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177 state corrections officers sworn in at Trenton ceremony

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The officers come from 19 of New Jersey's 21 counties, with the most, 37, from Cumberland County, and 27 from Essex County.

TRENTON -- The latest class of state corrections officers officially graduated Tuesday during a ceremony at Trenton's Patriot's Theater at the War Memorial.

The officers were sworn in by Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner Gary M. Lanigan following an address by Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.

Class #237 by the numbers:

* The officers come from 19 of New Jersey's 21 counties, with the most, 37, from Cumberland County, and 27 from Essex County.

* The rest of the counties and number of officers: Ocean, 17; Hudson, 13; Burlington, 11; Mercer, 10; Union, 10; Bergen, 9; Camden, 8; Middlesex, 8; Cape May, 6; Monmouth, 5; Atlantic, 4; Gloucester, 4; Passaic, 4, and one each from Morris, Salem, Somerset and Warren.

* 21 of the officers have served in the U.S. military: 11 from the Army, 4 from the Marines, 3 from the Air Force and 3 from the Navy.

* 59 of the 177 officers have college degrees.

* 33 are from law enforcement families and 14 officers have other family members currently in law enforcement.

The following officers were honored with DOC training awards:

* Fred Baker Memorial Academic Award: Anthony Davanzo

* Michal R. Pofahl Memorial Firearms Award: Anthony Grasso Jr.

* Stone-Ratajczak Professionalism Award: Trent Darway

* Harry Ellifritz Award: Daniel Kemble

* Commissioner's Physical Fitness Award: Taj Lumanog, who was also named class president.

* Commissioner's Physical Fitness Award Most Improved: Paul Lewis

* Police Training Commission Merit Awards: Scott Fancher, Bryon Heinrich, Carlos Rosario and Michael Sammarone.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.


Trenton man charged with assault after taking ex's car, police say

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Police found Kristoffer Ashe and charged him with a 2015 assault after his ex girlfriend told police he took her car.

TRENTON -- A Trenton man who allegedly assaulted a man last year was located Monday and charged after his former girlfriend reported he had taken her car, police said.

AsheKristoffer Ashe was charged recently with a 2015 assault. Photo courtesy of Mercer County Prosecutor's Office 

On November 29, 2015, Kristoffer Ashe, 28, allegedly walked up to a 24-year-old Trenton man and started beating him, police spokesman Lt. Rolando Ramos said.

The victim suffered facial fractures after Ashe kicked him in the face, Ramos said. Ashe has been a wanted man ever since.

Ramos said Ashe's girlfriend called police Monday and reported Ashe had taken her car and she told officers that he could be found working at a downtown restaurant.

Officers located and arrested Ashe at about 4 p.m. Monday and charged him with aggravated assault for the 2015 incident and motor-vehicle theft for allegedly taking his former girlfriend's car.

Thomas Regan may be reached at tregan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Thomas_P_Regan. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Trenton man, teen charged with drug possession

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David L. Hickmond and a 14-year-old were arrested after police noticed a suspicious hand-off.

TRENTON -- A Trenton man was charged with marijuana possession and dealing after police say officers spotted him passing what they believed to be a weapon to a 14-year-old. 

HickmondDavid L. Hickmond and a 14-year-old were arrested after police noticed a suspicious hand-off. Courtesy of Mercer County Prosecutor's Office

David L. Hickmond, 19, was arrested at about 9:30 p.m. Monday after police heard several gunshots in the area of Power Street, police spokesman Lt. Rolando Ramos said.

When officers drove down the street, they noticed Hickmond handing an object they believed to be a weapon to the juvenile, Ramos said.

However, when police detained the two, they found 29 grams of marijuana in a sandwich bag on Hickmond and a small quantity of Molly, a synthetic form of ecstasy, and a digital scale on the teen, Ramos said. 

Both Hickmond and the juvenile were charged with drug possession, intent to distribute drugs within 500 feet of a park and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.

Thomas Regan may be reached at tregan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Thomas_P_Regan. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

House Democrats shift gun protest to N.J. | The Auditor

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New Jersey's Democratic House members planned activities for Wednesday's "national day of action."

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who helped plan last week's sit-in on the House floor, and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., who participated in the protest, are among the New Jersey lawmakers continuing their efforts to force a vote on gun safety legislation with events Wednesday while Congress is out of session.

When they ended their protest after almost 26 hours, Democrats said they would continue trying to force a vote on legislation to ban weapons sales to suspected terrorists and to require background checks for those buying guns at shows and online.

Their actions followed the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, the deaths of 49 patrons at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

"I saw one of my colleagues in Congress shot," said Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9th Dist.), who plans a press conference in Saddle Brook with public safety officers and gun control advocates. "I saw 20 elementary school children killed in their classroom. I saw churchgoers killed while praying, and now the worst shooting in our nation's history. It's time that we listen to majority of the American people who support common sense gun violence prevention policies."

