Thursday, July 26, 2001
A TIME FOR HEROES

Washington Township Police Sgt. Dominick Botteri was getting coffee. Officer Chris Nitti was on patrol. Both were working 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shifts, which, on a Monday night, are usually quiet hours. The dispatcher received a call at 11:57 p.m. that October night…  Story

Thursday, July 26, 2001
A LOOK INSIDE THE ROBBINS HOUSE

WASHINGTON TWP. — Not many people are as passionate about a property as Lester Robbins Jr. and his wife, Barbara, are about the Robbins family's old farmhouse.  Story

Thursday, July 26, 2001
PLANNING BOARD APPROVES 'DOWNZONING' PROPOSALS

On July 18, members of the Hopewell Township Planning Board reviewed and then unanimously approved the Township Committee's reintroduced downzoning ordinances. These measures would, if adopted again this year, rezone three-fourths of Hopewell Township's 58 square miles. The Township Committee has scheduled a public hearing Aug. 16 on these proposed zoning changes.  Story

Thursday, July 26, 2001
TOWN WATCH DEDICATES LIGHTS AT CAVALLO
GROUP HOPES TO MAKE PARK AND REST OF CITY SAFER

LAMBERTVILLE — Town Watch wants to make the city a safer place to live. Its official dedication of its Cavallo Park lighting project culminated a major undertaking by the group to reach that goal.  Story

Thursday, July 26, 2001
PROJECT FREEDOM TO BREAK GROUND

Dawn Watkins was doing well. She was working as a nanny for a Hopewell Township family, and she was preparing to move out of her family's house.  Story

Thursday, July 26, 2001
BOROUGH COUNCIL APPROVES DOWNTOWN GARAGE PLAN
KEY 4-2 VOTE GIVES GO-AHEAD TO DEVELOP FINANCING SCHEME

The Princeton Borough Council voted 4 to 2 Tuesday to develop financial plans for a downtown parking garage and related development. Council members Roger Martindell and David Goldfarb cast the no votes.  Story

Wednesday, July 25, 2001
SUSPECT IN LOCAL CASE CONVICTED OF MURDER IN OHIO
WEST WINDSOR POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING DISAPPEARANCE OF JOHN SMITH'S SECOND WIFE

Former township resident John David Smith, 50, was sentenced last week to 15 years to life for the murder of his first wife in Wayne County, Ohio.  Story

Wednesday, July 25, 2001
HOSPITAL BUCKS TRENDS BUT CANNOT ESCAPE NURSING SHORTAGE
THE SHORTAGE IS NOT FELT TO THE DEGREE IT IS NATIONALLY

A shortage of nurses is being felt at The Medical Center of Princeton, although not to the degree it is across the state. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 450,000 additional registered nurses will be needed to fill the present demand through the year 2008.  Story

Wednesday, July 25, 2001
RACING THE WIND
SAILORS TEST THEIR METTLE AND THEIR LUCK IN AN ITALIAN REGATTA

For two Rocky Hill and Princeton residents, sailing is a serious matter. It's a world away from lolly-gagging about in a dinghy. Mac Deturo and John Faus are part of a three-man team that is representing the United States in the International Lightning Class World Championships of sailing.The races start today in Marsala, Italy.  Story

Wednesday, July 25, 2001
TOWNS OPPOSE BILL THAT WOULD LIMIT ZONING CHANGES

The state legislation would freeze existing zoning ordinances at the time a development application is filed with a municipality.  Story

Tuesday, July 24, 2001
PRINCETONS GIVE LIBRARY A FORMAL APPROVAL
AFTER YEARS OF EFFORT THE LIBRARY GOT THE GO-AHEAD TO BUILD ITS NEW FACILITY

More than 20 years and many, many, many meetings later, the Princeton Public Library got the go-ahead Monday night to build its new facility. The Princeton Borough Council and the Princeton Township Committee approved a resolution authorizing the construction of the library expansion project estimated at $17.5 million.  Story

Tuesday, July 24, 2001
MAYOR CALLS FOR VOTE ON BOROUGH'S GARAGE

The Princeton Borough Council will be asked to say yea or nay tonight to moving forward with a $16.5 million plan for a downtown parking garage.  Story

Tuesday, July 24, 2001
UNIVERSITY-LED PANEL EYES WORLD CRIME

One day, former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin or members of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia may be brought to justice because of the Princeton Principles of Universal Jurisdiction. The principles, made public Monday, would give national courts the right to try those accused of heinous crimes, such as genocide, even when there is no jurisdictional links to the victims or perpetrators.  Story

Tuesday, July 24, 2001
SPECIAL EYES
STUDENTS USE CAMERAS TO LEARN, GAIN CONFIDENCE AND BECOME INDEPENDENT

MONTGOMERY — Nature and independence were key for six youngsters Monday as they took part in the Special Eyes on the Environment program at a park near the Princeton University boathouse between Faculty Road and Carnegie Lake.  Story

Monday, July 23, 2001
RETIRING WEST WINDSOR CHIEF WILL LOSE A 'FAMILY'
FRANK COX HAS HEADED THE DEPARTMENT FOR 21 YEARS OF A 33-YEAR CAREER

WEST WINDSOR — After 21 years of serving the township as chief of police, Frank Cox has decided to retire. And given his role in helping to build the force, he says, leaving is going to be difficult.  Story

Monday, July 23, 2001
FOR CAPT. JOSEPH PICA, ACCOUNTING JUST DID NOT CUT IT
HE WILL SUCCEED THE RETIRING CHIEF FRANK COX ON OCT. 1

WEST WINDSOR — Much to his father's dismay, Joseph Pica did not choose to become an accountant. He instead chose to become a police officer and now after working his way through the ranks of the Township Police Department, he is poised to become chief.  Story

Monday, July 23, 2001
FINDING PEACE IN THEIR 50S

EAST WINDSOR — Determined to keep learning and growing in their 50s, Jack and Carol Topchik are selling their house, putting their belongings in storage and spending the next two years as Peace Corps volunteers in Haiti.  Story

Monday, July 23, 2001
MONTGOMERY PLANNING EXPANDED DEER HUNT

MONTGOMERY — The Township Hunting Committee and Environmental Commission began making plans at a joint meeting Tuesday to allow hunting on local open-space land and involve the community in a hunt designed to increase the number of deer harvested.  Story

Monday, July 23, 2001
NOT ENOUGH SPACE — THERE'S THE RUB FOR REPERTORY COMPANY

The Princeton Repertory Company's Shakespeare Festival, which drew thousands to the amphitheater of Pettoranello Gardens last summer, has been forced to postpone this season's starlit performances until at least September, and perhaps until next year.  Story