TRENTON- As the Thunder welcome the Altoona Curve to ARM & HAMMER Park Thursday night, in the first of a four-game series, they do so on the back of a strong road trip. Trenton went 5-2 against New Hampshire and Portland, to move its record to a blistering 66-40, and creep to within six games of Reading in the...

TRENTON- As the Thunder welcome the Altoona Curve to ARM & HAMMER Park Thursday night, in the first of a four-game series, they do so on the back of a strong road trip.

Trenton went 5-2 against New Hampshire and Portland, to move its record to a blistering 66-40, and creep to within six games of Reading in the Eastern Division standings.

But the big news in the Yankees organization during the week-long travels of the Thunder was the trade of Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs for three prospects and Adam Warren. The trade strengthened the Thunder almost right away, with the addition of Billy McKinney, an outfielder that came over in the deal. But it may be in the near future, as Trenton looks to lock up a playoff spot over the next month, where the Thunder may end up as the team to beat in the Eastern League, as new prospects arrive to bolster the team.

7 takeaways from Yankees' Cashman after Chapman trade

McKinney was in the lineup Thursday night, batting fifth and playing right field, as he looked to acclimate to his new team quickly.

"I just got here today, so I am looking forward to joining the team, and hopefully start winning some games," McKinney said. "I have been checking the box scores the last few days and it is impressive. I am looking forward to it. Hopefully I can help this team, and hopefully we can win it."

"You are kind of running on fumes after traveling, but it is absolutely great to be in the team today," McKinney said. "I definitely want to be in the lineup, rather than not, so I am looking forward to it. I am going to try to have some fun."

The 21-year-old, who was the fourth ranked prospect in the Cubs organization, will look to continue his progress towards the big leagues.

"I feel like I have learned something new every day," McKinney said. "That is what I try to do every day. I have been traded before, and broke my knee last year, so I have been through a lot. I am looking forward to the new opportunity, and I hope I have been progressing well. I just try to take stuff in ever day."

Yankees trade Aroldis Chapman: Scout compares Gleyber Torres to ...

The Thunder made three other roster moves before the game Thursday. Infielder Abiatal Avelino, another 21-year-old, was brought up from Tampa, while Vince Conde was sent to Charleston. Lane Adams was released from his contract.

Avelino had a two-RBI double in the second inning, in his first at-bat with the Thunder, to help them to a 6-1 win.

Thunder manager Bobby Mitchell is excited to have the new players, but also knows that it can be a difficult period for the players.

"There is always an adjustment coming to different teams, different leagues, or a different organization, like Billy," Mitchell said. "I don't know much about him, but we are excited to have him, and Abiatal. But we lost Lane Adams, who was doing really well lately, and who helped us out throughout the season."

Why are the Yankees hoarding shortstops?

The American Heart Association had its tents set up before the game, to bring awareness to its Central New Jersey Heart Walk, which will be held on Friday, September 30 at ARM & HAMMER Park.

Among the workers were Lori McLane, the Executive Director of the AHA, and Bill Thompsen, the Senior Vice President of Health Strategies.

"We are so excited to be here tonight, and get the awareness out there about the walk," McLane said. "We do a year-round campaign, and the walk is actually a day of celebration. We are excited about that. We have walks all throughout the state, and we have three luncheons for awareness about women's health."

Thompsen is always actively trying to get people involved in their health, and the fans at Thunder games are a good target audience.

"Our mission is to try to improve the health of all Americans, by 20 percent", and reduce deaths by 20 percent, by 2020," Thompsen said. "That is an impact goal that we have. What we are really trying to do is improve the lives of Americans overall."

The way we do that is we fund cardiovascular research," Thompsen said. "We are the largest funder of cardiovascular research outside of the federal government, and we have funded about $3.9 billion since 1949."

"We understand that the obesity level in kids has gotten worse over time," Thompsen said. "We know that the way we are going to be able to curb that is, not only making sure they are eating properly, but also to get them physically active. So partnerships with baseball, and other sports, is important, but we also need to make sure schools keep physical eduction classes in schools."

"Kids also need to have safe, proper areas to be active in their communities," Thompsen said. "How do we make sure schools and other areas stay open long enough so that kids can be physically active if the want to? We want to make sure that the next generation is as healthy as possible, because it starts at a young age."

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

Seven questions beckon. Can you get them all right?

Let's see how well you recall this week's top stories. The quiz below has seven questions based on some of our most popular stories from the past week. After you take the quiz, brag on your score in comments.

This week's quiz is based on these stories:

• Boy reels in 200-pound shark
• Did Trump just confuse Clinton's running mate with an N.J. mainstay?
• N.J. woman whose legs won't stop growing to appear on TV documentary
• Joe Budden becomes a meme
• Town told to watch out for rattlesnakes
• PGA Championship Guide
• Why is this 9/11 first responder pleading for help?

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter and find NJ.com on Facebook.

The debate between Trenton and the company awarded a contract to manage it city pools almost cost families access to the summertime tradition.

We'd be inclined to dismiss last week's dust-up between Trenton officials and a Georgia-based management firm as just another tempest in a swimming pool, except for two important considerations.

