Is Hamilton blocking Robbinsville's bid to have their own zip code?

The town of Robbinsville's effort to get it's own zip code has been an ongoing struggle for years. It grew out of the town changing their name from Washington Township in 2008.

It hit a low point in 2016 when the U.S. Postal Service denied a bid following a survey from residents.

But in late 2017, Mayor Dave Fried said an appeal was successful, and the game was back on.

Lately, though, Fried says they were thrown a roadblock from an unlikely player - the mayor of neighboring Hamilton, who Fried says is not showing Robbinsville any love.

Hamilton did not get on board with a recent request from the postal service, which has Fried miffed, Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede on the defensive, and sent Fried to the Hamilton council this week.

It all has to do with the 08691 zip code.

Robbinsville would like it designated as their own - Robbinsville, NJ 08691.

It would clear up mail delivery, fix confusing GPS directions and hopefully lower the high insurance rates Robbinsville residents have due to 08691 designation as Trenton - although none of the zone touches Trenton.

It does touch a part of Hamilton, though.

During the appeals process, Fried said, the postal service offered to make Robbinsville the default town in drop-down options for 08691.

Currently, Hamilton and Robbinsville are listed as other town names for the code, but the postal service advises users to use Trenton "whenever possible."

Robbinsville as the primary, or lead town, would have been great, and might clear some things up, Fried said.

"We thought that would be an acceptable recommendation. We were excited," Fried said.

But the postal service recently notified Robbinsville's attorney that they'd received a letter from Hamilton indicating they were not in support of the zip code switch, which the postal service sought as part of the process, Fried said.

"The worst part of that is they didn't even have the courtesy to let us know," Fried said. "I would never do that to a neighboring town, a town which had to know we have been fighting this battle for several years."

"It was a bit shocking and disappointing," Fried said.

So he went to the Hamilton council Tuesday, explained it all, and the council said they were in his corner, and they'd write a letter of support.

Hamilton Councilwoman Ileana Schirmer - who's been at odds with Yaede recently  - confirmed Friday the council wants to help Robbinsville, they were never consulted by Yaede's administration.

The letter is on the way to Robbinsville, Schirmer said.

Yaede, though, doubted Fried's claims later Friday, saying she knows of no such letter from her administration to the postal service about the switch.

She did say, though, that she has to look out for the roughly 1,000 Hamilton residents and businesses in the 08691 zone, and if they would be "burdened" buy such a change.

"I want to hear from our our residents (and businesses)," Yaede said.

She suggested a compromise with Robbinsville and the postal service, and a discussion with Fried. "Hopefully we'll work together," she said.

But she did not think the council should send that letter. "Not without feedback from our residents," Yaede said.

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

The shooting happened shortly after 9 p.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Trenton.

Authorities have identified the 17-year-old killed in a drive-by shooting in Trenton Friday night. 

Tashaughn Robinson, 17, was found by police with multiple gunshot wounds on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just after 9:15 p.m., Mercer County First Assistant Prosecutor Doris Galuchie said Saturday.

Robinson was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward, according to Galuchie. 

The shooting is under investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force.

Robinson's death comes one day after two men were struck and wounded by gunfire in the city and a week after a mass shooting at the Art All Night festival in which 30 were injured and one was killed. 

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

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But Kroos stepped up in a time of need, as he has done time and time again, to stun Sweden in the 95th minute. Watch video

The 2018 World Cup has continually thrown out exciting matches, and could be headed toward legendary status.

All we had Saturday was a seven-goal match, another quality Mexican performance, and a 10-man injury time winner to keep the defending champion alive.

Can the show keep going Sunday?

RESULTS

Belgium 5-2 Tunisia

South Korea 1-2 Mexico

Germany 2-1 Sweden

SATURDAY'S FOUR STARS

Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, Belgium

The first pair of players from a team to rate out above nine on Whoscored.com, the dynamic duo each scored a brace for a rampant Belgian side. Lukaku has four goals, tied with Cristiano Ronaldo for the lead at the 2018 World Cup.

Carlos Vela, MEXICO

The Whoscored.com Man of the Match with an 8.2 score, Vela had the opener from the penalty spot, to lead Mexico to the brink of the knockout stage.

Toni Kroos, Germany

He was at fault for the Sweden goal but after the ending, not many will remember. The Whoscored.com Man of the Match with an 8.73 rating, his dramatic free kick winner at 90+5 gave the defending champion new life.

