See which players, coaches, and teams were honored by NJ.com

BOYS SOCCER SEASON IN REVIEW, 2016

• Mason Toye of Seton Hall Prep is the NJ.com Player of the Year

• Christian Brothers Academy is the NJ.com Team of the Year

• Evan Baumgarten of Ramapo is the NJ.com Coach of the Year

ALL-STATE TEAMS

• All-State first, second and third teams

• All-Group 4

• All-Group 3

• All-Group 2

• All-Group 1

• All-Non-Public

MUST WATCH: NJ.com's Top 25 plays of 2016

FINAL RANKINGS

• The NJ.com Top 50

• Group and conference rankings

CONFERENCE REVIEWS

• Sebastian Varela of Ramapo is the Big North Conference Player of the Year

• Matt Horner of Bordentown is the Burlington County Scholastic League Player of the Year

• Jack Sarkos of Mainland is the Cape-Atlantic League Player of the Year

• Sean Murphy of Haddon Township is the Colonial Conference Player of the Year

• Sam Serxner of Princeton is the Colonial Valley Conference Player of the Year

• Matt Mischler of Monroe is the Greater Middlesex Conference Player of the Year

• Paul Kondatowicz of St. Peter's Prep is the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League Player of the Year

• Deydiry Chamba of Harrison is the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference Player of the Year

• Steven Hadley of Delbarton is the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Year

• Elliot Cumba of Cherry Hill West is the Olympic Conference Player of the Year

• P.J. Ringel of Marlboro is the Shore Conference Player of the Year

• Steven Bednarsky of Gill St. Bernard's is the Skyland Conference Player of the Year

• Walter Hernandez of Newark East Side is the Super Essex Conference Player of the Year

• Sinan Tuzcu of Glassboro is the Tri-County Conference Player of the Year

• John Murphy of Scotch Plains-Fanwood is the Union County Conference Player of the Year

Brian Deakyne may be reached at bdeakyne@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne. Richard Greco may be reached at rgreco@njadvancemedia.com.  Follow him on Twitter @RichardGrecoHS . Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Hunters killed 13 bears on Wednesday, the lowest single-day total of the December hunt so far

FREDON - New Jersey's record-setting bear hunt tally rose to 620 on Wednesday, with three days remaining on the season.

Hunters brought 13 bears to weigh stations operated by the state Department of Environmental Protection on Wednesday, officials said.

Eighteen bear kills were reported on Tuesday, when New Jersey surpassed the previous high of 592 bears killed in the 2010 hunt.

The second stage of the 2016 bear hunt began Monday with 27 bears killed.

A total of 562 were killed during a six-day season in October, the first time since bear hunting resumed in 2003 after a three-decade moratorium that the season was extended beyond December.

Hunter sues over social media claims he killed Pedals the bipedal bear

Only three of the 58 bears killed in the second stage so far had been "tagged," or previously recorded by DEP in 2016, decreasing the prospects for an early end to the hunt scheduled to conclude Saturday.

Under the rules, the hunt would be suspended if the cumulative percentage of tagged bears that are killed reaches 30 percent, or 60 out of 197.

However, with 46 tagged bears killed in October, that total has risen only to 49 in three days.

Elaine Dunn, a bear hunt opponent from Bloomingdale, said protesters are moving ahead with plans for a demonstration on the hunt's expected final day, Saturday, across the street from the weigh station at the Wittingham Wildlife Management Area in Fredon.

Protesters began arriving in Fredon on Monday morning, about a half-hour before the first hunter arrived.

DEP spokesman Bob Considine said no arrests had been made during the hunt's second stage.

Three protesters were arrested in Fredon on the first day of the October hunt and charged with disorderly conduct and other offenses after allegedly straying beyond the area reserved for demonstrators. They are due to appear Thursday night in Andover Township municipal court.

While the hunt is playing out in eight counties, much of the focus, as in prior years, is on Sussex County. More than half of the bears killed in the hunt were in Sussex County, DEP officials said.

New Jersey Fish and Game council member Phil Brodhecker, contacted Wednesday by NJ Advance Media, reiterated his support for the hunt and said farmers had experienced the impact of the growing bear population.

"You shouldn't really need electric fences around chicken coops. That's a true indicator we have too many bears," said Brodhecker, a farmer from Hampton.

New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel, a critic of DEP's approach to bear management, questioned assertions of bear population growth.

"We don't really know how many non-tagged bears there are," said Tittel. He said the DEP has focused too heavily on hunting and should be considering non-lethal strategies to reduce bear encounters with people.

