James "Jim" M. Bennick of Jim Thorpe celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9 with a family dinner at Romano's Restaurant in Snyders.

A native of Jim Thorpe, he is the husband of the former Bertha Bailey-Stahler and the late Lorraine (Getz) Bennick, who died in 1994.Prior to retiring in 1994, he had been an active member of the Pipefitters Union, where he taught plumbing classes. He was also a welding instructor for the Carbon County Vocational Technical School (CCTI).His five children include: James of Lehighton, and wife, Vicki; Denise, wife of John Kuntz of Kempton; Francis of Andreas, and his wife, Diane; William of Lehighton; and Lorrie, wife of Michael Ogden of Ashland. He also has nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.A former member of the Jim Thorpe Borough Council for more than 20 years, he also served as the borough's plumbing inspector.His favorite pastime continues to be running his CASE 580 backhoe.