Christ Church will host a free performance by the African Children's Choir on Friday, January 24th at 7:30pm.

The concert will feature popular children's songs, traditional spirituals and contemporary tunes. Christ Church is located at 62 Main Street, in the heart of downtown Newton. The mission of the African Children's Choir is to help Africa's most vulnerable youth, providing those children with the education and the tools necessary to help Africa in the years ahead. The African Children's Choir has been working with the most vulnerable children in Africa for many years, raising awareness of the plight of Africa's orphaned and abandoned, but also

showing the beauty, dignity and potential of each African child. With a focus on education, the choir is currently caring for several thousand underprivileged children throughout Africa. The choir is comprised of youngsters ages 7-12, who hail from the countries of Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan and Uganda. Music for Life (the parent company of the African Children's Choir) has educated more than 52,000 children and impacted the lives of more than 100,000 people through its relief and development programs during its history. The purpose of MFL is to help create new leadership for tomorrow's Africa, by focusing on education.

The African Children's Choir has had the privilege to perform before presidents, heads of state and most recently the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, for her diamond jubilee. The choir has also had the honor of singing alongside artists such as Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Michael W. Smith, and other inspirational performers. The concert at Christ Church in Newton is free and open to all. A free-will offering will be taken at the performance to support African Children's Choir programs such as education, care, and relief and development programs. For more information, visit www.christchurch newton.org or call 973383-2245.

The PRESS is having a pet photo contest! Entry is free. Photos of all animals are accepted in color or black and white, but will be only be printed in color as space permits. Categories will be: Best Overall, Funniest and Most Original. A winner from each category will receive prizes from our sponsors. The deadline for entries is March 27th. Photos will be printed through April 2nd. The winners will be announced in the April 3rd edition. To enter the contest, submit your photo with your name, address and phone number to: The PRESS, 1 Broadway, Bangor, PA 18013 or email your photo to thepresspetsNJ@gmail. com. Photos will not be returned. One photo per pet is permitted.

Blairstown area residents are invited to learn basic computer skills at Project SelfSufficiency's Main Street location on Thursdays, January 9th-23rd, from 6pm 9pm. Fundamental keyboarding skills and a brief overview of popular software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook will also be discussed. The agency's computer lab is located in the First Presbyterian Outreach Center at 35 Main Street in Blairstown. For more information, call the Project Self-Sufficiency office in Blairstown at 908-362-1777, or call the Newton office at 973-940-3500. Information about the agency's services is also available at www.proje ctselfsufficiency.org.

The Warren County Library Headquarters Branch Hobbit Photobooth is rescheduled due to snow. On Saturday, January 18th at 11am at 2 Shotwell Drive Belvidere N.J. 07823. The library will be using their cool new green screen and professional camera to take pictures. Props provided, but feel free to dress in your finest Middle Earth garb. Naturally, elevenses will be served! How would you look with a Dwarf beard and (faux) axe in hand? Or maybe youve fancied yourself more of a wizened wizard? Come find out at the library's Hobbit Photobooth! All ages are welcome. Please register for the event at warrenlib.org or call 908-475-6322. Cheer on the Belvidere athletic teams this weekend! (All home games) North Warren Girls Varsity Basketball Wednestay January 15th at 7pm. Belvidere Boys Varsity Basketball on Friday January 17th at 7pm. North Warren Boys Varsity Basketball

Friday January 17th at 7pm. North Warren Varsity Wrestling, January 21st at 7pm. North Warren Girls Basketball, January 22nd at 2pm. Belvidere Wrestling, January 22nd at 7pm. North Warren vs Belvidere Wrestling at North Warren, January 23rd at 7pm. Good luck to all teams! Photos from school athletic events can be viewed and purchased online at http://thepress/photos.fo totime.com. Not only do we provide great photos, but we also offer other products such as gifts, calendars, t-shirts and much more! Also, we cover most of the events, so check out the paper weekly to see recaps of the games! We love hearing from you! Send your tidbits of information to:

The PRESS PO Box 430 Blairstown, NJ 07825

thepressads@gmail.com

Visit us online at
thepressnewsonline.com

Like Us on Facebook!

