At least one insect was found and the school is to be inspected.

Any bedbugs at Phillipsburg High School are about to be expelled.

At least one of the small, blood-sucking pests was found at the school, and the district is responding by inspecting the building and treating any affected areas, according to Superintendent George Chando.

"The district is expeditiously investigating it," he said Thursday.

Bedbugs are generally regarded as a nuisance, and their bites can leave large itchy welts. (AP file photo)

A letter to parents said the district "recently found a bedbug," but Chando said the actual number won't be known until the inspection is complete.

"Finding a bedbug does not mean that our school buildings are infested," the letter said. "Bedbugs are often unknowingly brought into the school by building occupants and as a result we may have future sightings."

Bedbugs are generally regarded as a nuisance and are not known to spread disease, according to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Their bites, which usually occur at night when people are sleeping, can leave large, itchy welts and sometimes spur an allergic reaction.

Affected areas of the high school will be treated with a low-impact pesticide, according to the letter. The district is not legally required to notify parents of the treatment, it said, but "the district feels that it is important to keep you informed of the steps taken at the school."

Chando said he did not know in what rooms any bedbugs were found.

Parent Rubi Buskirk said she first found out about the situation in a text from her daughter, a high school sophomore.

"I think they should not hold school tomorrow until this situation is resolved," Buskirk said Thursday. "These kids can bring these bugs home."

The superintendent said classes were not affected Thursday, and that the school will continue with its normal schedule Friday.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex cross country championship -- Rapid Recap Voorhees put all seven of its runners in the top 20 individual finishers, led by Chris Romero and Rob Whitney in third and fourth respectively, and held off Hunterdon Central 36-53 to win its...

Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex cross country championship -- Rapid Recap

Voorhees put all seven of its runners in the top 20 individual finishers, led by Chris Romero and Rob Whitney in third and fourth respectively, and held off Hunterdon Central 36-53 to win its third consecutive H/W/S team title at the Phillipsburg Athletic Complex Thursday afternoon.

Turning point: Hunterdon Central was pushing the Vikings hard, but Voorhees’ fourth and fifth runners, junior Evan Minor and sophomore Joey Capone, finished ahead of Red Devil runners near them to clinch the first spot.

Top performer: High Point senior Joe Dragon won the race and the H/W/S MVP award with it in 15 minutes and 44 seconds, a course record by 15 seconds (Wallkill Valley’s Craig Conti ran 15:59 at H/W/S last season).

What it means: Likely the first of many post-season races Voorhees will win this season, but it could be a lively rematch with Hunterdon Central at next week’s Skyland Conference meet. Good team performances by North Hunterdon, Warren Hills and Phillipsburg showed they are peaking for the postseason as well.

Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The ICU and an infusion center are part of a $40 million renovation.

Michael Perrucci said he wanted to thank the hospital that cared for his parents in their final days.

So it was something of a personal moment Thursday when St. Luke's Hospital in Phillipsburg dedicated its new intensive care unit in the name of his parents, John and Angelina Perrucci.

Perrucci and his extended family, along with hospital staff and elected officials, gathered in the ICU to celebrate the new facility and the adjoining infusion center.

The additions total about 20,000 square feet and cost about $10 million to build -- part of a $40 million renovation renovation project for the Phillipsburg campus and outpatient sites.

A donation of an undisclosed sum from Perrucci helped get it done. Scott R. Wolfe, the campus president, called it "probably one of the largest contributions in the history of Warren Hospital." Perrucci would only say he provided "a couple bucks."

"The hospital is a tremendous asset to the community," said Perrucci, an attorney whose law firm and real estate company are major forces in the Lehigh Valley. He was raised in Phillipsburg, not far from the hospital.

"You grow up here, and it never quite leaves you," he said.

The new ICU and infusion center are designed to be "a better environment for our patients," Wolfe said. The current ICU was built in the 1970s, he said.

Both are two-to-three-times larger than the facilities that will be replaced at the hospital, allowing better accommodations not just for patients, but for staff and equipment as well, Wolfe said.

The infusion center benefited from $150,000 raised by the St. Luke's Warren Auxiliary, a volunteer group dedicated to supporting the hospital.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The Blue Streaks, who were hoping for a top-10 finish, wound up an impressive fourth.

