Phillipsburg, North Hunterdon, Warren Hills and Voorhees all had representatives on the Skyland Conference girls tennis all-star teams as selected by the conference coaches.

Phillipsburg, North Hunterdon, Warren Hills and Voorhees all had representatives on the Skyland Conference girls tennis all-star teams as selected by the conference coaches.

Fran Varela-Seri of Phillipsburg was first team in No. 1 singles in the Valley Division. Stateliners' Jessica Minardi made the first team at No. 2 singles. Warren Hills' Kiana Wiggins received an honorable mention spot in the division.

In the Raritan Division, North Hunterdon's Hannah Trinity and Catrina Gutescu earned first-team honors at No. 1 doubles. The Lions' Kiera Horun received a second-team selection at third singles and North Hunterdon's No. 2 doubles pairing of Amanda Ferrante and Juliette Shore were on the second team. Jessica Graham of North Hunterdon was an honorable mention pick.

Voorhees' Grace Borsetti got honorable mention recognition in the Raritan Division.

Here are the complete teams:

Skyland Conference

Valley Division

1st team - No. 1 singles - Fran Varela-Seri, Phillipsburg; No. 2 singles - Jessica Minardi, Phillipsburg; No. 3 singles - Isabella Barbosa, Bound Brook; No. 1 doubles - Kathy Chen and Meg Douglas, Somerville; No. 2 doubles - Jackie Rick and Kristin Ferrer, Somerville.

2nd team - No. 1 singles - Laura Suarez, Bound Brook; No. 2 singles - Gissel Escalante, Bound Brook; No. 3 singles - Abby Gilbert, Immaculata; No. 1 doubles - Fiona Bawagan and Genevieve Wietecha, Immaculata; No. 2 doubles - Victoria Triana and Jordan Todaro, Bound Brook.

Honorable mention - Karen Gordon, North Plainfield; Jessica Fu, Somerville; Kiana Wiggins, Warren Hills.

Delaware Division

1st team - No. 1 singles - Brenda Peng, Watchung Hills; No. 2 singles - Shannon Lu, Montgomery; No. 3 singles - Emily Roeper, Montgomery; No. 1 doubles - Ally and Amy Yan, Montgomery; No. 2 doubles - Dilara Shahani and Camila Scharlach, Ridge.

2nd team - No. 1 singles - Tiffany Jiang, Hunterdon Central; No. 2 singles - Nitya Subramanjam, Bridgewater; 2nd doubles - Tristen Chau and Elyssa Vanhoutte, Watchung Hills.

Honorable mention - Lucy Revercomb, Bridgewater; Kelly Jiang, Hillsborough; Jessica Li, Pingry; Chrissie Giberna, Ridge; Camryn Goldstein, Watchung Hills.

Raritan Division

1st team - No. 1 singles - Krishna Patel, Gill St. Bernard's, No. 2 singles - Sharon Jin, Gill St. Bernard's; No. 3 singles - Carolyn Najarian, Gill St. Bernard's; No. 1 doubles - Hannah Trinity and Catrina Gutescu; No. 2 doubles - Lucy Dun and Hannah Cohen, Gill St. Bernard's.

2nd team - No. 1 singles - Jessica Pil, Rutgers Prep; No. 2 singles - Paige Paiadini, Bernards; No. 3 singles - Kiera Horun, North Hunterdon; No. 1 doubles - Martine DiDomenico and Lara Drzik, Gill St. Bernard's' No. 2 doubles - Amand Ferrante and Juliette Shore, North Hunterdon.

Honorable mention - Katherine Apt, Bernards; Ishika Shah, Franklin; Jessica Graham, North Hunterdon; Kayla Bancone, Rutgers Prep, Grace Borsetti, Voorhees.

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

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At a recent Court of Honor, members of Boy Scout Troop 63 celebrated accomplishments.

Boy Scout Troop 63, of Greenwich Township, held its Court of Honor recently.