One: our children came very close to serving as pawns in an ugly spat between adults, and two: it could happen again next year.

The mini-confrontation began July 20, just as temperatures began to take off into the stratosphere. Lifeguards at the four city-owned pools - which provide cooling relief to hundreds of children daily - walked off the job after USA Management told them their paychecks would likely be delayed.

USA Management, which earlier this year won the $185,188 contract to service the pools, complained that it had not received an expected contractual payment, due July 8, from the city.

YMCA to run Trenton pools for rest of summer

With the operators threatening to keep the pools shut until they had the cash in hand, Trenton officials wired over the money in two installments, enabling USA management to pay its workers and essentially keeping the swimming facilities open.

But the drama was far from finished, with both sides announcing plans to sever ties.

As the thermometer soared into the 80s and then into the upper 90s over the next couple of days, USA Management and city officials offered conflicting reasons for the sudden break up.

Spokeswomen for the vendor said the company was pulling out because the city posed too much of a "high risk." City officials, for their part, said the split was all about USA Management's failure to honor its contract and to live up to the terms of its bid.

Trenton: Pool debacle was about contract, not money

Among other things, Trenton officials cited an unsatisfactory life-guard-to-swimmer ratios and the policy of charging residents for swimming lessons as areas of concern.

On Thursday night, July 21, with no public discussion, City Council voted to stop doing business with USA Management and to award an emergency contract to the YMCA of Trenton, which managed the pools in 2014 and 2015, but was underbid by USA Management this year.

The local nonprofit will oversee the pools from Aug. 1 to Sept. 12, when they close for the year.

We are assuming - hoping - that the transition will go smoothly, and that no interruption of service will occur when YMCA workers take over supervision duties. And we're also hoping city leaders will be on higher alert next spring, when the bidding process opens for the 2017 season.

Let's face it, summer gets hot. With multiple branches of the Trenton Public Library closing over the years and recreational opportunities in short supply, our kids and their parents deserve to know the pools will be there for them - competently managed and drama-free.

Thomas Zowasky convicted in Burlington County for having a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl when he was 45.

The N.J. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal filed by a sex offender who had a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl for almost a year.

Thomas Zowasky, who is serving a 45-year prison sentence, lost an appeals court decision earlier this year, in which he argued he had ineffective counsel at this trial and and once again attacked the use of a videotape statement he gave to police.

Thomas Zowasky
 

The April decision was an appeal of his unsuccessful 2014 bid for post-conviction relief.

Zowasky was first convicted a decade ago in Burlington County for having a sexual relationship with the girl in 2003 and 2004, when he was 45-years-old.

He was a welder living in a Bordentown Township motel at the time, and the assaults occurred there, and in Pemberton Township and Cinnaminson, police said.

In 2009, an appeals court reversed his convictions and ordered a new trial due to problems with the way polygraph evidence was introduced at trial, and how the jury reviewed Zowasky's videotaped statement to investigators.

At his second trial, Zowasky was convicted again of multiple sex offenses and a judge imposed the same 45-year term.

Zowasky mounted a second appeal in 2012 and the case was upheld.

The 57-year-old is currently at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton and eligible for parole in 2042.

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

How does a la carte pricing work? Say hello to Allegiant Air, which begins flying in New Jersey in November, at Trenton-Mercer and Newark Liberty International airports.

This fall, Allegiant Air will make its entrance into the New Jersey air travel market.

The low-cost carrier based in Las Vegas announced last month its plans to launch service from Newark Liberty International Airport to Cincinnati, Savannah, Ga., Asheville, N.C., and Knoxville, Tenn.

The airline followed it up with an announcement Thursday that it would also begin offering flights between the smaller, regional Trenton-Mercer Airport and Orlando-Sanford, Punta Gorda and St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.

Here are a few things you need to know about the airline:

1) Passengers can fly nonstop to more than 110 cities

The passenger waiting area at Trenton-Mercer Airport in Ewing. (Martin Griff | Times of Trenton)

The airline caters to leisure travelers, preferring to fly to and from so-called secondary airports -- smaller airports within reasonable driving time of major cities.

Its operating bases are at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International; Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International; Los Angeles International; McCarran International (Las Vegas); Myrtle Beach International; Oakland International; Orlando Sanford International; Palm Springs International; Palm Springs International; Phoenix-Mesa Gateway; Pittsburgh International; St. Petersburg-Clearwater International; and Punta Gorda airports.

2) It operates on a reduced schedule compared to the major carriers

Allegiant Airlines at Lehigh Valley International Airport. (Chris Post | lehighvalleylive.com)

3) Its fleet of older planes helps keep costs down

An Allegiant Airbus on a runway in this recent courtesy photo.

4) It follows an a la carte pricing model

The interior of one of Allegiant's Boeing 757 (Courtesy photo)

The airline is known for charging extra for just about everything, including food, bags and reserved-seat assignments. It also generates revenue from booking hotels and car rentals when booking airline tickets.

"You have the ability to keep your fare exceptionally low," Eric Fletcher, manager of airports, said Thursday during a visit to Trenton-Mercer. "You can self-select everything you need and you don't have to select the things you don't. None of those extras are baked into your fare to begin with."