The following is a list of books added to the Warren County Library collection this past week. What Does the Fox Say? By Ylvis. From Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.; Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth (Electronic Format) By Reza Aslan. From Random House; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Electronic Format) By Junot Daz. From Riverhead Trade; Thor: The Dark World From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment; Philomena From Tcfhe/Anchor Bay/Starz; Independent Study: The Testing, Book 2 By Joelle Charbonneau. From Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; Mr. Mercedes: A Novel By Stephen King. From Scribner; The Wonder Weeks: How to Stimulate Your Baby's Mental Development and Help Him Turn His 10 Predictable, Great, Fussy Phases into Magical Leaps Forward By Frans X., Ph.D Plooij. From Kiddy World Publishing; A Shiver of Light

(Merry Gentry) By Laurell K. Hamilton. From Berkley Hardcover; Invisible By

James Patterson. From Little, Brown and Company; Mrs. Lincoln's Rival By Jennifer Chiaverini. From Dutton Adult; Photoshop Elements 12 All-in-One For Dummies (For D u m m i e s (Computer/Tech)) By Barbara Obermeier. From For Dummies; Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything By Maira Kalman. From Nancy Paulsen Books; Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop Elements 12 (Teach Yourself VISUALLY (Tech)) By Mike Wooldridge. From Visual; All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood By Jennifer Senior. From Ecco; Restoration Agriculture By Mark Shepard. From Acres U.S.A.; The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi By Neal Bascomb. From Arthur A. Levine Books; Crown of Renewal (Paladin's Legacy) By Elizabeth Moon. From Del Rey; The Freshman Survival Guide: 25 Things You Need to Know About College By Nora Bradbury-Haehl. From Center Street; The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens By Claire Tomalin. From Vintage.

More often than not, a local, homespun theatre in Northwest NJ attracts famed performers and gives you a chance to enjoy fine shows close to home. Thats what will happen when Southside Johnny performs with The Poor Fools at the Historic Blairstown Theatre on January 24th. With a career spanning almost four decades,

Southside Johnny and his band will take the stage at 8:30pm on Friday night. This intimate 200-seat theatre offers unparalleled views, excellent acoustics and often access to performers for which it is fast becoming popular. Known as a fixture in the American music scene, as well as in Britain and Europe, Southside Johnny is a Jersey native from Ocean Grove. Having achieved fame with The Asbury Jukes, this renowned rocker of almost 40 years is credited with inspiring and collaborating with fellow Jersey favorites Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and others. Of his partners for this upcoming show in Blairstown, Southside Johnny says, The Poor Fools tour is a chance for

me to try out different material and some Jukes standards in an acoustic-ish form. In this incarnation, musicians such as Jeff Kazee, John Conte, Tommy Byrnes, Neal The Dude Pawley and I will all be singing, playing, and having some fun on stage. He adds, It will be a loose mix of songs, stories and banter between the musicians andhopefullythe audience. Just lookin' to have a good time. It'll be a little side trip between the usual Asbury Jukes touring and our next recordng. According to an artist biography by William Ruhlmann, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes was a group founded by Southside Johnny and guitarist, Miami Steve Van

Zandt in 1974. Born John Lyon, his band swiftly became a force to reckon with from the Jersey Shore along with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The two bands shared important influences and players from the R&B world, often collaborating on management and songwriting even after VanZandt found a home with Springsteens band. Southside Johnny launched his own label, Leroy Records, in 2000 with the release of

Messin' with the Blues. Going to Jukesville, Missing Pieces, Into the Harbour and Grapefruit Moon: The Songs of Tom Waits followed in less than eight years. The latter mentioned release was the result of collaboration with Asbury Jukes trombone player, Richie LaBamba Rosenberg in 2008, which showed his willingness to test his skill with different music genres in that it involved a 20-piece Big-Band Jazz

ensemble. His popularity was quite evident by sold-out performances in recent years. His most recent album, Pills and Ammo, was released in 2010 to critical acclaim due in part to stellar keyboard by Jukes player Jeff Kazee, who is expected to be there in Blairstown. Tickets are available at www.theHBT.com or by calling the box office at 908-349-1HBT (1428). Partial proceeds benefit WNTI Public Radio.

