One person was injured following a two-vehicle collision along Route 173 in Greenwich Township, police say.

A juvenile female passenger riding in an SUV was injured when the vehicle collided with a Mercedes-Benz traveling onto Route 173 in Greenwich Township, police say.

Greenwich Township police say the crash occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. Sunday when a male driver, aged in his early 30s and not identified, just exited the I-78 ramp at Exit 3 in the Mercedes. The Mercedes traveled up the ramp to a stop sign and failed to yield to the Honda Pilot, according to police.

The Honda, which was being driven by an identified woman in her late 40s, then struck the Mercedes traveling eastbound along Route 173, according to police. The accident occurred just west of the Hyundai dealership on Route 173 in Greenwich Township.

Police say the Honda was carrying three passengers and the juvenile, who was not identified by police, was complaining of head pain. The juvenile was then transported to Warren Hospital for treatment.

There were no reported injuries in the Mercedes, which had been carrying one passenger. A witness at the scene said the Mercedes had New York license plates and the Honda had New Jersey license plates.

Also responding to the scene was the Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Co. and Greenwich Township Emergency Medical Services.

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

Weather forecasters are predicting a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain Monday evening into Tuesday morning.

Weather forecasters are describing a "roller coaster of temperatures" throughout the next few days, expecting to bring a wintry mix of up to an inch of snow and sleet to the Lehigh Valley.

Weather forecasters are predicting a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain Monday evening into Tuesday morning. File photo | lehighvalleylive.com 

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly Sunday afternoon issued a winter weather advisory, starting at 7 p.m. Monday into 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Portions of Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania, and Warren county in New Jersey, are among those that will be affected by the precipitation, the weather service states.

But what is expected could become tricky, says Hackettstown-based WeatherWorks meteorologist Brian Marma.

"It's kind of a little bit of a surprise with temperatures right now," Marma said. "We've been watching this system for the past five to seven days. And obviously it's a little weird coming from the record warmth at Christmas."

A pressure system of colder air is traveling down from Canada and expected to drop temperatures Sunday evening to a low around 36 degrees. Monday is expected to climb back up into the low 40s before dipping back down again to a low between 30 to 32 degrees Monday evening, Marma says.

"It's a pretty big and a pretty quick change," he described.

The National Weather Service and Marma both say snow could begin the wintry mix just before 10 p.m. Monday followed by sleet between 10 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday, as well as freezing rain. Eventually, a changeover of all rain will begin likely by sunrise Tuesday, according to Marma.

The chance of precipitation is 90 percent Monday night into Tuesday with accumulations of sleet, snow and freezing rain totaling up to an inch, weather forecasters across the board are predicting. Marma said some areas with a burst of sleet could see a little more accumulation than others.

"This is a pretty tricky storm and it'll be pretty messy," he said. "We could see a little bit of everything."

The National Weather Service warns motorists slippery road conditions will occur, as well as limited visibility in some areas. Winds coming from the northeast will total 5 to 15-mph with gusts up to 20-mph, according to the weather service.

Marma expects temperatures to then rise back into the mid-40s by Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday's forecast calls for partly sunny skies with a high near 51, according to the National Weather Service.

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

 

A 2015 survey of how much dog owners will spend on their pets this Christmas shows Garden State dog lovers coming in first at $30.01.

According to thenoseprint.com, a pet-focused online hub for major pet product brands, New Jersey is the most generous state in the U.S. when it comes to buying gifts for their dogs.

The 2015 survey of how much dog owners will spend on their pets this Christmas shows Garden State dog lovers coming in first at $30.01. New York ($29.55) and Pennsylvania ($28.75) came in second and third, making the tri-state area a good place to be a dog. The national average, by the way, is $23.10.

The survey went on to note that the top five reasons dog owners say they spoil their pets:

* "to express love to my dog"
* "because it's fun for me"
* "to help my dog feel included like a family member"
* "to give my dog a moment of happiness"
* and, "to feel closer and bond with my dog"

Many pets throughout New Jersey won't be receiving any gifts this holiday season, though, because they don't have homes. Here's a gallery of homeless pets from northern and central New Jersey. Make sure captions are enabled to see all the information needed to adopt one of these pets.