5) It continues to be one of the most profitable carriers in the U.S.

Allegiant Air's then-new sunburst design shown on one of its MD-83 aircraft in this 2003 file photo.

6) It successfully emerged from bankruptcy in 2002

Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., chairman and CEO of Allegiant Air (Courtesy photo)

7) A recent audit found only 'minor' infractions

Allegiant Air employees prepare a flight in this file photo.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the airline will not face penalties or enforcement action and will have until Sept. 30 to resolve the issues.

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

Raheem Currie is accused of assisting in the murder of James Austin, son of ex-cop Luddie Austin

TRENTON - On Thursday afternoon in a packed hallway, James Austin's extended family waited.

The late Trenton teen's uncles, aunts, sister, mother and father -- retired Trenton Police officer Luddie Austin -- all gathered at Mercer County Criminal Court. They were awaiting the verdict in the murder trial of Raheem Currie, one of the men accused of helping shoot James Austin to death in February of 2013.  

The trial for Currie started last week and the jury began deliberating early Thursday afternoon. They had not returned with a verdict by the end of the day, meaning the deliberations will continue into next week.

That verdict will mark the beginning of the end of the case that has plagued Austin's family since it started over three years ago.

During the trial, Currie's longtime girlfriend Endia Kaver, described what set off the killing as a fight between two men. She testified that she was with Currie in Trenton on Feb. 26, 2013 when he saw Austin and the two started arguing. The argument ended with each man breaking the other's windshield, she said.

Kaver claimed she, Currie and another man drove to pick up their friend Robert Bartley before heading back to the house of Austin's girlfriend on East State Street. Bartley got out of the car, met Austin at the door and shot him in the chest before they fled the scene, Kaver said.

Trial to start in killing of ex-cop's son

Bartley, who has since pleaded guilty to manslaughter, also testified against Currie in court last week, saying that he showed Currie his gun as the two men were driving to the East State Street home. It was the gun he would later use to shoot Austin to death, Bartley testified.

Bartley and Currie were arrested in a matter of days after the shooting. Currie maintains his innocence in the crime.

Currie is charged with murder, aggravated manslaughter, reckless manslaughter and a conspiracy charge, which includes conspiracy to possess a weapon and conspiracy to use the weapon unlawfully. He was initially also charged with conspiracy to commit murder but Superior Court Judge Pedro Jimenez dropped that charge Wednesday.

On Thursday, Austin's family passed the time by swapping memories of the Trenton teenager, who had two young children, and sharing photos of Austin throughout his life.

In one taken shortly before Austin died, he can be seen holding his newborn daughters -- one in each arm. It was the same way his father, Luddie Austin, held James and his sister when they were both born, Luddie Austin remembered.

The jury broke after over two hours of deliberations and they will resume on Tuesday.

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman 

Four men pleaded guilty Thursday to a 2013 home invasion that left Kayron Jones dead. One of the men admitted to shooting Jones during the incident

TRENTON -- A Trenton man on Thursday admitted to gunning down a North Olden Avenue resident three years ago and faces 20 years in prison for the crime, Mercer County prosecutors said Friday.  

Anthony Hemingway, London Feliciano and Naquan Chance.Mercer County Prosecutor's Office 

At a court appearance Thursday, Anthony Hemingway pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and admitted he fatally shot Kayron Jones, 25, once in the chest during a 2013 home invasion.

He was joined by his three co-defendants, Naquan Chance, London Feliciano and Quosheon Williams, all of whom pleaded guilty to robbery in connection with the crime.

Chance, Feliciano and Williams face 10 years in prison each for the crime.

The plea deals come nearly three years after the fatal home invasion in August of 2013.

Authorities have said the four men got into the apartment on the 600 block of North Olden Avenue a little after midnight and robbed two people on the first floor of the building.

All four men were involved in the robbery but Hemingway delivered the fatal shot, killing Jones in his apartment before all the men fled the scene, prosecutors have said.

Three of the men fled the city after the incident; Williams was arrested in Arizona, Feliciano surrendered to police after fleeing to Maryland and Hemingway ran to his cousin's dorm at the University of Maryland, where police later found him.

Once they are sentenced, all of the men will have to spend at least 85 percent of their time in prison before they are eligible for parole. For Hemingway, that means 17 years - for the others it's only eight years and six months.

The four men will be sentenced on October 4, prosecutors said.

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman 

The new tool subtly makes the subject's nose smaller, forehead less wide and ears more pronounced.

PRINCETON -- Selfies are everywhere.

Self-portraits snapped with an outstretched cell phone are plastered across the internet on users' social media pages, dating profiles, resumes and more.

But selfies are often bad photos, Princeton University researchers say. Because of the close proximity of the cell phone camera, selfies usually distort the subject's face - noses look larger, foreheads look more sloped and ears look smaller.

A group of Princeton computer science researchers has developed a tool to correct photos online so they look more like the subject's real face. The researchers presented a paper on their new photo editing software technique Thursday at the Association for Computing Machinery conference in California.

