Hunterdon County Freeholders are considering getting out of the business of hauling trash.

CLINTON TWP. -- Hunterdon County "has been looking for some time to get out of the waste business," and this might be the right time, Freeholder John Lanza said in a conversation after Tuesday's Freeholder meeting.

The county's permit to operate the transfer station on Petticoat Lane is set to expire at the end of the year. "A few options are available," Lanza said.

"We could contract with another county, or contract with another private entity to operate it."

Several problems arise with contracting with another county, Lanza said. "There would very likely be a minimum tonnage requirement," he said, meaning the county would pay a set minimum rate regardless of how much trash it delivered.

Hunterdon mulls future of trash center

The second issue affects Clinton Township, which currently gets state money to compensate for any negative impact of hosting the trash-handling facility. "If it closes down, Clinton Township suffers harm from losing the benefit of the state compensation," Lanza said.

In contracting with a private entity to run the station, that operator "would have to enter into capital improvements," Lanza said, noting that a company is interested.

All things being equal, he said, Freeholders would prefer that the transfer station continue operating, protecting Clinton Township from any loss of funds.

The issue of the expiring permit opens up another possibility, however. "We'd prefer the state enter into the agreement," Lanza said.

The state already owns the transfer station property on Petticoat Lane, which the county leases. "It could be a win-win," Lanza said, "with the county getting out of the waste transfer business."

The county built the transfer station, which cost around $1.2 million, in 1985. Garbage dumped at the station is compacted, then put in tractor-trailers to be hauled elsewhere. Items to be recycled are transferred and sold to firms that specialize in that.

The station is open to all Hunterdon County residents to drop-off single stream recycling from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Saturdays. Bulky waste can be disposed of on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The idea for the Good Roots Cafe in East Amwell sprang from customers' requests, said the garden center's owner.

EAST AMWELL -- "Our customers built this for us somewhat," said Rutgers Landscape & Nursery owner Jim Brophy, looking around at the patio-like seating in the garden center's Good Roots Cafe.

"People kept saying, 'This is great, but you should have food," Brophy said of the center. "After you hear it for a couple of years, well, the people of Hunterdon got in our ear about what we should be doing."

The cafe is a joint venture with Blue Fish Grill and Factory Fuel Co. owners Kelly Casanova and her husband Stacy. Kelly's done some holiday parties at the garden center, and she talked with Jeff Dallesander, the garden center's operations manager, through the winter about how a cafe would work in the space.

"We were trying to create a destination here," Dallesander said Tuesday. They started offering a kiosk of pre-packaged deli foods, sandwiches and salads under the Good Roots label last year, and there were some seats available for people to use. "Over the winter as we were talking, we felt it was really catching on," Dallesander said.

This April the cafe expanded into a covered space that feels like a garden patio, complete with stone floor. Panels of burlap soften roofing that keeps the rain off, and antique doors that were cut down form walls between the ample windows. Those cut-down doors are repeated in the base of an island that offers seating. Two sides of the cafe are open to the sprawling garden center's lush grounds. 

Getting your garden ready

Every few days Dallesander is switching out the flowers, plants and greenery that surround the cafe, offering a fresh look. Already the cafe's starting to draw some "regulars," said Karen Diaz, the center's sales and marketing manager.

People are starting to hold group meetings there, whether for work, a ladies' lunch or a book club. Free Wifi is a draw. Just last week the space hosted its first birthday party, and on Saturday night a baby shower. Any weddings planned? "Not yet, but people are asking," Diaz said.

"It's very encouraging," Casanova said. "Good Roots is a sister cafe to Factory Fuel Co., with Factory Fuel being more beverage-centered. Here, we've added a new menu for Good Roots."

People will find tempting light salads, wraps and more. On Tuesday Casanova plated a black quinoa-crusted sweet potato with pear, walnut and sage pesto, and a Moroccan salmon salad made of salmon, apricots, parsley, raisins and Spanish olives, blended with a light curry dressing.

"We try to add some organic elements, because look where we are," Casanova said. An example is the hibiscus and wild mushroom quesadilla on the menu. Baked goods from scones to desserts like pear cake and salted caramel brownies are prepared at Factory Fuel's bakery. And there's ice cream from the bent spoon in Princeton.

Furthering the aim of becoming a destination spot, Rutgers Landscape & Nursery holds regular activities along with special events. There's a play area for kids that has sand and lots of digging tools, along with some strategically placed boulders to climb on and trees for shade. A storytime is held nearby every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

An outdoor patio complete with a stone fireplace is cleared off on Sunday mornings for an 8 a.m. yoga class offered by A Life in Balance.

Special events have included a cooking with herbs class led by Casanova, and an annual ladies party. Last year's party featured vendors offering jewelry, soaps, spa items, candles, clothing and more. In early June the garden center hosted a potting party.

Dallesander and Diaz are working on plans for this summer, which could include farm-to-table dinners. The garden center's website has a link to its events calendar.

The changes "have strengthened our brand," Dallesander said.

"On weekends, people are coming in earlier, walking around and looking at plants, then they'll sit down and have something to eat," Casanova added. "They're staying around."

Rutgers Landscape & Nursery is at 1051 Route 202 north near Ringoes. 

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Raritan Valley Community College is offering a new course titled The American Presidency in the fall of 2016.

BRANCHBURG - Raritan Valley Community College has announced it will be offering a new course titled The American Presidency this fall.

The course is being held at the college's township campus. The class begins on Sept. 1.

The current presidential election year appears to be unlike any in American history. The course on the American Presidency, taught by Professor of Political Science Glenn Ricketts, will explore the manner in which presidents are elected, their constitutional obligations and concepts of executive privilege, according to a news release.

N.J. presidential primary results: County by county

In addition, notable presidents and their terms of office will be examined to show how the office of the President has evolved. Past presidential elections will be compared to the current ones, demonstrating that controversy and outlandish behavior are not unique to the 2016 campaign. The results of the current election cycle also will be analyzed to see why one candidate was successful.

For more, contact Ricketts at 908-526-1200, ext. 8372 or glenn.ricketts@raritanval.edu. Raritan Valley Community College's main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road and serves both Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

Bethlehem police said their investigation into the calls revealed the alleged caller illegally living in public housing in the city.