Colby Johnson, surrounded by parents Eric and Rebecca Johnson, advanced to Life Scout. (Courtesy photo) 

Colby Johnson advanced to Life Scout. Other advances include:

Tenderfoot: Dylan Emery and William Seavers.

Second Class: Stephen Gural, Nathaniel Johnson, Joshua Nowak, Zackary Payran and Ryan Stucker.

Star: Jack Hart, Matthew Seavers and James Wallace.

Merit badges were awarded to several Scouts.

A hen that was raised from an egg by last year's first graders made a guest appearance.

Central Elementary School students from the Great Meadows Regional School District enjoyed some good old-fashioned fun during their annual celebration of the school's Harvest Day in October.

First grade teacher, Colleen Schubert holds "Pumpkin the Hen." Pumpkin was raised from an egg by Mrs. Schubert's class from last year. (Courtesy photo) 

Students went pumpkin picking and made child-sized scarecrows. They also participated in a "corn cob toss" competition, and raced while balancing an apple on a spoon. Several geese, bunnies, a goat, a pony, and a hen with chicks were on hand for the students to view and pet.

"Pumpkin" the hen, who was raised from an egg by last year's first graders, also made an appearance.

Great Meadows' Central School is located in Independence Township.

Ralph Atkinson allegedly killed his girlfriend with a hammer and a knife.

An alleged killer could serve 28 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea, under an offer proposed by prosecutors.

Ralph A. Atkinson, of Knowlton Township, is accused of killing his girlfriend, Margaret Graf-White, on May 14, 2014, at the woman's West Stewart Street home in Washington. (Courtesy photo)

Ralph A. Atkinson, 40, of Knowlton Township, allegedly used a knife and hammer to kill his girlfriend, 45-year-old Margaret Graf-White, on May 14, 2014, at the woman's West Stewart Street home in Washington. Atkinson was arrested the following day and indicted this year.

Atkinson, who is still in custody, is charged with first-degree murder and two counts each of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. A conviction on the murder charge would mean up to life imprisonment.

His appearance was waived for a brief hearing Friday in state Superior Court in Belvidere, in which Warren County Assistant Prosecutor Victor Jusino said an offer had been made.

Public defender John McGuigan declined to comment after the hearing.

Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke has called the case one of the most heinous he has seen.

Police have said Atkinson was known to them from previous domestic violence reports involving Graf-White. A friend of Graf-White's has said she had been trying to distance herself from a physically and emotionally abusive relationship with Atkinson. Graf-White's two girls were taken into state protection.

In a separate case, Atkinson is also charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and related counts. He allegedly filmed and photographed sex acts with the child -- who was younger than 13 -- and was in possession of child pornography.

The 28-year plea offer at this point only includes the homicide case, Jusino said. It may be amended to include sentencing for both cases after the sex assault charges are heard by a grand jury.

Another status hearing on the homicide charge is scheduled for Jan. 29.

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

 

There are two representatives from Notre Dame and Liberty on the first team.

The Lehigh Valley has provided another memorable season of fall sports.

Now, it’s time to recognize the high school athletes who excelled with the lehighvalleylive All-Area teams.

The All-Area teams honor standouts from schools in Northampton, Lehigh and Warren counties, as well as Palisades in Bucks County, Palmerton in Carbon County and North Hunterdon, Voorhees and Delaware Valley in Hunterdon County.

Here, lehighvalleylive features the fall’s outstanding performers in girls tennis.

The Notre Dame senior paired with Logan Lencheski to win the PIAA Class AA doubles championship. It was the first state championship in program history. The pair also won the first District 11 doubles title in Notre Dame history. Chen also led the Crusaders to their first district team title. She finished with a 21-4 record at No. 1 singles and was a runner-up in the district singles tournament.

The Notre Dame freshman teamed with Coco Chen to bring the Crusaders their first ever state title. Lencheski and Chen also brought home the first district gold in program history. She helped the Crusaders to their first ever district team title. Lencheski finished the season with a 24-2 record at No. 2 singles and earned a bronze medal in the District 11 Class AA singles tournament. She earned a spot on the All-Colonial League second team.

