The five-year grant will help the recipient Mercer Street Friends make Rivera Middle School a full-service community school

TRENTON -- Trenton's Rivera Middle School will soon become a place that goes beyond textbooks to focus on the whole child, thanks to a new $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The five-year grant will help the recipient Mercer Street Friends make Rivera a full-service community school for children and parents alike by moving a variety of resources into the school itself. The nonprofit will offer after-school programs, health screenings, family counseling and parent classes, among other things.

"It's not just about instruction," Mercer Street Friends executive director Shannon Mason said. "It's how do we engage families, how do we address issues and concerns of the whole child in order to give them the greatest opportunity to be successful."

A community school, she said, connects families whose problems might be crippling their children's ability to learn with the social services they need.

"It frees up teachers to teach and students to learn because so much of what teachers have to do is really trying to complement or provide these auxiliary services that they're not trained and/or don't have time to provide," she said.

The federal grant targets five core services: assistance to students who have been chronically absent, truant, suspended or expelled, family engagement, mental health services, mentoring and youth development programs and access to community-based support and services.

MORE: 10 percent of N.J. students chronically absent, report says

After hearing about the initiative from a supporter of Mercer Street Friends, the nonprofit spent the better part of the past three years laying the groundwork.

"We talked to people in the superintendent's office, in the community, other social service providers just to get a sense from the community whether this was something that would be effective and whether they were willing to be a part of," Mason said.

Rivera was chosen in large part because it had a principal -- Bernadette Trapp -- who was willing to work closely with them.

"It's not just services being dropped into the school, but the school and organization working together," Mason said.

Though the grant began on Oct. 1, Mercer Street Friends began familiarizing itself with the school last year. Now, four staff members and two interns work there full-time.

Licensed clinicians have begun providing individual and group counseling to both students and families. Over the last year, a vision screening was held and free glasses were given out, fresh produce was sent home and computers were distributed as part of its Trenton Digital Initiative.

A stress-reduction group for parents will also start up soon. Mason said that building parents' involvement with the school and with their children's education is critical.

"If we want our kids to be successful in school, we have to identify meaningful ways to engage their families, their parents," she said.

Mason said the nonprofit plans to gradually roll out programs so they can see what's working and what's not.

"It's a great opportunity for our community and organizations like Mercer Street Friends who are wrestling how to continue and increase our impact in challenging fiscal environments," she said. "I see this as a way to pull together the strength of our community to have a positive impact on children and families."

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

Princeton University is hosting another hackathon event this weekend, featuring speakers, tech-workshops and over 600 more students on campus

PRINCETON - Hundreds of students will flood Princeton University's campus this weekend as part of a campus-wide, two-day, tech-centered event.

The semiannual event - aptly named "HackPrinceton" - will begin Friday night around 5 p.m. with an opening ceremony and continue through Sunday afternoon, according to a release from the university. The majority of the events will be held at The Friend Center for Engineering Education.

Over the course of 36 hours, Princeton University students and around 600 students from over 80 other campuses will participate in workshops and listen to talks from tech industry professionals.

The workshops will cover everything from basic web development to more advanced studies like backend design, according to the release.

The keynote speaker is Pooja Sankar, the CEO of Piazza.com - a website which allows students to pose questions regarding their studies and gives professors and other students the chance to answer those questions.

ALSO: Princeton's first hackathon to focus on community issues

Students will also have a chance to work on projects during the weekend with help from Dell and Intel-donated hardware, the release stated. They'll be able to unveil those projects using Amazon.com's web services site.

Princeton University is not the only place to delve into the "Hackathon" world. A group called "Major League Hacking," supports over 150 similar events across North America and Europe each semester, according to the release.

The event has been closed to outsiders but Princeton University students can still apply via the website, Hackprinceton.com. 

