All you need to know.

NJSIAA District 1 wrestling tournament

Who: Belvidere, Hackettstown, Mount Olive, North Warren, Phillipsburg, Warren Hills, West Morris Central, West Morris Mendham

Where: Warren Hills

When: All wrestling is on Saturday. Quarterfinals: 9 a.m. Semifinals: 1 p.m. Third-place consolations, 4 p.m. Finals, 5:45 p.m.

What’s at stake: Top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to Region 1 tournament next week at Wallkill Valley. A team trophy is also awarded.

Admission: Whole-tournament passes $13 adults; $8 students/seniors. Per-session, $5 adults; $3 students/seniors.

Updates: Follow @bradwsports on Twitter

Brackets: click here for link.

2015 team champion: Phillipsburg

Brad Wilson’s predictions:

106 pounds: 1. Cullen Day, Phillipsburg; 2. Dom DiGena, Mendham; 3. Quinn Melofchik, Belvidere.

113: 1. Kyle Markus, Phillipsburg; 2. Kyle Wulff, Warren Hills; 3. Ryan Lensi, Belvidere.

120: 1. Shane Metzler, West Morris Central; 2. Tom Kosar, Phillipsburg; 3. Codey O’Rourke, Warren Hills.

126: 1. Matt Valli, Warren Hills; 2. Joe Renne, Hackettstown; 3. Nick Cassidy, Belvidere.

132: 1. Brandon Paetzell, Phillipsburg; 2. Alex Carida, Hackettstown; 3. Shane Murphy, Mount Olive.

138: 1. Tyler Agans, Phillipsburg; 2. Kyle Loughney, West Morris Central; 3. Zach Nauta, Warren Hills.

145: 1. Brian Meyer, Phillipsburg; 2. Anthony Carida, Hackettstown; 3. Cameron Nauta, Warren Hills.

152: 1. Anthony Duardo, North Warren; 2. DJ Wissing, Phillipsburg; 3. Marco Gaita, West Morris Central.

160: 1. Troy Navarino, Mendham; 2. Caleb Isemann, West Morris Central; 3. Anthony Roessner, Warren Hills.

170: 1. Jarod Ostir, Warren Hills; 2. Josh Pershpalaj, Belvidere; 3. Jason Barna, Phillipsburg.

182: 1. Kyle Connelly, Hackettstown; 2. Danny Fisher, Phillipsburg; 3. Brent Bartzak, Mendham.

195: 1. Drew Horun, Phillipsburg; 2. Nick Galka, Warren Hills; 3. Alex Leontaris, North Warren.

220: 1. Robert Melise, Phillipsburg; 2. Daniel Colabella, Mount Olive; 3. Brody Oberly, Warren Hills.

285: 1. Kyle “Nacho” Nothnagel, Phillipsburg; 2, Taylan Zafis, Warren Hills; 3. Alex Kaltenhauser, West Morris Central.

Team champion: Phillipsburg

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

You've seen all of these stories on NJ.com during the past week.

Time to see how well you recall the biggest local news stories from the past week. Answer the seven multiple-choice questions below, and then tell everyone how well you did in comments.

If you have a clunker this week, don't worry: There's a fresh NJ.com news quiz every Thursday evening.

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter and find NJ.com on Facebook.

Jennifer Rowe, 46, was last seen in December near her home in Saltville, Virginia.

Family and friends of Jennifer Rowe gathered Thursday night to share memories of the former Phillipsburg woman and hope that one day they may have answers about her disappearance.

Jennifer Rowe, 46, went missing two months ago Washington County, Virginia. She has family in the Phillipsburg area. (Facebook photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Rowe, 46, was last seen Dec. 3 near her home in Saltville, Virginia, about 17 miles north of the border with Tennessee.

Authorities believe she fell into the north fork of the Holston River and for nearly two weeks searched a 19-mile stretch in the southwest corner of the state. Detective Brandon Tweed, of the Washington County, Virginia, Sheriff's Office, said this month that the search is planned to resume when the weather improves.

Thursday night's vigil was held in the Jersey Hose Fire Co. parking lot on South Main Street in Phillipsburg.

