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Hackettstown High School Class of 1950 reunites

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Fourteen members of the class, along with guests, spent an afternoon reminiscing about their high school days.



Recently 14 members of the Hackettstown High School Class of 1950 met for a luncheon at Mattar 's Bistro in Allamuchy Township, to celebrate their 65th-year class reunion.


Attending the luncheon were Shirley Parks Hendershot, Robert Stiff, Frank Mincevicks, Paul Leuser, Ruth Leuser (not a member of the class of 1950), Joseph Mabey, Anna Niewiadowicz Garlick, Marie Perine Puco, Gerhard Winkler, Ann Kroesen Wilkinson, Mary Stecko Fellows, Betty Burd Rush, Noel Tomas, Matthew Pinkman and Dorothy Wayland Regan.




Town-by-town Warren County general election results 2015

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The chart shows complete but unofficial results in communities that have contested races.

Polls closed in New Jersey at 8 p.m. This chart will show complete but unofficial election results in Warren County as reported by the county clerk's office.

Uncontested races are not included. Please be sure to refresh. The chart will be updated throughout the night as all precincts in each community are reported.

STATE ASSEMBLY (23RD DISTRICT)

Live updates on 23rd District

Vote for two
John DiMaio, R
Erik Petersen, R
Maria Rodriguez, D
Marybeth Maciag, D

STATE ASSEMBLY (24TH DISTRICT)

Live updates on 24th District

Vote for two
Parker Space, R
Gail Phoebus, R
Michael F. Grace, D
Jacqueline Stapel, D
Kenneth Collins, G

WARREN COUNTY FREEHOLDER
One, three-year term
Edward J. Smith, R
Ethel Conry, D

ALPHA
Mayor

One, four-year term
Craig Dunwell, R  242
Millard Rooks, D  180

Council
Two, three-year terms
Lou Cartabona, R  211
John Preiss, R  296
Kathleen Ronan, D  229

BELVIDERE TOWN COUNCIL
Two, three-year terms
Louis Miller 321
Desmond Fitzgerald 276
Richard M. Bocchino 233

BLAIRSTOWN TWP. COMMITTEE
Two, three-year terms
Paul Avery, R  703
Cynthia Dalton, R  680
John Hovell, D  274

One, one-year unexpired term
Joann VanValkenberg, R  445
Tom Palmieri, D  255
Richard Mach, I  274

FRANKLIN TWP. COMMITTEE
Two, three-year terms
Michael Toretta, R  246
Joseph "Joe" E. Flynn, R  210
Mike Ferri, D  133

HACKETTSTOWN COUNCIL
Two, three-year terms
William Conforti, R
Scott Sheldon, R
Mary Ann Moore, D
Anthony Olivo, D
James Lambo, I

LOPATCONG TWP. COUNCIL
Two, three-year terms
Louis Belcaro, R
Joseph B. Pryor, R
Juniper Leifer, D
Eric T. Johnson, I

PHILLIPSBURG
Mayor
One, four-year term
Harry L. Wyant Jr., R
Stephen R. Ellis, D

Council
Two, four-year terms
John A. Lynn, R
Robert W. Fulper, R
Mark Lutz, D
Joshua Davis, D
Daniel Z. Seyler, I

POHATCONG TWP. COUNCIL
One, three-year term
Stephen Babinsky  245
Ingrid Gray  190
Dean McBride  96

WHITE TWP. COMMITTEE
One, three-year term
Holly Mackey, R  438
Joseph Venesky, I  124

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

Elections 2015: New Republican elected to Assembly's 24th District

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Republican incumbent Parker Space won re-election Tuesday, and running mater Gail Phoebus was elected to replace retiring Republican incumbent Alison Littell McHose, according to the Associated Press

TRENTON -- Republicans are keeping control of north Jersey's 24th District in the state Assembly -- with a new face set to fill one of the seats.

Republican incumbent Parker Space won re-election Tuesday, and running-mate Gail Phoebus was elected to replace Republican Alison Littell McHose, according to the Associated Press.