You can see more pets in need of adoption here and here.

A local man handed cops a wallet with a marijuana baggy inside when they asked for identification, a police spokesman said.

A Hackettstown man handed police a wallet with marijuana inside, Dec. 25, 2015, police said. (File Photo) 

HACKETTSTOWN -- A local man handed cops a wallet with a marijuana baggy inside when they asked for identification, a police spokesman said.

Hackettstown Police received a report Christmas night that Santos Vasques-Hernandez, 34, was unconscious in an alleyway on the 100 block of Main Street, Sgt. Darren Tynan said.

Vasquez-Hernandez was lying on the ground when police arrived. He was breathing and appeared to be drunk, Tynan said.

He became "combative" and started swinging his fist at the officers, Tynan said. The officers asked for identification. Vasques-Hernandez handed over his wallet.

The officers smelled marijuana coming from the wallet. They found a baggie containing marijuana inside, Tynan said.

Vasques-Hernandez also had a wooden pipe with marijuana residue, Tynan said. The Hackettstown Rescue Squad took him to Hackettstown Regional Medical Center.

He was charged with disorderly conduct, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released pending a court appearance.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

In general, the most dangerous driving spots are expected in Bergen, Morris, Sussex, Warren and western Passaic counties. Watch video

For New Jersey commuters, the December fun is over -- at least for one day.

Drivers could face slick, and dangerous, road conditions Monday night and early Tuesday morning in northern and western counties, thanks to a storm that will be delivering a nasty mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain before changing to all rain as temperatures rise from the low 30s to the upper 30s. Added to the mix are steady winds that could gust as high as 29 mph in some parts of the Garden State.

Areas shaded in purple have a winter weather advisory in effect from Monday night through Tuesday morning. (NewJerseyWeather.com) 

Depending on where you live or travel, the conditions will vary. In general, the most dangerous driving spots will be in Bergen, Morris, Sussex, Warren and western Passaic counties, according to the latest winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

Although some snow or sleet could mix in with plain rain in northern sections of central New Jersey, driving conditions in that region aren't expected to be hazardous because the snow and sleet isn't likely to accumulate, the weather service said Monday morning.

Here's a look at the weather service forecasts for different sections of New Jersey. 

WESTERN PASSAIC COUNTY (updated 4 p.m.)

ADVISORY: Winter weather advisory in effect from 8 p.m. Monday to 11 a.m. Tuesday.

WHAT TO EXPECT: A prolonged period of sleet and freezing rain is expected during these hours, leaving 1 to 2 inches of sleet on the ground, along with a trace of ice.

HAZARDS: The National Weather Service says roads and sidewalks could be slippery, especially in higher elevations. "Be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibilities," the weather service said in its advisory. "Use caution while driving."

BERGEN COUNTY and EASTERN PASSAIC COUNTY (updated 4:30 p.m.)

ADVISORY: Winter weather advisory in effect from 3:20 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

WHAT TO EXPECT: A wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain is expected during these hours, leaving up to 1 inch of sleet and a trace of ice on the ground. All precipitation is expected to change to rain Tuesday morning, sometime between midnight and 6 a.m. 

HAZARDS: The National Weather Service says roads and sidewalks could be slippery, especially in higher elevations.

PLUS: Warm temps hurting area ski resorts

SUSSEX COUNTY (updated 4 p.m.)

ADVISORY: Winter weather advisory in effect from 3:40 p.m. Monday to 11 a.m. Tuesday. 

WHAT TO EXPECT: Some light sleet could start falling late Monday afternoon, possibly mixing with snow for a brief period. The wintry mix will change over to freezing rain overnight. Freezing rain could linger until the late morning on Tuesday. Accumulations of up to 1 inch of sleet is possible, along with about a tenth of an inch of ice.

HAZARDS: Roads and sidewalks could be slippery, especially in higher elevations.

MORRIS COUNTY and WARREN COUNTY (updated 4:30 p.m.)