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"Although it is the age of the selfie, many people are unaware of how much these self-portraits do not really look like the person being photographed because the camera is way too close," Ohad Fried, a computer science doctoral student and head of the project, said in an article on the Princeton website. "Now that people can edit so many aspects of a photo right on their phones, we wanted to provide a quick way to edit faces that maintains realism."

The researchers' demonstration shows selfies subtly changed to make the subjects' noses smaller, foreheads less wide and ears more pronounced. The selfies are corrected to look as if they were taken from a greater distance to more accurately show the true shape of a person's face, the developers said.

The new computer software could also be used to create 3-D moving images, much like the "live" talking portraits portrayed in the "Harry Potter" films, Fried said.

The research group, which included several Princeton students and outside collaborators, used funding from the computer company Adobe and a Google Graduate Fellowship to help pay for their project.

The new tool is not ready to release to the public yet, the developers said. They are still working on how to make a subject's hair look natural in the modified selfies. The variations in the texture, color and styling of hair make it more difficult to correct in an image.

Pedro Arias-Santiago had his $250,000 bail maintained during a court appearance Friday

TRENTON - A Guatemalan man accused of breaking into a woman's house and sexually assaulting her last month had his bail maintained during a court appearance Friday.

Pedro Arias-Santiago, 26, of Princeton, maintains his innocence in the sexual assault and a separate home invasion that occurred weeks earlier, his attorney Jumba Mugwanya said at Arias-Santiago's bail hearing Friday.

The Princeton resident and Guatemalan native is accused of breaking into a woman's house on Birch Avenue in Princeton around midnight on June 29.

Police have said the 28-year-old woman awakened to find Arias-Santiago sexually assaulting her. She escaped and called the police, who arrived in time to catch Arias-Santiago outside of her house, carrying items of the woman's clothing.

Princeton sex assault suspect charged again

His arrest and subsequent coverage prompted another Birch Avenue resident to come forward only a few days later.

The second woman - a 19-year-old from Illinois - said she was in a house on the same street on June 14 when Arias-Santiago broke in around 5 a.m. She confronted the man and he fled, according to police.

Arias-Santiago, who is in the country illegally, is being held on a $200,000 bail for the sexual assault incident and a separate $50,000 bail for the June 14 break in.

Mugwanya suggested that Arias-Santiago's bail be lowered to $150,000, but Superior Court Judge Anthony Massi rejected the suggestion.  

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman 

Clifford Thomas took a plea deal on a firearm possession charge and was sentenced to five years in prison.

TRENTON -- An appeals court on Friday affirmed the arrest of a Trenton man who ran from pursuing police in 2012 and threw a handgun into a sewer grate.

Clifford Thomas took a plea deal on a firearm possession charge after a trial judge in Mercer County denied his motion to suppress the evidence and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Clifford Thomas 

Trenton police officer Sgt. Brian Suschke and Mercer County Prosecutor's Detective Michael Fiabane arrested Thomas just minutes after Suschke received a call from a citizen tipping him to an armed male at Hamilton and Ardmore avenues with a description, the decision says

As Thomas fled the officers, they both heard a distinctive sound of metal hitting metal and concrete, and Fiabane saw Thomas discard the gun, the decision says.

In an appeal, Thomas' lawyer argued the officers performed a warrantless search on Thomas, they lacked a Constitutional basis to stop him and running from the police was not grounds to arrest him.

An appeals panel did not agree.

"The totality of the circumstances combined to create reasonable and articulable suspicion justifying the investigatory stop of defendant, making seizure of the discarded handgun seen by Fiabane in defendant's possession, and defendant's arrest, lawful," the court wrote.

Thomas, 29, is currently in a state prison halfway house and scheduled to be released next year.

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

AURORA, COLORADO- Monday, as the NJ Rush 02 girls team lined up in the final of the National Premier League Championship game, a whole season of hard work was on the line. Fortunately for the girls, they played the game of their lives, and they flew home with a little extra baggage for their troubles. NJ Rush 02 dominated...

AURORA, COLORADO- Monday, as the NJ Rush 02 girls team lined up in the final of the National Premier League Championship game, a whole season of hard work was on the line.

Fortunately for the girls, they played the game of their lives, and they flew home with a little extra baggage for their troubles.

NJ Rush 02 dominated NY Soccer Club 8-0 in the national final, to win the club's first national championship in its 20-plus year existence. The team, which was made up of the two NJ Rush teams at that age level (NJ Rush Central and NJ Rush South U-13), combined girls from both teams to make the foray into the NPL League this spring.

"We have two teams at this level, but only one NPL license," Beth Hart, an executive board member and the club Secretary for the NJ Rush/Hamilton Wildcats, said. "So we joined the two teams together. We had nine girls from NJ Rush Central (based in Hamilton) and nine from NJ Rush South (based in Gloucester) to play in the league."

Chris Pettit, who joined coaching forces with Bill Schute on the touchline, had the task of meshing the two teams together.

"It is a phenomenal achievement for the girls, and also for the club," Pettit said. There is a lot of work that has gone into this club over the last 20 years, so to be able to do this is amazing."