Considine said last week that DEP's management plan includes measures other than hunting, such as encouraging residents to secure their garbage.

The county-by-county totals through Wednesday:

• Sussex County - 335
• Morris County - 104
• Warren County - 103
• Passaic County - 61
• Hunterdon County - 14
• Bergen County - 3
• Somerset County - 0
• Mercer County - 0

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

'Had the Pohatcong Township officers not responded so quickly and efficiently, my dad wouldn't be here with us today.'

The trauma may prevent Jeremy Hewens from remembering all the details of the crash. But they're clear to his family.

"Unusually warm weather for January, a typically deserted road, a blind corner, a distracted driver, and my dad (who probably could have won an award for bicycle safety, if there was such a thing) all collided in one terrible moment. Timing was everything, as I guess it usually is when accidents occur," his daughter, Chelsea Hewens Davis, said in a statement thanking Pohatcong Township police for their aid.

Jeremy Hewens (Courtesy photo) 

Hewens, of Hunterdon County's Holland Township, stood with family and officers in a photo posted with the statement.

He was 66 at the time of the Warren County crash, and the assistant director of Hunterdon Family Medicine at Delaware Valley, where the grandfather and 2014 New Jersey Family Physician of the Year had spent his entire medical career.

On Jan. 7, he was riding north along the Delaware on River Road when he was hit by a car going in the opposite direction.

He suffered serious head trauma. During his recovery, the family's statement said, he had to be reminded of details of the crash and those who helped him.

"Had my dad left a minute later on his bike ride, or stopped for a few minutes longer to take pictures of the river or a passing train, perhaps the accident never would have happened," Hewens Davis said. "But it did, and that same precise timing is what also saved my dad's life. Had the Pohatcong Township officers not responded so quickly and efficiently, my dad wouldn't be here with us today."

The family's full statement is below:

In addition to its popular buttermilk pancakes, the restaurant will bring approximately 80 jobs to the community.

RARITAN TWP. - Pancake lovers will soon have a new restaurant in which to enjoy their favorite breakfast meal.

The International House of Pancakes and its signature buttermilk pancakes are coming to the township with the opening of a new location at 14 Royal Road in Flemington, said Adam Korn, IHOP's Senior Manager, Brand Communications.

The restaurant is scheduled to open in mid-January, he said.

It will be the fifth IHOP location in Central Jersey. The others are located in Franklin Park, Hillsborough, Piscataway and the Somerset section of Franklin Township.

First Freshii opens in New Jersey

The new restaurant, which will seat approximately 210, will bring 70 to 80 jobs to the community, said Korn. Available positions include cooks, servers, service assistants, hosts and assistant managers.

Applicants may apply directly at the restaurant.

In addition to its popular pancakes, IHOP's menu includes French Toast, Hickory Smoked Bacon and Omelettes. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner, featuring its hand-seasoned burgers and Denver Omelette Burger, all made with 100 percent USDA Choice beef and served on a Brioche bun.

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

The annual Hunterdon Holiday Parade was held in Flemington on Dec. 4, 2016.

FLEMINGTON - The annual Hunterdon Holiday Parade was held on Sunday.

Borough resident Edna Pedrick was this year's Grand Marshall for the parade, which is organized by the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.

Flemington's Christmas tree lighting ceremony took place on Friday at the monument on Main Street Flemington near the Presbyterian Church.

Here are more photos from the parade.

A New Jersey law set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017, gives adopted people like Hasegawa access to their original birth certificates.

For Pam Hasegawa, the reunion was personal. And it was profound.

"I was so relieved to know where I came from, whom I came from - just relieved I have a place on the human continuum," she said.

The Morristown resident, a founder of the N.J. Coalition for Adoption Reform and Education (NJCARE) was talking about meeting her birth mother for the first time - an experience that is on the verge of becoming reality for countess others.

A state law set to go into effect on Jan. 1 gives adopted people like Hasegawa access to their original birth certificates.

The New Jersey Birthright Act pertains to anyone age 18 and over who was born in the state and adopted here or elsewhere, and anyone born out-of-state and adopted in New Jersey.

Long sought and hard won, the measure provides them the means to learn about their medical conditions and ethnic heritages, a right most people have the luxury to take for granted.

Adopted people can start getting birth records Jan. 1

Gov. Chris Christie signed the law in March of 2014, building in a 2-and-a-half year grace period while the move was publicized and birth parents could request anonymity if they desired.

Becoming a reality after more than three decades of lobbying, the final version of the bill was designed as a compromise to please both adoption advocates and organizations such as New Jersey Right to Life, the New Jersey Catholic Conference and the ACLU of New Jersey, which argued for birth parents' right to privacy.

