The family was awakened by their two restless dogs to find a blaze in their garage

PRINCETON - When a Princeton woman awoke to the sound of her two restless dogs early Wednesday morning she found her garage in flames.

She quickly ushered her husband, her son, his girlfriend and the family's pets safely from the home on the 300 block of Riverside Drive while firefighters rushed to the scene around 2 a.m., Princeton Director of Emergency Management Bob Gregory said. 

The fire started in the garage and eventually spread to the two-story house.

The garage collapsed from the flames, destroying a vehicle and motorcycle in the process, according to a statement from Princeton police. Three other vehicles parked outside were also destroyed in the blaze.

Police said 75 firefighters from thirteen departments responded to the scene and worked to get the flames under control by 2:30 a.m. - but their work was far from over.

Ewing house catches fire

As they were clearing out the scene, firefighters noticed a gas line in the front yard that had ruptured, starting a blaze that was, "burning like a fire pit," Gregory said.

Firefighters determined that a meter on the front of the house had broken off when the garage collapsed, causing the ruptured gas line.

There was no way to shut off the gas from the house so firefighters called the gas company to help cap the line. Gregory said it took around two hours to find the gas line and dig into the ground to cap it off.

"They had to get a backhoe to dig out the garage," Gregory added.

Crews were still out at the scene around 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Fire officials are working to determine the cause of the fire.

Gregory said around 60 percent of the house was destroyed by heat, smoke and water damage. The garage was collapsed and the whole building is uninhabitable after the blaze, he said. 

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

Gov. Chris Christie's failure to release an update to the State Water Supply Master Plan is threatening New Jersey's supply of clean, fresh drinking water.

By Jennifer Coffey

New Jersey's water problems are getting worse.

Extreme summer heat has brought strong thunderstorms and flash floods across the state. Despite the flooding, New Jersey has officially entered into another drought watch. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued a drought watch on July 25 for 12 counties in the northern half of the State.

A drought watch was also issued last September for half of the Garden State. Although the watch was lifted in the late winter months as reservoirs in norther New Jersey filled up with runoff from precipitation including the blizzard of 2016, the sources of our drinking water never really fully recovered. According to data tracked by the NJDEP, underground sources of water called aquifers, as well as rivers and streams have been ranked as moderately, severely, or extremely dry throughout the spring and summer.

The drinking water problem with severe thunderstorms, flashfloods, and blizzards is that most of the water runs off and out towards the ocean relatively quickly. Refilling the sources of our drinking water requires moderate, steady, prolonged rainfall.

So once again, New Jersey is in a desperate situation of needing to ask citizens and businesses to conserve water.  

A drought watch is a formal request from the state to voluntarily conserve water.  Some proven water conservation strategies, according to the DEP  are posted on njdrought.org:

• Water lawns (and outdoor plants) less frequently (2-3 times per week) for no more than 30 minutes. This allows the soil to absorb the water and enables roots to grow more deeply, which encourages drought tolerance.
• Install water-saving showerheads and faucet aerators in the bathroom and kitchen (available at most home improvement stores and some supermarkets)
• Do not let faucets run when brushing your teeth or washing the dishes
• Use a broom to sweep the sidewalk, rather than a hose.
• Use a rain barrel to capture water from a downspout to use later for watering gardens and plants 

If significant amounts of steady rain do not fall soon, the NJDEP could issue a drought warning. A drought warning includes mandatory water restrictions and management.

There is a better way to plan for our water needs. New Jersey's Water Supply Management Act requires that the NJDEP update the Water Supply Plan at least every five years. However, the last update to the plan was in 1996.

Gov. Chris Christie's failure to release an update to the State Water Supply Master Plan is threatening New Jersey's supply of clean, fresh drinking water. On Earth Day 2015, in April, the New Jersey Senate Legislative Oversight Committee held a hearing at which experts testified on the need for an updated Water Supply Master Plan.

The Legislature requested that Gov. Christie release the draft plan immediately, yet amidst a second drought watch, there is still no sign of the plan.

The NJDEP reported to the Water Supply Advisory Council that they have provided an updated plan to Christie. As the watershed representative of the Water Supply Advisory Council, my role is to provide advice and assistance to the DEP on the plan and other policies, as requested. I have never seen the draft plan. 

The goal of Water Supply Plan is to ensure that we have enough clean water for residents, business, power production, farming, and the environment for this and future generations. The plan should include recommendations to balance the amount of water we use with the amount of water that replenishes the sources of that water -- our shared streams, rivers and aquifers.

The plan should also layout a pathway to repair or place as needed New Jersey's aging water infrastructure, some of which was constructed pre-Revolutionary War, some of which includes lead, and much of which leaks - up to 60 million gallons of water per day.

New Jersey's water woes are compounded by the fact that business and residents are also using more water than ever, according to estimates released in August 2015 by the United States Geological Survey.  Increases in New Jersey's population over the past 10 years are one of the reasons for this increased use.

While we watch the forecast and hope for rain without flooding, residents can learn more about New Jersey's water and how to conserve it at SaveH2ONJ.org, njwatersavers.rutgers.edu, and sjwatersavers.org.  SaveH2ONJ is a coalition calling for the release of the water supply plan. More than 3,000 citizens have signed the SaveH2ONJ petition asking the governor to release the plan.  ANJEC is proud to work with non-profits, environmental commissions and communities across the state to protect and restore New Jersey's water supply and environment.

Jennifer Coffey is executive director of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) and a member of the NJ State Water Supply Advisory Council.

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

The officer was working in John A. Roebling Park trying to free a dog that was stuck in the mud.

HAMILTON -- Township firefighters helped a dehydrated animal control officer out of a swampy area of parklands in Hamilton Wednesday, as well as the dog she was rescuing, officials said.