"It was certainly a challenge at the beginning to put the two teams together," Pettit said. "But myself and Bill put a plan together."

"But the credit goes to the girls," Pettit said. "Also to the parents. There was some doubt at the beginning as to whether this could work or not, but the girls bought into the philosophy and the style of play. It worked seamlessly, and could not have gone any better."

After the two grueling games to get to the final, the NJ Rush 02 girls played the game of their lives Monday in the final. It was very evident early on in the contest that they team from New Jersey would be flying back with the silverware.

"We had a tough game against Arizona in pool play," Pettit said. "We scored late on to make it 2-0, and put the match away and make the semifinals. It was another tough game against Massachusetts, a 1-0 win to make the final."

"In the final, every single player was up for it," Pettit said. "It was very much evident in the first five minutes that we would win the game. Each girl on the roster played well. They got the call to go in, and were ready. It was a clinic."

""It was just one of those moments as a coach the you just sit back, watch, and enjoy," Pettit said. "We scored goals at key moments in the game: early on, right before the halftime whistle, right after the half. It was a real testament to how much the girls put into it."

One of the most prestigious championships in the country, the NPL Finals features the champions of National Premier Leagues across the United States. Teams play several group games before advancing to knock-out rounds to determine the NPL national champion in every age group.

The team competed in the NPL this spring and advanced to the national competition when they won the regional final in June. 

Both teens had recently graduated from Pemberton Township High School, where they both stood out on the wrestling team.

PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP -- A recent high school graduate is facing charges he fatally shot his former wrestling teammate in a township garage early Thursday morning, according to authorities. 

Neven Salas, 18 of the Browns Mills section of Pemberton, is charged with fatally shooting an acquaintance in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 28, 2016. (Photo provided)
 

The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office said Nelven Salas was charged with aggravated manslaughter, possession of a handgun with a permit and hindering apprehension in the death of 18-year-old Davon Coleman.

Coleman, Salas and a third person, who was not identified, were in the detached garage of the unidentified person's home on the 300 block of Bayberry Street at about 1 a.m. when Coleman was shot in the chest. 

First responders transported the teen -- a school record-breaking wrestler during his time at Pemberton Township High School -- to Deborah Hospital, where he was soon pronounced dead.

Police on the scene were first told the shooting was the work of three masked intruders who broke into the garage and assaulted Coleman before fleeing.

However, the investigation by the county prosecutor's office and township police revealed the gun used to kill Coleman was actually hidden in the garage. Salas, who was also a star wrestler on the team, produced it for authorities.

According to the Burlington County Times, Coleman and Salas were in the same group of friends who would often hang out in the garage. 

The teens' wrestling coach told the newspaper that Coleman was someone who could always make others smile, and who always "brightened up a room." He worked at Wawa full-time and was due to start classes at Rowan College at Gloucester County this fall. He also planned to wrestle for the school.

"He was like a son to me," his coach, Gerald Hewitt told the newspaper. 

Salas remains in Burlington County Jail in lieu of $250,000 full bail. He's expected to make a first appearance before Burlington County Superior Court Judge Terrence Cook Friday afternoon.  

Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried signed an executive order to make Aug. 1-7 "Police Appreciation Week"

ROBBINSVILLE -- Mayor Dave Fried on Friday declared Aug. 1-7 "Police Appreciation Week" to counteract what he says has been increasingly negative attitudes toward police across the country.

"It is a trend that needs to end," he said. "It's never been more difficult to be a police officer than it is today. They put their lives on the line to protect us and we need to keep that in mind.

"Everyone has the right to protest, but when you hear them chanting that they want to see dead cops, it's a difficult thing and should be offensive," he continued. "It's important as elected officials to speak out."

Blue ribbons and blue lights will be prominently displayed at all municipal buildings, including the municipal building, police headquarters, the senior center, public works and the fire department.

Fried is also encouraging residents and businesses to show their support with ribbons and blue lights. Businesses can pick up window signs on the second floor of the municipal building and the police department starting Monday.

The week coincides with Tuesday's National Night Out, which works to strengthen the relationship between police and the community. Robbinsville's event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. outside of police headquarters.

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

Former Chesterfield Mayor Lawrence Durr had pleaded guilty in April

CHESTERFIELD -- Former Chesterfield Mayor Lawrence Durr who was accused of hiding his ties to a developer was sentenced on Friday to four years of probation.

If he fails to comply with the terms, he will face 364 days in the county jail, the state Attorney General's Office said. He also agreed to forfeit $250,000.

Durr, 66, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to tamper with public records. He admitted filing false ethics disclosure forms that failed to disclose his financial relationship with Renaissance Properties.

Prosecutors say that, in 2006, Durr bought a 104-acre farm for $2 million and sold the "transfer development rights" to Renaissance at a prearranged price. They say he effectively obtained the farm for free and turned an extra profit of $372,500.

Authorities say that Durr used his influence and official position on multiple occasions between 2006 and 2007 to advocate on behalf of the developer.

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

TRENTON- It has been a fantastic year so far for the Trenton Thunder, as the calendar gets ready to turn to August. With the Thunder now 25-games over .500 (65-40), coming into Friday night's second game of the series with Altoona, the 37 games left on the regular season schedule will determine if they are the Eastern Division champions,...