Michael Pellot (Courtesy Photo)Sarah Cassi | For lehighvalleylive.com

A Bethlehem man is accused of repeatedly prank-calling 911 in Bethlehem and New Jersey with fake emergencies.

Michael Noel Pellot, 35, allegedly called Bethlehem's 911 center 12 times between July 31, 2014, and Feb. 29, 2016.

In all the calls, Pellot claimed emergencies in the 1300 block or 1400 block of Fritz Drive -- from fires, to police officers being shot, to hostage situations, police said. But there were no emergencies, and crews responded to find nothing out of the ordinary, police said.

The calls were made on cellphones, and police linked the phones to Pellot.

Last month, Bethlehem investigators learned Pellot was under investigation by New Jersey State Police for allegedly making a similar 911 call in Hunterdon County.

In that instance, Pellot used the same phone to call 911 and claim an off-duty NYPD officer was shot on Interstate 78. Pellot was arrested last month in New Jersey in that case, and is free on $100,000 bail.

Man charged with hoax claiming cop shot on highway

On Wednesday, Pellot was arrested in the Bethlehem cases. He is charged with 12 counts each of making false alarms to public safety agencies; illegal communications with 911 systems; and false reports to law enforcement.

Pellot, who lives in Bethlehem public housing, is also accused of lying about his income. Police said Pellot filled out forms claiming he had no income, when police say he was a driver for a trucking company since December 2014.

Pellot was charged with theft by deception and making false statements to authorities.

In both cases, Pellot was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.

In a news release, police Chief Mark DiLuzio said authorities are still calculating the cost of the emergency responses in Bethlehem and New Jersey.

"The cost is estimated in the thousands of dollars for just emergency response times alone," the chief said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Bethlehem police said their investigation into the calls revealed the alleged caller illegally living in public housing in the city.

Michael Pellot (Courtesy Photo)Sarah Cassi | For lehighvalleylive.com

A Bethlehem man is accused of repeatedly prank-calling 911 in Bethlehem and New Jersey with fake emergencies.

Michael Noel Pellot, 35, allegedly called Bethlehem's 911 center 12 times between July 31, 2014, and Feb. 29, 2016.

In all the calls, Pellot claimed emergencies in the 1300 block or 1400 block of Fritz Drive -- from fires, to police officers being shot, to hostage situations, police said. But there were no emergencies, and crews responded to find nothing out of the ordinary, police said.

The calls were made on cellphones, and police linked the phones to Pellot.

Last month, Bethlehem investigators learned Pellot was under investigation by New Jersey State Police for allegedly making a similar 911 call in Hunterdon County.

In that instance, Pellot used the same phone to call 911 and claim an off-duty NYPD officer was shot on Interstate 78. Pellot was arrested last month in New Jersey in that case, and is free on $100,000 bail.

Man charged with hoax claiming cop shot on highway

On Wednesday, Pellot was arrested in the Bethlehem cases. He is charged with 12 counts each of making false alarms to public safety agencies; illegal communications with 911 systems; and false reports to law enforcement.

Pellot, who lives in Bethlehem public housing, is also accused of lying about his income. Police said Pellot filled out forms claiming he had no income, when police say he was a driver for a trucking company since December 2014.

Pellot was charged with theft by deception and making false statements to authorities.

In both cases, Pellot was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.

In a news release, police Chief Mark DiLuzio said authorities are still calculating the cost of the emergency responses in Bethlehem and New Jersey.

"The cost is estimated in the thousands of dollars for just emergency response times alone," the chief said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The CEA School at South Hunterdon Regional High School is accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year, including the Extended School Year program.

LAMBERTVILLE - The Center for Educational Advancement has announced its new "The CEA School" at South Hunterdon Regional High School as part of its long-standing mission of educating students with disabilities.

This New Jersey Department of Education-approved private school will conduct middle and high school classes at the South Hunterdon High School for the 2016-17 school year and will offer an extended school year program starting July 1, according to a news release. In addition to academic instruction, transitional services will be provided with small student-to-teacher ratios.

Enrollment is open to students up to age 21 with an Individualized Educational Plan from any school district. Applications are now being accepted for the summer 2016 Extended School Year program which will run from July 1 through Aug. 19. Applications are also being accepted for the 2016-17 school year.

"The CEA School will provide all our students with the least restrictive environment possible and be part of a public school setting," said Principal Paul Semegran stated. "Our students will have the opportunity to join clubs and sports teams with the students of the South Hunterdon Regional School District."

CEA marks 45 years in Hunterdon County

The CEA School provides additional resources and services to students on the autism spectrum and with multiple disabilities with individualized academic and transitional services for students who face greater social and technological challenges as they become adults, it was stated in the news release.

"Our transitional services are structured to address three broad areas of life experiences: Applying what is learned in school to real world demands; the development of workplace readiness, job acquisition, and retention skills; and, opportunities in community employment, social engagement, and life skills," said Semegran. "We invite parents of students with special needs to call or come in for a visit to learn about The CEA School.

"We develop strong partnerships with our students' families and other care providers, which is essential for a successful transition to adulthood."

CEA has over 30 years experience in providing individualized transition services to students. For more information about The CEA School at South Hunterdon Regional High School, contact Semegran at 908-782-1480, ext. 226.

At least one person filed a complaint after U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th) fliers got stuck to windshields at the Whitehouse Station NJ Transit train station parking lot on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

WHITEHOUSE STATION - What started out as a reminder to commuters to vote in Tuesday's primary turned into a sticky mess when campaign fliers ended up becoming "glued" to vehicles parked at the NJ Transit train station parking lot.

The fliers, distributed by Patrick Torpey, Hunterdon County Republican Committee chairman, promoted U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th). When the sun came out following an afternoon rain, the thick coated-paper fliers ended up getting baked onto windshields. The same thing happened at the NJ Transit train station parking lot in High Bridge.

"I feel really bad, so I'm trying to rectify the situation the best I can," Torpey, who is spending Wednesday removing any stuck fliers he can find, said. "I want to apologize to any folks for any inconvenience."

Presidential primary results: County by county

At least one complaint was filed with the Readington Township police on Tuesday night, Lt. Joseph Greco confirmed. He said this was a case of bad timing rather than an act of vandalism.

Greco said Torpey reached out to him Wednesday morning and confirmed that the fliers were placed on vehicles early Tuesday morning. No charges will be filed, Greco said. Both Greco and Torpey said they were not aware of any permanent damage to vehicles.

