ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

A pair of coin-operated binoculars stolen in Mass. along state’s famous trail

FLORIDA, Mass.

Massachusetts State Police are investigating the theft of a pair of 305-pound, coin-operated, binocular-like devices that gave tourists spectacular views along the state’s famous Mohawk Trail.

The scenic viewers are mounted on metal posts that are often found at inspiring vistas.

Police said last week they think the bronze and cast iron viewers were cut from their wooden platform next to the Eastern Summit gift shop in the town of Florida sometime between Feb. 27 and March 7.

Police say the devices, manufactured by Tower Optical, are considered collectibles because so few are made.

Tourism officials say the views from the Eastern Summit extend 65 miles on a clear day.

N.J. woman is reunited with her pet dog that disappeared months ago

JERSEY CITY, N.J.

A New Jersey woman has been reunited with her beloved pet dog that skipped out of her apartment six months ago.

Tanya Flowers told The Jersey Journal that she spent days handing out hundreds of fliers and contacting animal shelters after her year-old Maltese named Paris vanished last September.

The Jersey City woman feared she wouldn’t see the dog again.

But recently, a New York City shelter called to tell her that Paris had been found.

“I wasn’t sure if this was a joke or not, because I had received numerous prank phone calls from the fliers I had put up,” Flowers said.

Paris supposedly was found walking the streets in North Bergen four months ago, Flowers said.

A man who spotted her took her in, but then decided he could no longer care for her and took her to his mother’s home in Staten Island.

The mother took the dog to a veterinarian, who scanned the dog and discovered a microchip that linked Paris to Flowers.

She said she couldn’t be happier to have “her baby” back home.

“When I walked up to the door in Staten Island and saw my dog, I just started screaming,” Flowers said.

She said Paris immediately began barking and licking her face.

Associated Press