More than 620 bears were killed as of Thursday in the 2016 hunt, setting a new record and pushing the seven-year total above 3,000 Watch video

NEWTON -- The record-breaking bear hunt in New Jersey this year pushed the total bears killed since the hunt resumed in 2010 past 3,000 on Thursday.

The 2016 hunting season was split into two sections -- a bow and muzzleloader season in October and a firearm-only season this week -- and has yielded 623 bears killed as of Thursday.

The previous record of 592 bears killed was set in 2010, when the annual hunt resumed after a five-year absence. Over the past seven annual hunts, 3,004 bears have been killed.

This year's hunting season ends Saturday and the tally is expected to rise once the final totals are recorded.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has set a target threshold for the annual bear hunt based on the total number of bears tagged by state wildlife officials in the current year of about 30 percent of the 197 bear tagged in 2016.

Of the 623 bears killed in October and December, 49 of those were tagged bears -- about 25 percent of bears tagged in 2016. DEP has said the bear hunt will end early if hunters hit the 30-percent threshold, a total of 59 tagged bears. 

Robert Geist, a DEP spokesman, said the Division of Fish and Wildlife currently estimates a New Jersey black bear population of about "3,000 in the roughly 1,200 square miles of northwestern New Jersey west of Interstate 287 and north of Interstate 78."

However, they are not limited to that area alone," he said. "By 2014, bears have been sighted in all of New Jersey's 21 counties."

Geist said the bear hunt was an important part of the state's bear management policy.

"The results have shown that New Jersey's bear population has been growing exponentially and that even with our ongoing management and education efforts, the risks of harmful bear-human interactions remain high with numerous examples of property damage and livestock kills, car accidents, and dangerous and even deadly bear-human interactions," he said.

Despite a sluggish start on Monday, the annual hunt passed the previous record of 592 bears killed in a season the next day. 

The New Jersey bear hunt continues serve as flashpoint between hunters and animal rights activists, with protests at DEP weigh stations and online shaming of individuals accused of killing Pedals the bipedial bear during the October bow hunt.

This week also saw the sentencing of three bear hunt protesters over their civil disobedience during the October hunt, including Bill Crain, a longtime critic of the hunt.

Crain, a psychology professor who has been arrested seven times during bear hunt protests since 2005, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 days in jail. Two other protesters, both first-time offenders, received $250 fines. 

The county-by-county totals through Thursday for the 2016 hunt:

• Sussex County - 338
• Morris County - 104
• Warren County - 103
• Passaic County - 61
• Hunterdon County - 14
• Bergen County - 3
• Somerset County - 0
• Mercer County - 0

More information on the bear hunt is available on the DEP's bear hunting season website.

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

Flemington Community Partnership will be supporting small businesses and taking part in holiday festivities with a Holiday Window Decorating Contest.

FLEMINGTON - Flemington Community Partnership will be supporting small businesses and taking part in holiday festivities with a Holiday Window Decorating Contest.

"Our locally owned businesses are so important to this town, and we'd love for everyone to come out and see how their beautifully decorated windows have made our town festive for the holidays," said Judy Goodwin, the partnership's executive director.

The winner of the Holiday Window Decorating Contest will be announced on Dec. 23. The first place winner will receive $500 for facade improvement, and runners up will receive other exciting prizes as well.

Copies of the Holiday Gift Guide were distributed at the Holiday Parade held earlier in December. The guide also ran in the Dec. 8 edition of the Hunterdon County Democrat and online at nj.com.

Other upcoming holiday events in Flemington include:

• Dec. 10 - Santa Shops at Shoppes of Flemington and Hunterdon Shopping Center on Reaville Ave. from 1-4 p.m.
• Dec. 11 - Doric House Museum Holiday Tours & Open House, located at 114 Main St.
• Dec. 14 - Family Holiday Party at the Harvest Family Success Center, 87 Park Ave.
• Dec. 14 - Hunterdon Harmonizers Library Show at the Hunterdon County Library Main Branch, 314 Route 12, Flemington
• Dec. 17 - Santa Shops on Main Street and surrounding businesses, from 1-4 p.m.
• Dec. 18 - Christmas Cantana by The Chancel Choir, Flemington Methodist Church, 116 E. Main St.
• Dec. 18 - Hunterdon Symphony & Hunterdon Choral Union present A Spirited Christmas, Hunterdon Central Regional High School's Main Auditorium, Route 31 (Raritan Township)
• Dec. 23 - Holiday Window Decorating Contest winners announced. Three winners will be announced in the People's Choice category, which is determined by votes. One submitted ballot will be chosen for a $25 gift card to any Flemington business.

Businesses participating in the Window Decorating Contest:

• N'Joy Yourself!
• Spotlight Music
• Domalenas hair & nail lounge
• Michelle Vanselous LLC Gallery & Salon
• Matthew Douglas Photography
• State Farm
• A Life In Balance Yoga
• Unity Bank
• DeTorres and DeGeorge
• Jersey Community Acupuncture
• Black Lab Studio
• Sage
• Flemington Floral Company
• Small Joys Studio, LLC
• 39 Mine Boutique
• Camp Flemington Antiques
• Candy Corral LLC
• Kries Jewelers
• Cocco's
• Garden State Salad
• Grill Shack
• Grateful Bites
• Paint Party
• Boro Barber Shop
• Barkleys
• Factory Fuel

The Alexandria school referendum is a good idea. It was the process that could have been handled better.

To the editor:

My name is Brian Walsh and I am an Alexandria Township Board of Education member. I would like to address the upcoming referendum. Previously a letter from a fellow township resident was published that had a theme that the referendum was a good idea that went bad.  

I agree with a portion of the theme. It is a good idea. It's a good idea that could have been handled better, but nonetheless a good idea.

The committee was put together hastily and not handled well. The committee did not reach a consensus, but presented several options. None of the options had the complete support of the entire committee.

