NJ.com introduces the top 20 wrestlers in its pound-for-pound toughest wrestlers in N.J. rankings.

An accident involving two tractor-trailers has closed the eastbound side of Interstate 78 in Union Township in Hunterdon County on Jan. 18, 2017.

Update: As of 10:30 a.m., one lane of eastbound Interstate 78 has been reopened, while two lanes remain closed as the accident is cleared.

UNION TWP. - An accident involving two tractor-trailers has closed the eastbound side of Interstate 78 in Hunterdon County on Wednesday morning.

Traffic is stopped for almost 8 miles heading into the scene of the accident, located just west of exit 13 (Route 173). The trailer of one of the semis involved in the accident split open, spilling cardboard and paper bags across the expressway.

The rear of the second trailer is crushed in. No information on the conditions of those involved in the accident were available as of Wednesday morning.

The accident was reported just before 9 a.m. and as of 10:15 a.m., all lanes remain closed and blocked, with major delays being reported in the area, according to the state Department of Transportation. Delays of up to an hour-and-a-half are being reported as of 10 a.m., with eastbound traffic stopped west to Jugtown Mountain.

This is the second accident involving a tractor-trailer in Hunterdon County this month. On Jan. 12, several lanes of westbound Interstate 78 were closed when a tractor-trailer jackknifed.

Craig Turpin may be reached at cturpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @NJeditor. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The township committee passed a resolution authorizing the PR firm to be paid up to $45,000.

BERNARDS  -- The township committee continues to dig in its heels in the ongoing lawsuits between both the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge and United States Department of Justice for its denial of a mosque.

The committee recently approved paying up to $45,000 to Trenton-based Burton Trent Public Affairs to handle public relations in the long-running saga.

Through November, the township had already spent $219,000 in legal fees defending against federal lawsuits brought by the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge and the U.S. Department of Justice, according to documents obtained by NJ Advance Media.

In December, the township committee authorized spending another $127,500 to defend the two lawsuits.

Town has spent over $200K opposing mosque

"The facts in this case have been less than accurately represented and media coverage has been more editorial than news," Michael Turner, president/managing member of Burton Trenton Public Affairs said in an email. "This has caused understandable concern in the community.

"Bernards Township understands the need to engage communications professionals to serve as honest brokers of information and make sure the facts are effectively communicated -- whether it be by traditional, social, or paid media, or direct communications at meetings within the community. We look forward to engaging in an open public dialogue where the truth will become evident."

The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge filed the lawsuit against Bernards Township over the denial to allow the construction of a mosque on Church Street in March 2016.

On Nov. 22, 2016, the Department of Justice filed the lawsuit against Bernards Township alleging discrimination after the Township's Planning Board unanimously voted down in December 2015.

Some people, like me, prefer "old man bars" and mourn the loss of those that have closed.

Over the past few years, a lot of craft beer bars have opened in New Jersey.

According to newjerseycraftbeer.com, there are 68 production breweries, 13 brewpubs and 21 "soon to open startups" in the state. And, of course there is a plethora of sports-themed bars doing business in the Garden State. So, it appears evident that plenty of folks are looking to "belly up" in just such places.

But there are some people, like me, who prefer the "old man bars" and mourn the loss of those that have closed.

Esquire Magazine featured an article in 2015 titled "The Subtle Differences Between an Old Man Bar and a Dive." Some of us, though, have known for decades what separates one from the other.

 

As I see it, the "old man bar" is quiet; rarely is there loud music playing. Usually, the only sound other than the voices of the patrons is a sporting event or news on a television set (typically, no flat screen TVs here).

These establishments aren't fancy; the bar, the barstools and the tables and chairs have been there a long time. The bartender, very often the owner as well, also sometimes serves as the cook and arbiter of arguments.

And, it's not a good idea to request trendy new beer or mixed drink in these watering holes.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

My wife and I had a favorite spot in Highland Park, the Homestead Tap on Raritan Avenue. There was nothing fancy about the Homestead, it just a nice place to sit and chat over a beer. One of our best memories is a rather lively debate about the merits of American-made cars versus imported vehicles; we were asked our opinions on the matter even though we knew not a soul in the room; we were welcomed into the discussions like we were regulars.