Warren Hills’ boys cross country team pulled a trick on itself Thursday at the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex championships at the Phillipsburg Athletic Complex.

“We didn’t feel really good as a team at the finish line,” Blue Streaks’ senior Ethan Wimmer said. “We would have been happy just finishing in the top 10 as a team. We surprised ourselves.”

And it was a big surprise, too.

Warren Hills didn’t just finish in the top 10. They did better.

In fact the Blue Streaks did better than top-5, finishing fourth as a team with 135 points, behind Voorhees (36), Hunterdon Central (53) and North Hunterdon (126), led by Wimmer’s 11th place finish in 16 minutes and 55 seconds.

Blue Streak coach Ken Kurpat couldn’t have been more pleased.

“I think the kids are really peaking at the right time,” he said. “We took it easier on them in practice this week and it really paid off today.”

Wimmer, who said he was trying to stay with Matt Vira of Voorhees (sixth in 16:44) but said he may have taken the first mile out too fast, pointed to two teams in particular as targets for the Blue Streaks

“We want to hunt Phillipsburg and Wallkill Valley,” he said. “We’re coming for them. All of our hard work is starting to show.”

When Wimmer and the team were told they’d defeated both of those teams (Wallkill Valley finished fifth, Phillipsburg sixth) there was general rejoicing among the Blue Streaks, especially about beating the Stateliners, their historic rival.

“We know we’re not in the orbit of Voorhees, Hunterdon Central, teams like that, yet,” Kurpat said. “Teams like Phillipsburg, Wallkill Valley, we’re judging ourselves against. We’re going right in the direction where we want to be.”

And after watching Warren Hills run Thursday, that’s no surprise.

Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett raised more than $8 of every $10 in political action committee money from banking, real estate, insurance and investment interests.

WASHINGTON -- If U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett faced a backlash from his comments earlier this year about not supporting gay candidates, it didn't come from the financial industry.

Political action committees representing banks, insurers, investors and other industries regulated by the House Financial Services Committee accounted for more than $8 of every $10 in PAC money Garrett raised during the last three months, Federal Election Commission filings show.

Garrett (R-5th Dist.) raised $63,500 in PAC money from July 1 to Sept. 30, with $52,000, or 82 percent, coming from the financial industry. Overall, he took in $179,486 during the three-month period, bringing his 2015 total to $574,164.

That trailed his expected Democratic opponent, former White House speechwriter Josh Gottheimer, who brought in more than $1 million, including $400,232 in the last three months. 

RELATED: Garrett challenger raises more than $1M

But Garrett had more than twice as much money at Gottheimer in the bank as of Sept. 30, $2.3 million to $934,192.

Even as an executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co. hosted an event in Washington in support of Gottheimer, Garrett brought in $10,000 from the PAC of Capital Group Companies, a Los Angeles-based investment firm, and $2,500 from the American Bankers Association PAC.

Garrett shared his largesse with local Republicans, giving $5,500 to the Bergen County Republican Party and $1,500 to the re-election campaign of state Assemblyman Robert Auth (R-Bergen).

Garrett came under criticism in July following published reports that he told fellow Financial Services Committee Republicans that he was not supporting the House Republicans' fundraising arm because it backed gay candidates. Garrett also is a co-sponsor of legislation that would allow groups and individuals to deny service to gay couples on the basis of their religious beliefs.

High-ranking House GOP members, including subcommittee chairs, are expected to make contributions to the fundraising committee that supports Republican congressional candidates.

Two publications that track congressional races changed their ratings on Garrett's chances for re-election, making him the most vulnerable New Jersey incumbent, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added him to their target list.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Winter weather forecasts issued Thursday show the Lehigh Valley region trending toward slightly warmer and drier than normal for 2015-16.

Winter outlooks issued Thursday show the Lehigh Valley region trending toward slightly warmer and drier than normal for 2015-16.

"Essentially because of the very strong el Nino that's going on in the Pacific Ocean, we are expecting winter to have temperatures certainly not as harsh and and as cold as we've been experiencing in the previous winters," said Christina Speciale, a staff meteorologist at Hackettstown-based WeatherWorks.

"In terms of snowfall, we are expecting it to be near normal or slightly below normal snowfall," she continued later.