Pajama Program Contribution Drive in Hackettstown again this year. It will be from Sunday February 9th, through Saturday, February 15th. Trinity Methodist Church on Main St. will be the drop-off site again this year, each day from 11am-6m. Bring brand new sleepwear and/or new books for children in need in Warren County (from infants through teens). Pajamas and books are at clearance prices, making it easy to give

this time of year. For more information, call Shari Boggs at 908684-8120. Last Call for Pickets! The Sycamore Park Playground Project is offering one last chance to have your name become a part of the fence surrounding Patriot Park, the new children's playground, to be built May 14th18th, at Sycamore Park in Blairstown. Help us reach our fundraising goal! Join us at the Counting on Change

coin drive on Saturday, January 11th from 10am-12 pm at Blairstown Elementary School to get yours, or find the park on facebookcom/sycamoreparkpl ayground. The deadline to order is January 31st, 2014 and there are only about 300 left, so don't miss out! Warren County Community College is proud to announce the availability of free training for current employees of NJ. based local businesses and organizations. Employees must work a minimum of 20 hours per week and must be paid by their employer at their usual hourly rate while in training. Excel Level II 2010 on January 16th & 17th is 8-hours long and split between two consecutive days. PowerPoint Level II on January 21st is four hours long on one day. Participants must attend both sessions of the Excel Level II class in full. All participants must be registered prior to the first day of class. To register, contact Maija Amaro, Warren County Community College, Workforce & Industry Training Specialist at

(908) 835-4029 or via e m a i l at:mamaro@warren.ed u On Saturday, February 8th, the Bangor High School Drama Department will be hosting a pancake breakfast with the cast of Seussical: The Musical. Seussical is a musical based on the wonderful stories of Dr. Seuss and centers around Horton and his efforts to protect Whoville. The breakfast will raise funds for the high school production. Performances are at 7 P.M. on February 27March 1, with an additional 2 P.M. matinee on Saturday. Please call 610-599-7011 for further information regarding tickets for the musical. Tickets for the Cats Hat Flapjacks can be purchased ahead of time by calling Sue Bina at 610-588-3041. In an effort to develop new lines of communication for Blairstown citizens, Committeeman Paul Avery will again be available to meet with residents. This Saturday, January 18, 2014 he will be at the Town Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. no appointment necessary.I hope folks will continue to take advantage of the Open Door approach. Ill be there to listen and what I hear I will share with the Committee as a whole.

Blairstown, Knowlton & Hope, A & P, Alpine Meats, Animal Mansion, Ash Plumbing, Asian Combat Arts, A-Tech, Auto, Blair Tile, Blair Tire & Auto, Blairstown Chiropractic, Blairstown, Country Florist, Blairstown Municipal Building, Blairstown Eye Associates, Blue Ridge Lumber, Buckwood, Building Specialties, Burgdorff, BuzzWorks, Caffe Nelle Cucine, Cannon Country Real Estate, Columbia Post Office, Custom Colonial, Dale's Market, David Krawski Dentist, DogHouse, Dominick Pizza, Dr. Magalio: Dentist, Ellias Restaurant, Finish Line Auto, First Hope Bank, Fitness Empire, Fountain Mall Laundromat, Frank's Pizza, Fun & Games, Gallery 23, Geo's Pizza, Gourmet Gallery, Grand Rental Station, Hair Company, Hairs 2 You, Historic Blairstown Theatre, Hope Deli, Hope Haircutters, JD Liquors, John Deere, Kozimors Upholstery, Knowlton Municipal Building, Lakeland Bank, Lebduska Accounting, Majestic Cleaners, Marksboro Deli, Mark D. Nelke: DMD, Medical Associate, Mediterranean Diner, Napa, Nature's Harvest, New Beginnings, New HoHo, North Warren Farm & Garden, North Warren Pharmacy, North Warren Truck Repair, Old Stillwater General Store, Physical Therapy, Pizza Express, PJ's, PNC Bank, Post Office (Both Locations),

