Hopatcong Grad Combines Halloween With Science

John Scala can remember a time when Hopatcong was much less developed, when it had one-lane roadways and very few traffic lights and sidewalks.

Back in the 1960s, the Hopatcong High School 1976 graduate recalls looking up at outer space with nothing interfering with his vision of the night sky.

"Back in those days the Hopatcong skies were dark," he said. "The stars, the planets, the moons—it was still very much undeveloped, and that's what caught my eye."

That's what Scala says first sparked his interest in astronomy, which ended up being the path he took for his career. Now he is sharing these experiences and teaching the local kids about the same subject that he chose to pursue.

At just 10 years old, Scala received a telescope for Christmas, and he would take out astronomy books on his own at the Sussex County Library. Throughout his time at the high school, he participated in the model rocket club, where he would build flying cardboard and plastic model rockets.

Scala credits his experiences growing up in Hopatcong to pursue the industry. He later went on to get a degree in Astronomy and Planetarium Education from Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, and began teaching the subject to schools around New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Eventually he landed a job at Lenape Valley High School, where he has been the planetarium director for the past 26 years.

There, he shares his knowledge and experiences in the field astronomy with students everyday by teaching three science courses and presenting the different laser shows.

The planetarium—which is one of only six in public schools in New Jersey—invites schools from all over the area in Sussex, Morris and Warren counties for field trips to see the different laser shows.

Scala said that when the Hopatcong kids come to visit "it's a little more personal," and he reminisces with the students about the borough, and how the school buildings were being constructed when he lived there.

With Halloween approaching, there's a new lineup of laser shows coming up that will be open to the public. The shows are designed by the Wayne-based Prismatic Magic company.

The laser shows that Scala puts on are usually only open to the students who visit, but starting Oct. 26 there will be three new themed shows open to the public for families to attend together.

The three themes are Halloween, current "Top 40" pop music, and the classic sound of Pink Floyd. The shows will feature the east coast’s only radiant graphic laser system, where the animations and lighting will be synchronized to music.

Scala says he encourages the Hopatcong community to come to the shows because it's something he would have enjoyed as a child.

"When I first moved to Hopatcong it was wilderness," he said. "The closest McDonalds was somewhere down in Fairfield, the local pizzeria was somewhere in Landing, the local supermarket was in Netcong or Roxbury. So to have something like this so close to home, I would love to have people come up to the planetarium and experience it."

The dates for the Halloween Spook-tacular are Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 27 at 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m., Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 31 at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m., and Nov. 1 at 3 p.m.

The Lasermania Pop Music show will be on Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 27 at 2 p.m., Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 1 at 4 p.m.

The times for the Pink Floyd shows are Oct. 26, Oct. 29, and Oct. 30 at 8:30 p.m., and Oct. 31 at 8 p.m.

On Halloween, anyone attending a program that day wearing a costume will receive $2 off the price of admission.

Ticket prices are $12 per adult, $8 per student, and $10 for senior citizens above age 60. These shows are not recommended for children younger than age 5. Each program lasts approximately 50 minutes.

Scala said reservations are strongly suggested, due to limited planetarium seating.

Reservations can be made by contacting John Scala, Planetarium Director, at 973-347-7600 ext165, or via email at jscala@lvhs.org.