VOL. 66, NO. 22
Friday, May 28th, 2021
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Serving the Valley’s Communities and Schools Since 1956
The Pennington School expands service work for Malawi refugee camp
Two incumbents to run unopposed in Democratic primary for Hopewell Borough Council BY ANDREW HARRISON
Staff Writer
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PENNINGTON SCHOOL
Pennington School students sew hybrid sanitary napkins for girls in a refugee camp in Malawi.
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Over the past three years, students at The Pennington School have been using their STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) skills to solve real-world problems and provide needed resources to the schools at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi, Africa. This year, Pennington students have refurbished iPads, provided online math tutoring sessions, designed a hybrid sanitary napkin, and developed lessons on solar power for the high school at the African camp. Recently, the Pennington School community service group began collaborating with the nonprofit organization Nine Scholars, which was co-founded by a group of students from various boarding schools across the United States and China. The intention of the collaboration is to expand this program by providing more donated materials for the refugee schools and to increase the understanding of the refugee crisis to other students living internationally. Pennington School Trustee Jim Wang connected Pennington to Nine Scholars, and Trustee Brenda Martini O’loughlin is supporting the collaboration between the two schools with grant funding. The first shipment to Malawi from the joint effort between Pennington and Nine Scholars included 12 refurbished iPads, an iPad charging system, 200 face shields, 400 reusable face masks, and 1,000 disposable masks.
In addition, The Pennington School has donated 10 refurbished iPads, an Owl 360-degree camera, a large-screen smart TV, 10 laptops, and numerous solar panel kits. Pennington students have also designed hands-on learning experiences for the students at the refugee camp, and these technologies will help continue to connect these two groups of students across the globe. * This article was provided by The Pennington School.
Two incumbents from the Hopewell Borough Council are in an uncontested Democratic primary race for two open seats on the Borough Council. Councilwoman Samara McAuliffe and Councilwoman Debra Stuhler are the two incumbents seeking re-election in the 2021 Democratic primary on June 8. The two open seats each carry a three-year term. Both McAuliffe and Stuhler are pursuing a second term on the Borough Council. McAuliffe settled in Hopewell Borough during 2004. She grew up in Hopewell Borough and Hopewell Township and attended school in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District. McAuliffe would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University. She currently works as the human resources director for a water resources engineering and natural resources management firm. “As part of my role on council, I participate in the building committee; the recreation committee; and Hopewell For All, a working group made up of borough residents committed to a Hopewell that is a welcoming community through education, historical awareness, communication, and collaboration with other local organizations who share similar visions,” McAuliffe said. Additionally, McAuliffe has served as secretary of the Hopewell Harvest Fair Board from 2011-16 and currently serves as the Hopewell Borough Democratic municipal chair.
Debra Stuhler
Samara McAuliffe
“My first term on council has been a great learning experience, especially during this past year. I’ve been really humbled by all of the hard work that I see people pour into our borough each day, from volunteers to borough staff to our residents,” she said. “I hope to have the opportunity to continue my work as a member of council for a second term because I care deeply about our community and residents. I’d also like to find new ways to engage our community with its government and really tap into all of the diverse resources we have in the borough.” McAuliffe added that two top challenges in front of Hopewell Borough are growth and pedestrian safety. “One challenge I see would be smart growth in our town. I think we need to continue the conversation around affordable housing and our tax base, helping to ensure Hopewell is an inclusive community,” she said. “We also need to prioritize pedestrian safety. Hopewell is a walkable, mixed-use community and we have so many varied uses of our
roads and sidewalks. I’d continue to advocate for traffic studies on our streets, as well as education for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.” Stuhler has lived in Hopewell Borough since 2002 with her family. She raised her son Sam in Hopewell who attended local Hopewell schools. For her career, Stuhler has worked for Merrill Lynch and Bank of America for 22 years as a vice president in technology and operations. She has also volunteered and been on a number of boards in the borough. They included the Hopewell Harvest Fair, Hopewell Block Party, Hopewell Valley Education Foundation, and Borough Recreation Committee. Additionally, Stuhler co-hosted over 25 events in 2016 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the borough during and chaired the Disability Awareness Professional Network at Merrill Lynch for more than 10 years. Currently, Stuhler also serves as the Borough Council liaison
See PRIMARY, Page 2A
Hopewell Township candidates run uncontested in Democratic and Republican primaries on June 8 BY ANDREW HARRISON
Staff Writer
When Hopewell Township residents vote in the the upcoming Democratic and Republican primaries, they will have two candidates running unopposed for an open seat on the Township Committee. The June 8 Democratic and Republican primaries each feature a candidate running unopposed. Mayor Julie Blake, who is seeking re-election, is on the ballot for the Democratic primary
and Edward Jackowski is pursuing his first term on the Township Committee as candidate in the Republican primary. Blake is chasing a third term in her re-election bid. She was first elected to the Township Committee in 2015. Currently, Blake serves as mayor and has also previously served two years as as deputy mayor during her time on the Township Committee. Additionally, Blake is chair of the Hopewell Township Board of Health, Municipal Public Safety liaison, and township liaison to
the Historic Preservation Commission. She has also served on the Hopewell Township Planning Board and as a township liaison to the Recreation Committee. Blake has spent over 25 years in public education as a teacher and a school counselor. She has been married for 28 years to David Blake, professor of English at The College of New Jersey. Jackowski has lived in Hopewell Valley for more than 20 years. He served as a U.S. Marine and then later worked in the financial services industry.
He and his wife, Anita, operate Jack’s Greenhouse and Farm. They have raised two daughters who have been educated in the Hopewell Valley School District (HVRSD). There is 5-0 Democratic majority on the current Township Committee. Blake, Deputy Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning, Township Committeeman Kevin Kuchinski, Township Committeeman Michael Ruger and Township Committeewoman Kristin McLaughlin all serve on the Township Committee.
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