The officer, who was not identified, was working near the end of Jeremiah Avenue, off Lalor Street, trying to free a dog that was stuck in the mud.

Township police received a call at about 2:30 p.m. to assist the officer, and the police in turn called for firefighters.

File photo of the Abbot MarshlandsKevin Shea | For NJ.com 

Fire District 3 Lt. Keith Greene said the officer had been in the park for hours and became light-headed and dizzy. She and the dog were in a remote area, 200 yards down an embankment.

Fire District 6 responded with it's marine unit and were readying a boat and gear when a township ambulance crew, and firefighters, determined the woman could walk out on her own and they assisted her form the swamp.

Fire Chief Richard Kraemer, of District 6, said bystanders and a landscaping crew also assisted the officer.

The officer was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton for treatment.

The dog was covered in mud, but not seriously injured, firefighters said.

The land is part of the Mercer County Park Commission, which has two parks there, the John A. Roebling Memorial Park and the Abbot Marshlands.

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

A law group's hearing request claims the pipeline company is exercising a new form of market abuse.

TRENTON -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said Wednesday that it will consider having an evidentiary hearing over PennEast's justification for building the pipeline.

The Eastern Environmental Law Center (EELC) filed a motion last month asking that regulators hold a hearing to verify PennEast's data regarding public need for the project and examine the projects' claims to evaluate their credibility.

"(PennEast's) application glosses over the facts and weaves a tale that is not based on substantial evidence," EELC senior staff attorney Jennifer Danis said.

"We are pleased that The Federal Energy Regulatory Commision (FERC) has agreed to consider our request, and that it has ignored PennEast's latest attempt to quash any hearings." Danis said. "We look forward to demonstrating that PennEast's existing record fails to prove that its project would provide a significant public benefit."

PennEast had asked that FERC deny the hearing request, calling it "duplicative" and "nothing more than an extremely late protest."

The law group's motion for a hearing claims that PennEast is exercising a new form of market abuse.

Market experts explain that FERC normally relies on the existence of contacts between customers and utilities as proof there is both adequate supply and demand for new pipeline infrastructure.

In the case of PennEast, the project's six owners have contracted their subsidiary companies for 74 percent of the total gas capacity -- essentially using their own desire to buy cheap gas for themselves as proof of public demand, critics say.

PennEast says those concerns are unfounded as the subsidiaries are going to use the gas for their own local customers.

An independent study from energy market expert Skipping Stone concludes that FERC can't rely on PennEast's style of contract arrangements to demonstrate public need.

The study also said that pipeline infrastructure already provides 50 percent more capacity than needed in the entire North East -- even in the harsh "Polar Vortex" winter of 2013.

The original complaint to regulators was filed by the EELC on behalf of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF) and Stony Brook - Millstone Watershed Association (SBMWA) -- both of whom celebrated Wednesday's decision.

"At every step FERC can dismiss this and that's what PennEast is trying to do," Tom Gilbert, campaign director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation, said. "The fact that FERC has not dismissed it creates uncertainty for them."

"It's no longer a settled matter," Gilbert said. "We hope that FERC will conduct a full investigation and find that this proposed pipeline is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist."

"It is encouraging that FERC has agreed to consider this valid challenge to PennEast's tenuous claim that there is market need for its proposed pipeline," SBMWA executive director, Jim Waltman said in a statement.

PennEast spokeswoman Pat Kornick denies that FERC's notice is an acknowledgement to consider the hearing request.

FERC's Notice of Motion -- the announcement -- states that, "Action on the Movants' (NJCF and SBMW) request for an evidentiary hearing, as well as consideration of the merits of the Movants' allegations, will take place."

FERC declined to comment on the grounds that this is a pending matter.

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

EWING - After losing only four games all year, the Flemington Post 159 baseball team found itself in an unfamiliar situation Wednesday night. The Indians had never trailed by six runs in any of their 37 previous games in 2016, coming into the New Jersey American Legion state semifinal contest with Gloucester Township Post 281.  But that is exactly where...

EWING - After losing only four games all year, the Flemington Post 159 baseball team found itself in an unfamiliar situation Wednesday night.

The Indians had never trailed by six runs in any of their 37 previous games in 2016, coming into the New Jersey American Legion state semifinal contest with Gloucester Township Post 281. 

But that is exactly where Flemington found itself, playing a very good Gloucester team, in the second semifinal game of the night. Not only that, but the Indians powerful offense had been shut down through six innings, recording just two hits.

With a third state finals berth in five years on the line, against a Brooklawn Post 72 team the Indians know very well, Flemington head coach Steve Farsiou needed two things to happen. Someone had to step up on the mound in relief of R.J. Hennessey, and quiet the Gloucester bats, and someone needed to get a big hit to wake up the offense.

Behind Austin Arndt's five innings of relief, and a eight-run eighth inning powered by Ryan Koep's huge bases-clearing double, Flemington rallied to stun Gloucester 9-8. It set up a winner-take-all state final with six-time reigning champion Brooklawn 6 p.m. Thursday night at Moody Park.

It will be the third time in five years the two state baseball powerhouse programs will meet for the coveted crown.

FLEMINGTON POST 159 DOES IT AGAIN

"I came into the game in the fifth," Arndt said. "And I am just trying to keep the score where it is at, and let our boys hit the ball really hard, and make some plays out there."

Arndt entered with the Indians down 6-0, and with the way the offense was hitting, it looked like a tall task. But Flemington got into the Gloucester bullpen, and after scoring a run in the top of the seventh, the Indians bats started to rake in the eighth.

But it was the big double from Koep that gave Flemington the momentum to push on, and make a 6-1 deficit a 9-6 lead.

