Video: A song for a somber day, as Morristown says goodbye to Lennon Baldwin
On Saturday night in Madison Coro Lirico sang Agnus Dei from Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings.
It seems a fitting video to play on this Monday morning, as Morristown prepares for the funeral of Morristown High School freshman Lennon Baldwin. Authorities are investigating whether bullying pushed him to take his life at his Morris Township home last week.
The service is scheduled for 10 am at the Morristown United Methodist Church.
Lennon Baldwin, a Morristown High School freshman, is being mourned by the community. Facebook photo.
Long lines waited inside Madison’s Dangler Funeral Home to pay their respects at Lennon’s wake on Sunday.
Arrayed around his open casket were things that he loved– a red Epiphone electric guitar, a longboard, a bowling ball bag. A small index card bore a quote from Lennon about the importance of helping others.
Nearby, the Beatles’ All You Need Is Love accompanied a computer slide show of photos from the 15-year-old’s life: Swimming with dolphins on a vacation, playing Little League baseball, bowling a strike.
His schoolboy writings talked about a favorite book, a best friend, and a tumble in a road race.
The Adagio for Strings was broadcast on the radio when President Franklin Roosevelt died, and was played at the funerals of Albert Einstein and Princess Grace.
It also commemorated victims of the 9/11 terror attacks and has been used as a soundtrack in many films, including Platoon, The Elephant Man, and Amélie.
And it appeared in two of Lennon Baldwin’s favorite TV comedies, The Simpsons and South Park.
Video: Trayvon Martin protest in Morristown
Protesters gathered Tuesday on the Morristown Green to demand justice for Trayvon Martin, the unarmed Florida teen shot dead by a Neighborhood Watch captain.
Many wore hoodies, as Trayvon had done, and some carried Skittles, the candy that he bought moments before his fatal encounter with George Zimmerman. At the time of this protest, March 27, the shooter had not been arrested. He claimed the shooting was in self-defense.
This video includes several speakers from the Morristown event, including Mayor Tim Dougherty, Councilwomen Michelle Dupree Harris and Raline Smith-Reid, Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi and Pastor Sidney Williams Jr. of the Bethel A.M.E. Church.
Demonstrators remember Trayvon Martin at protest on the Morristown Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Video: Anne Matlack conducts three choirs at once in Morristown; ask her how at ‘Great Conversations’
How do you conduct three choruses at the same time?
We could attempt to answer that, based on Anne Matlack’s performance leading the Harmonium Choral Society, the New Jersey Youth Chorus and the Neighborhood House Children’s Chorus at the Morristown United Methodist Church earlier this month.
But why not just ask Anne yourself? The artistic director of the Harmonium Choral Society is among 32 featured guests at Great Conversations on March 29.
It’s a fundraising dinner for the Arts Council of the Morris Area. For $195, you can dine at the Madison Hotel with top figures from the worlds of art, entertainment, business, philanthropy, health and sports.
Harmonium Artistic Director Anne Matlack, pictured here with husband Jabez Van Cleef, a singer and composer with Harmonium. Anne is a featured guest at 'Great Conversations' on March 29. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Anne, who holds music degrees from Yale University and the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, has led the 100-voice Harmonium chorus since 1987 and has served as organist/choirmaster of Grace Church in Madison for 20 years.
Community outreach is a big part of Harmonium’s mission. With Anne’s guidance, Harmonium established the Morristown Neighborhood House Children’s Chorus in 2009. The Neighborhood House has been helping immigrants and low-income families for more than a century.
This year also marks the 15th anniversary of a high school choral composition contest sponsored by Harmonium.
“It’s a great honor to be invited to join the host conversationalists at the benefit for the Arts Council of the Morris Area,” Anne said in a statement. “I’m very excited about meeting guests at the benefit and discovering new ideas to build a stronger community through innovative arts programs.”
The full roster of Great Conversationalists can be found here. And check out our podcast with Anne Aronovitch, executive director of the Arts Council of the Morris Area.