Will the strongest #ElNino in nearly 20 years affect your winter climate? Find out @ http://t.co/JhJUILrRCF. https://t.co/fgmqnKgTV5

-- NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) October 15, 2015

Average snowfall for a winter at Lehigh Valley International Airport is a little more than 30 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Last winter brought the area 50.1 inches, good for sixth place in records dating to 1979. The 2013-14 winter saw 66.8 inches, in fourth place behind 71.8 in 1995-96 and identical snowfall totals of 75.2 inches in 2009-10 and 1993-94.

The caveat in WeatherWorks' winter outlook is the possibility of a very significant snowstorm coming up the Eastern seaboard in February, judging from Arctic oscillation forecasts, said Speciale.

Before you know it, winter will be here. What can we expect? Read more here: http://t.co/jK0DRRQ41r pic.twitter.com/zGf24ljuBa

-- WeatherWorks (@WeatherWorks) October 15, 2015

Along with WeatherWorks, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its seasonal outlook Thursday. That one also points to warmer and drier than normal conditions in the Lehigh Valley region, with the South -- from California across to Florida -- seeing wetter and cooler conditions, said Patrick O'Hara, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

RELATED: Where are your favorite spots to see fall foliage?

Looking at the shorter term, however, temperatures are about to bottom out around freezing as early as Saturday night into Sunday in and around the Lehigh Valley.

Winter is right around the corner! Minimum temperatures projected by the GFS for early Sunday morning are below.... http://t.co/0lP1yTAqgD

-- EPAWx Authority (@epawawx) October 15, 2015

"It's going to seem like it got cold all at once," O'Hara said from the weather service's Philadelphia region forecast office in Mount Holly, New Jersey. "It's going to feel like a slap."

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

 

North Warren on the verge, the next Voorhees standout, and more.

Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex girls cross country championship

North Warren getting close. The Patriot girls finished seventh as a team with 194 points with all six teams ahead of them being considerably larger than the Group 1 Patriots. “Seventh for us as a school is a good finish,” said first-year Patriot coach Jessica Loughlin. “Since we’re in the NJAC (Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference) we don’t get a chance to run against big schools like Hunterdon Central and North Hunterdon. But it’s good for us to get the chance to do so, and I think the girls on the edge of breaking out as a team. We had a sophomore, Nicole Ohannesian, finish 12th today (in 20:21) and I really think she’s going to shine at our league meet Tuesday (at Greystone Park in Morris County).” The Patriots are shooting for their fourth straight North 1 Group 1 section title and may well be on track for it.

One to watch. Looks like Voorhees has another in the Vikings’ long, long line of gifted cross country athletes. Freshman Lauren Wagner, whose performances have impressed all season, took third in 19:26 and ran a steady race on a rugged course. She looks ready to compete in the postseason at a very high level.

Phillipsburg’s pack effective. The Stateliners finished sixth with 134 points, which may have been a tad disappointing for the well-supported P’burg girls and their numerous fans. However, the Stateliners did the best of any team that lacked a top-15 finisher, and their top five finished in a spread of 73 seconds from senior Lexee Willey in 19th in 20:54 to sophomore Bella Beviss in 37th in 22:07, which isn’t bad. Delaware Valley (105 points Thursday) and Voorhees (115) could be catchable at the Skyland meet if the Stateliners pick it up a notch.

A great meet. Everyone at the Phillipsburg Athletic Complex from officials to fans to athletes to parents talked about what a well-run operation the meet was from start to finish. Kudos to everyone at P’burg who made the H/W/S such a success.

Try the chili. Loved the white-bean chicken chili. Don't miss it next year. Hat tip to Stateliner coach Joe Grady for the suggestion!

Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

All you need to know.

Voorhees used its depth, experience and talent to capture the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex boys cross country team championship Thursday afternoon at the Phillipsburg Athletic Complex.

The Vikings topped Hunterdon Central 36-53 for the title.

High Point senior Joe Dragon won the individual title in a course-record time of 15 minutes and 44 seconds.

Follow the links below for complete coverage of the meet.

