Lawrence Residents Among New CERT Program Graduates

Lawrence Township residents Kip Burnett and Raymond Sanfilippo Jr. were among the 19 people to graduate on Tuesday, April 14, from the 2012 Community Emergency Response Team training program at Mercer County’s in Lawrence Township.

Each year, the County trains new volunteer CERT members through an intensive program designed to teach communication skills as well as proficiency with emergency management and rescue equipment.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments, and thanked them for their commitment to emergency public safety efforts in Mercer County. 

“Your participation in the CERT program makes all the difference for county residents in need of assistance during an emergency,” Hughes said.  “The support provided by CERT professionals allows this County to carry out highly sophisticated remediation efforts in a variety of emergency situations.”

With the new  graduates, the number of CERT members across the county, including the municipal CERTs, totals more than 300.

CERT was developed and started by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. CERT members in Mercer County receive nine classroom training sessions followed by a final day of practical training at the Fire School. Tuition and supplies are provided through the State and County Homeland Security Grant programs.  

In years past, CERT members have assisted Mercer County Emergency Management personnel and law enforcement officers with operations such as flood remediation and search/rescue missions. Mercer County offers the course through a partnership with Mercer County Community College and Mercer County Office of Emergency Management.

Graduates are:
Sara Braverman, Princeton
Kip Burnett, Lawrence
Nick Fondoules, Hamilton
Charles Formanek, Hamilton
Audrey Garnier, Hamilton
Celeste Giancola, Hamilton
Shirley Hicks, Ewing
Amna Hijab, Ewing
Edward Livingston, Hamilton
Osborn Livingston, Trenton
Tracy Livingston, Trenton
Paul Miller, Mercerville
Janet Morris, Ewing
Joseph Morris, Ewing
Linda Pica-Carucci, Bordentown
Robert Reinhardt Jr., Hamilton
Raymond Sanfilippo Jr., Lawrence
Shirley Solarski, Bordentown
Gerald Solarski Sr., Bordentown