"We ask all friends and family to come and share memories of this wonderful women," the event's Facebook listing said. "We need to all pray together that one day will we all receive answers about what happen to this beautiful mother, sister and friend."

Family seeks clues about missing woman

Rowe's 27-year-old daughter, Heather Monteiro, of Phillipsburg, started the Facebook group Missing Jennifer Rowe.

"She would not just vanish," she told lehighvalleylive.com last week. "Something had to (have) happened to her and someone out there knows."

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

Lopatcong started the process to borrow $850,000, but council says it won't continue if Phillipsburg doesn't contribute.

Lopatcong Township leaders crunched numbers on a school project Thursday night, but the only way it will be finished on time, they say, is with some financial help from Phillipsburg.

An $850,000 bond measure discussed at length by the township council will finance road improvements for the new Phillipsburg High School, which is expected to open in the fall.

The clock is ticking to get the intersection at Belvidere Road and Roseberry Street ready for the first day of school. By taking the first step toward borrowing the money, Lopatcong has put the onus on Phillipsburg to come through with promised funds, township officials said.

Under an agreement reached last year between Lopatcong, Phillipsburg and the school district, each entity assumes a share of the costs for improvements. Because the school is physically in Lopatcong, the township has lead on the road project.

The agreement holds Lopatcong and Phillipsburg to each put in $100,000, the school district to contribute $150,000 and each entity assumes an equal share of the balance, less a $300,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The school has already contributed, township officials said.

The township council took the first step toward borrowing the $850,000 -- an amount that can be reduced as needed, officials said -- over the early objections of Mayor Tom McKay, who said he wants to see the money from Phillipsburg first.

"To go into large debt over this thing I think is foolish," the mayor said, though he ultimately went along with the unanimous introduction of the bond ordinance. At a previous meeting, he said he would not support the bond without "further investigation" into its need.

Decision made to leave 'The Pit'

The bond must go through a second reading and public discussion, and a 20-day waiting period following a vote before any money is actually borrowed. Council members said that by starting the process, they put pressure on Phillipsburg to come through with the funds.

"I don't want Lopatcong to be the one to hold up this project," Council President Joseph Pryor said, noting that the township can hold off on any borrowing until Phillipsburg's funding is in place. "I want to put it back in Phillipsurg's court."

"What they do determines what we do next," Councilman Lou Belcaro agreed.

Phillipsburg Mayor Stephen "Rogie" Ellis and school district Superintendent George Chando did not return calls for comment ahead of Lopatcong's meeting.

Municipal engineer Paul Sterbenz, who has been involved with planning the road improvements over the last year, told the Lopatcong council that the hope is for work to begin April 1 and conclude by mid-August. Delaying the bond ordinance even two weeks to the next meeting could have serious implications, he said.

"Every day really counts at this point," he said.

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

Marian Bredin received a lifetime achievement award at a recent meeting of Washington business leaders.

Marian Bredin, as well as several new businesses and Stew's Auto Body, were honored by the Washington Business Improvement District at its annual Business Recognition Meeting held earlier this month.

Bredin, owner of Good Impressions Printing & Mailing and the town newsletter, The Messenger, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award while Stew's Auto Body receive an award for its commitment to the community.

Bredin served on the WBID board of directors since its inception in 2003, but was instrumental in the formation of the organization prior to that as well. Bredin, who has held multiple executive board posts over the years, most recently as treasurer, retired from the board at the end of last year. She is a longtime resident and has been a business leader throughout the county having served on various business organizations over the years.

Also acknowledged at the reception were four new businesses: ARCANA Toys & Games, Juanito's Mexican Restaurant, RE/MAX, and Prudential Insurance. 

First United Methodist Church welcomed worship music leader John Peccarelli earlier this year.

The First United Methodist Church of Blairstown welcomed John Peccarelli as their new worship music leader in January.

Peccarelli grew up in Nutley, N.J., and began to study piano at a young age. By the time he completed high school, he had added guitar, violin, trumpet, tuba, mandolin and voice to his musical pursuits.

