Toys

A 14-YEAR veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department was arrested Monday for allegedly engaging in an ongoing conspiracy to steal from a local toy store, police said. Bridgette Paris, 48, was charged with retail theft, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, forgery and related offenses, police said. The charges followed an investigation by the department's Internal Affairs Bureau and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. Police have not identified the store that Paris allegedly targeted.

By the time he appears in court on Friday, 12-year-old Gerald McNeal will have been in custody for 10 days for doing what he thought a big brother should do. His little brother, Isaac, 9, meanwhile, has been racked with guilt and feels responsible for the serious criminal charges that his brother faces because of Isaac's toy gun. "Mostly, I was crying because if I never would have bring it this would have never happened," said Isaac....

Like their life-size counterparts, self-propelled toy boats can be an expensive hobby. To see just how expensive, take a look at some of the sea craft that Bertoia Auctions will offer beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at the gallery in Vineland. At least 18 of the more than 150 vessels that dominate the 210-lot sale are expected to bring five-figure prices and at least one has a six-figure presale price estimate. The fleet was assembled by Richard T. "Dick" Claus, a 30-year collector who lives in the Philadelphia area and at age 80 is planning to downsize, according to Bertoia associate Richard Bertoia.

BEING A BOY TOY doesn't seem like such a bad gig. Casper Smart celebrated his 25th birthday at the end of last week, People reports, and not only did he get to celebrate it in the bed of his 42-year-old girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez , he got the cool birthday present every boy wants. A truck. Casper had his eye on a white pickup, and Jennifer bought it for him as a surprise. E! Online reported Jennifer rented a room at West Hollywood's Cecconi Italian restaurant for Casper's birthday bash.

TOLEDO, Ohio - Pushed to the bottom of the toy box by video games and other high-tech gadgets, Etch A Sketch is suddenly drawing lots of attention, thanks to a gaffe that has shaken up the race for the White House. Ohio Art Co., maker of the classic baby-boomer toy, is sending a big box of Etch A Sketches to the presidential campaigns to say thanks for the publicity and a boost in sales. It all started when Mitt Romney strategist Eric Fehrnstrom was asked Wednesday about the candidate's politics now vs. this fall, and he likened the campaign to an Etch A Sketch, saying, "You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again.

Three sales over the next few days will offer the acquisitions of a Midwest arcade-game collector, a New York antique toy-store proprietor, and a Delaware Civil War prison guard. The arcade-game collector was the late Frank Zygmunt Sr. of Chicago, a trader for 25 years in vintage slot machines, jukeboxes, and similar coin-operated devices. Zygmunt's collection will be offered by Morphy Auctions at a sale beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at the gallery near Reading. The 415-lot sale also is being conducted online through Morphy's website, www.morphyauctions.com , and at www.LiveAuctioneers.com . Vintage coin-ops have long been collectible, often winding up in residential basement bars.

GETTYSBURG - Bobblehead dolls of the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln have been pulled from sale at the Gettysburg National Military Park visitor center bookstore, officials said Tuesday. The dolls of John Wilkes Booth with a handgun were removed from shelves Saturday, a day after a reporter for Hanover's Evening Sun newspaper asked about them. "On rare occasions, there's an item that might cause concern, and obviously the bobbleheads appeared to be doing that," Gettysburg Foundation spokeswoman Dru Anne Neil said Tuesday.

Saturday It's Betsy's birthday! The annual party that celebrates America's most celebrated flagmaker is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St. The fete marks her 260th birthday celebration with storytelling by Betsy Ross, make-and-take crafts, and a balloon artist. Birthday cake will be offered at 1:30 p.m., and an audio guide will be free with regular admission of $4; $3 for students, seniors, children, and military. Information: 215-686-1252 or www.BetsyRossHouse.org Friday-Feb.

NEW JERSEY Holiday for recruits The Coast Guard and the American Red Cross will place about 240 Coast Guard recruits with 79 South Jersey host families for holiday dining on Sunday as part of Operation Fireside. At any given time, the Cape May training center may have more than 600 Coast Guard recruits who come from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Since 1981, Operation Fireside has allowed recruits to celebrate the holiday with a host family while they're separated from their loved ones during training.

Independence Blue Cross is giving 1,000 toys to the struggling Philadelphia Toys for Tots campaign, and will match each new donation up to a total of 2,500. That could quickly bring 6,000 toys to the annual program, where donations are down almost 80 percent this year. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is joining the effort, too - appearing at 3 p.m. Friday at Engine Company 16, at 1517 Belmont Ave., to encourage people to donate. "I talked to Mike about it, and he's like, 'Santa has to come to Philly this year,' " said Vick spokesman Chris Shigas.