeed, it is the Catholic Church's steadfast teachings on such issues as birth control, divorce, abortion, homosexuality, the role of women in the church and priest celibacy that have put the church in the United States very much on the defensive.

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that roughly half or more of U.S. Catholics say that using contraceptives, living with a romantic partner outside of marriage and remarrying after a divorce without an annulment are not sins. And about 4-in-10 say homosexual behavior is not a sin.

These are all issues that have a direct bearing on the modern family and the church hierarchy has to deal with them. If the pope and the bishops stay the course, you can expect fewer and fewer people in the pews at Sunday Mass.

But this charismatic pope may make a difference. Where hard-line conservative churchmen have preached fire and brimstone and strict adherence to church doctrine, Francis has tempered doctrine with mercy. As he famously replied when asked about homosexuality: "Who am I to judge them if they're seeking the Lord in good faith?"

As the name implies, the Catholic Church sees its role as a universal one - to preach the gospel to all peoples and all nations. However, the church in America has a different outlook than in Africa or Asia, where other issues such as poverty and the vestiges of colonialism are more pressing.

This World Meeting of Families provides an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate their diversity, and bond in a spirit of brotherhood.

For no matter what the issues are, the family still plays a critical role in any society in any country. The Catholic Church realizes this as do other faiths. By focusing on the importance of family, this pope hopes to nurture a spirit of love, and that is a goal all faiths can endorse.

Hamilton and Robbinsville police blotter for Sept. 16-20

HAMILTON

 

Sept. 16
Criminal Mischief - 200 block Johnston Ave.
Criminal Mischief - Mae Drive
Theft - 2600 block Nottingham Way

ROBBINSVILLE

Sept. 17
Narcotics -- West Manor Way -- Jordan Kropnick

Sept. 20
Narcotics -- Main Street -- Matthew Berbob-Owle 

Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

 

Police were on patrol in the area of Greenwood and Garfield when they spotted a 2003 Mercedes Benz commit a moving violation and attempted to stop the car.

TRENTON - Two teens were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property after a short chase in a stolen Mercedes Benz, police said Wednesday.

File photo of a Trenton Police vehicle (Michael Mancuso | The Times of Trenton) 

Police were on patrol in the area of Greenwood and Garfield when they spotted a 2003 Mercedes Benz commit a moving violation and attempted to stop the car. Lt. Stephen Varn said.

The driver refused to stop and sped away. Police chased. The chased ended at French Alley and Farragut Avenue, where the Mercedes stopped and three people got out and ran, Varn said.

The car was found to have been stolen, Varn said.

The driver, a 15-year-old boy, and a 17-year-old passenger were caught after a brief foot chase. The third suspect, also believed to be a juvenile, escaped, Varn said.

The driver was charged with eluding, improper behavior, resisting arrest, obstruction, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief. He was charged and taken to the Middlesex County Juvenile Facility, Varn said.

The passenger was charged with improper behavior, resisting arrest, obstruction, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief. He was charged and turned over to his family, Varn said.

Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

 

West Windsor, Trenton, and Downtown Toms River all have open-air markets that will remain open through October and November.

WEST WINDSOR COMMUNITY FARMERS' MARKET

This market welcomes 15 farms and 11 vendors on a weekly basis, all located within a 50-mile radius of West Windsor. (More than 1,000 attendees have been turning out in recent months.) The market takes place every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, in the southbound Vaughn Drive parking lot of the Princeton Junction train station. Created in 2004 by two township residents, the market was voted the Top Celebrated Market in New Jersey and a Top-100 Most Celebrated Market nationwide in American Farmland Trust's "I Love My Farmers Market" Contest.

Among the participating vendors: Beachtree Farm, Cherry Grove Farm, Great Road Farm, Terhune Orchards and North Slope Organic Farm. There is also live entertainment, cooking demonstrations (Holly Slepman is appearing this week), prepared foods and special events . The outdoor market will continue through Nov, 21, at which point the schedule will be reduced to the second Saturday of the month inside the West Windsor Athletic Club. 

GREENWOOD AVENUE FARMERS MARKET 

This Trenton-based market, taking place 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, is winding down its inaugural season -- Oct. 26 is the last day. Smaller in scale than some of the other markets, it includes one grower from Hillsborough (Norz Hill Farm), one from Trenton, three Trenton businesses, community building, cooking demonstrations and more. This SNAP authorized market offers dollar-for-dollar benefits to shoppers using food assistance. The central focus is bringing fresh, healthy and accessible food to Trenton. 427 Greenwood Ave.