There's one more thing -- no matter how heated the conversation becomes in an "old man bar," everyone remains friends at last call. 'Last call' for the Homestead Tap was in 1993 when it changed hands and became a fancy restaurant; my wife and I raised a cold one in memory.

Here's a gallery of vintage photos of taverns and bars around New Jersey.  Be sure to have captions enabled for information about each ... and If you didn't see your favorite watering hole in this gallery, there's a good chance it appeared in one from previous years. Click here and here to view them.

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

Wawa wants to build a convenience store and gas station on the prime North Plainfield property.

NORTH PLAINFIELD - Fabricland, an iconic business started in Plainfield more than 80 years ago, is in the process of changing its address but not its home.

Wawa wants to build a convenience store and gas station on the prime, corner landmark lot located 855 Route 22 west and negotiations for a sale of the property are nearing its final stages. The sale should be completed within the calendar year barring any unexpected setbacks.

Bruce Heyman, whose family has operated the store since it started in Plainfield in 1934, said the family has had several offers to sell the North Plainfield property over the past 10 to 15 years, but felt that now "the time was right."

Heyman stressed that the business isn't closing, it's just relocating. He said he's making every effort to kept the business in North Plainfield, where it has been since 1961. The completion of the sale is pending the approval of the North Plainfield Zoning Board of Adjustment, he said.

Public hearings are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 and Feb. 22 in the municipal building, located at 263 Somerset Street.

"We want to remain as close as possible to the existing store when we move," said Heyman. "Is it emotion? Yes, a little. But it's just business. My dad retired 17 years ago. My grandfather moved a lot when he owned the business.

"Being in this location for 50 years leaves a lot of memories. We'll try to use the images from the old store in our new advertising."

Heyman said it'll take another six to nine months for the deal to be completed, the current building to be demolished and the store to relocate if the sale is approved by the borough.

The reason for the sale is that the business is changing, Heyman said. The business no longer needs the 21,000-square foot facility with elaborate drapery displays, reupholstery and clothing fabric samples because the business in now predicated on custom-made draperies and sales personnel go to the homes of potential customers armed with fabric samples.

"We just don't need that much space anymore," Heyman said.

Metropolitan Window Fashions, which has locations in Paramus and Manhattan's Upper West Side, is now the focus of the business, said Heyman. The current property in North Plainfield houses both businesses, he said, and the focus at the new location will follow the growing trend.

Heyman said the store will be mailing postcards to long-time customers in the next few weeks to let them know the store's upcoming plans. He said the store will maintain its commitment to the community that includes a summer sewing camp and Project Fabricland, a sewing competition.

According to its application, Wawa is proposing a 5,585-square-foot convenience store and a gas station with six pumps on the 1.53-acre lot. A use variance is required because a portion of the lot is in a residential zone. Variances are also needed for setbacks, signs and buffers.

The proposed Wawa would be just a few hundred feet east of a 7-Eleven on westbound Route 22.

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

Franklin Food Bank's annual Tour de Franklin Charity Bike Ride will be held on Sunday, April 30, 2017.

FRANKLIN - The Franklin Food Bank's annual Tour de Franklin Charity Bike Ride, one of the first bike rides of the season, will be held on April 30.

The tour's mission is to bring avid cyclists and the community together to fight hunger, according to a news release.

It is the food bank's largest fundraiser of the year, providing much needed funding at a time of year when donations are low. Last year's event saw a record 775 riders raising over $78,000.

The tour, being held at Franklin High School, 500 Elizabeth Ave. in Somerset, includes seven different rides. These include 62-mile, 40-mile, 25-mile and 10-mile rides; 1- to 5-mile walk or ride; and, 5-mile and 10-mile ride along Somerset's scenic canal, offering something for everyone.

Ride start times are staggered throughout the morning, with riders returning to the high school for a community lunch at the end of their ride.

In 2016, Franklin Food Bank provided more than 10,000 food packages to the community. The funds raised from the ride cover only a small part of the food bank's annual budget.    

To learn more food bank and the Tour de Franklin, visit www.firstgiving.com or find the Tour de Franklin on Facebook.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has said municipalities should not paint honor law enforcement by painting blue lines on roadways.

The fight to permit municipalities to paint a thin blue line in between yellow lines on their roads to honor law enforcement is heading to Congress.

Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9th) have proposed the Blue Line Use Exception (BLUE) Act to permit blue lines to be painted on roadways in support of law enforcement.