"Both coaches kept us in the game the whole time," Koep said. "They told us to keep our heads up, and that we still had a lot of outs to go. We executed a hit-and-run well, and from that our confidence boosted."

 

"I think my double gave the guys some confidence," Koep said. "We started to think this was our game."

With a 9-6 lead, Arndt went back to work. After an easy eighth, Gloucester scored two in the ninth. The South Jersey team had the winning run at the plate, but a ground out to first base ended the rally, and sent Flemington back to another state final.

"I just wanted to keep going, and I knew if my guys made the plays, we were going to win the game," Arndt said.

Farsiou thought his team had a rally in them at some point, but the work of Arndt to keep them in the game was the key.

"Maybe it was my mistake, and I should have started him," Farsiou said. "Austin is a competitor, and a gamer. Every time he gets on the mound, we know he is going to compete. I told him, 'I am not putting anyone in the bullpen. You are finishing this game. Austin is such a good kid, and he nailed the door shut. Everyone else stepped up and did their job."

FLEMINGTON POST 159 LOOKS TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER

With Arndt throwing up zeros, it came down to the Flemington hitters, and Farsiou was rewarded late in the game.

"I have to be honest, I did feel like we were going to make a run," Farsiou said. "I thought we hit the ball hard all game, but we hit the ball right to people. We did not capitalize early, and that always hurts."

"But they just fight," Farsiou said. "I look at guys like Ryan Koep, making plays and getting key hits. (Catcher) Jeff Guile got hurt (in a collision at the plate), and I thought it was a dirty play. But we have Brent Lincoln come in, and he is such a team player."

"He gets the guys ready in the bullpen, and his number gets called and he has two great at-bats," Farsiou said. "He made a couple really nice plays. Everyone contributes on this team, and it is fun to be around."

"We had two games this year when we held the lead going into the last inning and lost," Farsiou said. "So it is about time we were on the other end of it."

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

One Trenton couple's investment in the city goes beyond all expectations.

Anybody can talk a good game about civic involvement and community spirit. Freddie and Rosa Rosado are living those ideals.

If the wife and husband had merely donated their time to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, it would have been enough. If they'd just been president of the Latino Chamber of Commerce (Freddie) and spearheaded church galas (Rosa), it would have been plenty.

But now they're serving up community involvement with every burger at the new McDonald's on the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Chambers Street, helping to guarantee that their investment in the franchise is also an investment in their city's future.

As the owners and operators of the fast-food restaurant, the Rosados have focused on hiring local residents.

They've taken their advocacy a giant step further, by launching a tutoring plan for high school students who work for them, with bonuses to students who bring home straight A's on their report cards.

Couple's investment goes way beyond McDonald's

Since opening the Chambersburg site, the couple has bought three nearby properties to rent to employees. Two of the multi-family homes needed renovations to bring them up to code.

Customers who visit the shiny new restaurant are greeted by a wall-size mural depicting government offices and the "Trenton Makes" sign on the bridge that spans the Delaware River - a powerful visual testament to the Rosados' hometown pride.

But don't take our word for it. Listen to what Mayor Eric Jackson has to say about the couple's outsize hearts.

"Freddie and Rosa Rosado are examples of business owners who are engaged in the community in which they do business," Jackson said. "That says a lot about their commitment to Trenton."

Locally owned businesses - retail stores, restaurants, childcare centers, nurseries - hold the key to a region's success, both socially and financially.

McDonald's in Trenton to serve up 100 jobs

"Every time a new business starts up or expands in Trenton, our local economy gets stronger and our residents have access to additional economic and buy-local opportunities," the mayor said.

The new venture marks a return of sorts for the Rosado family: They owned Center Travel and Cleveland Deli in the city before they bought six McDonald's restaurants in the Philadelphia area.

All the while they continued to live here, embedding themselves deeply in the daily life of their community.

Now they're back as part of the city's business community, providing meals for the homeless at an area park and sponsoring this year's Trenton's National Night Out, a program to help law-enforcement officers and the people they serve come together to fight crime.

Ample proof we'd say, that two people with the right approach can make an enormous impact.

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

Allegiant Air will be the second passenger airline at Trenton-Mercer Airport

EWING -- Another discount airline will soon be flying out of Trenton-Mercer Airport.

Officials announced Thursday that Allegiant Air is scheduled to begin service in November to three Florida cities, joining Frontier Airlines in offering low-cost flights to travelers in the region.

Allegiant, based in Las Vegas, plans to operate flights to Orlando's Sanford International Airport three times a week, along with twice-weekly flights to Punta Gorda and the St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport, just across the bay from Tampa.

"We're very excited to bring Allegiant's ultra-low cost flights to the Trenton area," said Lukas Johnson, vice president of network and pricing. "We know that local travelers will enjoy spending less to fly nonstop to three of Florida's best vacation destinations."

Special introductory fares starting as low as $39 one-way are being offered through July 30 at allegiantair.com.

Thursday's announcement comes a month after the airline said it would begin service from Newark Liberty International Airport to Cincinnati, Savannah, Ga., Asheville, N.C., and Knoxville, Tenn.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said preliminary talks with Allegiant began about six months ago. He said the airline saw the same opportunity that Frontier did -- that Trenton-Mercer offers residents a convenient alternative to the hassles of the region's major airports.

"People can walk from their cars to the airport and check in very quickly," he said.

Hughes said that times of days when the airport had unused capacity will now be filled.

Frontier has been the airport's only commercial carrier since November 2012 when it began with twice-weekly flights to Orlando. It has since expanded to about a dozen destinations, with its newest nonstop service to Punta Gorda, Fla., starting Oct. 31.