House Democrats end sit-in

Watson Coleman (D-12th Dist.) is meeting with community leaders and gun control advocates in Trenton, part of what House Democrats are calling a "national day of action." Pallone (D-6th Dist.) is inviting constituents to visit him in his New Brunswick office to discuss gun safety legislation. He's calling it a "symbolic sit-in."

And Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1st Dist.) is to join the Camden County Board of Freeholders and others in a rally and march beginning at Jack Curtis Stadium on the Pennsauken side of Cooper River Park. 

Those scheduled to attend Watson Coleman's forum include Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, Pastor Mark Broach of the Trenton Deliverance Center, Brett Sabo of Moms Demand Action New Jersey, Azra Baig of the Islamic Society of Central New Jersey and Carole Stiller, NJ Million Mom March Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Just as House Democrats used social media to televise their protest after the House cameras were shut off, Watson Coleman will broadcast her forum live at www.facebook.com/RepBonnieWatsonColeman. purchases online and at gun shows.

All six House Democrats from New Jersey, as well as both U.S. senators, Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, participated in the protest.

Trenton man allegedly shoots partner in robbery attempt

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Brandon Miner was arrested Tuesday after police connected him to a June 11 attempted robbery.

TRENTON -- A Trenton man, who was on probation, is facing assault charges after police say he shot his alleged partner in crime who struggled with one of the victims they were trying to rob earlier this month, police said.

Brandon MinerBrandon Miner was arrested in relation to an attempted robbery, in which he allegedly shot his partner, who struggled with one of the victims. Courtesy of Mercer County Prosecutor's Office

Brandon Miner and his alleged accomplice followed two men - a 25-year-old and a 26-year-old - from the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Fowler Street on June 11, police spokesman Lt. Rolando Ramos said.

Miner, 28, and the other suspect allegedly told the victims to lay on the ground and hand over their valuables, Ramos said.

However, one of the victims fought with the second suspect and gained the upper hand.

During the scuffle, Miner shot at the victim and missed, striking his partner in the butt, Ramos said. 

After the shooting, Miner and the injured suspect went to a Pennsylvania hospital, where they claimed the wounded accomplice was the victim of a shooting, Ramos said.

At that point, Philadelphia police contacted Trenton police to investigate and Trenton detectives went to the hospital.

Investigators talked to the pair at the hospital and were told that the second suspect was shot in a shooting in Philadelphia.

The duo eventually left the hospital, and after further investigation, Trenton police had enough evidence on Miner to connect him to the incident, Ramos said.

Officers arrested Miner on Tuesday, at about 5 p.m., through his parole officer.

Miner is charged with attempted homicide for trying to shoot one of the victims, aggravated assault for shooting his alleged partner, plus robbery and weapons offenses.

The incident is still under investigation. The identity of the accomplice has not been made public by police.

Thomas Regan may be reached at tregan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Thomas_P_Regan. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Rider announces new sports media bachelor's degree

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Rider's new sports media program will teach students sports communication skills and is available in fall 2016.

LAWRENCE - Rider University unveiled a new bachelor's degree in sports media Wednesday.

The major field of studies will provide students with the opportunity to build skills in multimedia production, writing, storytelling, social media and sports communications, university professor A.J. Moore said in a statement.

"Whether students aspire to work in the sports industry as journalists, on-air broadcasters, public relations strategists, bloggers or producers, the program's innovative interdisciplinary approach will give them the competitive edge and strong foundation they'll need to reach their goals," Moore said.

rider sign.JPG 

The new major will be available this fall, 2016, and Moore said the program will give students the diverse skill-set that sports-media employers seek. 

Rider touted its "strategic location, near New York City and Philadelphia - two of largest media and sports team markets" in the announcing the new degree.

"Our communication majors have easy access to internships and other professional development opportunities, and have a history of interning with major professional sports franchises, minor league organizations and Division 1 programs," Moore said.

He added that Rider students have already earned internships and landed jobs with reputable sports organizations like ESPN, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and professional teams like the Giants, Jets, Devils, Flyers and Trenton Thunder

To earn a degree in sports media, students must complete 24 credits of core communication courses and 24 credits of major courses - which include sports multimedia reporting, sports marketing and live sports reporting.

Thomas Regan may be reached at tregan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Thomas_P_Regan. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Hillsborough's new guidance director comes from East Windsor

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Jessica Smedley, East Windsor Regional School District's supervisor of counseling, has been appointed Hillsborough Township school district's new director of guidance.

HILLSBOROUGH - The township's Board of Education voted Monday to appoint Jessica Smedley as the district's new director of guidance, according to a news release.

"Jessica will be a welcome addition to our administrative team" said Dr. Jorden Schiff, superintendent of schools. "Her attention to promoting good student emotional and social health, as well as increasing academic opportunities, will benefit students in all nine Hillsborough schools."

Smedley will start by Aug. 31. Salary information was not immediately available.

She has worked since 2009 as the East Windsor Regional School District supervisor of counseling.

Hillsborough appoints new head of special services

While in East Windsor, Smedley supervised 17 counselors in six district schools, was the master scheduler for Hightstown High School, oversaw the district and school crisis teams and developed a senior transition program for graduating students, according to the news release.

