NJ.com's complete coverage from the quarterfinal round of the region wrestling tournament.

2018 REGION WRESTLING QUARTERFINAL ROUND

We are one step closer. The road to Atlantic City continues with the Region quarterfinals Friday night. Winners will advance to the semifinal round on Saturday morning. Wrestlers losing in the quarterfinal round still have a chance to make it to Atlantic City, battling through the wrestleback rounds on Saturday.   

MORE: Wednesday night's coverage

NJ.com will be your place to follow all of the action. We'll have live updates, results, stories, photos and more from around the state. Check back all night on Friday. 

REGION HOMEPAGES
R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4
R-5 | R-6 | R-7 | R-8

NOTE: All brackets will be updated as results come in. Click on a weight within each region to see the brackets.

Region 1
• Freshman delivers biggest surprise
• Look back at live updates
• Quarterfinal results
• Semifinal pairings
•  Continually updated R-1 brackets
106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145
152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285

Region 2
• Look back at live updates
• Recap
•  Photo gallery
• Quarterfinal results
• Semifinal pairings
•  Continually updated R-2 brackets
106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145
152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285 

RELATED: 'Most hated player in Jersey' still kneeling for anthem

Region 3
• Look back at live updates
• Recap
• Quarterfinal results
• Semifinal pairings
•  Continually updated R-3 brackets
106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145
152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285

Region 4
• Milestone is quarterfinal steppingstone
• Undefeated Zach DelVecchio of S. Plainfield withdraws
• Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Quarterfinal results
• Semifinal pairings
•  Continually updated R-4 brackets
106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145
152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285

Region 5
• Tenth seed continues to surprise
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Quarterfinal results
• Semifinal pairings
•  Continually updated R-5 brackets
106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145
152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285

Region 6
• Look back at live updates 
• Recap
• Cooper stuns unbeaten Andre
•  WATCH: Top-seeded Koehler of CBA scored a 2nd-period fall 
•  WATCH: Allentown's Lamparelli scored a pin in quarterfinals 
•  WATCH: Xavier Kelly of Howell advances on decision
• Quarterfinal results
• Semifinal pairings
•  Continually updated R-6 brackets
106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145
152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285

Region 7
• Paulsboro advances 7, Camden Catholic 6
•  WATCH Seneca standout wins by fall
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Quarterfinal results
• Semifinal pairings
•  Continually updated R-7 brackets
106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145
152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285

Region 8
• Look back at live updates
• Recap
•   Photo gallery
• Quarterfinal results
• Semifinal pairings
•  Continually updated R-8 brackets
106 | 113 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 145
152 | 160 | 170 | 182 | 195 | 220 | 285

Brendan Rodgers has won seven straight trophies with Celtic, but a return to the Premier League may be too much to ignore.

ALMIRON MAKES IMMEDIATE IMPACT FOR NEWCASTLE UNITED

After he won the MLS title with Atlanta, Miguel Almiron became Newcastle United's record signing (PS21 million) at the end of the January transfer window.

Saturday, the attacking midfielder was deployed on the left for the Magpies, and Almiron showed why Rafa Benitez was so happy to have a new weapon in the quest for Premier League survival.

Recently, former Brad Friedel spoke exclusively to us-bookies.com about Almiron, and many other subjects surrounding the game.

"Almiron may be a loss to Atlanta, but is a definite gain for Newcastle" Friedel said. "He was exceptional and the Atlanta scouting network did a fantastic job in bringing him. I know they paid a lot of money by MLS standards, and he did a fantastic job there. Historically the MLS has not been a selling league so it's good to see that clubs are taking note of the MLS and paying those sorts of transfer fees. He the pace and technical ability to succeed in English football, and I wish him the very best of luck!

"The Premier League is different; it's very fast and physical but he has the tools to deal with it, and to be very good in England. Any league in the world, it will take any player a little bit of adapting, but he has the potential to do very well over there. I think any team that signed him would have had someone to link up with him very well, and you'll see his pace. I know that a lot of teams have players with pace around, and he'll have to get used to that, but he's definitely one to keep an eye on."

