3' ) -p ID Belleville woman celebrates 102nd Former teacher enjoys watching football on TV By Tom Gavey The Intelligencer Vera Teal is many things as she turns 102-years-old - - alert, independent and modest among them. "Make sure you melt that down," she told reporters Satur- day at a celebration of her July 4 birthday at Belleville's Rich- mond Retirement Home. Born in Wooler in 1896 to a farming family she became a school teacher during the days of the one-room schoolhouse in the Trenton-area. "Some days you feel good and some days you feel not too good," she said. Intelligencer photo by Tom Gavey Vera Teal marked her 102nd birthday Saturday with her younger sister Mabel Consul and nephew Doug Consul. Joining her for Saturday's cel- ebrations were her younger sister Mabel Consul and nephew Doug Consul. Teal was married briefly. Her sister says tragically Teal's husband of less than a year died of typhoid in 1909. , Teal retired from teaching after 40 years in 1960 and moved into the Richmond Retirement Home shortly after it opened 12 years ago. "It's amazing that's she's able to stay in a place where you basi- cally take care of yourself. She's still very inquisitive and I think keeping an active mind has helped," says nephew Doug. Long life runs in the family. Sister Mabel Consul is 87 and she says their mother died when she was 92. If you're looking for Teal at the home you might try the tele- vision room. That's where Doug says she likes to watch football games. r