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Young historians explore Revolutionary and Civil War eras at Sparta camp
Twenty-five kids ages 6 to 15 traded their summer routines for musket drills and period foods during the two-day Time Travelers Adventure Camp at the Sparta Train Station. Reenactors Karl Grogaard, Matt Grogaard, and Phil Cocilovo led campers through hands-on history, letting them handle artifacts and ask questions along the way. Camp director Morgan Bleakley said watching kids get swept up in another era never gets old.

https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/young-historians-explore-revolutionary-civil-war-eras-at-sparta-camp-DL6058984

Weekend Bag Program kicks off school-year food drive
The Weekend Bag Program launched its first Stuff the Van fundraiser for the 2026-27 school year on July 23 at the Weis Markets in Newton. Volunteers collected food and hygiene items to help stock bags for Sussex County students in need, with High Point Regional High School's Work-Based Learning Program pitching in.

https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/weekend-bag-program-kicks-off-school-year-food-drive-KA6057396

Sparta student to lobby Congress on clean energy, lower utility costs
Sparta's Sofia Billich, now studying environmental science at the University of Colorado Boulder, heads to Washington, D.C. this week with Citizens' Climate Lobby volunteers. She'll join roughly 40 other New Jersey advocates meeting with the offices of Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, and Rep. Tom Kean Jr., pushing for permitting reform to speed up clean energy and ease pressure on utility bills.

https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/sparta-student-to-lobby-congress-on-clean-energy-lower-utility-costs-NX6055359

Academy of Possibilities celebrates America 250 with community event
The Capable Crew at the Academy of Possibilities in Hamburg hosted a Possibilities Day celebration with an America 250-themed scavenger hunt, live music from Jeff Martini and George Wortche, and plenty of cupcakes.

https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/academy-of-possibilities-celebrates-america-250-with-community-event-BX6055416

Sussex County Community College to host career education information session
SCCC will hold a drop-in Career and Technical Education info session on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the McGuire Technical Education Center on Main Street in Newton. Programs on offer include advanced manufacturing, culinary arts, electrical lineworker training, and welding. The free fall application is available at sussex.edu/fall.

https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/sussex-county-community-college-to-host-career-education-information-session-AY6054763

Sparta & Sussex County History Bite

Here's one most people miss when they drive past the Sparta Train Station: it played a quiet role in the birth of the Appalachian Trail.

Built in 1881 by the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad, the station spent its early decades hauling zinc ore and ferrying tourists to Sparta's boarding houses. But in the 1920s, a group of hikers who would go on to help found the Appalachian Trail used to ride the train up from New York City, disembark at Sparta, and hike from there to the Hudson Guild Farm in Andover, where the idea for the Trail was first hashed out over lunch.

Passenger service ended in 1935 and the station eventually fell into disrepair, but it was rebuilt and rededicated in 2016. Today it's a rentable event space, and every December it hosts the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Operation Toy Train. Not bad for a building that started out hauling zinc.

Our Local Weather

Day: Tuesday
Date: July 28, 2026
High: 72°F
Low: 65°F
Description: 🌧 Rain likely, 85% chance

Day: Wednesday
Date: July 29, 2026
High: 76°F
Low: 64°F
Description: 🌦 Scattered showers, 75% chance

Day: Thursday
Date: July 30, 2026
High: 74°F
Low: 63°F
Description: 🌦 Scattered showers, 75% chance

Day: Friday
Date: July 31, 2026
High: 81°F
Low: 64°F
Description: ⛅ Partly cloudy, 30% chance of rain

Day: Saturday
Date: August 1, 2026
High: 83°F
Low: 65°F
Description: ☀️ Mostly sunny, 25% chance of rain

Day: Sunday
Date: August 2, 2026
High: 79°F
Low: 69°F
Description: ⛅ Partly cloudy, 25% chance of rain

Day: Monday
Date: August 3, 2026
High: 79°F
Low: 69°F
Description: 🌧 Rain likely, 75% chance

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Answer to Trivia Question

Question: Sparta covers just under 39 square miles, making it one of the largest townships in Sussex County by land area. About what percentage of that land is water?

Answer: About 5%. Sparta has roughly 2 square miles of water out of its nearly 39 total square miles, thanks largely to Lake Mohawk and several smaller lakes and ponds scattered across town.

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Note: We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of event details, business updates, and local news. However, plans can change! Please confirm with organizers or official sources before attending. We appreciate your understanding as we strive to keep our community informed and connected.