In a statement last week, state Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett reminded birth parents who wish to have their names redacted from the original birth certificate they have until Dec. 31 to make their wishes known.

Birth parents can also request to be contacted through an intermediary, such as an adoption agency.

Many adoptees who have reunited with a birth parent describe the encounters as healing and fulfilling, helping them fill huge gaps in their lives.

They often express joy at finally meeting someone who is related to them by blood. They recall marveling at a mother who reflects their coloring and their gait, a father who shares their passion for math or hiking.

It's difficult to tell how many requests will come in from adoptees as the law takes effect. Earlier this month, the health department said it had received fewer than 500 applications thus far.

About 300,000 birth records of adoptees have been sealed since 1940. Bennett said her department will conduct a careful search to match them against adoption decrees and redaction requests before any application is answered.

The people who worked hard to see the N.J. Birthright Act through to fruition - and the people who will benefit from it - have a lot to celebrate in the new year.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Three people have been charged in a jewelry store heist that totaled nearly $1 million.

NEW BRUNSWICK -- An Irvington man has been charged with breaking into six jewelry stores throughout central New Jersey since June and making off with nearly $1 million in merchandise, authorities said.

Michael A. Davis, 54, had accomplices in three of the break-ins, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said. Keir A. Dargon, 35, of Union Township, faces two counts of conspiracy and Terrance Worthy, 59, of Newark, faces one count of conspiracy, authorities said.

The burglaries occurred between June 7 and Dec. 6 at jewelry stores in Perth Amboy, Raritan, Lawrence, Denville, Flemington and Hopewell, authorities said.

"Davis broke into stores in the early morning hours and took a variety of jewels and watches valued at nearly $1 million," the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

Dargon was charged with conspiracy in Raritan and Hopewell break-ins. Worthy was charged in the Flemington burglary.

Davis is being held on $195,000 bail, and Dargon is being held on $20,000 bail. Worthy was released on his own recognizance, the statement said.

The investigation involved 17 law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and out-of-state law departments.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Artur Andrade, 71, of Milford, died Dec. 6, 2016, from injuries suffered when his vehicle struck a tow truck on Route 579 in Union Township (Hunterdon County) on Nov. 29, 2016.

UNION TWP. - A Milford man who struck a tow truck on Route 579 and was airlifted to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa., died Tuesday from his injuries, seven days following the accident, State Police spokesman Sgt. Greg Williams confirmed Wednesday.

On Nov. 29 at 2:23 p.m., Artur Andrade, 71, was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger north on County Route 579 when he ran into the back of a 1999 International tow truck that was parked in the roadway while attending to a disabled vehicle, said Williams.

Andrade was taken to St. Luke's with non-life threatening injuries, but was pronounced dead at 3:08 p.m. on Tuesday, said Williams. The cause of death is listed as multiple blunt force trauma resulting from the accident, said Williams.

The investigation of the accident is ongoing, said Williams.

The driver of the tow truck, Jason Jacobus, 36, of Califon, was outside of his vehicle helping a disabled motorist when his vehicle was struck, said Williams. The tow truck belongs to Stinger Towing and Transport, LLC of Glen Gardner.

"For unknown reasons the driver failed to see the tow truck in the roadway and struck it," said Williams. "His vehicle left the roadway, overturned and came to a final rest off the roadway."

Williams said the Andrade was wearing his seat belt.

The "golden age" of supermarkets was the 1950s and 1960s.

For parents navigating the aisles of a supermarket with a child in tow, the seat section of the shopping cart is a necessity, I'd say.

It's better to keep young'uns confined in the wagon than risk having them slip unwanted boxes of sugary cereal into the cart when mom isn't looking, or worse, handle and drop things leading to the dreaded call of "cleanup in aisle five!"

When I was a kid, I had to accompany my mother on countless grocery shopping trips. And, to fight the boredom, I would mentally add up the running total of everything my mother bought and see if it matched what the cashier rang up at the end.

Then, New Jersey instituted sales tax in 1966 and messed everything up.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

The "golden age" of supermarkets was the 1950s and 1960s, according to groceteria.com. Supermarket ads dominated daytime television and advertisements were a great source of revenue for newspapers. The centrally located stores stocked everything we needed.

Well, almost everything.

Where a supermarket didn't fill the bill, local food stores and shops completed the task. One of the most enduring aroma-triggered memories many of us have is the delicious smell of the local delicatessen, ethnic food store, butcher shop or mom-and-pop grocery.