World Cup Day 9: Late show powers Brazil, Nigeria stays alive

KROOS STUNS SWEDEN, WHILE LUKAKU AND HAZARD LEAD BELGIUM

It was all going wrong for Germany in its title defense. Down 1-0 at halftime to Sweden, knowing a loss eliminated it and a draw all but did, Marco Reus scored just after the break to get the Germans back in the match.

The second half was an onslaught on the Swedish goal, with chance after chance, but an 82nd minute red card to Jerome Boateng looked to have killed off Germany's chance to win.

But Kroos stepped up in a time of need, as he has done time and time again, to stun Sweden in the 95th minute. The win for Germany sets up a massive match day three, where any of three teams can still qualify.

Mexico is one of the teams, after its 2-1 win over South Korea. Chicharito scored his 50th international goal, and now have a match with Sweden to advance to the knockout round.

Romelu Lukaku is already a well known player, after his high profile move to Manchester United last summer following five successful seasons in the Premier League with West Brom and Everton.

Lukaku became the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 (Argentina won the tournament) to bag at least two goals in two straight World Cup matches.

With Thierry Henry on the bench as one of the Belgium coaches under Roberto Martinez, this Belgium team looks like a powerhouse. But there are much bigger matches to come, starting with the Group G title game Thursday.

Toni Kroos wins it for 10-man Germany

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

The final three second round games take to the pitches Sunday.

In Group G, England will take on Panama at 8 a.m. EDT on FS1 and Fubo.tv.

Then in Group H, Japan will play Senegal at 11 a.m. EDT, and Poland will face Colombia at 2 p.m. EDT, both on Fox and Fubo.tv.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR SUNDAY

Can England qualify, and set up a massive final match with Belgium to top Group G?

Belgium put four past Panama, and England will be expected to win this match easily. Is this the new England?

Will Japan or Senegal qualify with a win?

The two teams are the surprise leaders of the group with three points. A win from either would put one of the clubs on six points, and in pole position to advance to the knockout stage.

Can Poland or Colombia turn it around and qualify?

Both teams are on the brink of elimination with a loss, despite lofty rankings and expectations. Both will be desperate for a win, and the three points. It could be an interesting match.

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean His weekly podcast, Box to Box Football, can be found on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/box-to-box-football/id1208561351?mt=2

One may be eligible for a new trial depending on the results of a DNA test.

Citing a 2018 report, the nonprofit New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute notes that at least one in four deaths in our state takes place in a hospital, the third highest rate in the country.

Like most Americans, you probably hope that when your time is up, you'll die peacefully in your home, surrounded by loved ones and far away from beeping hospital machines, invasive treatments and the rigid schedules of hospital routine.

If you live in the Garden State, alas, that vision is far from reality.

Citing a 2018 report, the nonprofit New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute notes that at least one in four deaths in our state takes place in a hospital, the third highest rate in the country.

Along with these somber statistics, the institute offered timely suggestions for better tailoring end-of-life care to meet the wishes of dying patients.

These include creating a statewide database to record and keep residents' requests readily accessible, providing higher reimbursements for consultations about treatment and palliative care, and offering more robust education on the issue not only to healthcare providers but also to the greater population.

Making end-of-life wishes known to all is the right move

That last one is particularly relevant, since the elderly too often drag their feet about having "The Conversation" with their families, or even with their doctors.

In a 2016 poll the institute conducted with Rutgers University, while six in 10 elderly residents responded that it was important to discuss these matters, the same number admitted they had not done so.

Who can blame them? For too many people, just venturing into these waters can be daunting, bringing the notion of death that much closer.

Moreover, while 99-percent of physicians taking part in a recent national poll said these discussions are necessary, fewer than one-third of them said they had received any formal training on conducting them, and a mere 14-percent said they billed for such a consultation.

The institute urges the state to create a comprehensive plan to include New Jersey's five medical schools, ensuring that all graduates be grounded in having that all-important talk with dying patients.

Dr. Shereef Elnahal, commissioner of the state Department of Health, notes that the department maintains a website with patient forms and other resources to make end-of-life preferences known.

He also says he hopes to see practices followed by the Villa Marie Claire Hospice in Saddle River introduced in other facilities around the state.

Hospices offer palliative care to terminally ill patients, either at home or in a health-care facility. Their goal is to improve quality of life toward the end of that life, while also supporting family members along the way.

Additionally, a new nonprofit called Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey is bringing together hospital and long-term care leaders, physician advocates, insurance representatives and others to brainstorm ways to ease patients' final days.

These are encouraging signs that the state is responding to the needs of a graying population.

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

For a group of Princeton elementary school students, New Jersey's new official state reptile is the culmination of two years of work.

Is football coming home? It might be. England ran rampant over a completely overmatched Panamanian side, scoring five first half goals.