Rule Voorhees: boys run to third straight H/W/S cross country crown – Rapid Recap

Voorhees boys show off depth en route to H/W/S cross country championship

Warren Hills boys surprise themselves at H/W/S cross country 

Jake Hardin, Phillipsburg move on from Easton to success at H/W/S cross country

Complete box score 

Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

Hunterdon County split the hardware up after Thursday’s Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex girls cross country championships at the Phillipsburg Athletic Complex. Delaware Valley senior Hannah Bonaguidi won the individual honors in 18 minutes and 40 seconds. North Hunterdon, meanwhile, held off Hunterdon Central for...

Hunterdon County split the hardware up after Thursday’s Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex girls cross country championships at the Phillipsburg Athletic Complex.

Delaware Valley senior Hannah Bonaguidi won the individual honors in 18 minutes and 40 seconds.

North Hunterdon, meanwhile, held off Hunterdon Central for the team trophy.

Follow the links below for complete coverage of the meet.

Delaware Valley's Hannah Bonaguidi rules the roost at H/W/S girls cross country – Rapid Recap

Delaware Valley's Hannah Bonaguidi never stops working for gold

North Hunterdon girls take care of unfinished business at H/W/S cross country

5 takeaways from H/W/S girls cross country

Complete box score 

Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

When is trick-or-treat in your community? Check out our list to see.

Halloween is approaching and households all over the Lehigh Valley are stocking up on candy and goodies for trick-or-treaters.

Check out our list of trick-or-treat times in communities to be sure you don't miss the big event.

Northampton County

Allen Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Bangor: 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25

Bath: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Bethlehem: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Bethlehem Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Bushkill Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Chapman: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30

East Allen: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

East Bangor: 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25.

Easton: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

RELATED: Where to find Halloween parades in the Lehigh Valley

Freemansburg: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Forks Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Hanover Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Hellertown: 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Lehigh Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Lower Mt. Bethel Township: 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 31

Lower Nazareth Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Lower Saucon Township: 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Moore Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Nazareth: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Northampton: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

North Catasauqua: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Palmer Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Pen Argyl: 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25

Plainfield Township: 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25

Portland: 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31

Roseto: 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25

Stockertown: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Tatamy: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Upper Mt. Bethel Township: 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31. Halloween party, 1 to 3 p.m. at the Mount Bethel Volunteer Fire Co., on Route 611.

Upper Nazareth Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Walnutport: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28

Washington Township: 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25

West Easton: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31

Williams Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Wilson Borough: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31

Wind Gap: 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25

Lehigh County

Allentown: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Allentown: America on Wheels, 5 N. Front St., is hosting trunk or treating 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 26. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students 13 and 16 and free for children 12 and younger. Reserve a spot at 610-432-4200, ext. 14.

Alburtis: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Catasauqua: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30. Rain date Oct. 31

Coopersburg: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Coplay: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Fountain Hill: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Hanover Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Heildelberg Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Lehigh Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Lower Macungie Township: 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31

Lower Milford Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Lowhill Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Lynn Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Macungie: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

North Whitehall Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Salisbury Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Slatington: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28

South Whitehall Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Upper Macungie Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Upper Saucon Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30. Rain date Oct. 31

Whitehall Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30

Weisenburg Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Warren County

Alpha: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Belvidere: 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 

Greenwich Township: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 

Hackettstown: 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31, Halloween Downtown with Trick or Treat at The Gazebo, Main and Moore streets.

Harmony Township: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31

Liberty Township: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31

Lopatcong Township: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31

Mansfield Township: 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Oxford: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31

Phillipsburg: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31

Pohatcong Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Washington Borough: 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31

Washington Township: 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31

Other communities

Lehighton: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28

Riegelsville: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

Quakertown: 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31

At the malls

Lehigh Valley Mall: 11 a.m.-noon Oct. 24

Palmer Park Mall: 3 p.m. Oct. 25

South Mall: 3 p.m. Oct. 24

The Outlets at Sands: 11 a.m.-noon Oct. 31.

Phillipsburg Mall: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31

Email KJ at kjfrantz@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow lehighvalleylive.com on Twitter at @lehighvalley. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

 

NJ Advance Media staff's Photos of the Week for Oct. 9-15, 2015, on NJ.com. Watch video

Professional sports in and around New Jersey had some big moments this past week. The Mets will continue their postseason after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. In football, after a rough start to the season, the Philadelphia Eagles won their first home game this season with a convincing 39-17 win over the Saints, and the New York Giants defeated the 49ers, 30-27, with seconds left in the game. Hockey season is just beginning, and NJ Advance Media Multimedia Specialist introduced the Devils' Zamboni ice man, while the Flyers earned two home-ice wins and honored retiree Kimmo Timonen.

