Community News

Community news on families, living & more from The Times of Trenton

• LES team effort
Weighing in on a hefty Thanksgiving Food Drive, Lawrenceville Elementary School's staff, stu dents, and families donated food to supply 23 boxes of food complete with nonperishable goods such as cranberry sauce and dressing as well as a turkey and roasting pan for 23 local needy families. Coordinated by the third grade CARE (Children Acting Responsibly Everyday) Kids, these service learning ambassadors read "The Can-Do Thanksgiving" by Marion Hess Pomeranc to the younger students to promote the drive.

• MCCC to offer courses in
English for Spanish speakers WEST WINDSOR -- The number of Spanish-speaking residents is increasing dramatically in various parts of the country, and the need to learn English is a high priority for many. To address language barrier issues and boost employment prospects, Mercer County Community College's Center for Continuing Studies will offer three comprehensive English courses and a new personal financial management course taught in Spanish. Classes will take place at the college's West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

• 6th graders run pizza business
The sixth grade Middle School students at Princeton Montessori School learn basic business skills running their own pizza business. The students contact suppliers, create advertisements, determine pricing, place orders and deal with quality control issues. Students "apply" for management positions, including president, treasurer and secretary.

• Learning about the Pilgrims
Third-grade students at Mansfield Township Elementary recently performed "The Pilgrim Story," a musical and theatrical re-enactment of the Pilgrims' voyage on the Mayflower up to and including the events surrounding the first Thanksgiving. The Pilgrim Story presentation represented the culmination of a unit teaching students the struggles of immigrants to America. In their new social studies series, students read Molly's Pilgrim, a book about a modern-day pilgrim. In addition, the third-graders also researched their family heritage, read the Ti0tanic books, and researched the life of a Titanic passenger.

• Students work to ease burden of Texas storm victims
EWING -- Two students at Fisher Middle School were moved to action from the plight of Houston citizens who are still suffering from the losses they have endured because of Hurricanes Katrina and Ike.

• Jackson H.S. student picked for Army band
A student at Jackson Liberty High School in Jackson has been named to the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band (AAMB), making him one of the top 97 senior musicians in the country.

• Local airmen complete basic training in Texas
Two Air Force airmen from the region recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

• Scouts' letters aim to lift vets' spirits
At a recent meeting, Webelos scouts from Hopewell Den 1 wrote holiday letters of cheer to recovering soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. The Cub Scout program promotes citizenship and character development and scouts are encouraged to "do a good turn daily." Over a two-year period, Webelos Scouts work towards earning twenty Webelos Activity Badges in five groups: Community, Outdoor, Physical, Mental and Technology. The Hopewell Pack is sponsored by Hopewell Presbyterian Church. The Cub Scout program is open to boys in first through fifth grades. To find out how to join scouting, call Anita Bennison at (609) 333-1444.

• Soldiers' generosity aids needy
What started out as an ordinary Holiday canned food drive sponsored by Headquarters, Headquarters Battery (HHB) 72nd Field Artillery Training Support Brigade, transformed into a holiday outpouring of hospitality.

• Beyond wildest expectations
Theo "Buck" Hendricks is used to being asked, "How did you do it?" His answer is simply another question, "How did we do it?," as though he still can't believe it. The 82-year-old African-American and his wife of 56 years, Angelina, raised seven kids, sent them all through college, and watch proudly as they all became productive and accomplished members of society. This, all on a mere postman's salary.

• Novelty items
failed to deliver

• American Properties Realty named a 'Partner in Education' in Ewing
EWING -- American Properties Realty has recently been named a "Partner in Education" by the Ewing Public School District.

• Annual Tree of Lights at CHS-Mercer
TRENTON -- The Tree of Lights, an annual giving program that supports projects of the Capital Health System Auxiliary at Mercer, including the Ruth Pessel Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund, will take place this year.

• Athletic trainer volunteers for the long haul
Chances are good, if the runners got to see Ewing High School Athletic Trainer David Csillan they were probably going to finish the New York City Marathon.

• Grande Ball raises $113G
for Thomas Edison State TRENTON -- Nearly 300 guests helped the Thomas Edison State College Foundation to honor three outstanding individuals and raise money for Thomas Edison State College at its annual Grande Ball, which was held at The Hyatt Re gency Princeton in West Windsor on Oct. 25.

• Great response to food demand

• Hightstown
It is a friendship that transcended racial and economic differences in the 1950s. It was just a bunch of guys who wanted to play soccer and wanted to play it well.