Anne Matlack, foreground, conducts members of Harmonium and the Neighborhood House Children's Chorus at the Morristown United Methodist Church on March 11, 2012. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Video: Who needs electric guitars? CELLObrate and Spuyten Duyvil rock Greater Morristown just fine, thank you
You don’t need electric guitars, drums or wild hair to make dance-in-the-aisles rock and roll.
Sometimes a few cellos or a bouzouki and harmonica will do.
Two groups proved this point in Greater Morristown last Friday. CELLObrate pounded out a heavy metal tune, Pain and Pleasure, on six — count ‘em, six! — cellos, at the Fridays on the Green lunchtime series at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown.
A few hours later, the roots band Spuyten Duyvil injected a healthy dose of folk rock into the Minstrel in Morris Township with a rollicking rendition of Judge Not.
CELLObrate consists of six students of Marnie Kaller, who led the young ladies through a half-hour Bach to Beatles program that showed off the versatility of the cello. Musicians Amy Chang, Rohana Chase, Danielle Chung, Jeanna Qiu, Olivia Seltzer and Caylynn Yao donned cool shades to cop the proper attitude for their rock adventure.
Marnie, who performs frequently on cello with the Heritage Piano Trio, admitted Friday’s show was a departure for her. But worth the trip, don’t you think?
CELLObrate: (From left) Amy Chang, Caylynn Yao, Danielle Chung, instructor Marnie Kaller, Rohana Chase, Jeanna Qiu and Olivia Seltzer. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Our first encounter with Spuyten Duyvil was under the stars late one night at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. The band’s repertoire reaches back centuries–but this gang from Yonkers hastens the journey by playing every song at nearly the speed of light.
MARITAL HARMONY: Beth Kaufman-Miller and Mark Miller rock out at the Minstrel. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Friday’s ensemble was led by singer Beth Kaufman-Miller and her bouzouki- and dobro-playing husband, Mark Miller, with foot-stomping support from Tom Socol on guitar, Jim Meigs on harmonica, John Neidhart on bass and Rik Mercaldi on mandolin and lap steel guitar.
Spuyten Duyvil refers to a Bronx creek, and according to folklore, the Dutch phrase translates to “In spite of the devil.”
Which sounds appropriate. Rock and roll is the devil’s music, right?
Fridays on the Green concludes at noon on March 30 with classical guitarist Carlos Cuestas. At 8 pm Friday, the Minstrel features the Celtic combo Long Time Courting, with harpist Maeve Gilchrist as opener. You can catch Spuyten Duyvil on July 15 at the Black Potatoe Festival in Clinton.
Spuyten Duyvil at the Minstrel: (from left) Rik Mercaldi, Jim Meigs, John Neidhart, Tom Socol, Beth Kaufman-Miller and Mark Miller. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Video: Sweet Charity a sweet surprise for Cinderella star, Katherine Robertson
Katherine Robertson usually spends her spring semesters at Morristown High School concentrating on the high jump.
But in her senior year, she has made a leap of faith–and landed onstage, in the lead role of Sweet Charity.
Katherine will sing and dance as Charity Hope Valentine, a dance hall girl determined to carve out a better life, on March 23 and 24 at 7:30 pm and on March 25 at 3 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children.
Katherine Robertson waited until her senior year to try the theater--and won the lead role in 'Sweet Charity.' Photo by Kevin Coughlin
“This isn’t something I do all the time,” she said after a jaunty preview performance on Thursday. “Dancing and singing at the same time? I can sing anything. But dancing…”
The cast is full of seasoned veterans of the MHS stage, including seniors Danny Dones, Carolina Alvarez, Jenna Becker and Cole Stukane and junior Dane Glynn.
But Katherine did not explore her theatrical side until last fall, when Danny and Carolina, friends from a student mentoring program called Peer Group Connection, convinced her to try out for Fame. Katherine played Phenicia, a supporting character.
“I had about seven lines,” she said.
Please click icon below for captions.