Post Time Pub, Prudential, R. Keiling, Race's Farm Market, Radio Shack, Remax, RunWay Caf, Shell Gas Station, Skyland Bank, Smitty's, Sophia Nails, Studio 94, Sunrise, Nutrition Center, Sun Velocity, Sunoco, The Auto Shop, The Inn at Millrace Pond, Tile Warehouse, Tractor Supply, Tramontin Harley-Davidson, US Gas, Voulas Hairway to Heaven, Village Green, Warren County Library, Wells Fargo, Wilbur's Country Store, Wine & Spirits, Woman to Woman Belvidere A & P, Al's Pizza, ACI Truck Stop, Bagel Smith, BelPike Lanes, Belvidere Diner, Belvidere Spa, Clucas Farm, Curves, Dee Doo's, Dr. Amannda Richline, Food Mart, Four Sisters Winery, H&R Block, Hearth Shop, Hickory Mortgage, Little Johns Pizza, Mediterranean Riverside Designs, Riverton Hotel & Restaurant, Rosal Jewelers, Short Stop, Skee's Busy Bee, Skoogy's, Steckel's Shell, Station, Thisilldous, Uncle Buck's Diner, US Gas, Vincent Haircuttery & Plus, Zack's, Zeeks Washington A & P, Bagelsmith, Fliegauff Jewelers, Home Instead Senior Care, Kaffe Kaprys, Lost Ladies, Mediterranean Bistro, MWC Racing, Pride-N-Groom, Quick Check, Rossi, Second Time Around, Shopper Stop, Silver Stars Bagel, Smith Dodge, Stanley's Pizza, Town Market, Washington Diner, Washington Shoe Newton A& G Pizza, Back in Motion, BMW Dealership, Charm, Co. Seat, Dunkin Donuts, Hampton Diner, Ho Hos, HobbyTown, Holiday Inn, Home Furniture, Warehouse, Kathy's Restaurant, Newton News Stand, Optical Center, O'Reilly's, PB&J, Quick Check, Shop Rite, Skylands Sport Shop, Springboard Shoppe, Superior Shower Doors, The Chatter Box, VW-Audi Dealership, Weis Hackettstown A & P, Bachs Home Healthcare, Cozy Corner, Golden Skillet, Hacktettstown Free public Library, Hackettstown Guns & Ammo, Hackettstown Sandwich Shoppe, Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Mama's Pizza/Cafe Baci, O'Neill's Jewelers. Prickley Pear, Quick Check #2, Riverstar Diner, Tranquility General Store, Valley Bagel, Weis, Willow Caf Columbia Ayers, Hunters Lodge, Roses Cafe

Hello fellow readers, Last week we spoke about sunflower seed being one of the best seed to attract the widest varieties of birds. Rachel from Fredon asked which kind is best. There are two types: black oil seeds with easy to open thin shells most desired by seed-eating birds, and striped sunflower seeds with thicker shells harder for sparrows and blackbirds to crack. There are also shelled sunflower seeds, but the expense and perishability may make them better for your lunch sack. What about suet, asked Tom of Bangor? Suet is officially defined as the hard fat around the kidneys and loins in beef, but most kinds of beef fat are also called suet and can safely be fed to birds. Suet is especially appealing to woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, starlings, and blue jays (my favorite smile). While they love it, stay clear of bacon fat or drippings, which almost always have measurable amounts of carcinogenic nitrosamines (yikes!), not good for birds. Peanut butter, the kind that the oil doesnt