According to the NJ Transit Quarterly Ridership Trends Analysis, Whitehouse Station has an average of 110 riders each day and High Bridge has 72.

A spokesperson for the Lance campaign referred all questions to Torpey.

We asked Hunterdon County kids to tell us about their pet's best trick.

We asked Hunterdon County kids to tell us about their pet's best trick. Here's what they had to say:

Here are my pets' best tricks. My cat's best trick is ...she doesn't really do any tricks. But, the thing she's best at is freaking out. Here is an example: one day, I was calmly walking in the kitchen when, bang! I saw a strip of black race across the floor. Milliseconds later, I realized that the black strip was my cat! I have no idea what caused her to do that, but I think that it had to do with my foot being as big as a troll from The Hobbit  to my cat. My ferret doesn't really do tricks either. But, he does do something called a "weasel war dance". He hops around on the floor and sometimes attacks you! My fish...... let me put it this way: his best trick is to actually

Eat the food we give him. Those are my pets' best tricks.

Aidan O'Connell

Grade 4

Milford Public School

My dog's name is Rollo, and he is a Norwegian Elkhound. He is one extremely smart dog and he does a bunch of different tricks. For example, he can roll over, he can bark(which is natural) and more. But one of his most amazing tricks is that he can give you a handshake. All you would need to do really is have a treat with you. A treat is what would make Rollo actually do the trick. So you would have to say to him "sit" and he would sit immediately. Then you would have to say to him, "paw" and he will give you his paw and give you a little handshake. I find this trick adorable when he does it, because it is as if he a real person is giving me a handshake but has a lot of fur.

Shyanne Stange

Grade 8

Readington Middle School

I have a Norwegian Elkhound and his name is Rollo. He is a very lovable and friendly dog to have around. Over the past few months that he has been part of my family, we have taught him many common, but cool tricks. Rollo knows how to roll over, hop, give paw and high- five. But, he could only do the trick if you have a treat in hand. When he sees the treat in your hand, he is already sitting and lifting up his paws. It is very cute! And quite often, he hops up and down when I ask if he would want a treat. Rollo is an adorable little dog that I admire very much!

Madison Stange

Grade 8

Readington Middle School

My dog's best trick is becoming a security system. My dog always stays near the door, incase someone comes home. If someone does happen to come to our door, and ring the doorbell, my dog's back hairs stick up and she howls like a wolf. To be honest, she removes the purpose of even having the doorbell.

Stefan Chrobot

Grade 8

Readington Middle School

My dogs best trick is shaking my hand. I would say, "Shiloh," and put my hand out. She would then put her paw on my hand and we would do a handshake.

Valentino Stuppiello

Grade 8

Readington Middle School

My guppy is best at eating other fish parts, including eyes, tails and more.

Matthew Calo

Grade 3

Three Bridges School

My dog's favorite tricks are down and also speak. He is awesome at doing it. My dad trained him really good. Also, he can sleep with you at night.

Cole Stangle

Grade 3

Three Bridges School

My pet can only do one trick. That trick is rolling over. That is the only trick she can do! She can't do anymore. You can tell her to roll over then give her a treat. I am happy that she can do that trick, because some dogs can't do any.

Piper Doyle

Grade 3

Three Bridges School

You don't need to believe me, but don't laugh. The best trick you've ever seen was done by my cat, Shadow. She did a jump and a twirl, a flip and a curl. She ducked then she tucked and slid through a ring. It was a truly, truly amazing thing. She leapt, she flew! If you saw her you would say "oooh". She slipped and said "whup", I was appalled that she spoke, and then I woke up.

Aden B. Masterton

Grade 3

Three Bridges School

My dog's most fascinating trick is swimming. Sometimes my Dad and I take her to the reservoir, and chuck her toy really far in the water. Then, she swims doggy paddle faster than anybody I know, and grabs her toy and swims back to shore. She never gets tired of this, and will do it hundreds of times. She is a great, beautiful, talented dog, and her name is Lyla.  

Ian Carlson

Grade 4

High Bridge Elementary School

Do you have a pet? I definitely do! I have 8 different pets! But today, I am going to be focusing on my minicher pincher named Frankie! She is a very energetic dog. She runs really fast, and she plays a lot! My family is teaching her to behave around strangers, and to do what we command. My brother taught her to come when her name is called, my sister taught her to sit, and I taught her to spin in a circle. So, I combined everything that we taught her to do, and I came up with this. I had her sit at one end of our yard and I stepped away. One foot at a time a slowly got farther and farther away. Soon, I was at the other end of the yard. I called her name, and she came running. Then, I took my hand and I spun my finger in a circle. She got up on two legs and followed the circle. She turned round and round and then, I told her to sit down. She immediately stopped, and sat down! It was amazing! This is a cool trick, that my pet can do.

Nina Hagan

Grade 4

High Bridge Elementary School

Every day when I come home from school I always have a huge surprise from my dog Butters. I love my dog very much but sometimes he just really annoys me! A lot!!!! He jumps off his bed comes running to me and you would always think that he is going to crash into you but he doesn't. He zooms right past you and then you find yourself totally cracking up! He also does that because he had surgery in his left eye and can't see in his left eye, but it is still a funny trick that I love from my dog Butters.

Hailey DeStefano  

Grade 4

High Bridge Elementary School

When I come home from school my cat brings all the stuffed animals he can find out of the closet and throws them down the stairs. He makes the biggest pile at the bottom. Then he makes us clean them up. When we are sleeping, he starts yapping and screaming, Of course he wakes us all up. Then we have to give a toy to keep himself occupied. These tricks happen every single day!!!

Dominick Desire

Grade 4

High Bridge Elementary School

My cat maggie likes to stand on her back legs and tries to walk. When she makes it to her food dish then she just goes crazy. Then My guinea pig likes to jump out of his cage and have me catch him. These are the tricks my pets can do.

Maggie Hann

Grade 4

High Bridge Elementary School

My dog can sit and jump.  If you just say sit Scout will sit.  He doesn't even need a treat.

Reagan Morris

Grade 1

Delaware Township School

My dog can play catch with me.  If I hit a ball she'll go and get it and then drop it without me even saying drop.

Gabby Dembeski

Grade 1

Delaware Township School

My kitten can do a backflip when I point a laser on the wall.  My kitten is very cute.  Her name is Imogin.