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

Hamilton and Robbinsville police blotter for Nov. 2-9

HAMILTON

Nov. 2
Criminal Mischief - 2800 block Nottingham Way
Graffiti - 2200 block Kuser Rd.
Burglary/Auto - West Baylor Drive
Robbery - 1500 block East State St.
Shoplifting - 2000 block Nottingham Way

 

Nov. 3
Criminal Mischief - Bradford Avenue
Theft - 700 block Whitehorse/Hamilton Square Road
Theft - 900 block Cedar Lane
Theft - 100 block Marketplace Blvd.
Burglary Attempt -3100 block Quakerbridge Rd.
Robbery - 2100 block Nottingham Way - Arrested Gabriel J Medina.

Nov. 4
Theft- 1800 block Kuser Rd.
Theft - 3100 block Quakerbridge Rd.
Theft - 2400 block South Broad St.
Burglary/Auto - Norcross Circle
Burglary/Auto - 3600 block East State St Ext
Burglary/Auto's - 100 block Concord Ave.
Burglary/Auto - 1000 block Whitehorse/Mercerville Rd.
Burglary - 200 block Bently Ave.
Burglary - 100 block East Franklin St.
Shoplifting - 400 block Marketplace Blvd. - Arrested Maria J. Smith.

Nov. 5
Criminal Mischief - 100 block Kingston Blvd.
Theft - 100 block Fitz-Randolph Blvd.
Theft - Mulberry Court
Burglary/Auto - 200 block Andrew St.
Burglary/Auto - Andrew Street
Burglary/Auto - Collins Road

Nov. 6
Graffiti - 400 block Gropp Ave.
Theft - Miry Brook Road
Burglary/Auto - 200 block Concord Ave.

Nov. 7
Criminal Mischief - Emanuel Street/Cedar Lane 
Criminal Mischief - 200 block Massachusetts Ave.
Criminal Mischief - Uncle Petes Road
Crim Mischief - 2700 block South Clinton Ave
Theft - 600 block Berg Ave.
Burglary - 100 block Vetterlein Ave. 

Nov. 8
Criminal Mischief - 200 block Churchill Ave.

Nov. 9
Theft - Sunnybrae Boulevard
Theft - 2700 block South Clinton Ave.
Theft - 2200 block Route 33 
Theft - 700 block Rt. 130 
Theft - 1200 block Silver Ct.
Burglary/Auto - Wolfpack Road
Burglary - 100 block Ruskin Ave.

ROBBINSVILLE

Nov. 3
Burglary/Theft -- Robbinsville Allentown Road

Nov. 4
Criminal Mischief/Attempted Burglary -- Stanwyck Court
DWI -- Pond Road - Arrested: Elizabeth Sandham

Nov. 5
Narcotics -- I-195 - Arrested: Lauren Muton

Nov. 6
Narcotics -- Sharon Road -- Vincent Campanella
DWI/Narcotics -- I-195 -- Christoph Bongiorno, Thomas Lafalce

Nov. 7
Narcotics -- Sharon Road - Arrested: Daniel Wright  

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

 

Fiore Corcione stopped to check on the woman, who refused medical treatment and police involvement

EWING - An Eatontown man was charged with careless driving Tuesday night after hitting a woman who was crossing a road, police said.

Ewing Police File Photo Keith Brown/The Times 

The woman, 21, was crossing Green Lane in a southbound direction when she was hit by a gray, 2013 Honda Accord just before 6 p.m. Tuesday, Capt. Rocco Maurca said.

The driver, 21-year-old Fiore Corcione stopped to check on the woman, who refused medical treatment and police involvement, Maurca said.

Corcione drove off. On his way back through the area, he noticed police cars at the scene, where the woman again declined medical attention, Maurca said.

Corcione drove to Ewing Police Headquarters to report his involvement in the accident. He was cited for careless driving, Maurca said.

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

 

The 22-year-old man told police he was walking on the 800 block of Lyndale Avenue around 9:30 p.m. when three unknown men knocked him to the ground

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

TRENTON - A Mount Holly man was attacked and robbed by three unknown men while walking through a Trenton park, police said Wednesday.