Photographer Lori M. Nichols captured images from The Race of Gentlemen, which celebrated America's history of hot rodding. Vintage cars and motorcycles took to the beach in Wildwood to race each other along the water's edge in this weekend-long event.

RELATED: NJ.com Photos of the Week: Oct. 2-8

In news, a South Jersey town was rocked when a 3-year-old boy was reported missing early Tuesday morning, and found dead three hours later a half-mile from his home. The community gathered in Haddon Township that evening to hold a vigil for Brendan Creato.

A statue to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was unveiled in Newark Wednesday, and photojournalist Ed Murray was there to document it, 51 years to the day after the civil rights leader was awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

More than 150,000 fans flocked to New York City to attend New York Comic Con 2015, and photographer Aristide Economopoulos spent three days documenting the four-day event. After shooting well over a thousand frames, a few of his favorite photos can be found in the gallery above.

Check back next Friday for more of our top photos. Let us know which ones are your favorite in the comment section below.

Lori M. Nichols may be reached at lnichols@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @photoglori. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Elected officials and the developer say they are confident local bickering won't get in the way of the massive project.

As Lopatcong Township deals with a bickering council, officials there say they can still buckle down when it comes to major issues like the redevelopment of Commerce Park.

The nearly 400-acre property straddling the border between Lopatcong and Phillipsburg -- which includes the former Ingersoll Rand property -- has a developer interested in building more than 4 million square feet of warehouse space in seven buildings by 2021.

The developer, Opus Investments, is working with both municipalities, various property-owning entities and state agencies to make it happen, with the goal of beginning work next year.

But Lopatcong is working with a divided council that recently censured Mayor Tom McKay over an investigation into harassment allegations. The investigation report also called the township politically dysfunctional.

RELATED: How a harassment investigation further politicized Lopatcong

But elected officials and the developer say they are confident local politics won't get in the way of the massive project. Here's what they said:

Mayor McKay: "We are on track and up to date with the Commerce Park redevelopment, recently named the redeveloper and have deposited their deposit to cover related professional fees. The developer is negotiating property acquisition with (Ingersoll Rand) and wants to construct a 1 million-square-foot super warehouse on the site as well as a new park for the residents during phase one of development."

Lopatcong Council President Lori Ciesla: "Business can get done. ... It's taking way longer than it should. ... The council majority will make sure Commerce Park and other business gets done."

Opus Investments principal Erin Murphy: "We are confident that this project is important enough to the mayor and council that they will set their differences aside to give it the attention it requires. They are also represented by a quality group of professionals (including their attorneys, engineers and planners) who will also make sure this process moves forward with all due diligence."

Phillipsburg Mayor Harry Wyant Jr.: "I think that (Lopatcong Council members) realize the impact for their area and for the entire area. They have to see the huge benefit for the entire area. I don't think that politics is going to get in the way of the project. At least I hope not. Everybody over there has to see the value of this project."

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Take NJ.com's weekly news quiz

Think you've got a perfect score in store for this week's NJ.com News Quiz? Unless you know a little something about rap, landlord-tenant disputes and New Jersey's paranormal activity, this probably isn't your week. Truth be told, you might be satisfied with four maybe five correct answers this week. However the quiz below turns out for you, share your score in comments. As you know, this is a no-judgement zone ... unless you do really, really badly.

 

SmartAsset, a New York financial technology company, recently released a study uncovering the counties across America with the lowest per capita debt or lowest debt on average, per person.

How bleak is your debt picture?

If you live in Hudson or Mercer counties, there's a chance that you may have less debt than if you lived elsewhere in New Jersey.

SmartAsset, a New York financial technology company, recently released a study uncovering the counties across America with the lowest per capita debt or lowest debt on average, per person. They studied debt-to-income ratio across three categories: credit cards, auto, and mortgage.

Relying on information from the Federal Reserve of New York and the U.S. Census bureau, the counties were analyzed by the amount of debt residents held across those categories. The debt was then compared to local income.

In New Jersey, Hudson County residents have, on average, the lowest debt-to-income ratio in the state. Mercer County is second.