Prior to East Windsor, she was a school counselor at Hightstown High School, as well as a content specialist for the Guidance Department. She began her public school career in 2002 as a school counselor at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School, where she worked with students in sixth through eighth grade.

Smedley received a bachelor's degree in psychology and labor studies from Rutgers University and a Master's Degree in Counseling Services, School Counseling Specialization from Rider University.

She also earned an educational specialist degree in marriage and family therapy from The College of New Jersey and her supervisor certificate from Kean University. She holds a certificate as director of school counseling and is a licensed professional counselor.

NJ Weedman tries to get key evidence back after police raid

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Ed "NJ Weedman" Forchion wants his camera equipment back. He claims it holds proof that police were lying about a dispute earlier this year

TRENTON - In an ongoing legal battle between Ed "NJ Weedman" Forchion and Trenton police, a couple of pieces of evidence are key.

Forchion's DVRs and computer hard drives contain surveillance footage that could prove police were lying about a 30-person street fight they broke up outside Forchion's East State Street establishment earlier this year, Forchion's attorney, Edward Heyburn said.   

But the equipment was confiscated by police during a raid and now Forchion is trying everything to get it back.

On Tuesday, Heyburn filed a motion on Forchion's behalf, calling for the police department to return the hard drives and DVRs. He claimed that the equipment contained footage from Feb. 28, 2016, during one of the first disputes between Forchion and city police.

That night, police have said they went to Forchion's East State Street combination restaurant and "pot temple" around 2:30 a.m. to find 30 people gathered outside. A caller had told police the crowd was gathered for a street fight.

Only one person was charged with resisting arrest that night, but the incident put a black mark on the relationship between police and Forchion, he says.

Weedman through the years

Forchion filed a civil rights complaint weeks later and said that his surveillance cameras caught the February incident and showed that there were only five people - not 30 - convening outside his establishment that morning and that they weren't fighting.

"(Police) act like it's a melee," Heyburn said.

He added that Forchion's surveillance footage proved police were lying - not just in statements to the public, but in court documents as well.

Police obtained a search warrant that allowed them to raid Forchion's temple and restaurant in April, during which they seized the camera equipment and hard drives containing all the video footage, Heyburn said.

They also arrested Forchion and several other people. 

"The primary purpose of the raid was to seize the DVRs and hard drive, which contained exculpatory evidence, evidence for the civil rights case and evidence of (police) perjury," Forchion said in an affidavit.

Heyburn said he's requested two probable cause hearings but has received no response in the case. He added that the camera and computer equipment is evidence in Forchion's civil and criminal cases and should be in his hands.

Heyburn is also requesting a preliminary injunction to keep police from deleting any evidence that might be on the equipment.

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook


Ax murderer's conviction upheld by appeals court

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Apollo H. Cardenas was 45 years old when he killed his wife, Youngsook Lee, 29, in November 1996.

MAPLE SHADE -- A man who killed his wife in 1996 after flying into a rage over suspicions she was having an affair lost an appeal Wednesday that argued he did not receive a fair trial in 2014.

Apollo H. Cardenas was 45 years old when he killed his wife, Youngsook Lee, 29, in November 1996.

Cardenas fled to Ecuador shortly after the crime, but Burlington County investigators built a case against him and charged him in early 1997, not long after Lee's bloody, decomposing body was found in their Maple Shade apartment.

Detectives found ax stained with blood and matted hair in a closet.

Cardenas remained a fugitive for about 16 years, until he stepped off a plane from Ecuador in Miami in 2013 and a federal officer apprehended him plane-side after finding the New Jersey homicide warrant for his arrest.

Cardenas was convicted of murder at trial in 2014 and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.

He testified on the stand that he suspected his wife, who worked as a waitress, was having an affair, and when she muttered another name while she slept, he awoke to leave their apartment.

Then his wife awoke and he went into a "hard rage" as she screamed/ Cardenas testified he wanted to intimidate his wife with the ax, but lost control and snapped.

Lee suffered a massive head trauma and one of the blows cut her jugular vein.

In an appeal, Cardenas' lawyers argued three points they say tainted his trial.

They include that the trial court's exclusion of Cardenas' pre-killing statements he made to his sister about his wife infidelities, and the inclusion of testimony about Lee's fear of her husband both denied him a fair trial.

He also argued the court improperly denied his request - at the trial's outset - to dismiss his public defender and hire a private attorney.

The court examined the arguments against case law and found no plain error and dismissed each point.

Cardenas, now 64, is incarcerated in New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. His parole eligibility date is in April 2043.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Police investigating fire that torched 14 cars at tow yard

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The fire, reported just after 11 p.m. Tuesday, took several fire companies about an hour to extinguish.

HAMILTON -- Police and prosecutor's detectives are investigating the cause of a fire that burned 14 vehicles at Eddie's Auto Body & Towing on Youngs Road Tuesday night, police said.

The fire, reported just after 11 p.m., took several fire companies about an hour to extinguish.

Investigators went back to the scene later Tuesday and spent a considerable amount of time trying to find the cause, police Detective Lt. Jeffrey Martin.

