Princeton High School ice hockey team defeated Nottingham High in convincing fashion with a score of 11-1. Princeton scored six goals in the first period, one in the second, and four in the final period. Princeton had three players get “hat tricks” (a hat trick means the player is credited with having scored three goals in the game). The players scoring hat tricks for Princeton high were: John Naylor, Jeff Goeke, and Frazer Graham.
Derek Jones scored the lone point for Northstars of Nottingham High.
Well it is official as of 10am this morning Governor Jon Corzine was to sign the Bill that passed the Assembly ending the death penalty in New Jersey. New Jersey is the first state in 42 years to end the death penalty and instead require life imprisonment without the possibililty of parole.
It seems ironic that the Governor is signing the bill that will when just this past weekend two prisoners escaped from the Union County Jail. The desperate pair removed two cinder blocks from the jail wall and then jumped. Jose Espinosa, 20, pleaded guilty to the aggravated manslaughter and was awaiting sentencing. Otis Blunt, 32, was awaiting trial for robbery and weapones offenses. The pair proves that life in prison without the chance of parole has a few problems that need ironing out. If prisoners can escape … well you get the picture just fill in the blank.
Three Mercer County school districts will recieve a 20 percent increase in state funding next school year. Governor Jon Cozine announced yesterday the new formula for school aid next year after revising the school funding formula. Under the new formula three Mercer County school districts: Ewing, Hamilton, and Washington Township, will all receive a 20 percent increase which is the maximum that any district may receive.
The plan calls for increases to most districts with the poorest and the richest districts getting the least. Lower and middle income districts, as well those with increasing enrollment will receive the bulk of the aid. The state aid will require some districts to offer property tax relief to its residents.
The legislation setting the the 2008-2009 state aid could be passed before the Jan. 7 end to the legislative session.
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President Bush unveiled his plan to help homeowners with subprime mortagages. The plan will help
lessen the strain on rental markets in the future because generally homeowners who end up in foreclosure, enter the rental housing market.
Mr. Bush’s plan will help about 600,000 homeowners by either freezing the mortgage at a level the homeowner can manage — ususally the introductory level of the mortgage before it started ratcheting up, or credit counseling and walking the homeowner through the refinance process. Homeowners who scored less that 660 on there credit report may be eligble for the program.
For reference to participating lenders contact: freddie@freddiemoorer.com
Read the articles: Battle Lines Form over Mortgage Plan;
Fading American Dream of Homeowership Fuels Rentals
New Jersey has been first in quite a few things lately. New Jersey residents can say we have the highest car insurance, highest in taxes, highest population density per square mile in the country. Now those firsts are old news. What has taken top honors you might ask? New Jersey is set to be the first state to abolish the death penalty.
While killing people is not something any state should do, especially since they don’t seem to get the correct criminal all the time, life without parole at best allows a convicted criminal who is innocent the chance to be freed should future technology prove the decision in error. It brings to mind the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, where Abraham asked if the city would be spared for the sake of ten righteous men. For the sake of that one innocent man, the death penalty should not be enforced.
Read the article here.
Read the story of Abraham pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah
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| Courtesy of the Kilmer Family Archive |
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I remember being in glee club during elementary school and learning a what I thought then was a fun song. Looking back, I didn’t know who had written the words to the piece just remember thinking it was kind of nice.
It went like this:
I think that I shall never see,
A poem as lovely as a tree;
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed,
Against the Earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robin’s in her hair;
Upon whose bossom snow has lain
Who lives intimately with rain;
Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree.
–Joyce Kilmer
Penned by Alfred Joyce Kilmer (12/6/1886-6/30/1918), a New Brunswick, New Jersey native, it appealed to my interest in trees — though I spent more time climbing them then contemplating their beauty. Later I learned there was much controversy over what kind of tree inspire Kilmer and I did not see the logic of the controversy but marveled at the fact that one man could move so many to passion. Yes, in adulthood I still remember the song — fudging a word here and there; but every now and again I stop and really look at tree. It is then I appreciate Joyce Kilmer’s tribute entitled simply “Trees”.