Manchester City wins Carabao Cup, after near mutiny for Chelsea

BRENDAN RODGERS SET TO MAKE RETURN TO PREMIER LEAGUE

Brendan Rodgers has won seven straight trophies with Celtic, but a return to the Premier League may be too much to ignore.

The former Liverpool manager, who had the Reds on the verge of the 2013-14 Premier League title before an epic collapse handed the title to Manchester City, has spoke to Leicester City about its managerial position. The Foxes sacked Claude Puel Sunday after a 4-1 loss to Crystal Palace.

Celtic is eight points clear in the Scottish Premiership, which would be its eighth straight title. Rodgers also won every cup tournament in his two-plus years: three Scottish League Cups and two Scottish Cups. 

FUBO.TV MATCHES OF THE WEEK

There will be two, with one each from the Premier League and the Copa Del Rey.

Real Madrid and Barcelona will meet Wednesday (3 p.m. beIN Sports and Fubo.tv) in the second leg of the Copa Del Rey semifinal. The two teams drew 1-1 in the first leg two weeks ago, so the tie is delicately poised. Currently, Barcelona is the favorite (-154 to +122 for real Madrid) to advance to the final on May 25 against either Real Betis or Valencia.

In the Premier League, Chelsea and Tottenham (3 p.m. NBC Sports and Fubo.tv) will battle after each had awful weekends. With the top four battle as tight as ever, which London team can turn it around the quickest?

PREMIER LEAGUE MIDWEEK SCHEDULE

Tuesday

Cardiff City vs. Everton, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)

Huddersfield Town vs. Wolverhampton, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)

Leicester City vs. Brighton, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)

Newcastle United vs. Burnley, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports and Fubo.tv)

Wednesday

Arsenal vs. Bournemouth, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)

Southampton vs. Fulham, 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)

Chelsea vs. Tottenham, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports and Fubo.tv)

Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)

Liverpool vs. Watford, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)

Manchester City vs. West Ham United, 3 p.m. (NBC Sports Gold)

COPA DEL REY SEMIFINAL CLASICO

Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, 3 p.m. (beIN Sports and Fubo.tv)

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean His podcast, Box to Box Football, can be found on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/box-to-box-football/id1208561351?mt=2 His Youtube channel can be watched here

For Matt Nelson, the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton has played host to a number of memorable events in his life. Nelson, who went to Hightstown High School, had his graduation in the building. He then roamed the sidelines covering the Mercer County Tournament basketball games for the Times of Trenton. But as pivotal as those events were, they...

For Matt Nelson, the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton has played host to a number of memorable events in his life.

Nelson, who went to Hightstown High School, had his graduation in the building. He then roamed the sidelines covering the Mercer County Tournament basketball games for the Times of Trenton.

But as pivotal as those events were, they may pale in comparison to his next trip to the arena this Saturday night.

Nelson will be on the microphone as the world famous Harlem Globetrotters head to town for a night of pranks, stunts, and even some basketball. Nelson fulfills many roles with the team, which mostly revolve around announcing. He is the hype man, the PA person, and even the play-by-play guy. It is something that he has described as the stuff of dreams.

"It is going to be surreal performing in front of the hometown fans," Nelson said. "Not only is it where I had a chance to cover the Mercer County Tournament with guys like Ray Clark and you, but it is also where I had my high school commencement ceremony with Hightstown High.

"The fact that I am going to be performing at the CURE Insurance Arena with the Harlem Globetrotters in Trenton is going to be unreal. I am going to have some friends and family that will be coming out to watch not just the Globetrotters, but they will be there for me."

His job is not the same as other game announcers; Nelson is much more involved in the show.

"People think that being an announcer for the Harlem Globetrotters is just about announcing the game as any public address announcer would do," Nelson said. "But my gig is different from any other position I have ever had. I have experience in broadcasting and public address announcing, and I am able to combine both skills and treat them as one.

"I provide the play-by-play on the public address mic. But before and after the game, I basically help set up the court for our magic pass event, which gives fans an opportunity to meet the globetrotters."

