Quantcast
Channel: Mercer County
Viewing all 10623 articles
Browse latest View live

4 charged in heroin, cocaine distribution scheme

$
0
0

Police recorded hours of surveillance and made multiple undercover purchases of cocaine

Four people have been arrested on drug charges after a two-month long investigation into a cocaine and heroin distribution organization in Trenton and Ewing, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office announced Tuesday.

Investigators recorded hours of surveillance and made multiple undercover purchases of cocaine between December 2017 and this month, the office said.

On Friday, Feb. 9, prosecutor's detectives and police arrested Reginald Jackson, 34, of Ewing at the Parkway Gardens apartments in Ewing. He had 15 grams of powder cocaine on him, the office said.

The investigation had revealed an apartment in the 100 block of Oakland Street in Trenton was being used as a stash location and officers executed a search warrant there the same day.

Arrested there were Ryan Pullen, 38; Jade Long, 32; and Anthony Hearns, 31, all of Trenton.

When the police arrived, they watched Pullen break a window and toss a 9-millimeter firearm onto the roof, which police recovered, the office said.

Detectives found 10 grams of crack cocaine, 35 grams of powder cocaine, 30 bricks of heroin and $1,547 in cash at the apartment.

In addition to the roof gun, officers recovered two additional handguns in a second-floor apartment. The prosecutor's officer estimates the seized drugs have a street value of $12,000.

All four were charged with various second-degree drug offenses. Pullen was additionally charged with weapons offenses. The office also seized Jackson's 2001 Honda Accord as drug sales proceeds. 

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook 


Assault by auto charges follow Routes 202-31 DUI crash, police say

$
0
0

Joseph A. Longo, 20, of Lawrenceville, is facing assault by auto charges following a two-car crash at the intersection of Routes 202-31 and Copper Hill Road on Feb. 3, 2018, police said.

A Mercer County man is facing an assault by auto charge following a two-car crash at the intersection of Routes 202-31 and Copper Hill Road, police said.

Joseph A. Longo, 20, of Lawrenceville, was charged after the accident, reported at 8:20 a.m. on Feb. 3, police said.

Police said Longo, driving west on Copper Hill Road in a 2017 Jeep Renegade, failed to stop for a red light at Routes 202-31. His Jeep was struck by a 2005 Nissan sedan traveling north on Routes 202-31. The Nissan's driver, a 21-year-old from Philadelphia suffered facial injuries.

Longo was also charged by Officer Ismael Mendez with DUI, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and underage possession of alcohol, police said.

He was ticketed for ignoring the red light, reckless driving, failure to exhibit proof of insurance, having an open container of alcohol and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, police said.

Markeise E. Bullock, 19, of Princeton, who was riding in the front passenger's seat of Longo's Jeep, was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

The Flemington-Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad responded to evaluate all three people, who refused further medical aid from first responders, police said. Both vehicles were towed.

Longo and Bullock were released pending a court appearance, police said.

 

20 residents displaced by fire that burned 5 Trenton homes

$
0
0

All 11 Trenton fire companies battled the fire Watch video

A three-alarm fire that ripped through five connected homes in Trenton's West Ward late Monday left 20 people in six families temporarily without a home, officials said.

Despite the fire's intensity at times, no residents or firefighters were injured on Colonial Avenue, the Trenton Fire Department said. The specific cause was under investigation Tuesday, but does not appear to be suspicious.

The fire started in the middle of a row of homes on the street, between West State Street and Route 29, at about 9:15 p.m.

Trenton firefighters were ready for such a fire there from years of experience dealing with the "unique" construction of the homes, and the street's small size, which makes it difficult to get large ladder trucks on the block, Fire Battalion Chief Gus Tackacs said Tuesday.

The row only has fire-stop walls every four homes, and it's difficult to tell from looking at them. "They are like no other homes in the city," he said.

The fire appears to have started in the third floor of one home and basically shot left and right, spreading to two homes on either side. Firefighters actively battled the fire until 12:15 a.m. Tuesday before Battalion Chief Todd Fell declared it under control, Tackacs said.