separate, is desirable until the temps warm up when it can go rancid or become soft and adhere to feathers. The one key to attracting feathered friends all year round is the availability of water as noted by my Blairstown birder buddy, Dennis. As I look out to the frozen tundra it makes sense that unfrozen water would attract all creatures furry and feathered; poor things. Maybe it goes without saying, but do not use glycerin or antifreeze in your water offerings, as it can be fatal. There are immersion heaters that turn off should the water dry up. Or a homemade version using an outdoor light bulb in a flower pot with a water dish placed on top. Best to use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) available at the hardware store to eliminate the danger of shock (Dont ask how I know this, though I always did like curly hair). Perhaps the simplest and safest way to attract birds is to set out a plastic bowl of water at the same time each day and bring it in when ice forms. Bird snacks are optional. Garden dilemmas? askmarystone.com

(NAPSI)A long simmering struggle involving toxic landfill sites in Gloucester County, N.J., may well be repeated around the country. There, a company called Soil Safe, Inc., has been charged with dumping contaminated materials at two county sites. Many other U.S. counties, its believed, face similar circumstances. One of the sites is a public park called the Dream Park. The other is a landfill in Logan Township. In the words of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the companys handling, storage and disposal of solid waste at the sites may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the e n v i r o n m e n t i t s already been caught at twice. In 2003, it entered into a consent order with the state and settled a $120,000 fine for, among other things, placing unpermitted contaminated soil in the City of Salem landfill

closure. In 2007, Soil Safe was fined for importing over one quarter of a million tons of contaminated soils over their permit limit, a 40 percent overage. Delaware Riverkeeper says the company has: Exceeded the permitted height of a capped portion of the Logan Township facility by adding soils that violate standards. Used a supposedly safe process for neutralizing contaminated soil that is in fact ineffective. Dumped process soil materials containing elevated levels of a hydrocarbon linked in numerous studies with cancer. Had its company executives make campaign contributions to New Jersey legislators for years and even retained one who oversees environmental issues. Fortunately, in addition to e-mailing Congress about this issue at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, there are several steps you can take to protect the

environment. According to the experts at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, these include: Practice the three Rs-first, reduce how much you use, reuse what you can and then recycle the rest. Finally, dispose of whats left in the most environmentally friendly way. Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.

Use the microwave to cook small meals. It uses less power than an oven. Have leaky airconditioning and refrigeration systems repaired. Insulate your home, water heater and pipes. For further facts about the contaminated sites and what can be done, go to the website www.delawareriverkee per.org.

The sculptures and drawings of the late William Bill Powers White, a distinguished New York City artist and educator, will be on

display in Blair Academys Romano Gallery from January 8th to February 8th. An art reception, hosted by Blair architecture teacher Eli King and Mr. Whites good friend and fellow artist, Lois Dodd, will be held on Friday, January 10th, at 7pm. in the gallery. The Romano Gallery is located in ArmstrongHipkins Center for the Arts on Blair Academys campus at 2 Park Street in Blairstown. The gallery is

open Monday through Saturday from 10am. to 6pm. Though a well-known sculptor and visual artist, Mr. White thought of himself first as an educator who enriched the experience of generations of college students in and around New York City. By having his work on exhibit for Blair students, as well as the local community, his former colleagues hope to emphasize this dedication to art education.