ADVISORY: Winter weather advisory in effect from 7 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday. 

WHAT TO EXPECT: Some light sleet might begin late this afternoon, then sleet is expected to overspread the area tonight, possibly mixed with rain. Precipitation will change to freezing rain and rain through the overnight hours, becoming all rain by sunrise Tuesday. Less than a half inch of sleet could accumulate, along with "a very light glaze of ice," according to the latest weather service advisory. 

HAZARDS: Roads and sidewalks could be slippery, especially in higher elevations.

SOMERSET COUNTY (updated 4 p.m.)

ADVISORY: No advisories issued for Somerset County. However, some sleet could mix in with rain Monday night.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Rain and sleet expected Monday night, with sleet possibly accumulating up to a half-inch. Precipitation will become all rain after 1 a.m., with the low temperature about 35 degrees. Winds may gust as high as 25 mph. Rain, possibly heavy at times, is likely Tuesday morning before noon, followed by showers in the afternoon, with a high near 47. 

HUNTERDON COUNTY (updated 4:30 p.m.)

ADVISORY: No advisories issued for Hunterdon County. However, some sleet could mix in with rain Monday night.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Rain likely Monday night, with sleet mixing in. Precipitation is expected to change to all rain after midnight. Rain may be heavy at times Tuesday morning, and winds could gust as high as 25 mph. 

MIDDLESEX COUNTY (updated 4 p.m.)

ADVISORY: No advisories issued for Middlesex County. Sleet was in the earlier forecast, but it is no longer expected in this area.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Rain is likely Monday night, with temperatures dipping to the upper 30s and wind gusts up to 30 mph. Rain is expected Tuesday morning, followed by showers in the afternoon and highs in the lower 50s. 

MERCER COUNTY (updated 4 p.m.)

ADVISORY: No advisories issued for Mercer County. Sleet was in the earlier forecast, but it is no longer expected in this area.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Rain is likely Monday evening, mainly after 9 p.m., with winds at 14 mph to 18 mph and a low of 37 degrees. Rain, possibly heavy at times, is expected Tuesday morning, followed by showers in the afternoon.

ESSEX COUNTY and UNION COUNTY (updated 5 p.m.)

ADVISORY: No advisories issued for these counties, as of 5 p.m. Monday. However, some sleet and freezing rain could mix in with plain rain Monday night.

WHAT TO EXPECT: A mix of rain and sleet is likely Monday evening, then plain rain after midnight. Little or no sleet accumulation is expected. Rain should continue Tuesday morning and through most of the afternoon. 

HUDSON COUNTY (updated 5 p.m.)

ADVISORY: No advisories issued for Hudson County, as of 5 p.m. Monday. However, some sleet could mix in with rain Monday night.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Rain and sleet likely before midnight, followed by plain rain and some areas of fog. Wind gusts could get as high as 29 mph. Rain should continue on Tuesday, mainly before 3 p.m. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Up to three-quarters of an inch of rain is possible.

COASTAL NEW JERSEY (updated 5 p.m.)

ADVISORY: No advisories issued for this region, as of 5 p.m. Monday. 

WHAT TO EXPECT: Rain expected Monday night, mainly after 10 p.m., with steady winds of 15 to 25 mph, and gusts as high as 35 to 40 mph, especially near the coast. Rain will continue in the early morning, heavy at times, followed by showers in the afternoon.

SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY (updated 5:15 p.m.)

ADVISORY: No advisories issued for this region, as of 5 p.m. Monday.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Rain is likely Monday night, with thunderstorms possible after midnight and Tuesday morning, followed by showers Tuesday afternoon. Rain could be heavy at times.   

It's been awhile since we discussed wintry weather, so here is guide to different precipitation types. pic.twitter.com/qEZ7QgKSI5

-- Gary Szatkowski (@GarySzatkowski) December 27, 2015

HIGHWAYS BEING TREATED

In advance of the storm, the state Department of Transportation has been pre-treating roads with brine in Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Union and parts of Hunterdon, transportation spokesman Kevin Israel said Monday afternoon. 

