MERCER HOSPITAL MOVE TO LAWRENCEVILLE CLEARS A HURDLE
Capital Health System’s proposal to move its Mercer Hospital from Trenton to Lawrenceville was endorsed by the State Health Planning Board in a split decision. The plan is to build a 320-bed replacement hospital on 32 acres on Princess Road, Lawrence.

Dr. Fred M. Jacobs, State Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, has 120 days to make a final ruling on whether to grant or deny a certificate of need for the new hospital. Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer and a number of Lawrence elected officials oppose moving Mercer Hospital from Trenton.

ATLANTIC COUNTY ALLIANCE TO MEET THIS FRIDAY
The Atlantic County Alliance for Action will meet on Friday, August 11, to hear presentations on the county’s infrastructure and construction. Registration, networking, and a continental breakfast begin at 8:15 a.m., with the program to follow at 9 a.m.

Addressing the meeting will be Richard S. Dovey, President of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority who will spotlight the vast range of ACUA activities; followed by Dennis Hart, Executive Director of the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust covering the many and varying funding opportunities available for environmental improvements; and wrapping up the morning program will be William C. Sproule, Senior Council Representative, Carpenters Local 623 who will dazzle the meeting with a run-down of Atlantic County construction projects, either underway or contemplating an early start.
To register for this event, go Here.

E.E. CRUZ WINS CONTRACT FOR WORLD TRADE CENTER 9/11MEMORIAL
E.E. Cruz, a Holmdel company, has been awarded the first significant contract for the World Trade Center 9/11 Memorial by the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Cruz will start this month on a $17 million project to construct footings and foundations for the memorial to those killed in the terrorist attacks. Cruz is a member of the Alliance for Action.

“FRIENDS OF THE TUNNEL” MOVING AHEAD
The New Jersey Alliance for Action will be the lead organization in New Jersey for a bi-state coalition to mobilize public education and support for the long-awaited trans-Hudson rail tunnel. The request for the Alliance to spearhead a broadly based organization known as “Friends of the Tunnel” came from Chairman Anthony Coscia of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and New Jersey Transit Executive Director George Warrington.

Alliance President Philip K. Beachem said the tunnel project, estimated at $7.2 billion, is rapidly gaining momentum. The Port Authority pledged $2 billion in tunnel funding; NJ Transit authorized a contract for $82.5 million for preliminary engineering; and the Federal Transit Administration announced it will approve the preliminary engineering funding. The project has enjoyed strong media support, with the Asbury Park Press recently editorializing: “The rail tunnel is good news for the region’s economic growth, for current and future commuters, and for non-commuters who would reap the health benefits of fewer cars polluting the air.”
For organizations interested in joining “Friends of the Tunnel”, please contact the Alliance at (732) 225-1180.

JERSEY SHORE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER BEGINS MAJOR EXPANSION
Jersey Shore University Medical Center broke ground for a $290 million expansion featuring a new 213,000 square-feet, five-story Northwest Pavilion.

The Pavilion will house a new emergency department and trauma center, a dedicated pediatric emergency room, specialized areas for advanced diagnostic imaging of emergency patients and upper floors with 36 new hospital beds with room for additional expansion.

EDISON WANTS MORE CONTROL OVER REDEVELOPMENT OF FORD SITE
The Edison Township Council has authorized the Planning Board to study whether the former Ford assembly plant on Route 1 can be designated an area in need of redevelopment. The Ford site is the largest redevelopment area in Edison and is the centerpiece of the township’s plans to revitalize its portion of the Route 1 corridor.

Mayor Jun Choi said the redevelopment designation would strengthen Edison’s control and flexibility over use of the area by Hartz Mountain, the Secaucus-based developer that acquired the land from Ford in April 2005. Choi said Hartz has every right to develop its property, but the designation would give the township “more leverage.”

PLAINSBORO TO MOVE AHEAD ON OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN
Plainsboro wants to use $1.5 million from Middlesex County to acquire the final two parcels of land to complete its open space master plan.

Mayor Peter Cantu said the money from the county’s open space trust would enable the township to begin negotiations for development rights. One parcel is an 84-acre farm on Cranbury Neck Road and the other is a 2.3 acre site adjacent to the Meadows Golf Course. Cantu emphasized that more than 50 percent of the 12-square-mile township is preserved as open space.

PROPOSAL MADE TO PRIVATIZE SOME FORT MONMOUTH TECHNICAL JOBS
An ambitious proposal is under consideration to privatize at least part of Fort Monmouth’s 5,000-member work force before the Army closes the communications research center by 2011.

The workers have expertise in everything from satellites to lasers to wireless data transfer. They would form a private company that would continue working for the Army while Fort Monmouth’s mission is transferred to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland over the next five to ten years. After that, they would compete for other military and homeland defense contracts.

Robert Giordano, former research chief at Fort Monmouth who is pushing the proposal, says: “We want to take advantage of the intellectual capital that exists at Fort Monmouth and avoid having New Jersey lose more technology jobs.”

BILL INTRODUCED TO KEEP OCEAN CLEAN
A bill with bipartisan co-sponsorship has been introduced in Congress with the aim of preserving the progress that has been made to keep New Jersey’s beaches clean. The New Jersey/New York Clean Ocean Zone Act is co-sponsored by Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr., (D-6th District) and Jim Saxton (R-3rd District).

The bill would permanently ban construction of new dumpsites, extracting of national resources, building of new pipelines and other damaging uses within the NJ/NY Bight. The Bight is a 19,000 square-mile area wedged between the coasts of New Jersey and New York.

PERTH AMBOY SEEKS BIDS FOR $15 MILLION PROJECT
Perth Amboy is seeking bids for construction of the $15 million Route 440/High Street connector road project expected to begin this fall. Five years in the planning and funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the project is a new four-line road of more than a half-mile extending High Street north to connect with Route 440 at new signalized access ramps on State Street.

The bid package of plans and specifications may be obtained from Schoor DePalma Project Manager Patrice Malleus, 200 State Highway 9, Manalapan, NJ, 07726-0900, or by calling (732) 577-9000. Bids must be submitted by September 12.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Joseph T. Walsh has been named President of J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc., Contractors. Walsh will oversee and run operations for the company. Walsh’s appointment became effective August 2.

W. Dennis Keck, P.E., P.P., has joined Edwards and Kelcey as Vice President, Director of Highway Planning. A veteran of 34 years with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, he was Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Development.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
MAYOR BOOKER DRAWS RECORD ALLIANCE COUNTY CHAPTER ATTENDANCE
Newark Mayor Cory Booker attracted a diverse audience of nearly 200 to a meeting of the Essex County Alliance for Action to hear his message of hope and optimism for the city.

Alliance Senior Vice President Clifford Heath reported that it was the largest attendance at a meeting held by any of the Alliance’s 13 county chapters.

Speaking on his 28th day in office, Booker said the biggest challenge to Newark “are the divisions that exist between us.” Asserting that Newark “is on the cutting edge of America,” the mayor called it a time for collective action. He listed his priorities as security by fighting crime, a comprehensive vision and plan for economic growth and the need to create a climate to nurture family life and children.

Executive Director Marge Della Vecchia, NJ Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, spoke in place of Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin, who was called to Trenton for Governor Corzine’s address to the opening of the special Legislative session on property tax reform.

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