Here's a gallery of vintage food vendors large and small in New Jersey. Be sure to have captions enabled to read all about them.

Want more? Click Here and here for a couple of galleries from previous years.

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

Newly released data from the 2011-2015 American Community Survey indicates the state is still having a difficult time recovering from the recession.

The most remarkable thing about post-recession New Jersey isn't that the state is struggling, it's how indiscriminate the pain has been.

A middling farmer in Cumberland County. A poor resident of crime-torn Newark. A member of the state's highest tax bracket in Somerset County. 

All are likely worse off today than they were a decade ago. 

New data from the Census, released today, shows wide swaths of the Garden State remain slow to get back on their feet following the Great Recession.

There are exceptions, of course. Urban-adjacent communities like Maplewood, Summit or Westfield have seen growth in most key economic areas, but overall the news is not good.  

Census data show median income in the state fell nearly 5 percent from the years leading up to the recession when compared to the five years that followed, outpacing the national decline during that time period. 

Housing values too have dropped 20 percent in New Jersey between those time periods, while they fell only 13 percent nationally. However, housing costs have the opposite trend -- New Jersey housing costs fell less than the national average, and remain higher than the rest of the nation.

A closer look at year-to-year data reveals weak growth in the past few years. New Jersey was ranked last in the nation in income growth from 2014 to 2015. 

The state has been lagging behind the country in unemployment as well, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While unemployment has dropped from its high in 2009, the state has not quite reached pre-recession levels. 

New Jersey entered the recession in a difficult fiscal situation, which put it in a tough spot when the economy began to tank, said Jon Whiten, vice president of New Jersey Policy Perspectives, a liberal-leaning, Trenton-based think tank.

"The impulse of the state legislature and governor was to cut costs, when usually a recession is a time to increase revenue," he said.

In an era of growth concentrated on urban centers, the state has continuously struggled to revive major cities that could attract jobs and businesses, he said. 

Many young people are leaving the state to get better access to jobs and better living environments, he said. The state has the highest percentage of millennials living with their parents, a large obstacle to growth in New Jersey.

"When you combine high costs with a stagnated economy, there's no path for people starting out in the job market," he said.

Meanwhile, Census data has previously shown that residents have been moving out of the state, leading to a slowdown in its population increase.

Erin Petenko may be reached at epetenko@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @EPetenko. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  

The site is the gateway to Flemington and has been in disrepair for more than a decade.

FLEMINGTON - The gateway to the borough had been deemed in need of redevelopment following a Borough Council authorized study, and officials and residents can get an informal first look at the proposed plan to turn the area into a shining jewel during the council's monthly meeting Monday.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the old Historic Courthouse on Main Street.

Borough officials have designated three lots totaling 5.6 acres at the former Global Agway site as an "area in need of redevelopment" in April 2014.

Mayor Phil Greiner appointed an eight-member committee, headed by planner Elizabeth McManus of Trenton-based Clark Caton Hintz, to draft an initial plan for the area's mixed-use redevelopment that is consistent with the county's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, a concept developed by the Hunterdon County Freeholders.

"This site is at a gateway-type entrance to our borough," said Greiner. "It's one of the first sites that people see. We have an interest in making it look good and used productively."

The mayor said there will be no vote or council debate on the plan because its the final meeting before the new council is seated in 2017. Furthermore, there has to be a Planning Board meeting and public hearing on the plan.

A formal introduction of the plan will come in January, he said.

Updated Union Hotel redevelopment plans

"It's very early in the process," said Greiner, who put together the committee in December 2013. "But I'm very confident that the committee has developed a well-thought-out plan."

The primary portion of the property is 3.3 acres divided between two lots that face Main Street, Walter E. Foran Boulevard and Hopewell Avenue. Four dilapidated and vacant buildings have been on the site since 2009.

The remaining 2.2 acres include a 16,400-square-foot warehouse and the late 19th-century, 2,300-square-foot freight train depot. These buildings have been unoccupied for approximately 20 years. A cement slab also remains where a building once sat.

According to the draft plan, "predominately residential" areas will bring more residents within walking and biking distance of the borough's shops. Townhomes and multi-family units would be permitted and multi-use properties would also be allowed. A minimum of 15 percent of the new housing would be reserved for "affordable" housing, which would be integrated along with the market-rate units.

The buildings will "relate in scale and design" to Flemington's historic district, and its facades would be primary red brick on building facing publicly accessible areas, according to the plan.

Part of the goal of the plan is to preserve the overall character and quality of life for residents. A public park or plaza is also included in the plans, as is a pedestrian connection between Park Avenue and Main Street.