Day 11 saw another seven-goal match in Group G, and the elimination of the first top seeded team in a group.

It also had two more teams that qualified for the knockout round, both out of Group G, on the final day of the second round.

Starting Monday, and going through Thursday, the 16 teams that will make up the knockout stage will be determined.  

RESULTS

England 6-1 Panama

Japan 2-2 Senegal

Poland 0-3 Colombia

SUNDAY'S THREE STARS

Harry Kane, England

The hat trick hero tallied the highest Whoscored.com Man of the match rating of the tournament, with a 9.77. Kane now leads the race for the Golden Boot with five goals in two games.

Takashi Inui, Japan

The Whoscored.com Man of the Match with an 8.13 rating, he scored Japan's first goal, and hit the crossbar with another. Inui has Japan in a good position to qualify.

James Rodriguez, Colombia

He had two assists to help his team stay alive, and Colombia is now in great shape to advance. Rodriguez had an 8.38 rating on Whoscored.com.

World Cup Day 10: Belgium rampant again, Kroos stuns Sweden

KANE MADNESS STRIKES PANAMA, WHILE GROUP H GETS TIGHT

Is football coming home? 

It might be. England ran rampant over a completely overmatched Panamanian side, scoring five first half goals. Kane led the way, but center back John Stones had a brace, and Jesse Lingard earned a penalty and scored a world-class goal.

There are two main questions to come out of this match.

Is England really this good? It is hard to tell, because Panama has been so poor.

If Panama qualified out of CONCACAF ahead of the U.S. National team (which finished FIFTH, behind a Honduras team the lost out in a playoff to Australia), how bad must the Americans have been during qualification? That is the easier question: they were terrible.

Senegal and Japan played to a thrilling draw, and both should feel like they are in good position to qualify for the knockout stage. Japan has Poland, which is eliminated already, Thursday, while Senegal has the tougher match with Colombia.

Poland is the first seeded team to be ousted, as Colombia dominated with a 3-0 win. It sets up a fantastic final day in Group H.

MONDAY SCHEDULE

The final match day is upon us, which means simultaneous matches in the groups

In Group A action at 10 a.m. EDT, Uruguay will face Russia on Fox, while Saudi Arabia will play Egypt on FS1. Both games can be seen on Fubo.tv as well.

In Group B at 2 p.m. EDT, Iran will take on Portugal on Fox, while Spain will face Morocco on FS1. Both games can be seen on Fubo.tv as well.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR MONDAY

Which team wins Group A?

Will Russia continue to surprise at the tournament, or will Uruguay continue to smother its opponents? Group winner or runner up may not matter heading into the knockout stage, with two possibly strong opponents from Group B on the docket. 

Will Mo Salah play, or just sit out, the dead rubber?

Saudi Arabia and Egypt are eliminated, so Salah will probably sit out and continue to heal up his shoulder.

Can Iran pull off a shock victory over Portugal? 

The Iranians have been impressive, and this will be a tough match for Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. But all the Portuguese side needs is a draw to go through, which is a huge advantage.

Will Diego Costa continue to lead Spain from the front line?

The forward scores goals, irritates opponents, and causes mayhem wherever he goes. He is one of the players who you would love to be in your side. If he continues to score goals, Spain will make a deep run in the tournament.

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean His weekly podcast, Box to Box Football, can be found on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/box-to-box-football/id1208561351?mt=2

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption.

Some pet stats for the day:

A 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association found that 68% of U.S. households own pets. This is up from 56% of U.S. households in 1988, the first year the survey was conducted.

The kinds of pets owned? Dogs account for just over 60%, with cats at 47% (bear in mind, the total can exceed 100% because some households, like mine, have cats AND dogs, as well as other possible pets). Fish, freshwater and saltwater, account for 15%, birds 8%, and small animals like hamsters and gerbils 7%.

The survey also found that 10% of dog owners and 5% of cat owners have health insurance for their pets. Based on the total number of dogs and cat in the US that equates to nearly 9 million dogs and over 4.5 million cats with insurance.

And some completely random pet facts:

Three dogs (from First Class cabins!) survived the sinking of the Titanic - two Pomeranians and one Pekingese.

Dogs and humans have the same type of slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) and during this REM stage dogs can dream. The twitching and paw movements that occur during their sleep are signs that your pet is dreaming

Cats make more than 100 different sounds whereas dogs make around 10.

See which schools had the best year across the board in high school sports.

Could Messi be heading out at the group stage, in his last tournament with the national team?

Down to the wire once again, Day 12 at the 2018 World Cup threw up three thrilling matches.