They beat Democrats Michael F. Grace and Jacqueline Stapel.

MORE: Full N.J. Assembly election results

McHose did not run for re-election and resigned her seat on Oct. 16 to take a job as administrator of Franklin Borough.

Space was elected to his second full term. Phoebus is a Sussex County freeholder.

The heavily Republican district represents parts of Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties.

MORE: Complete election results from across N.J. 

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

New Republican elected to N.J. Assembly's 24th District

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Republican incumbent Parker Space won re-election Tuesday, and running mater Gail Phoebus was elected to replace retiring Republican incumbent Alison Littell McHose, according to the Associated Press



TRENTON -- Republicans are keeping control of north Jersey's 24th District in the state Assembly -- with a new face set to fill one of the seats.


Republican incumbent Parker Space won re-election Tuesday, and running-mate Gail Phoebus was elected to replace Republican Alison Littell McHose, according to the Associated Press.


They beat Democrats Michael F. Grace and Jacqueline Stapel.


MORE: Full N.J. Assembly election results


McHose did not run for re-election and resigned her seat on Oct. 16 to take a job as administrator of Franklin Borough.


Space was elected to his second full term. Phoebus is a Sussex County freeholder.


The heavily Republican district represents parts of Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties in the New Jersey Legislature.


MORE: Complete election results from across N.J. 


Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.



Phillipsburg mayor upset: Stephen Ellis unseats Harry Wyant Jr.

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Phillipsburg voters on Tuesday went with Democratic challenger Stephen R. Ellis over fourth-term Republican incumbent Mayor Harry Wyant Jr.



Phillipsburg voters elected a new mayor Tuesday, for the first time this century.


Stephen EllisDemocrat Stephen Ellis declared victory Nov. 3, 2015, over incumbent Phillipsburg Mayor Harry Wyant Jr., a Republican seeking a fifth four-year term. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) 

Incumbent Republican Mayor Harry Wyant Jr., bidding for a fifth four-year term, conceded defeat to Democratic challenger and first-time candidate Stephen R. Ellis.


"I am humbled, I am extremely humbled to know that the voters and the citizens of Phillipsburg have put their faith in me to carry and move the town forward," Ellis said about 10:20 p.m.


"I can only compare this to when I met my wife and the birth of my children," he continued.


Wyant said he called Ellis to congratulate Ellis on his victory.


"I wished him well and I'm hoping that he continues with the project that I started with here at Commerce Park, the former Ingersoll Rand property, and to reduce taxes and create jobs," Wyant said.


Unofficial results from Warren County showed 1,414 votes for Ellis and 972 for Wyant.


Ellis described Wyant as very gracious and respectful in his call Tuesday night.








Wyant was first elected mayor in 1999, following more than eight years on town council and service on the town planning and zoning boards dating to the early 1980s.


Ellis has worked for the New Jersey Park Service for 35 years, and is acting regional superintendent for the service's North Region. Born and raised in town, the Stateliner lives near his alma mater with his wife, Becky, a science teacher at Phillipsburg High School, and their two children.


Tuesday's town council race made it a clean sweep for Democrats on Tuesday, unofficial county results showed. 


Residents also filled two four-year terms on town council, but unofficial results from Warren County were incomplete as of about 10:30 p.m.


RELATED: Town-by-town Warren County general election results 2015


Phillipsburg Town Council membersMark Lutz, left, and Joshua Davis. (Courtesy photos | For lehighvalleylive.com) 

Democrats Mark Lutz, a Phillipsburg school bus driver and electrician, and Joshua Davis, who works in the pharmaceutical industry, were the top vote-getters, unseating Republican council President John A. Lynn and overcoming fellow Republican and newcomer Robert W. Fulper and independent candidate Daniel Z. Seyler.


RELATED: Meet the candidates for Phillipsburg Town Council


The county results showed Lutz with 1,174 votes, Davis with 1,143, Fulper with 1,090, Lynn with 909 and Seyler with 95.


Swearing-in is Jan. 1.


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


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Ed Smith re-elected to Warren County freeholder board

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Two vied for one seat on the three-member board.