DOWNTOWN TOMS RIVER FARMERS' MARKET 

This Ocean County Market, located at the south corner of Irons and Water streets, is open Mondays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Nov. 18, with a special Thanksgiving farmers market closing out the season on Nov. 23. Four fresh produce farmers and one organic farmer are among the regular vendors. Besides fruits and vegetables, this a good place to pick up honey, pickles and olives, aged balsamic vinegars, hot sauces and kettle corn. The first Wednesday of every month includes a celebration of Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables, with one lucky attendee going home with a special basket featuring the specials of the month. The Oct. 7 prize, which will be given away via raffle, will consist of in-season apples and pumpkins.  

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FARMERS' MARKET

This open-air market, which takes place noon to 6 p.m. Fridays in Veterans Park, 111 First Ave., has just three more weeks remaining before it ends for the season on Oct. 9. There is still time to check out some of the new additions, including a vegan and gluten free stand. A variety of fruits and vegetables, bread and bakery products, ethnic foods, soap, candles and seasonable goodies are also available here.  

Contact Bill Gelman at bkgelman@hotmail.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Talitha Gundy was last seen on the first block of Buckingham Avenue around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.

TRENTON - Trenton police are looking for a 14-year-old girl who has been missing since Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

Talitha Gundy, 14, was last seen on the first block of Buckingham Avenue around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday. She was wearing a dark green shirt with camouflage lettering, black skinny jeans and brown reading glasses.Courtesy Trenton Police  

Talitha Gundy was last seen on the first block of Buckingham Avenue around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday. She was wearing a dark green shirt with camouflage lettering, black skinny jeans and brown reading glasses. She also has a knife, police said.

Gundy suffers from ADHD and takes medication for bipolar disorder, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Trenton Police Department at 609-989-4000. Detectives Thomas Brophy and Jose Acosta are conducting the investigation. Detective Brophy can be reached at 609-989-4148 and Detective Acosta can be reached at 609-989-4094.

Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

 

Without any rain, reservoir levels have fallen below normal, spurring fears of the state's first drought in a decade.

A drought watch has been issued in parts of 12 New Jersey counties, encompassing more than two-thirds of the population, after months of dry, warm weather that have driven the state's water supply to worryingly low levels. 

Rainfall totals in parts of northern and central New Jersey have been just over 50 percent of average over the last three months, and long-term forecasts show little chance of significant rain into the first weeks of October. Streamflow and ground water levels have dipped significantly as a result and a warm September has extended the peak water usage season, allowing the state reservoir levels to dip well below average in recent weeks.

"We have been carefully tracking precipitation, stream flows, groundwater and reservoir levels since the spring and over the course of the very dry summer," DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said. "While it is not uncommon to see reduced stream flows and ground water levels by the end of the summer season, we are beginning to observe signs of stress in our water supply indicators, and this warrants closer scrutiny and public cooperation."

MORE: No drought about it, N.J. publishes faulty drought data

The drought watch, issued by the Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday, is the first formal action taken by the state and acts as a warning to the public and local officials that mandatory water restrictions could be in the offing if conditions worsen further.

The watch includes all or parts of 12 counties, including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union. It includes about 6.2 million state residents. 

While the drought watch itself does not enact mandatory water restrictions in the affected regions, local officials often use such declarations to do so on a municipal level. The state is urging residents in these counties to be mindful of how they are using water and to follow mandatory actions taken by their communities, should they occur.  

"There are two ways we can avoid mandatory water restrictions in this situation --  voluntary conservation and rain," said Dan Kennedy, the DEP's commissioner of water resources. "Obviously, we can't control whether or not it rains, but we can ask our residents to be part of our solution ... This step is being taken to avoid mandatory restrictions in the area we can control." 

The watch comes two weeks after an NJ Advance Media analysis found that the DEP had been publishing erroneous drought information on their website, understating the severity of dry conditions in the state's worst affected regions. While acknowledging the error, the DEP said it had no bearing on their decision to enact a drought watch.  

RELATED: Fall begins with a delightful day

A potential drought beginning at the start of fall can be deceptive, experts say. Water usage naturally ebbs as winter approaches, allowing reservoirs to naturally replenish. But dry conditions through the fall and winter can hinder that process, putting the state in a serious situation as the spring growing season approaches.

"When we come to the end of August, usually we see the peak demand stop. This year, because we've had such a warm September, it didn't," said acting State Geologist Jeffrey L. Hoffman. "We cant wait around for rains that might occur.  From a planning point of view we have to assume it is not going to rain.  We have to assume that this is the start of a major drought."  

Stephen Stirling may be reached at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @sstirling. Find him on Facebook.  

 

Unite Corporation's Arrive Alive Tour came to The College of New Jersey Wednesday to give students a chance to get behind the wheel of a real vehicle but experience the effects of impaired driving in a virtual setting. Watch video

EWING - According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers under the age of 20 have the highest proportion of distracted driving-related fatal crashes.