Blair students have a rare opportunity to see Mr. Whites finished sculptures and drawings, as well as his working drawings, said former Blair teacher Rita Baragona, who now serves as the gallerys co-director. We are pleased to exhibit his work, which is made possible through Mr. Whites connection to the School through Mr. King and his mother, Lois Dodd. Mr. White frequently

drew inspiration from the past, especially his experiences in Europe during World War II, as well as his friendships within the New York art world. Ms. Baragona added that Mr. White would meet weekly with distinguished artists, such as Lois Dodd, Charles Cajori, Diane Kurz, Mercedes Matter and Philip Pearlstein, to draw figures from life, and those sessions only enriched his work. The ongoing exhibi-

tion offers a sample of Mr. Whites sculptures and drawings, ranging from the classically refined to the quietly audacious. Regardless of medium, his pieces were always executed with superlative skill. The well-spring of the artists inspiration as an educator had its source in the New York art world and, more deeply perhaps, by the experience he shared with his generation during World War II and its aftermath.

Page 10

The PRESS NJ

January 15, 2014

When was the last time you and your riding buds piled into a theater to watch a true-blue biker movie?

FOR TRAMONTIN HARLEY-DAVIDSON PATRONS & THEIR GUESTS ONLY!

Dont Miss This Rare Opportunity!

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2014 6:00PM SHARP
BOW TIE MANSFIELD CINEMA 14
1965 Route 57, Hackettstown, NJ After-Screening Party at Panera Bread (across from the theater) DVDs Will Be Available for Purchase
Must Have Ticket In Hand Prior to Arrival
Limited Seating Available

TICKETS ONLY $10.00

Only Available at Tramontin Harley-Davidson Stop by the shop to buy your ticket today! Hurry in, tickets will sell FAST!

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

FEATURED FILM CAST MEMBER

GLORIA TRAMONTIN-STRUCK
Exit 12 Route Hope, NJ 908.459.4101 TramontinHD.com

Please contact Nancy@tramontinhd.com or call 908.459.4101 for questions.

Besides being a horror movie icon, there were many other sides to the late Vincent Price. His acting career was quite varied, he was an accomplished chef, and was a champion of the arts and education. The Vincent Price Tribute Dinner, featuring reflective stories and background about Vincent by his grandson Jody, along with a menu highlighting several of Vincent's favorite recipes taken from his published cook book, will be held at the historic Inn at Millrace Pond on Friday January 24th. The special midwinter spooky dinner also features the acoustic guitar work of Jody. Back in October, this event was a sellout. Twenty years after his death, Price still commands the attention of generations of horror movie fans, notes Jody Price, who lives in Long Valley. Vincent, a Yale graduate, began by playing the straight man, the lead, but "he fell into horror movies," said Jody. Born in St. Louis in 1911, Vincent's first on-screen appearance was 75 years ago as the romantic lead in 1938's Service de Luxe," a role far from the face of classic horror he would soon become.

It was three years later that his first plunge into sci-fi and horror hit the screens, a movie called "The Invisible Man Returns." This led to roles in dozens of iconic movies, from the original versions of "The Fly" (60th anniversary marked this year) and "House of Wax" (55th anniversary), as well as a series of Edgar Allen Poe film adaptations. For children of the '80s, he can be recognized opposite Johnny Depp as the inventor in "Edward Scissorhands" and as the speaker in Michael Jackson's highly acclaimed "Thriller." Jody notes that his favorites are "The House on Haunted Hill," which terrified his brother for a full month as a kids, and "The Conquerer Worm," in which his grandfather is hacked to bits with an axe. "For someone who was not considered an A-list star, his impact was amazing," he said. Vincent not only enjoyed playing the horror roles that made him famous, Jody said, but his guest appearances on kids' TV, comedies and parts in other serious dramas also commanded much attention. Jody is a computer