Warren County Freeholder Director Ed Smith cruised to re-election on Tuesday.


Ed SmithEd Smith won re-election for a seat on the Warren County freeholder board. (Courtesy photo)

The 62-year-old Franklin Township resident defeated Democrat challenger and Washington Borough Council member Ethel Conry for the seat on the three-member freeholder board.


Smith won by nearly a 2-1 margin, besting Conry 7,842 votes to 4,237, according to unofficial results.


RELATED: Town-by-town election results in Warren County


Leading up to the election, Smith touted the $15.6 million sale of Warren Haven, the county-owned nursing home, among his accomplishments. He promised continuing improvements to the county courthouse, stabilized tax rates and improved business climate in Warren.


Conry, 60, campaigned on decades of community and church service, and said she wanted to see more youth programs and mass transit in the county.


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


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Belcaro, Pryor win in tight Lopatcong Twp. council race

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All four candidates were separated by less than 150 votes.



Lopatcong Township's incumbent councilman and his running mate edged out a win in an election that saw all four candidates separated by less than 150 votes.


Joseph Pryor, 67, and Lou Belcaro, 55, took the two three-year terms on the township council with 800 and 777 votes respectively, according to unofficial results Tuesday night.


RELATED: Town-by-town election results in Warren County


Bipartisan running mates Juniper Leifer, 38, and Eric Johnson, 45, tallied 696 and 667, according to the results.


Belcaro was the only incumbent in the race and ran with Pryor, a fellow Republican.


MORE: Meet the candidates for Lopatcong Township Council


In their campaign, both promoted the development of Commerce Park -- which includes the former Ingersoll Rand property -- as well as infrastructure and planning, as well as civility during often-contentious council meetings.


Leifer and Johnson also emphasized planning and decorum. Both also said they would resist business or industrial influences.


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


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DiMaio, Peterson re-elected to N.J. Assembly

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Four ran for two seats in the 23rd District, representing parts of Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

Assemblymen John DiMaio and Erik Peterson handily won re-election Tuesday in New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District.

The Republican running mates defeated the Democratic ticket of Maria Rodriguez, of Bridgewater, and Marybeth Maciag, of Hackettstown, for the district's two Assembly seats.

With 95 percent of precincts reporting at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, DiMaio led the district with 17,096 votes with Peterson close by at 16,528, according to unofficial results. Rodriguez and Maciag had garnered 9,678 and 9,381, respectively.

MORE: Town-by-town election results in Warren County

The 23rd District includes parts of WarrenHunterdon and Somerset counties.

DiMaio, of Hackettstown, and Peterson, of Franklin Township in Hunterdon, both have served in the Assembly since 2009.

Republicans also retained the 24th District, which includes the northern half of Warren County.

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

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Complete 2015 election results, links for Lehigh Valley, Warren County

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NORWESCAP career center helps women return to work

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Serving women in Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset and Warren counties, NORWESCAP will host an open house on Monday, Nov. 30, at its Career & Life Transitions Center locations in Flemington and Washington Borough.

HUNTERDON COUNTY -- Serving women in Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset and Warren counties, NORWESCAP will host an open house on Monday, Nov. 30, at its Career & Life Transitions Center locations in Flemington and Washington Borough in Warren County.

The center, which is funded by the state through the Department of Children and Families' Displaced Homemakers Program, offers career education, job search assistance, financial assistance, self development workshops, legal assistance and counseling to anyone who has lost their primary means of financial support because of separation, divorce, widowhood or disability of a spouse qualifies for support services.

They can also assist with women who have experienced the deployment of a spouse, have experienced domestic violence, are emotionally separated and preparing to leave the home, or those who are over the age of 40 and may be experiencing age discrimination.

MORE: NORWESCAP buries time capsule for 50th anniversary

Providing women with the supportive services and skill-building programs needed for to dive back into the workforce, the staff works to foster confidence and help women gain personal and economic self-sufficiency. 

