Hamilton Post
MARCH 2020
HAMILTONPOST.COM
Staff rescues West student
A tragedy was avoided at Hamilton High School West when the school’s faculty and staff leapt into action to save a senior who collapsed suddenly in cardiac arrest. Since the event on Jan. 10, Liam Simonelli, 17, has been welcomed back to school by his student peers, faculty and staff. “Liam had no symptoms, he had no history, he wasn’t doing drugs, he just literally collapsed out of the blue,” said Tara Simonelli, Liam’s mother. “There was nothing to predict that. And had Hamilton High West not had the AEDs and had the properly trained people I wouldn’t be talking to you now.” Just as he did everyday for school, Simonelli attended his second period AP Art Studio course, where he sat quietly at his desk and worked on an assignment. When what felt like a fainting spell swept over him, he at first thought nothing of it. During the morning period, around 9:15 a.m., Jayme Canavera, Simonelli’s art teacher, was startled by a loud thud. A student next to Simonelli told her that Liam had fallen off his chair and wasn’t sure if he was alright. See SIMONELLI, Page 12
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Shoppes make way for warehouse Tenants clear out while developer awaits township approval
Fast response key factor in survival of senior suffering from cardiac arrest By Nicole Viviano
MERCER CAMPS GUIDE TO SUMMER
By RoB Anthes If a developer has his way, the Shoppes at Hamilton will cease to exist just shy of its 11th birthday. Metrix Real Estate Services is looking to raze the site and build a 170,000-sqaure-foot warehouse in place of the long-beleaguered shopping plaza along Route 130 North. The project is pending La’Keisha Sutton has returned home to Mercer County to open a youth club on Whitehead Road in township approval. If the plan is approved by HamHamilton that focuses on sports, media production and business. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.) ilton Township, the only remnants of the Shoppes at Hamilton will be two pad sites at the front of the property, currently occupied by Berkshire Bank and Hamilton Tap and Grill. The bank and A native of Prospect Village game, you have the longest restaurant will both continue to Basketball star in Trenton, Sutton is the CEO autograph line and you actu- operate despite the changes to La’Keisha Sutton of the Fan Favorite Club, which ally talk to the fans. They love to the development. Princeton-based Metrix Real officially opened its doors on watch you play.” makes her hoops And the Fan Favorite name Estate Services purchased Whitehead Road in Hamilton home in Hamilton the center in September 2019, in November 2019, a hub for stuck. Sutton’s decision to name her becoming the third entity to youth development with specialties in basketball, media pro- brand Fan Favorite, contrary to own the property. Metrix manBy AUstin BolanD-FerGUson what many would think, came aging partner Michael Nachamduction and business. The “Fan Favorite” name from the want to dissociate the kin said the location attracted To most, La’Keisha “Swish” him—particularly for a wareSutton is known as being part of came from the nickname that nickname with just her. “After a while, I got a little house—because it offered easy the global phenomenon known was given to Sutton during her freshman year at the University tired of Fan Favorite being my access to Interstate 195, oppoas the Harlem Globetrotters. nickname, I didn’t really want site a Fedex distribution facility And that makes sense con- of South Carolina. That season, the Gamecocks it to be about me,” Sutton saib and down Route 130 from the sidering she is one of the first women to play for the famed had lost a lot of games, and d. “It’s a mentality. When you United States Postal Service Sutton was ready to transfer think Fan Favorite, you should processing facility. basketball team. The property is zoned indusBut for those living in Mer- to Princeton University. Nikki think of leadership, confidence, cer County, Sutton is much McCray, who was an assistant commitment to excellence, not trial already, which means in more than a Globetrotter, with coach at the time, told Sutton, being afraid and most impor- theory there are few barriers for the developer to transform her impact evident across her “You can’t leave, you’re the fan tantly, being yourself.” favorite! If you look after the community. See SUTTON, Page 14 See SHOPPES, Page 16
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