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Junior Cards cap historic season with championship BY RICH FISHER
With the Super Bowl fast approaching, it would be remiss not to look back on Lawrence Township’s version of an ultimate champion. And the numbers they put up this season are more impressive than whichever team emerges victorious in the Feb. 8 spectacle in Santa Clara. In fact, they are as good as any squad could ever have. The 12U team from the Lawrence Junior Cardinals Football and Cheer Program dominated their division in the regular season of this year’s West Jersey Youth Football League; and went on to win the WJYFL playoff title and finish with an 11-0 record this past fall. The Cardinals outscored their foes, 240-0. Not only did they not allow a point, but no opponent crossed Lawrence’s 30-yard line. That, folks, is complete supremacy. “I haven’t played on a better team,” said right guard/ The Lawrence Junior Cardinals Football and Cheer Program’s 12U team celebrates winning the West Jersey Youth defensive tackle/captain Dominic Pridegen, “and I think See CHAMPS, Page 8 Football League championship. The team went 11-0 and outscored opponents 240-0.
Proposed bill would offer new options for TWW towns ers weigh how — or whether — it could help address years of infrastructure failures, governance disputes, and financial strain at the troubled municipal water system. The Assembly Telecommunications could help facilitate regionalization or and Utilities Committee advanced the bill other public water options. on Jan. 5 to the Appropriations CommitThe measure would create a state- tee. The bill was sponsored by Assemcreated, pension-backed structure that blyman Wayne DeAngelo, D-Mercer. could be used, with additional approvAs of late January, the Assembly verals, to support efforts by communities sion remains pending before the Assemserved by TWW to pursue alternatives to bly Appropriations Committee and has the existing system. not yet been scheduled for a full AssemWelcome Health. The bill, known asto theCapital Citizens Fund bly vote. Act, has drawn sharp debate as lawmakThe Senate Budget and AppropriaWhen someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
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how far would Proposed legislation moving through you go ifcould they the N.J. Legislature give towns served by Trenton Water Works a new were sick? financial framework that supporters say
tions Committee on Jan. 8 advanced a companion bill, with amendments, and placed it on second reading in the Senate. The Senate version is sponsored by Sen. Linda Greenstein, D-Mercer. A floor vote has not yet been scheduled. Both bills were carried over into the new legislative session following the swearing-in of the 222nd New Jersey Legislature earlier this month, allowing them to continue moving forward without being reintroduced. The Senate measure was formally reintroduced as part of that carryover process while retaining the same underlying framework.
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Supporters of the bill say it could serve two public paths forward: creating a publicly owned regional utility that replaces Trenton-only governance, or allowing suburban municipalities to finance their own water systems or connect to other public water providers. They emphasize that the legislation does not mandate either outcome, but instead establishes a financial and legal framework that could be used as part of a broader restructuring plan if local parties agree. Either approach, they argue, would give communities an option other than See BILL, Page 6
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