Group A was won easily, while Group B came down to injury time, before we knew the first two knockout stage matchups for the weekend.

RESULTS

Uruguay 3-0 Russia

Saudi Arabia 2-1 Egypt

Iran 1-1 Portugal 

Spain 2-2 Morocco

MONDAY'S FOUR STARS

Luis Suarez, Uruguay

Scored the opener for Uruguay, in the 3-0 win. He was the Whoscored.com Man of the Match with a 7.99 rating.

Salem Al Dawsari, Saudi Arabia

While the match did not mean much to the group, the two teams were battling for pride. Al Dawsari's 90+5 minute winner gave him the Whoscored.com Man of the Match with an 8.66 rating.

Isco, Spain

Picked up his second Whoscored.com Man of the Match award, with a massive 9.67 rating, despite the loss to Morocco. Scored Spain's goal.

Pepe, Portugal

A rock at the back for the Portuguese team. He was the Whoscored.com Man of the Match with an 7.9 rating.

World Cup Day 11: England runs riot, Poland eliminated

URUGUAY CRUISES TO GROUP A TITLE, WHILE SPAIN LEAVES IT LATE

It did not take long for Uruguay to take control of Group A Monday, as Suarez gave his team a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute from a free kick. It was 2-0 at the half, and all but over. Uruguay did not allow a goal in the group stage, and will be a dangerous team in the Round-of-16 match against Group B runner up.

In the other Group A match, Saudi Arabia won its first match in 12 World Cup games, 2-1. Al Dawsari knocked the winner in off the post with the last kick of the game, to send Mo Salah and Egypt home with its third loss in three games.

Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary became the oldest player at a World Cup. The 45-year-old saved a first half penalty.

Group B came down to injury time, and VAR came into play in both matches. 

Spain, trailing Morocco 2-1, had an Iago Aspas goal, which was first called offside, allowed at the 90+2 mark. In the Iran Portugal game, VAR awarded a penalty to Iran, which scored to draw even 1-1.

All the late drama meant Spain won Group B with six goals scored to Portugal's five, and will take on Russia Sunday at 10 a.m. on Fox. Portugal will play Uruguay Saturday at 2 p.m.EDT on Fox.

Both knockout games can also be seen on Fubo.tv

TUESDAY'S SCHEDULE

Group C will take to the pitches first Tuesday at 10 a.m. EDT, with Denmark taking on France on Fox, and Australia playing Peru on FS1. Both games can also be seen on Fubo.tv.

At 2 p.m. EDT, Nigeria will play Argentina on Fox, while Iceland will take on Croatia on FS1. Both games can also be seen on Fubo.tv.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR TUESDAY

Will France put together a complete match against a good side?

In Group C, France will win the group with a win or draw, while Denmark needs a win or draw to guarantee qualification.

Can Australia keep its hopes alive with a win over a Peru team that has already been eliminated?

Peru is one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament. The South American side has played some good football, but lacked the finishing in the first two games to get anything. Can they spoil the party for Australia?

Will Croatia rest players against Iceland, already knowing it has qualified?

Probably. Iceland needs to win, and have Argentina beat Nigeria by less than Iceland beats Croatia, to qualify. Croatia can rest its players, and be fresh for the knockout stage game.

Is Argentina in disarray?

Yes, very much so. Rumors say that the players are picking the team to play Nigeria, and have pushed Jorge Sampaoli to the side. But the Nigerian team is tough, and their midfield could boss Argentina's, just like Croatia did.

Could Messi be heading out at the group stage, in his last tournament with the national team?

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean His weekly podcast, Box to Box Football, can be found on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/box-to-box-football/id1208561351?mt=2

Authorities have said the same prostitution ring, which used unauthorized immigrants as staff, was behind other killings in Cumberland County.

After 51/2 hours of deliberations, a federal jury in Newark on Monday convicted an enforcer for a statewide criminal organization of killing two employees of rival brothels in Trenton while protecting a prostitution ring that stretched from Bridgeton to Orange.

Wilmer Chavez-Romero, 29, was found guilty of all eight counts in the indictment against him, including two counts of murder in aid of racketeering in the killings of Neemias Reyes-Gonzalez and Benito Escalante in 2012 and 2013, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Prosecutors said Chavez-Romero took part in the killings while working as both a brothel operator in Bridgeton and as a "hired gun" for Juan Fredy Hernandez-Zozaya, a fellow New Brunswick resident under federal indictment for his alleged leadership of a sex-trafficking organization implicated in other killings in Cumberland County.