Last week, Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-Hunterdon) introduced resolution AJR 136 objecting to the recent U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration ruling that denied New Jersey municipalities the right to paint a thin blue line between a double yellow line in front of police departments, municipal buildings and down main streets.

Somerset County Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano has also been vocal in his support to allow towns to honor law enforcement with the symbolic gesture.

"One-hundred thirty-five police officers died in the line of duty in 2016," Lance said in a news release. "Seeing those faces on the news has been heartbreaking. And events like the mass killing of Dallas police officers last year are sickening and outrageous.

"Local communities should be able to honor law enforcement without the federal government's telling them no. We should honor police personnel all year. Our bill will let local New Jersey communities keep their 'blue line' dedications."

Should thin blue lines be allowed in NJ?

Pascrell, co-chair of Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, will co-sponsor the legislation with Lance.

"I can assure the U.S. Department of Transportation that there is no confusion on the meaning of the painted blue line across many communities in New Jersey," said Pascrell. "In addition to being a daily reminder of the dangers our brave law enforcement officers face, it is a small show of support to honor their hard work and dedication to keeping our community safe."

In December, after many New Jersey towns had painted a thin blue line between double yellow lines, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration said in a letter that the practice is unsafe and towns should find another way to honor law enforcement.

The letter was in response to an inquiry from Somerset County's chief Engineer Matthew Loper seeking a clarification on federal guidelines regarding the painting of blue lines to honor law enforcement.

The FHA stated that "blue lines" displays are in violation of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.

Lance and Pascrell, members of the Law Enforcement Caucus, believe the ruling is an overreaction and their legislation will add an exemption to the federal manual that permit temporary ceremonial displays.

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

An updated look at NJ.com's Top 20 girls basketball teams and how they fared this week.

Jose L. Espiridion, 38, of Hampton, was the fourth person to be struck and killed on a stretch of Route 22 in Somerset County since August.

BRIDGEWATER - Authorities identified the pedestrian who was struck and killed late Sunday night on Route 22 in Somerset County as Jose L. Espiridion, 38, of Hampton.

The fatal pedestrian crash was the fourth on that section of Route 22 since August.

The accident occurred on Sunday at approximately 11:55 p.m. on westbound Route 22 near North Gaston Avenue. Espiridion was standing in the center lane of Route 22 when he was struck by a 2015 Ford Mustang driven by a 25-year-old Bridgewater man, police said.

Espiridion was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was pronounced dead.

The crash remains under investigation by the police department's Traffic Safety Bureau and the Somerset County Accident Reconstruction Team. Any witnesses or anyone with information regarding the identity of the pedestrian is asked to contact Bridgewater Township Officer Kevin Lamey at 908-722-4111, ext 4132.

The state Department of Transportation and Somerset County have previously said they are working on ways to improve pedestrian safety on that area of Route 22.

In December, a 25-year-old man was struck and killed while walking on the westbound side of Route 22. In August, two people were killed as they were walking in the left lane of Route 22.

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

RWJBarnabas Health and CHOP will collaborate on research and recruitment of specialists.

TRENTON -- The reach of New Jersey's largest hospital chain is expanding again, this time to include a partnership with the renowned Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, top officials announced Thursday.

RWJBarnabas Health President and Chief Executive Officer Barry H. Ostrowsky and Madeline Bell, president and CEO for what is commonly known as CHOP, issued a statement saying their "alliance" will give them more power to recruit the best specialists, and collaborate on research efforts with the help of Rutgers University. 

RWJBarnabas Health President and Chief Executive Officer Barry H. Ostrowsky.Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

"Combining our three highly recognized children's hospitals, pediatric rehabilitation hospital and outpatient pediatric services with the outstanding reputation for excellence of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia will bring the very finest pediatric care to families in the entire region," Ostrowsky said.

Since the completion of last year's merger, RWJBarnabas includes 11 acute-care hospitals with a workforce of 32,000 employees, in addition to 9,000 physicians, and 1,000 residents and interns. It is the second-largest private employer in New Jersey behind Wakefern Food Corporation, the owner of ShopRite.

Huge deal with hospitals could put Rutgers in 'big 10' for medical research

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, founded in 1855, is the nation's first pediatric hospital and boasts of having one of the largest research programs in the nation.

"Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and RWJBarnabas Health are two prestigious healthcare providers whose philosophy of care focuses on the delivery of world-class clinical services as close to the patient's home as possible," Bell said. "This approach to pediatric care would benefit thousands of families in the area and we are delighted to explore this new alliance."  

More details about the collaboration were not immediately available.

But the alliance fits the RJWBarnabas' pattern of fast-paced growth.

In October, Ostrowsky told NJ Advance Media he was negotiating a "unique partnership" between RWJ Barnabas Health, the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the New Jersey Medical School that would make them a research powerhouse. The hospital chain will invest hundreds of millions of dollars for the endeavor in order to lure high-profile researchers from other institutions and boost the amount of funding the university receives from the National Institutes of Health. They also expect to recruit more medical students to train in these hospitals, and put pioneering research into practice.

A launch is expected by July 1, he said.

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

There was a mixed bag of reaction to our interview with former 'Melrose Place' actress Amy Locane.

SOMERVILLE - Amy Locane, the former "Melrose Place" actress who had already served 2-and-a-half years in prison for a drunken crash that killed Helene Seeman in 2010, wasn't given additional jail time Friday by Somerset County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Reed in a resentencing hearing mandated in August by the state's Appellate Division.

On Monday, in her first interview in more than six years, Locane talked about the remorse she feels for what happened, her two daughters, her time in jail and her future plans with NJ Advance Media.

Locane's comments led to an impassioned discussion among NJ.com readers. Here are some of your comments:

Onehundrednames

There are plenty of people in jail for killing someone who no longer have a chance to spend time with their kids. I don't understand how this lady got off so easy? She claims she missed so much. The family of the victim miss much more. This is unfair.

maximinus thrax

Is there no rehabilitation? Should we just lock up for 20-30 years everyone who makes a mistake. What do you want? Would keeping this woman and mother in jail help her children. Will it bring back Helene? Her husband claims she has shown no remorse. That is not true according to the article. If she is sober since 2010 and in AA sharing the message of sobriety she is honoring Helene by trying to help other alcoholics -a disease- get sober.

Istillhatelawyers

People drive drunk and kill other people every day. What makes this story so different?  Because she is an actress with a few roles on her resume? Big deal. There should be more outrage for the gang bangers in Newark who kill innocent bystanders and plead to lesser charges and get less jail time than this woman. Let her go back into obscurity where she belongs. Next....

njnicole104

What she did is against the law and awful. However, if you look at the Motion, Fred was aware that defendant's SUV was approaching, but thought he had enough time to turn because she was "very, very far away" at the top of the hill. As he turned into his driveway, he felt an "unbelievable explosion, like [they] were hit by a bomb." Fred acknowledged turning very slowly because of the posts and gates on either side of his driveway.

The entire situation was awful and folks this happens all the time across the country, she isn't the first to drink, drive and kill someone. It's a terrible tragedy. People can change. Hopefully she never drinks and drives again. 

She's not our mother, friend or even acquaintance so it's not our position to post on an internet forum and claim she can't change her life.

Longinthelaw38

A review of the facts as reported of the incident indicate that Mr. Seeman and the driver of the vehicle pursuing Ms. Locane played a part in the unfortunate death of Mrs. Seeman. If the pending suit in Federal Court ever goes to trial, I suspect those facts could have a significant impact on any recovery by Mr. Seeman. He should settle with the carrier for the policy limits.

balls

Sadly, there are just no winners in this situation. Obviously the victims family has every right to be disgusted. They lost a loved one forever in an accident that didn't have to occur. Ms. Locane once again used poor judgement in giving this interview and appearing as the victim. She had an opportunity to at least sound sincere and possibly shed a tear, but that wasn't the case. Truth be told though, she will be living a nightmare the rest of her life even if its as a free woman. 

optimistic

The caption under the picture - "being in prison is like witnessing your own death." She should be so ashamed to say that. Mr. Seeman actually did witness his wife's death. What a self absorbed idiot and why give her any more media time - a drunk that killed someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

eotdevice

Ms. Locane didn't set her prison sentence term, the judge did. And while the judge made an error in making the term so short, it is not Ms. Locane's fault. Seems like she is on the road to recovery and I hope she is successful.

mymemoryisshot

"Locane said she has received several inquiries from the entertainment business about returning to acting. She has also received a proposal to write a book." Of course she has gotten offers. The entertainment business has no qualms about throwing money at trash. Locane has paid a terrible price, but Seeman and her husband paid the ultimate price.

bospherus

Locane can break her silence, Mrs. Seeman cannot! There is no justice, fairness, or empathy for what happened ... only woe. Prayers that these two families can move on at some point from Fate's damning curse.