"In experiencing divorce or the death of a loved one and then finding yourself with no income coming into the home, put domestic violence on top of that or children, and it complicates matters even worse," said Regional Director of Family Support Services Jessica Hoffman. "These women need a place to go that will support them, empower them, make them feel strong and capable, and that's really our job here."

The Flemington and Washington Borough locations each serve approximately 90 women and offer a 50-hour computer training program covering the basics of Microsoft office, an empowerment program, a job club, career counseling, case management and legal workshops.

Additionally, the Washington Borough location has a career closet open to residents of Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset and Warren counties that collects and distributes work attire like dresses, suits, shoes, handbags and scarves for the center's clients in order to provide a confidence boost for women going on interviews or entering new careers.

RELATED: N.J. mayor dyes hair purple for Domestic Violence Awareness 

Noting that it can be scary and emotionally overwhelming to get help, Hoffman said that anyone can attend the open house at either location to meet community outreach representatives and ask questions about the program. The Flemington open house is from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Nov. 30.

"This would be a wonderful opportunity for anyone in Hunterdon County to stop by and talk directly to us," Hoffman said. "And the beautiful thing about being a NORWESCAP program is that we're connected to the rest of the community and other programs like childcare and the pantry."

The Career and Life Transitions Center for Women serving Warren County is located at 16 Broad St., Suite 7, in Washington and the Hunterdon, Somerset and Mercer center is located at 84 Park Ave., Suite E-103 in Flemington. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Also celebrating its 50th anniversary, Northwest New Jersey Community Action Partnership was incorporated by a group of concerned citizens from Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren County in 1965 and has since expanded to Morris, Somerset and Passaic counties serving more than 35,000 individuals.

Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook

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How many voters voted in Tuesday's off-year election?

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Hunterdon County comes close to a quarter of the registered voters casting a ballot in the 2015 general election.



A 100-year-old in Washington Township, Northampton County, made it to the polls on Tuesday.


But how many of the rest of us did our constitutionally guaranteed duty during Tuesday's off-year election?


RELATED: Poll: What was the biggest surprise in Tuesday's election?


In Northampton County, 21.08 percent of the 195,861 registered voters cast ballots -- 40,431 in person and 850 by absentee, according to unofficial county figures.


RELATED: Complete 2015 election results, links for Lehigh Valley, Warren County


It was a little worse in Warren County, with only 18.74 percent of the 72,300 registered voters actually voting, unofficial county figures show. Of that group, 12,372 voted in person, while 1,212 send in absentee ballots.


In Hunterdon County, 24.31 percent of the 90,547 voters cast ballots, unofficial county figures show. Of those, 20,030 voted in person and 1,979 by mail.


Lehigh County won't have an official turnout total for a couple of weeks, the election board said by email, but the current "guestimate" is 22 percent.


Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.



Most power restored in Hackettstown after crash, cops say

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Fewer than 250 JCP&L customers were initially in the dark after the crash on Route 182, police said.



Power was knocked out Wednesday afternoon in Hackettstown after a truck struck a utility pole on Route 182, town police report via nixle.com.


The traffic light was out at Route 46 and Route 182, police said. JCP&L was contacted, police said.


The outage was affecting fewer than 250 customers and restoration was expected by 2:30 p.m., the utility company's outage site said.


At 1:10 p.m., police said much of the town's power was restored.


MORE: Crash cuts power for 6,000-plus in Allentown area


After the crash, the pole fell on the QuickChek convenience store on Mountain Avenue, police said. No injuries were reported.


Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.


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Phillipsburg School Board leadership ousted on Election Day

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The board president and vice president were defeated in the race for three seats.



The voter wave that knocked municipal incumbents out of office in Phillipsburg also extended to the town's school board.


One sitting member, Bernard Brotzman, was re-elected on a night that saw the board president and vice president ousted in the race for three seats.


RELATED: Town-by-town election results in Warren County


Matthew Scerbo and Alan Amey were the top vote-getters on Tuesday, tallying 1,099 and 1,070 votes each, according to unofficial results. Brotzman was third with 965.


Board President Kevin DeGerolamo and Vice President James Hanisak missed re-election, garnering 907 and 827 votes, respectively.