The night the committee ideas were presented the board was at the referendum submission deadline imposed by the state to get a question on a ballot before the end of the year. The board architect had prepared nine different plans for the board to vote on that night.  

Alexandria to hold $8.3 million school referendum vote

There were items discovered throughout the process that ideally everyone should have been aware of from the beginning. The late discoveries did not help the process, but they do not detract from the good idea.

The bottom line is that enrollment is declining. Regardless of how the numbers were reached the conclusions were based on data and trends in our township. Enrollment in much of Hunterdon County is declining. The declining enrollment is going to lead to a loss of revenue. The costs of running our school district continue to increase.

Something has to be done to combat the decrease in revenue combined with increased expense.

In business under performing assets are liquidated on a regular basis. We cannot do that because our kid's education is at stake. Our district does a fine job educating our kids. We have to find a way to continue to educate our kids at the level that we've come to expect and be able to operate the business side of the school district efficiently.

The plan that the board came up with after input from the school administration and staff and the township residents is presented in the referendum.

We ask that our fellow township residents make an informed vote on Dec. 13.

It is a good idea.

Brian Walsh

Alexandria Township

The top leadership of the Raritan Valley Community College's Board of Trustees will remain unchanged in 2017.

BRANCHBURG - The top leadership of the Raritan Valley Community College's Board of Trustees will remain unchanged in 2017.

Robert P. Wise

Robert P. Wise of Clinton Township was re-elected as chair during the board's meeting held Tuesday. Gary Hazard of Flemington was chosen to continue serving as the vice chair from Hunterdon County, and Tracy DiFrancesco Zaikov of Watchung was chosen to continue in the same role for Somerset County.

All three are one-year terms. Wise previously served as vice chair for Hunterdon County from 2011-2015, having first joined the board in 2004. He has been president and chief executive officer of the Hunterdon Medical Center since 1990. He also serves as president of Hunterdon Healthcare System, Hunterdon Healthcare Foundation, Hunterdon Regional Community Health and Midjersey Health Corporation.

The board manages the planning and policymaking for the college, which serves residents of Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

The Delaware River Towns Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau has received two grants totaling $35,000 to assist the chamber in its marketing efforts.

LAMBERTVILLE - The Delaware River Towns Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau has received two grants totaling $35,000 to assist the chamber in its marketing efforts.

The New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism gave the chamber a $25,000 grant, while Visit Bucks gave it a $10,000 grant.

"The Delaware River Towns chamber is excited about the opportunity to expand our marketing efforts to reach far and wide to attract visitors to our beautiful river towns," said Executive Director David Morgan. "Most importantly, the dual grants allow us to market our towns on both sides of the river as the ultimate weekend destination and anti-mall experience."

The funds will be used to draw more visitors to the area from the New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C areas.

Chamber moves into new Lambertville offices

The goal of the marketing campaigns will be to increase consumer spending both during the week and on weekends. The effort will include seasonal advertising campaigns, as well as through digital marketing throughout the year, according to a news release.

Previously known as the Greater Lambertville-New Hope Chamber of Commerce, the not-for-profit organization announced its new name in March. It moved into new offices in November.

The Chamber currently represents 400 members in Lambertville, New Hope, Stockton, Centre Bridge, Frenchtown, Lumberville, Washington Crossing and Point Pleasant.

For more information, go to www.DelawareRiverTowns.com or call 609-397-0055.

Several commenters took issue with Liz Johnson's uses of thew words: "pot-smoking African Americans toting a gun."

FRENCHTOWN -- A councilwoman-elect in Frenchtown is drawing criticism for the way she characterized a recent arrest by police in a Facebook post.

Several commenters took issue with Liz Johnson's injection of race into the arrest when she called the occupants of a truck pulled over by police as "pot-smoking African Americans toting a gun with hollow-point bullets known for doing extensive damage to cops."

One who disputes the description is Police Chief Chief Al Kurylka, who Johnson appeared to have been quoting in her post Thursday morning, which was a recap of the previous nights' council meeting.

"That was definitely not said by me," Kurylka said Friday.

He said race was never a part of the Nov. 22 arrest and Johnson's post was not indicative of his comments, were taken out of context and the post make his department and officers look terrible. "We do not stand for this," he said.

Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NJ Advance Media. However, she defended the post in subsequent comments. Johnson, a Democrat, won a seat on the borough council last month and takes office in January.

On Nov. 22, police arrested a 23-year-old Virginia man on marijuana possession and firearms charges - a gun police say was loaded with hollow-point ammunition. They pulled over a tractor trailer he was driving on Harrison Street for being overweight.

A police blotter item posted on the police department's website describes the arrest. It does not mention the suspect's race.

The chief said Friday two people were in the truck but only one was arrested. And he added both young men were cordial and professional and the arrest was routine.

On Thursday morning, Johnson wrote on a Frenchtown group page:

"In the department of 'you think it can't happen here,' Chief Al Kurylka reminds us it definitely can. He says recently Ofc. Young pulled over an overweight truck barreling down Harrison Street near the school. The drivers just happened to be pot-smoking African Americans toting a gun with hollow-point bullets known for doing extensive damage to cops (think: retaliation for all the shootings of blacks during traffic stops going on across the country). While the two men were arrested, the stop went without incident, giving credence to the premise, that while it could happen here, it's the way Frenchtown responds to a crisis that makes us a tad different than the rest of the country (my theory anyway)."

Police find handgun during stop of Va. man

In a lengthy comments section that continues to be added to, some came to Johnson's defense, but some sharply rebuked her words.

"As someone who recently elected you to office, I strongly urge you to revise this post," wrote Alex Vidor.

He also posted, "...why do you encourage me to 'think: retaliation for all the shootings of blacks during traffic stops going on across the country'? I will not think that! I will not think that, because it is exactly that kind of thought that escalates traffic incidents into tragedies.."

