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DECEMBER 2025 FREE
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HVRSD’s Quinn retires as director of facilities
Bulldogs’ cross country enjoys another fine season
by Lisa WOLFF
by riCh Fisher
After a decade of dedicated service, Tom Quinn, director of facilities for the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, retired on Dec 1. Quinn, who joined the district in August 2015, leaves behind a record of strong leadership, foresight, and commitment to improving both the efficiency and environment of Hopewell Valley’s schools. Throughout his tenure, Quinn was known for his tireless work ethic. He approached every challenge with a practical and forward-thinking mindset that balanced fiscal responsibility with a genuine care for students and staff. He often said he felt a fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers and took that stewardship seriously, believing it was his duty to “take care of stuff and maintain it.” Known for his collaborative spirit and his willingness to support new ideas, Tom always tried to say “yes” to any reasonable request that could See QUINN, Page 12
The Hopewell Valley Central High cross country programs are so solid that it’s almost easy to take them for granted. Even in a season that might not be considered up to par by Bulldogs standards, each team did some impressive things with young lineups. The girls won the Colonial Valley Division meet and took third in the CVC meet. They were fourth in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III meet and advanced to the state meet, where they finished seventh after taking third and reaching the Meet of Champions as a wild card team last year (the top two finishers automatically qualify). The girls had an individual MOC entry in junior Sydney Young, who finished third in CJ III and fourth in Group III to make the championship meet for the second straight year (the top 10 individuals in each group qualify for MOC). Young finished 22nd at the Meet of Champions with a Holmdel Park PR of 18:55, which puts her third on the school record board. “She ran really well at the Meet of Champs,” coach Karen Walker said. The boys took second in the CVC Valley meet and fi fth in the CVC meet. They were third in CJ III for the third straight year and took sixth in states. See XC, Page 14
A decade of dedication
Ed and Anita Jackowski among the Christmas trees at Jack’s Greenhouse and Farm in Hopewell Township. (Staff photo by Bill Sanservino.)
Root and branch
County has bragging rights when it comes Some Christmas to this tradition. tree traditions enjoy The first commercial Christmas tree how far would a Mercer County farm in the United States took root in Hamilton Township, where William V. McGalorigin story you go if they liard began planting Norway spruces in
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1901. Hoping to turn rocky farmland into profit, he instead helped spark a holiday custom that swept the nation. For New Jersey’s many tree farms, the He planted 25,000 spruce seedlings weeks between Thanksgiving and Christ- and 5,000 saplings from Charles Black of mas bring the crowds they work toward Hightstown. When the first trees matured all year — people who come not just to around 1907, McGalliard sold them for $1 buy a tree, but to take part in something each, long before choosing a tree became that feels like the official start of the the family-centered excursion we know Welcome to Capital Health. season. today. See TREES, Page 8 What many don’t know is that Mercer When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
by biLL sanserVinO
Jack’s
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