Nelson has been able to travel the country with the tour and visit some places that he never thought he would. To be a part of one of the most recognizable shows in the world is something that will stick with him forever.

"To work for a world-class organization like the Globetrotters, a team that has been around for 93 years, it is just surreal," Nelson said. "Being able to travel to all these different places, so many new states that I have never been to, so many arenas I would have never thought I would get a chance to announce at perform, it has been unreal.

"I am working with a team, and a full group of people, whose primary goal is to put smiles on people's faces, mainly for the children. What a lot of people don't realize is, when the Harlem Globetrotters play, it is not just a basketball game. You have the opponents and the referees, but you are also putting on a show for the fans. You want them to go home happy that they were able to see the Globetrotters perform.

"Some of the things that these players are able to do are amazing, such as the trick shots and dunks. This whole four month experience has been surreal." 

The tour has seen the Globetrotters play in arenas big and small, something that Nelson loves about the experience.

"I have been in so many different environments, and so many different atmospheres," Nelson said. "It could be at a local high school, where they have gyms that are bigger than my Hightstown gymnasium. I have been to pretty much every kind of small college you can think of, from Junior to Division 3 or Division 2, and NAIA, all the way up to the NBA and NHL arenas.

"The support we get from their communities, especially the tun out at some of these high schools, is just unreal. Just how they are able to pack so many people in to such a small high school."

The Globetrotters tour will have them in the area for nearly a week. Friday night, they will be in Philadelphia at the Liacouras Center for one show, before heading to Trenton. Sunday, the Globetrotters will be back in Philadelphia for two shows at the Wells Fargo Center. After a day off, Collins Arena in Lincroft, NJ, will be the venue for two straight nights, March 5-6, before one more night in Atlantic City Thursday, March 7.

Tickets for the various shows can be bought on the site here.

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean

The places we went for eats and treats.

Before supermarkets, people patronized a variety of stores to shop for the staples of daily life. Sometimes, in fact, staples were delivered to one's doorstep.

Specialty food stores have made a modern comeback, true, but it's an option for today's shopper. In "the old days" making separate stops at the butcher, baker, fishmonger, etc., was the only way to shop.

My mother, who turned 94 in November, was kind enough to make a list of the places she and her mother went when she was a young girl. She also noted the businesses that made home deliveries.

Photo courtesy of the Hatala family 

The milkman would deliver fresh milk and cream. A trip to Zucca's Bakery was necessary for bread and, occasionally, bakery treats. The ice man would make regular deliveries because not many people owned an electric refrigerator at the time. The Morello meat truck would visit with fresh cuts and ground beef. My mother grew up on a poultry farm; the egg man would come by to pick up the daily output. A truck from Frasco and Cavallo brought chicken feed.

The laundry man would come by to see if any dress clothes needed cleaning or mending. The insurance man would visit to collect payments. Mr. Lipman would stop by once a week with sewing needs - thread, needles and a selection of fabric. The fish man would also visit once a week, on Friday, of course. The newspaper would come daily and the coal company would come by regularly with deliveries.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

And each would bring news of what was going on around Vineland. Social media, 1930s style.

Trips to town might include a visit to Morvay's Market for fresh produce and Friedman's Bakery for fresh rye bread.

Some might say that these processes were far from the convenience of supermarkets. And I might answer that unscrewing the cap from a wine bottle is far more convenient than pulling a cork. Generations have come and gone that have never experienced a life like that. I'd say that's the cost of convenience.

Here's a gallery of photos of vintage food stores and bakeries in New Jersey. And also, some links to similar galleries you'll enjoy.

Vintage photos of small food stores in N.J.

Vintage photos of ice cream and candy stores in N.J.

Vintage photos of foods for every taste in N.J.

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

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption at shelters and rescues.

Here is this week's collection of some of the dogs and cats in need of adoption in New Jersey.

If you run or work for a nonprofit animal shelter or rescue group, consider listing your dogs and cats in this weekly gallery.