The cause, though, is still under investigation, Martin said.

All of the burned vehicles were in a fenced yard on the property, Martin said.

A representative from Eddie's said Tuesday that the business remains open and their building was not damaged.

Detective Leonard Gadsby is leading the probe with Mercer County Prosecutor's Office detectives.

Anyone with information can contact Gadsby at 609-581-4032 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at 609-581-4008.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Princeton woman awakes to being sexually assaulted by stranger

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Police believe Pedro Arias-Santiago got into the woman's house through an unlocked door

PRINCETON -- A Princeton woman woke up early Wednesday to a stranger sexually assaulting her in her house, police said.

The intruder, later identified as Pedro Arias-Santiago, 26, of Princeton, was arrested outside of the woman's home in the 200 block of Birch Avenue by responding officers.

1.jpgPedro Arias-Santiago, police photo. 

He was charged with aggravated sexual assault, burglary and theft.

The 28-year-old victim told police she was sleeping in her home when she woke up a little after midnight to find Arias-Santiago sexually assaulting her, the statement said.

Police do not believe the woman knew Arias-Santiago before the assault.

The woman ran from her house and called police, who captured Arias-Santiago just outside the house. They searched the 26-year-old and found he was carrying a few items of the woman's clothing.

Police believe Arias-Santiago got into the woman's house through an unlocked door.

Arias-Santiago is from Guatemala and living in the country illegally and federal immigration authorities were notified of his arrest, police said.

A judge later Wednesday set Arias-Santiago's bail at $200,000 and he was lodged at the to Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell Township.

A spokesperson for the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said they do not yet have a date set for Arias-Santiago's bail hearing.

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook 

Judge denies Princeton group's request to stop battlefield development

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A historical society filed a request to put a halt to the housing development project off the Princeton Battlefield site but were turned down last week

PRINCETON - A Princeton historical society faced another setback last week in an ongoing effort to stop a housing development on land they deem historic.

On June 23, a judge denied the Princeton Battlefield Society's request for a preliminary injunction to halt the construction of a 15-unit housing project near Einstein Drive.

The project is being constructed by the Institute for Advanced Study, which owns the land in question. For years the society has tried to put a stop to that development, claiming the plot of land - also called Maxwell's Field - was once a site of the historic battle of Princeton.

Many of the society's attempts to stop the development by arguing for the land's historic value have failed. But in March they took another approach - they filed a lawsuit against the institute, claiming the construction, which has been going on since December, will disturb wetlands at the site.

Princeton society files lawsuit over battlefield

The society claimed multiple studies since the 1990s have shown the presence of wetlands around the development area. By constructing on the land, the institute was violating the clean water act, the society argued.

They demanded the institute pay $37,500 for each day of alleged violation and they filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the development while the lawsuit is underway.

But U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson denied that motion after a hearing last week. In a decision she said the society had not proved that the land would suffer serious harm without the injunction, nor had they proved that they were likely to win their lawsuit.

Both proofs are necessary in order to implement the injunction, Wolfson said.

In a statement Tuesday the institute said the decision, "confirms the fully compliant nature of the Institute's application."

Congresswoman's gun violence event sees cries for change, accusations

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Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman led a gun violence discussion with community members from New Jersey.

TRENTON -- U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman talked gun violence during a roundtable discussion Wednesday in Trenton, joining with victims of gun violence and others.

The event attracted several leaders and community members from New Jersey, all who advocated stricter gun laws.

And it also attracted a vocal Second Amendment supporter, who had a verbal confrontation with Watson Coleman, (D-12th Dist.).

The roundtable coincided with a National Day of Action on gun violence prevention after Democrats - including Watson Coleman - staged a sit-in on the House floor at the U.S. Capitol last week in protest of the lack of action in the face of recent shootings, like the Orlando night club mass shooting.

"This is an issue of the wrong people having access to guns," Watson Coleman said. "This is not about infringing upon the Second Amendment. When the Second Amendment was written, it was about muskets, not semi-automatic weapons."

Several local family members who lost a loved one to gun violence shared their story and cried for stricter laws.

A teary-eyed Regina Thompson-Jenkins, whose son, Tre Lane, was killed in the shooting on New Willow Street in Trenton 2012, implored the room to rise up against gun violence.

"Tre may have died a hero, but it doesn't bring back my son," she said. "All lives matter. These streets in Trenton are our streets of America." 

Pastor Mark Broach, of the Trenton Deliverance Center, where the event was held, wondered aloud why Trenton does not react to gun violence with the same outrage and urgency as it would to an epidemic.

"The real way that we'll change what's going on is the way that we vote," Broach said. "The group that I am working with now is trying to mobilize voters. If we don't make a change there, we won't make a change anywhere else."

Throughout the discussion, Watson Coleman interjected and several times made it a point to reiterate that the momentum from the democratic sit-in will make a change.

"This is not a moment," Watson Coleman said. "This is a movement."

However, one man in attendance was not in support of the calls for stricter laws.