When it was over, it had grown to three alarms, which means all city fire companies were on scene - seven engines, three ladders and the rescue company. Fire companies from outside the city covered city firehouses and some responded to the scene, Tackacs said.

City inspectors will decide if any of the damaged homes have to be razed. The Red Cross of New Jersey is assisting the residents with temporary lodging, food and clothing needs, the agency said.

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

N.J.'s congressional Republicans at risk because of Trump | Editorial

$
0
0

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has just added Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Smith to its roster of targets for 2018, identifying him as one of dozens of potentially vulnerable incumbents to oust come November.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, the longest-serving member of New Jersey's congressional delegation, has been considered unbeatable since constituents in the state's Fourth District (parts of Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties) first sent him to Washington in 1981.

But now the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has just added the 19-term lawmaker to its roster of targets for 2018, identifying Smith as one of dozens of potentially vulnerable incumbents to oust come November.

Fueling the Dems' exuberance over the upcoming midterms are widespread voter disgust with the direction the country is taking, and the knowledge that the party in the White House historically loses congressional seats during off-year elections.

With a White House awash in scandals and investigations, and their president overturning the norms of civilized political discourse, GOP incumbents in one of the bluest of blue states face an energized Democratic electorate.

Polls indicate that the challengers stand a fair chance of flipping seats once believed to be firmly in the red camp.

Few can match Jersey's disdain for President Trump

High on the Dems' hit list is Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3rd), who has drawn particular fury over his role in helping save the GOP health care bill, and for voting for the Republican tax bill that gutted a vital tax break for New Jersey residents.

MacArthur backed President Donald Trump 93 percent of the time last year, more than any other lawmaker from New Jersey, according to polling expert Nate Silver.

Democratic leaders also have set their sights on Leonard Lance (R-7th), a one-time moderate who has moved further and further to the right as his party has become more and more extreme in the past few years.

Moreover, they hope to claim seats held by Reps. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th), both of whom have announced their retirements.

The Cook Political Report, which offers nonpartisan elections analysis, said that strong Democratic fundraising late last year signaled that this may indeed be a year for widespread Democratic rejoicing.

U.S. Rep. Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), who chairs the DCCC, issued a guarded statement, noting that "We have a long way to go and won't take anything for granted, but are on track to take back the house in November."

There's much at stake for the Garden State when a new Congress is installed come January: the future of infrastructure projects, the looming threat of off-shore drilling along our coastline, how the state will fare in the coming 2020 Census, among other matters.

By enabling Trump, Republican lawmakers have soiled the GOP brand. The party of Christine Todd Whitman and Tom Kean Sr. has become the party that excuses the inexcusable. If the New Jersey branch of the party wants to remain a red voice in a blue state, it can start by going back to its roots.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

 

WATCH: Kids get gift after helping couple 60 years after racist incident

$
0
0

Students from Bear Tavern Elementary School helped a couple get the honeymoon they deserved 60 years ago.

The "phenomenal" job Mercer County students did to help a couple have the honeymoon they were denied 60 years ago because they were black have been rewarded themselves.

Classmates from Bear Tavern Elementary School in Hopewell Township and their families are being treated to a Poconos resort vacation all because of their efforts to right what they saw as wrong committed at a time when segregation was still the norm.

This is "a story that restores our faith in humanity," said Steve Harvey, host of the daytime talk show, "Steve."

It was on Harvey's show Tuesday that a segment highlighted the story of The Rev. Gilbert Caldwell and his wife Grace of Asbury Park and their encounter with racism in a northern vacation spot.

But thanks to efforts of the students decades later, the Caldwells were able to fulfill and dream and, in turn, the schoolchildren were recognized in an extraordinary way, proving taking a stand for what is right can reap them rewards.

The Caldwells visited the Bear Tavern Elementary School on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in January 2017 where they were part of a black history assembly. They told of working with King and their efforts in the Deep South to overcome racial injustice.

But it was one of the Caldwells' personal stories that especially touched the students -- how they had traveled in 1957 from their then-home in North Carolina to the Mount Airy Lodge in the Pennsylvania Poconos for their honeymoon and were turned away because they were black.