Participation in the gallery is free of charge for New Jersey shelters and rescues. You can submit one or two dogs and cats each week, with information similar to that shown in the captions.

The "N.J. pets in need" gallery reaches tens of thousands or people throughout New Jersey every week and posts in all 21 county pages on nj.com. For more information on how to start appearing in this weekly gallery, please contact Greg Hatala at greghatalagalleries@gmail.com.

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

Mysteries from a long time ago can still be solved with the assistance of tips, DNA technology and other forensic advances.

On May 21, 1989, the television show "America's Most Wanted" presented a treatment of a case that had been unsolved for 18 years, John List's 1971 murder of his family in Westfield. Featured on the program was a bust by forensic artist Frank Bender depicting how he believed List would look at the time.

It was a remarkable likeness; tips flooded in with one particular call from a former neighbor leading to List's arrest in Richmond, Virginia, only 10 days after the show aired.

America's Most Wanted had been on the air for just over one season; this was its first mega-high profile capture and led to a network run of 23 years for the program.

Not all crimes and mysteries result in such a conclusion. Among those included in this gallery are crimes that have never been solved.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

This is just a sampling of crimes and mysteries through the years in New Jersey. Included are a number of missing persons cases that are still unresolved; yet even after long periods, sometimes decades, the List case showed us that mysteries can be solved with the assistance of tips, DNA technology and other forensic advances.

The New Jersey State Police maintain a website with unresolved missing persons cases at www.njsp.org/unidentified/; the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law has a page of links related to New Jersey cities and counties with unresolved cases at ncstl.org/education/newjersey.

And check out these other historical galleries:

This month in N.J. history: March

This month in N.J. history: April

This month in N.J. history: May

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

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption from shelters and rescues.

Profile: Randolph Regional Animal Shelter

 

The Randolph Regional Animal Shelter, located in Mendham's India Brook Park at 97 Ironia Road, is a 4,200-square-foot municipal facility. Formerly part of The Seeing Eye's kennel facilities, the shelter serves the towns of Mendham Township, Mendham Borough, Randolph, Rockaway Borough and Dover.

It is operated by township staff and a core group of volunteers who have made it their mission to provide humane care for stray, abandoned and injured animals. They include Erika Barkman, head animal control officer and animal cruelty investigator, shelter manager Sunny Nowell, shelter assistant Christina Campanello, animal control officer Al Alpaugh and Claudine Cheung, president of the Friends of Randolph Animal Pound.

While every animal taken in receives the best care possible, the ultimate goal of shelter personnel is to find a loving, stable home for each animal in its care.

The facility features 26 dog runs, eight separate cat kennels and dedicated isolation and quarantine rooms with a separate HVAC system to prevent the spread of disease.

Pets available for adoption may be seen at the shelter or previewed online at petfinder.com/member/us/nj/mendham/randolph-regional-animal-shelter-nj12/. The adoption fee is $50 for dogs and cats and $150 for kittens.

For more information about the shelter and for directions, go to randolphregionalanimalshelter.org.

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

The fine art of doing nothing and having fun.

It's a common theme in popular music - hanging out, looking for something to do.

"Hanging out on Second Avenue, eating chicken vindaloo
I just want to be with you, I just want to have something to do" - "I Just Want to Have Something to Do" (1978) the Ramones

"Hanging out, down the street, the same old thing we did last week.
Not a thing to do, but talk to you" - "In the Street" (1992) Big Star

"I don't mind you hanging out and talking in your sleep" - "Just What I Needed" (1978) the Cars

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

"Do you ever still think of me and the way that we used to be
When the world was just you and me, hanging out in our shelter" - "Shelter" (2012) The Beach Boys

"If you're in Charleston look out for a woman hanging out in a bright red Cadillac
She took my money, she left me crying and I don't know will I ever make it back?" - "Yolanda" (1974) Bobby "Blue" Bland

"We used to be best friends hanging out in the parking lot like the day would never end." - "Take Me Back" (2002) Lisa Loeb

Here's a look at folks from throughout New Jersey just hanging out. And, here are links to other galleries you might enjoy.

