About

THE NEW MORRISTOWNGREEN.COM

Welcome back, by George!

MorristownGreen.com has a new look. But our goal is unwavering:

We’re aiming for an online version of the venerable Morristown Green, where people from Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains can come together to discuss anything and everything that matters to them.

When we wrote those words in January 2008, MG was an experiment by The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. We are grateful to everybody there who worked hard to give us a fine start.

And we are especially grateful to you–the people of Greater Morristown, NJ –for your support and encouragement as we begin our next chapter.

Thanks to you, MorristownGreen.com remains the place to find out what’s going on around Morristown.

From town hall to the stage of the Community Theatre, from Morristown High to Morristown Memorial Hospital, from Ginty Field to Roberts Garden, we strive to inform and entertain with good journalism, good humor and a lively multimedia mix.

It is our continuing good fortune to have a talented, enthusiastic, loyal core of volunteer contributors. If you like to write, shoot pictures or make videos, please join our merry band  and share your unique viewpoint with all of us–your neighbors!

NEW ALLIANCES

MorristownGreen.com began as a quest for innovative ways to deliver local news in a rapidly changing media environment.

Now, as traditional media struggle to survive, creative approaches are crucial. We are excited to announce some novel affiliations to help keep the lights on at MorristownGreen.com.

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church has provided invaluable logistical and moral support throughout the relaunch of MorristownGreen.com.

An integral part of Morristown since 1827, St. Peter’s believes bold thinking is key to staying relevant in the 21st century. Rector Janet Broderick sees MorristownGreen.com as a positive force, and cites a precedent for church-supported journalism: The highly respected Christian Science Monitor.

We got to know the folks at St. Peter’s when they graciously hosted our first two film festivals. We look forward to more collaborations with them, and would encourage anyone to explore the programs and services offered at St. Peter’s.

At the same time, we promise: We won’t preach on MorristownGreen.com. St. Peter’s won’t set journalistic policy. The vibrant and caring faith community of Greater Morristown has always made us feel welcome. We will continue to cover events at all local houses of worship, and to welcome participation by members of all congregations. We respect the religious beliefs—or non-beliefs—of everyone.

SUSTAINING THE DREAM

We also are pleased to host Sustainable Morristown.

Funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Sustainable Morristown comprises four organizations: The town ‘s new Office of Sustainability, the Morristown Partnership, the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the Inspired Futures Campaign of the U.S. Partnership.

Sustainable Morristown emerged from Step Ahead Morristown, a Dodge-funded initiative that started a town-wide conversation in 2007 about the kind of place that residents want Morristown to be.

Expert planners visited Morristown and solicited ideas from people of all ages. Environmental issues were examined.Yet the soul-searching went deeper, from design challenges—how can the downtown be made more walkable?–to questions of economic viability, social justice and basic fairness. As luxury condos sprout around the Green, how will the town preserve its diversity and ensure that municipal employees and working class families can afford to live here?

We are proud to keep this important conversation alive on MorristownGreen.com, where Sustainable Morristown will be central to the discussion.

ART LOVERS

Greater Morristown is a state leader in the arts, as well as sustainability. A thriving cultural scene is a prime reason to live here, and we plan to ramp up our entertainment coverage.

For two years it’s been our privilege to work closely with the Arts Council of the Morris Area to promote First Night, a holiday spectacular second to none.

We applaud the Arts Council’s commitment to the actors, artists and musicians who enrich our lives, and we appreciate the council’s ongoing support of our efforts to showcase local talent.

SPECIAL THANKS

We wish to sincerely thank S. Dillard and Adrienne Kirby for their generous personal support.

Thank you to our devoted bloggers who have stayed with us.

Barbara Snyder, communications director at St. Peter’s, was immensely helpful in getting MG’s redesign started.

The Cyberlaw Clinic at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School provided expert guidance; our thanks to Ana Montoya, Christopher Bavitz, Kimberley Isbell and Helen Fu for their hard work.

Michael Fabrizio and his staff at the Morristown Partnership have been great resources; we thank them.

Likewise, our thanks to Anne Aronovitch and her staff at the Arts Council of the Morris Area for their keen insights.

We also gratefully acknowledge our web host, Interactive Media Associates Inc. of Parsippany.

Last but not least, we thank the many friends of Morristown Green who have offered advice and encouragement. You put the “Great” in Greater Morristown.

WHO WE ARE:

MorristownGreen.com is a venture of Kevco Media LLC.

Editor Kevin Coughlin helped launch the site in late 2007. The longtime Morristown resident brings years of experience as a former reporter at The Star-Ledger, where he covered technology and worked with many of the best journalists in the business. His training includes video production and a fellowship at MIT.  No classroom, however, could have prepared him for the demands of hyperlocal news: Welding a giant hot dog onto a van hours before a parade, finding extension cords moments before a music festival, or marching around in a cheap wig and cheesy costume that resembles 18th-century lounge wear.

HELP!

If you like what we’re trying to do, please consider clicking the Paypal icon and making a donation to MorristownGreen.com.

To place an ad, please contact us at:

MorristownGreen AT gmail DOT com

or call:

(973) 944-0530.