NINA DELUNA

The Southern Lehigh junior won her second straight District 11 Class AAA singles title. She made the All-Colonial League first team as a No. 1 singles selection. She finished the season to a 16-3 record and advanced to the PIAA Class AAA singles quarterfinals. DeLuna won the No. 1 singles championship in the Colonial League tournament.

TYRA OTT

The Wilson junior won her third straight District 11 Class AA singles title. Ott earned the at-large spot on the All-Colonial League girls tennis first team. She finished the season with a 21-2 record. Ott won the PIAA Class AA singles title last season and was named The 2014 lehighvalleylive Girls Tennis Player of the Year.

SAMANTHA PETERSON

The Liberty senior teamed with Madelyn Conrad to win the District 11 Class AAA doubles title. Peterson finished third in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference No. 1 singles tournament and advanced to the district singles quarterfinals. She finished 18-3 in singles play and was undefeated in doubles until the state tournament.

MADELYN CONRAD

The Liberty senior teamed with Samantha Peterson to win District 11 Class AAA doubles gold. Conrad won the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference No. 2 singles tournament. She advanced to the district singles semifinals. She had a singles record of 21-1 overall and was undefeated in the EPC.

ELESSA JACOBS

The Easton freshman was named the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference MVP. Jacobs won the EPC No. 1 singles tournament and finished second in the District 11 Class AAA singles tournament. The Red Rover finished the year with a 27-1 record.

FRAN VARELA-SERI

The Phillipsburg senior was a first-team Skyland Conference Valley Division all-star for the fourth straight season. Varela-Seri led the Stateliners to their fourth straight division title and made her fourth consecutive appearance in the state singles tournament. For the second straight season, the Stateliner finished second in the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex No. 1 singles tournament. She finished the season with a 16-4 record and produced a 62-20 record in her career, the most wins in program history.

With the help of students from Good Shepherd Christian Academy Troop 157 in Washington helps fill food bank shelves.

Troop 157 Washington Borough collected over 1,400 pounds of food for food banks at Faith Discovery Church and First Presbyterian with the help of students from Good Shepherd Christian Academy.

Scouts involved include William Fleck, Glenn Jannarone, Joe Carey (Senior Patrol Leader), Dominic Tirado, Thomas Codispoti, Jacob Hudock, Gabe Serroa, Ryan Careyand Dayton Zabriskie (Patrol Leader).

The makers of the short documentary 'Junk Mail' returned Friday night to the Easton Area Lifestyle Campus.

Charles Frank didn't see it coming.

But the filmmaker whose 10-minute documentary of Easton-area seniors grabbed millions of Internet viewers said he's been overwhelmed by the attention and the spotlight the film has put on the plight of older Americans.

Frank and his team from Voyager Creative, a New York production company, returned Friday to the Easton Area Lifestyle Campus, where they shot the film "Junk Mail" over a few days in the summer.

About 110 seniors and volunteers celebrated the film's success with a "premiere" party, complete with a welcoming red carpet and tiny Oscar statuettes.

"I think the overwhelming thing about it is people sharing their own stories," said Frank, 21, of New York City. "It's sparking storytelling about experiences people have had that are similar, whether it reminds them of their grandparents or reminds them they have to reach out to their grandparents."

The film gets its name from Mary Tony, the sweet 98-year-old who's featured and who passes time at home by ripping up junk mail into strips.

The senior center serves as a beacon for her and dozens of others as it comes to life daily with dances, games and camaraderie.

Senior center Director Debbie Mertz said the center has been flooded with cards and well-wishes since the film took off on the Internet in late October. It has gotten about 6.2 million views, Frank said.

"People from all over started calling me," Mertz said.

The movie spotlighted the plight of older adults who live alone and the growing number of seniors and their families facing decisions about elder care.