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

Do you want fries with that quiz, hon?

This week's list of the best Jersey diner in each county was one of NJ.com's most popular features of the week. So it's only natural that this week's local news quiz jumps on the diner bandwagon. The quiz below is based entirely on Jersey diner trivia and lore. And I admit I cribbed liberally from my colleague Pete Genovese's book on the subject. Take the quiz and brag on your score in comments.

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

WARREN -- Mary is a young Labrador retriever/hound mix in the care of Rawhide Rescue. Rescued as a stray, volunteers say she is a "good-natured lady" who can be shy at first, but becomes "silly and affectionate" when she gets to know someone. Mary has been spayed and is up-to-date on shots. For more information on Mary, go to rawhiderescue.org or...

Mary 

WARREN -- Mary is a young Labrador retriever/hound mix in the care of Rawhide Rescue.

Rescued as a stray, volunteers say she is a "good-natured lady" who can be shy at first, but becomes "silly and affectionate" when she gets to know someone.

Mary has been spayed and is up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Mary, go to rawhiderescue.org or email rawhiderescue@hotmail.com. Rawhide Rescue is an all-volunteer organization that provides foster homes for rescued and abandoned animals.

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.

 

The family of Jose Luis Espiridion, 38, of Hampton, is seeking answers after he was struck and killed late Sunday night while standing on Route 22.

BRIDGEWATER - The family of a Hampton man is seeking answers after he was struck and killed late Sunday night while standing on Route 22.

Jose L. Espiridion (Courtesy of the family)

At approximately 11:55 p.m., Jose Luis Espiridion, 38, was killed on westbound Route 22 near North Gaston Avenue while standing in the center lane. He was struck by a 2015 Ford Mustang driven by a 25-year-old township man.

The fatal pedestrian crash was the fourth on that section of Route 22 since August.

"We're still trying to figure out what happened," said his nephew, Jesus Amateco, 22, of Bernardsville. "We have spoken to the police. They told us it'll be maybe 16 weeks before their investigation is complete. Sixteen weeks? We want to find out what brought my uncle to that area. He doesn't work or live in that area.

"We also want to know what being done to prevent accidents on that part of Route 22. We understand that my uncle is the fourth pedestrian to be struck and killed in that area in a short time (since August). What is being done to secure that area?"

The crash remains under investigation by the police department's Traffic Safety Bureau and the Somerset County Accident Reconstruction Team. Any witnesses or anyone with information regarding the identity of the pedestrian is asked to contact Bridgewater Township Officer Kevin Lamey at 908-722-4111, ext 4132.

Amateco said his uncle was a "good man" who worked hard to help support his two daughters, ages 16 and 10. He sometimes worked two and three jobs to provide for his daughters, Amateco said.

Espiridion came to the U.S. more than 17 years ago from Acapulco, Mexico. He worked as a dishwasher and cook at Mountain View Chalet restaurant in Asbury and lived within walking distance of the restaurant.

"Everybody liked him," said Amateco.

Earlier Sunday morning, Amateco said his uncle called his mother asking about a chicken recipe. Later, he called back and sounded mad and angry. Amateco said he tried to ask his uncle what was wrong, but he wouldn't say. He then hung up the phone. That was the last the family heard from him."

Several hours later, Espiridion was killed.

"We just want to find out what happened," said Amateco. "My uncle had a lot of friends. Everywhere he went, people spoke well of him. He loved to play soccer. He was fit. He took care of himself. He didn't want to die."

The family has stared a GoFundMe page to help raise money to send Espiridion back to his native Mexico for burial.

"At home, he was known as 'Chavelo,' the happy warm-souled man that could make you smile even if you didn't feel like it," Amateco said on the GoFundMe page. "His laugh was contagious and he was always telling jokes, we all loved his playful and outgoing personality.

"Every time he stepped in the room, he brought joy with him. This world was a better place with Jose in it. He was loved greatly and he will truly be missed."