John Peccarelli (courtesy photo)

He attended Montclair State University, where he received bachelor's and master's degrees in music education, and after graduation, began his career as a music teacher for Abundant Life Academy.

John has spent the past 22 years with the Edison Township school district, where he has taught both vocal and instrumental music, as well as composition.

He is a member of the New Jersey Music Educators Association and serves as a judge for their annual Young Composer's Competition.

At the age of 21, Peccarelli became involved with music ministry. He has written praise songs that have been performed and heard both locally and abroad.

Musicians and vocalists are invited to come be a part of the new music ministry at First United Methodist Church. Rehearsals are on Sunday mornings at 8 a.m., and worship is at 10 a.m.

Ann Reeves donates an acrylic of Port Murray to the assisted living facility that she now calls home.

Ann Reeves, a well-known New Jersey artist who recently move to the Chelsea at Brookfield, an assisted living residence, in Belvidere, donated one of her larger works to the Chelsea.

The painting of Port Murray, done in acrylics in 1994, was unveiled Feb. 8, in Chelsea's activity room in the presence of Chelsea residents, administrators and Reeves' daughter, Cindy.

A native of Newark, Reeves has won acclaim from many organizations including the Trenton Artists Workshop, which selected her painting Helping Hand to tour Russia in 1990, and the Deutsches Historishes Museum in Berlin, the permanent home of her oil painting "Berlin Wall Comes Down."

Reeves, 82, plans to continue painting. She has 3 children, 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Winter storm is still several days away from forming, so it's hard to predict the exact track and intensity. Watch video

Forecasters remain confident that a storm system will be heading towards New Jersey next week but, based on the latest projections from computer models, they are expecting most of the Garden State to end up with more rain than snow.

The storm, which is expected to form Tuesday in the Gulf Coast region and move up along the Atlantic coast or into the lower Ohio Valley, is likely to affect New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania late Tuesday night through late Wednesday night, said Mitchell Gaines, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service regional office in Mount Holly. 

"The northern half of the state is still in play for a rain-snow mix," Gaines said. "It looks like it's going to be more in the way of rain for most of the region," particularly the Shore area and southern New Jersey.

Although the precipitation could start out as snow across the entire state, temperatures are expected to warm up from the low 30s into the low 40s, changing the snow to rain in most of central and southern New Jersey. 

Dry Friday, but chance of wet weather in N.J. at night

Northern sections of New Jersey are more likely to see snow changing to a mix of rain and snow, Gaines said, but he noted the storm is still days away from forming, so the forecast is far from being a lock.

As of now, it appears the storm system, or at least part of it, could track as far west as the lower Ohio Valley, Gaines said. Most computer models originally were projecting a track closer to the Atlantic coast or just off the coast, and that track would be more favorable for heavy snow for New Jersey.

"There's going to be a pretty big storm. But the main question at this point is where does the track for this storm go," said Rob Reale, a meteorologist at WeatherWorks, a private forecasting company based in Hackettstown.

Reale said as of now, it appears the system will probably end up "a little too far inland to become a major snowstorm" for New Jersey, but the state's northwestern corner has the best shot at getting some snow. 

If a substantial amount of rain or snow falls, there would be some concerns about coastal flooding, Reale said, because tides will be running high early next week, with a full moon on Tuesday. 

Two shots at wintry mix

Before that storm system moves in, parts of New Jersey have a possibility of seeing some light snow or mixed precipitation.

As temperatures get lower Friday night, there's a slight chance of sleet, freezing rain and snow in northern New Jersey and northern sections of central New Jersey, the National Weather Service said. 

Then on Sunday night, a small storm system from the West is expected to move into New Jersey, possibly bringing some rain turning into light snow, particularly in the northern third of the state, Reale said.

Wintry weather chances Tue-Wed highest northern areas. However, still a lot of uncertainty. https://t.co/q2vvnRxg7n #njwx #dewx #pawx #mdwx

-- NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 19, 2016

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Teachers and staff wear red and raise funds for the American Heart Association.

Knowlton Township Elementary School employees joined the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement to help raise awareness and funds to support the cause.