Brine is a salt water mixture that prevents road surfaces from freezing, and helps melt snow and sleet that falls on the surface.

"We obviously ask drivers to plan their trips accordingly," based on the latest weather forecasts, Israel said. "Weather conditions can change at a moment's notice, so (drivers should) be careful."

NJ TRANSIT INFO

NJ Transit is keeping a close eye on the storm forecast and has already announced that bus tickets will be cross-honored at the Tuxedo, Sloatsburg and Harriman train stations, agency spokesman Jennifer M. Nelson said.

"As with all inclement weather situations, NJ Transit will monitor conditions as they develop and will take all precautions necessary - including watching for ice build-up along catenary wires and roadways - and act accordingly," Nelson said. "We have already established that bus tickets/passes for Bus Route Nos. 196 & 197 will be cross-honored at Tuxedo, Sloatsburg and Harriman stations on Monday, December 28, beginning at 5 p.m., due to expected winter weather conditions." 

"Customers should be aware that additional bus, rail and light rail service may be subject to delays should the situation warrant," she added. For the latest rail and bus updates, customer can check the NJ Transit website.

Staff writer Larry Higgs contributed to this report. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Bear is said to be in good health and weighing approximately 350 pounds. Watch video

WEST MILFORD -- "Pedals,"  the injured walking bear, was recently spotted in the township and appeared to be in good health, having survived the recent bear hunting season, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife confirmed Monday afternoon.

The bipedal bear was seen on Dec. 21 and the sighting was immediately called into the agency's hotline, said Lawrence Hajna, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Agency's Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Hajna said the caller reported the bear "looked healthy" and estimated that he weighed approximately 350 pounds. He said he didn't know if the bear was spotted in a residential area or in the woods.

It was the first reported sighting of the wounded bear since the third week in November, Hajna said. Pedals is walking on his two hind legs because of injuries to his two front paws.

"As we've been saying all along, the bear seems to be doing fine on it's own," said Hajna. "This is really good news for the bear and all the people following his travels. I know a lot of people are worried about the bear and his ability to survive the winter.

"This sighting is really encouraging. By virtue of the fact that the bear hasn't been seen for some time indicates to us that he has been out in the woods foraging. There are plenty of tree nuts available. We now have a bases to determine the bear is OK. He may be heading into his denning period now."

Supporters of the injured bear were concerned about him surviving the hunting season - Hajna said the agency had not received any "Pedals" sightings from hunters - and are now uneasy about his ability to make it through the winter.

Hajna said wildlife officials didn't have enough time to mobilize and capture the bear. He said the agency didn't launch a search for the bear after the sighting because their biologist maintain its best to let the bear survive on its own.

"We didn't get a chance to take a look at him," said Hajna. "We're not going to try to capture him. If we get more sightings and are able to develop a pattern of his whereabouts, we'll go out. But with the cooler temperatures coming the bear will likely go into a den and spend the winter there."

Sabrina Walsh-Pugsley started a GoFundMe page to have the bear relocated to a facility in Otisville, N.Y., but Hajna said the agency won't allow the bear to be transported out of state.

Wildlife officials are still asking anyone who spots the bear to immediately call their hotline at 877-927-6337.

"The bear has found what he needed. He's very adaptable," said Hajna. "We've been saying all along that this is a remarkable bear."

From sports to features, spot news to lighter moments, the photojournalists of lehighvalleylive.com were there.

There were sad moments and happy ones.

High-stakes games and games for fun.

Throughout 2015, the photographers of lehighvalleylive.com were there to capture the images that told the stories of the year.

From farm shows to the Freddys, from high school sports to high-pressure situations, scroll through the gallery above to see the images that captured the moments of 2015.

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

There were plenty of acts that entertained us through the year. Take a look here.

Music fans had a lot to like about 2015 in the Lehigh Valley.

The region is loaded with venues from the small to large that bring in acts year round.

Musikfest in Bethlehem. The State Theatre in Easton. The PPL Center in Allentown. Sands Bethlehem Event Center.

There are many more places to scratch your musical itch.

Take a look at some of our favorite concert photos of 2015, compiled by photographer Matt Smith.