TRENTON- It has been a fantastic year so far for the Trenton Thunder, as the calendar gets ready to turn to August.

With the Thunder now 25-games over .500 (65-40), coming into Friday night's second game of the series with Altoona, the 37 games left on the regular season schedule will determine if they are the Eastern Division champions, runners-up, or finish in third out of the playoffs.

With a five-game lead on the nomadic Hartford Yard Goats, who still have no home ballpark, and a five game deficit to make up on Reading, the next few weeks will give us a clearer picture on where the Thunder stand.

But assuming that Trenton can make the playoffs, this team has a very good possibility of bringing the Eastern League championship back to Trenton for the fourth time, and the first since 2013.

Here are the top five reasons that the Thunder can bring home the silverware.

1. Starting pitching- The Yankees may have the top group of pitching prospects in all of baseball, and the Thunder have at least two. With Chance Adams (6-0, 2.38 ERA), who one scout called the best-kept secret in the minor leagues, and Jordan Montgomery (9-4, 2.55 ERA) as the one-two combo for Trenton, it can win any short series. 

"It is huge for a short series if we are pitching," Adams said. "You always want good starting pitching out there. Organizations always go for top, top starting pitching, because it is really important these days to have a guy that goes deep in a game and can minimize the amount of runs that cross the plate."

Add in Ronald Herrera (Friday night's starter) and Dan Camarena, and the Thunder will be tough to beat in a five-game series.

Scouting Yankees top prospects

2. Reinforcements are coming- While the Thunder team has done very well so far, there should be some players coming in over the next month to bolster the squad. Some may come from other organizations, a la Billy McKinney, who is already in Trenton.

But with the top-level prospects that may come in return for Yankees players, there will be some movement. Gleyber Torres, the 19-year-old number-one prospect in the system, is at Tampa with number-two prospect Jorge Mateo. Both are shortstops, and either could be up at some point to help with the stretch run.

Trenton could get some players from Scranton Wilkes-Barre as well.

3. Speed on the base paths and in the field- The top of the lineup can manufacture runs, which is needed in a short series. Tyler Wade and Dustin Fowler can both get on base and run, while Miguel Andujar and Kyle Higashioka can mash behind them. Trenton may not need many runs with its pitching.

On the defensive side, the Thunder have limited their miscues all year, and Fowler in particular can track down balls with the best of players. Grinding out extra runs, and keeping the opponents runs to a minimum, is a winning combination.

4. Match-up problems for either Altoona or Harrisburg- The Thunder only play Altoona twice, and Harrisburg three times, this season. Altoona is in now, and Trenton will travel to Harrisburg next week. Most of the players will not have gotten many swings against the newly-formed Thunder staff. Of course, this works both ways. But I will stack my chips on the dominant pitching of Trenton any night.

5. The bullpen- One of the reasons the Thunder lead the EL in ERA by almost a half a run (3.09, next closest is Hartford at 3.58) is the work of the bullpen all year.

There have been some hiccups along the way, and some very good relievers have gone to Scranton Wilkes-Barre. But there are still some good arms in Trenton. J.R. Graham, who is on the DL currently, should be back for September. But with Cale Coshow, Travis Hissong, Tyler Jones, Eric Ruth, Alex Smith, Caleb Smith and Matt Wotherspoon, along with Diego Moreno who just arrived from Scranton, this team can piece together outs after the dominant starters leave the game.

They may get some reinforcements as well, and if the bullpen can do its job, it could be another magical year for fans of the Trenton Thunder

New players help Thunder rumble towards EL playoffs

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

Scams targeting seniors continue to proliferate, with some calling it the crime of the 21st Century.

The voice on the line is earnest and scared.

"Nana," the young man whispers urgently, "I've been arrested. I need you to send me money for bail right away. And please don't tell Mom and Dad - they'll kill me!"

Your heart leaps to your throat as you reach for a pad and pencil to write down the details.

But wait. Chances are that frightened voice on the other end belongs to a con artist who is tapping into your grandmotherly instincts in a scheme that's as old as time - but always with us.

The West Windsor Police Department is alerting residents that elderly residents are again being targeted in this scam, and the best response is to just hang up.

"The grandparent scam is so simple and so devious because it uses one of older adults' most reliable assets: their hearts," says the National Council on Aging, which notes that financial scams aimed at seniors have grown so common they're now referred to as "the crime of the 21st Century."

According to the AARP, the elderly lose billions of dollars every year to scammers - one estimate puts the figure at $3 billion.

The crooks take advantage of the isolation and loneliness many of our older citizens grapple with; others single out men and women in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

N.J. phone scams and how to avoid them

Compounding the vileness of these crimes, many of our seniors are already living on limited incomes. The dollars they sacrifice to bail Junior out of jail might well mean not being able to put food on the table when the end of the month rolls around.

There are tons of other scams out there, the National Council on Aging reports, including luring older Americans with promises of eternal youth and an end to pain through bogus cosmetics and drugs.

Particularly devious are the scammers who peruse the obituary pages, calling the widow or widower with claims that their dearly departed had an outstanding debt.