Alexander Roubian, who was the discussion's only vocal opponent of stricter gun laws, brought up Watson Coleman's sons' criminal past and accused her of being hypocritical.

William Carter-Watson and Jared C. Coleman were sentenced to seven years in jail after holding up a Kids-R-Us store at gunpoint in Lawrence in 2001.

"I'm not taking this and you just shut this down right now," Watson Coleman said. "This has nothing to do with anything. You get out of here."

Roubian was escorted out by several people who were part of the discussion.

Outside the church, Roubian said Watson Coleman supported legislation that would have allowed her children to omit their felony charges from job applications.

Watson Coleman spokeswoman Courtney Cochran said the congresswoman has a strong record on gun violence.

"The congresswoman has had a consistent stance on gun laws," Cochran said. "Right now, she is working on the stop online ammunition sales act that would better track online bullet purchases."

Thomas Regan may be reached at tregan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Thomas_P_Regan. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Embattled parks director fired as corruption probe continues

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Kevin Bannon had been on a two-month paid leave before Wednesday's vote

WEST WINDSOR -- The executive director of the Mercer County Park Commission was fired Wednesday, two months after the attorney general's office launched an investigation into the nonprofit he helped found.

Kevin Bannon had been on a two-month paid leave before commissioners voted 7-1 to terminate him. Commissioner Carmen Corcoran cast the sole dissenting vote and Commissioner Phil Voorhees abstained.

"I want to acknowledge all the good things Kevin did for the commission especially in terms of facility improvements, but given the circumstances, my vote is yes," Commissioner Thomas Mladenetz said. "I think it's time to move on."

Bannon, who made $135,275 a year, held the post since March 2004.

The park commission, the nonprofit Friends of Mercer County Parks and Bannon came under scrutiny in late April after investigators raided the county's Hunt House and tennis center over allegations of official misconduct, corruption of public resources and theft by extortion.

Bannon's decision to voluntarily take a month-long leave came days later after County Executive Brian Hughes met with the commission's board president and one of the nonprofit's trustees.

Hughes said at the time that he had become concerned with the distraction caused by the ongoing investigation.

On May 31, Bannon was then granted a 30-day extension that went into effect June 5.

Bannon's attorney, Jack Furlong, said he was not given a reason for Wednesday's firing.

"Kevin has been the victim of a significant whisper campaign that is not uncommon for any aggressive manager that is involved in a government agency," he said after the meeting. "I don't know why he was fired.

"In order to minimize their exposure to litigation, I think, they are taking a tack of at-will employment, meaning not only do they not need to give me a reason, their lawyers are telling them, 'Don't give him a reason,'" Furlong continued. "The minute you give a reason, you give me the opportunity to contest the validity of the reason."

He said Bannon serves at the pleasure of the commission, a semi-autonomous agency whose nine members are appointed by the county executive.

Hughes, in a statement Wednesday, said the commission's action is a decision he supports and signals a "change in direction."

"Our park system is one of the finest in the country and we will continue to provide the quality programming and amenities that the people of Mercer County deserve and expect," he said.

Furlong said that under Bannon's leadership, five parks were unified to create Mercer Meadows, tennis operations were consolidated and an indoor facility added, golf operations were rejuvenated and now turn a profit and a new wildlife center, Howell Living History Farm's visitors' center and a performing arts stage and festival grounds opened.

"We surely have our county employees to thank for the reputation our facilities enjoy, but we should not overlook the captain of this particular ship for his time, his tirelessness and his spirit," Furlong said.

County deputy administrator Aaron Watson, who has been serving as the interim director, will remain in the role until the commissioners name a permanent replacement.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

PennEast pipeline inspires bill to regulate federal agency

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Rep. Watson Coleman will introduce the SAFER Pipelines Act.

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP -- Dozens gathered atop Baldpate Mountain preserve in Hopewell Township on Wednesday to endorse U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman's plan to propose a bill in Congress to revamp pipeline approvals.

Watson Coleman said she will introduce the Safe and Accountable Federal Energy Review for Pipelines Act of 2016, or SAFER Pipelines Act.

Dozens of affected residents also attended the announcement at the scenic backdrop of Baldpate, near sites where the proposed PennEast pipeline will carve through their land.

"We looked at the way in which (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) does business and we recognized that they're doing business in isolation, and that's not helpful to communities like ours," Watson Coleman said.

Watson Coleman (D-12th Dist.) said the PennEast Pipeline specifically made her come to realize that additional guidelines were needed to ensure that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) -- the agency that approves interstate pipeline projects -- was not agreeing to unnecessary projects.

"What this does is not heavy-brained consideration, it's not out-of-the-box thinking, it's actually quite logical," she said.

Watson Coleman says the bill is designed to force FERC to analyze the cumulative environmental impact of newly proposed pipelines in combination with existing gas pipelines. It would also place the agency in charge of monitoring approved projects for five years to ensure that the environmental standards have been fully implemented.

"This is the approach FERC should be using for all of its pipeline applications," she said. "And if they take these steps, there's no way duplicative and damaging proposals -- like the PennEast Pipeline -- will ever be approved."