Oscar Andresen

Grade 1

Delaware Township School

My dog can jump.  His name is Duke.  He's really fun.

Ella Genovese

Grade 1

Delaware Township School

My cat Chase can run whenever he wants and can never stop running and can never stop eating too.

Alyssa Judy

Grade 1

Delaware Township School

Visitors from around the country annually enjoy the sights, sounds and rides at Six Flags Great Adventure.

Another summer season brings another year for residents of New Jersey and people from all over the world to make a pilgrimage to Jackson Township and enjoy the sights, sounds and rides at Six Flags Great Adventure.

Warner LeRoy greets the first guests to the amusement park on opening day, July 4, 1974.Courtesy of Six Flags Great Adventure 

In a Times of Trenton article on the park's 40^th anniversary in 2014, Mike Davis noted that "when Great Adventure opened on July 1, 1974, businessman Warner LeRoy -- who later bought and renovated the Tavern on the Green and Russian Tea Room restaurants in New York -- saw it as just one phase of a multi-park resort, something that would rival Walt Disney World."

LeRoy's vision never quite panned out, but Great Adventure gradually turned into the park that employed more than 4,000 people each summer and drew 2.8 million visitors in 2013.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

"The park has changed a great deal over the past 40 years, but one thing has remained the same," Six Flags spokeswoman Kristin Siebeneicher said at the time of the 40^th anniversary. "Six Flags Great Adventure is a place to create happy, lasting memories."

The park is well known for introducing rides that become must-do's among amusement park aficionados. Over the years, these have included The Great American Scream Machine (1996), Hurricane Harbor (2000), Nitro (2001), Kingda Ka (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) and Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom (2014).

Here's a look back at Six Flags Great Adventure in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

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

A group of Latin students took part in the annual homemade chariots race at North Hunterdon Regional High School on June 1, 2016.

ANNANDALE - Students enrolled in North Hunterdon Regional High School Latin teacher Amy Mullay's class raced homemade chariots on June 1 in an annual event she coordinates.

A total of six teams took part, with Maris Pans III winning. Its members, Brendan Flanigan, Milo Newman and rider Adam Coe, were crowned with traditional ivy crowns after the race.

Complete coverage, plus tons of photos and videos, from the NJSIAA Track and Field Meet of Champions at Central Regional HS in Bayville

Complete coverage, plus tons of photos and videos, from the NJSIAA Track and Field Meet of Champions at Central Regional HS in Bayville

Federal and state anti-discrimination laws were violated, according to a lawsuit filed by American Day CD Centers.

READINGTON -- The township is being sued by a company that wants to run a group home for young adult men with mental illness and disabilities.

American Day CD Centers, which does business as High Focus Centers, claims in a lawsuit filed in Hunterdon County Superior Court that township officials and others violated the federal Fair Housing Act and the New Jersey law against discrimination by revoking a zoning permit and encouraging neighbors to object to its plans.

Waypointe-High Focus Centers applied for a zoning permit March 24, 2015, to run a community residence with a maximum of five residents at 143 Readington Road, a former bed-and-breakfast establishment.

Residents protest proposed group home

A permit issued that same day noted that the use is permitted by ordinance. A certificate of continued occupancy was issued on June 2, 2015.

A community meeting hosted by Waypointe in February on its plans was canceled the day before it was to take place, and Mayor Betty Ann Fort criticized the decision, saying at the time that while there is a real need for these kind of facilities, "putting them in without dealing with the community is just bad form."

The proposal generated opposition from area residents, who created a website and posted signs on their lawns objecting to the plans and the lack of information available about them.

At a Township Committee meeting in March, Fort told residents that a non-permitted apartment at the former bed-and-breakfast inn had given township officials the ammunition they needed to withdraw zoning approval for Waypointe. 

Waypointe's 173-page license application filed with the state Department of Human Services makes "very interesting reading," Deputy Mayor Liz Duffy said at the meeting in March. Committeeman Sam Tropello said it asked for two waivers, one that Waypointe wouldn't have to have an annual review, and a second one that "would pretty much give them carte blanche forever. Once it was approved, it would be very hard to get them out."

Questions raised about Waypointe

Asked by residents what they could do, Fort told them, "Letters. Write letters."

"The Federal Fair Housing Act and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibit municipalities and residents from interfering with the creation of a community residence simply because they house people with disabilities as defined by statute," it is stated in the lawsuit.

The suit states Waypointe residences are for 18- to 26-year-old young men "with mental illness and disabilities which significantly impair their judgment, their capacity to control their behavior and/or their ability to recognize reality." The homes provide "highly individualized care, expert medical health treatment, personalized educational and vocational guidance and supported social integration," the suit says. 

 Urging residents to write letters to the state Department of Human Services and revoking "the permits legally issued" are violations of the state and federal laws, according to the suit, which seeks a jury trial and asks for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Other than acknowledging the lawsuit has been filed, Fort said she and the other Township Committee members cannot comment on the pending litigation.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Cavallo Park is open again in Lambertville. Watch video

LAMBERTVILLE -- Children were frolicking around Cavallo Park on Wednesday trying out the swings, running while holding onto a merry-go-round to keep it turning, hanging from bars on the playground equipment.

They were there with their families to dedicate the renovated park, which was closed for several years while contamination found at the site was remediated.

The park at the corner of Mount Hope and South Union streets runs along the Delaware & Raritan Canal, and was first leased by the city in 1960, when it was dedicated as the Vincent J. Cavallo Memorial Playground.

Jim Cavallo represented his family at Wednesday's dedication. "This was my home growing up," he said, looking around the space. "I'd come at 7:30 a.m., and wouldn't go home until the whistle blew" in the afternoon. "My family would be proud and happy with everything you've done with the park."

The space, now ringed by a black walnut fence, is shaded by towering trees. Benches line one side of the park nearest the playground equipment. A pavilion provides cover over a grouping of picnic tables, and a berm nearby can serve as seating when movies are shown there.

"For the longest time, when families would come to Lambertville there was no place to just hang out," said Shad Dennis, taking advantage of one of the shady benches while his son Daniel climbed on the playground equipment. 

Mayor David DelVecchio welcomed people to the park and spoke of the combined efforts that made the renovations happen. Council President Steven Stegman said the park's completion is "a fine example of public and private partnerships," proving that "when needed, we can all come together with a common goal."