Frontier adds new Florida destination 

Frontier has found success where others could not. Boston-Maine Airways left in 2008, leaving Trenton-Mercer without a passenger airline until Streamline Airways launched service in 2011. A year later, it ceased operations when it became clear that its sole route to and from Bedford, Mass., was no longer making a profit.

Frontier, which has had more than one million travelers fly out of Trenton-Mercer since its launch, will now face what Hughes calls "healthy competition."

"It provides competition on fares and service," he said. "I think it'll make both airlines better."

Both Frontier and Allegiant offer base fares that are often lower than other carriers, but charge for extras like selecting seats in advance, carry-on bags and making a reservation over the phone.

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

No matter your favorite beach or town, the Jersey Shore has always had a lot to offer.

According to nj.gov, New Jersey boasts some 141 miles of oceanfront from Sandy Hook to Cape May Point -- that's a lot of "down the shore."

Methinks some liberties were taken back in the day for the sake of tourism ....Courtesy of Old New Jersey 

"Down the Shore," as defined by urbandictionary.com, is "what people here in New Jersey call going to the beach. What some people don't get, however, is that this is more the term used to describe the trip taken while going 'down the Shore' from your home in an inland county or town. The drive to whichever beach town you are going to be spending time in is going down the shore, but once you're there you simply go to the beach."

Growing up, my family went "down the Shore" to Ocean City to swim and to Atlantic City for boardwalk activities. Some random thoughts from those good old days:

* We had an Army blanket that we brought to spread on the sand. My parents still have that blanket, which was called into service every summer in the 1960s and still gets used today, and it has nary a hole or tear in it.

* We also had a round, bulbous Thermos that carried lemonade. The lemonade was served with bologna sandwiches. Like the blanket, my parents still have that Thermos and it still keeps lemonade cold.

* Yes, we brought bologna sandwiches to the beach. And, yes, we ate them whether or not they were sandy.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

* Driving home in our 1960 Pontiac Catalina was possibly the worst part of the trip. In short, the sandy bathing suit and the plastic-covered seats that had been simmering for hours did not make for a comfortable car ride.

*  There were penny arcades in AC when I was a boy. But even back then one cent wasn't worth much down the shore. About the only thing a kid could do with a penny on the boardwalk in those days was insert it into a machine and have it crushed into an oval.

* One weekend we went to the Steel Pier and we happened upon a Gary Lewis and the Playboys concert. It was a fun thing to stumble upon. The band had some good songs in the '60s: "This Diamond Ring," "Count Me In."

If you're from New Jersey, you almost certainly have memories of going down the shore. Here's a gallery of some vintage photos showing some of the good ol' days at the Jersey Shore. Be sure captions are enabled to read all about these classic photos.

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

M.C. Pollock, a former Hamilton resident, will release his first EP, "Heartbeats" this August.

HAMILTON -- A local musician is releasing his debut EP, "Heartbeats," this August on iTunes, Spotify and other international streaming services.

"The EP is a blend and homage to different contemporary pop styles," M.C. Pollock. "Listeners can expect dance-style music with nice beat and nice harmonies. This EP will be something they can move and groove to and something they can make their own." 

M.C. Pollock, 28, who represents himself from Hamilton, but currently living in Princeton, said he has been a musician since he first took voice lessons at the age of four.

However, it was not until after he graduated Franklin High School in Somerset that music became his avenue to connect with an audience.

"From 2007 to 2010, I was in a band called Bubonic Souls," he said. "That was the first time I realized I could use music to reach people." 

M.C. Pollock said he got into the electro-pop genre after spending time as a studio guitarist for the band Death & the Senator. After working with producers and engineers, he said he took an interest in creating beats.

M.C. Pollock produced his music in his studio - also in Princeton - and will distribute his music through his label Keep It Swanky, LLC. 

"[That company] is my own distribution," he said. "That's to let the baker make the bread. I want to own and make the music my own."    

He said listeners and fans can expect a tour around New Jersey and Pennsylvania this October, but the dates have not been released yet.

Those who attend the tour will have exclusive access to the extended version of his Heartbeats EP, which will include two additional songs.

"I encourage everyone to listen to the EP," he said. "Go to Spotify and look it up to listen. If they want to support me, they can go to iTunes. And I encourage them to come out to the show in the fall."

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

Robert Wood Johnson awards employees nominated by satisfied patients, family members and hospital visitors.

HAMILTON -- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton recognized several employees for their exemplary work in the hospital's second quarter on July 22 with "Heroes" award.

The hospital recognized: Lindsay Catarzi, a social worker from East Windsor; Kathe Feehrar, a phlebotomist from Yardville, Pa.; Admad Nashif, emergency department technician from Hamilton; and Joseph Polkowitz, security officer from Bordentown. 

The four employees were nominated by patients, family members, hospital visitors and fellow employees.

To nominate a Robert Wood Johnson employee, satisfied customers can mail nomination letters to the Hamilton hospital.

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

Crimes and incident reported to the police department

ROBBINSVILLE

July 6

DWI, related charges - Route 526 - Arrested: Jospeh Sargenti, 43, Hamilton.

July 7

Narcotics, traffic charges - Route 130 - Arrested: Richard Santiamo, 19, Allentown

July 10

DWI, narcotics - Windsor Road - Arrested: George Teo, 23, Trenton.

July 12

Narcotics - Interstate 195 - Arrested: Gregory Fernandez, 23, Allentown.

July 13

Disorderly conduct - Trails End Motel on Route 130 - Arrested: Justin Baureko Sr., 36, Robbinsville

July 14

Narcotics - Interstate 195 - Arrested: Thomas Daley, 18, Freehold

July 15

DWI - Hutchinson Road - Arrested: Christina Moore-Dauber, 40, Bordentown

File photo 

HAMILTON

July 11

Theft - 1300 block Whitehorse Mercerville Rd.