Local officials, conservation groups and residents of Hunterdon and Mercer counties showed up to express their support for the bill and to voice concerns over the possible impacts of the PennEast and future projects.

Other speakers raised issue with carbon and methane emissions, PennEast's contract irregularities, drinking water cleanliness and the use of eminent domain to build on private and preserved lands.

Watson Coleman said the bill wasn't overhaul of the regulation process, but it will ensure that regulators operate in the best interest of the public.

"It's not perfect," she said. "It's not everything, but we believe it fully moves in the right direction."

"We didn't think that any of the objective criteria had been appropriately applied in determining whether or not (PennEast) is necessary," she said.

Pat Kornick, spokeswoman for PennEast, blasted the proposal saying that it is the SAFER Pipelines Act -- not the pipeline -- that is duplicative.

"The existing process, administered by FERC, thoroughly considers need and extensively analyzes environmental impact," Kornick said.

"PennEast continues to demonstrate its commitment to minimizing environmental impact -- including evaluating more than 100 route options and implementing multiple route modifications based on stakeholder feedback," she said.

"These efforts have resulted in co-locating approximately 37 percent of the route with existing rights of way," she said.

PennEast introduced the project in August 2014, she said. "Pending regulatory approval, the PennEast Pipeline Project has an estimated in-service date of second half of 2018."

"This approximately four-year timeline demonstrates the rigorous pipeline review process in place," she said.

There are some questions surrounding the timeline of the pipeline project.

FERC lists PennEast's filing date as October 2014.

And according to a 2015 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, New Jersey Resources -- part owner of the PennEast Pipeline -- estimates the project will be completed and operational by November 2017.

Despite timeline disagreements Kornick insists that public opposition alone is not grounds for dismissal of the pipeline's need.

"PennEast recognizes that some groups and individuals are opposed to the project," she said. "Simply because they object to the pipeline doesn't mean it is not needed or that it isn't involved in a thorough environmental review."

"Additionally, 75 percent of New Jersey households depend on natural gas to heat their homes," she said.

"Rather than seeking ways to make the infrastructure review process more onerous solely due to antagonistic attitudes toward clean-burning natural gas, efforts would be best directed to pursuing public policy that supports building natural gas infrastructure to help reduce energy costs for New Jersey families and businesses," she said.

Greg Wright may be reached at gwright@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregTheWright. Find NJ.com on Facebook.


Thunder having fun, at 20 games over .500

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TRENTON-It is a fantastic time to be associated with the Trenton Thunder.  Whether you are a fan, player, coach or one of the multitude of workers at ARM & HAMMER Park, the display the Thunder are putting on right now is amazing. At 20 games over .500 (49-29), and looking to sweep the SeaDogs in the final game of...

TRENTON-It is a fantastic time to be associated with the Trenton Thunder. 

Whether you are a fan, player, coach or one of the multitude of workers at ARM & HAMMER Park, the display the Thunder are putting on right now is amazing. At 20 games over .500 (49-29), and looking to sweep the SeaDogs in the final game of a three-game set Wednesday, Trenton is playing some of its best baseball since 2013, when the Thunder won the Eastern League title.

But it may take a title to beat the excitement that happened in the second game of the series with the SeaDogs Tuesday.

Not many in attendance late Tuesday night will forget what they saw any time soon. Some were saying it was the best sporting event they have ever witnessed live. Whether that is true or not, it sure is fun to be a part of the 2016 Trenton baseball renaissance. 

"It is really fun," Thunder short stop Tyler Wade said. "We have a great group of guys in that clubhouse right now, and we are meshing really well. I am excited to see where the rest of the season goes."

But more so than the record, which includes a white-hot 30-9 mark at home, is the multitude of ways the Thunder keep finding to win ballgames.

Take Tuesday night, for example. Trenton trailed 9-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth, and was down to its last out, when Mark Payton stepped into the box in a pinch-hitting role. Payton promptly crushed a first pitch fastball into the Delaware River, for a game-tying three-run home run.

But that just set the stage for the real dramatics, which came five pitchers later to Wade.

The short stop lined a ball to dead center field, that got over the head of Sean Coyle, and kicked around the warning track after bouncing off the fence. Wade, who had no intention of stopping once he saw the ball kick away while rounding second base, circled the bases for an inside-the-park walk-off home run, to give the Thunder a dramatic 10-9 victory.

VIDEO- PAYTON, WADE GO BACK-TO-BACK FOR WALK OFF THUNDER WIN

"No, no, no, no, no," Wade said. "I was telling one of the guys last night. I didn't see Bobby (Mitchell, who was coaching third). I was going regardless. Because I remember when I hit second, I saw the ball kick back, and I was like, I am not stopping."

"I was just trying not to trip," Wade said. "My legs were getting a little tired. That was the most exciting ninth inning I have ever been a part of in my life. It was unreal. I couldn't even talk last night. It was fun."