The 22-year-old man told police he was walking on the 800 block of Lyndale Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when three unknown men approached him, knocked him to the ground and took his wallet and cellphone, Capt. Donald Fillinger said.

The trio ran toward Hamilton Avenue and out of sight, Fillinger said.

The man declined medical treatment, Fillinger said.

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

 

Kiera H. Murchison, 18, and Moshonda Williams, 22, were arrested and charged Tuesday with the robbery of a 22-year-old Trenton man on the 300 block of Montgomery Street.

TRENTON - Two Trenton women were arrested and another is sought in a strong-arm robbery, police said Wednesday.

Trenton Police car shown in this file photo. Keith Brown/The Times 

Kiera H. Murchison, 18, and Moshonda Williams, 22, were arrested and charged Tuesday with the robbery of a 22-year-old Trenton man on the 300 block of Montgomery Street.

The man told police that he was walking on Montgomery Street around 6:30 p.m. Saturday when three women in a burgundy 4-door car grabbed him, punched him and held him down while they went through his pockets. They took his wallet and cellphone, Capt. Donald Fillinger said.

The women then got back into the car and sped away, Fillinger said.

One of the women, the man told police, was an ex-girlfriend. He did not say which one, Fillinger said.

Murchison was charged and released on bail. The amount was not immediately available. Williams' bail was set at $50,000, according to police records.

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

 

17 of the officers work for the Middlesex County corrections department and one works for the Mercer County corrections department.

NJ Advance Media File Photo 

WEST WINDSOR -- Eighteen corrections officers graduated from the Mercer County Police Academy recently, the academy announced.

All work for the Middlesex County corrections department and one works for the Mercer County corrections department.

The Middlesex officers and their hometowns:

Mohsin R. Awan, Woodbridge; Felix Berlin, Old Bridge; Javier Bravo, Woodbridge; Giuseppe R. Fatula, Old Bridge; Robert M. Gentile, Piscataway; Scott L. Inderwies, Jr., Colonia; Dorota E. Kolodrubiec, Sayreville, Corey R. LaSala, Middlesex Borough; Michael G. Malaquias , Colonia; Ian V. Marino, South Brunswick; Joel A. Puntiel, Perth Amboy; Joseph R. Quartararo, East Brunswick; Nicholas S. Starace, Sayreville; Adriana E. Szymanski, Edison; Thomas J. Wilbert, Jr. , South River; Robert M. Wolf, Jr., South River; Corey J. Zager-Douglas, Milltown.

From Mercer County: Veronica Storley Williams, of Hamilton.

Quartararo earned the academic and physical training honors for the class,  Zager-Douglas won the firearms award and Wilbert was chosen as class speaker. The academy's corrections' training is a 10-week program.

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

Naked Pizza on Nassau Street is the latest chain restaurant to close in Princeton this year.

PRINCETON - The "Open" sign is dark and the chairs inside are turned upside down at the site of what once was Naked Pizza, a make-your-own pizzeria on Nassau Street.

The restaurant - one of few stores in a national chain - closed earlier this week after four years of business, according to its Facebook group.

No representative for the shop was immediately available to comment on why the pizzeria closed but it follows on the heels of other, similar chains in downtown Princeton.

Both Cheeburger Cheeburger, which sat only two doors down from Naked Pizza, and a Subway shop on Nassau closed earlier this year.

RELATED: Subway hits the rails, Hoagie Haven waves it goodbye

Though the closings leave three storefronts now empty and vacant along the popular strip of stores and restaurants, they may be indicative of a larger understanding among restaurant-goers downtown.

"People like the mom and pop shop in Princeton," Jared Mangone, manager of Porta Via, a small Italian restaurant that sits in between what once was Cheeburger Cheeburger and Naked Pizza. "They like all natural and organic."

Mangone is not alone in that belief. Other local restaurant owners and managers say there's a kind of understanding between them and many Princeton residents.

"We have a history in this town. There's a lot of people that know us," Taste of Mexico owner Felipe Cruz said Wednesday. His restaurant has been just off Nassau Street for almost two decades and Cruz said that - despite the recent closings - he's not concerned for his business.