Dave Slagle reacted in all caps: "ANYONE IN PUBLIC OFFICE SHOULDN'T SPEAK THAT WAY OPINION OR NOT. NOBODY SHOULD SPEAK THAT WAY PERIOD. IS THIS THAT HARD TO COMPREHEND?"

Said Mark Sodapopinski Popielarski, "You're a local official, i feel your narrative should be from a local standpoint citing current & past experiences in the community not a national point of view.

And Terry Hall: "I agree that Liz unnecessarily underscored the race of the offenders and may not understand that what she wrote is inflammatory, but does she deserve the degree of hostility that some people expressed?"

In response, Johnson posted: "Sorry you're offended by this, but I've reported it the way the chief explained it, in which he specifically said the bullets have been used in targeting cops. And unfortunately, race has played a huge issue in the series of fatal shootings as a result of traffic stops."

"I can't change what's going on in this country or that it's playing out here. Elected or not, my goal is to keep people informed, whether it's good news or not," Johnson wrote.

On Friday, over the phone, Kurylka said he was not going to get into a replay of exactly what he said at the meeting, but the Facebook conversation and Johnson's post specifically is not representative of of his remarks in any way.

Mayor Brad Myhre then weighed in online, writing in the comments, "The quick synopsis of the meeting that was provided is not a complete and accurate description of the meeting."

Myhre said meeting minutes are available to the public and once available they will be posted on the town's website. And He called for restraint "before rushing to judgment about our police department our council."

"Our Chief of Police stated unequivocally that Frenchtown will not tolerate such remarks and I completely agree!" the mayor wrote.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

With the new Census data released on Thursday, we are finally able to get a clearer picture of how New Jersey has changed in the last ten years.

With the new Census data released on Thursday, we are finally able to get a clearer picture of how New Jersey has changed in the last ten years.

NJ Advance Media analyzed two periods of Census data, 2005-2009 and 2010-2015, to provide snapshots of two different eras over the last decade.

We dug deeper into the population changes that have happened in the state. Here are the four main points on how New Jersey's demographics have changed in ten years.

1. POPULATION SHIFT TO NORTHEAST

The Census data shows that northeastern New Jersey has seen significant increases in population, especially in commuter towns around New York City.

Hudson County saw a huge 11 percent spike in population from 2005-2009 to 2011-2015. The city in Hudson with the biggest boom was Hoboken with a 31.2 percent increase, from about 40,000 to 52,000 people.

Hudson and Union County, which grew about 5 percent, did not have a single town that lost population in the last ten years.

The other big winner was Middlesex, where population booms happened in the New Brunswick areas. In just Monroe township, the population grew 18.3 percent in the last decade.

On the flip side, the northwestern part of the state has hemorrhaged population during the same time period. It's a complete reversal from the 1980's and 1990's.

Sussex County has lost the most people - about 3 percent of the population. The town of Vernon's population went down about 8 percent in the last ten years. Hunterdon and Warren have also declined in population- about 2.5 and 2.1 percent respectively.

In addition, southern Jersey counties like Salem, Camden and Burlington have also either lost population or stagnated, compared to their northern counterparts.

2. MILLENNIALS CROWDING CITIES

The era of suburban sprawl has come to an end, and millennials are the reason.

"They're experiencing suburban fatigue, and they're finding it boring," said James W. Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers.

This is why many younger people are moving toward the cities, especially along the Hudson River. Meanwhile, the northwestern and inland parts of New Jersey are both shrinking in population and getting older.

Hughes points to Hunterdon as an extreme example of kids who grew up in the 1980's and 1990's moving out as soon as they can form their own families and leave their parents behind.

"If the current trend continues, Hunterdon County will have only two forms of adults: the unwed and the undead," said Hughes.

If you look at the above map of median age change from 2005-2009 to 2011-2015, the regions in northeastern New Jersey that experienced the biggest population growth have also become younger or only slightly older compared to suburban regions.

Even though the map may look like New Jersey's population is getting older, the median age in New Jersey actually went slightly down from 38.3 years to 37.6 years as the younger population became even more concentrated in the densely packed Northeastern regions. This outweighs the aging of non-urban areas.

3. POPULATION EBBS IN SHORE TOWNS

In the last decade, towns in the Jersey shore have been losing permanent residents due to the effects of Sandy.Carla Astudillo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

The other notable place that is declining in population is the Jersey Shore.

The Census only counts permanent, long-term residents and not seasonal residents. That's why it's staggering to see the Jersey Shore lose so many residents in the last decade.

The most obvious reason was the devastating event that was Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Hughes notes that the more blue collar towns in Monmouth County have especially had a hard time recovering after the storm. Keansburg, for example, lost 6.1 percent of its population.

In the aftermath of the storm, residents had a hard time getting insurance or the FEMA assistance they needed, causing many homeowners to move.

In addition, as home values start to increase, long-term residents are also being pushed out, selling their homes to the more affluent vacation homeowners.

Ocean County shore towns have also suffered, with Long Beach losing 13.8 percent of its permanent resident population and Point Pleasant Beach losing 14.8 percent of its residents.

However, unlike its fellow seaside neighbors, Ocean County's population actually increased 3.1 percent due to Lakewood's 37.9 percent gain of about 26,500 residents.

The shore towns of Atlantic and Cape May counties also lost population. Most notable are Ocean City in Cape May, which lost 23.4 percent of residents, and Brigantine in Atlantic which lost 26.4 percent.

However, more inland towns in those counties like Egg Harbor Township and Hamilton gained 12 percent and 11 percent in population, respectively.

4. WHITE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING

Whites flee the state as Asian and Hispanic population booms.Carla Astudillo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

In the past decade, New Jersey has lost more 350,000 white residents - a loss of about six percent.

However, the Asian and Hispanic population has been more than willing to pick up the slack. New Jersey gained over 454,000 Hispanic residents and about 228,000 Asian residents.