programmer and locally-renowned acoustic guitarist who had his own piece of national fame in a 1999 Simpsons episode after that year's Super Bowl in which the ghost of Vincent Price tells Marge Simpson that his grandson, Jody, will deliver the missing piece of a celebrity craft kit. As a musical performer, Jody frequently entertains crowds at restaurants and special events. Jody, an instrumental acoustic artist, mixes material that gives his work an expansive feel. Influenced by the likes of Leo Kottke, John Renbourn, George Harrison, Ralph Towner, Patty Larkin and a whole lot more, his tunes are a mixture of Jazz, Acoustic Blues, English Folk and Avant Garde. A mix of music and commentary, Jody's fondest memories of his grandfather are not film-related. Join him on January 24th to find out more about his relationship with his grandfather and Vincent's career highlights. The Inn at Millrace Pond, a historic bed and breakfast and restaurant is located just minutes from Route 80, Exit 12. The dinner-event starts with seatings at 6:30 p.m. Vincent Price "commentary" begins at about 7:30pm. Dinner tickets are just $49 (plus tax and gratuity) per person. For those just interested in the Vincent Price commentary, tickets are $10 each plus a one drink minimum. Reservations are recommended for this event. The Inn at Millrace Pond is in the heart of Hope at 313 Johnsonburg Road by Route 519. For more information about the Inn at Millrace Pond, to make a reservation call 908-459-4884 or visit www.inn atmillracepond.com.

I wanted to say thank you to the North Warren Regional School 7th grade Basketball coach. I attended the game on Friday, January 10th and was honored to witness the best teamwork ever. Even though the team did not win the game, they exhibited sportsmanship while playing the game with one of their teammates who was physically

challenged. As the game was in the heat of the battle North Warren players would pass the ball to their team member who would dribble the ball with excitement and then pass it back. On one particular moment the routine pass occurred, but this time he tried to shoot for a basket. To the joy of all of us in the gym, he made the basket

effortlessly, with style and exuberance. The whole gym erupted into applause! It was a wonderful thing to watch and I wanted to thank the coach for making the team work together that well. For all of you who were there to witness it, you know exactly what I am talking about. Thanks again. Spectator

A judge's rejection of renovations to the Warren County Courthouse has left the facility less secure now than before the $5.8 million project opened, and the Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders filed suit today to compel the state judiciary to finance the remedy. The freeholder board filed the lawsuit at the Courthouse in Belvidere, where a dispute has been ongoing since renovations including a new courtroom opened nearly two years ago. "As we're coming up on two years, the County is asserting its rights to address the financial impact that would come from any remedy required to provide for the safe and secure handling of prisoners within the Courthouse," said Freeholder Director Edward J. Smith, who announced that the suit had been filed against the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and numerous judicial officials. Acting at the behest of court officials who sought renovations to the Courthouse, including the creation of secure passageways so

that prisoners could be broughtdirectly into a courtroom for criminal proceedings without having to go through public hallways, the County completed a $5.8 million upgrade that opened in February 2012. The newCourtroom #2 for criminal hearings and trials featured a new elevator running between the holding cells created in the basement and the courtroom, plus other secure passageways to accommodate both defendants and mem-

bers of the judiciary separate from the general public. The renovations also included new judges' chambers, a new Jury Assembly area, other offices and upgrades to the mechanical systems. However, shortly after the new facilities went into use, a Superior Court judge ruled that the new courtroom violated the constitutional rights of defendants, because a support column obstructed views between the defense table and the

jury box. County officials began discussions to remedy the situation, but Smith noted the Courts have looked entirely to the County to fund expensive renovations, even though the court officials approved the renovations plans before construction took place. "The County feels we acted in good faith, we relied on their input, and as soon as the job was done, they said they don't like it and they're not responsible for paying to fix it.

That's outrageous," Smith said, adding, "This is a gross misdirection of the tax dollars of the citizens of Warren County." As a result of the court ruling on Courtroom #2, prisoners are once again being marched through the public hallways to get to Courtroom #1, located in the original 1825 section of the Courthouse. Smith said transport of prisoners within the Courthouse "is even less secure than it was prior to the renovations" since the hold-

ing cells were relocated as part of the renovations. Smith noted the County has concerns about potential liabilities with the current situation, and is filing suit to force a decision on the issue. One possible solutionwould be to install another elevator near Courtroom #1 to bring prisoners to that location. However, Smith added, "The real question is, can the court render a fair decision when it's the defendant?"