Hearing this story, the fifth-graders felt they needed to do something.

"This assembly certainly moved a lot of people," said fifth-grade teacher Christina Virtucio. "What stood out was the piece about the honeymoon.

"They couldn't even understand how anyone could treat someone like that because of the color of their skin."

What they should do soon became part of their curriculum. Numerous discussions and decisions took place and they decided they needed to right a wrong -- through writing.

They found out the Mount Airy Lodge was long closed so the class wrote individual letters to the Mount Airy Casino Resort -- a Poconos vacation spot that has no connection to the hotel that turned away the Caldwells.

One of those letters so touched management at Mount Airy Casino Resort the Caldwells were given a free stay there in December and finally enjoyed a proper honeymoon in Pennsylvania's Poconos.

On Tuesday's "Steve" show, the Caldwells appeared with Steve Harvey who told their story and how the how the Bear Tavern students, who joined in via Skype, had changed the couple's life.

"I think it's absolutely phenomenal what you young people did," Harvey told the students.

"I don't know if you understand this, but you really made a super stance here. You put a mark in America that needed to be shown up. For you all to write these letters, that's crazy good. I've got to tell you that. That's just crazy good."

Their reward then came. Harvey announced each of the 30 students involved in the letter-writing campaign their parents would be receiving a two-night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge, also a Poconos resort. Teacher Virtucio is included.

The students back at Bear Tavern erupted in cheers.

"I'm just incredibly proud of the students and their worth ethic, empathy and compassion," Virtucio said.

Bear Tavern Elementary School Principal Christopher Turnbull said he was impressed how the class members reacted to this real-world situation.

"One thing we talk about every day is that we, as individuals and as a group, have the ability to impact our community and change other peoples' perception of what is possible," he said.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on FacebookHave a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

What $500K buys you in real estate in N.J.'s 15 hottest markets

$
0
0

For that price, buyers can go for a townhouse in Rumson or a tiny condo in Jersey City.

Previews & picks for the 2018 indoor track group championships

$
0
0

Picks and previews for all 12 meets of the indoor track state championships

Superhero Squad: 20 N.J. boys basketball players with powers that go beyond

$
0
0

Who made NJ.com's "Superhero Squad"?


Woman's finger severed when chunk of metal crashes through her windshield

$
0
0

A 76-year-old woman's finger was severed last week after a chunk of metal smashed through her windshield on a busy interstate, according to police.

A 76-year-old woman's finger was severed last week after a chunk of metal smashed through her windshield on a busy interstate, according to police. 

The woman, Alice Gaines, was traveling north on I-295 in Hamilton Township just after 2 p.m. on February 8, when the debris from a dump truck collided with the windshield of her Toyota Highlander, New Jersey State Police said.

She was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, police said. 

The Moorestown woman told The Trentonian that she saw the hunk of metal shoot 30 to 40 feet in the air before crashing through her windshield.

She said the debris also damaged other fingers on her left hand. 

Police said the dump truck is likely white with no identifying markings. Anyone with information is asked to contact Hamilton Barracks at 609-584-5000 ext. 5297. 

Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook

 Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Death of Lawrence man in Trenton last year was a homicide

$
0
0

Police found Gregory Wright Jr., 27, in his Lexus on Spring Street near Kafer Alley

The death of a man found unresponsive in his car in Trenton last fall has been officially deemed a homicide, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.

Police found Gregory Wright Jr., 27, in his 2010 Lexus on Spring Street near Kafer Alley at about 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 28, 2017, a Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at a city hospital and authorities initially said they considered his death suspicious.

The Middlesex County Medical Examiner's Office's examination of Wright found he died of blunt force trauma to the head, the prosecutor's office said.

The investigation is ongoing and no arrests or charges have been made public by the prosecutor's office.

Wright, who went by "Lil Greg," was from Lawrence and his obituary said he was survived by numerous relatives in the area.

He graduated from Nottingham High School in Hamilton in 2008 and attended Mercer County Community College for performing arts. He formerly worked at Shop-Rite and Sonic, it said,

Anyone with information for investigators can call the  Mercer County Homicide Task Force at 609-989-6406 or the Trenton police confidential tip line at 609-989-3663.