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

The 34-year-old was unconscious in a town alley when officers arrived, police say.

Santos Vasques-Hernandez, 34, of Hackettstown, was passed out when town officers found him at 8:03 p.m. on Christmas night in an alley off the 100 block of Main Street, police said in a news release.

He was breathing and appeared to be intoxicated, police said. As he came to, he became combative and started swinging his fist at officers, police said.

Pair cited after setting off hotel fire alarm, police say

The officers asked for ID and Vasques-Hernandez handed them his wallet.

The wallet smelled of raw marijuana and, when checked, revealed a small plastic bag containing the drug, police said.

Vasques-Hernandez also had a wooden pipe containing suspected marijuana residue, police said.

He as transported by Hackettstown Rescue Squad to Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, police said.

He was charged with disorderly conduct, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Vasques-Hernandez was released pending a court appearance, police said.

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

 

While police were at the Morris County store, the 33-year-old tried to run off with the merchandise, police say

A 33-year-old Oxford Township man tried to steal $3,500 worth of Dyson vacuum cleaners on Christmas Eve from a Morris County Target store, police report.

William Bundy IV was sent to Morris County jail in lieu of $20,000 bail after Washington Township police in that county charged him with shoplifting, according to a news release.

Hackettstown man hands officers ID, evidence, police say

While police were meeting about 11 a.m. with security from the Route 46 store in response to a shoplifting complaint, Bundy was seen trying to run off with the merchandise, police said.

He remained jailed on Monday afternoon, online records show.

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

 

The 39-year-old man pushed a woman to the ground twice before she locked herself in a car with a senior citizen and children

A man is facing assault charges after allegedly attacking woman and senior citizen while displaying a knife in the parking lot of Home Depot in Mansfield, Warren County.

Courtesy photo 

Police said the 8:30 p.m. incident occurred outside the store on Christmas. When officers arrived, the 39-year-old man, who was not identified, had a knife in his waistband and was ordered to the ground.

Police say he was intoxicated, belligerent toward police, and refused to follow commands.

Following an investigation, police learned the man initially had pushed a 39-year-old woman to the ground twice while yelling profanities. The woman, a senior citizen and some children locked themselves inside a minivan to get away from the attacker, police said.

It's unclear if the attacker knew the victims prior to the incident.

The attacker continued to bang on the windows of the minivan, damaging the windshield wipers. He was charged with assault, criminal mischief, and disorderly conduct.

Police said he later posted $1,000 bail and 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.

The 26-year-old had a .40-calibrer handgun in the car he was driving, police say.

A 26-year-old New Jersey man was arrested Christmas morning in Phillipsburg after threatening people with a handgun, town police report.

Police responded to a report of threats in the first block of Cherry Alley, but Nigel Hodge, of Orange, Essex County, had already left in a car, police Chief James Faulborn said.

A description of the car was obtained and it was pulled over about 9:45 a.m. in the 200 block of South Main Street, Faulborn said.

Woman allegedly stole $3K in gift cards from Phillipsburg school

Hodge was in violation of a restraining order, Faulborn said. 

The magazine from a semiautomatic weapon was visible on the car's console, Faulborn said. The vehicle was impounded and a search warrant obtained, the chief added.

A .40-caliber handgun was subsequently recovered from the car, Faulborn said.

In addition to the restraining order violation, Hodge faces weapons offenses, Faulborn said.

Bail was set at $100,000 with no 10 percent option and Hodge was sent to Warren County jail, Faulborn said.

Hodge remained jailed on Tuesday morning, online records show.

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

 

How much rain, snow and sleet fell across New Jersey during the first winter storm of the 2015-2016 season?

Depending on where you live or where you were driving this morning, you saw a coating of snow, were pelted by sleet or drenched by rain.

You might have also gotten a taste of all three of those weather conditions. 

So, how much precipitation fell across New Jersey during the first winter storm of the 2015-2016 season?

Here are the numbers reported by several different weather organizations. 