James Hughes notes that the largest growth in non-white population can be found in Bergen and Middlesex counties, which have easy access to New York and communities with very good school systems.

The Hispanic and Asian population growth in New Jersey is a very exciting development for Philip Dolce, director of the Suburban Studies Group at Bergen Community College. Dolce has been studying suburban communities for over 40 years.

Dolce notes that as millennials continue abandoning the suburbs, these minority groups will make up the difference and redefine what suburban New Jersey looks like.

"No longer is it the Hollywood version of the white family with the last name of Nelson," Dolce said. "At the rate it's going, the suburbs are becoming more diverse than many cities."

Some protesters were holding signs targeting Gov. Chris Christie, under whose watch annual hunts in New Jersey resumed in 2010.

UPDATE: Final bear hunt death toll: A record 636 bruins killed

FREDON - New Jersey's record-setting 2016 bear hunt concluded Saturday amid a protest in Sussex County, where more than half of the bears in the hunt were killed.

About 100 gathered at the Whittingham Wildlife Management Area, across the street from a weigh station set up for hunters returning with dead bears.

Some were holding signs targeting Gov. Chris Christie, under whose watch annual hunts in New Jersey resumed in 2010.

"Save our bears. Harvest Christie," read one sign, playing off a euphemism for hunting used by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

3,000 bears killed since 2010

A total of 629 bears were killed through Friday, including 342 in Sussex County.

Of that, 562 were killed in a six-day season in October and 67 over five days starting Monday.

The previous high of 592 bears was in 2010. Bear hunting was extended to October for the first time this year.

Hunters had until 7 p.m. Saturday to record bears at any of the five weigh stations operated by DEP.

No hunters arrived during Saturday's protest, which ran from 10 a.m. to noon.

Some protesters lingered beyond the official end of the demonstration, with thirteen remaining at 1 p.m.

Former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli showed up at the protest with his dog, a Siberian husky named Snowy, drawing surprised looks of recognition.

Torricelli, a Democrat out of office since 2003, stayed for nearly two hours and joined with others in a circle for a moment of silence memorializing the bears.

2016 bear hunt tally hits new record

Torricelli characterized the hunt as "entirely immoral" while questioning the accuracy of DEP's bear population estimates and the impartiality of the state Fish and Game Council, which approved the hunt.

"This isn't a hunt, it's a slaughter. They're slaughtering entire families of bears, including cubs. It's absolutely unforgivable," Torricelli told NJ Advance Media.

Contacted by phone, State Assemblyman Parker Space, a Republican whose district includes Sussex County, defended the bear hunt.

Space, a hunter, said that though he had a 2016 bear hunt permit he ended up only killing two deer, the latter on Tuesday, during the season.

"Too many times, people base their emotions over common sense. Any habitat can only maintain so many healthy animals," Space said.

"That's why we have the biologists. They are the ones who go out. They tag the bears. It's their opinion on how many should be culled out ever year," Space said.

Taking a differing view was State Sen. Ray Lesniak, a Democrat from Union County sponsoring legislation that would end bear hunting for at least five years. He joined the protesters on Saturday.

"I'm here to make a statement, that this will be the last bear hunt in the state of New Jersey," Lesniak said.

"When we have a new governor, we will have a new look, a new attitude, toward managing the bear population," Lesniak said.

The group included three protesters who pled guilty Thursday night, including City College of New York professor Bill Crain, to having strayed from the area reserved for demonstrators on Oct. 10, the hunt's first day.

While the other two were first-time offenders and fined $250, Crain was sentenced to 10 days in the Sussex County jail and a $750 fine following his seventh bear hunt civil disobedience conviction since 2005.

Wearing a sign reading, "Stop the Slaughter," Crain remained in the protest area without incident, departing at noon for the two-hour drive to his home in Dutchess County, N.Y.

Crain said he had received "tremendous support" since his sentencing, with some promising to visit him in the Sussex County jail after he reports Jan. 6.

"The people here, they're kind of bravely smiling. There's a tremendous pain. They come despite the pain. It'd be easier to just ignore the whole thing," Crain said.

Eleanor Hoffman of Rockaway Township addressed the rally near the end, speaking through a bullhorn, and organized the moment of silence.

Hoffman and Catherine McCartney of Vernon, also present Saturday, were fined $250 on Thursday for not remaining in the protest area Oct.10.

Unlike Crain, it was the first bear hunt arrest for both.

Hoffman thanked attendees for "coming out in the cold, instead of staying home and crying."

"Just a reminder who is responsible for this bear hunt. It is Gov. Chris Christie," Hoffman said, to boos.

"It's a disgrace and it has to stop and we will make it happen," Hoffman said.

Christie's spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

DEP spokesman Robert Geist, stationed in Fredon on Saturday and earlier in the week, defended the bear hunt as "responsible and ethical" and supported by "academic studies and years of research on the topic."

"The harvest that happens annually is part of our comprehensive management plan," Geist said.

Geist said the program "also includes some education, trying to help citizens up here to manage their interactions with bears, and make sure counties like this do have an opportunity to live in harmony with nature."

While a majority of bears were killed in Sussex County, that hunt was also taking place in Warren, Passaic, Morris, Mercer, Hunterdon, Bergen and Somerset counties.

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

Seven bears were brought to weigh station on the 12th and final day of the hunt, the state Department of Environmental Protection said. More than 3,000 bears have been killed by hunters since the annual resumed in 2010

FREDON - New Jersey's 2016 bear hunt ended Saturday with a record 636 bears being killed.

Seven bears were brought to weigh stations on the 12th and final day of the hunt, the state Department of Environmental Protection said.

The prior record, of 592 bears killed in the 2010 hunt, was surpassed Tuesday. A total of more than 3,000 bears have been killed by hunters since the annual hunt resumed seven years ago.

Former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli and State Sen. Ray Lesniak were among about 100 attending a bear hunt protest Saturday in the Whittingham Wildlife Management Area, across the street from one of five weigh stations operated by DEP during the hunt.