"My intention was very vaguely to bring light to what is often a forgotten population, but I had no idea that Mary would become a celebrity," Frank said.

"I guess I never anticipated people to connect so deeply with her, and in connecting with her, to connect with the issue so deeply."

Sweet video of Easton seniors tugs heartstrings

The film is not without critics. Tony's family -- her two remaining sisters and a few nieces -- attended Friday night's dinner and dance. While they said the movie rightly shines light on a growing national issue, they differed with its portrayal of Tony as alone.

Tony's needs are cared for and a niece stays with her at night, her nieces said.

She was born and raised in Easton -- her maiden name is Simon -- and is the daughter of Lebanese immigrants. She worked for years as a dressmaker at the old Easton Dress Co. and was only widowed three years ago.

Her husband, John Tony, died in 2012 at age 98. The couple were married 73 years.

Frank said Tony's zest for life is what has drawn millions to the story.

"I think she's very vulnerable and open and so willing to share and immediately is a very kind, loving person," he said. "And she's motivated. There's something about her mentality of wanting to be alive and to push forward."

People from across the globe have reached out to her, Frank said.

"We take a weekly trip to the post office and get 15 to 30 cards and packages from all over the world," he said. "It's been overwhelming to see the idea of the film translate into tangible objects."

Folks have sent hand-knitted scarves and coffee as gifts from Guatemala. A care package from Japan with stickers and Christmas cards also arrived.

Andrew Hutcheson, the film's producer and part of the Voyager Creative team, brought his grandparents Dominick and Julia Sidoti to the premiere.

A 2008 graduate of Blair Academy in Warren County, he grew up in Washington Township and was practically raised with the help of his grandparents, he said. The Sidotis live in Washington.

"My work on the film has taught me not everyone has that -- and how lucky I am," he said.

Voyager Creative had cameras rolling during the screening at the Sullivan Trail hall. The filmmakers said they weren't certain what might become of the footage.

"It could feed into a longer film. Or it could stand alone as a follow-up," Frank said. "It also could just be something we share later with the senior center."

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

Northampton, Warren and Hunterdon county authorities say they are looking for three individuals.

Northampton County authorities seek Crystal Butz - fugitive of the week

Warren County authorities seek Brandon Shramko - fugitive of the week

Hunterdon County authorities seek Christopher Mentuck - fugitive of the week

 

The department seeks donations to help get Officer Jax on patrol.

Mansfield Township police are looking for some help to get their newest officer out patrolling.

As a K-9 officer, Jax could help Mansfield Township police and other area departments with a number of tasks, from drug enforcement to finding missing people. (Courtesy photo)

Jax, a 9-month-old Dutch shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix, and human partner Patrolman Greg Zytko will train to become the township's first K-9 unit, and fundraisers are underway to help cover the cost.

The township is partially funding the program, and the department has set up a GoFundMe online donation drive, is selling T-shirts and scheduling fundraising events around the area.

Jax was purchased from Progressive K-9 Academy in Walnutport, Zytko said, and the plan is for them to begin formal training there at the end of February. The goal is to have an active K-9 unit in Mansfield by the end of April, he said.

The start-up costs total about $15,000, Zytko said -- that includes training for the dog and handler, installing a cage in a patrol vehicle, and procuring a dog harness and other equipment.

Ongoing annual costs are expected to be far less thanks to donations, he said. They will also be defrayed by drug busts -- including the seizure of drug-related money -- in which the K-9 assists.

It's not unusual for smaller departments to solicit donations, especially when getting the K-9 unit started up, said Michael Johnson, president of the American Police Canine Association.

"They are expensive programs to run," Johnson said. "At the end of the day, it's going toward protecting and serving the community."

Zytko said the K-9 has a variety of uses, and that he and Jax will be available to help other departments when needed.