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

 

Vintage photos of pairs in N.J.

$
0
0

We don't always assign proper value to some of the relationships in our lives.

I had a conversation with an old high school friend recently and we bemoaned the fact that so many of us spent SO much time and effort on finding a boyfriend or girlfriend back in the day that we almost certainly missed out on some truly wonderful friendships.

de909e6e73d1bd03aea508f139490ef0--vintage-artwork-vintage-illustrations.jpg"Mom! I don't have enough for the whole class!" Well, yeah, when there were 55 KIDS in your class .... 

We joked about how we were probably better off in our pre-teen days when we gave a Valentine's Day card to everyone in the class instead of focusing on one person.

This is to say that perhaps we didn't assign proper value to some of the relationships in our lives at that time.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

In this gallery, we illustrate a variety of important pairs - sweethearts, parent and child, best friends, co-workers, brother and sister, and the list goes on. And, here are links to other galleries you may enjoy as well as a vintage New Jersey Valentine's quiz.

Vintage photos of Valentine's Day couples in NJ

Vintage photos of couples in N.J.

Stop, in the name of love ... and take our Valentine quiz on Jersey couples

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

With a bang, Trenton starts to rid city of 30K screaming crows

$
0
0

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Wildlife Services staff will be in Trenton from 4-9 p.m. for up to four consecutive nights through Feb. 23 in an effort to rid the city of its estimated 30,000 crows. Watch video

As hundreds of crows loudly made their "caw" calls and flew from the tops of the tall trees to the rooftop of the state Department of Labor building in downtown Trenton, members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Wildlife Services team got ready.

Just after 5:15 p.m. Tuesday they let off their first set of pyrotechnics from a device that resembled a flare gun, sending sparks into the sky accompanied by an ear-piercing whizzing noise. The crows leapt into the sky.

This continued for the next hour, as the team also loudly played soundbites of crow distress calls and eagle calls, sending more crows flying away. By 6:30 p.m. the parking lot was clear.

Photos: Crows told to get lost in downtown Trenton

"This doesn't mean they won't be back," United States Department of Agriculture District Supervisor and wildlife biologist Kimberly Clapper said. "They fly in in big circles every evening surveying the area just as we are surveying them."

Tuesday was the first night members of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Wildlife Services began work to rid the city of some of its estimated 30,000 crows.

The crows will be scared off over the next week using more pyrotechnics and crow calls, as well as lasers and spotlights.

The wildlife officials wear gloves, goggles, ear plugs and neon vests. Having bird droppings land on you is an occupational hazard, they said. "We can deal with it better than some others," Clapper joked.

The Wildlife Services staff will be in Trenton from 4-9 p.m. for up to four consecutive nights through Feb. 23. Follow-up efforts may continue periodically through the end of February into March.

"A lot of our projects deal with human and wildlife interference, so this certainly falls into that category," said biologist Nicole Rein. "It's good to help out and help alleviate what land owners have to go through." 

The staff breaks up into teams, driving around Trenton looking for large groups of crows, and communicating via radio on where the crows are and what methods they feel will work for dispersing the crows.

Their trucks are filled with pyrotechnics and lasers, and they have the ability to play distressed crow calls and eagle calls to scare the birds away.  

"Our goal is to break them up in smaller groups, so they're less powerful" said Rein. "The main thing is, we don't want them to spend the night."

Rein said the pyrotechnics will be what is used most often, Clapper adding pyrotechnics have proven to be the best method to drive out all types of birds, including seagulls and geese. 

For those having problems with birds, they can look to USDA's website for more information. 

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo.

Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

NJ.com girls basketball Top 20, Feb. 15: Head-to-head clashes stir up rankings

$
0
0

See the latest girls basketball Top 20 for Feb. 15.

Gauntlet throwdown: N.J. wrestling's 10 toughest districts

$
0
0

NJ.com looks at its choices for the 10 toughest districts statewide in N.J. wrestling.

Indoor track championship meet records in jeopardy: Which could fall this weekend?