Authorities said Hernandez-Zozaya and his wife, Elizabeth Rojas Rojas, used unauthorized immigrants to staff brothels they ran in New Brunswick, Bridgeton, Trenton, Asbury Park, Lakewood and Orange.

In an interview with the U.S. Attorney's Office, prosecutors said, Chavez-Romero admitted going with other members of the prostitution ring in September 2012 to rob the Trenton brothel where Reyes-Gonzalez worked. Reyes-Gonzalez -- identified in the indictment only as "N.R.G." -- was shot and killed shot during the robbery.

Chavez-Romero was arrested in November 2012, when the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office and Homeland Security Investigations raided the Bridgeton brothel where he worked. 

Chavez-Romero was released on bail and briefly began cooperating with law enforcement. Federal officials warned him "not to go on the job" for the Hernandez organization, prosecutors said

But by the time he met with federal prosecutors in August 2014, Chavez-Romero had already returned to violent crime, admitting to having taken part in a January 2013 confrontation with Escalante inside the rival brothel he operated on South Clinton Avenue in Trenton.

Escalante, 26 -- identified in the indictment only as "B.E." -- was shot to death during that encounter, described by prosecutors as a robbery.

An attorney for Chavez-Romero did not immediately respond to a request Monday evening for comment on the guilty verdicts.

In addition to the two murder charges, the jury found him guilty of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, conspiring to harbor undocumented aliens and two counts of using a firearm for a violent crime.

Rojas Rojas, Hernandez-Zozaya's wife, was sentenced in April 2016 to more than three years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of harboring the undocumented workers for financial gain.

Hernandez-Zozaya has yet to stand trial in the federal case.

The Justice Department ultimately opted not to seek the death penalty against Chavez-Romero, whose crimes would have made him eligible for the nation's ultimate sentence under federal law.

Chavez-Romero's sentencing has been scheduled for Sept. 25. In a statement Monday evening, the U.S. Attorney's Office said he faces mandatory life sentences on the murder charges alone.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty.

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A deal with a Chinese education company to keep Westminster Choir College operating may be within sight, but it's likely premature for members of the college community to raise their voices in celebration.

A deal with a Chinese education company to keep Westminster Choir College operating may be within sight, but it's likely premature for members of the college community to raise their voices in celebration.

The future of the fabled residential music conservatory has been on hold since early last year, when Rider University, which merged with Westminster in 1992, began looking into ways to address its own looming $13.1 million deficit amid decreasing enrollment.

Rider President Gregory G. Dell'Omo announced last week that the university has signed an agreement with Beijing Kaiwen Education Technology, Inc. to acquire the conservatory, which for more than eight decades has been a training ground for performers who have gone on to national acclaim.

The $40 million sales price, which includes the physical campus and all operations, is subject to what Rider's announcement called "transaction adjustments."

Rider officials said the company has committed to operate Westminster at the existing Princeton campus for at least a decade, and promises essentially to maintain the current academic offerings for no less than five years.

Chinese firm buying choir college also builds steel bridges

But two ongoing lawsuits about the legality of the sale and strong objections by the Rider chapter of American Association of University Professors are among the obstacles standing in the way of a done deal.

Kaiwen Education Technology began life as a fabricator of large-scale steel bridge structures and steel sections for power plants, according to the AAUP chapter. It now also operates two for-profit K-12 academies in China.

The local professors' group has expressed concern about the Chinese firm's financial stability, as well as its long-term ability to manage a college-level institution such as Westminster.

"All available evidence, including a detailed analysis by Rider Business College faculty, demonstrates that Kaiwen's finances are precarious," AAUP spokesperson Joel Phillips, a professor of composition and music theory at the college, said in a statement on the organization's website.

That analysis, plus Kaiwen's lack of relevant education experience, Phillips continued, "give the lie to [the] university's claim the buyer is a suitable partner."

For its part, Rider says its global search for a suitor turned up no U.S. institute of higher education interested in keeping Westminster's operations in Princeton.

The sole potential American buyer expressing an interest in taking the conservatory to its own campus shied away after limited due diligence.

Rider President Dell'Omo said Kaiwen has promised to continue student aid and to work with Rider to devise a plan for a smooth transition, as well as to invest an additional $16 million in capital expenditures over the next half-decade.

On the surface, the arrangement with Kaiwen seems sound enough. But the grave reservations of many Westminster faculty members, coupled with the still unresolved litigation involving the potential sale, are ample cause to proceed adagio - slowly, and with much care.

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

Seniors at Trenton Central High School received their diplomas during a commencement ceremony at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton

Trenton Central High School held its commencement ceremony on Monday at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton.