The event raised $150 to support the cause.

Gary Passarelli maintained his innocence and plans to appeal his conviction.

FLEMINGTON -- Gary Passarelli was sentenced Friday to 60 years in state prison for the murder of John Niko in 2013.

Passarelli was convicted Nov. 9 of first-degree murder in Niko's death in Raritan Township, and First Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Factor argued Friday morning that the way Niko was killed called for a severe penalty.

Niko was stabbed more than 40 times and bludgeoned with a 25-pound dumbbell in his Raritan Township home.

"Even when he was down, the defendant showed no mercy," Factor said. "He chose to bash in his head with multiple blows." Though Passarelli showed no mercy in killing Niko, Factor said, "he stands before you now saying, 'Show me mercy.'

"As he sat in this courtroom he's shown no remorse and taken no responsibility," Factor said. "What has been evident in this crime is he is a man with a stone-cold heart."

Passarelli argued during the trial that he wasn't the person who killed John Niko, and he maintained that at his sentencing.

Prosecution lays out case against Passarelli

"I can't show you remorse because I didn't kill John," he said, addressing Judge Angela Borkowski. "John was my friend and I didn't kill him."

Passarelli told Borkowski she hasn't seen the last of him. "I will be back in this courtroom, and this conviction will be overturned," he said. "I will appeal."

Niko's family and friends filled the courtroom gallery Friday morning, and said through a victim's advocate after the hearing that they felt justice had been served.

Niko's cousin Christopher Horan spoke for the family in the hearing, talking about how devastating the trial was, "to see the pictures, hear the testimony."

"I gave the eulogy at John's funeral, and since then I've struggled with forgiveness," he said. "But I'll never offer forgiveness to the murderer of John Niko.

"Many a man was murdered," he said, saying John Niko was a son, brother, cousin, nephew, uncle, and friend "taken from all of us too soon." Niko's mother, he said, is "now left to look into the eyes of her granddaughter only to see her son look back."

Niko was "a friend to everyone in this court but one," he said, looking at Passarelli. "The smile and smirk on the murderer of John Niko will begin to fade," he said. "As his smile vanishes, ours will continue to grow.

"John was a someone murdered by a nobody," he said. Turning to Passarelli, he concluded, "Every time you hear your number, think of Johnny."

Defense attorney Ed Hesketh asked Borkowski to consider Passarelli's substance abuse issues and past history in determining his sentence. "I know the court looks at the whole person, and criminal history," he said. "Mr. Passarelli has no previous felony convictions as he sits here today."

Prosecutors were arguing for the murder to be considered heinous, and Hesketh asked Borkowski to set that aside. "There's no evidence there was any kind of torturing, humiliation, degradation or any kind of drawn-out factor."

Suspect rejects last chance for plea deal

Considering that Passarelli had never been convicted of a felony before, and had waived his right to remain silent and took the stand in his trial, Hesketh asked for a sentence of 35 years.

In announcing Passarelli's sentence, Borkowski reviewed the facts brought out at trial and in a pre-sentencing report. Passarelli 's history of municipal court convictions from 1995 to 2011, "over 15 years, show a loss of control and continued assaultive behavior," Borkowksi said.

She cited his continued substance abuse as putting him at high risk of hurting someone again, and added, "Your aggressive attitude toward friends and family poses a great risk that you will re-offend."

"As you clearly do not take responsibility for your actions, I find there's a need to deter," Borkowski added. Announcing the sentence, Borkowski said, "I cannot order life without parole. I find that the aggravating factors substantially outweigh mitigating factors." 

In sentencing Passarelli to 60 years on the first-degree murder conviction, Borkowski said he must serve at least 85 percent of that time before being eligible for parole. That means Passarelli, 42, must serve at least 51 years in state prison on the first-degree murder charge. He was credited with 994 days of jail time served. He was also ordered to pay $13,149.30.

Passarelli was also convicted of second-degree possession of weapons, a dumbbell and a knife, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Ketamine. He was sentenced to five years on each of those counts, to run concurrently with the 60-year sentence.