"Most of the people who come here came with or without (chain restaurants)," he added.

For others, the chain closings could even bolster their business. Danny Alfano, a manager at Say Cheez - which is family-owned - said the restaurant has been selling many more cheeseburgers since Cheeburger Cheeburger closed down across the street.

Like Mangone he attributes the closings to Princeton residents' love of local food.

"That's why you never see a Burger King or a Wendy's in Princeton," he said, adding that the loss of chain restaurants is even an encouragement to the little guys.

"We're around and the big businesses are closing," he said with a smile.

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

Though no suspect has been identified, Rutgers students have been painting the cannon red for decades as part a despite over where it belongs, according to campus legend.

PRINCETON -- Rutgers University celebrated its 249th birthday on Tuesday evening with an eye toward the future -- it's 250th anniversary next November. 

But the school's birthday bash may have started early Tuesday morning with a tradition based on a deep-seated feud from the past.  

Campus security at Princeton discovered around 2 a.m. that the school's revolutionary war cannon was painted red, university spokesman Martin Mbugua said. Princeton's tiger statue near Nassau Hall was also vandalized with graffiti and expletives directed at Princeton and Pennsylvania State University, he said. 

Though no suspect has been identified, Rutgers students have been painting the cannon red for decades as part of a more than century-long dispute over where it belongs.  

in a letter to Princeton's president, Rutgers President Robert Barchi said Wednesday his school would be "deeply embarrassed and diminished" if the graffiti was the work of its students.

Rutgers will send students to Princeton to help with any needed cleanup, he said. 

RELATED: Surprise! See Rutgers' unusual birthday present

"Both of us know of the long history of student mischief between our institutions," Barchi wrote. "While we at Rutgers are happy to enjoy a friendly rivalry with Princeton, we do not condone the childish and lawbreaking behavior of whoever did this to your campus."

The origin of the Rutgers-Princeton cannon war dates to 1777, when two cannons from the British army were left on the campus of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) after the battle of Princeton, according to the school.  

The cannons remained near the campus until the larger of the two was put to use during the War of 1812 and moved to New Brunswick to protect the city. When the war ended, the cannon was abandoned again and became a prized souvenir for Rutgers students, according to Rutgers.  

But there was a problem. The cannon actually belonged to Princeton's armory, and, in 1835, a military company of Princeton residents brought the cannon back to town, according to Princeton's account. 

A few years later, Princeton students hoisted the cannon onto wagon and dumped it in front of Nassau Hall. In 1840, they planted it into what's now called cannon green, with the butt end sticking out of the ground. 

Since then, Rutgers and Princeton students have been engaged in an on-again, off-again cannon war. 

in 1875, Rutgers students stole the smaller of the two cannons, according to Princeton. Angry Princeton students retaliated by taking 28 Revolutionary War muskets from Rutgers and holding them hostage until the cannon was returned. 

Faculty members from the two schools held a meeting and determined the cannon had always belonged to Princeton. New Brunswick police accompanied the cannon out of town with "one sitting on the cannon with a drawn revolver, facing a howling mob of New Brunswick's townsmen, who ran after them for several miles," according to Princeton's student newspaper archives. 

Princeton students in 1969 framed Rutgers for stealing the cannon by digging a hole beside it and covering the cannon in dirt. In 2006, Princeton's student newspaper reported that a secret society at Rutgers was responsible for a string of vandalism on campus, including spray painting the cannon.

The story of the cannon war was turned into a documentary, "Knights, Tigers and Cannons. Oh My!" created by a Rutgers student in 2012. 

'Tradition is important," Zack Morrison, the creator of the film, said then. "If we don't remember and respect the things that define who we are, then we'll have nothing to set us apart from the thousand other colleges in this country."

Princeton immediately began cleaning up the graffiti and had repainted the cannon black by Wednesday afternoon. 

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

 

William Shippen was the first U.S. Marine to die in a land battle, the Princeton Battlefield Society said.