Theft - 100 block Garden Ave.

Assault - Kuser Rd. / Hamilton Ave

Burglary to auto - 800 block Atlantic Ave.

Burglary to auto - 100 block Norway Ave.

Burglary to auto - D'Arcy Ave.

Burglary to auto - Phillips Ave.

Burglary to auto - 100 block Wilfred Ave.

Burglary to auto - 500 block Johnston Ave.

Burglary to auto - 800 block Norway Ave.

Burglary to auto - Burglary - Matthew Dr.

Robbery - Atlantic Ave. / Walnut Ave.

July 12

Criminal Mischief - 700 block Rt. 33

Theft - 1000 block Whitehorse Mercerville Rd.

Theft - Atkins Ave.

Theft - 2400 block S. Broad St.

Burglary to auto - 200 block Lake Ave.

Burglary to auto - Sculptors Way

Burglary - 1400 block Genesee St.

Shoplifter - 1000 block Rt. 33

July 13

Theft - 3400 block S. Broad St.

Theft - 700 block Whitehorse Hamilton Square Rd

Theft - Lamont Ave.

Theft - 100 block Partridge Ave.

Theft - 1300 block Rt. 33

Burglary - Lamont Ave.

Burglary - 1900 block S. Broad St.

Shoplifter - 700 block Marketplace Blvd.

July 14

Criminal mischief - 600 block Paxson Ave.

Theft - 700 block Rt. 130

Theft - 1900 block Rt. 33

Theft - 2400 block S. Broad St.

Theft - Hamilton Health Pl.

Theft - Sculptors Way

Theft - Jeffrey Lane

Theft - 1200 block Whitehorse Mercerville Rd.

Burglary to Auto - 200 block Sloan Ave.

Burglary - 3900 block Nottingham Way

July 15

Criminal Mischief - Robin Dr.

Criminal Mischief - 700 block Estates Blvd.

Criminal Mischief - 3400 block E. State St. Ext.

Theft of auto - 2500 block S. Broad St.

Theft of auto - 100 block Washington Ct.

Theft - Chambord Ct. / Bordeaux Dr.

Burglary - Florence St.

July 16

Theft - 800 block Norway Ave.

Theft - 1600 block Hamilton Ave.

Shoplifter - 1000 block Whitehorse Mercerville Rd

Shoplifter - 300 block Marketplace Blvd.

July 17

Crim. Mischief - Lamont Ave.

Burglary to auto - 300 block Hobart Ave.

July 18

Crim. Mischief - Juniper Way

Burglary to auto - Baltusrol St.

Burglary - 300 block Lynwood Ave.

Burglary - 2000 block S. Clinton Ave.

July 19

Crim. Mischief - 1900 block Nottinghill Lane

Crim. Mischief - 2400 block S. Broad St.

Theft/Auto - Victor Ave.

Theft - 800 block Kuser Rd.

Theft - 2000 block S. Broad St.

Theft - Bradford Ave.

Burglary - 800 block Kuser Rd.

Burglary - 800 block Norway Ave.

Robbery - 300 block Lynwood Ave.

July 20

Theft - 1300 block Deutz Ave.

Theft - 600 block Johnston Ave.

Theft - 1500 block Cornell Ave.

Theft - 1100 block S. Olden Ave.

Burg/Auto - 200 block Hobart Ave.

July 21

Theft - 100 block Wilford Ave.

Theft - 1900 block Rt. 33

Theft - 4100 block S. Broad St.

Theft - 2500 block Whitehorse Mercerville Rd.

Theft - 1200 block Deutz Ave.

Burglary Attempt - 500 block Hobart Ave.

Burglary to Auto - 100 block New Cedar Lane

Burglary to Auto - 1500 block Hamilton Ave.

Burglary to Auto - Marshall Ave.

Burglary to Auto - Reed Ave.

Burglary to Auto - 100 block Reed Ave.

Burglary to Auto - 1800 block Exton Ave.

Burglary to Auto - Sculptors Way

Burglary to Auto - 100 block Tindall Ave.

Burglary to Auto - Marshall Ave.

Burglary to Auto - 100 block Beal St.

Burglary - Walker Ave.

Burglary - 1400 block Hamilton Ave.

Burglary - 3900 block S. Broad St.

July 22

Theft - 400 block Yardville Allentown Rd.

Theft - 2700 block S. Broad St.

Burglary - 200 block Lafayette Ave.

July 23

Criminal Mischief - 1200 block Nottingham Way

Theft - 1100 block S. Olden Ave.

Theft - 300 block Rt. 156

Theft - Andrea Lane

Burg/Auto - 200 block Trenton Ave.

July 24

Criminal Mischief - 400 block Ridge Ave.

Theft - Quimby Ave.

Theft - 200 block Elton Ave.

Burglary to auto - 200 block E. Franklin St.

Burglary to auto - Victor Ave.

Burglary to autos - 100 block Hughes Dr.

Burglary to auto - 1200 block Nottingham Way

Burglary - Zachary Lane

Burglary - Bucknell Ave.

Shoplifter - 700 block Marketplace Blvd.

Shoplifter - 2100 block S. Broad St.

July 25

Criminal Mischief - Sandalwood Ave. /Carlisle Cornell Ave

Criminal Mischief - 900 block William St.

Theft - 500 block Whitehead Rd.

Theft - 1800 block Greenwood Ave.

Burglary - 1800 block Greenwood Ave.

July 26

Criminal Mischief - Periwinkle Lane

Theft - Versailles Ct.

Theft - 3400 block E. State Ext. St.

Theft - 300 block Hutchinson St.

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

Mike Schiaretti Jr. retired at the mandatory age of 65 in June after serving as a Trenton patrolman for 43 years.