THUNDER COACHES RECALL COLLEGE WORLD SERIES TRIPS

With Reggie Jackson in the park on Monday and Tuesday night, and Cecil Fielder signing autographs Wednesday as part of a promotion, there has been some star power at ARM & HAMMER Park.

Hideki Matsui was in the dugout Tuesday, as he usually is at least once a home stand, to help as a roving instructor for the Yankees.

With the Thunder on fire, to take a cue from the world of European football fans who chant the hottest song on the planet right now, the opposing defenses are terrified. The way the Thunder have swung the bats lately, those ex-players must be as happy as the current roster is with the run production. 

"I just think we are producing one-through-nine, and everybody knows their role," Wade said. "Everyone is doing what they need to do to help the team win. I think we just need to keep things rolling. Guys just come in and get their work done, and go about their business the right way, and it shows."

"We just have to keep the momentum on our side," Wade said. "Hitting is contagious, so hopefully, things keep going." 

HIGASHIOKA ADDS EL PLAYER OF WEEK AWARD

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean

New Jersey's 12 awe-inspiring trees - past and present

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New Jersey has a number of majestic, ancient trees.

New Jersey is dotted with historic trees, many dating back to Colonial America. Many are associated with key moments in history, some with George Washington who, according to popular history, rested, ate under or walked past them.

As these landmark trees continue to age, their health and maintenance is becoming more and more critical to their survival. Arborists are regularly called in to inspect these great trees for disease and bugs. Some are specially pruned to help them grow without stress on their limbs.

One such tree is the grand white oak tree located beside the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, which is more than 600 years old, one of the oldest white oak trees in the country.

Here is a list of some of the oldest trees in New Jersey. Some have been cut down, others died. Some are striving despite their advanced age.

* Several tearful residents tried to stop workers from cutting down Old Peppy in Cranford in Lincoln Park on April 25, 2015. Tina Helmstetter created a Facebook Page in an attempt to save the 250-plus year old Pepperidge tree.

* Millburn Township officials thought the Swamp White Oak Tree at 29 Ocean Street was protected by a municipal ordinance when a developer sought to cut it down in 2015. It was not and the developer won a court battle to chop it down.

* The Mercer Oak, named after Revolutionary War brigadier general Hugh Mercer, stood in the Princeton Battlefield for more than 300 years. In 1973, a lightning strike weakened it and it fell on March 3, 2000 during a wind storm.

600-year-old N.J. oak tree is dying

* The "Kilmer Oak," a 160-year-old white oak tree on the campus of Rutgers University that is said to have inspired poet Joyce Kilmer to write the poem "Trees" was chopped down on Sept. 18, 1963. It had died.

* The Ho-Ho-Kus Elm, located along the Franklin Turnpike, was cut down in 1937. The Ho-Ho-Kus library has a limb from the tree on display.

* The Salem Oak in Salem is said to be more than 600 years old. Standing 85 feet with a 22-foot diameter, it's located on the Friends Burial ground.

* The Shoe Tree of Belvidere: A 350-year-old oak on Oxford Street, where residents walking to church once stopped to put on their fancy shoes for Sunday worship.

* The Council Tree of Bound Brook: An oak on Mountain Avenue, where Somerset County settlers reached an agreement to acquire land from two Raritan Indian chiefs in 1681.

* Affectionately called the "Forest Gump," the 300-plus year old red oak tree is located near the Carriage House on Duke Farms.

* The Devil's Tree of Basking Ridge: A lonely oak in a vast field off Mountain Avenue, where a young woman accidentally shot her fiance during a 1948 hunting trip.

* The Washington Buttonball: Another tree under which the first president sought shade. This sycamore still stands on Route 519 in Hope Township.

* The Shoemaker of the Garden State Parkway: A 60-foot American Holly that survived after engineers decided to reroute the road rather than chop it down.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Race to get tankers key to joint base's future - and N.J. | Editorial

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Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is in the running to get the Air Force's new KC-46A Pegasus aerial tankers. As New Jersey's second-largest employer, it is vital that it continues to be seen as an important part of the nation's defense capabilities.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is in the running to house the Air Force's new KC-46A Pegasus aerial tankers. That would be quite a coup for the sprawling New Jersey military facility.

To snag such a lucrative deal would go a long way to ensuring the base will continue to serve a vital role in the nation's defense policy and will remain open for many years to come.

New Jersey's congressional delegation recently announced that the joint base is one of five finalists in the running to serve as the headquarters for the fleet of tankers.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) described it as a "positive step."

That's great news for the base that sits on 42,000 contiguous acres in Burlington and Ocean counties. It is the state's second-largest employer with about 40,000 workers and injects almost $7 billion into the local economy, according to the New Jersey Defense Enhancement Coalition. The base also supports about 65,500 indirect jobs, the coalition says.

But the New Jersey facility is up against some stiff competition for the new aircraft. Also in the hunt to house the fleet of KC-46s are Dover Air Force Base, just a hop-skip-and-jump away in Delaware, as well as Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Wash.; Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota; and Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif.

Will base receive a new fleet of tankers?