A fifth candidate, Saverio Samarelli, got 648 votes.


MORE: Phillipsburg mayor unseated in upset


Election Day also saw change on the town council.


Mayor Harry Wyant Jr., a Republican, lost his bid for a fifth term to Democrat Stephen Ellis.


Council President John Lynn and running mate Robert Fulper, both Republicans, were also defeated as Democrats Mark Lutz and Joshua Davis took the two open council seats.


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


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Driver taken to hospital after Interstate 78 rollover accident

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A driver swerving to avoid traffic Wednesday afternoon on I-78 West in Warren County went up an incline and rolled her car, New Jersey State Police said.



A driver swerving to avoid traffic Wednesday on Interstate 78 in Warren County drove up an incline and rolled her car, New Jersey State Police at Perryville said.


The crash was reported at 3:13 p.m. just east of Exit 3 on I-78 West in Pohatcong Township.


As other vehicles slowed for normal, afternoon traffic, the driver drove up a drainage channel under a bridge before the vehicle rolled over, ending up on its wheels, police said.


MORE: Bus driver to be cited after he was caught on cam texting and driving


Alone in the car, the driver was taken via ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, police said. The woman, who lives in New Jersey, was wearing a seat belt, according to police.


Police did not immediately release her name as the investigation continued.


Authorities briefly closed the right-most lane of the highway while the vehicle was removed, police said.


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



Sweet video of Easton-area seniors blows up the Internet

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The short documentary, titled "Junk Mail," was shot in the Easton area over three days in the summer.




Junk Mail from Voyager on Vimeo.


A short documentary shot at an Easton-area senior center has become an Internet sensation, capturing more than 4 million page views in two weeks and spotlighting the plight of older adults.


The 10-minute film features Mary Tony, a 98-year-old Easton widow who takes a shuttle bus each weekday to the Easton Area Lifestyle Campus in Forks Township.


The 21-year-old filmmaker, Charles Frank, said he's a partner in the video production company that shot the documentary over three days in August at the senior center off Sullivan Trail and at Tony's Easton rowhome.


The response has been overwhelming, he said.


"I was blown away by how open and vulnerable and loving Mary was so quickly," Frank said. "Within three days I felt like she was my grandma. She was so willing to let people into her life and her home and be open.


"She's just incredible in that she's 98 years old and so wanting to live a full life in any way she can. And that's just inspiring for sure."


The film is titled "Junk Mail." In the picture, Tony describes how she rips her junk mail in strips and cuts it up to pass the time while at home.


"I have to do something," she tells the filmmakers. "Otherwise, go nuts."


MORE: Easton-area senior center celebrates with 'prom'


The film captures Tony's solitude but also celebrates the camaraderie of seniors who play shuffleboard, perform skits and frequent the senior center, which moved to Forks from Downtown early this year.


Frank said the film has ignited a discussion about the millions of older adults living alone in the U.S. Filmmakers stumbled upon the story while making another film about a Lafayette College student from Afghanistan who happened to volunteer there.


Frank, who grew up in western Massachusetts but is based now in New York City, said his expectations for its viewership were low.


"It's a long video. It's kind of slow," he said. "But we were so blown away that there was something universal about Mary and what was being said in it.


"The topic of the elderly is not something that's largely talked about. It's kind of a forgotten conversation and a forgotten topic. I think we accidentally tapped into a great conversation that people needed to talk about in a way that went viral and we never expected."


Tony's sweetness shines through as she interacts with the filmmakers and Debbie Mertz, who runs the senior campus in Forks.


"I can't wait until morning comes so I can go to it," she says in the film. "I like it down there. You meet friends, you talk to them."


The production company, Voyager Creative, launched the documentary on the platform Vimeo, where it became a top pick. Since then it's been picked up by the Huffington Post, MSNBC and celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher.


Mertz said Tony had no children but has loving nieces who tend to her needs. But her story is not altogether different from so many of her peers who look for companionship and purpose later in life, Mertz said.