$
0
0

Who could break records at the championship meet?


Murphy promises short-term relief for crowded NJ Transit commuter trains

$
0
0

Go. Phil Murphy and NJ Transit officials announced a plan to put 40 more rail cars in service to alleviate overcrowding on commuter trains. Watch video

Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday announced a plan to put 40 more cars back on NJ Transit rails to answer complaints about squeezing on overcrowded trains.

The Democratic governor said during a news conference at the Trenton train station that the transportation agency will put 20 rail cars back in service that had been waiting to have Positive Train Control equipment installed. NJ Transit also plans to lease 20 other rail cars from a Maryland commuter agency, Murphy said.

"It will at least help alleviate the immediate concerns of commuters," he said.

State Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said that NJ Transit was short by 37 cars to operate its full daily rail schedule.

Of the 20 cars returned to service that have been pulled out for PTC work, 12 are back in service, she said.

The 20 cars leased from the Maryland Transit Administration will provide spare cars to cover when equipment has to be repaired or maintained, she said.

NJ Transit will swap an old unneeded older locomotive for lease of the cars, officials said.

Steps were taken to repair and maintain cars and locomotives quicker by outsourcing some work and working with parts vendors to have parts available, Gutierrez-Scaccetti said.

NJ Transit officials told lawmakers in December that a parts shortage was the reason for equipment shortages that left commuters standing because cars were sidelined waiting for repair .

Gutierrez-Scaccetti estimated it would take NJ Transit until March to work through a backlog of equipment waiting for repair or inspection.

Some of the ideas unveiled came from NJ Transit staff who brought the suggestions to management, she said.

"They said there are things we can do quickly," Gutierrez-Scaccetti said.

Officials also announced stepped up training and recruitment of maintenance and repair workers and engineers to handle staff shortages.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Hightstown High's backup 'quarterback' leads team to victory in Consumer Bowl

$
0
0

Defending state champs Hightstown win the Mercer County Consumer Bowl and now move on to the regionals. Watch video

In the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles had Nick Foles.

In the Mercer County Consumer Bowl, Hightstown High School had Sree Chinta.

Foles was the Eagles' backup quarterback, but an injury to starter Carson Wentz put Foles in the driver's seat and he led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win.

So, when a case of the flu put Hightstown's regular captain Jasman Singh on the sidelines, Chinta stepped up and led the team to victory Thursday in the 22nd annual Mercer County Consumer Bowl Competition.

Team member Steven Cohen explained "Sree had to fill in (as captain) and we had to cover, so it was a lot of teamwork to get the win today."

Hightstown won the state competition last year and with the win in Mercer County, next moves on to the central regionals held in East Freehold on April 12.

A win there and they earn a chance to defend their state title on May 18 at the Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton.

The competition was established in 1997 to educate young adults on a variety of consumer issues and is approved under the New Jersey Department of Education Professional Development Guidelines.

Today was the last go round for retiring moderator Anthony Brennan, New Jersey Consumer Affairs investigator and Union County TV personality, who runs the show in a spirited manner.

Brennan has been a part of the program since 1997 and began moderating the Mercer competition in 2001.

He said, "This program and their study guide for this competition empowers them to be better consumers here in the state of New Jersey and that's part of what consumer affairs is all about."

Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Boys basketball: 40 of N.J.'s finest seniors to play in North-South game

$
0
0

40 of the top seniors in the state will compete in annual North-South game

Meet N.J.'s newest Assembly member

$
0
0

This former Trenton councilwoman was sworn in Thursday as the newest member of the state Assembly.

A two-term Trenton councilwoman is now the newest lawmaker serving in the Statehouse across town. 

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, a Democrat, was sworn in Thursday to fill the state Assembly seat vacated by Elizabeth Muoio, whom new Gov. Phil Murphy has nominated to become the next state treasurer. 

Reynolds-Jackson will represent the state's 15th legislative district -- which includes parts of Hunterdon and Mercer counties, including Trenton and some of its suburbs -- in the Assembly, the lower house of the Legislature.

Muoio held the seat since 2015. She resigned to serve as treasurer, though she has yet to be confirmed.