Passarelli has 45 days to file an appeal.

Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III was in the courtroom for the sentencing, and said afterward he was grateful to his staff investigators and trial attorneys for their hard work, and the thorough job done by Raritan Township and Flemington police.

"I think justice has been served, and I agree with Judge Borkowski's sentence," Kearns said, adding, "No amount of time can ever bring back Mr. Niko or ease the pain of his family."

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.

A Day in Old New Castle is the country's oldest home and garden tour event.

The Morning Angels, a Kaleidoscope Hatter group from Phillipsburg, is planning a bus trip to A Day in Old New Castle, Delaware, on Saturday, May 21.

(Courtesy photo)

The bus will be leaving from Phillipsburg and Bethlehem.

This annual event is a 92-year-old tradition with tours of historic homes and gardens, exhibits, musical performances, civilian and military encampments, historic theatre and children's activities.

This is America's oldest, continuous home and garden tour. The cost is $65, which includes admission.  

For reservations, contact Camille at 908-387-0001.

Register now for the April event, which will be held throughout the township.

Mansfield Township's Green Team is hosting its second Town Wide Yard Sale April 22 through April 24, rain or shine.

Participation is open to Mansfield Township residents only.

The Mansfield Township Green Team is gearing up for its late April town-wide yard sale. (File Photo) 

New this year, choose to host your personal yard sale on Saturday, Sunday, both days, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and you can add a sale on Friday, April 22.

A suggested donation of $10 will secure your reservation, which includes advertising and materials to help make your sale a success. No yard sale permit is necessary. A map listing registered addresses and sale days will be provided to customers. 

Registration forms can be obtained online or at the municipal building. Deadline for registration to be included on the printed map is March 30 (late registrations will appear only on the online map).

For more information, email jf@mansfieldtownship-nj.gov or call 908-689-6151, ext. 116.

This event is coordinated by the Mansfield Township Green Team in an effort to help the community re-purpose unwanted items instead of discarding them.  

A group of staffers were whisked away to learn about National Guard opportunities. Watch video

The Army National Guard whisked away a group of Warren County Technical School staffers for a day of education.

A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter landed Thursday morning on the Franklin Township school's baseball field, where the 1-150^th Assault Helicopter Battalion picked up 11 staff members and took them to Fort Dix to learn about opportunities with the National Guard, according to news releases from the Guard and school.

A group of Warren County Technical School staffers learn about opportunities with the National Guard on Feb. 18, 2016, at Fort Dix. The staff will better be able to inform students interested in military careers, according to the school. (Courtesy photo)

Students got to put some of their career training to use, getting video and photos of the event and providing crowd control, the school said.

Warren Tech Vice Principal John Mylecraine said the program will help staff better inform students interested in military careers.

"This day really was a great opportunity for our teachers and more importantly for our students," he said.

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

The junior is trying to reach his first regional tournament.

Zach Nauta has come up through the Warren Hills feeder program, and spent his first two high school seasons following directly in the shadow of his older brother Max.

Max Nauta, a 2015 graduate, racked up more than 100 wins at Warren Hills and will go down as one of the best to come through the school.

Everyone knew the name Max Nauta.

Now, Zach Nauta is out build his own wrestling legacy.

And that starts with claiming the 138-pound championship at the NJSIAA District 1 tournament this weekend.  

“Zach is his own person, with his own goals,” Warren Hills coach Jarrett Hosbach said. “He’s out to make his own mark.”

The one-day tournament kicks off 9 a.m. Saturday with quarterfinals, followed by semifinals at 1 p.m., third-place consolations at 4 and finals scheduled for 5:45.

“This is a great time of year because you are wrestling for yourself,” Nauta said. “I love the team part of the season and wrestling in the big matches, but now you get to wrestle for yourself. It’s my time now.”

MORE: District 1 wrestling: Information and predictions

That means ensuring there will be a Nauta wrestling in the district finals.

Max Nauta was permanent fixture in the district finals, placing second in 2012 before claiming three straight titles from 2013-15.