PRINCETON -- Nearly 239 years after Gen. George Washington led the Continental Army over British forces here, the Princeton Battlefield Society honored a Marine who died in the battle as part of their Veterans Day observance.

William Shippen was the first U.S. Marine to die in a land battle, the society said.

Shippen, who was a captain, as well as all who gave their lives in the American Revolution, were honored Wednesday with readings and remembrance at the Colonnade on the northern side of Princeton Battlefield State Park.

Society members read "I am an American," by Roy Johnson and "In Flanders Fields," by John McCrae and a portion of "Princeton," by Alfred Noyes.

MORE: Princeton Battlefield State Park 'officially' bigger

The Marine Corps League's color guard from Hamilton presented the colors.

At the end of the ceremony, the society held a special observance at a marker where 21 British and 15 American troops are believed to be buried in a mass grave following the battle.

The society was awarded a federal grant last year to undertake an archaeological study of the area, which is ongoing. The  suspected mass grave is on a tract of land called the D'Ambrisi property, which officially became part of the park this year.

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

Hamilton's City of Angels drug-recovery nonprofit brought back a program specifically for veterans.

HAMILTON - City of Angels has resumed a substance-abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder recovery program for veterans who may not "always click in a regular meeting," the nonprofit's founder Kevin Meara said.

"There's a special bond between veterans," he said.

Meara said he brought the program - called Warrior Down - back two weeks ago after seeing a need for it to resume. The original program had "tapered off" a few years ago.

He said City of Angels originally had a support meeting for veterans, but this wasn't enough this time around. Twelve people have signed up for the Warrior Down program so far and they will have access to any help they need - such as medical treatment - just like any other City of Angels group member.

The first meeting was held two weeks ago for Warrior Down and Meara said eight people were present.

City of Angels - based in Hamiton - was founded by Meara and his wife Maryann to help recovering drug addicts after their son, KC Meara, died at the age 28 of a heroin overdose in 2008. They dedicate their lives now to ensure what happened to their son, does not happen to the people they come in contact with.

ALSO: DJ concert raises $10K for City of Angels

"Warrior Down had a special meaning for me," Meara said. "No veteran left behind, just as no soldier gets left behind on the battlefield."

Meara said veterans diagnosed with PTSD often are treated unfairly, something he helps the service men and women in his group overcome. Men and women with PTSD are honorably discharged from service, gaining no access to benefits, he said.

"Our men and women deserve a lot more than being dumped to the curb," Meara said.

On Tuesday, Meara traveled to Toms River with a few of the group's members to push for the establishment of a court just for veterans.

"We think it's important that they find the need for a Veterans Court, which is kind of like a drug court but for veterans," Meara said.

In 2011, a bill was passed to set up the N.J. PSTD Veteran Task Force which led to the first Superior Court-level judicial divisionary program for veterans in the state. This program - beginning Jan. 1- will seek strategies to provide veterans with PTSD charged with low-level offenses with counseling instead of jail time.

As for his new program, currently Meara said City of Angels is spreading information about Warrior Down through word of mouth.

"We're just going to let it grow into whatever it goes into," he said.

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

 

Today's letters: Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede thanks voters & veterans

I would like to thank the voters in Hamilton Township for reelecting me as your Mayor.  I am deeply honored and humbled to have been given the opportunity to serve you for four more years.

Over the past three years, I have worked tirelessly to ensure our residents have the best services in the most cost effective manner, and I vow to continue to work hard each and every day.  I will continue to focus on the priorities outlined in my campaign:  keeping taxes stable, increasing our economic development by attracting new businesses, investing in our roads and infrastructure, and continuing to work with our Police Division to ensure our crime rate maintains its historic lows.

I have had the opportunity to meet many residents during my tenure on Council and as Mayor, and I look forward to meeting more of you during my upcoming term.  I maintain an open door policy and encourage you to contact me with your suggestions and concerns. Working together, Hamilton Township will continue to grow stronger. 