Residents in Hudson County earn an average income of $32,641, carry a credit card debt of $3,210 a year, giving them a credit card debt-to-income ratio of 9.8 percent.

Hudson County residents each carry, on average, an auto debt of $2,055 and a mortgage debt of $35,404, which is 108.5 percent of their annual income.

In Mercer County, the average resident's income is $37,465, they carry a credit card debt equal to about 9 percent of their income and an auto debt of 7.5 percent. The average mortgage debt carried each year is $46,028.

Further down the New Jersey list are:

• Morris County, where residents have an average income of $48,814 a year and carry $4,310 a year in credit card debt, $70,152 in mortgage debt and $3,620 in auto debt;
• Somerset County, where residents have an average income of $47,803 a year and carry $4,210 per year in credit card debt, $72,094 in mortgage debt and $3,495 a year in auto debt.
• Atlantic County, where residents have an average annual income of $27,391, carry an annual credit card debt of $3,140, an annual mortgage debt of $38,044 and an auto debt of $2,749.

Among the least desirable places for debt in New Jersey are Ocean, Sussex and Passaic counties, where residents carry a credit card debt of $3,360 to $4,460 a year and carry an average mortgage debt of $43,043 to $53,706 a year.

Passaic County ranked the lowest overall debt-to-income rank in New Jersey, with the average resident's income at $27,152 a year and an auto debt-to-income ratio of 10.5 percent and a mortgage debt of $43,043 a year.

Nationwide, Connecticut was the state with the highest per capita income at $36,209, and New Jersey was second at $35,504.

"What this shows is the diversity of the people who live within the arbitrary lines that make up our counties," said Marc Pfeiffer, assistant director of the Bloustein Local Government Research Center at Rutgers University.

Pfeiffer said Hudson County residents probably fared better in the study because many of them are renters who have no mortgage to pay and no auto debt because they use mass transit.

"Also, you have a phenomenal mix of incomes in Hudson County," he said.

Densely populated Passaic County may have more residents deeper in debt because of lower income overall, the need to own a car and purchase a home, he said.

"When you own homes and have to have a car, it's going to drive up your debt," he said.

 

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg is looking for applicants for its next class cycle.

Centenary College launched a new Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science starting this fall.  The new BS degree at Centenary College will provide the necessary background required for entry-level jobs in the Forensic Sciences.

Centenary College, in Hackettstown. (File photo)

It will also provide excellent credentials for entrance into health professional schools and for graduate work in a variety of scientific and technological (STEM-related) fields.

Information: 908-852-1400, ext. 2407.

Centenary hosts writing seminar 

The second featured guest for the Creative Writing Series at Centenary College for the fall semester is Pamela Erens, author of the novels "Eleven Hours," "The Virgins" and "The Understory."

The Reading and Writing Workshop will be held 6 p.m. Nov. 11, in the Front Parlors of the Edward W. Seay Administration Building.

Information: 908-852-1400, ext. 2385 phillipse01@centenarycollege.edu.

NSA designation renewed at East Stroudsburg

The East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania computer security degree program has been notified by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of the renewal of its designation as an NSA Center of Academic Excellence. ESU is one of only five institutions in the Commonwealth to hold this esteemed accreditation.

Youth corps seeks applications for next class cycle

New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg is accepting applications for its next class cycle, scheduled to begin on Monday Nov. 30. New Jersey Youth Corps is a voluntary 12-week program designed for young adults ages 16-25 that did not complete high school. The goal is to improve the academic skills of young adults in order to help them obtain a GED

Information: njycphillipsburg.com or 877-270-7266 for additional information.

Kevin Stahl is planning to build a memorial to honor veterans at the municipal fields at Harmony Township.

Kevin Stahl, a Life Scout in Belvidere Troop 141, is currently working on his Eagle Scout project, which involves building a memorial at the municipal fields in

Kevin Stahl is working on his Eagle Scout project. (Special to lehighvalleylive.com) 

Harmony Township to honor both the living and deceased veterans of his township. He is hoping to complete the project in the spring of 2016.

Kevin is currently seeking donations to cover the cost of the memorial stone and the landscaping around the memorial.

Kevin is a sophomore at Belvidere High School and a member of the boys varsity soccer team.

