BOONTON — Looking for a way to honor a loved one or celebrate a milestone? An engraved park bench is a great way to honor someone while beautifying our parks.
You may purchase a new bench with an inscription that will be remembered and appreciated. They will work with you to determine an appropriate location for a new bench.
Click here to download the information package or you can email [email protected].
MORRIS COUNTY — Harmonium Choral Society will hold selective auditions for a limited number of openings in all voice parts for experienced singers with good sight-reading ability for the 2023-2024 concert season. Auditions will be held on select dates between August 26 and September 5 at Grace Church in Madison, 4 Madison Avenue at Kings Rd. Click here to learn more and sign up:
Rehearsals for the acclaimed 100-voice chorus begin September 10 and will be held at Grace Church in Madison on Sunday nights. Harmonium schedules three major concerts per season – December, March, and June – as well as a Chamber Singers concert and special appearances throughout the year. This year’s concerts are December 8 at 7:30 pm. and December 10 at 3:00 p.m., at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown; March 9 at 7:30 p.m. and March 10 at 3:00 p.m. at Morristown United Methodist Church and June 1 at 7:30 p.m. and June 2 at 3:00 p.m., also at, Morristown United Methodist Church.
Harmonium concert soloists are usually selected from the chorus’s members, over one-third of whom are professional musicians and/or music educators. Members are also invited to audition for the Harmonium Chamber Singers, a 20-voice ensemble selected from the full Harmonium chorus. This year’s repertoire ranges from Mozart’s Vespers to a world premiere by Dale Trumbore, with works from the Renaissance to the present.
Harmonium Choral Society, based in Morris County, is one of New Jersey’s leading choral arts organizations. The 100-voice choral society, directed by Dr. Anne Matlack of Madison, has been recognized for its eclectic programming, choral excellence, and community spirit, and sponsors commissions and musicianship workshops. Harmonium’s composers-in-residence are Mark Miller and Martin Sedek; the chorus has also commissioned and premiered works by Amanda Harberg, Matthew Harris, Elliot Z. Levine, Dale Trumbore, and many more. The chorus also sponsors an annual High School Student Choral Composition Contest, which celebrates its 27th anniversary in 2024. This innovative program won the prestigious Chorus America Education and Outreach Award.
To learn more about Harmonium click here.
HANOVER — Lee & Associates New Jersey arranged a 16,000-square-foot industrial lease for Nephros at 30 Leslie Court. The commercial real estate firm’s Josh Krantz served as tenant broker in the transaction; Kate Granahan and Chad Hillyer of CBRE represented the landlord, Faropoint.
MORRIS COUNTY — The weather held off for nine holes at Hamilton Farm Golf Club’s Highlands Course in Gladstone Monday, June 26, when 108 golfers raised a record $180,000 for Preschool Advantage, enough to send 30 kids to preschool this fall.
“We are so grateful for the support we received from all our sponsors and attendees,” said Matt Mirett, event chair and Preschool Advantage trustee.
“We’d specifically like to recognize our Presenting Sponsor, Provident Bank, and our Tournament Sponsor, Open Road Auto Group, who provided foundational support for our event. Despite the weather, it was a great day for all involved and most importantly for the families we serve.”
Preschool Advantage is a Morristown-based non-profit organization that has provided more than 1,500 families with financial assistance for high-quality preschool education since 1995. The golf outing is one of its primary fund-raisers.
The organization will fund preschool tuition for 100 children for the 2023-24 school year and is still accepting applications for September.
To learn more click here or call (973) 532-2501.
MORRIS PLAINS — The Morris Plains Community Band is planning a series of concerts for August 2023. The concerts offer an opportunity for the public to hear and enjoy a true American tradition – the town band, consisting of friends and neighbors, performing a concert in the town park.
On Wednesdays throughout the month of August at 6:30 p.m., the concerts will feature a different program with a different theme each week. The concerts will be held in Roberts Garden Park at the corner of Glenbrook Road and Mountain Way and only will be held in nice weather.
There is no indoor location in case of inclement weather, and there are no rain dates. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy this truly American small-town tradition.
On August 2, the MP Community Band will feature Music of the Great American Composers. Included will be works by John Williams, Richard Rogers, John Phillip Sousa, Henry Mancini, LeRoy Anderson, Leonard Bernstein, and others. This concert also will feature our Morris Plains Community Choir, a 40-voice chorus made up of members of local church, temple, and amateur community choirs. Our choir will be joining us in performing several patriotic selections.