New Jersey's lawmakers in Washington know only too well that Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is not immune from the budget ax. In 1993, the Pentagon proposed scaling back operations at McGuire Air Force Base and shifting those duties to Plattsburgh Air Force Base in New York. It took a joint effort by New Jersey legislators and civic leaders to scuttle that proposal, and it was the Plattsburgh base that was eventually closed.

During another round of base closings in 2005, the three local military installations banded together to form a unique joint base that offered greater economy and efficiency.

More recently, New Jersey lawmakers were successful in heading off any potential cutbacks to the base by including a measure in the National Defense Authorization Act that specifically blocks the Defense Department from undertaking a new round of base closings in the coming fiscal year.

"The joint base is one of our nation's premier air mobility installations, and a great option for housing the KC-46," said Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3rd), whose district includes the joint base.

MacArthur and fellow Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1st) have played a key role in championing the joint base's survival.

"The next generation of air refueling tankers at New Jersey's joint base would mean certainty for future generations of New Jerseyans, for our national security, and the state's economy," Norcross said.

4th brush fire at N.J. joint base this month

The state's lawmakers say they are committed to push the Air Force to select the New Jersey base to house the new wide-body aircraft that will replace the aging fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers, which have been the Air Force's refueling workhorse for more than 50 years.

The Air Force is expected to make a final decision before the end of the year.

As U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) pointed out, the base is "strongly positioned from a geographic and strategic standpoint to continue hosting the Air Force's critical refueling mission with new, state-of-the-art aircraft."

Let's hope the Air Force agrees with that assessment. There is a lot at stake for New Jersey.

Follow NJ.com/Opinion on Twitter @NJ_Opinion. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Vintage photos of American pride in N.J.

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Fireworks -- one of the few things that people from the past 200+ years have all shared the same way.

I could try to open with a joke, but I don't think I could do better than Stephen Colbert:

"It's Fourth of July weekend, or, as I call it, Exploding Christmas."

The holidays are as different as July is to December, of course, but they are the same in that they're both chock full of tradition. They are celebrated with family, food and festivities. And, in the case of Independence Day - fireworks.

With these vintage galleries, we look back on a variety of topics. And, we can see differences from one decade to the next in just about all of them. With Fourth of July photos that feature fireworks, however, there is a certain sameness.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Fireworks have been magnificent for centuries. Invented by the Chinese millennia ago, people were launching fireworks in the late-18th century to celebrate America's independence, and not only did they look and sound pretty much the same way they do today ... they were technologically similar as well.

146727832.jpgThat grown-up feeling when you were finally allowed to handle a sparkler on the Fourth! 

There is a company named Pyrotecnico on Garden Road in Franklin Township, Gloucester County. It used to be the Vineland Fireworks Co. when I was a lad, and for decades they've crafted aerial bombs and exploding shells the way it was done ages ago.

Certainly, the launch methods have gotten fancier in some places; many of the huge fireworks shows employ computer-controlled launch circuits wired to thousands of mortars. But in most local shows, trained professionals fire off shells from mortar tubes by lighting fuses with magnesium flares.

There's something genuinely satisfying about watching fireworks light up the night sky, hearing the ooohs and aaaahs of the crowd, and knowing that it's one of the few things that people from the past 200+ years have all shared the same way.

Here's a gallery of vintage photos of people celebrating America in New Jersey on the Fourth of July. Be sure captions are enabled to learn more about each photo.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

Hamilton mayor hopes photo contest, calendar will boost tourism

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What what special events, celebrations or places in Hamilton should residents and visitors "not miss" in the township next year?

HAMILTON -- For the township's 2017 calendar, Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede and township officials want to know what what special events, celebrations or places that residents and visitors "should not miss" in the township next year.

"We always hear that the best way a visitor can find out the best things to do in an area they travel to is to 'ask a local.'  With this year's calendar photo contest, we are using that same philosophy to help show visitors all that they can do in Hamilton Township," Mayor Kelly Yaede said in an announcement.

yaede.JPGHamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede in a file photo. 

So for next year'ss calendar, the annual photo contest will seek this new theme, Yaede said.

Examples include Hamilton's Azalea Festival in May and the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in March.

Township officials also plan to utilize some contest photographs on a new tourism website that is in the works.

Additionally, Hamilton will provide display copies of the 2017 township calendar to hotels within the community to help promote local attractions to travelers.   

Hamilton's Economic Development Advisory Commission will help select the submissions they believe best convey what visitors "should not miss" each month in town.

The photo contest rules:

* Residents are asked to submit electronic pictures that meet the theme, "What Visitors Should Not Miss Each Month in Hamilton"

* Include a brief description, 15 words or less, and specify the month.

* Residents are limited to submitting a maximum of 3 photographs

* Pictures must be at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) or minimum dimensions of 3000 x 2400 pixels.

* Submitters must sign a contest disclaimer form available online at HamiltonNJ.com/PhotoContest

* Photographers must have permission from any owner if a private, non-township property is featured

* Photographs must be submitted electronically (via e-mail attachment) to DDeGregory@HamiltonNJ.com no later than Friday, October 7, 2016.

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