"It's a brand new park in a very old space," said Derek Roseman, who sits on the city's Planning Board.

Work begins at Cavallo Park

Renovation of the playground at Cavallo Park was first planned in 2012. Contamination at the site came to light in August 2013, when testing was done because the city's Recreation Commission received a $300,000 state Green Acres loan to refurbish the small park, which is owned by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

A city consultant reported that industrial operations were conducted on the property into the 1930s. The park is alongside the canal, built in 1830-34 and leased by the Pennsylvania Railroad from 1871 until the 1930s.

The playground closed in 2014, and work on remediation began last summer, after some delays.

At Wednesday's groundbreaking were Geoff and Kerri Cook, who donated funds for the park's improvement. Geoff introduced their son Joey to a spring-mounted horse, while Kerri watched their daughter Elyse turn the merry-go-round.

Geoff Cook said what makes the playground special is, "you do journey to it from many different places. You walk down the canal path, some people come over the bridge from New Hope.

"People come to it from all over town, and Lambertville's a beautiful town for that sort of journey. Now hopefully, with the new equipment, the destination is as good as the journey."

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Try our weekly quiz based on the top stories of the week gone by.

Time to see how well you recall the top NJ.com stories of the past week. Take the seven questions below, all based on local news stories. To help you prep for the quiz, here are the stories we used to create the questions.

• Giant 1,000-foot waterslide makes first visit to N.J.
• Rutgers secret society member reveals why he trolled Michigan coach
• Watch [A CELEBRITY'S] surprise performance at N.J. couple's wedding
• [A BIG EVENT] ends early after fight, weather cause delays
• Why they called him the greatest, and why I called him my friend
• [N.J. RESTAURANT SCION] dies from heart attack
• 23 products still made in New Jersey

OK, all studied up and ready? Time to take the quiz. Good luck.

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

The victim was abused as an infant and toddler from 1999 to 2002, according to the lawsuit.

TRENTON -- The state has agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the adoptive parents of a boy who endured physical and sexual abuse in multiple foster homes before his third birthday. 

The 17-year-old boy will receive a check for $1,637.59 a month for the next 40 years, deposited into a special needs account, according to the settlement and the family's attorney, Craig J. Hubert of Lawrenceville.

The first check was expected to arrive this month, drawn from a state-created annuity worth $467,014.33, according to the March 11 settlement.

The money will be used "for the boy's treatment over the course of his lifetime as he is left to deal with the aftermath of horrific abuse and torture," Hubert said.

The state child welfare system, known at the time as the Division of Youth and Family Services, or DYFS, took custody of the infant after he was was born in what is today known as Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth in May 1999, according to the 2011 lawsuit.

His mother had abandoned him at the hospital -- a phenomenon at the time in which mothers, many drug-addicted, created a wave of "boarder babies" in maternity wards across the state.

N.J. revamp of child welfare system progressing 

DYFS enlisted a new nonprofit agency created by First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Franklin, Harvest of Hope, to recruit foster and adoptive families on the state's behalf for these abandoned newborns.

But neither Harvest of Hope nor DYFS performed any meaningful background checks on the foster families or their "paramours" who assumed care of the child, the first one in 1999, followed by two homes in mid-2002, according to the lawsuit.

Last year, Superior Court Judge Michael Nelson in Essex County agreed to drop Harvest of Hope from the lawsuit, citing its immunity from litigation as a charitable organization. Hubert said he has filed an appeal.

"I thought the decision by the trial judge was correct," said Harvest of Hope's Attorney Kenneth Ho of New Brunswick said.

The lawsuit also alleged that improperly supervised and untrained DYFS employees did not keep required routine visits, and had "failed to locate family members who were willing to care" of the baby.

Identified as S.B.K. in the court records, the baby was removed from the first foster home after DYFS confirmed that he and other children in the home had been abused and neglected. But the abuse continued in two subsequent foster homes.

By October 2002, the 3-1/2-year-old boy came to live with his eventual adoptive parents, the lawsuit said.

In settling the case, the state made no admission of wrongdoing.

The DYFS of 15-plus years ago does not resemble what is today known as the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, said Ernest Landante, spokesman for division's parent entity, the Department of Children and Families. 

"Since then, the department has been fundamentally reformed, thoroughly changing its methods and policies," Landante said. "We vastly increased recruitment and retention of (foster) families and the use of kin so children can remain with relatives. We enhanced our screening and licensing standards and improved training for (foster) parents."

In 1999 - the year S.B.K. was born - the national advocacy group Children's Rights sued DYFS on behalf of foster children to force the state to spend more money and to run the dysfunctional agency properly. The lawsuit was settled in 2003 with a commitment the state would undertake a complete overhaul accept federal oversight. The latest monitoring report was released Wednesday.

The family will receive $467,014 of the $1.25 million settlement; the attorneys: $356,061 in fees and $88,414 in reimbursements; a psychiatrist: $22,000.

Hubert has also placed $298,009 of the settlement in an escrow account to satisfy an automatic lien the Medicaid program places on any settlements or judgments collected by its beneficiaries.

The boy is a Medicaid beneficiary. Hubert said he has filed an appeal to prevent Medicaid from getting his client's money.

"Medicaid has a right to the money as a matter of law, but it doesn't seem right my client, who had to bear this misery, should have to pay," he said.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

For some, memorializing a loved one through body art can be therapeutic after experiencing the death of a friend or family member.

WOODBRIDGE TWP. -- Angela Brown still remembers the day Ashlyn Ferriero died. 

It was a Tuesday afternoon -- June 19, 2007 -- when 12-year-old Ferriero, a student at Avenel Middle School in Woodbridge, was killed after being struck by an NJ Transit train near the Avenel station. 

The incident devastated classmates. But nearly nine years later, Brown, a 22-year-old from South Plainfield, is still reminded of Ferriero frequently, through the tattoos across the tops of her feet. 

"We did ballet together for 10 years," Brown, who has about 50 tattoos, said, looking down at the artwork. Her right foot displays a yellow rose with the words, "Stay Young." The left shows pink ballet shoes, the black text reading, "Go Dancing." 

"It's nice to know it's there, ya know?" she asked. 

Brown is one of many people who memorialize a friend or family member through body art, inking a joyful memory, portrait or name into their skin. 

