Warren County

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Hundreds of homes may move in next to bird habitat

by Mike Frassinelli/The Star-Ledger

Monday December 01, 2008, 6:26 PM

Without telephone poles to serve as perches for predators, an expanse of farm field in southern Warren County is home to one of the top grassland bird habitats in New Jersey.

In the most congested state in America, the Alpha Grasslands in the Natural Heritage Priority Site is the closest a New Jerseyan can get to the Great Plains. There are farm fields as far as the eyes can see on Oberly Road in Pohatcong Township.

"This road is the red-hot center of grass bird viewing," township resident Laura Oltman said.

It might not be for long if a 396-home development is built nearby at High Street and Carpentersville Road, environmentalists contend.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a public hearing on the Hamptons at Pohatcong development for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the township building, 50 Municipal Drive.

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Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice's Lights of Life Memorial Tree Lighting can be found in many places

by Warren Reporter

Thursday November 27, 2008, 10:56 AM

Tree lighting to take place Dec. 1 in Belvidere NEWTON -- The Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Lights of Life Memorial Tree Lighting campaign has been a holiday season staple for friends and family in the tri-state area for many years. This year, the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice extended the Lights of Life to three locations throughout Sussex, Warren and Pike counties to allow many more families to participate in this tradition.

The Lights of Life memorial trees will be illuminated with hundreds of white miniature lights, representing donations in memory or in honor of a family member or friend. Each memorial name will be read by guest speakers including area leaders, hospice employees, volunteers and family members.

Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home has been the Event Sponsor of the Lights of Life for seven years and continues to assist Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice with the presentation of this community outreach to the area residents.

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Sign of the season

by The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk

Tuesday November 25, 2008, 4:13 PM

Pohatcong police investigate accident involving patrol car

by Warren Reporter

Monday November 24, 2008, 12:15 PM

The Pohatcong Township Police Department is currently investigating a motor vehicle accident that occurred on Route 519 in the Springtown section at approximately 1:34 p.m. Nov. 22.

The accident involved a Pohatcong police car and a 2001 Plymouth Neon, operated by Jennifer Mann, age 37, of Durham, Pa. The Plymouth was traveling south on Route 519 and the police car was making a left turn onto Route 519 from a private driveway. The cars collided.

Mann sustained injury to her knee and ankle. A passenger in the Plymouth, Janice Mann-Firmbach, also sustained injury. She was flown via helicopter to St. Luke's Hospital for treatment. At the time of this press release, Firmbach's injuries were unknown.

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Washington Township, Warren County farmer ready for big turkey day

by Jacqueline Lindsay/Warren Reporter

Saturday November 22, 2008, 6:39 AM

WASHINGTON TWP. -- The quiet serenity of Greenwood Farm was periodically interrupted last week by the comical gaggling "laughter" of hundreds of white broad breasted turkeys. Each time Anthony Vacchiano laughed while talking about his turkey operation, the big birds burst into loud laughter too and jostled close to capture the coveted feed as it spilled from his hands.

Vacchiano smiled as he set himself to the task. Knowing the large white feathered turkeys would soon be the centerpiece of many a Thanksgiving dinner across the region -- Vacchiano says he's proud to be a part of the American tradition.

"I get a lot of satisfaction from raising the turkeys," Vacchiano said, leaning on a fence post as turkeys milled around pecking grain and sometimes directing a well aimed peck at each other. "I feed all of these turkeys myself. The people that we sell to appreciates that its healthy food. They're not being processed in some plant."

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Ex-Warren County official gets 3 years for misconduct

by Mike Frassinelli/The Star-Ledger

Friday November 21, 2008, 1:52 PM

A former Warren County township committeeman and school board member was sentenced today to three years in prison for using his position as chairman of the Blairstown Township municipal building project to divert more than $46,000 to a "dummy corporation" he created.

Ray Davis, 59, was led away in handcuffs -- an unusual scene in Warren County, which had been free of the elected-official misconduct cases that have become common in New Jersey in recent years.