Nauta (20-6), the third seed at 138 behind top-seeded Kade Loughney from West Morris Central and P’burg’s Tyler Agans, has seen two previous seasons end in the district consolation finals.

He placed fourth at 120 pounds as a freshman and again at 126 last season.

“He’s had a couple of fourth-place finishes here and he’s not content with that,” Hosbach said. “He’s looking to rise up the podium and get to Wallkill.”

The top three finishers in the district advance to the NJSIAA Region 1 tournament next weekend at Wallkill Valley Regional High School.

“It won’t be easy and Zach knows that,” Hosbach said. “It’s a tough weight (class). He’s having a good junior season and he’s as healthy as he’s been in a long time.”

Nauta is 8-2 since returning from an abdominal/rib cage injury that sidelined him for nearly a month.

“I’m feeling better than I have in two years, wrestling wise,” Nauta said. “Last year was hard because I was too light and I didn’t have much strength at 126. I’m much stronger at 138 and I think the time off (with the injury) gave me time to heal and now I am 100 percent for this weekend.”

To reach his first region tournament, Nauta will have to get past quarterfinals opponent David Mathusek of Mount Olive before setting up a date in the semis against the winner of the Agans vs. Joseph Voltek (North Warren) bout.

Nauta, who beat Agans 7-4 in the Blue Streaks' 42-14 loss to the Stateliners on Jan. 29, has not made it past the semifinals.

“Max talks to me a lot,” Zach Nauta said. “He was always really calm in big matches and that’s what he tells me. He tells me I need to keep my head and not to overcomplicate things. That’s what I’m trying to do this year.”

Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The District 1 tournament is at Warren Hills and the District 17 tournament takes place at Hunterdon Central.

The District 1 and District 17 wrestling tournaments in New Jersey take place on Saturday.

District 1 happens at Warren Hills with the quarterfinals beginning at 9 a.m., the semifinals at 1 p.m., the third-place consolations at 4 p.m. and the finals scheduled for 5:45 p.m.

In District 17 at Hunterdon Central, the preliminaries and quarterfinals start at 9:30 a.m., followed by the semifinals at 11:30 a.m., the third-place consolations at 12:30 p.m. and the finals set for 1:30 p.m.

Follow Twitter updates from the tournaments in the comments section below.

Find the brackets below:

District 1

Brackets: 106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145 | 152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285

Brackets: 106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145 | 152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285

Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

Council President Todd Tersigni is a Republican again after six years on town council as a Democrat.

The Democrats have lost the voting majority on the Phillipsburg council, if they ever really had it.

Council President Todd Tersigni -- a Democrat since 2009 -- was always a Republican by nature, said Warren County Democratic Party Chairman Tom Palmieri.

Phillipsburg Council President Todd Tersigni has returned to the Republican Party. He has served on council since 2010 as a Democrat but said a recent dispute with party leadership forced him to make a choice. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

"He was never at home with us," Palmieri said. "I'm happy he's found a home."

Tersigni this week returned to the GOP, the party he was registered with for 30 years before declaring himself a Democratic candidate for the '09 council primary. He was elected that year, ran an unsuccessful mayoral campaign as an independent in 2011 and was re-elected to council as a Democrat in 2013.

Tersigni found himself at odds with his party this year.

Though Warren is a heavily Republican county, Democrats took control of the town council following the last election, in which Mayor Stephen "Rogie" Ellis and Councilmen Joshua Davis and Mark Lutz swept the three open positions for the party, ousting four-term Republican Mayor Harry Wyant Jr.

Warren County Democratic Committee Chairman Tom Palmieri (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

The new Democrats did not hide their displeasure when Tersigni campaigned for Republicans last fall, or when Tersigni took the council presidency with the support of Republican councilmen Bernie Fey Jr. and Randy Piazza.

But Tersigni said it was an exchange with Palmieri -- in which the party chairman urged the councilman to approve the new mayor's choice of municipal attorney -- that pushed him to switch.

In a letter to New Jersey GOP Chairman Sam Rais dated Feb. 4, Tersigni said he felt forced to choose between his town office and his party.