TRENTON -- A young officer pulled up at the scene of a shooting in progress in 1976, using his car as a buffer between the shooter and a child.

Michael Schiaretti Jr., then a 25-year-old Trenton patrolman, saved the child and later received a valor award for his actions that day.

Forty years later, Schiaretti said that call is the most memorable moment of his police career, which he proudly spent as a city patrolman for 43 years.

Schiaretti retired in June at the mandatory age of 65. Though he said he would have stayed another five years if allowed.

Michael Schiaretti Jr., center, with his sons, Joseph Schiaretti, left, and Michael Schiaretti III, right. 

"I enjoyed the people I worked with," Schiaretti said. "Most cops get burnt out working on the street and start looking for a job inside (police headquarters)."

Not Schiaretti.

He's been enjoying his "retirement" the past few weeks, but he's actualyl still working.

Schiaretti said he picked up a job as a flagman, directing traffic for street work after building a connection with the company over the years working on the city streets.

Schiaretti was sworn in to the Trenton Police Department after graduating from Penn State in 1973 -- the same year his beloved New York Yankees closed the gates to Yankee Stadium for renovation and the American League adopted the designated hitter.

Through the years, he served under numerous police commanders. And he admits he was a unique officer because of his desire to spend 43 years in the action.

"I was a freak of nature because I really liked being out on the street," Schiaretti said.

Schiaretti said it'll be tough to be away from the action.

"I'll miss the people on the street and the camaraderie among the officers," he said.

"I really enjoyed dealing with people on the street. It's exciting and a challenge. It's easy to get frustrated, especially nowadays with less respect for officers," he said.

Officer friends and family threw Schiaretti a retirement party picnic in June that was attended by 230 people.

Schiaretti still has close ties to the department. Both of his sons, Michael and Joseph, have served on the force for more than a decade.

"Once you retire, there isn't much you can do, he said. "I'm a member of the retiree union. My oldest son, [Michael Schiaretti III], is the executive vice president of the Trenton Patrolmen's Benevolent Association Local 11 Union."

"We'll still go to baseball games and do Christmas parties," he said.

Michael Schiaretti Jr. with fellow officer and friends at his retirement party in June. (Photo courtesy of William Osterman) 

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

The train station was moved to Alexander Road, making way for a bar to open in the new station this year

PRINCETON - The years-long wait for the launch of a train station-turned-restaurant is finally over. 

This week, the Dinky Bar opened at 94 University Place, making its first mark on the historic building that held the Dinky train station for nearly a decade.

The bar, which is currently open only during dinner hours, is owned by Fenwick Hospitality, the same group that owns the popular downtown Princeton restaurant, Agricola. The opening is the result of a partnership between Fenwick Hospitality and Princeton University as part of the school's $330 million Arts and Transit Project. 

Agricola owners plan to open bar

According to Fenwick Hospitality, the Dinky Bar features small plates and "locally-sourced" foods. Their prices range from $3 to $12 snacks to $11 to $20 entree plates, Fenwick Hospitality wrote in a statement. They also plan to put a focus on craft beers, local ciders and wine on tap - something unique to Princeton, the statement said.  The beers range from $5 to $8 while the wines range from $8 to $11.

According to the statement, "the actual offerings of the bar can seem almost secondary," in the face of the atmosphere. The owners set out in part to honor the history of the building, which served as the train station for the local Dinky train from 1918 to 2013. The station was closed and moved 460 feet down the street onto Alexander Road.

To remember the building's near-decade of history, the owners of the bar have decorated the inside of the old stone station in a style inspired by the Dinky line, with reclaimed wood tables and a "transit ticket menu board," the statement said.

The bar is expected to open for full service in August. 

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

The Princeton University professor was finishing the book on "beautiful mathematical questions" when he was killed in a car crash last year.

PRINCETON -- More than a year after his death, Princeton University mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr. is bidding farewell to the academic world with a new book about the biggest mysteries of mathematics.

Nash, the brilliant-but-troubled subject of the film "A Beautiful Mind," was in the final stages of co-editing the book on unsolved mathematical problems when he was killed in a car crash on the New Jersey Turnpike last year.

"Open Problems in Mathematics" was completed by his co-author and released Saturday by the scientific publisher Springer.

The untold story of the final days of John Nash

The book is a collection of essays about "beautiful mathematical questions," according to the introduction written by Nash and co-author Michael Th. Rassias.

Rassias and the mathematicians who contributed to the book dedicated the 543-page volume to Nash and his "rich mathematical legacy."

"In history, one can say that among the mathematicians who have reached greatness, there are some -- a selected few -- who have gone beyond greatness to become legends. John Nash was one such legend," Rassias wrote in a tribute to Nash included in the book.

Rassias, a former postdoctoral researcher in Princeton's math department, said the idea for the book began in 2014 when Nash walked into the common room of Fine Hall on Princeton's campus, poured himself a cup of decaf coffee and sat silently by himself. Rassias approached the reclusive Nobel Prize winner and the pair chatted about game theory, Nash's specialty.

Though the researcher was nearly 60 years younger than Nash, the pair began to speak frequently about math. They eventually decided to write a book together on the biggest unsolved mathematical problems.

"The day we made this decision, he turned to me and said with his gentle voice, 'I don't want to be just a name on the cover though. I want to be really involved,'" Rassias wrote in an essay at the beginning of the book.

The pair met almost daily to decide which mathematical problems to include in the book, Rassias said. They recruited other experts to write chapters about each mathematical mystery, including unsolved problems in algebraic geometry, number theory, discrete mathematics and differential geometry.

Nash helped pick the Albert Einstein quote that opens the book and decided to include the co-authors' signatures at the end of the introduction to give the volume a "vintage" feel, Rassias said.