"The police canine will be used for many reasons; the most common is for tracking of missing persons, criminal suspects, and the detection of drugs," Zytko said. "Police canines have been credited with locating missing people who suffer from Alzheimer's and dementia, missing and abducted children, and criminal suspects who are in hiding.

"With many lives affected by the heroin epidemic in New Jersey and Warren County, we would use a K-9 unit to help stop the flow of illegal narcotics in our community," he said.

Zytko credited some area businesses with stepping up to help -- Spring Mills Veterinary Hospital in Holland Township is offering care, and Tickners in Hackettstown is offering dog food, he said. Others are donating directly or hosting fundraising events.

"We appreciate any assistance the public is able to provide," Zytko said.

Johnson, with the police canine association, said the K-9 unit and its abilities will be an asset to the community.

"They can do it all. They do do it all," he said.

HOW TO HELP

Online: Visit the department's GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/MansfieldPoliceK9.

T-shirt sale: The department is selling K-9 supporter T-shirts for $15 and is accepting cash or checks. Checks should be made out to the Township of Mansfield with "K-9 Unit" in the memo line and sent to:

Mansfield Township Police Department
100 Port Murray Road
Port Murray, NJ 07840

Events: The department is organizing fundraising events. Currently scheduled are:

• Dec. 15 at the Taphouse Grille, 1930 Route 57 in Hackettstown. From 5 to 8 p.m., a portion of proceeds from bills of patrons who mention Mansfield K-9 will be donated.
• Dec. 19 at Wal-Mart, 1885 Route 57 in Hackettstown. T-shirts will be sold from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To find out more: Contact Mansfield Township police Chief Michael Reilly or Patrolman Greg Zytko by calling police headquarters at 908-689-6222, or email Zytko at gzytko@mansfieldtownship-nj.gov.

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

Man was reportedly driving erratically along Route 57 in Mansfield Township, crossing into a "turn only" lane and into the shoulder of the roadway.

Mansfield Township police stopped a man reportedly swerving erratically along Route 57 and say he did not have a license and was texting behind the wheel.

Courtesy photo 

Samuel P. Babcock, 23, of Phillipsburg, was pulled over at 5:13 p.m. Thursday after an officer saw the vehicle he was driving cross over into a "turn only lane," as well as onto shoulder of the roadway.

Police say Babcock admitted to texting while driving.

He was also found to be in possession of a hypodermic needle, drug paraphernalia, and two empty bags believed by police to have once contained heroin.

He was placed under arrest and was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a hypodermic needle, failure to stay in marked lanes, texting while driving and driving without a license.

Babcock was released pending a court appearance.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Bear hunting season opened with far more favorable conditions than previous years — 17 degrees last year at the Whittingham Wildlife Management Area in Fredon, one of the five check stations. Watch video

FREDON -- Bear hunting season kicks off before sunrise Monday in New Jersey's northern counties and hunters have weather conditions in their favor this December unlike the past couple of years.

Last year's chilly temperatures -- 17 degrees at the Whittingham Wildlife Management Area in Fredon, one of the five check stations -- were an improvement over 2013's snowy conditions due to clearer skies. Temperatures in Fredon were in the high 20s just before sunrise Monday. 

The forecast, however, hadn't ramped up bear hunting permit sales last week. Only 6,400 of the 11,000 hunting permits allocated by the state had been purchased at that time, the state Department of Environmental Protection said in a news release Thursday. By the beginning of bear hunting season last year, more than 7,700 bear hunting permits had been grabbed up.

Black bears have been reported in all 21 counties of the Garden State but the densest population resides in northern New Jersey, according to the DEP. The hunt typically takes place in zones set up in Morris, Passaic, Hunterdon, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties, along with a small area of western Bergen County.

But under the DEP's expanded black bear management policy, the 2015 bear hunt has been expanded to all of Hunterdon and Morris counties, a small additional portion of Passaic County, and, for the first time, a small portion of Mercer County. Bear hunting has also been extended to all of Somerset County, with the exception of Franklin Township.