On August 9, our traditional swing jazz big band, the Swing Tones, will present A Tribute to Glenn Miller. The Swing Tones also will feature the vocal stylings of Mark Gold, who will perform songs made famous by Ray Eberle and Tex Beneke with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
On Aug.16th, the MP Community Band will present Music from Around the World, featuring music by Grieg (Norway), Holst (Britain), Offenbach (France), Ravel (France), Rossini (Italy), Shostakovich (Russia), Strauss (Austria) and Tchaikovsky (Russia) among others.
On August 23, the Swing Tones will present The Count and The Duke, a program of the 1930’s and 1940’s swing jazz of Count Basie and Duke Ellington.
On August 30, the MP Community Band will present a program of music from the World War II years, featuring Big Band hits by Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Duke Elllington, and Count Basie, as well as music by Frank Sinatra, Henry Mancini, and others.
The Morris Plains Community Band, a “reincarnation” of the original Morris Plains Cornet Band that existed from 1888 to 1953, was re-established in October 2015 and currently has over 60 members.
As the band is a “no-commitment, no-obligation” volunteer organization, it normally features about 40 musicians at concerts. The band is made up of musicians ranging in age from 14 to 89 and includes middle and high school students, recent college graduates, and older musicians, many of whom haven’t played since their own school days.
The Morris Plains Community Band is conducted by Larry Ripley, a retired musician, and bandleader who is the third member of his family to lead a town band.
To learn more about the Morris Plains Community Band, contact Larry at (973)998-1081 or just get that horn out of the closet and stop in at the Morris Plains Community Center some Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Morris Plains Community Band Needs Your Support!
While they are an all-volunteer organization, we do have expenses and they do need equipment. If you would like to make a donation, please make your check payable to the Morris Plains Community Band Inc., and mail it to the Morris Plains Community Band Inc., P O Box 25, Morris Plains, NJ 07950. The Morris Plains Community Band is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Any donation is fully tax deductible as a charity contribution.
Their mission: To provide an opportunity for people to enjoy playing music, and to perform our music for those who would enjoy it.
MORRIS COUNTY — In a fruitful partnership, the Morris County Nutrition Program and Ort Farms have joined forces for a third consecutive year to ensure fresh produce reaches the senior residents of Butler Senior Housing and Jefferson Chase this summer. This farm-to-table initiative gives seniors the choice to order prepackaged fresh fruits and vegetables from the Long Valley-based farm, subsequently delivered by the Nutrition Program staff.
The federally-funded Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) plays a key role in making this possible, providing vouchers to eligible seniors. These vouchers can be exchanged for fresh produce from participating farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture.
The Morris County Division on Aging, Disabilities, and Community Programming’s Nutrition Program manages the initiative in Morris County. Christine Hellyer, the division’s director, explained that while the SFMNP has been operational for many years, the farm-to-table initiative began in 2021 due to the pandemic limiting seniors’ mobility. The pilot program, in partnership with Ort Farms, was successful and continues with some enhancements introduced in 2023.
One of the improvements made in 2023 was digitizing the voucher system with QR codes on plastic cards attached to lanyards for seniors to wear at participating farmer’s markets. This change mitigates the risk of voucher loss. Moreover, the amount distributed to each individual in a household has increased from $30 to $50, which corresponds to two deliveries of produce worth $25 each.
This year, a total of 72 bags of produce will be delivered to seniors across two housing units. The first set of deliveries, which took place on July 18 and 19, were welcomed by seniors, who received an assortment of seasonal fruits and vegetables. A second delivery is planned for September.
To further encourage participation, each senior who registered for a produce bag also received an indoor sprout blossom kit. The kit, containing mixed herbs that can grow in sunlight and stick to windows and walls, came as a bonus with the produce.
Director Rhea Young, who personally delivers the bags with the help of a community service worker and two interns, stated, “We’ll keep delivering until the need is met.” For more details and income guidelines for the SFMNP, interested parties can visit the Official Website of Morris County.
Ort Farms, a family-run business now in its sixth generation, operates a 400-acre farm and offers produce throughout the year. The farm also provides recreational activities for visitors.