• Holiday carol time for Girlchoir

• Keep tabs
on earnings in early retirement

• New resources available
to ALS patients caregivers

• Pennsbury's Hall of Fame
increases by 13 members FALLS, Pa. -- The 2008 Pen nsbury Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were introduced to the public at Falcon Field on Oct. 24 during halftime of the final home regular-season football game against Abington. The formal in duction ceremony took place at the Yardley Country Club on Oct. 25. The inductees are:

• 300 turn out for St. Francis event
TRENTON -- On Nov. 9, the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation (SMFCF) Community Fund Raising Board (CFRB) hosted its third annual "Toast to Your Health" at Trenton Country Club.

• Morris Hall
names 5 to serve on board

• 'Princeton Christmas' CD to feed hungry
WASHINGTON -- Eleven choirs in Princeton, N.J., have contributed music for A Princeton Christmas: For the Children of Africa Vol. 2. This CD is a follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed inaugural album by the richly-talented student choral community. Proceeds will help support the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) school meals initiatives in Africa.

• Local gardeners receive award
Two Mercer County Master Gardeners were honored with 2008 Awards of Excellence at the recent Master Gardeners Association of New Jersey Fall Conference. Spon sored by Rutgers Cooperative Extension, these Master Gardener state-wide awards are given annu ally to individuals and teams that exemplify service to their communities.

• Masonic Home volunteer
receives governor's award BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP -- Albert Megee, a 77-year-old retired farm worker from Burlington County, doesn't let the effects of Parkinson's disease and leukemia get in the way of his volunteer work at the Masonic Home of New

• 2 from area complete basic military training
Navy Seaman Recruit William Colon, son of Ana M. Colon of Cranbury, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

• HiTOPS has new director
PRINCETON BOROUGH -- HiTOPS has announced its third executive director since the organization was founded in 1987. Elizabeth Casparian has been with Hi TOPS for more than 10 years serv ing the organization in both volunteer and staff capacities as the chair of HiTOPS' gala events, as a board member and board president, and for the past four years, director of educational programs.

• Going the extra mile to battle a crippler
When William Scannon laces up for the Philadelphia Marathon tomorrow, he's going for more than his personal best.

• Hometown Heroes lauded
during Red Cross ceremony

• Achievements
of 4 women recognized TRENTON -- Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and the county's Commission on the Status of Women honored four local women for their extensive volunteer work in their communities at the Fifth Annual Mercer County Women of Achievement awards Nov. 13.

• Anderson heads the (Hall of Fame) class
Marc Anderson, pardon the pun, has a long and successful track record at Princeton High School. Although retired from his roles as teacher and coach at PHS, the former New Jersey Track Coach of the Year continues to make an impact as a member of Friends of Princeton Athletics (FOPA) and as chair of the Princeton High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

• Area groups
receive BJ's grants NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Charitable Foundation, as part of its quarterly giving schedule, presented 54 grants totaling $501,950 to nonprofit organizations located in the communities BJ's Wholesale Clubs serve. The recipients support the Foundation's mission of promoting the safety, security and well-being of children and families, supporting education and health programs, providing community service opportunities, and aiding in hunger and disaster relief.

• Auction to benefit farmhouse restoration
The Friends of Howell Farm will hold an auction today benefiting the restoration of the farm's Henry Phillips House, listed on National and New Jersey Registers of

• Club needs help
with wish tree project for kids

• Hooping it up

• Mercer County students receive scholar award at Rider
LAWRENCE -- Nineteen Rider University students from Mercer County were recently recognized as Andrew J. Rider Scholars. Four of those students have the recognition of receiving the award more than once.

• PEAC is passionate about "pink" fundraiser
EWING -- PEAC Health & Fit ness conducted a fund-raising event for the Susan G. Komen Foundation in October. The monthlong event included raffles, massages, special group exercise classes and a donation portion of proceeds from sales. PEAC is proud to announce that its

• President
may provide impetus for SSA change Q: I thought your recent column that included proposals to fix Social Security's long-range financing problems was very in sightful. People need to support political leaders who have the courage to tackle this issue. What do you think the election of Barack Obama will do for the future of Social Security?

• Teachers,
supervisors 'CONNECT' LAWRENCE -- More than 70 K-12 science and math teachers and district supervisors attended the CONNECT-ED Phase II Kick off Event held at Rider University to learn how professional learning communities (PLCs) can help "big- ideas thinking" in science and math take root in their classrooms and throughout their districts.