A total of 562 bears were killed during the first stage of the hunt, held during six days in October. It was the first time since bear hunting in New Jersey resumed in 2003, following a moratorium of three decades, that the season was extended beyond December.

Another 74 bears were killed during the second stage, which got underway Monday.

The final county by county totals for 2016:

• Sussex County - 344
• Warren County - 106
• Morris County - 104
• Passaic County - 64
• Hunterdon County - 15
• 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.

Hunting, fishing and camping decline, and one-sport kids all hurt business

In 1909, Teddy Roosevelt was winding down his eight-year presidency and his image as outdoorsman and adventurer fueled a new national appetite for hunting and fishing gear.

In 2016, The Sports Authority filed for bankruptcy. The front and center aisles of Dick's Sporting Goods are dominated by women's "athleisure" wear, the fastest growing segment of the sports merchandise market. Clearly, more yoga pants are sold these days than shotguns or deep sea fishing rods.

The history of the Efinger sporting goods store in Bound Brook is encapsulated within that time line. Founded in 1909, the store will close at the end of this year.

"Want to make a million bucks in sports retail? Start out with $2 million," said Tom Hoey, the 76-year-old grandson of Efinger's founder George Efinger. "The whole sporting goods business is very tough now for everybody. We just decided it doesn't make sense to continue."

MORE: Recent Mark Di Ionno columns

The culprits are many:

Internet sales, which continue to grow steadily, made up 8.7 percent of all holiday shopping sales last season, according to U.S. Commerce Department statistics.

The continued decline of hunting and fishing over the past few decades, though both may be making a slight turn north in some places.

"Families don't camp like they used to," Hoey said. "It used to be a good, cheap family vacation. That's disappeared as we've become more affluent."

Efinger had a Scouts section, which Hoey said wasn't a huge part of the business, but membership in Scouting has dropped 50 percent nationally since its high point in 1972 and fell 7 percent last year alone.

There's more.

The proliferation of one-sport kids, who play that sport year-round.

"Youth sports have become Death Valley," Hoey said. "Kids used to play three sports. Now, they're concentrating on one. Do the math."

The math means Hoey and his nephew Patrick Hoey, 51, and their partner, Evan Greenberg are letting go of a family legacy and a century-old landmark business in Central Jersey.

This is no small thing. Fifty employees will lose their jobs, some of whom have been working at Efinger for decades.

Bill Norris, 57, is one of them. He's been there 35 years, full time, and his father worked there, too.

"I was hoping to get another five years out of it but the industry is in turmoil," Norris said, as he sorted through jerseys and shirts marked down 50 percent. "But we had a lot of good years here. The best part was interacting with customers. After so many years, kids I fitted with baseball gloves were coming in with kids of their own."

One reason for Efinger's longevity, Tom Hoey said, is that the employees are people "who were professional and actually knew what they were talking about. We knew how to fit a kid for a glove or bat, how to fit somebody for a firearm."

The other reason was community relationships. Efinger was a uniform supplier and sponsor of many local teams. Above the 50,000-square-foot store -- about the size of a Sports Authority, Modell's or Dick's -- are the corporate offices in which the business of outfitting schools and youth leagues is done. But even the varsity jacket business is down.

"Kids just don't wear them as much anymore," Hoey said.

Efinger was on the ground floor of the sporting goods boom at the turn of the last century. The nation's first sports stores opened in the late 1880s. Teddy Roosevelt's conservation movement started in the early 1900s as professional baseball began to get the nation's attention, and the Boys Scouts were incorporated in the United States in 1910.

George Efinger had a store in downtown Bound Brook in 1909 that sold newspapers and cigars, and had a bowling alley and pool hall.

"He even had a gin mill in the back during Prohibition," Hoey said.

A wholesaler talked him into selling leftover fishing lures and the sporting goods business was born. A massive flood in 1973 drove Efinger from downtown Bound Brook to higher ground. The store reopened in a converted grocery store in 1974. In 2005, Hoey moved into the brand-new Efinger Plaza on Route 28, taking its history to a modern location.

On the stairs leading up to the corporate offices is a picture of the 1927 Bound Brook high school basketball team and one of the Efinger fishing department in 1920. Another wall is covered with Efinger-sponsored Little League team pictures from the 1990s and 2000s.

Patrick Hoey's office is store's historic archive. Old ads from 1930s and '40s, black-and-white photos of fishing and hunting contests. One shows a few gutted bucks hanging from the storefront in downtown Bound Brook, circa late 1940s, with men and women posed in winter hats and coats.

"It's like something out of 'It's a Wonderful Life,' " Patrick Hoey said.

With the Efingers and Hoeys cast as the Baileys.

From founder George Efinger, the store passed to his son, also named George. When he died unexpectedly, his brother Frank Efinger and sister Marie Efinger Hoey took over. Tom Hoey and his brother, Jimmy, Marie's sons, took it from there. Jimmy -- Patrick Hoey's father -- has since retired and sold his share to Murray Greenberg, who sold it to his son, Evan. All along, business grew, until the past few years.      

"Each time we moved, business doubled," Hoey said. "But we're victims of the same things that plague the general economy."

Internet sales. Big box stores that sell for less. The high cost of health insurance. The change in consumer tastes.

"About a year and a half ago, we realized we were kidding ourselves," Hoey said. "We were losing money hand over fist."

The liquidation sale began on Sept. 30, a Friday.

"It was unbelievable," Hoey said. "We did a month's worth of business in the first weekend."

It was their Black Friday, in more ways than one.

"It hasn't hit me yet," Hoey said, his eyes watering slightly. "But I think it will."

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey need homes.

Courtesy of Amy Bower 

Keeping pets safe during the holidays

The most wonderful time of the year can also can pose safety concerns for dogs, cats and pets.