It varies per person -- who they celebrate, what they get, where they get it, how long after a death they wait to get it -- tattoo artists across the state said Tuesday. But all agreed, receiving a tattoo in honor of a loved one generally helps with the grieving process. 

"It shows how important that person is to them," said Dave Nyegaard, who has worked at Tattooville in Linden for about 10 years. 

Nyegaard, a 32-year-old from Belleville who himself has ink up and down his arms and legs, some of which is for his deceased mother and sister, said he has had customers come in asking to get work done the same day a friend or family member dies. He'll talk through what they want, often discouraging people from getting birth and death date tattoos. 

"They did so much more than live and die," Nyegaard said. "Why not get something you'll remember them by, like that person's favorite flower?" 

This N.J. artist has fixed some of America's worst tattoos (PHOTOS)

For Patrick Anderson, the skin covering his heart is inked with a skull wearing a helmet, the words "Hell In A Helmet" slanted above it. It's in remembrance of friends he lost while serving two deployments in Afghanistan. He got the art on April 12, 2015, three years after his friend Tarwoe Abraham, a native of Liberia who joined the armed forces in 2009, passed away. 

"It's another part of me that's bigger than me," said Anderson, a 25-year-old from Clinton. 

The process of getting a tattoo is more significant for some who have lost loved ones than the actual tattoo itself, said Kim Benevento, who has owned Inner City Tattoo in Elizabeth since 2012.

The pain of receiving the ink helps them forget about the death, even if just for a short period of time. They also have to care for the body art, washing it thoroughly and applying ointment to keep it hydrated. The person may feel sore for days after the needle punctures their skin. Some will limp, depending on where he or she gets the artwork.

This undertaking can be therapeutical, Benevento, a 38-year-old from Staten Island, said, because it is a distraction from what the person is mourning. 

"It is painful, so it makes you focus on the now," Benevento said in her second-floor shop on Elizabeth Avenue, which has walls covered in framed tattoo designs. 

As hip-hop played in the background, Benevento estimated about 75 percent of her body is tattooed, some of which are characters from the comic strip, TV show and film "The Peanuts Movie" for her father Steve Allen, who she said died of stomach cancer in 2010 at the age of 56. Benevento grew up watching "The Peanuts Movie." It was her parents' thing, which "eventually became my thing," she said. 

Benevento often hears sorrowful stories while giving remembrance tats. She'll listen to people reminisce about their lost elders and children. She's worked on women who have suffered miscarriages, honoring the infant they never held through angel-like artwork. 

This all creates a bond between the artist and the customer, Benevento said. In a way, it's similar to "hazing with a sorority or fraternity," she said, in that the artist is guiding the person through what can be a difficult time. 

"You're going through a traumatic event together," she said of inking people who are mourning. "You're telling them to breathe and be seated, so there has to be a trust."

WATCH: Eric LeGrand shows his many tattoos

At Tattoo Tribe in Newark, 30-year-old Miguel Prada, who said he took over the business several years ago, guessed about 30 to 40 percent of his customers come in for memorial tattoos.

One of those patrons is Danny Rivera, a 41-year-old from Jersey City, who got "Flaco," a nickname his brother went by, tatted on the outside of his right leg. The art is an image of praying hands, holding purple rosary beads, above his sibling's birth and death dates.  

Asked about when his brother died, Rivera took a moment to think, then reached for his pant leg. 

"See, that's why some people get those tattoos," Prada said, chuckling. 

He died April 25, 2006, Rivera was reminded.

As for Prada, he remembers his customers well. 

During an interview in his shop on Jefferson Street, Prada spoke of the customer who got a tattoo for the grandparents he never met. He talked of the son, an only child, whose father died when he was young, and got a crying eyeball tattoo. The conservative grandmother, "who would've never considered getting a tattoo," who got one for her deceased grandchild. The client who got a portrait of a loved one before that person passed, so he could "share it with them."

He recalled the Jersey City teacher who got a tattoo of somewhat immortal characters Jack Skellington and Sally from the 1993 film "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The woman's daughter later told Prada she had died. The girl got a cross with her mother's name in yellow coloring, to "make it look gold."

"It always makes me happy to see when tattoos help people overcome hard times," Prada said. "You don't have to go to a place, like you would a cemetery, and pray -- it's just always on you."

Luke Nozicka may be reached at lnozicka@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @lukenozicka. Find NJ.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Shelter recently took in cats who need a safe outdoor environment and are hoping pet lovers will give them a non-traditional home.

BRIDGEWATER -- As the staff at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter hectically works to provide medical attention and homes for more than 30 cats recently found in a township home, they're asking pet lovers to consider a non-traditional adoption.

Many of the cats recently recovered from a Martinsville home are not suitable for in-home adoptions because they can not adapt to indoor living, are under-socialized and prefer limited human contact, and need access to an outdoor environment.

Thus, Brian Bradshaw, executive director of the shelter, is asking pet lovers and business owners to consider a "barn" or "warehouse" adoption in which the cats can be placed in a happy and safe environment and the owner can rid his barn or warehouse of rodents, (i.e. mice, rats, squirrels, beavers, etc.).

"This is a situation that is beneficial to both the cats and the owner," said Bradshaw. "The cats can provide a rodent service. I would say 50 percent of these cats we just took in need homes like that. They're under socialized. They can have only limited interaction with people. They need access to an outdoor environment."

There is no fee to adopt a "barn cat" from the shelter but a donation is always appreciated, said Bradshaw. The felines will be spay/neutered, dewormed, up-to-date on vaccinations, ear-tipped and microchipped.

"We just want to find a good home for these cats," he said.

Ex-governor visits animal shelter

Two weeks ago, the cats were taken from the Martinsville home of a woman who was trying to provide a safe haven for stray cats, said Rose Tropeano-Digilio, assistant shelter manager. Over a period of years, the woman became overwhelmed by the number of cats and was unable to care for them or provide medical attention as they multiplied.

Tropeano-Digilo said an additional 20 to 30 more cats may still be on the property. Currently, the shelter has taken in 36 cats. They range from 4-week-old kittens to 10-year-old cats, she said.

The shelter, which is small and has limited cage space, is in need of donations to help care for the cats, many of whom are in dire need of medical attention, said Tropeano-Digilio. They've required various degrees of emergency medical care, including fluids, syringe feeding and vaccinations.