If you are interested in contributing to his Eagle Project, checks can be made payable to "Boy Scout Troop 141" c/o Kevin Stahl 19 Merrill Creek Road Washington, NJ 07882 or you may contact him at stahleagle@yahoo.com.

Southbound traffic on Roseberry Street toward Route 22 is being detoured.

Traffic on Roseberry Street near the Route 22 intersection in Phillipsburg is being detoured after a phone cable was struck Friday afternoon.

Town police posted a notice of the detour on Facebook, saying it was for "emergency repairs."

Initially, the southbound lanes on Roseberry were closed from Elder Avenue to Route 22. As of 4:30 p.m., that section of Roseberry was closed in both directions.

Mayor Harry Wyant Jr. said crews working on the Roseberry-Route 22 intersection struck "a pretty big cable" that was not marked. The detour was set up so the phone cable, which Wyant said was owned by Verizon, could be repaired.

RELATED: Work begins on Route 22 intersection

It was not clear if any Verizon customers were out of service or how long traffic would be diverted, though Wyant said it may continue into Saturday.

A Verizon spokesperson did not immediately return a call for comment.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

 

Cold-sensitive plants will be killed if left outside Sunday or Monday mornings.

It's about to get cold.

The National Weather Service has issued a pair of freeze watches for the region, including Lehigh, Northampton, Warren and Hunterdon counties.

The first watch is Saturday night into Sunday, the second is Sunday night into Monday.

RELATED: Winter outlook looks good, but first 'a slap'

The temperature is expected to drop near 30 degrees early Sunday, and could reach down into the mid to upper 20s on Monday, according to the weather service.

The cold will kill any sensitive plants or vegetables left outside, the service said.

We have issued a Freeze watch Sat & Sun nights (blue shading). Frost possible elsewhere. #njwx #pawx #dewx #mdwx pic.twitter.com/MxTToGUse2

-- NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) October 16, 2015

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

 

Get results from all of the football games across the area.

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Denise Marie Nagrodski, 52, tried to hire a hit man to kill her daughter's ex-boyfriend and two others.

Denise Marie Nagrodski's vengeance "knew no bounds."

Denise Marie Nagrodski, 52, of Forks Township, was sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey state prison for arranging with an undercover detective to kill her daughter's ex-boyfriend and two others, state authorities said. (Courtesy of N.J. Attorney General's Office)

The 52-year-old Forks Township woman was sentenced Friday to 10 years in New Jersey state prison for initiating a murder-for-hire plot intended to kill three people, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

She pleaded guilty June 25 to first-degree attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Nagrodski was arrested in November after trying to hire a hit man -- who was actually an undercover New Jersey State Police detective -- to kill her daughter's ex-boyfriend, as well as the boyfriend's sister and the sister's boyfriend in Somerset County.

State police were tipped off to Nagrodski's intentions by the New York City Police Department Intelligence Division, the attorney general's office said. She met with the undercover detective Nov. 21 at the Phillipsburg Mall in Lopatcong Township.

She paid the detective $500 and told him she wanted the ex-boyfriend burned alive, the release said. She said the man had abused her daughter and caused her to miscarry twins.

The boyfriend's sister and her boyfriend were to each be shot twice in the forehead, "one for each twin," according to the attorney general. Because she couldn't provide a gun, she settled on having the hit man "bash in" their heads and set the house on fire, the release said.

MORE: Woman arrested in murder-for-hire plot

Nagrodski was arrested Nov. 24 after leaving a second meeting with the detective at the mall in which she provided photos of the intended victims, drew him a map to the house where she believed all of the victims lived, and paid him another $500, the attorney general said.

"If Nagrodski had succeeded in her gruesome plot, three people would have been murdered in horrific fashion," said Acting New Jersey Attorney General John J. Hoffman. "This investigation didn't just serve justice - it saved lives."

Elie Honig, director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, said, "Nagrodski's vengeance knew no bounds," but that her "her violent impulses will be bounded by prison bars for many years to come."

Nagrodski was sentenced Friday by Judge Robert Reed in New Jersey Superior Court in Belvidere. She must serve eight and a half years before she is eligible for parole, the attorney general said.

Pennsylvania State Police assisted in Nagrodski's arrest, the release said.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.