I again thank you for the confidence and trust you have placed in me.  It is my privilege to continue to serve as your Mayor.

Kelly A. Yaede

Mayor, Hamilton Township

We all owe an eternal debt of gratitude to our veterans; and this Veterans Day, Hamilton Township is taking a small step to illustrate our community's gratitude.

This week, we will light our Hamilton Township Municipal Building, Health Division Building and our Recreation Division Building the color green.  Following the 'Greenlight A Vet' campaign effort, funded by Walmart in association with veteran advocacy groups, we want to show our veterans that Hamilton Township appreciates their sacrifices, which have kept our community and our nation free.

If your family is able to shine a green light for our veterans this Veterans Day, I am certain that our veterans will appreciate this gesture of gratitude.  But beyond this, I would encourage everyone to take a moment to thank a veteran this Veterans Day and let them know that we all appreciate their sacrifices.

Ronald Reagan once said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."  Thanks to our veterans, freedom has continued to be preserved for our citizens all across our great nation.  Through this simple gesture of lighting our buildings green, we, as Hamiltonians, collectively express our gratitude.     

Kelly A. Yaede

Mayor, Township of Hamilton

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A Bordentown couple says a waiter at the Quaker Bridge Mall Cheesecake Factory knocked one of them off their chair at the bar.

LAWRENCEVILLE - Two Bordentown residents are suing The Cheesecake Factory and a waiter there over an incident two years ago when the waiter knocked one of the residents off her chair, according to the lawsuit.

Tim Darragh | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

The suit was filed in Mercer County Superior Court last week on behalf of Angela and Victor Santoro, who said they came into the restaurant's Quaker Bridge Mall location two years ago.

ALSO: Mother and son sue Princeton Police

The couple was sitting at the bar, ordering food when Cheesecake Factory waiter Richard Roe, "negligently and carelessly contacted the stool," Angela Santoro was sitting on, the suit stated.

Santoro fell off the stool and, "sustained serious, painful and permanent injuries," as a result.

She claims she incurred "divers sums for medical expenses," following her injuries.

A lawyer representing the couple was not immediately available for contact Wednesday afternoon. 

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

In a message sent to Princeton on Wednesday, Rutgers president Robert Barchi called the vandalism childish and said Rutgers would be "deeply embarrassed and diminished" if the graffiti was the work of its students.

PRINCETON -- The vandalism on Princeton University's campus, including expletives directed at Pennsylvania State University, was captured on camera Tuesday before the university was able to clean it up. 

The photos, posted by college news website thetab.com, show the school's tiger statue covered in graffiti and its revolutionary war cannon painted red, a possible nod to the century-old dispute between Rutgers and Princeton students over the cannon's ownership. Tuesday was Rutgers' 249th birthday celebration. 

In a message sent to Princeton on Wednesday, Rutgers president Robert Barchi called the vandalism childish and said Rutgers would be "deeply embarrassed and diminished" if the graffiti was the work of its students.

Princeton's Revolutionary War cannon, the subject of a century-old dispute with Rutgers, was painted red earlier this week. (Mary Sauve | thetab.com)
 

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

 

The teen was driving a 2003 Honda Accord south on Bayard Lane just south of Boudinot Street around 7:30 a.m. when he crossed the center lines

PRINCETON - A teen driver crossed over a two-lane road into oncoming traffic, causing a 5-car pileup on Bayard Lane Thursday morning, police said.

A Princeton Police car in this file photo. 

The teen was driving a 2003 Honda Accord south on Bayard Lane just south of Boudinot Street around 7:30 a.m. when he crossed the center lines into northbound traffic, hitting two cars, police said.

A Princeton woman driving a 2008 Honda Accord slammed on her brakes to avoid the collision when a Ford pickup truck driven by a Lawrence Township man hit her from behind, police said.

Michael Kovacs, 45, Mercerville was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima and Daphine Corbin, 34, of Belle Mead,  was driving a 2005 Audi A6 when they collided with the teen's car. Kovacs and Corbin were taken to University Medical Center at Plainsboro with minor injuries, police said.