BOONTON — Morris County Historic Preservation Trust presents the history of Darress Theatre
HANOVER — Michaels, a well-loved brand, known for its wide variety of crafting supplies and home décor will be a great addition to the Morris County Mall. The new store is likely to be a popular spot for local DIY enthusiasts, artists, crafters, and anyone else who enjoys expressing their creativity.
The Hanover Township Committee was presented with a redevelopment strategy in 2022, aimed at reinvigorating the largely vacant Morris County Mall. The plan, which includes introducing a new grocer and revamping the exterior with a contemporary design, is set to transform the space into a more appealing and user-friendly shopping destination, enhancing its attractiveness to the local community.
The Morris County Mall, soon to be converted into a strip mall named Hanover Crossroads, comprises a total area of 258,524 square feet. It is located at the junction of Ridgedale Avenue and East Hanover Avenue. Currently, there are four tenants – Walmart, McDonald’s, One Dollar Zone, and Affinity Federal Credit Union – amidst roughly 15 vacant units. This transformative renovation aims to breathe new life into the currently under-utilized space.
Revamping the exterior is an important aspect to attract more customers and businesses, making the mall more competitive and appealing in today’s retail landscape. A new grocer would also fill a significant need in the area, potentially drawing more traffic and customers to the mall.
As for the other stores like Walmart, McDonald’s, One Dollar Zone, and Affinity Federal Credit Union will continue their operations at the mall. Their presence, combined with the planned improvements, could help create a strong anchor for attracting additional retail and service businesses.
We look forward to seeing more details about the grocer and other potential new tenants in this renewed mall space.
Once Michaels opens, shoppers can expect to find everything from painting supplies and knitting materials to scrapbooking essentials and a vast selection of seasonal decorations. Additionally, Michaels is also renowned for offering custom framing services which can be great for preserving your precious artwork, photos, or memorabilia.
As we await more information, those who are interested can start planning their DIY projects and lists of crafting supplies. Michaels often hosts in-store crafting events and workshops as well, so it could also be a great opportunity to learn new skills and meet fellow craft enthusiasts in the community.
As always, it’s encouraged to follow local and state health guidelines when visiting new establishments during the ongoing global health situation.
More details including the official opening date, hours, and any special opening events will be shared as they become available. Keep an eye on this space for updates!
FLORHAM PARK — The Florham Park Education Foundation (FPEF) is thrilled to announce its inaugural Arts, Crafts, and Music Festival, set to take place on Saturday, October 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will be hosted at the Florham Park Gazebo at 111 Ridgedale Avenue.
This complimentary event aims to unite the residents of Florham Park and nearby communities in a grand celebration of arts, cutting across ages, cultures, and timeframes. It also provides a platform to showcase and celebrate the local students and community’s talents.
The festival aims to generate funds for the Florham Park Education Foundation through sponsorships and vendor participation. The proceeds will support the foundation’s school grants and community care initiatives within the Florham Park School District. Festival sponsorships are available at various levels including Grand Artisan ($2,500), Master Tradesman ($1,000), Expert Crafter ($500), and Apprentice ($250).
The Arts, Crafts & Music Festival will host live performances by Tom Sellwood Studios, Tom and the Moms, Laurie Vega and the Soul Experience. The day promises a mixture of art and craft vendors, community organizations, children’s activities, and food trucks scattered across the municipal campus lawn for an enjoyable community gathering. Attendees are encouraged to bring their families, friends, and lawn chairs to partake in this unique cultural event.
Should the weather turn unfavorable, the festivities will move to the Ridgedale Middle School at 71 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park. For queries regarding sponsorships and the Florham Park Education Foundation, reach out to FPEF President Alexis Seubert at [email protected]. For vendor inquiries, contact Cheryl Wasserman at [email protected].
Volunteers are heartily welcome to help out during the event. Those interested should get in touch with Faith Alcantara at [email protected]. For more details about the FPEF Arts, Crafts & Music Festival, sponsorship and vendor opportunities, and the Florham Park Education Foundation, click here. Be sure to follow FPEF on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
Morris Focus was founded in 2017 and is published in print and online formats. Its mission is to provide timely and accurate news coverage to Morris County residents and promote community engagement and involvement. The newspaper covers various topics, including local government, education, business, and sports. We can be reached by calling (973) 559-6000—a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce.
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