There are two known contaminated sites in the area, according to the plan. Both sites were cited for groundwater contamination and are addressing remediation.

For more information on the preliminary plan for the redevelopment area, go to the borough website at www.historicflemington.com.

The sexual assaults occurred in Holland Township and Franklin Township between 2012 and 2014

FLEMINGTON -- A Hunterdon County man was convicted Wednesday of sexually assaulting children between 2012 and 2014, authorities said.

Brian Klekovic, 39, of Holland TownshipHunterdon County Prosecutor's Office

Brian Klekovic, 39, of Holland Township, was found guilty by jury of charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III said in a news release.

Klekovic was arrested by detectives from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit and officers with the Holland Township Police Department in July 2014, Kearns said.

He was indicted on 10 counts including aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and child endangerment, Kearns said.

Klekovic, the prosecutor said, sexually assaulted a child under the age of 13 and a child over the age of 13 but under 16 in Holland Township and Franklin Township between 2012 and 2014.

Klekovic was remanded to the Somerset County jail pending his sentencing on Feb. 10. 

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

Prosecutors said the man had a contentious relationship with his father-in-law over a piece of land

TRENTON - A dispute over a piece of land had caused the relationship between accused killer Lewis Norwood and his father-in-law, William Blackwell, to grow contentious over the past few months, according to Mercer County prosecutors. 

So when Blackwell was discovered shot to death on a Ewing street in October, Norwood became a quick suspect - especially after investigators uncovered cell phone records, witness testimonies and a 3 a.m. phone call that all placed him at the scene, prosecutors said Thursday. 

The 42-year-old Washington D.C. man and his wife - Blackwell's stepdaughter - Daphne Conklin Norwood, 45, were both charged with Blackwell's murder in late November, a month after the 58-year-old's body was found.

William Blackwell 

Assistant Prosecutor Michael Borgos outlined the case against Norwood Thursday at a hearing during which a judge maintained Norwood's $1 million bail.

Borgos said that police found Blackwell shot to death in the middle of a Ewing street in front of his house around 5:45 on the morning of Oct. 23. He had suffered a shotgun wound to the back of the head and investigators determined that the shooting had happened just after 3 a.m. that morning, prosecutors said.

They began looking into Norwood, who had an acrimonious relationship with his father-in-law over a piece of property in Stockton. Prosecutors said Blackwell's family owned the land but it was used by Norwood, but they did not delve further into the issue between the two men.

Investigators also uncovered phone records from Norwood's cell phone that showed he was in Ewing around the time of the murder. In one of those records, police saw that Norwood was in the same half-mile radius of Blackwell's home when he made a phone to his wife minutes before the 3:10 a.m. shooting, according to Borgos.

Immediately after Blackwell was shot to death, more phone records showed Norwood's cell phone traveling back to Washington D.C., prosecutors said.

D.C. couple charged with killing

Investigators tracked Norwood and Conklin Norwood from D.C. to Florida and then back up to Alabama, where Norwood was arrested on a drug charge in late November, according to prosecutors. When police went to speak to him, the 42-year-old admitted to being in Ewing the night Blackwell died but said he had nothing to do with the killing.

Two witnesses also put Norwood at the scene of Blackwell's house on the morning of the shooting, and said he was carrying a gun, Borgos said.

Attorney Nicole Carlo, who was representing Norwood Thursday morning laid out a very different scenario from prosecutors. Carlo said Norwood denied the murder charges and claimed that he had a close bod with Blackwell, whom he considered a father-figure.

Carlo went on to say that Norwood and other members of Blackwell's family were concerned about the 58-year-old and believed that he had dangerous connections with people in Trenton and outside of the country. At some point, Blackwell had been involved in a $100,000 debt, Carlo said.

She added that Norwood claimed he and other members of Blackwell's family had sent Blackwell emails, urging him to "come clean."

Neither the prosecutors nor Carlo focused much on Conklin Norwood's alleged involvement in the case Thursday, though prosecutors said Norwood given his wife, "a warning."

Norwood told Conklin Norwood that her stepfather's killing was the result of an issue she had with drug dealers in Washington, D.C., prosecutors said.

"There is no indication that he flat out said to her that he was present during the course of the homicide," Borgos said.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Brown maintained Norwood's bail at $1 million Thursday, calling him, "a significant flight risk."

 Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman

Test your knowledge of the top stories from around New Jersey over the past week.

Time to see how you stack up against other NJ.com readers in this week's local news quiz. We've put together seven questions based on some our most popular stories over the past week. Let's see how well you remember the details of each. After you've taken the quiz, share your score in the comments below.