The state Department of Transportation and Somerset County have previously said they are working on ways to improve pedestrian safety on that area of Route 22.

In December, a 25-year-old man was struck and killed while walking on the westbound side of Route 22. In August, two people were killed as they were walking in the left lane of Route 22.

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

Click through the slideshow to see the list of high school wrestlers and teams ranked nationally

NJ.com's reporters take a shot at forecasting the week ahead.

RARITAN -- This photo was taken in Orlando's Tavern (also known as the Centennial Tavern) at 19 Wall St. in Raritan during World War II. Writing on the "Vintage Central NJ Taverns" Facebook page, Don Pringle notes that during the war, owner Tony Orlando would send care packages to service members who hailed from Raritan. In return, the military personnel...

RARITAN -- This photo was taken in Orlando's Tavern (also known as the Centennial Tavern) at 19 Wall St. in Raritan during World War II.

Writing on the "Vintage Central NJ Taverns" Facebook page, Don Pringle notes that during the war, owner Tony Orlando would send care packages to service members who hailed from Raritan.

In return, the military personnel would often send thank you letters, which can be seen covering the walls.

A single-family home now occupies the site where the bar once stood.

If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to somerset@starledger.com or hunterdon@starledger.com. And, check out more glimpses of history in our online galleries Thursdays on nj.com.

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

 

The New Jersey Festival of Ballooning returns July 28-30, 2017.

READINGTON - Now beginning its 25th year, QuickChek's title sponsorship of the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank is the longest running sponsorship of any festival in the United States, according to a news release.

The meeting to put the partnership together lasted all of 10 minutes.

"I had partnered with QuickChek on a uniform promotion for three years when I was Director of Marketing with the Nets when they began playing in Piscataway," said Howard Freeman of The Festival Group. "So when John Korff and I acquired the Festival of Ballooning, the first person that we met with was Bob Page, who was President of QuickChek at the time. We quickly spelled out the main components that we knew met with QuickChek's goals: family, community, and benefiting those in need.

"We felt we could help get their name out as they continued to grow, that we could help drive people into their new stores by having them as our exclusive retail ticket outlet. It would also be an excellent vehicle which could have a real impact on our communities."

Page planned on giving Freeman and Korff 10 minutes to state their case. At minute eight they had a deal.

11 ways to enjoy giant N.J. balloon festival

"We saw this as being more than a three-day event, the opportunities were there for this to be a partnership where they could offer their products and engage their vendors while providing savings to consumers throughout the year," said Freeman, who announced that this year's Festival will take place July 28-30 at Solberg Airport.

From its beginnings at a local truck stop on Interstate 78 in Bloomsbury in 1983, the event has grown into the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America.

Upwards of 165,000 people are expected to enjoy the 100 sport and special shaped balloons taking to the skies twice each day over Hunterdon County as the festival celebrates its 35th anniversary with new balloons, fan favorite balloons and some of the biggest names in music.

"The balloon festival has proven to be a highly effective way to introduce consumers to our brand," said QuickChek Chief Executive Officer Dean Durling, whose family-owned company now operates 147 fresh convenience market locations throughout New Jersey, the Hudson Valley and Long Island. "It is a showcase event for us. It allows us to deliver our message of providing restaurant-quality food at a great value, of having the best cup of coffee in the market and demonstrating our dedication to customer service."

Named the 2016 National Convenience Store Chain of the Year and the 2016 Food Service Innovator of the Year, the Whitehouse Station-based chain has utilized the festival to introduce new products and services to festival-goers, such as its in-store Q Cafes, which offer 60 varieties of handcrafted hot and iced cold drinks; as well as testing menu boards, graphics, cash registers and computer systems over the years.

On site, attendees can enjoy new menu items or savor their favorite subs, sandwiches and wraps in QuickChek's 2,700-square-foot air conditioned store. Families also have the opportunity to relax together in between balloon ascensions and headlining concerts inside the company's enormous hospitality tent.

The festival's impact goes far beyond what goes on in the sky that weekend.

"It is also our biggest team building event," said Durling, noting some 500 team members from senior management, support staff and store personnel volunteer each year at the Festival, which has raised more than $2.6 million for local charities, non-profit organizations and children's hospitals since The Festival Group and QuickChek came together in 1993.

The festival has an economic impact of $42.7 million on the state's travel and tourism and local economies and brings positive recognition to the state through the worldwide media attention it receives.