Vintage photos of 'hangin' out' in N.J.

Vintage photos of people 'hangin' out' in N.J.

Vintage N.J. candid photos

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

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption at shelters and rescues.

Spring Boutique Vendor and Craft Show to benefit Montville Pet Parents and Montville Animal Shelter

Montville Pet Parents will sponsor a Spring Boutique Vendor and Craft Show on April 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Montville Senior House.

Shoppers will find items from specialty foods to children's and adult clothing, jewelry, cooking items and more. The event will also feature basket raffles; ticket holders do not need to be present to win.

All proceeds benefit the care of animals at the Montville Animal Shelter.

The Montville Senior House is located at 356 Route 202 in Montville, next to the public safety building.

If you can't get to the event but want to make a tax-deductible donation, go to montvillepetparents.org or mail a donation to: Montville Pet Parents, PO Box 231, Pine Brook, NJ 07068.

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

The team is honoring the Dominican, Mexican, Central America and Puerto Rican communities

For three more nights this June, the Trenton baseball team will have a new moniker.

El Trueno de Trenton will take the field on three Saturday nights, to honor the Dominican Republic (against Harrisburg June 1), Mexico and Central America (against Erie June 8), and Puerto Rico (against New Hampshire June 29). The last two of those nights will follow Friday night contests in which the team will be the Thunder Pork Roll.

"We are pleased to announce that during three games in the month of June, we will rebrand ourselves as El Trueno de Trenton," Thunder General Manager Jeff Hurley said. "Trueno is a direct Spanish translation of the Thunder name that has been with us since our inaugural season in 1994. The vibrant Trueno moniker aims to represent the city of Trenton, and its Latino community, within our ballpark.

The team will wear specially designed uniforms and hats for the three games, with teal the primary color and lemon yellow for the sleeves and brim of the hat. The pants will remain the iconic white pinstripes that have come to symbolize the Yankees' organization throughout the world.

It is all part of the Copa de la Diversion, or "Fun Cup", initiative that was started two years ago by Minor League Baseball. 

"We are excited to unveil the Thunder's participation in Minor League Baseball's Copa de la Diversion," Thunder Broadcast and Media Relations Assistant Spenser Smith said. "Copa de la Diversion is a season long event series, designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating team's local U.S. Hispanic and Latino communities."

Hurley, the reigning Eastern League General Manager GM of the Year, is excited to have another opportunity to honor an important part of the local community.

"Copa de la Diversion started in 2017 with four teams, and will grow to over 72 this season," Hurley said. "We are looking forward to hopefully seeing this grow to every minor league team in the future.

"The Latin community has a significant impact, both on the game of baseball, and the capital city. Trenton is home to approximately 30,000 Hispanic and Latino residents, which accounts for about 35 percent of the city's population. In addition, about 30 percent of Trenton's population are native Spanish speakers. 

"I am thrilled to welcome and celebrate all Hispanic and Latino community members this summer at Arm & Hammer Park."

The press conference, which was held in both English and Spanish, was translated by Carlos Avila, who is a member of the Mercer County Council for Young Children. There will be a kickoff event for the community Monday night at 6:30 p.m., at the Boys and Girls Club in Trenton.

"Today's events do not end after this press conference," Hurley said. "Starting at 6:30 at the Boys and Girls Club of Trenton, we will have a kickoff party to introduce the Trueno de Trenton into the community. Staff members and Boomer, among others, will be in attendance to celebrate this initiative.

"We are really looking forward to not only the 2019 season, our 26th, but the Copa de la Diversion initiative. with El Trueno de Trenton. It is going to be an exciting year."

Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean

Some were chic ... and some were weak.

In his book "Retromania," rock critic and music memorabilia collector Simon Reynolds asserts that "there's never been a society so obsessed with the cultural artifacts of its own immediate past" as ours.

It has gotten a little strange. While smartphone cameras offer technical capabilities that professional photographers could only dream of not long ago, apps like Instagram allow users to turn a new photo into something that looks like a faded relic of the '60s and '70s ... an appearance we were often dissatisfied with in the '60s and '70s.