And don't even get us started on those phony IRS calls that always seem to come at dinner time and demand the recipient's Social Security Number to clear up a phony claim.

Cops urge caution of caller claiming grandchild needs bail

Experts say the best defense against these lowlifes is to arm yourself with a healthy dose of skepticism, and never to share your Social Security Numbers, bank account password or credit card numbers with strangers over the phone.

As for the grandparent scam, in which the caller requests that the bail money be posted in iTunes cards or money cards - that isn't how the system works, the local police say.

Their excellent advice: Don't let your emotions drown out your common sense

Flemington Post 159 beat Brooklawn Post 72, the six-time defending state champions, 7-1, to win the Indians second state title Friday, July 29, 2016, at Moody Park in Ewing.

EWING - On a team full of college stars, it was a 16-year-old Matt Busher that stole the show for the Flemington Post 159 legion team, on the biggest stage there is in New Jersey.

Now, the Indians have finally put to rest the tough endings to the last four seasons, against the team that has broken their hearts so many times in that near half-decade.

Flemington beat Brooklawn Post 72, the six-time defending state champions, 7-1, to win the Indians second state title Friday night at Moody Park. Behind six shutout innings from Busher, who worked in and out of trouble masterfully all night with the help of his defense, Flemington held the powerful Brooklawn lineup at bay all night.

Flemington now advances to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament, where the Indians will open up play Wednesday at 12:30 against the Pennsylvania champion in the double-loss elimination tournament.

Flemington wins N.J. State Championship (MORE PHOTOS)

"This is my first year on the team," Busher said. "Coming into this game, I was just trying to pound the zone, and throw first pitch strikes. I knew they were going to be taking. I just came out and did my job for five solid innings. The sixth inning was a little but rough, but we got through it."

"Matt Brennan came in after me and did a heck of a job," Busher said. "To come out and shut down a team like this, that I think is our rival, is just huge. It was huge to work out of those jams in the middle innings."

"We got big plays from our third baseman Nick Luciano (who now has two state titles this year, including the Hunterdon Central NJSIAA Group 4 crown)," Busher said. "That line drive that he caught and stepped on third for a double play to get us out of the inning, and then working out of a bases-loaded jam with the strikeout and pop-up was about making big pitches when I had to."

Flemington manager Steve Farsiou had nothing but praise for his young hurler.

"We told our pitchers, hit the zone," Farsiou said. "They are going to take pitches. That is what they do. Hit the zone, and make plays behind you. If they hit you, they hit you, but we are not going to walk them. "

Flemington advances to N.J. title game

"Matt Busher is 16-years-old," Farsiou said. "He just turned 16. That is a big-game performance from him. He gave us everything he had, and I thought he did a really good job of keeping his emotions under check."

"Then Matt Brennan comes in, who barely pitches for varsity, and shuts down Brooklawn," Farsiou said. "That is a good team right there. You have to give them a lot of credit, because they are a national powerhouse, and that is what we are trying to be."

"For us to get up 7-0, then win 7-1, that is huge," Farsiou said. "I think our program is one of the best in the country, and I think we have proven that year in, year out. I think New Jersey is very hard to get out of. Dennis (Barth, the Brooklawn manager) just told me, you have to win you state, because it is so hard to get out of."

"We think that we are one of the best teams in the country," Farsiou said. "Now we have to go to a regional, and play our game, stay focused, and I think we can do some damage. But we have to stay focused."

The offense was led by 2016 state tournament Most Valuable Player Austin Arndt,  who scored three of the seven Indians runs in the final. He was on fire all five games of the Final Eight, and hopes the offense can continue to support the strong starting pitching in the regionals.

"It is an amazing feeling, the greatest ever," Arndt said. "These guys have been our rivals, and it is great to finally beat them. We expected to come back to states, after last year, and really wanted to capitalize on this moment."

For Farsiou, who won a title in 2009 in his first season taking over from his mentor, the legendary Jake Manning, it was a bitter-sweet moment when the last few outs were recorded.

"My mentor, Jake Manning, when he handed me this team back in 2008, we won it in 2009 when he was alive," Farsiou said. "Then he passed away. This is big for us. This is the first one since he passed. Sometimes, you almost get emotional during the game, because you are thinking about him, and all the things that he did for you, and the things he did for this team."

"This is his team, and I know he is looking down and saying good job," Farsiou said. "It is just a great thing for the program, and we are just going to build on it."

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

Schafer Sports' owners cut the ribbon in front of their new facility Friday.

EWING -- Schafer Sports unveiled its new facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning following years of obstacles delayed the realization of the owners' vision, they said.

"This facility is proof that dreams can happen," Shannon Schafer, who owns Schafer Sports with her husband, Jonathan, said.

"It can happen. There was a year or two [during the process] that I wavered a bit, but I persevered. The possibilities here are endless."

The $5-million facility is 38,000 square feet and has a warm-water swimming pool, an indoor turf field, two party rooms and gymnastics equipment. 

Schafer Sports say they work to build children's self-esteem by trying different sports, and they say they are the only local organization to train children with special needs in both gymnastics and swimming.