The seniors waived to family and friends as they marched onto the arena's main floor.

The ceremony started at 4:00 pm.

In her Valedictorian Address, Alahni Gunn told her fellow students "I want you all to pursue your dreams."

In his remarks to the class, Mayor Eric Jackson proclaimed "It is true, what the sign on the bridge says - 'Trenton Makes (and) The World Takes'. You are the example. God bless you all."

The 346 graduates were each from one of the four schools within Trenton High:

• School of Communications Small Learning Community

• Science, Technology, Engineering & Math

• Visual and Performing Arts Small Learning Community

• Hospitality, Restaurant Management, Tourism and Business 

MORE PHOTOS

Graduation season is winding down, and NJ.com has been capturing the moments for many New Jersey high schools. Check back at nj.com/mercer for other local high school graduation coverage. Be sure to check out our complete graduation coverage at nj.com/graduation.

BUY THESE PHOTOS

Are you one of the people pictured at this graduation? Want to buy the photo and keep it forever? Click on the photo gallery above and look for a link below the photo to purchase the picture: Click on it, and you'll have the ability to order prints in a variety of sizes, or products like magnets, keychains, coffee mugs and more.

Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. 

Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso, Instagram @michaelmancuso and Facebook @michaelmancuso

Some districts would see their state aid double in one year.

Vote for your favorite Central Jersey hot dog joint in our N.J.'s best hot dog showdown.

Central Jersey won our last N.J.'s best showdown - best bakery. How will it do in our search for N.J's best hot dog joint?

You can vote for your favorite spot starting right now.  

You can vote once per day in each region. Deadline for voting is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 5.

The top six vote-getters in each region, plus 26 of my own picks, will comprise our 50 semifinalists, which will be visited starting Monday, July 9.

Don't forget to vote in our other categories:

North I (Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, Sussex, Warren) 

North II (Essex, Union, Morris)

South Jersey/Shore

Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PeteGenovese or via The Munchmobile @NJ_Munchmobile. Find the Munchmobile on Facebook and Instagram.

Struggling families often see extra diapers as a luxury, but a community organization is hoping to change that. Watch video

Struggling mothers might find a sense of relief when they step into the warehouse next to Homefront's family campus in Ewing and find a ceiling-high mountain of diapers.

The nonprofit's newly-opened Diaper Resource Center is designed to help families in Mercer County experiencing diaper need. A study by the National Diaper Bank Network found that 1 in 3 families in the U.S. struggle with a need for diapers.

Photos from the Diaper Resource Center

Stacey Downing, a Homefront volunteer and single mother, knows this struggle firsthand. Now a mother of two college graduates and an upcoming high school graduate, changing diapers for Downing is a distant memory, but the experience of not having enough diapers is something she still remembers -- vividly.

"This right here is an expense for us," Downing said, pointing to the massive pile of diaper boxes behind her. "Just seeing this room brings me peace of mind as a mother."

A child plays in an area bound by diaper boxes at a program celebrating the opening of HomeFront's Diaper Resource Center, a new program to support families experiencing diaper need in Mercer County, after the HomeFront Diaper Challenge raised 100,000 diapers and baby wipes. (Michael Mancuso | For NJ.com) 

Downing said she regularly faced a difficult choice when her kids were younger.

"There was this choice for me, constantly: What could we give up? Not pay the electric bill? Take something out of the rent? It was always a struggle. Always. It's something I could never forget. It made me keep grinding to get Pampers. I'm past that, but the memory of what I went through, it's still there."

HomeFront founder and CEO Connie Mercer said opening the diaper resource center was a dream of hers for the last 25 years.

Seeing families struggle with a need for diapers "broke my heart for many years," she said. "I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am."

Chief operating officer Sarah Steward said, "Families in need are focused on survival: keeping a roof over their head and keeping their bellies full. Diapers become a luxury item."

Steward recalled the story of one homeless woman living at HomeFront's campus who, after paying rent and other bills, only has about $200 left for other expenses. A month's worth of diapers can cost at least $70 or more, she said.

To make matters worse, Steward said, there is no federal or state safety net that helps poor families get diapers, and food stamps don't cover them.

However, "diaper challenge" launched by HomeFront on Mother's Day, May 13, generated more than 100,000 diapers and baby wipes.

"On the first day, we were terrified, but we knew that was the number we needed to fill the shelves here and make it sustainable for a few months," Steward said. "Our community's generosity has blown us away. As you could tell from this mountain of diapers, we met and far exceeded our goal."