Bill Crain, a psychology professor at City College of New York, will report to the Sussex County jail Jan. 6.

ANDOVER TOWNSHIP - Psychology professor Bill Crain knew that his seventh arrest for protesting New Jersey bear hunt in October would likely land him in jail as a repeat offender.

Bill Crain is arrested during a bear hunt protest on Dec. 3, 2012, at the Whittingham Wildlife Management Area in Fredon. (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

His attorney argued Thursday in municipal court that two or three days, at most, would be appropriate for the 72-year-old who walks with difficulty and is planning a hip replacement.

Instead, Crain was sentenced to 10 days in the Sussex County lockup.

"Bears, like humans, have families, emotions and individual personalities. Like us, each bear wants to live," Crain told Municipal Court Judge James Devine. "These defenseless animals need our help."

Crain, of Dutchess County, N.Y., admitted he walked along the road by a state Department of Environmental Protection weigh station in Fredon, Sussex County, where hunters were bringing dead bears, and refused to return to the area set aside for protesters.

Devine, though sentencing Crain to the 10-day term, spoke favorably of him from the bench.

"I do appreciate the manner in which Dr. Crain goes about his business," Devine said. "Dr. Crain has always comported himself with dignity and nonviolence, which I applaud him for."

Devine agreed to let Crain report to the county jail on Jan. 6, when classes will be in winter recess at City College of New York. Crain, a psychology professor, had expressed a desire not to interrupt his teaching schedule.

Though sentenced to 10 days in jail, Perez said that under guidelines he is expecting Crain to serve seven days.

Crain's six prior convictions dating to the 2005 hunt were resolved with fines, including a $1,500 penalty in January. He expressed a readiness for a jail sentence following his arrest Oct. 10, the first day of the 2016 bear hunt.

Crain's attorney, Daniel Perez, alluded to the controversy surrounding New Jersey's bear hunt, which resumed Monday following the six-day season in October and through Thursday resulted in a record 623 bears being killed. 

The previous high, 592 bears in 2010, was surpassed Tuesday.

"He is prepared to serve time in jail," Perez said, adding, "I submit that his suffering in jail will be symbolic of the suffering of the bears in this hunt."

Crain was fined $750 in addition to his jail term.

Perez described Crain as "the face of the anti-hunting demonstrations in the state of New Jersey," and said his peaceful dissents followed in a tradition of civil disobedience exemplified by Rosa Parks and Mahatma Gandhi.

Municipal Prosecutor Anthony Arbore called Crain "a somewhat misguided martyr."

Two others arrested for similarly exiting the protest area on the hunt's first day - Catherine McCartney, of Vernon, and Eleanor Hoffman, of Rockaway - were also in court Thursday to plead guilty for violating the protest area. Both first-time offenders, were fined $250.

Hoffman said hunters at the weigh station sought to provoke the demonstrators.

"They drove out with smiles, just to get a rise from the protesters," Hoffman told Judge Devine. "I believe life is previous, no matter what form it takes."

McCartney also used her opportunity to address the judge to take a stand against the bear hunt.

"I'd just like to say the hunt is wrong. DEP knows it," McCartney said, sparking an interruption from Arbore and a brief debate with Perez before Devine allowed her to proceed. "This is not wildlife management. It's extreme animal cruelty."

Outside of court, Crain said he is planning to attend the bear hunt protest in Fredon on Saturday, the final day of the hunt.

But he does not intend to get arrested for an eighth time.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Centaurs 4-H Horse Club of Hunterdon County has launched its community service project, "Share The Care." The club is collecting toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrushes, razors, lotion, and combs. The items will be used to create care packages for seniors and other clients of the United Way. Personal care products cannot be purchased with Food Stamps. Donations can...

Centaurs 4-H Horse Club of Hunterdon County has launched its community service project, "Share The Care."

The club is collecting toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrushes, razors, lotion, and combs. The items will be used to create care packages for seniors and other clients of the United Way. Personal care products cannot be purchased with Food Stamps.

Donations can be dropped off at the 4-H office in Building #2 in the Hunterdon County complex on Route 12 in Raritan Township.

The collection drive will continue for the rest of the 4-H year but donation received by Dec. 15 will be delivered to recipients by Christmas.

E-mail lrshupe@frontiernet.net with questions.

For more equestrian news see Horse News

FLEMINGTON -- Gavin is a 9-year-old retired racing greyhound in the care of the New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program. Described by volunteers as "affectionate and playful," he does very well with both large and small dogs, but he needs a home without cats. Gavin has been neutered and is up-to-date on shots. To learn more about adopting Gavin, contact NJGAP...