"I had to choose my town," Tersigni told lehighvalleylive.com on Friday. "My only interest at this time is continuing to serve the town of Phillipsburg."

How a political post ensnared P'burg

Republican officials on the state and county levels say they have welcomed Tersigni's choice.

"Councilman Tersigni's decision is the latest testament to our party's growth," Rais said in a statement, adding that the party seeks to encourage reform in all levels of New Jersey government.

"I think the goal is just to serve the people as best we can," Freeholder Director and Republican Jason Sarnoski said, crediting the councilman for participating in the county's economic development committee. "If Todd feels he can do that best as a Republican, we're glad to have him."

For the Democrats, Palmieri said the change does not diminish the party's success last November in Phillipsburg.

"The Republicans will have a hard time in Phillipsburg going forward," he said.

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

Chris Christie has proposed spending more than $13 billion in school funding.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has proposed spending more than $13 billion in funding, including $548 million in new spending in his 2017 budget proposal. The proposal increases school spending by about 4 percent and every district would get an increase in funding from the previous year.

Critics: Christie's school funding not enough

Here is a look at how Warren County schools would be funded under the proposal:

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

The young driver was trying to avoid deer in the road, police said.

A young driver was trying to avoid two deer crossing the road when he crashed into a Hackettstown home Friday night, according to town police.

No one was hurt when the 17-year-old motorist, a Hackettstown resident not named by police in a news release, drove a 2014 BMW into the house about 9:30 p.m. on Lawrence Drive.

The collision launched a computer across the room inside the home, narrowly missing a man, police said. No injuries were reported.

Centenary College names 13th president

The Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Task Force helped shore the structure as the car was removed, by the home was determined to be uninhabitable Friday night.

The investigation is ongoing. Police said more information is expected to be released Monday.

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

He almost hit a person sitting in the house, cops said. Watch video

HACKETTSTOWN -- A 17-year-old driver who allegedly was trying to avoid hitting deer ended up nearly hitting a person sitting inside a house and decimating a home, police said.

Local police responded to the scene of a car that crashed into a Lawrence Drive house on Friday at about 9:34 p.m., according to a Facebook post, and soon determined that the 17-year-old male driver of the 2014 BMW was trying to avoid deer.

The teen, who was from Hackettstown, was traveling west on Lawrence Drive when "he observed two deer crossing the roadway," and crashed into a home nearby, police said. 

Woman charged after crashing into Salem house, police say

"When the car crashed into the house, it launched a computer and it (just) missed a male resident who was sitting in the room," police said. 

The Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Task Force responded to shore the structure, police said, and the house was determined to be uninhabitable. No injuries were reported but the residents have been displaced, police said.

The incident is under investigation, they said.

Several agencies assisted the police: the Hackettstown Fire Department, Hackettstown Fire Police, Hackettstown Rescue Squad, Hackettstown Office of Emergency Management, Hackettstown Municipal Utility Authority, JCP&L and Elizabethtown Gas Company, according to authorities.

The police department said that more information would be available Monday. NJ Advance Media attempts to reach the department for follow-up inquiries on Saturday were unsuccessful.

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

He almost hit a person sitting in the house, cops said.

HACKETTSTOWN -- A 17-year-old driver who allegedly was trying to avoid hitting a deer ended up crashing into a house nearly hitting a person sitting inside, police said.

Local police responded to the scene of the car that crashed into a Lawrence Drive house on Friday at about 9:34 p.m., according to a Hackettstown Police Department Facebook post.

Police determined that the 17-year-old male driver of the 2014 BMW was trying to avoid deer, the authorities said.

The teen, who was from Hackettstown, was traveling west on Lawrence Drive when "he observed two deer crossing the roadway," and crashed into a home nearby, police said. 

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"When the car crashed into the house, it launched a computer and it nearly missed a male resident who was sitting in the room," police said. 

The Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Task Force responded to shore the structure, police said, and the house was determined to be "uninhabitable." No injuries were reported but the residents have been displaced, police said.

The incident is under investigation, they said.

The police department said more information would be available Monday. NJ Advance Media attempts to reach the department for follow-up inquiries on Saturday were unsuccessful.

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.