"This annual event has an amazing impact on Hunterdon County's tourism industry," said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. "It is an uplifting, fun experience that brings joy to everyone who attends and should be on your plans on what to do this summer. I encourage both residents of New Jersey and surrounding areas to attend and experience this showcase event."

Submitted by the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning.

Kai Peter, 35, of Warren Township, plead guilty on Jan. 20, 2017, to growing a variety of drugs in his home.

SOMERVILLE - A Warren Township man charged in connection with operating an indoor drug farm at his home accepted a plea deal Friday in Somerset County Superior Court.

Kai Peter (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)

Kai Peter, 35, whose Mount Horeb Road residence was raided on March 16, 2016, plead guilty to first-degree maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility, first-degree possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana with the intention to distribute and second-degree possession of less than five pounds of hashish.

He reportedly had 98 pounds of marijuana, as well as hashish and psilocybin mushrooms when his home was raided.

Charges of second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a drug offense and third-degree possession of psilocybin mushrooms were dismissed, as was a disorderly persons charge.

Under the plea agreement, Peter will be sentenced to 10 years in state prison and must serve 36 months before being eligible for parole.

Somerset County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Reed set March 10 as the sentencing date.

Man hid 107 pounds of marijuana

If he had been found guilty on all charges, Peter was facing up to 50 years in prison.

Assistant Prosecutor Jamin Cooper handled the case for the state.

During the raid, authorities allegedly found 98 pounds of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, four-and-a-half pounds of hashish, three pounds of hashish candy and $20,637 in cash, it was previously reported.

According to police, the marijuana had a street value of $477,000, the hashish was worth $112,500 and the psilocybin mushrooms had an estimated value of $90,000.

Peter allegedly had a growing and packaging area for marijuana and hashish in the basement of his home that included a heat sealer, heat sealer bags, scales, artificial lighting, grow pots, hygrometer, grinder, fans, gloves, mason jars, flexible duct work and filters. The residence is also equipped with an air filtration system, authorities previously said.

Authorities also said the residence contained an indoor growing area for psilocybin mushrooms, as well as a refrigerator containing psilocybin mushroom seeds. Police also recovered a Mossberg .22-calibre long rifle, it was previously reported.

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

Get your nominations in for the winter edition of our statewide contest

Can you feel the gym shake? Are you looking at a sea of red, white and blue, or have the bleachers become a balmy beach scene in the middle of January? Is that organized cheer still rattling in your head?

Student section at work.

Whether it's themes, cheers, chants or banners, we know there are some student sections that help the team catch fire - home or away. We want to know which N.J. school has the best student section this winter, and we're relying on those student sections - and the rest of the school community - to show us - with pictures, with testimonials and in the end, with votes.

We're launching the winter version of our best student section contest (Oakcrest won the football version this fall). It's journey that will last until the end of February, and it starts with an critical first step - a nomination.

To be a part of all that follows, your school has to get a nomination by Monday, Jan. 30. That's not a ton of time, but nominating a school is super easy.  Someone just needs to take at least one picture of the student section and use the form below to submit it.  That's it. Done deal.

Our photographers will also be around the state looking for student sections, and we'll use some of our photos to make nominations too, but don't count on us - we can't be everywhere. Make it a sure thing, and nominate your school with a pic.

Contest format:
Nominations will be open through Monday, Jan. 30. We will then split the nominations into regions and launch a one-week qualifying poll for each region. Your voting in the regional qualifying polls will determine the schools that move on to an elimination bracket, with week-long head-to-head voting matchups to determine regional finalists. We will skip the regional finals and have one big statewide final for all the would-be regional finalists.  The whole thing is targeted to wrap up Monday, Feb. 27.

Nomination and photo submission notes:
• The form below will work with your cell phone - you can nominate your school from the game!
• NJ.com staff will also make nominations with our own photography.
• Only upload photos you have shot or that you personally received permission to use. We can't use photos from other media outlets. Please don't grab and submit photos from other websites.
• Multiple nominations for a school are welcome, but we may not use every photo.
• Submitted photos will be added to the gallery after some processing time; nominations will be compiled and listed on top of this post after the weekend's play.

So start talking and sharing - rally the troops to nominate, vote and make your student section officially the best in N.J.