The teen was uninjured. He was charged with careless driving and failure to maintain a lane, police said.

The Princeton woman and the Lawrence Township man were uninjured and their cars had only minor damage. The two drove away from the scene, police said.

The Kovacs' Altima, Corbin's Audi and the teen's Honda were heavily damaged and towed, police said.

The road was closed until 9 a.m., causing heavy backups in the area.

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

 

Thomas J. Wooden, 52, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses when he slashed the teen around 5 a.m. Thursday

TRENTON - A 16-year-old boy was slashed across the face with a knife Thursday morning and a Bristol, Penn., man is charged with the assault, police said.

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

Thomas J. Wooden, 52, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses when he slashed the teen around 5 a.m. in a house on the first block of Breuning Avenue, Lt. Christopher Doyle said.

Wooden and the teen were arguing after the teen was found asleep in the house with a 14-year-old girl who lives at the address, Doyle said.

The argument escalated and Wooden picked up a knife and slashed the teen, who was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton with minor injuries, Doyle said.

Wooden's bail was not immediately available. 

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

 

Conisha Chambers, 41, was arguing with her boyfriend in a house on the first block of Powers Street around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday

TRENTON - A Trenton woman was arrested and charged with assault and weapons offenses after throwing bleach on her boyfriend's face, police said.

A file photo of a Trenton police car 

Conisha Chambers, 41, was arguing with her boyfriend in a house on the first block of Powers Street around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Lt. Christopher Doyle said.

The argument turned physical when Chambers opened a bottle of bleach and threw it in her boyfirend's face, causing minor burns and irritation to his face and eyes, Doyle said.

The man was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton for treatment, Doyle said.

Chambers was charged with assault, weapons offenses and an outstanding warrant. Her bail was set at $20,000, according to police records.

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

 

A Princeton University student was charged with criminal sexual conduct and burglary.

PRINCETON - A Princeton University student was charged this week with getting into a female student's bed while she was asleep in her dorm last month.

Photo provided by Mercer County Prosecutor's OfficeAnna Merriman | For NJ.com 

Ronbo Fan, 19, a Princeton University student from Texas was charged with criminal sexual contact and burglary Wednesday, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.

Fan has been banned from campus, an email from Princeton to students and staff stated Thursday.  

RELATED: Princeton student woke up with strange person in her bed

The charges are connected to an Oct. 31 report.

A female student said she was asleep in her dorm room in 1915 Hall when she woke up to find an unknown person with one arm around her in bed. The woman screamed and the unknown person fled the area. Princeton University Public Safety investigated the call and identified the person as Fan. 

Casey Deblasio, a spokesperson for the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said that the Oct. 31 report does not appear to be connected to other reports of a person "fondling" students on Princeton University's campus earlier this fall.

She added that the university did not release details about the investigation or whether alcohol was a factor. 

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

 

Around New Jersey, and the nation, these colleges have dwindling income and that puts them at risk of becoming less competitive with bigger and better endowed private universities such as Princeton.

On bucolic campuses around New Jersey and the nation, many college administrators are dealing with a cold, hard economic reality that threatens their very survival as bastions of higher education.

Simply put, these colleges have dwindling income and that puts them at risk of becoming less competitive with bigger and better endowed private universities such as Princeton.

Several factors are at play here.

One of the biggest challenges for area colleges, particularly smaller private ones, is declining enrollment. As this paper pointed out in an article last Sunday, dwindling enrollment is causing serious concerns at some schools.

The College of Saint Elizabeth, a Catholic college in Morristown, saw its enrollment drop nearly 35 percent between 2009 and 2014, according to the state Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.   

Other small and mid-size private colleges in New Jersey had similar reductions, the state reported: Georgian Court University in Lakewood, down 21 percent; Centenary College in Hackettstown, down 21 percent; Drew University in Madison, down 21 percent; Rider University in Lawrence, down 12 percent; Felician University in Lodi, down 8 percent.  