Corey Druskin, manager of Choice Pet at The Shoppes at the Livingston Circle in Livingston, offers the following tips for keeping pets safe, healthy and happy throughout the holiday season:

*  Secure the Christmas tree. Cats love to climb and excited animals can potentially knock over a tree;  it's also wise to hang lights, ornaments and other decorations out of a pet's reach to avoid ingestion or injury.

*  Avoid harmful plants as decorations. Many holiday plants like mistletoe, holly, amaryllis and poinsettias can be harmful or even toxic to pets.

*  Skip the leftovers. It's tempting to give in to a pet's desire for table treats, but bones and fatty trimmings can be dangerous to them. Avoid offering chocolate and foods containing artificial sweeteners as well.

*  Never leave candles where pets can get to them. The holiday season brings out decorative and traditional candles which can be knocked over by animals; menorahs and other candles should be well out of reach of pets.

*  Cover or move electrical cords. Holiday lights are a beautiful, but some pets enjoy gnawing on the wires. Make sure cords and wires are out of harm's way or covered in a way pets can't get to them.

Taking simple precautions like these can help make sure that the holidays are happy for both people and pets.

Here is a gallery of dogs and cats in New Jersey in need of adoption. More adoptable pets can be seen here and here.

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

The threats to women's reproductive health - here and in the rest of the United States, subtle or blatant - are real. Watch video

The Ohio Senate last week approved a bill banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat has been detected - as early as six weeks into a term, even before many women know they are pregnant.

There are no exceptions for rape or incest, making this one of the most restrictive anti-choice measures in the country. It is also very likely unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, President-Elect Donald Trump has surrounded himself with rabid abortion foes, including his pick for vice president, Mike Pence, and his nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Price.

The incoming president took up the right-wing battle cry against Planned Parenthood, and also vowed during his campaign to nominate U.S. Supreme Court Justices who oppose Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that affirmed a woman's right to choose.

Newly emboldened by these events, several Republican lawmakers in New Jersey are pushing a bill they've dubbed the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," based on the hugely discredited notion that a 20-week-old fetus can experience pain in the womb.

Doctors who perform abortions beyond that date would face fines up to $15,000, or five years in prison.

Although the measure permits exceptions to save the life of the mother where necessary, or in cases of rape or incest, the proposed bill is a daring incursion into dangerous territory: chipping away at a decision that - legally and morally - should be between a woman and her doctor.

N.J. lawmakers push abortion ban after 20 weeks

Despite a governor who has steadfastly voted against women's-health programs in budget after budget, women in the Garden State have thus far been fortunate not to face the kinds of onerous restrictions other states have imposed as part of their back-door campaign to limit access to abortion.

The Guttmacher Institute, which tracks reproductive-health issues, notes that these barriers include requiring minors to obtain parental approval before an abortion, imposing an extended waiting period coupled with in-person counseling, and forcing abortion facilities to adhere to rigid standards that have nothing to do with patient safety.

The misguided bill touted by the New Jersey Republicans is more of the same. Fortunately, it faces as uphill battle as the Democratic majority in the Legislature remains pro-choice.

Sen. Joseph Vitale, chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizen Committee, told reporters that "Any discussion and decision regarding the health and well-being of a woman is between her and her provider."

Still, the threats to women's reproductive health - here and in the rest of the United States, subtle or blatant - are real. More than four decades into Roe, pro-choice activists can't afford to remain silent.

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

Voters in the Clinton-Glen Gardner School District and Alexandria Township can head to the polls Tuesday to decide on two school renovation referendums.

Voters in the Clinton-Glen Gardner School District and Alexandria Township can head to the polls Tuesday to decide on two school renovation referendums.

The Alexandria School district's special election asks voters for $8.3 million to renovate and expand one school while shuttering another.

The Clinton-Glen Gardner School District special election is for $985,000 bond referendum to pay for upgrades to the Clinton Public School.

In Alexandria, the referendum would authorize the sale of bonds to update and expand Alexandria Middle School into a consolidated pre-kindergarten to Grade 8 school, and to close Lester D. Wilson Elementary School. If the referendum is approved by voters, the district would receive $1.9 million in state aid toward the work.

Work would include:

• the addition of five classrooms adjacent to the existing media center for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students
• the moving of a baseball field to add parking to the middle school's lower lot
• renovation of existing classroom space to "improve lighting, temperature control, acoustics, ergonomics of furniture and technological readiness," according to a letter from Superintendent Matthew Jennings.

"With the current debt retiring, this project will still result in the average taxpayer seeing a decrease in the school portion of their property tax bill," Jennings stated. "Changes to the original 'renovations only' plan will result in less annual savings to our school budget.

"However, we will still save enough annually to preserve and enhance our current educational programs in the foreseeable future without having to exceed the 2-percent cap on the tax levy. Additional annual savings during the first few years will be used to replace the roof at (Alexandria Middle School)."

In Clinton, the state is offering state aid to cover 40-percent of the project's costs. The referendum would not raise property taxes because, in addition to the state aid, the project will also be funded by using leftover money from a 2014 referendum project that came in below budget, as well as funds from the district's capital reserve.

The work includes a redesign of the school's media center and library, turning it into "a collaborative learning commons and maker space," according to the district. "A maker space is part library, part laboratory and part 'Do It Yourself' creative space where students and teachers gather, invent, and learn using everything from Legos, to crafting and construction materials, to computer software so our kids can bring their learning and ideas to life."

The district is also proposing funds be spent on interior work, including:

• Upgrading lighting to LED and replacing the ceilings. The lights are expected to use 50-percent less electricity and last for many years with minimal maintenance.
• Replacing a boiler nearing its end-of-life. Also doing minor HVAC upgrades to improve air flow and air quality.
• Upgrading the garage door and interior and doors for safety. These doors are at the end of their lifespan.

The Stockton School PTO held a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Friday evening.

STOCKTON - The Stockton School PTO held a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Friday evening. It was the first time in many years the borough, one of the smallest in New Jersey, has decorated a tree for the holidays.