"She is bringing to the forefront what is happening to so many seniors, and it's letting people know these senior centers are out there," Mertz said.


Frank said he's been flooded with requests from around the globe from folks who want to write Tony letters or send her packages. He's collecting them at his studio and plans to deliver them later this month, he said.


Mertz said she's been floored by the attention the film has garnered and the light it has shed on the value of senior centers.


"Charles kept saying you don't understand what you have here," she said. "He told me what we have is really special. Now I'm convinced: It is."


The lifestyle campus is organizing a red-carpet premiere of the film, staging it as an event for seniors, later in November.


"You don't know how it feels that you can make such a difference in somebody's life," Mertz said. "It's exciting."


Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.


 



Girls soccer rankings for Nov. 4, 2015

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Notre Dame, which beat Northwestern in double overtime in the District 11 Class AA semifinals, really shot up the rankings.



Upsets in the District 11 playoffs have caused some big changes to the the girls soccer rankings.


Notre Dame, which beat Northwestern in double overtime in the District 11 Class AA semifinals, really shoots up the rankings.


Also, a new team enters the top 10.


Click through the gallery at the top of this post to see where the teams stand now.


RELATED: Notre Dame's Katie Hohl is Girls Soccer Player of Week


Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.



Lopatcong clerk led 'campaign of retaliation,' lawsuit claims

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A harassment investigation over the summer is part of a pattern of intimidation, a lawsuit from the former tax assessor says.



A harassment investigation over the summer was one piece in a pattern of intimidation and retaliation in Lopatcong Township, according to a former employee's lawsuit.


Kathy Degan claims she left her position as the township's tax assessor in October after 10 years due to a hostile work environment fostered by the township's clerk and another official and allegedly condoned by some on the township council.


RELATED: 'Nasty' political feud causing dysfunction, investigator finds


Lopatcong Township Clerk Beth DiltsLopatcong Township Clerk/Administrator Beth Dilts (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

The lawsuit, filed late last month, cites a number of run-ins over the last five years with township Clerk and Administrator Beth Dilts and Kathryn Devos, a member of the township's rent-leveling board and reportedly a friend of Dilts'.


Dilts, Devos and the township are named as defendants in the lawsuit, which seeks financial damages.


Degan's attorney, Leonard Artigliere, also cited another goal: "That her name be publicly vindicated."


"Kathy Degan is one of the most professional people that you could ever deal with, and they attempted to defame her personally and professionally," Artigliere said. "She stayed so long (in her job) because of her love of the township in which she lives. She did not run to court."


Attorneys for Dilts and the township could not be reached for comment. Devos said she couldn't talk about the lawsuit because she has not seen it.


Investigations, or lack thereof


The lawsuit's allegations of harassment date back to 2010, when Dilts reportedly complained that Degan gave preferential treatment to family on property assessments.


Degan said Dilts broke into her office and stole files related to the assessments, according to a police report submitted with the lawsuit. The township allegedly took no action against Dilts.


Degan claims the township didn't follow up on her complaints of harassment over the years, and that Devos and Dilts began a "campaign of retaliation" against her.


The most recent of the allegations claims Dilts falsely accused Degan and another township employee of making sexually inappropriate comments about her. The complaint was investigated last summer by an outside attorney.


According to that investigation, Dilts claimed that Degan and others joked that Dilts and Devos were lesbians. However, it found no evidence of wrongdoing by Degan -- the township did follow through on a recommendation to discipline Mayor Tom McKay for unrelated comments.


The lawsuit says the report, based on a confidential personnel complaint, was leaked to the media and that the township didn't follow up on Degan's complaint about its release. Degan and Devos were not named in previous lehighvalleylive.com reports on the investigation.


RELATED: Lopatcong hires special tax assessor amid resident's complaints


Earlier in this year, Devos publicly accused Degan of granting senior and veteran tax deductions to unqualified people, among other allegations.


An investigator hired by the township found no evidence of misconduct, saying that "the deductions were in perfect order," according to a letter used as an exhibit with the lawsuit.