Bear wanders into Morristown Green, hangs out in tree (PHOTOS)

The increased territory open to hunters coincides with the DEP's announcement that the estimated black bear population of 3,500 has remained relatively flat since the hunt started in 2010.

"The population has not decreased significantly because reproduction rates, known as recruitment, have exceeded mortality from hunting and natural causes," the DEP said in a news release. " Last year, 272 bears were harvested during the annual black bear hunt, up slightly from the 251 taken in 2013, but a large drop from the 592 harvested in 2010. The drop-off has been attributed, in part, to poor weather."

The hunt will continue each day until 7 p.m., when the five check stations where hunters weigh their kills -- also known as "harvests" -- will close. 

Critics of the hunt are also expected to be on hand this week. Animal-rights groups such as Save NJ Bears have protests planned near the check stations for both the opening and close of the season.

The 2015 bear hunting season, which runs concurrently with six-day firearm deer hunting season, is scheduled to end 30 minutes before sunset on Saturday, Dec. 12j. It may, however, be extended up to four days if poor weather or other conditions result in a reduced "harvest."

An additional six-day October hunting season will begin in 2016 -- three days for bow hunting only and three days for bow hunting and hunting with muzzle-loading guns. The allowable per-hunter "harvest" will also increase from one bear to two bears next year -- as long as the first bear is killed during the October season and the second bear in December.

More information on the 2015 bear hunt including permit availability is available on the DEP's website.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

There were 107 registered animal shelters and pounds in New Jersey as of March, 2015.

According to the New Jersey Office of Animal Welfare, there were 107 registered animal shelters and pounds in the state as of March, 2015. There are well over 100 rescue groups and organizations working in the state to find homes for pets that have been rescued as strays, abandoned or given up by their owners.

Many of these groups depend on volunteers, people who give their available time and homes to caring for and fostering pets until permanent placements can be made.

Here is a gallery of homeless pets from northern and central New Jersey, just a handful of the thousands of animals in need of homes. Be sure to activate the captions to access all the information needed to contact these groups and adopt these pets.

More adoptable pets can be viewed here and here

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

In a a new collaboration with NORWESCAP, residents of the assisted living facility will create a monthly project that will benefit the nonprofit.

The residents of The Chelsea at Brookfield assisted living, 1 Bevidere Court, Belvidere, NJ, have launched a new collaboration with the NORWESCAP creating a monthly project that will benefit the nonprofit.

This month, residents created handmade skin treatments called sugar scrubs as part of a regular "Young At Art" project, then donated them to them to NORWESCAP's Family Success Center, which helps women in need due to domestic abuse, homelessness or other setbacks. 

RELATED: Chelsea residents raise money to help former worker

NORWESCAP supports low income households in Warren, Sussex and Hunterdon Counties.

Reps. Scott Garrett and Leonard Lance pay a visit to the Washington site.

Reps. Scott Garrett and Leonard Lance listen as Carol Carter talks about Abilities. Also pictured is Cynthia B. Wildermuth, Abilities CEO. (Special to lehighvalleylive.com) 

Two longtime advocates for Abilities of Northwest Jersey, Reps. Scott Garrett and Leonard Lance listen as Carol Carter -- with Abilities CEO Cynthia B. Wildermuth -- explains her preference for working at Abilities, at the Congressmen's Washington site visit.

Both Congressmen have pledged their continued support for employment services and settings for individuals with significant disabilities.

Abilities provides employment supports throughout the business community of the northwest region of the state, as well as its six Warren County program sites.  

For more information about Abilities visit the website or call 908-689-1118.

The Lady Tiger Volleyball team participated in the Joan Knechel Memorial Walk earlier in the fall.

The Hackettstown High School Lady Tiger Volleyball team participated in the Joan Knechel Memorial Walk, which benefits the Joan Knechel Cancer Center at Hackettstown Regional Medical Center earlier in the fall.

The team began fundraising with hosting the Blue Streaks of Warren Hills for their first Pink Game in early October. Proceeds from the game and bake sale were donated to the walk.

