See the
Real Estate Section
Starting on pg 19 COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
JUNE 28, 2019 FREE
Pageant queen
Homicide in Hunters Glen
Out on the town
West Windsor resident is New Jersey Miss Amazing winner
Few details released on killing of 26-yearold Plainsboro woman
By MADeleine MACCAR
By Bill sAnseRVinO
Julia Simko says she already has her life plan mapped out— but it’s going to have to take a back seat until after this summer. Simko, a resident of West Windsor, was recently crowned state queen in the Senior Miss division (ages 28-35) at this year’s New Jersey Miss Amazing pageant, and now she’s hoping to take her place among the dozens of other contestants who earned a chance to vie for the national title in Chicago this August. Simko is working to raise enough money so she can compete in the pageant. New Jersey Miss Amazing is the Garden State’s chapter of the national Miss Amazing pageant, which celebrates girls and women with disabilities (Simko is autistic), while encouraging them to find a community and empowerment through inclusion, representation, and accessibility. Currently a liberal arts major at Mercer County Community College, Simko, 28, is hoping to attend Juniata College to major in peace and conflict studies and also earn a psychology degree at the University of Pennsylvania. She would also like a political See AMAZING, Page 6
Authorities are continuing to investigate the murder of a 26-year-old Plainsboro woman and are now working with federal law enforcement to solve the crime. The body of Carolyn Byington was discovered inside her Hunters Glen apartment by police at 6 p.m. on June 10, according to a statement by Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey and Plainsboro Police Chief Fred Tavener. Officers had been dispatched to Byington’s apartment following a request by her coworkers to conduct a wellness check. They became concerned after she left for her lunch break and never returned. She worked as a senior associate in project management at Engine, a marketing and advertising company in Carnegie Center in West Windsor. Her death was ruled to be a homicide later that evening following an autopsy by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities have not released further details of the crime, including the manner of Byington’s death. Andrea Bolton, spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, said on June 25 that authorities See HOMICIDE, Page 8
bsanservino@communitynews.org
Armaan Oberoi (left), Kavya Tummalapalli, Maddy Vivona and Rhea Bhakhri are pictured before the High School South senior prom at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal in Plainsboro on June 14, 2019. More photos on Page 12. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
Tavener officially named chief By Bill sAnseRVinO AnD siDDHARtH MuCCHAl After working for several months to hammer out the details, Plainsboro Township finally has a contract with its top law enforcement officer. Fred Tavener, who has been operating under the title “acting chief” since he was appointed earlier this year, was officially named chief of the Plainsboro Police Department by
the Township Committee this month. Tavener replaces former Chief Guy Armour, who retired in February. Sources say the holdup over Tavener’s official appointment revolved around the resolution of terms of employment, including salary. Tavener declined to be interviewed for this article, according to township administrator Anthony Cancro.
“The chief believes there has been enough coverage on his appointment and respectfully declines a story,” said Cancro in an email to The News. Tavener joined the Plainsboro police in 1997 when he was hired as a patrol officer. In 2001, he was assigned to the traffic division where he became involved in various traffic improvement initiatives. Tavener was promoted to See CHIEF, Page 10
SEE WHAT JOAN’S UP TO!
1179 NEWARK, NJ
Joan Eisenberg
SEE OUR AD ON PG 11
Office:609-951-8600 Cell: 609-306-1999 Owner/ Sales Associate
See Ad On Page 21