Gavin 

FLEMINGTON -- Gavin is a 9-year-old retired racing greyhound in the care of the New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program.

Described by volunteers as "affectionate and playful," he does very well with both large and small dogs, but he needs a home without cats.

Gavin has been neutered and is up-to-date on shots.

To learn more about adopting Gavin, contact NJGAP at 908-713-9344 or complete an online application at njgap.com. NJGAP has rescued more than 2,500 ex-racing greyhounds since 1993.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email somerset@starledger.com or hunterdon@starledger.com.

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

 

New Census data shows, in many ways, New Jersey is a vastly different state than it was just 10 years ago.

The following deeds have been recorded in the Hunterdon County Hall of Records in Book 2391 and Book 2392 through Dec. 9, 2016: Alexandria Township Brian Francis Bradley and Kathryn A. Bradley to Sylvester Bulluck and Renata Benatti, property at 19 Shy Creek Road, for $570,000. Eric J. Beebe, executor of the estate of Jane G. Beebe, to David...

The following deeds have been recorded in the Hunterdon County Hall of Records in Book 2391 and Book 2392 through Dec. 9, 2016:

Alexandria Township

Brian Francis Bradley and Kathryn A. Bradley to Sylvester Bulluck and Renata Benatti, property at 19 Shy Creek Road, for $570,000.

Eric J. Beebe, executor of the estate of Jane G. Beebe, to David J. Formalaire and Stephanie Amorim, property on Schick Road, for $85,000.

Bethlehem Township

Christopher Vozzo to Jason F. Zuzzi and Amber G. Kapral, property at 281 West Portal Road, for $209,900.

Benjamin A. Quintana Jr. to Christopher James Sensor, property at 274 Turkey Hill Road, for $342,000.

Clinton

Jeffrey Trevaskiss and Kristen Trevaskiss to Darielle Hreha, property at 12 Fairview Ave., for $350,000.

Clinton Township

Richard Herman and Laura Herman to Bogdan Miltchev and Amy Marie Dincuff, property at 20 Sunrise Circle, for $487,500.

Kevin M. Kilcommons, executor of the estate of Eugene F. Kilcommons, deceased, to Leah N. Rosin, property at 35 Meadowview Drive, for $145,000.

Kelly C. Zolad to Scott Thompson, property at 78 Grayrock Road, for $267,500.

Juan Carlos Santiago and Nefferty Santiago to Russell McAdoo and Lucia Thompson, property at 11 Foxfire Lane, for $679,000.

Frances Von Dreusche to Diane Carney, property at 26 Mission Hills Road, fro $275,000.

Walnut Pond Associates, LLC, to The Associates at Walnut Pond LLC, property at 1484 Route 31, for $1,100,000.

Flemington

Lindsay T. Blanton to Jessica Federico, property at 21 William Martin Jr. Way, for $108,069.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Nishant Tyagi, property at 74 Elwood Ave., for $167,000.

Sheraine Cindi Arbitsman and Jesse Gavin Lipka to Plaza 106 LLC, property at 2 Mine St., for $400,000.

Gregg Nunn and Blaire Nunn to Judith Anne McCarthy, property at 38 E. Main St., for $228,000.

Elizabeth A. Nowacki to Michael Laterza, property at 22 Bonetown Road, for $355,000.

Franklin Township

Randall D. Carlin and Debra S. Carlin to Douglas Matthews and Emily Matthews, property at 10 Quaker Ridge Court, for $790,000.

Frenchtown

Richard H. Lykes Jr. and Heather A. Lykes to Karen Lynne Hitchcock and Russell James Dunlop, Jr., property at 7 Maple Ave., for $420,000.

Glen Gardner

Steven C. Hollyfield and Deidre A. Hollyfield to Addison Lincoln O'Day and Raphaela O'Day, property at 6 Coddington Lane,  for $410,500.

Jill Gross to Daniel Picinic, property at 404 Spruce Hills Drive, for $117,000.

Fannie Mae to Bonnie Kminek, property at 34 Bell Ave., for $73,900.

High Bridge

Alan Schuetz, executor of the last will and testament of Mae M. Mazar, to Brian H. DeMello and Jillian Doris DeMello, property at 98 N. Main St., for $200,000.

Paul A. Gerdtz and Cecilia McCabe to Joseph Campolattano and Robyn Ulmer, property at 20 Maryland Ave., for $246,900.