So how do you get college students to not text, or drink, while driving? Let them experience the effects of what can happen - virtually. 

Unite Corporation's Arrive Alive Tour came to The College of New Jersey Wednesday to give students a chance to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while experiencing the effects of impaired driving.

Students had their choice of a driving while texting experience or a driving while under the influence experience.

The event was in conjunction with the John R. Elliot Be A Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers led by Joe Hadge, TCNJ's assistant director of alcohol and drug education program.

 

Additional activities included trying to dribble a soccer ball through safety cones while texting and trying to walk a straight line wearing glasses that simulate the effects of doing activities while intoxicated or high on marijuana.

Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Talitha Gundy returned home at about 4 p.m. Wednesday.

TRENTON - The 14-year-old Trenton girl reported missing since Tuesday afternoon has returned home, Trenton police said.

Talitha Gundy 

Talitha Gundy had last been seen on the first block of Buckingham Avenue around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Trenton police publicized her disappearance Wednesday morning.

City police said late Wednesday that Gundy had returned home at about 4 p.m. Wednesday, and the matter was closed.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

 

After cutting his teeth as a quiet depth player the past couple of seasons, Allentown High School junior Joe Mannino is now making a substantial impact on the field for the Redbirds as the team's starting running back.

ALLENTOWN -- After cutting his teeth as a quiet depth player the past two seasons, Allentown High School junior Joe Mannino is now making a substantial impact as the Redbirds starting running back.

In 2014, Mannino notched 13 carries for 87 yards and one touchdown. Through the first two games of the 2015 season, though, the 5-foot-11, 188-pound back has already amassed 41 carries for 242 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and two touchdowns.

During Allentown's opening game, a 62-21 loss to Archbishop Wood, Mannino racked up 22 carries for 101 yards and a score.

During Allentown's next game, a 40-34 overtime win over Notre Dame, he carried the mail 19 times for 141 yards and found the end zone again.

"We made a lot of mistakes early that we will fix when we watch the film, but I am just happy with our resiliency, and the way we came back in that game," Allentown head coach Jay Graber told NJ Advance Media after the OT win, obviously proud of Mannino and the Redbirds' efforts.

"The first win of the season is always the toughest, no matter what. We are just happy to get the first win," the coach said.

Mannino's impressive performance against Notre Dame was easily the best of his career thus far. His 141 yards on the ground were invaluable to the Redbirds, as was his 37-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter.

Without Mannino's stellar production in the run game, the outcome of the tight game probably would have been different.

Graber believed that Allentown's supportive fans had something to do with Mannino and the Redbirds' exceptional performance.

"Our fans were great Friday," Graber said. "It's why the kids play the game, to come out on a Friday night and play in front of a great crowd. It's all part of the culture. I think it helped our guys a lot when we were down in the game."

"But Notre Dame brought a big crowd as well. But it has a positive effect on the kids. Football is a grind, and there is a lot of preparation and practice time that go into one game. Then you go out and do it again the next week. When you can have a crowd like that, at home, it helps the kids get through a tough contest," he said.

Rich Cuccagna may be reached at rcuccagna@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichCuccagna. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.   

Trenton Fire Department Director Qareeb Bashir accepted the check from Louis Kilmer, chief of the Bureau of Fire Code Enforcement in the state's Division of Fire Safety.

TRENTON - State fire officials presented the city with $20,000 Wednesday to cover the fire department's costs in extinguishing a 2013 fire in a hi-rise building that had unresolved fire code violations, which hampered firefighting efforts.

Trenton Fire Department Director Qareeb Bashir accepted the check from Louis Kilmer, chief of the Bureau of Fire Code Enforcement in the state's Division of Fire Safety, at Trenton fire headquarters.

Both men said they hope other property owners see this as a what can happen if properties are not in compliance with fire codes.

"It's meant to send a message," Kilmer said.

Bashir said said property owners should be thinking of their residents when thinking of code violations. "Following the code enhances the safety of residents, and firefighters," the director said.

The $20,000 represents Trenton's portion of what the state was able to recoup from the owners of the Regency House apartments in the 1300 block of West State Street.

The building's owner has alternately been listed as 1315 ESS Holdings of Brooklyn, N.Y. and 1315 WSS Holdings of Lakewood. 

In January 2013, city firefighters were called to the building for a fire on a stove, usually a routine call that firefighters refer to as "careless cooking."

But firefighters had a hard time extinguishing the fire in a third-floor apartment because the pump that pushes water up into the building to feed firefighters' hoses had been turned off, city fire officials said. The pump had also been modified without construction permits, officials said in 2013.

When smoke started filling the entire third floor, residents panicked and firefighters had to start rescuing them, in addition to fighting the fire, officials said at the time.