Hollywood appears to be on a quest to remake every film made more than 25 years ago; musicians apply high-tech filters to their music to make it sound more like the low-tech tunes of the past. Collectors pay top dollar for toys and household items that could be had for a quarter at yard sales a generation ago.

Studies have been done to attempt to explain this, and the results are often open-ended. I tend to agree with something Dr. Art Markman, a psychology and marketing professor at the University of Texas at Austin wrote on huffpost.com way back in 2011.

"Lots of the specific things that are happening right now involve the petty annoyances that you have to deal with to navigate daily life," wrote Markman. "There are bills to be paid, stacks of laundry to be done, tests to be taken and errands to run. When you think about the past, those petty annoyances don't come up. So, all you think about are the great times you had."

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

There's probably something to that, for most people. Recently, I posted an old home movie of the long-gone Vineland traffic circle on one of that city's Facebook pages. Scores of folks weighed in with nostalgic memories; one, however, was able to view it without filters. "That circle" she wrote, "was my nemesis as a new driver!"

Here are more items from the 1960s and 1970s that we bring back memories - good or bad - from days gone by. And here are links to other galleries you might enjoy.

Vintage photos of everyday items from the '60s and '70s you might have forgotten

Vintage photos of things that have changed - for better or worse

Vintage photos of N.J. Americana

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

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption.

Profile: Animal Welfare Association

Courtesy of the Animal Welfare Association 

The Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees was founded in October 1948 by local residents who were appalled by the conditions they saw at local for-profit pounds at the time. The group held their first meeting in a living room and called themselves "Baby Animal Welfare."

In 1960, AWA became the third organization in the United States to be accepted into the Humane Society of the United States' affiliate program for adhering to humane standards. Two years later, Charles Clausing, AWA's president, appeared in front of the House of Representatives concerning a bill on stealing pets from homes and the pound for research. It was part of his testimony that later became the Animal Welfare Act.

The group's shelter in Voorhees was built in 1966 and the AWA opened the region's first low-cost spay/neuter clinic in 1974. In the 1980s the group began a structured program where volunteers would bring animals to local nursing homes on a regular basis.

Today, the Animal Welfare Association has 942 active volunteers. Its clinic performed 8,081 spay/neuter surgeries and gave vaccinations to 6,958 pets in the community at a low cost in 2017 and more than 2,500 pets found homes through the AWA Adoption Center.

For more information about the nonprofit group, go to awanj.org.

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

Get togethers with loved ones deserved to be preserved.

Over the years, I've posted nearly 12,000 vintage photos in these galleries. It's a safe bet that I've gone through 20 times that many to arrive at the ones that have made the final cut. So, I enjoy combing through old pictures; I believe vintage photos are treasures.

But, nowadays, I think there are way too many photos. Particularly when it comes to family photographs.

Digital photography and smart phones make picture-taking easier than it ever was; the camera is always there, it always has plenty of "film" and it's almost impossible to foul up a picture as in days gone by. But, what I find missing all too often is the relaxed reality of old photos.

People know they might have their picture taken at any given moment, and often adopt a pose or expression they've seen on social media; an expression that becomes the same as thousands of others. Dozens of shots can be taken to achieve the "right" one.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

In my opinion, though, it was the "mistakes" in old photos, snapshots with minimal planning and little chance for a "re-do" that truly captured the essence of the moment and the personality of the individuals captured for posterity.

As a pundit I know said so eloquently, old family photos are "an invitation into a moment in time unfettered by vanity." The imperfections are what made them perfect. The next time you sort through the pictures you've taken, take a tip from someone who's looked at more than a million in his lifetime: save the "mistakes." Years from now, you'll be glad you did.

Here are some family photos taken in New Jersey through the years. And, here are links to other similar galleries you might enjoy.

Vintage photos of families in N.J.

More vintage family photos from N.J.

Vintage photos of Valentine's Day couples in NJ

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

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption.