"Schafer Sports has been a place where my child is not judged, but loved," Pennington resident Sue Russo, who has sent her daughter to Schafer Sports for seven years, said.

"Shannon innately understands what my daughter needs and delivers. I feel grateful for Shannon and her love and support of my daughter," Russo said.

Jonathan and Shannon Schafer, Pennington residents, began looking for property to expand The Schafer School of Gymnastics, in Lawrence, back in 2003.

However, by the time the pair was ready, the economy crashed. "My best quality is persistence," Jonathan Schafer said.

Once the Schafers received financing, the organization officially broke ground on the facility last August, and in less than a year, Schafer Sports Center has become a reality.

"I'm still just totally spent and exhausted, so it hasn't sunk in yet," Jonathan Schafer said. "I'll start feeling good when there are kids in here. I'm just relieved that the facility is up, so now I can get back to doing what I'm best at." 

The Schafers plan to officially open Schafer Sports Center on August 2, though the facility is still awaiting some finishing touches.

When they do, they will close down the Lawrence location on Princeton Avenue.

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

The Costa Rican man appeared in court for a bail reconsideration hearing Friday

TRENTON - A 12-year-old girl who accused her mother's boyfriend of sexually assaulting her in a locked bedroom last spring has since recanted her story, the suspect's defense attorney says.

Attorney Jason Matey said Friday that the  case against his client, 31-year-old Costa Rican native Pablo Beita, is "significantly weakened."

Matey spoke during Beita's bail reconsideration hearing Friday and called for Superior Court Judge Anthony Massi to reduce Beita's $300,000 bail, saying that both the alleged victim and her mother have recanted the claims they made against Beita months ago.

Massi agreed to reduce the bail to $250,000 after the hearing Friday.

Beita was arrested in April after the girl and her mother came forward about an incident that month.

The girl told police she was at home with Beita when he locked her in a bedroom and sexually assaulted her, Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Downing said Friday.

The girl's mother came home during the incident and banged on the door after hearing "rustling" sounds coming from the room. Her 12-year-old daughter opened the door "in distress," and told her mother what had happened, Downing said.

Princeton sexual assault suspect appears in court

Downing added that the girl said in April that Beita had tried to force her to perform oral sex on him in the past. Investigators were able to get DNA evidence implicating Beita in the crime, Downing said Friday.

But Matey argued that the charges against Beita are false. Beita merely got drunk and fell asleep in the locked room, Matey said Friday.

He argued that the recantations support Beita's claim.

Matey also argued that the girl has since said that Beita never assaulted her and that she only blamed him because, "she didn't like him."

The girl's mother also told Matey that her daughter has made similar, fake accusations before, he said Friday.

"She sort of attacks the credibility of the victim," Matey said of the mother's recantation. 

Matey suggested the bail be reduced from $300,000 to $100,000, and said Beita is an undocumented immigrant from Costa Rica and that he's also being held on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer.

Despite the recantations, Massi said he was still concerned about the seriousness of the allegations. Beita is ordered to have no contact with the young alleged victim.  

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman 

Abreu said he envisions the capital city becoming another Bronx, Manhattan or Philadelphia.

TRENTON -- A developer bought seven abandoned properties in Trenton on Friday, saying he sees the city's potential to become a small scale version of the Bronx, Manhattan or Philadelphia.

Victor Abreu, CEO of Boro Diverse Construction Inc., says after purchasing and developing the properties, his investment will total an estimated $54.3 million.

"We're working for the future," said Abreu. "I have high expectations for this great city."

"I can make my dream in Trenton." he said.

Abreau, his wife and associates signed the deals at City Hall with city officials and other local business leaders.

The currently-vacated properties, scattered throughout the city, will be redesigned into mixed-unit and multi-family homes, says Abreu.

He intends to hire local electricians, plumbers and other employees -- 120 positions in total -- to help facilitate economic growth within the city.

Construction is expected to begin in about two months, after some overdue work to bring the buildings up to code.

The family housing will be structured to help city residents find quality and affordable living spaces. He says that by redeveloping larger one family homes into two-or-three family dwellings, residents will be able to find units within their price range.

Trenton couple's investment goes way beyond McDonald's

Abreu also said that by dividing the properties into smaller units the city's housing market will become more resistant to market crashes.

The mixed-unit development is expected to help strengthen the city's economy by adding jobs to the area.

This will be Abreu's first development project in the state. He says he was originally leaning toward developing in Camden, but after a tour of Trenton he fell in love with the city's character and history.

He credits local developers, like Freddie and Rosa Rosado who have already invested in the city, for turning him on to Trenton's potential for growth.

The Dominican-born developer is also a George Washington buff so Trenton's history was an added bonus for him, he says.

Abreu has developed properties throughout New York State including the Bronx, Winchester, Yonkers and Ossining, he said.

The developer's one lament was that several local and state banks he approached were not interested in investing in the city. He had to find an out-of-state bank that was willing to work toward revitalizing Trenton.

Abreu says he's just begun investing in the city. He has another six units that he expects to close on in early September.

"I see a beautiful future in Trenton," he said.

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