"This is a national trend," said Gregory Dell'Omo, Rider University's new president. "There is no question about it. Schools are all going through this and trying to tighten their belts and really allocate their resources in the most efficient ways possible."

Rider recently announced plans to cut 13 majors and one minor and eliminate more than 20 jobs, including 14 full-time faculty members.

The cuts are expected to save more than $2 million a year as Rider tries to close its deficit, which is already at $7.6 million of this year's $216 million budget, according to the university.

Felician University cited a drop in enrollment for its decision to lay off 16 faculty members in 2014.

The drop in enrollment comes at a time when the number of college-age students is falling, making it harder for these institutions to compete with less expensive public colleges.

It's a struggle for these small private colleges to offer the financial aid packages, new majors and other perks that larger colleges offer. They also lack the name recognition and national rankings of their larger competitors.

On top of all these hurdles, colleges have to contend with less government aid.

New Jersey's spending on higher education was 23.5 percent below pre-recession levels, according to a 2014 report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research and policy institute based in Washington, D.C.

And when you factor in that fewer alumni are giving back to their alma maters, you see a bleak financial landscape for colleges that have not taken steps to adjust to the changed economic realities.

And change they must, but they have to be careful not to cut so much meat from the bone that they become emaciated institutions of higher learning.

The small liberal arts colleges have to play to their strengths, marketing themselves as places where education is more personalized. They have to offer value for the hard-earned education dollars students and their families are investing.

In Darwinian terms, it is the fittest who will survive.

Matt Popek signed up in the spring when the football team hosted a bone marrow registry drive on campus

EWING -- College of New Jersey running back Matt Popek is about to make his biggest play yet -- and it's off the field.

The 20-year-old found out in October that he was a match for a 9-year-old girl who has leukemia and needs a life-saving bone-marrow transplant.

Popek signed up in the spring when the football team hosted a bone marrow registry drive on campus. The "Get in the Game, Save a Life" drive, a national initiative that was begun by Villanova Coach Andy Talley, is designed to boost the number of donors.

MORE: TCNJ football players go all out for bone marrow registration drive

Popek, a junior criminology major from Newton, had his cheek swabbed for a tissue sample, then largely forgot about it.

"I was hoping that I could be picked, but I knew that it was so rare," he said.

But he got the call in October that he was a potential match for the patient.

"When she told me, my first response was, 'I'm completely willing and able to donate when and if necessary,'" he said.

After some blood work, Popek was deemed the best match and will undergo surgery on Nov. 24.

"He's an outstanding young man," head coach Wayne Dickens said. "There aren't very many distinct opportunities you get in life to have the possibility of saving or at least extending someone else's life. He's viewing it as a privilege to have that opportunity."

Each year, more than 12,000 patients are diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, such as leukemia, whose best hope for a cure is a marrow transplant, according to Be The Match. A patient's likelihood of finding a matching donor on the organization's registry is estimated to range from 66 to 93 percent.

Dickens said TCNJ's drive registered 540 potential donors.

"If through our efforts we could add to the registry size to give someone a better chance to be able to find a match for a bone marrow donation, then that's huge," he said.

Popek knows little about the patient -- just her gender and age and the fact that her situation is "urgent."

A week before the marrow extraction, the girl will undergo chemotherapy that will not only kill the cancerous cells but also leave her immune system virtually defenseless.

"My bone marrow is supposed to reboot her immune system," Popek said. "After the 17th, she's very dependent on me giving the bone marrow."

He will be under anesthesia for the one- to two-hour procedure, during which the surgeon will make two small incisions in the back of his pelvic bone to extract the bone marrow.

After a year, he will be told who the girl is and given contact info to get in touch with her if he chooses.

Popek said he is most inspired by her fight.

"This 9-year-old is going through so much," he said. "People call me brave, but she's the brave person in this situation. ... I'm just blessed and happy with the opportunity that I can do something for her and hopefully, she can enjoy a healthy life."

Editor's Note: This story was updated to include comments from head coach Wayne Dickens.

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