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Phillipsburg Liners' defense girds for rugged test

by Allan Conover/Co-Sports Editor

Friday November 21, 2008, 9:57 AM

Phillipsburg takes on shifty Irvington team in playoff semis After spending their Saturday afternoon watching Irvington High play football, Phillipsburg assistant coaches Mike Chando and Mike Lelko returned with plenty of information about the Stateliners' next opponent in the state tournament.

One basic message to the Liners' defense was that it must be on its toes every second, which might even include the timeouts.

"They just fly around -- they run all over the field," said Chando, who coaches P'Burg's tight ends and defensive ends.

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Belvidere residents to decide fate of curfew plan

by Jacqueline Lindsay/Warren Reporter

Thursday November 20, 2008, 11:52 PM

BELVIDERE -- Whether or not the town should re-enact a juvenile curfew was a hot topic during a council meeting held earlier this month. Residents filled the room to offer opposing views on the issue. Town officials agreed to poll the town via a survey to let the residents decide.

Former councilman Ben Ritter said both he and his teenage daughter oppose a juvenile curfew. Ritter read a two-and-a-half page statement to council at the onset of the Nov. 13 meeting in which he noted there are a "very small percentage" of kids causing problems in the town.

"Giving the police the power to arrest someone solely because of their age and the time of day is wrong. It sounds a little like Germany 70 years ago," Ritter said. "If a person or a group of people are causing problems, use the existing ordinances or state statutes and go after them. Leave law-abiding citizens, regardless of age, alone."

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17 towns resolve to follow Highlands master plan

by Paula Saha/The Star-Ledger

Thursday November 20, 2008, 5:23 PM

Seventeen towns in the Highlands have approved resolutions stating they plan to follow the regional master plan, a set of policies that would restrict new development in their communities, the executive director of the Highlands Council said today.

Those towns, under an agreement between the Highlands Council and state Council on Affordable Housing, will likely see affordable housing numbers adjusted downward, and get an additional year to show how they will meet those affordable housing obligations.

None of the towns are bound by the resolution; they can pull out of the process at any time.

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Phillipsburg High School and the Senior Class of 2009 sponsor the 2008 Thanksgiving Pre-Game Community Pep Rally

by Warren Reporter

Thursday November 20, 2008, 5:06 PM

PHILLLIPSBURG - Phillipsburg High School and the Senior Class of 2009 are proud to sponsor the 2008 Thanksgiving Pre-Game Community Pep Rally.

The rally will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m.on Wednesday, Nov. 26. in Maloney Stadium at Phillipsburg High School.

The festivities will include a parade with the cheerleaders, dance team, step-dance team, football players and the homecoming court led by Phillipsburg Police. The popular Alumni Band will be playing prior to the start of the festivities.

Introduction of captains and senior members of all participating groups, a speech by Coach Robert Stem and a grand fireworks display will conclude the program.

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Hackettstown High School hoping to make a move

by Allan Conover/Co-Sports Editor

Thursday November 20, 2008, 12:05 PM

HACKETTSTOWN -- Those long trips over Schooley's Mountain and down to places like North Plainfield and Somerville could soon be a thing of the past for Hackettstown High.

Prompted by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's recent approval to realign many conferences in North Jersey, effective for the 2009-10 school year, Hackettstown has proposed to exit the Skyland Conference and join the newly-created Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference.

"From our standpoint this is a situation where we could go into a conference where there would be less travel time and we'd be able to compete more often with schools of our size that are in closer proximity to Hackettstown," said HHS Athletic Director Bob Grausso.

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Jenna Gregory tops Warren County Field Hockey All-County

by Allan Conover/Co-Sports Editor

Thursday November 20, 2008, 10:09 AM

When Phillipsburg High popped up on the schedule as Warren Hills' next opponent on a couple of dates in October, the Blue Streaks discussed just one player as being a prime concern for them to stop.

Jenna Gregory was the target of every defensive scheme WHHS brought to the field those two days.

"Our goal was to not let her score," said Warren Hills Head Coach Laurie Kerr. "That's it. That's what we wanted to do."

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