Together, with all their fundraising efforts the team raised $2,643.

Over the past five seasons, the Lady Tigers have raised over $8,700 for the walk.

The Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum offers a glimpse of days gone by on the rail tracks that went through many parts of the region. Watch video

If you walk into the Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum's building on Linden Street in Bethlehem, you'll see a lot of trains going around a lot of tracks, but you'll also see so much more. 

This HO scale setup is not just trains and tracks but rather a tour of train tracks that run from West Portal, N.J., through the Lehigh Valley, out to Reading and beyond.

MORE: Nation's oldest apothecary offers glimpse into past

Along the way you will spot recognizable bridges, buildings, scenery and train stations, each built meticulously to scale from memories, photos and documents of the time (about 1950 to 1972).  

It's a true labor of love for the members of the LV&K Model Railroad Club, all of whom have their own special areas of expertise: Bob Gombosi, of Bethlehem, my tour guide, does the track work and design; Larry Geiger, of Bethlehem, builds bridges; Mark Samuelson is the signaling person; Howie Gorgs, of Palmer Township, the buildings expert; and Louis Blaukowitch, of Coplay, is the scenery man.

Gombosi knows every inch of track, a lot of it from memory as a boy who rode the rails in Bethlehem.

Train stations that once stood were carefully recreated complete with people waiting for trains, cars waiting for signals and parks, trees, shrubbery, corn fields (each stalk carefully "planted") and a cemetery alongside a church, which pays tribute to club members who have passed.

MORE: Black Diamond model train show open for holidays

The facility is one of only two rail museums in the state, the other located north of Pittsburgh, according to Gombosi. And it isn't done yet. Little by little, track by track, tiny piece by tiny piece, members work to finish the exhibit, which has been an ongoing project for 20 years.

The museum's Christmas open house will be held 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 12-13, Dec. 19-21, Jan. 1-3 and Jan. 9-10. The museum is also open 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 28-30. The cost is $7 per adult and free for children under 12.

It's a lot of geography to cover so make sure you allow for plenty of time to take the trip. You won't regret the time you spend at this local cool space.

Do you know of any cool spaces that you'd like to share? Let us know by leaving a comment below or email me at kjfrantz@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow lehighvalleylive.com on Twitter at @lehighvalley. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Oxford Central School class project results in the collection of over 100 items for the Caring Closet.

Third-graders representing Joy Paola's homeroom at Oxford Central School and the entire community stand before a collection of mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for those in need. 

The project, an idea developed by this third grade class, resulted in more than 100 items being donated to local families and to the Caring Closet located in the United Methodist Church of Washington.

Mansfield Township Scouts help fill the pantry at the First Presbyterian Church of Washington.

As a community service project, Cub Scout Pack 222 of Mansfield Township conducted a food drive at the Washington ShopRite located on Route 31, to benefit the Community Food Pantry of Washington.

The food drive resulted in nearly 1,000 pounds nonperishable food for the Washington Community Food Pantry of the First Presbyterian Church.

RELATED: Washington Food Pantry takes Thanksgiving delivery

The Cub Scouts also accepted $25 in ShopRite gift cards and monetary donations totaling $197, which were donated o the Washington Community Food Pantry.

Pack 222 is chartered by the Mansfield Fire Co No 1. 

Each year Kiwanis collects donations at ShopRite and Wal-Mart in Mansfield Township, with all proceeds going to needy families in the Hackettstown area.

Phyllis Sirkis and Drew DiSessa of the Hackettstown Kiwanis Club are joined by volunteers Kasey Di Sessa and Vitaliya Taletska for the club's annual Holiday Bell Ringing campaign recently.

Each year Kiwanis collects donations at ShopRite and Wal-Mart in Mansfield Township, with all proceeds going to needy families in the Hackettstown area in the form of gift cards and in time for Christmas.

The campaign annually raises thousands of dollars.