Petfinder.com, where you can find nearly a 250,000 adoptable pets listed by more than 12,000 adoption groups, offers these tips to pet owners now that spring is here:

* There will be plenty of sticks and branches on the ground after winter, and they can cause choking and severe mouth injuries to dogs. If your pet likes to chew and chase, make sure to use a tennis ball, Frisbee or other toy instead of branches.

* You might be doing some spring cleaning; if a pet ingests a household cleaner, don't call a human poison control center - they won't be able to help with animals. Call your vet or the ASPCA poison control hotline, 888-426-4435.

*  Dogs can get seasonal allergies just like people ... but they manifest themselves in dogs more as skin conditions than sneezing. Check with your vet for treatment options.

* Flea and tick prevention for dogs and cats should be continued year-round, but even if you take a break during winter months, make sure to apply the preventatives before the weather warms up.

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

At least lefties are in great demand in the major leagues.

Those of you who are left handed might feel somewhat slighted in everyday life. Lefties, who make up 10 percent of the population, notice the right-handedness of the world in subtle ways. Some of the "majority rules" concepts are reasonable, like doorknobs; but others, like scissors designed specifically for right-hand use, are not.

Growing up, some folks may not be aware of another hurdle lefties faced -- right field dead.

If you played stick ball in your childhood or didn't play sandlot ball, you have no idea what that means. Since the majority of people are right handed, so were the players in neighborhood baseball/softball games (in my neighborhood, for example, there were 30 kids who would play at any given time, only one of whom was a lefty). Most kids weren't good enough to "hit to all fields" and were pull hitters.

On days when there weren't quite enough kids to field a full squad, even after resorting to "own pitcher" and "batting team supplied the catcher," the ruling would be made that was the bane of all lefties: "Right field dead!"

Meaning no one had to play right field ... and meaning that any ball hit to right field didn't count. Meaning left-handers had to learn to hit the ball "the other way" or get called out when everyone got tired of running down their hits to the "dead" field.

In my neighborhood, it was exacerbated; there was a lumberyard with a barbed-wire fence bordering right field. The left-handed kid also had to climb the fence to retrieve the balls he hit in there. So Rusty, on behalf of all of us, this is my apology to you, and to your mom, who had to stitch up all those ripped jeans from climbing over that fence.

Here's a gallery of baseball and softball in New Jersey in which right field was NOT dead. And here are links to other galleries you might enjoy.

Men from N.J. who had a 'cup of coffee' in the big leagues

Vintage photos of pastimes and games in N.J.

Vintage photos of people at play in N.J.

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

Pets all over New Jersey are waiting to be adopted.

If you're interested in helping homeless animals but aren't able to adopt one, there are a number of other ways you can be of assistance.

Realistically, not everyone can adopt. People who live in apartments or developments that have no-pets policies fall into that category, as do people with allergies or disabilities that will not allow them to care for pets of their own. Here are suggestions for ways people who want to help can participate in caring for homeless animals.

* Help out at a local shelter. It's not glamorous work by any means, but it's vital and will be very much appreciated. You can do anything from help walk dogs to bottle feed kittens, help clean kennels or cat's cages or even help with bathing and grooming. Contact your local shelter to find out their policies regarding volunteers.

* If you're handy, you can lend a hand in many ways. Shelters usually need repairs of many kinds, so fixer-uppers can help out like that. If you sew, quilt or crochet, you can make blankets for your local shelter.

* Help out at an adoption event. Many shelters and rescue groups participate in local events by hosting a table with pets available for adoption. They also hold these program at malls, pet supply stores and banks, and can always use a helping hand.

* For galleries like this one and for online adoption sites, often a shelter or rescue group doesn't have the time or equipment to shoot good photos of their adoptable pets. Something as simple as making yourself available to shoot and provide digital files of pet photos can be a big help.

* Donate. It doesn't have to be money; shelters need cleaning supplies, pet food, toys for the animals and often even things we don't think twice about getting rid of like old towels and newspapers. Every little bit helps.

If you don't know where your local animal shelter or rescue group is, a quick online search will reveal a number of results. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to get involved but it provides immeasurable assistance.

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