Holland Township

Marina Zindel, administrator of the estate of Olga N. Romer, to Edward A. Beahm, Jr., property at 1 Andersen Road, for $43,250.

Ram N. Gidwani to Dina Zarro, property at 43 Gridley Circle, for $300,000.

Kingwood

Janet Tackach, executrix for the estate of Douglas E. Tackach, to John D. Kegg and Mary E. Kegg, property at 724 County Road 519, for $33,000.

Lambertville

James Steen and William Barish to Eileen Hawk and Nicole DiIanzo, property at 102 N. Main St., for $260,000.

Lebanon Township

Clifford L. Hogan and Nancy C. Hogan to Christopher F. Bassani, Angela M. Bassani and Anne Marie S. Pasko, property at 509 Kubin Court, for $450,000.

Mark S. Clair to Donald J. Sullivan and Barbara Sullivan, property at 14 Windy Heights, for $645,000.

Joel M. Talka and Kathryn A. Talka to Chris Wallendal and Adrienne Wallendal, property at 318 Jeffrey Lane, for $485,000.

Milford

Michael H. Witman and Carolyn Jaynes Witman to Thomas E. Hufnagel and Kylie M. Hufnagel, property at 278 Milford Mount Pleasant Road, for $195,000.

Raritan Township

Alexandra Archibald to Thomas Adamecs, property at 508 Reed Court, for $95,000.

Joseph John Engleman to Tagbo F. Emejulu and Jennifer N. Emejulu, property at 267 Spruce Court, for $201,000.

Mary E. Talmadge-Grebanar to William P. Reynolds and Linda M. Reynolds, property at 14 Pony Lane, for $460,900.

Dunbar Court LLC to Pietro Virruso and Maroula Kalamotousis Virruso, property at 6 Dunbar Court, for $310,000.

Susan L. Linzey and Anthony Scarpa to Alyssa Salerno, property at 29 Hemlock Court, for $285,000.

Anthony Malinowski to Stephanie Petraglia and James Neil Petraglia, property at 8 Jenny Jump Court, for $509,000.

Edward G. Natale Jr. and Toby A. Natale to Pablo Guerra, Jr., property at 6 Stark Court, for $490,000.

Noel B. Dequina and Evelyn C. Dequina to Panna Sasikant Sanga and Sanjay Kulkarni, property at 24 Biggs Place, for $610,000.

Joseph W. Tinnes and Jennifer Tinnes to Eileen K. Milcarek, property at 91 Old Clinton Road, for $300,000.

Pasquale Lopiccolo and Eileen M. Crane to Sherwin Solano, property at 530 Cypress Court, for $180,000.

Readington Township

Estate of George Kulinich, by co-executors Karen DeRidder and Gregory Klinich, to Patricia C. Concannon, property at 263 Kingbird Court, for $150,500.

John Bruce Riley and Michele Meehan to Joseph Giallorenzo, property at 2 Connet Lane, for $505,000.

Vita Mekovetz to Jeffrey Sheu and Lauren Sheu, property at 16 Devore Road, for $534,500.

Peter Donald Washuta Jr. and Melissa Anne Washuta to Gregory Ziolkowski Jr., property at 13 Juniper Drive, for $380,000.

Daniel E. Hahn and Theresa A. Hahn to Matthew Prisco and Kristen Prisco, property at 3 Morning Star Road, for $549,000.

Joseph J. Goromboly and Arlene A. Goromboly to Christopher M. Walsh and Janaina A. Walsh, property at 3 East View Drive, for $528,750.

Brian E. Hoffman and Suzanne M. Hoffman to Rajasekhar Bodanski and Radhika Mangalore Chandramohan, property at 5 Plantation Road, for $418,000.

Lucille M. Moller, as executrix of the last will and testament of Edward J. Moller, to Victor Jose Romo-Aledo and Vanessa Lourenco Friere, property at 5 Central Ave., for $355,000.

Tewksbury

Robert S. Thomson and Carol A. Thomson to James L. Johnston and Marilyn P. Johnston, property at 18 Laurel Mountain Way, for $850,000.

Union Township

Brian Betz and Kristina Betz to Trisha Singh, property at 87 North Slope, for $127,500.

Larurence S. Dash and Leslie D. Jaillet to Angela Six, LLC, property at 132 Overlook Drive, for $124,000.

West Amwell

Josephine E. Griswold to Michael K. Haldeman, property at 512 Brunswick Pike, for $330,000.

Srinivasa Gurram and Lakshmi Gurram to Gustavo Jose de Souza Costa and Juliana Prado Novello, property at 6 Melody Drive, for $515,000.