By Cathy Miller

The Lopatcong Panthers JV Football Team met late morning on Columbus Day at Mackey’s Orchards in Belvidere for a team-bonding hayride. According to head coach Kenney Lutz, they generally include some form of community service in these get-togethers and this day was no different.

Their particularly perfect autumn outing included the hayride, enjoying some of Mackey’s myriad ice cream treats, and a trip to the pumpkin patch where the Panthers selected pumpkins to donate to patients at Lopatcong Care Center. The young football team planned to line up outside the facility to safely greet the seniors and present them with the big orange pompons.

Photo by Cathy Miller: Members of the Lopatcong Panthers JV Football Team and students at Lopatcong Middle School: (kneeling) Jaxson White, 10, 4th grade; (standing left to right): Trent Kline, 11, 5th grade; Cole Lutz, 11, 5th grade; and Niklas Nassry, 11, 6th grade.

Mackey’s Orchards is located at 284 County Road 519, Belvidere, NJ 07823. Visit www.mackeysorchard.com.
(Macky’s Orchards is an eight generation family farm featuring a farmstand, in-house bakery, ice cream, greenhouse, pick your own, and seasonal events.)