SNOW AND SLEET TOTALS

Unofficial totals reported by the National Weather Service and the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) as of Tuesday morning:

Wantage (Sussex County) -- 1.2 inches of snow

Tewksbury (Hunterdon County) -- 0.9 inches of snow

Montague (Sussex County) -- 0.8 inches of snow

Bloomingdale (Passaic County) - 0.5 inches of snow

Hardyston (Sussex County) - 0.5 inches of snow

Delaware Twp. (Hunterdon County) - 0.5 inches of snow

Randolph (Morris County) - 0.5 inches of snow

Rockaway Twp.  (Morris County) - 0.4 inches of snow

Green Pond (Morris County) - 0.3 inches of sleet and snow

Marcella (Morris County) - 0.3 inches of snow

Bernards Twp. (Somerset  County) - 0.2 inches of snow

Clinton (Hunterdon County) - 0.1 inches of snow

Hackettstown (Warren County) - 0.1 inches of snow

Burlington (Burlington County) - trace of rain and sleet mix

Denville (Morris County) -- trace of snow   

Flemington (Hunterdon County) - trace of rain and sleet mix

Greenwich (Warren County) -- trace of snow    

Hawthorne (Passaic County) -- trace of snow   

Lebanon (Hunterdon County) -- trace of snow    

Monroe Twp. (Middlesex County) - trace of rain and sleet mix

Oakland (Bergen County) -- trace of snow    

Princeton (Mercer County) - trace of rain and sleet mix

Rockaway (Morris County) -- trace of snow  

Saddle Brook (Bergen County) -- trace of snow

Washington Twp. (Morris County) -- trace of snow  

PLUS: Rainy day across N.J. after snow and sleet

TOTAL PRECIPITATION

Here's a look at the places that received the most overall precipitation Tuesday. Most of these locations had only rain, but some had snow or sleet mixed in.

The numbers in this chart show the combined total of rain and melted frozen precipitation reported by the New Jersey Weather & Climate Network, which operates dozens of weather monitoring stations across the Garden State. 

Nice coating in Basking Ridge, NJ. @AmyFreeze7 @NJWeatherBlogs @nj1015 @DaveCurren @weatherworks #njwx #winterishere pic.twitter.com/tVwSmkTp6I

-- WxReMarks (@WeatherReMarks) December 29, 2015

First one. pic.twitter.com/6XqoK6QSZj

-- Chris Beal (@NJSnowFan) December 29, 2015

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

The sophomore guard was MVP of the Merchants Bank Holiday Hoops Classic.

GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Devyn Gara, Warren Hills

The sophomore guard tied a career high with 17 points as the Blue Streaks defeated Bangor in the final of the Merchants Bank Holiday Hoops Classic.

Gara, who scored 11 points as Warren Hills knocked off Nazareth in the tournament semifinals, was named the event’s Most Valuable Player.

She has reached double figures in scoring during each game of Warren Hills’ 3-1 start.

Honorable mention: Jr. G Adrienne Amey, Belvidere; Jr. F Tessa Brugler, Nazareth; Jr. G/F Veronica Christ, Delaware Valley; Sr. G Hana Cicerelle, Warren Hills; Sr. G Taylor George, Whitehall; Jr. G Kristina Harrel, North Hunterdon; Sr. F Karlee Krchnavi, Palisades; Jr. F Cailee Murphy, Notre Dame.

Kyle Craig may be reached at kcraig@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KyleCraigSports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

Abilities volunteers help sort toys for those in need in many surrounding communities

Abilities consumers Kristy Deal and Eric Vaccaro sort toys for Project Self Sufficiency's Season of Hope Toy Drive in Newton on Dec. 17.

Abilities consumers volunteer with Project Self Sufficiency, helping to distribute donations to those in need in Sussex and Warren counties.

Abilities of Northwest Jersey provides services and supports to more than 300 individuals with disabilities daily who live in Warren, Hunterdon, Morris and Sussex counties.  

A care-package drive for U.S. troops and a fundraiser for needy area kids were conducted under the leadership of the school's student council.

The Mansfield Elementary School Student Council spearheaded a care-package drive for U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan in conjunction with Rolling Thunder Chapter 3 of NJ during the month of November.