Other allegations


Degan's filing claims Devos began harassing her in 2010 when Devos wanted her property's tax assessment reduced, spurring a series of alleged events over the ensuing five years.


Devos allegedly stalked Degan and her elderly mother, driving slowly up and down the street. In a separate incident, Devos followed Degan home after arguing with her about a friend's tax assessment, the lawsuit says.


In May, Devos filed a report with police that Degan had assaulted her in the municipal building. The two apparently brushed against each other in a doorway, according to a police report included with the lawsuit. No charges were filed.


MORE: How a harassment investigation further politicized Lopatcong


The lawsuit does not name any current or former town council members as defendants, but it does claim the majority of the board -- Council President Lori Ciesla, Councilwoman Maureen McCabe and the recently re-elected Councilman Lou Belcaro -- is supportive of Dilts.


Council members including McCabe and Belcaro should have recused themselves from personnel discussions involving Degan due to various conflicts of interest, the lawsuit says. It also criticized the township for investigating tax appeals itself rather than sending them to the county level as required.


"It got to the point that they were making one cheap shot after another," Artigliere said, "to the point where it became clear the harassment and intimidation would never end."


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


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Garbage truck struck pole that fell onto store, cops say

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No one is hurt in the Hackettstown incident that knocks out power.



A garbage truck backed into a utility pole early Wednesday afternoon at 150 Route 182 in Hackettstown, toppling the pole onto a convenience store and knocking out power for a short time in that part of town, police report.


Thomas Digney, 54, of Independence Township, was driving the Global Waste Industries truck, town police said. He will receive a careless driving citation, police said.


The pole landed on the roof of the QuickChek at 146 Route 182, police said. No one was hurt.


RELATED: Most power restored in Hackettstown after crash, cops say


Power was out longer at the store and nearby businesses because the pole had to be replaced by JCP&L, police said.


Police were assisted by the town fire department, town department of public works, JCP&L and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.


Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.


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Phillipsburg High School Class of 1947 holds reunion

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Nineteen members of the Phillipsburg High School Class of 1947 got together recently at Flynns on the Hill.

The Phillipsburg High School Class of 1947 marked its 68-year reunion at Flynn's on the Hill in Phillipsburg. Nineteen class members and 8 guests attended.

Class members included: Edward and Grace Piazza Ajhar, Janice Amy Becker, Rita Taviani Arnold, Lena Ferretti Boulous, Joyce Wood Frinzi, Anthony Giordano, Lucille Pursel Gill, William Gradwell, Mary Marcus Hagaman, Mary Stewart Hamlin, Albert Longarini, Edythe Poff Mulligan, David Pritchard, Thomas Pursel, Harold Shive Sue Gilluly Stewart, Jean Mengucci Stocker and Dorothy VanEmburg Swauger.

MORE: Phillipsburg High School Class of 1953 holds reunion

Thanksgiving 2015: 18 N.J. farms that sell fresh turkeys

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Jersey-fresh and ready for your holiday table

Prefer a farm-to-table turkey to a supermarket bird this Thanksgiving?

To make your holiday Jersey-fresh, here's a list of New Jersey farms that sell turkeys raised locally or nearby. The farms are taking orders now, so if you're planning on buying a local bird this year, it's best to act soon. Here's a selection of farms to get you started.

Farms that are sold out of turkeys for the season are not listed here. If you know of another N.J. farm that raises fresh turkeys, please tell us in the comments below.

  • Abma's Farm in Wyckoff has "fresh killed" turkeys for $3.19 a pound, from as small as 8 to 10 pounds to as big as 35-plus pounds. The farm is at 700 Lawlins Road; call 201-891-0278 or visit abmasfarm.com

RELATED: The case for the cranberry, New Jersey's native Thanksgiving fruit

  • Churutabis Farm in Frankford Township sells fresh turkeys that range from 15 to 30 pounds. The farm is at 53 Hyatt Road in Branchville; pickup is the Sunday before Thanksgiving at 50 Hyatt Road. Call 973-271-2979, visit churutabis.com or email 

    hannelie@churutabis.com

nj-turkey-farms.jpgJohn DeGroot checks a turkey at Ashley Farms in Flanders in 1995. (Star-Ledger file photo)
 