What should have been a conventional kitchen fire quickly became a 2-alarm blaze.

RELATED: Owners of Trenton apartment hit with 78 code violations

Fire investigators and code officers would find a multitude of code violations - 78 after the January 2013 fire, for which the owners were charged with violating.

In December 2012, state housing inspectors had found 146 code violations, officials said in 2013.

Kilmer said Wednesday that if there's a fire at a building that's already under violation, and the previous violations cause the fire or its spread, the state can seek to recoup the costs of fighting the fire from the owners, among other penalties.

That is what the state did after the January 2013 fire, Kilmer said. The process can take some time, due to appeals, he said.

Also present at the check presentation was Rick Farletta, a state Division of Fire Safety official who is a retired Trenton fire battalion chief. 

He said the January 2013 fire at the Regency House was a bad situation for residents and the outcome for all could have been worse. "The firemen were put in a tough, dangerous situation."

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

 

More than a month after the district closed 15 of the 17 elementary school playgrounds, Amy Inman said questions still remain unanswered

HAMILTON -- The closed playground at Robinson Elementary School served as a backdrop for Hamilton Democratic mayoral candidate Amy Inman on Wednesday as she expressed her frustrations with the playgrounds at both the schools and township parks.

More than a month after the district closed 15 of the 17 elementary school playgrounds, Inman said questions still remain unanswered: how they were allowed to deteriorate to that point and how much it will cost to reopen them and where that money will come from.

"I believe it's important that we identify the root cause of this problem in order to prevent it from ever happening again," she said. "It's also important for this community to know where their tax dollars for this maintenance went since the money was clearly not spent on the playgrounds as it should have been."

The township, which for years inspected and maintained the school playgrounds, completed a final round of inspections last September before the responsibility transitioned to the district.

But equally concerning for Inman are the municipal playgrounds, where similar hazardous conditions have been reported by residents. She called on the mayor to hire an independent inspector to check out the safety of the equipment and parks.

RELATED: Independent inspector needed for town playgrounds, mom says

"We know that the same problems that closed our school district playgrounds plague most of our municipal playgrounds," she said. "The only difference is that the school district closed their playgrounds until safety code requirements could be satisfied and the township did not."

Inman is offering two solutions.

First, rally community support from residents, church groups and businesses that could work together to quickly resolve the inadequate surface issues at the schools.

And second, solicit corporate sponsorships for both the district and township to help defray the costs of repairing existing facilities and creating new ones.

Inman, whose two children attend Robinson, said she initially explored the idea as a way to bring back middle school sports programs, but said the playgrounds have since become more of a priority.

The playground at Robinson Elementary School in Hamilton is closed off by orange snow fencing.Cristina Rojas | For NJ.com 

"We have to be bold and audacious in our goals or this problem will linger -- and when the bill to fix it eventually comes, taxpayers will suffer right along with their children," she said.

Inman said playgrounds are essential for children like her 9-year-old son who has special needs and relies on organized play to get through the school day.

"They're allowed to run around the blacktop and have imaginative, creative play, but for him ... you have to put the idea in front of him so that he can exercise," she said.

Mayor Kelly Yaede, in an interview Wednesday, stood by the conditions of the municipal parks and the township's inspectors.

"The Hamilton municipal playgrounds have not needed to be closed because we have a long-term inspection maintenance program," she said.

Next year, for example, $175,000 will be spent to replace D'Arcy Park.

She said the township spends $100,000 a year on ongoing playground inspections and playgrounds, about $40,000 of which goes to the Fibar mulch.

Dave Carothers, director of public works, said in an e-mail that throughout the year, the township's certified inspectors perform inspections, make repairs and order and install parts. When priority 1 or 2 hazards are brought to their attention by residents or found during the biannual inspections, they are addressed immediately, Carothers said.

Priority 3 hazards, such as cracked rubberized coating, have a lower likelihood of causing harm to a child , but are still corrected in a timely manner, he said.

He noted that as part of the township's five-year playground plan, Kristopher and Cornflower playgrounds have been upgraded with new equipment and poured-in-place surfacing, which requires little to no maintenance.

Yaede dismissed Inman's proposals as unoriginal and said she is missing the fundamental issue that brought about the district's current situation.

The district, she said, needs to put an inspection maintenance program in place, allocate the necessary resources to fund the playgrounds and train staff to become certified inspectors.

"It's unfortunate for the children and residents of Hamilton Township that what my opponent leaves out is the amount of damage or wear and tear that a playground will realize quickly," she said. "It's unfortunate that she chose to politicize the issue."

Meanwhile, district officials have begun getting cost estimates as the inspection reports come in and plan to give top priority to reopening the playgrounds where only minor repairs are needed.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.