Mayor Timothy Nemeth said the tree lighting was not only a Stockton School event, but also for the entire community, adding it was a tradition from the past the borough is hoping to continue for years to come.

Stockton School Principal Geoff Hewitt said he remembers the tree lighting when he was a student at the school.

The tree lights were bought by the PTO while Nemeth coordinated the placing of the lights with the Stockton and the Lambertville fire departments. Also helping make the lighting possible was Dick Phillips, Nola and Henricks.

A former teacher at Stockton School, Brian Horan, played guitar while children sang Christmas carols before and after the tree lighting. Santa arrived in a fire truck, and after the lighting, children were invited to the fire house for snacks and photos with Santa.

"It's never too late to believe in Santa," said borough resident Diane Walker-Torkelson.

The Hunterdon Harmonizers annual Holiday Harmony Show, titled The Happily Haunted Holiday, was held at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Raritan Township on Dec. 10, 2016.

RARITAN TWP. - The Hunterdon Harmonizers annual Holiday Harmony Show presented a different take on the season, mashing up Christmas with Halloween on Saturday night.

Performed at Hunterdon Central Regional High School, The Happily Haunted Holiday was a mash-up of festive traditions as Dracula, Frankie, Wolfie and their friends find themselves longing to end centuries of feuds with the angry mobs of Transylvanians by showing that they are just sweet and caring souls.

They enlist the help of their hero, Santa Claus, to win over the hearts of their neighbors. Not everything goes according to plan as the ghoulish gang does their best to spread the holiday spirit.

Performing were the Hunterdon Harmonizers along with a cappella ensemble OneSky and the Hunterdon Central Pit Orchestra.

Construction crews working on the Readington Road in Branchburg struck a gas pipe, resulting in road closures between Dreahook Road and Baird Road, Township Administrator Gregory Bonin said on Dec. 12, 2016.

UPDATE: As of 4 p.m., township officials said the gas main should be repaired within the hour. One lane of Readington Road has been re-opened. Officials said to expect only one lane to be open tonight and Tuesday tomorrow while more repairs are conducted.

BRANCHBURG -- Construction crews working on the Readington Road project struck a gas pipe, resulting in road closures between Dreahook Road and Baird Road, Township Administrator Gregory Bonin said Monday.

The township was notified just before noon that workers had struck a gas line, said Bonin.

"The roads have been shut down for repairs and there's no estimated time for when the work will be completed and we can reopen the roads," said Bonin. "We've been told that the line has been shut down and there's no further leakage. At the time, there are no evacuations in the area that I'm aware of."

Fire and PSE&G officials are on the scene, he said.

Branchburg Central Middle School is near the site of the gas pipe break. Principal Matthew Barbosa said the school hasn't been evacuated, but he's monitoring the situation.

"We're in contact with the authorities," he said. "We've been told there's no need to do anything right now. Classes are in progress. We have plans in place if an emergency situation comes up. We've practiced drills with the Branchburg police and are ready in case of an emergency."

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

A 58-year-old woman from Washington in Warren County suffered minor injuries in an accident that happened at 5:05 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2016.

CLINTON TWP. - A 58-year-old woman from Washington in Warren County suffered minor injuries in an accident that happened at 5:05 p.m. on Thursday.

The woman, driving a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe, was stopped on westbound Route 22 at Petticoat Lane, when she was struck by a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Michael Baker, 24, of Easton, Pa., police said.

Both drivers complained of apparent minor injuries, and Baker was transported to the Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township for treatment. Baker was issued a motor-vehicle summons for careless driving, according to police.

On Dec. 5, Igor Morari, 28, of Franklin Park, Ill., was issued a motor-vehicle summons for careless driving after the 2010 International tractor and trailer he was driving ran off of a roadway and became stuck at the top of a hill, police reported.

The accident happened at approximately 12:55 p.m. as he was driving from the Mountainview Correctional Center property onto East Main Street. A heavy-duty tow truck pulled the tractor-trailer back onto the roadway. There were no injuries.

The plan aims to stem the trends of the county losing population while the average age of those who remain gets older

Creating high-wage jobs should be a central strategy in reviving the economy of Hunterdon County and encouraging young professionals to stay here, says the county's economic development director.

"We would like our students to know they have the option to stay here," Marc Saluk said. "Their education should not be for export purposes only."

Saluk, hired by the county's freeholders in March to jump-start the county's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, has been meeting with the county's business and government leaders since then to determine a plan of attack.

Having developed what he called a "fairly complete vision" of how to implement that attack, he discussed specifics in an interview with NJ Advance Media.

Saluk's plans corresponded neatly with U.S. Census data released just last week showing that while Hunterdon's median income dropped 6.4 percent between 2011 and 2015, its population also dropped 2.5 percent and its median age increased by 3.1 percent -- from 41.9 years to 45 -- during the same period.

In an era when the millennial generation is flocking to more urban areas to work and live, Hunterdon needs to provide incentives to keep its young people here, Saluk said.

With some building space available and a high quality of life abounding, he said, officials need to find a way for young professionals to "live and support a family in Hunterdon."

In Hunterdon County, a rural and suburban area with farming and lots of open space, "We don't want to become a manufacturing hub or a distribution hub," he said.

What the county needs is businesses that "don't require a huge amount of infrastructure or space" and have "light impact" on natural resources, companies in such highly-skilled technical fields as information technology, research and development and bio and life sciences, Saluk said.

As a "primary example" of something that is already here, Saluk cited Integrated Clinical Systems, located on Route 12 in Kingwood, which writes software for the pharmaceutical industry.

The county can take a three-pronged approach to attracting more such businesses,  Saluk said, including working with municipalities to identify areas that are "appropriate" for this kind of growth; connecting businesses with schools to expose students to the opportunities that exist here; and helping entrepreneurs develop their ideas when they are in the start-up phase.

