Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why prosecutors say the Route 10 crash wasn’t a crime

Also, don't miss Christmas Festival of Lights on the Hackettstown Patch calendar

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Coffee in hand, Hackettstown? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why prosecutors say the Route 10 crash wasn’t a crime
  • Where Hackettstown field hockey landed in this year’s NJAC rankings
  • How close did Hackettstown’s GOP stronghold come to flipping blue?

Also on today's calendar: Christmas Festival of Lights and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Hackettstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Hackettstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, with a high of 33 and low of 20 degrees.
  • Saturday: Some brightening, temps: high: 36, low: 24.
  • Sunday: Colder; morning snow, 1-3", with a high of 28 and low of 16 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

• Crash that killed four, including Hackettstown boy, on Route 10 in Morris County ruled non-criminal, officials say (wrnjradio.com) — A tragic April crash on Route 10 in Randolph claimed four lives, including a 4‑year‑old boy from Hackettstown, and has been ruled non‑criminal after an extensive Morris County investigation. Officials say evidence points to a possible medical episode by the at‑fault driver, and they emphasized the efforts of first responders while acknowledging the community’s ongoing grief.
   

• Field Hockey: NJAC Season in Review, 2025 (nj.com subscription) — Hackettstown field hockey capped its season ranked 10th in the NJAC, finishing with a 10-10-1 record against strong regional competition. The conference review highlights standout players, coaches, and dominant programs like Madison and Newton, giving local fans context for how Hackettstown stacked up in a highly competitive 2025 campaign.
   

• Mapping Sherrill's dominant victory on N.J.'s legislative map (newjerseyglobe.com) — Hackettstown’s own Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio represents a district that swung sharply toward Democrat Mikie Sherrill this year, shrinking a 21-point GOP edge to about 4.5 points. The piece maps how Sherrill’s strong statewide performance flipped several Republican-leaning legislative districts, explores why Democrats surged, and examines what both parties’ strategies and internal debates could mean for New Jersey politics heading into 2027.
   

📸 Around Hackettstown

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Centenary University Inducts Five Students into Psi Chi International Honor Society for Psychology Students —RD Read on Patch
  • Centenary University Receives $27,500 Grant to Combat Food Insecurity on Campus —RD Read on Patch
  • Deck the Halls —RD Read on Patch
  • Looking for suggestions for a licensed/insured contractor to install a Google Nest Power Connector.
    My furnace does not provide a C wire, so I need the Power Connector. The installation instructions, and the dozens of YouTube videos I've watched, is… (Nextdoor W Hackettstown)
  • Mars posted a job opening for Team Member (Machine Operator)- Hackettstown, NJ in Hackettstown. Apply here.
  • The Learning Experience posted a job opening for Urgently Hiring Infants and Preschool Teachers - Lead in Hackettstown. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Hackettstown here.

🗞 Nearby News

Mount Olive

  • JLL arranges $27.9M sale of Gardens Portfolio retail complex in Mount Olive Township (wrnjradio.com)
  • 2025-26 Morris/Sussex wrestling team-by-team preview capsules (dailyrecord.com)

Long Valley

  • Toy Drives In Long Valley: How To Make The Holidays Merry For Everyone (patch.com)

Washington

Ok Hackettstown! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I couldn’t put it down.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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