HomeFront collects diapers of all sizes, wipes, and monetary donations for the Diaper Challenge at their main office, 1880 Princeton Ave., Lawrenceville. It's open  9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.- noon Saturdays.

Gianluca D'Elia may be reached at gdelia@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @gianluca_delia. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A Serbian win, combined with a Switzerland win or draw, will see the pre-tournament favorite Brazil dumped out of the tournament.

There was more late drama at the 2018 World Cup, on day 13 of the tournament.

Group C was decided in the first 0-0 draw of the tournament, while Group D needed two late goals to determine the fate of the knockout teams.

RESULTS 

Denmark 0-0 France

Australia 0-2 Peru

Nigeria 1-2 Argentina

Iceland 1-2 Croatia

TUESDAY'S FOUR STARS

Steven N'Zonzi, France

Not much happened in the contest, but N'Zonzi played well in midfield for the Group C champions. He was the Whoscored.com Man of the Match with a 7.76 rating, as France kept a clean sheet.

Paulo Guerrero, Peru

The South American side finally showed why they are a quality side, albeit too late to advance. Guerrero was the Whoscored.com Man of the Match with a 8.26 rating, after his goal iced the match.

Marcos Rojo, Argentina

For all the attacking talent on the Argentina roster, it took a center back to save the team. Rojo scored in the 86th minute, to rate at an 8.2 on Whoscored.com.

Milan Badelj, Croatia

Scored the opener for the Group D winners. Badelj was the Whoscored.com Man of the Match with a 9.12 rating.

Day 12: Uruguay wins Group A, Spain pulls out dramatic Group B

FRANCE WINS GROUP C, WHILE ARGENTINA SURVIVES

France and Denmark played the first 0-0 draw of the tournament, but neither will have cared much about the scoreline, which meant both teams advanced to the knockout stage. Les Bleus will take on Group D runner up Argentina Saturday 10 a.m. on Fox.

Peru took an early lead in the other Group C match, and Denmark knew a draw was good enough to finish second in the group. The Peruvians scored a second early in the second half to guarantee the Danes a match with Group D winner Croatia Sunday 2 p.m. EDT on Fox.

Lionel Messi and Argentina needed an 86th minute winner from Marcus Rojo to beat Nigeria 2-1. The late goal, combined with some decisions during the game that went their way, moved the South American side into the knockout round.

Finally, Croatia, with a changed team, got a 90th minute winner from Ivan Perisic, to win its third match in the group stage. 

WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE

At 10 a.m. EDT in Group F action, Mexico will take on Sweden on Fox, while Korea Republic will play Germany on FS1. Both games can be seen on Fubo.tv as well.

At 2 p.m. EDT in Group E play, Serbia will take on Brazil on Fox, while Iceland will play Croatia of FS1. Both games can be seen on Fubo.tv as well

WHAT TO WATCH FOR WEDNESDAY

In both groups, the top two spots are up for grabs.

Can Mexico finish the job?

The Mexican side has been one of the best to watch so far, but a loss to Sweden, combined with a two-goal win for Germany, would see Mexico out with six points. The Swedish side will come in knowing an early goal could change the game.

Will Germany ride the late winner against Sweden?

Toni Kroos' free kick masterpiece gave the defending champions life. A win Wednesday will continue their reign.

Can Brazil play a 90 minute match?

If not, this Serbia team can cause problems. A Serbian win, combined with a Switzerland win or draw, will see the pre-tournament favorite Brazil dumped out of the tournament.

Is Switzerland for real?

The Swiss sure look like it. They will have Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka available; both were fined, not suspended, by FIFA for their celebrations after the last minute winner against Serbia Friday. A win or draw guarantees passage into the next round.

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean His weekly podcast, Box to Box Football, can be found on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/box-to-box-football/id1208561351?mt=2

We're investigating the booming substance abuse treatment industry in New Jersey, and we want to hear from you. Watch video

We're looking for help in uncovering the successes and failures in the booming drug and alcohol treatment industry in New Jersey. 

New Jersey has been gripped by the opioid crisis for more than a decade, a scourge that has already taken more than 10,000 lives in the Garden State. It's a crisis we detailed three years ago in Herointown, which revealed there were at least 128,000 people struggling with opioid addiction here. 

The substance abuse treatment industry has blossomed as a result. More than 100 new treatment centers have opened in the past four years alone, a 33 percent increase. 

We know there are tremendous stories of recovery out there. We also know there are horror stories of treatment centers taking advantage of desperate families yet providing no real service. Sometimes it's a mixed bag. We want to hear it all.  

I'll start you with mine. 