To make sure new businesses stay here, he said, the county should offer "business incubators," physical spaces where they can focus on research and development rather than "spending their money on rent."

Complementing the increased focus on attracting business would be an increased emphasis on tourism, another element that could lure future residents to the county as well as generating income for local businesses, Saluk said.

"We're promoting our beautiful river towns, arts communities and farm-to-table restaurants," Saluk said. "People haven't heard of Hunterdon County, but they have heard of Clinton and of Lambertville. We need to promote Hunterdon County itself."

A movie theater would also enhance the entertainment opportunities and business landscape, Saluk said.

Farming, "an important part of our heritage," will be looked at more closely in coming months and "agri-tourism" and farming itself will also be promoted more closely in coming months, Saluk said.

Saluk said his plans have been well received by local government leaders and business leaders who are enthusiastic about moving the plans along.

Among those leaders is Judy Peacock Goodwin, executive director of the Flemington Community Partnership, which has been working to revive Flemington's downtown.

"The FCP is really excited to work with Marc," Goodwin said. "His organization and ours have a shared vision for economic growth in Hunterdon County."

Flemington has been known as a "bedroom community" but Saluk "has identified the need to keep our well-educated kids in Hunterdon County. The FCP is working specifically on tech growth in Hunterdon County," Goodwin said.

An upcoming event that will further that goal, Goodwin said, is the "Hack-a-Thon," a joint effort between the FCP and the county's economic development office.

The "Hack-a-Thon" will be a 24-hour event in which local technologists and students will work together to solve technical problems.

"The Hack-a-Thon will be an incredible opportunity to find our local technical talent and allow them to network with each other," Goodwin said. A prize will be awarded to show investors "an idea worked on locally."

The group has identified a location in Flemington for the "Hack-a-Thon" and the event is expected to take place sometime in the spring of 2017, Goodwin said.

Ariel J. Aponte, 20, of South Bound Brook, who allegedly refused to provide an officer with her driver's license - and then provided a false name and birth date - during a traffic stop on Dec. 11, 2016, was arrested on drug possession charges, police said.

READINGTON TWP. - A 20-year-old South Bound Brook woman who refused to provide an officer with her driver's license - and then provided a false name and birth date - during a traffic stop was arrested on drug possession charges, police said.

Patrolman Patrick Brown saw two vehicles with violations pulling into a gas station on Route 22 at 8:45 a.m. on Sunday. While speaking to both, Brown smelled marijuana coming from one of the vehicles, driven by Jahnet A. Furet, 21, from Somerville, police said. A search of the car turned up marijuana in a glass jar and two burnt marijuana cigarettes.

The driver of the second vehicle, Ariel J. Aponte, 20, from South Bound Brook, first refused to provide the officer with her driver's license and then provided a false name and date of birth, police said.

During her arrest, a marijuana cigarette was found in Aponte's purse, police reported. Aponte was charged with hindering apprehension, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as motor-vehicle summonses for obstructed tags, driving while suspended and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle.

Furet was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, and issued motor-vehicle summonses for maintenance of lamps and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle, police said.

Both were released pending a court hearing.

Also, on Saturday, Brown arrested Youssef V. Mikail, 22, from Bayonne, and charged him with driving a vehicle with an open container of alcohol, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Mikail was stopped at 11:05 a.m. for speeding on Main Street in the Whitehouse Station of the township. Brown reported that he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search turned up a grinder, glass pipe, rolling papers, marijuana and an open bottle liquor, police said.

Mikail was released with summonses to appear in municipal court. He was also issued motor-vehicle summons for careless driving and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle.

Women got their hair washed, cut and blow dried and received manicures.

FLEMINGTON - Arauz Heydi couldn't remember the last time she was pampered like this. She had her hair washed, cut, curled and blow dried. She had a hand softening treatment. She had her nails manicured. She had a babysitter.

Heydi felt like the First Lady of the United States.

"A day like today is perfection for me," Heydi said on Friday at Hunterdon County Polytech as she was getting her hair curled by a student. "I'm loving this. I couldn't be happier. As moms, this gives us time for ourselves. We're not worried about anything. We're just relaxing. When my husband sees me, he's going to say, 'Oh, my goodness.'"

Heydi was one of eight women from the Hunterdon Family Success Center who enjoyed several hours of pampering at the school; women who are in difficult situations and are being helped through a program funded by the Department of Children and Families.

The program, which is for Latina moms, is called Fearless Moms (Mamas sin Miedos). It was started five years ago as a support group for mothers, with an emphasis on early detection and prevention of post-partum depression.

It helps under-privileged women organize their lives and teaches them what to do if they suspect their child has a learning disorder, experiences bullying or mental health concerns, insurance or nutrition issues, among other things.

Christmas tradition returns to Stockton

"We asked the women what would make their Christmas special, and they unanimously wanted to get their hair done," said Gabby Geraci, who runs the program along with Laurie Willard. "The people at Polytech stepped up and offered more than we could've imagined.

"Look at these women. They're so excited. This is pure happiness for them, a Christmas miracle. Nothing is more important for a woman than to feel beautiful inside and that's often a reflection of how you look. It's amazing how people can be uplifted by a simple thing. They ladies are leaving here feeling renewed."

The makeover was done by students at Polytech's Cosmetology school, which is run by Catherine Quinn and Elaine DeBenniedetto.

"These two ladies are Christmas angels for doing this," said Geraci. Principal Dan Kerr was 100 percent behind the idea.

In addition to pampering the ladies, the students babysat their kids.

"This is great for us because having something like this done would be very expensive and we couldn't afford it," said Eleana Alvarado as she was getting a hand treatment. "It's making me feel good about myself."

Hunterdon Family Success Center, headquartered at 87 Park Ave. in the borough, across from the Old Egg Auction, also includes a Thrift Store for the women to buy household goods and baby necessities, such as diapers, toys and other practical childcare items.

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