The student council also partnered with the Mansfield Education Association to collect presents and pajamas for needy children in the Warren County area. Change was also collected resulting in a donation of over $500 to Warren Family Promise.

The Jolin Food Box program, administered through Project Self-Sufficiency, is available to New Jersey residents.

Fresh, refrigerated and frozen foods are available to northwestern New Jersey residents at reduced prices through the Jolin Food Box program.

The food assistance program offers a variety of ordering options, from breakfast-lunch-dinner combination packs to boxes of dinner entrees to special packages just for children.

Each month features a variety of menu items from seafood and poultry to baked goods and prepared meals.

The price of a single box ranges from $20 - $40. There is no limit to the number of boxes an individual or family can purchase, and the menu changes each month.

Interested residents can order online with a credit card at www.jolinfoodbox.com or by calling Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500. Payment is made when the order is placed.

The next deadline for placing an order is Wednesday, Jan. 20; delivery will be made to Project Self-Sufficiency on Saturday, Jan. 30.

To find out more about the monthly food deliveries by the Jolin Food Box Program at Project Self-Sufficiency, or any of the other programs and services available at the agency, call 973-940-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

During a traffic stop on I-78 Monday, State Police discovered that a Pennsylvania man was wanted for charges of human trafficking out of Howard County, Maryland.

Will W. Chen
 

POHATCONG TWP.-- During a traffic stop on Route 78 Monday, State Police discovered that a Pennsylvania man was wanted for charges of human trafficking out of Howard County, Maryland.

Trooper Francis Cagulada, of Perryville Station initially stopped Will W. Chen, 58, of Pittsburgh at 11 p.m. for swerving or "failure to maintain lane," near mile marker 2.1 in Pohatcong Township, headed west into Pennsylvania, according to State Police spokesman Sgt. Jeff Flynn.

Hunterdon's Most Wanted: Louis Zayas Jr.

Chen, who was driving a blue Honda Civic with one passenger, was discovered to be a fugitive and was wanted on charges of human trafficking by the Howard County Police Department in Laurel, Maryland, Flynn said.

State Police said the warrant for Chen's arrest was found through the National Crime Information Center database, which had indicated Chen was to be extradited in caught, Flynn said.

$12K in stolen property recovered by N.J. State Police

Chen was arrested without incident and lodged at the Warren County Jail on a no-bail warrant. He is awaiting extradition to Maryland. His passenger was not arrested, according to Flynn.

State Police did not have additional information on the human trafficking charges, and the Howard County Police Department declined to comment on the charges as the investigation is ongoing.

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

Outgoing Mayor Harry Wyant Jr. says he will not accept money due to him in unpaid sick and vacation days, about equal to the pay boost OK'd for the new mayor.

The starting salary for Phillipsburg's new mayor is back in the neighborhood of that of his predecessor.

And thanks to outgoing Mayor Harry Wyant Jr., taxpayers are just about going to break even on the boost in pay that town council approved Tuesday for the first year of Mayor-elect Stephen "Rogie" Ellis' term.

That's because Wyant on Tuesday said he decided against accepting $23,000 due to him in unpaid sick and vacation time. Council approved withholding the payment moments after voting to increase the new mayor's salary from $40,000 to $65,000. Both votes were unanimous.

Voters on Nov. 3 selected Ellis over Wyant, who was seeking a fifth four-year term. About a month later, on Dec. 1, council voted to cut the mayor's salary to $40,000, down from Wyant's 2015 salary of nearly $71,000. The idea was to set a rate similar to what Wyant made starting out as mayor in 2000, but council Vice President Todd Tersigni quickly called the 43.5 percent cut in Ellis' pay a mistake.

Much of Phillipsburg mayor's pay would be restored under proposal

"I'm thankful that this issue is behind us now," Tersigni said Tuesday. "It's time to move on to other issues."

He continued by wishing the best of luck to Ellis and to incoming council members Mark Lutz and Joshua Davis, both Democrats -- like Ellis -- elected in November over Republican council President John A. Lynn and fellow Republican candidate Robert W. Fulper.