Once the cats have recovered from their sickness, they will be neutered.

Last week, former Gov. Christine Todd-Whitman visited the shelter and applauded its Trap-Neuter-Return program for cats.

"As you can imagine, this is quite costly for a small shelter with only four full-time employees and limited cage space," said Tropeano-Digilio. "We're a very small operation and it's difficult for us to take care of all these cats. We welcome the community's help."

The cats have a variety of medicine issues and medical care could run as high as "a few hundreds dollars" for each cat, said Tropeano-Digilio.

Anyone wishing to make a donation toward medical care for the cats is asked to visit the shelter website at Somerset Regional Animal Shelter.com or send a check to the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter, 100 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The following deeds have been recorded in the Hunterdon County Hall of Records in Book 2378 and Book 2379 through June 10, 2016

The following deeds have been recorded in the Hunterdon County Hall of Records in Book 2378 and Book 2379 through June 10, 2016

Alexandria Township

William J. Rein and Joy E. Marino to David A. Knott and Wendy M. Knott, property at 6 Foxwood Lane for $610,500.

Kelly Ann Dixon to David J. Edeen, property at 15 Homestead Farm Road for $450,000.

Bethlehem Township

Mary Ellen Vecchia to Jacqueline Litchman, property at 570 Ludlow Station Road for $380,000.

Califon

Robert Beers and Stephanie Beers to James Metzger and Tamara Metzger, property at 16 Hoffman Drive for $385,000.

Clinton

James A. Metzger and Tamara Metzger to Timothy E. Stringer and Jaclyn M. Stringer, property at 77 Leigh St. for $297,500.

Constance A. Wilson to Catherine Halloran, property at 2 Woodcrest Lane for $97,000.

Erika Dalberg Huston to William C. Whitehead and Aimee L. Carmella, property at 12 Union Road for $345,000.

Clinton Township

Robert Beagen and Mary E. Beagen to Sean Lyon and Lisa Lyon, property at 21 Sheridan Road for $515,000.

Sharon J. Beatty to Ryan Kelson and Harley Kelson, property at 350 Cokesbury Road for $225,000.

Fannie Mae to Michael Raymond, property at 21 Greenbriar Lane for $200,000.

Christine M. Adornetto to Glenn Regenye and Deborah Regenye, property at 5 Pine Place for $810,000.

Mari Faye Sacro to Eric Floeck, property at 23 Cokesbury-Califon Road for $395,000.

Louis J. Robotti and Cynthia A. Robotti to Scott Stolbach, property at 80 Grayrock Road for $425,000.

Delaware Township

Ernest L. Wolff and Annette R. Wolff to AB Greenhouses, LLC, property at 22 Biser Road for $625,000.

Ann Dahms and Charles H. Dahms to Susan Staunch Becker, property at 18 Rittenhouse Road for $368,000.

Emil R. Maresca and Helen S. Maresca to 763 Sergeantsville, LLC, property at 763 Sergeantsville Road for $230,000.

J. William Newitt and Jane B. Newitt to Thomas Bartholomew and Maria Bartholomew, property at 21 Dogwood Drive for $475,000.

Franklin Township

Karl S. Reed and Nancy E. Reed to Michael J. Somma and Kristi M. Flanagan, property at 174 Whitebridge Road for $418,000.

Glen Gardner

Shobha P. Shahani to Timothy J. Todd, property at 901 Spruce Hills Drive for $114,900.

Glen Gardner Associates, LLC to Parkside Urban Renewal, LLC, property at 1-50 Parkside Court for $3,250,000.

High Bridge

Thomas C. Kopin and Matthew R. Kopin to Eric T. Becktel and Kimberly Rogalski, property at 8 Driftway Drive for $295,000.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation to KMS Management Group Profit Sharing/401K, property at 15 Wilson Ave. for $61,000.

Holland Township

Carole Senchyshyn to Paul Denvir, property at 1001 Fox Hill Place for $255,000.

Corinne Covino and Daniel Brindisi to Nancy Henderson, property at 18 Meentee Road for $162,500.

Kingwood Township

Bradley Plennert and Karen Plennert to Linda LaFace, property at 1 Everitts Farm Lane for $610,000.

Robert Crisafulli and Diane Crisafulli to Adam Eririckson, property at 340 County Road for $295,000.

Lambertville

Thomas Hollmann and Sylvia Hollmann to Martin L. Wheelwright and Walter W. Dixon, property at 10 Crofton Court for $429,000.

Sandra G. Hanna to John A. Wnek and Cheryl Wnek, property at 57 South Main St. for $397,500.

Genesis Building, Inc. to Paul Behnke and Robin Stout, property at 64 Perry Road for $490,000.

Rosanne Messina and Matthew O'Donnell to James Edward Moricz and Margaret Mary McGrath, property at 65B Franklin St. for $359,900.

Jane E. Dennison to Rebekah A. Zhuraw, property at 55 Buttonwood St. for $255,000.

Lebanon

Christopher Ouellette and Clicia Ouellette to Scott A. Tozzi, property at 16 Anthony Road for $375,000.

Lebanon Township

Edward P. Conklin and Maribel Conklin to Karl E. Schmidt and Rebecca L. Schmidt, property at 2 Jopamelca Road for $375,000.

Anthony DiPasquale to Frank J. Pampinella and Joann Pampinella, property at 1 Symonds Lane for $428,000.

Michael Colangelo and Joanne Colangelo to Robert Beers and Stephanie Beers, property at 6 Country Woods Drive for $530,000.

Craig M. Young and Elaina Young to David M. Wilkinson, property at 43 Point Mountain Road for $500,000.

Milford

Frances Mount to Clyde Mount, property at 250 Hillcrest Ave. for $45,000.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. to Deborah A. Reynolds, property at 200 Hillcrest Drive for $78,855.

Raritan Township

Daniel Finch and Mary Ellen Finch to Brian S. O'Connor and Marianne O'Connor, property at 251 Old Farm Road for $595,500.

Bernard L. Schapiro and Jane Schapiro to Cynthia Tarashuk and Paul Tarashuk, property at 2 Britton Drive for $425,000.

Barbara MacMillan to John Kovolisky and Lorraine Kovolisky, property at 52 Joseph Drive for $302,000.

Patricia Daly to Case Holdings, LLC, property at 470 Highway 202 for $200,000.