  • DiPaola Turkey Farm in Hamilton has free-range turkeys and turkey products. The farm store is at 883 Edinburg Road in Hamilton. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Call 609-587-9311 or visit dipaolaturkeyfarm.com
  • Double Brook Farm in Hopewell has Narragansett, Black Spanish, Bourbon Red, Broad-Breasted Whites and Bronzes and Blue Slate free-range turkeys. Double Brook's Brick Farm Market is at 65 E. Broad St. in Hopewell. Fresh turkeys are $6.50 per pound, ranging from 8 pounds to 28-plus pounds. A $20 deposit is required and turkeys will be available for pickup Nov. 23 through 25. Call 609-466-3594 or 609-466-6500 or visit brickfarmmarket.com 
  • Flatbrook Farm in Sandyston sells fresh turkeys that are raised on a pasture and fed "transitional organic feed" for six months. "Towards the end of the life cycle our birds are mature, strong, and fully expressing their individuality," staff say on the farm website, which lists the turkeys at $7 per pound, with a $20 deposit required for Thanksgiving. Flatbrook Farm is at 3 Degroat Road in Branchville; closed except for during pickup times. Call 973-948-2554 or email flatbrookfarm@flatbrookfarm.com to place an order and ask about pickup schedule; visit flatbrookfarm.com 
new-jersey-turkey-farms-thanksgiving.jpgRed Bourbon and Standard Bronze heritage turkeys that Griggstown Farm in 2009. (Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger)
 
  • Goffle Road Poultry Farm in Wyckoff, which raises turkeys in "open turkey porches," has birds ranging from 10 pounds to 26-plus pounds. The farm is at 549 Goffle Road. Call 201-444-3238 or visit gofflepoultry.com
  • Griggstown Farm in Princeton has fresh, free-range plain or brined turkeys available for pickup at various locations including Princeton, Bernardsville and Flemington. The farm store is at 484 Bunker Hill Road. Call 908-359-5218 or visit griggstownfarm.com 
  • Lee Turkey Farm in East Windsor has fresh turkeys from October through Jan. 2 and raises about 5,000 turkeys a year; advance orders required for Thanksgiving. The farm is at 201 Hickory Corner Road. Call 609-448-0629 or visit leeturkeyfarm.com
turkey-farms-nj-thanksgiving.jpgTurkeys at Goffle Road Poultry Farm in Wyckoff in 2005. (Star-Ledger file photo).
 
  • Lima Family Farms in Hillsborough has pastured turkeys available for pre-order at $5.25 per pound -- ranging from 12 to 24-plus pounds -- at its farm store and various farm markets. The Lima farm store, open 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, is at 826 Amwell Road. Deposits are $40; cash or check only. Pickup is the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Call 908-336-8238 or visit limafamilyfarms.com
  • Mallery's Grazin' Meats in Skillman has fresh, grass-fed organic turkeys at $10 per pound; $50 deposit required. The farm store is at 382 Georgetown Franklin Turnpike (Route 518). Call 609-309-5451 or visit mallerysgrazinmeats.com
  • Spring Valley Turkey Farm in Old Bridge raises its turkeys in a pen ("cage-free environment"). They range from 25 to 35 pounds, which means they top out at a processed weight of 18 to 30 pounds. The farm is at 402 Spring Valley Road in Old Bridge. Call 732-970-5265 or visit springvalleynj.com
  • Totten Family Farm in Long Valley has heritage-breed pastured turkeys. They can be reserved with a $50 deposit. The farm is at 442 Naughright Road. Call 908-850-0555 or visit tottenfamilyfarm.com
  • Vacchiano Farms in Washington Township, Warren County, has free-range turkeys. Farm staff visit the Montclair Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday at the Walnut Street train station; they are at the Summit Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday at the corner of Deforest Avenue and Maple Street. Call 908-310-5625 for more information or visit vacchianofarm.com

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup. Find NJ.com Entertainment on Facebook.

 

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