Tuesday marked Wyant's last meeting. Announcing during the meeting that he will not attend Friday's reorganization meeting, when the newly elected officials will be sworn in, Wyant said he has shown no animosity to Ellis and continued working since the election to help with the transition.

Phillipsburg mayor upset: Stephen Ellis unseats Harry Wyant Jr.

Ellis was not immediately available for comment.

Phillipsburg's mayor receives the same benefits as the town's other non-union employees, including payment for accrued sick and vacation time that goes unused. Council on Tuesday awarded $91,081 total to recently retired public works Director Dennis Viscomi for about 170 sick days and 60 vacation days. Viscomi worked for the town for nearly 40 years. Council also approved paying $22,000 to retired Phillipsburg Free Public Library Director Ann Derenzis to cover 105 sick says and 17 1/2 vacation days.

Ellis will appoint a new public works director, and Debbie Messling has already started as the new library director.

Wyant said no previous mayor had accepted the payment for accrued, unused time.

"I felt that I'm not going to set a precedence now," he said.

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

From Allentown to Warren County, the Lehigh Valley region offers a host of events to ring in 2016.

From Allentown to Warren County, the Lehigh Valley region offers a host of events to celebrate the end of 2015 and welcome the new year.

Here is a look at what's planned:

Allentown

Starting at 10 p.m. Thursday, the Hamilton District Main Street Program and City of Allentown's Downtown Allentown New Year's Eve Celebration features the dance troupe Xcape and music by The BC Combo at Seventh and Hamilton streets leading up to fireworks at midnight, shot from atop the Wells Fargo Building at 702 Hamilton St. Free and open to the public, the event coincides with evening specials at several Center City restaurants. Visit lehighvalleychamber.org for more information.

Bethlehem

ArtsQuest's seventh annual family friendly Peepsfest runs Wednesday and Thursday inside and outside at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way on South Side Bethlehem. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, culminating with the Peeps Chick Drop and fireworks. The 4 1/2-foot-tall, 85-pound lighted mockup of a Just Born Inc. Peeps confection drops at 5:15 p.m. Thursday. New for this year, watch the un-crating and raising of the Peeps Chick at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The full slate of entertainment and activities includes a live animal demonstration by the Wildlands Conservancy at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema. Admission and most events are free; the kids' Mascot Race and Kids Fun Run is 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and costs $10, and the Peepsfest 5K is 1 p.m. Thursday and costs $35. Visit steelstacks.org/peepsfest for the entire schedule.

Easton

The Crayola Experience at 30 Centre Square is celebrating an American's New Year's Eve noon to 7 p.m. Thursday. Highlights include patriotic dance parties -- think red, white and blue -- at 3 and 6 p.m., plus a 5 p.m. New Year's countdown in addition to all-day access to 26 hands-on attractions. Admission is $19.99 per person or $24.99 with photo.

Warren County

Rutherfurd Hall, 1686 Route 517 in Allamuchy Township, hosts First Night Warren 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, featuring performances by musicians, magicians and dancers; arts and other activities; food vendors; and fireworks at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 per person and can be purchased online or at the mansion itself, 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. A limited number of on-site parking passes are available for $25 per car, or shuttle buses are offered free with admission.

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Heading outside the Lehigh Valley for New Year's Eve? There are plenty of quirky events being held across Pennsylvania to ring in 2016, according to a roundup from Gov. Tom Wolf's office, including in:

Hershey, featuring "The Hershey Kiss Raise."

Lebanon, with the "New Year's Eve Bologna Drop."

Kennett Square, celebrating the town's claim as "Mushroom Capital of the World" with the lowering of a 700-pound stainless steel mushroom.

Pottsville, featuring the raising of Yuengling beer bottle to the top of a flagpole in Pottsville, the home of America's oldest brewery.

Beavertown, with the lowering to the ground at midnight of "Bucky," the life-sized beaver, from a 75-foot ladder.

Dillsburg, where -- you guessed it -- a dill pickle is dropped at midnight.

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Also check out nj.com's 40 spots to celebrate New Year's Eve in New Jersey.

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