The book was nearly complete in May 2015 when Nash and his wife left for Oslo, Norway, where the mathematician received the Abel Prize for Mathematics from King Harald V for his work on nonlinear partial differential equations.

Nash and his wife, Alicia, were headed home from Newark Liberty International Airport when their taxi crashed into a guardrail on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Nash, 86, and Alicia, 82, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The couple had been portrayed in the 2001 Academy Award-winning film "A Beautiful Mind" by Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly. The film was about how Nash struggled with paranoid schizophrenia, but went on to win the 1994 Nobel Prize in Economics for his pioneering work on game theory.

The mathematician and his wife, who lived in a modest home in Princeton Junction, also became advocates for improved mental health care.

Rassias had grown close to the couple.

"What was certainly true though was the dear love between John and Alicia Nash, who together faced and overcame the tremendous challenges of John Nash's life. It is somehow a romantic tragedy that fate bound them to even leave this life together," Rassias wrote.

Nash was scheduled to write a chapter for the book on an unsolved problem in game theory when he returned from his trip to Norway, Rassias said. But he never got the chance. Harvard University professor Eric Maskin, also a Nobel Prize winner in economics, stepped in to write the chapter instead.

The book, which retails for $149 in print through the publisher, is written for an academic audience. Individual chapters can be purchased for $29.95, the publisher said.

The soldiers were searching for a place to train near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Monday when they stumbled across the woman

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- An 87-year-old woman stranded for three days in the Pinelands without food or water was saved by National Guard soldiers who stumbled across her car while on a scouting mission. 

The soldiers from the Massachusetts Army National Guard, who were training at the joint base, found a Cadillac with all the doors open and sunshade in the windshield deep in a wooded area on Monday afternoon, according to base officials. 

"At first we didn't know what to think of it because it was suspicious," said Staff Sgt. Dana Francis of G Co. 186th Brigade Support Battalion, said in a statement.

Joint base destroying old mustard gas, chemical artillery

As the soldiers neared the car, they discovered a woman slumped in the back seat. They honked the horn several times, but the woman was unresponsive.

"We were thinking the worst when we first started," said Sgt. Tommy Coppola said in a statement. Coppola eventually ran up to the car to find the woman waking up but confused.

Coppola and Francis, both civilian firefighters, brought two medics, Spec. John Shively and Pfc. Aaron Amardey-Wellington, to the scene to help assess the woman.

After being helped into an ambulance, the woman told the soldiers that her car got stuck Saturday morning in the soft sand in the woods off of Route 539. 

The 87-year-old, who was not named, told the soldiers that she had no water or food, and had collected rain water to drink during her three-day ordeal. High temperatures during that stretch reached into the upper 90s.

"It was by chance that the contact team was traveling down this remote tank trail and came across the elderly woman," Lt. Col. Holloway said.

Officials said the woman suffered extreme dehydration and possibly heat illness, but her condition improved significantly by the time she was picked up by family at the base.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.   

One officer had to leap out of the way to avoid being hit by Kelley's car.

TRENTON -- Police say Vonzell Kelley sped away during a traffic stop, jumped from the car while it was still moving, then led them on a foot chase through a neighborhood.

Around 1 a.m. on Thursday police say they spotted Kelley behind the wheel of an automobile on Chase Street.

Authorities say they were familiar with Kelley from previous investigations and knew he was not licensed to operate a vehicle.

When two detectives from Trenton's Street Crime Unit approached Kelley's vehicle, they say they witnessed him stuffing objects into a brown paper bag and then placing the bag under the passenger seat.

Officers say they ordered Kelley to put his hands in the air, but Kelley instead put the car in drive and took off.

One officer had to leap out of the way to avoid being hit by the car, police said.

The officers gave chase.

Once the chase reached Rossell Avenue, police say Kelley leapt from his moving vehicle, sending his car crashing into a tree.

Officers chased Kelly on foot through the backyards of homes and eventually caught him near the corner of Willow Street and Rossell Avenue.

Kelly had been wearing flip-flops when the chase began and lost his shoes while attempting to flee, resulting in injuries to his feet that caused him to be taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center authorities said.

After being treated he was released back into police custody.

Police say they found 80 decks of heroin, three grams of cocaine, two opioid pills and $265 cash that they believe was acquired through the sell of narcotics.

Kelley has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement official, seven drug possession offenses, eluding police, resisting arrest by flight, obstruction and 11 moving violations.

Authorities do not have an exact age for Kelley, but say that he was born in 1987.

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

The man realized he was shot when he saw two bullet holes in his windshield.

TRENTON -- A man suffering from a gunshot wound to left side of his face walked into Capital Health Regional Medical Center on Wednesday evening, authorities said.

Trenton Police say they received a call from the medical center around 9:11 p.m. reporting that a 31-year-old male was stable and being admitted for observation after being struck by a bullet.

Authorities say the man was sitting his car near the corner of East Hanover and Stockton Streets when he was shot.

The man told officers that he heard multiple gunshots and realized that he had be stuck by gunfire when he saw two bullet holes in his windshield, police said.

After being hit, the man went to his girlfriend's house. She then drove him to the medical center.

Authorities say that the identity of the shooter is not yet known and the motive for the shooting is unclear.

Both the identity of the shooter and the motive for the shooting are under investigation.

A police spokesman said that, as with all shootings involving unknown assailants or motives, this one will be investigated as being connected to other recent shootings.

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

A former Perth Amboy business administrator must repay pension money she earned from a previous government job in Trenton.

Perth Amboy's public safety complex on New Brunswick Avenue.File Photo 

PERTH AMBOY -- The New Jersey Supreme Court has denied a petition from a former city business administrator who had challenged having to repay more than $125,000 in pension money.