Because Muoio is a Democrat, the party's committee members from those counties were tasked with appointing a replacement. They gathered last week and chose Reynolds-Jackson over Mercer County Freeholder Anthony Verrelli and West Windsor Councilwoman Ayesha Krishnan.

She will serve until November, when there will be a special election for the final year of Muoio's term. 

Reynolds-Jackson has been a councilwoman in New Jersey's capital city since 2010, and she said Thursday that will help her in the Assembly.

Her goals, she said, are to help lower property taxes, fully fund all schools, and improve affordable housing.

"I know the challenges facing our state and its communities," Reynolds-Jackson said. "I plan to bring fresh and creative approaches to the issues that impact urban, suburban and rural New Jersey, and I'm excited to listen to and learn from constituents, colleagues, advocates and all the voices that contribute to our democracy."

Reynolds-Jackson is a graduate of Trenton Central High School and has a bachelor's degree in sociology from Trenton State College -- now the College of New Jersey -- and a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University. 

She had to resign from the Trenton council to serve in the Assembly because state law bans dual office-holding.

She also had to resign from the $92,000-a-year job she has long held as an employee of the state Department of Community Affairs. New Jersey law prohibits lawmakers from holding state jobs.

But Reynold-Jackson landed a new $94,000-a-year job as a Mercer County employee, according to a report by The Trentonian. Lawmakers are allowed to work for local or country governments.

Members of the Assembly make $49,000 a year.

Reynolds-Jackson is one of a few people who have been appointed to the Assembly in recent weeks to replace members who have departed to serve in Murphy's cabinet. 

Former Essex County Freeholder Director Britnee Timberlake replaced Sheila Oliver, who is now lieutenant governor. 

Former Passaic school board member Clinton Calabrese replaced Marlene Caride, whom Murphy nominated to serve as commissioner of the state Department of Banking and Insurance.  

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

The simple gesture these men made that has a lasting impact | Editorial

$
0
0

Bundled up against the wind, participants in the 100 Men Welcome lined the sidewalks outside two Trenton school before heading indoors to offer hugs and high-fives to the young learners.

Imagine how excited you'd be if an important person in your community greeted you as you went into school one morning, offering words of encouragement and support as you began your day.

Now multiply that greeting committee by 100 - dads, business leaders and city officials, among others - and you get a sense of how the students at Trenton's Foundation Academies felt as they arrived to mark the semester's 100th day on cold February Friday.

Bundled up against the wind, participants in the 100 Men Welcome lined the sidewalks outside the two school's two campuses before heading indoors to offer hugs and high-fives to the young learners.

"Do well in school," they chanted as the delighted youngsters walked past. "A's and B's, we don't want C's."

100 men greet Trenton students on 100th day

You couldn't tell whose grins were larger - kids' or adults' - as the processional wound its way through the buildings, past blue and gold balloons festooning the cafeterias and large orange signs signaling the day's meaning.

The sense of pride and the appreciation for learning were palpable.

"We love it. They love it," said Edward Bullock, president of the Trenton Literacy Movement and a retired corporate executive who was taking part in the event for the second time.

"It's the best thing that we can do to give back to our community and to give to these kids who are so richly deserving of our time and our gifts and our talents."

Among the greeters were members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha fraternity at The College of New Jersey, who not so long ago were young schoolboys themselves.

At the first 100 Men Welcome last year, the charter school's primary school principal, Natasia Shuford, explained that organizers were looking for a way to show the students that people care about them, believe in them, and are invested in their futures.

"In our community, oftentimes the male figure is not always viewed in a positive light, so I think it's really important for our kids to see positive men of color specifically ... come out and show them that education is very important," Shuford said.

At that kick-off event was Damien Malave of Trenton's Puerto Rican Civic Association, who expressed hope that the day could serve as a model beyond the two campuses.

"I think it should be done around the city, and hopefully this can be contagious," Malave said, echoing our sentiments exactly.

We also would encourage the men who took part last year and this year to expand their involvement well after the 100th day of school: serving as mentors, inspirational models and career coaches for the city's next generation.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Viewing all 10623 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images