Brendan Stokes and Carli Stokes to Elliot Gray and Kathleen Gray, property at 19 Krenkel Court for $295,000.

Flemington Trade Center, LLC to Flemington Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad, property at 29 Royal Road for $500,000.

Ann M. Pender to Brian Mullen and Kellie Mullen, property at 509 Sturbridge Court for $232,000.

TOLL NJ, L.P. to Lichun Shen and Xiaodong Huang, property at 8 Erin Place for $777,391.

John Gomez to Joseph C. Sladek and Joy L. Sladek, property at 5 Viking Terrace for $490,000.

PHH Mortgage Corporation to Brian J. Smith, property at 414 Village Commons for $125,000.

Frederick C. Epright and Shirley Epright to Terrance J. Burke and Marcela Burke, property at 9 Railroad Lane for $325,000.

Readington Township

Charles J. Cullinane and Kristyn L. Cullinane to Robert G. Martin Jr. and Sarah L. Martin, property at 15 Witherspoon St. for $540,000.

TOLL NJ I, LLC to Daniel Finch and Mary Ellen Finch, property at 49 Ditmar Boulevard for $561,995.

TOLL NJ I, LLC to James D. Bilenker and Helayne M. Bilenker, property at 75 Ditmar Boulevard for $790,991.

TOLL NJ I, LLC to William F. Bergs and Jeannine M. Bergs, property at 36 Ditmar Boulevard for $654,097.

Robert Joseph Gardella Jr. and Marianne Gardella to Amit M. Patel and Akanksha Patel, property at 18 Stone House Drive for $545,500.

Jairo A. Ussa to Matthew G. Keller, property at 210 Nuthatch Court for $195,000.

John R. Roeder and Sandra L. Roeder to Rosemarie Romeo, property at 44 Ebersohl Circle for $352,000.

Michael A. Neu and Cynthia Neu and Atilla Temiz to Pamela G. Yula, property at 160 Stanton Road for $260,000.

Tewksbury Township

Judith P. Goodlife to James Mahood and Virginia Mahood, property at 104 Lindabury Lane for $530,000.

Michael C. Frantz and Irene A. Frantz to Jack E. Thompson and Anne N. Kneller, property at 5 Ridge Road for $468,000.

Darcy Gilson to Kenneth M. Goldmann and Judith Goodlife, property at 6 Mountain Road for $675,000

Union Township

Linda Iskrzycki to Paul Triano, property at 17 Sam Bonnell Drive for $151,000.

West Amwell

Dominic Charles Sabatini and Rosemarie Sabatini to William J. Rein, property at 90 Jackson St. for $352,500.

Janice L. Jarrett and Susan L. Little to Timothy J. Fox, property at 1494 Route 179 for $175,000.

Shawn J. Stachel to Stephen Carom, property at 12 Circle Drive for $199,000.

The first release will hit New Jersey shelves on June 20.

ALEXANDRIA TWP. -- On June 20, Jersey Cider Works plans the first retail release of its Ironbound Hard Cider in New Jersey. Charles Rosen, founder of Jersey Cider Works, made the announcement Thursday.

"Hard cider was once New Jersey's most popular drink. Everyone, from laborers to businessmen to presidents, drank hard cider -- until Prohibition, breweries, and soft drinks wiped it out," said Rosen.

"After a 125-year hiatus, cider is finally making a comeback in the Garden State through the statewide release of Ironbound Hard Cider. We're determined to see it once again become New Jersey's drink of choice."

Hard cider returning to N.J.

Ironbound Hard Cider is made from fresh-pressed American apples sourced from orchards in New Jersey and nearby states. 

Rosen, who bought the former King's Road Vineyard here in March 2015, hired Cameron Stark as his cider maker to create the flavor profile.

Ironbound Hard Cider is "a well-structured, perfectly balanced, complex cider with a bright apple flavor and the aroma of fresh-pressed apples," according to a press release announcing the cider's debut. "By designing a moderately priced cider with a balance of sweetness, acidity and tannins and a crisp, clean finish, Ironbound's cider maker, Cameron Stark, has created a cider that fills the void between extra-dry artisanal ciders and the super-sweet six-pack ciders from concentrate."

New Jersey has a long history of cider making, especially in Newark where cider was one of the city's first industries. At the core of Newark cider's popularity were local apples -- the Harrison apple, along with Granny Winkle, Canfield and Winesap.

Rosen found a farmer in Virginia who has preserved Harrison apple stock in his orchard, and got 100 trees from him. Those trees are growing on the sloping hillside of New Ark Farms, the former King's Road Winery. Already, New Ark Farms has used regenerative practices to graft, plant, and maintain 7,000 18th-century heritage apple trees. In the coming years, Jersey Cider Works will use these apples to make its own versions of heritage Newark Cider. 

Ironbound Hard Cider is named in honor of the Newark-based farm crew that work at the 108-acre farm shared by Jersey Cider Works and New Ark Farms.

Rosen, from Montclair, founded Jersey Cider Works as a social enterprise. Jersey Cider Works and New Ark Farms aim to revitalize the greater Newark economy by creating jobs for the community's chronically underemployed

Ironbound Hard Cider is distributed by Hunterdon Brewing Company and will be available at retail stores statewide in six-packs of 12-ounce cans ($11.99), and also on tap wherever craft beverages are sold.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Her last known residence is in Easton.

FLEMINGTON -- Samantha Ford is listed as the Fugitive of the Week on the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office's website.

Ford, 29, was charged with narcotics offenses in Hunterdon County. She failed to appear in court for sentencing and an arrest warrant was issued on June 3.

Her last known address is in Easton. Ford is 5-foot-5, with blonde hair and green eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Mike Nugent, Detective Sgt. Ed DeFilippis, Detective Frank Modaffare or Detective Lamont Garnes of The Joint Hunterdon County Fugitive Task Force at 908-788-1129, or the local police department.

Information can also be left at online at Crime Stoppers of Hunterdon County. 

Report a tip in four ways for cash rewards:

• call the tip line at 800-321-0010 (The line has no recording device)
• text HCTIPS plus your tip to: 274637 (CRIMES)
• submit online at www.crimestoppershunterdon.com by clicking on the Submit link to fill out the online form (form also in Espanol)
• download free app "Tipsubmit" by Public Engines; select Hunterdon County, submit your tip.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find NJ.com on Facebook.