Jane Feigenbaum collected the pension money from a previous government position while working for Perth Amboy, according to a 2014 report on MyCentralJersey.com.

Feigenbaum worked for Perth Amboy for a little more than a year before leaving her post in September 2010. She has been ordered by the court to repay $125,903 that she received for her role as the business administrator in Trenton from 2002 to 2008, according to the report.

Feigenbaum, the report said, hadn't waited the legally required 30 days from the date of her retirement, Dec. 10, 2008, and the start date of her position in Perth Amboy, Jan. 5, 2009.

Feigenbaum reportedly gave testimony and maintained she was unaware of the rules regarding her pension.

She left Trenton with an annual pension of $65,000 while making $129,500 during her role as Perth Amboy's business administrator, the report said.

According to MyCentralJersey.com, the court determined that Feigenbaum failed to notify the state about her position she took after retiring from Trenton, which is legally required.

Feigenbaum's case has been moving through administrative and court appeals since the 2014 ruling by the state's Division of Pensions and Benefits that she repay the money.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Allegiant Air will begin nonstop service to three Florida cities in November

EWING -- With Allegiant Air long having its sights set on Trenton-Mercer Airport, it was only a matter of time before the low-cost carrier would decide to launch service.

"We've been going back and forth and just looking for the right time," said Eric Fletcher, manager of airport operations for Allegiant Air. "There's a lot of passengers looking for affordable airfare and there's a lot of demand in the area."

Fletcher was in town for a brief visit Thursday following the airline's announcement that it would begin service from Ewing to three Florida cities in November.

Allegiant, based in Las Vegas, plans to operate year-round flights to Orlando Sanford International Airport, one of its main hubs, three times a week, along with twice-weekly flights to Punta Gorda and the St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport, just across the bay from Tampa. It plans to use a 177-seat Airbus A320.

"There's a lot of passenger demand going down to Florida and even with (Frontier Airlines) flying here to Florida, we think the market can take a lot more," Fletcher said.

He said Allegiant will focus its efforts on making the three initial routes successful, but expressed confidence that more destinations will follow.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said the addition of Allegiant now gives passengers a choice of which airline to fly, especially since Florida has proven to be a popular market for Frontier.

"It brings competition; it brings excitement," he said. "I think Allegiant will bring the ability to capture this Central Jersey market and take advantage of all the people that are here in the market who don't want to go to Philadelphia and don't want to go to Newark, pay those high prices and the inconvenience of flying out of them."

Though Fletcher met Hughes for the first time on Thursday, he has been in talks with Melinda Montgomery, the airport manager, and Aaron Watson, the county's deputy administrator, for more than two years.

"Frontier is doing very well here and I think Allegiant saw that and knew that it's time for them to come in," Watson said. "We couldn't be happier."

To accommodate the growth, the airport is anticipating having to make some changes to the apron -- the area that's used for passenger loading and unloading -- as well as inside the terminal to make room for Allegiant's ticket counter and office space. One possibility is to move the sheriff's department, which provides security at the airport, to another building, Watson said.

"We need to be up in operation in three months, so there's going to be a lot of activity in the next month or so," he said.

The county has also been busy working to update the airport's master plan, which is a 5-, 10- and 20-year plan for guiding improvements and capital investments at the facility.

"Ever since Frontier arrived and even before that, we knew that this airport has unlimited potential," Watson said. "We were always looking to prepare it for the future."

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

52 days not long enough for public to review 1,200 pages, she says.

TRENTON -- Assemblywoman Elizabeth Muoio called on federal regulators Thursday to extend the 52-day comment period on PennEast pipeline draft environmental impact statement.

Muoio (D-Mercer) raised issue over whether the regulator's timing of last week's draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) is in the public's interest.

"The Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) is a government agency which should be protecting the interests of ordinary citizens every bit as much as the powerful gas companies," Muoio said in a statement.

Muoio expressed concerns about the lack of time for the public to review and respond to the nearly 1,200 page report, addressing the environmental impacts of the PennEast's pipeline, compressors and metering stations.

"Many of the affected stakeholders are homeowners, concerned farmers, and their neighbors," said Muoio. "It is hard to imagine that they would have enough time during a season packed with business, agricultural and family obligations to delve into such a report."

"The report seems premature, at best, and released more to satisfy the looming timeline of PennEast and its subscribers than to present a solid evaluation of this massive project, which will permanently alter our environment and landscape," she said.

Wednesday the New Jersey Sierra Club sent a letter to FERC requesting the comment period be extended from 52 days to 120 days, citing similar concerns as Muoio's.

The Sierra Club also requested additional hearings -- one in Lambertville and one in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania -- along the proposed route.

"We believe that it is important for everyone along the route to have the opportunity to come to a hearing and put information on the record," Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said in a letter to FERC.

Opponents take issue with PennEast report 

Muoio also shared the concerns as other groups over there being too many data gaps in the DEIS, calling FERC's issuance "irresponsible and further evidence of a need for federal reforms of the agency."

She cited deficient data in areas such as sparse land surveying and incomplete geotechnical investigations along the 118.8 mile project route.

About 70 percent of landowners along the proposal's route in New Jersey have refused to let the company survey their land. Every municipality in Hunterdon and Mercer counties has passed resolutions opposing the pipeline.

Both counties have banned the company from public land.

Earlier this year, the state assembly passed legislation introduced by Muoio urging the federal government to toughen policies on the approval process of interstate natural gas pipelines.

The legislation (ACR-53) is meant to encourage FERC to fully weigh both the environmental costs of such projects and the use of land acquisition through eminent domain.

Last month Assemblywoman Muoio attended U.S Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman's (D-12th Dist.) announcement of a bill that would add additional guidelines to ensure that FERC was not agreeing to unnecessary projects.

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