Four years ago, I entered myself into detox and then inpatient treatment in Connecticut after my life crumbled through extensive drug and alcohol use. I followed up with six months of intensive outpatient in New York, where I was living at the time, and supplemented by attending 12-step meetings. 

The experience was generally good, albeit expensive. It gave me a baseline in recovery. I had private insurance that covered most of my expenses, and inpatient still cost thousands of dollars. At one point during outpatient, my insurance declined to cover two urine tests required by the facility. I was forced to pay the bill: $1,200.  

I relapsed on opioids during my stint at outpatient, but fortunately had a solid recovery network by that point and have been sober since. My sobriety date is Oct. 17, 2014. 

Since then, I've dedicated myself to covering addiction in this state.

I've seen friends die days after being released from rehab. I've talked to people who became homeless after facing bills in excess of $100,000 from multiple rehab stays. I've watched desperate people get whisked away to Florida after calling a number they saw on a billboard, only to be put up in a motel masquerading as a treatment facility.   

We want to investigate it all, good and bad, and we want your help. If you or a loved one has been through substance abuse treatment in New Jersey, please fill out our anonymous form below. If you have questions, feel free to shoot me an email at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com.

Thank you. 

Stephen Stirling
Data reporter, NJ Advance Media

If you have trouble viewing the form below, click here.

 

NJ Advance Media selects the Top 100 boys and girls individual seasons of the 2017-18 school year.

When the 22nd Sunshine Football Classic, sponsored by Fisher Capital LLC, kicks off on The College of New Jersey turf at 7 p.m. Friday, there will be just one player with a NJSIAA Sectional title in his career. Allentown wide receiver X"Zavier Harris will try to help the East squad break the three-year stranglehold of the West team. Harris...

When the 22nd Sunshine Football Classic, sponsored by Fisher Capital LLC, kicks off on The College of New Jersey turf at 7 p.m. Friday, there will be just one player with a NJSIAA Sectional title in his career.

Allentown wide receiver X"Zavier Harris will try to help the East squad break the three-year stranglehold of the West team. Harris played a pivotal role in the Redbirds' 2016 Central Jersey, Group 4 Sectional crown, the first in school history.

He had 19 catches, for 492 yards and five touchdowns, as a junior. Harris stepped up as a senior, with a freshman quarterback (All-Area Dan Merkel) under center. The big wide receiver had 42 receptions, for 804 yards and 10 touchdowns, and was named All-Area.

This will be the final time he dresses representing Allentown, and Harris is happy that he can play in a game that benefits so many.

"It is a pleasure to play one last time with all my friends, and a honor to play for the kids in the sunshine foundation," Harris said.

For players like Nottingham defensive lineman Ridge Pierre and Hightstown running back Johnny Andre, the game will be the culmination of careers that brought redemption back to their respective schools.

Pierre was hurt for much of his junior year, when Nottingham rebounded from a 2-8 2015 campaign to go 7-3 in 2016. His return as a senior helped the Northstars' defense rebound from an opening day loss to Allentown. The All-Area selection was one of the leaders of a defense that allowed just 33 points over a six-game midseason stretch, as Nottingham won a WJFL Valley Division title and went 8-2.

"It is honestly a great feeling," Pierre, who will play at Morgan State University, said. "It is an honor to be with a group of players that has done that for Nottingham. Nottingham was always at the top when it came to sports.

"To bring it back from a down year, and a rebuilding year, my sophomore year, to an 8-2 season, it is a great thing for not just me, but the other seniors. We left the program where it is supposed to be.

"We left the the program setting high expectations, and a high standard, for the classes that follow. That is one of the things that make me the most proud. People were doubting us, because we lost a good amount of seniors after last year. but we rose to the occasion."

Andre has been part of a Hightstown program that struggled mightily in his first three seasons. The Rams went 6-24 from 2014-16, with a 3-7 campaign in 2015 the best of the bunch.

But then came the past season. Andre ran for 956 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2017, as the Rams went 5-5. It was a huge turnaround for the program, which had much to do with the big running back.

"It was tough from freshman year, all the way until my junior year, we just kept losing," Andre said. "But coach just said keep battling. Then senior year came around, we came together as a team, and got the job done. It felt good.

"To play in this game, for my last game, is pretty cool. You get to play with all the guys you played against. It will be pretty fun."

Andre will not play football in his freshman year at East Stoudsburg. He is Hightstown's all-time leader in wrestling wins, and will continue that sport at the next level. But he has not closed the door to his football career completely. 

"I wanted to play, but I am going to wrestle freshman year," Andre said. "If things go well, I will continue to wrestle. But I might walk on the football team, and see what I can do."

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