Although her oldest sister and a pair of uncles have done some acting, Katherine said she never gave it much thought before this school year.
“I didn’t think I would be that good,” she said.
That’s hard to believe for anyone who saw her eloquent, confident speech to a packed Calvary Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Day. The New Jersey Nets recently honored her at center court as a “Hometown Hero.” She was scheduled to sing the national anthem, too, but got bumped by a video tribute to the late Whitney Houston.
Singing has been part of Katherine’s life since pre-school days, when she sang Toni Braxton’s Unbreak My Heart to anyone within earshot. Over the years she has sung in choirs at the Union and Calvary Baptist churches. And she has balanced class work and track and field with after-school jobs, first at Cold Stone Creamery and now at the Morris County Golf Club. She also finds time to date Cesar Coronado, captain of the MHS basketball team.
Next year, Katherine plans to study biology as a pre-med student either at Howard University or Rutgers–and maybe pursue singing and acting as well.
In Sweet Charity she portrays a wise-cracking dancer with elastic morals and enough one-night stands for a Hollywood autobiography. An unlikely suitor, the exceedingly earnest Oscar Lindquist (Dane Glynn), prompts Charity to re-think her priorities.
Gwen Verdon played the lead when Sweet Charity, written by Neil Simon and scored by Cy Coleman, debuted on Broadway in 1966.
Does Katherine share any traits with Charity, who in two scenes finds herself at the bottom of a lake?
“The comical side, yes,” said Katherine. “I have been in love before. But I’m not that naïve to get thrown in a lake twice.”
Sweet Charity is directed by Joe Wohlegemuth, in his fourth year as theater director. Skip Yingling is vocal director, Robert Lavagno is technical director, Kevin Johnson is choreographer and Maria Anne Ross designed the lighting. MHS seniors Erin Anders and Molly Dugan are the stage managers. Tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday may be purchased at the door or by calling 973-292-3733.
Katherine Robertson, at New Jersey Nets game where she was honored as a "Hometown Hero" in February 2012.
Morristown music video: Brynn Stanley and Grover Kemble, perfect together
A while back we reported on an explosive musical mixture: One part Grover Kemble + one part Brynn Stanley = KABOOM!
As in, they blew the roof off the joint.
Brynn Stanley and Grover Kemble. Photo by Malik Beser
Turns out they’ve been refining the formula in Grover’s laboratory. (His front lawn, actually, if our video camera has it right). And the mix is more potent than ever.
Don’t be surprised if you see roofers hard at work over at the Starlight Room in Morristown, where Brynn and Grover unleashed their chemistry experiment in a packed house for 90 sizzling minutes earlier this week.
These video clips give you an idea. Rounding out this smoking “Jazz Jump” ensemble were Tim Metz on bass and John Hvasta on drums.
Brynn was not even a twinkle in her parents’ eyes when Grover was making his mark with Sha Na Na and Za Zu Zaz. Looks like the language of jazz — Scat is the academic term– transcends generational boundaries.
If you want to experience this external combustion for yourself, Brynn and Grover are playing Shanghai Jazz in Madison on Friday, May 23.
On April 20, they venture to the new Randolph Performing Arts Center, at The Music Den on Route 10. And on June 1, they test the roof at the Watchung Arts Center.
Video: VP Joe Biden visits Morris Township
It’s not every day that the Vice President rolls up your driveway. Here’s what folks in Morris Township thought about having the VEEP cruise into their neighborhood on Monday, for a fundraiser on behalf of Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ).
Video courtesy of News 12 New Jersey.
Quote of the day? The Vice President describes President Obama’s decision to authorize Navy Seals’ raid on Osama Bin Laden:
“You can go back 500 years. You cannot find a more audacious plan. Never knowing for certain. We never had more than a 48 percent probability that he was there… Do any one of you have a doubt that if that raid failed that this guy would be a one-term president?”
MORE COVERAGE OF JOE BIDEN’S VISIT
Vice President Joe Biden in Morris Township. Courtesy of News 12 New Jersey.
Podcast: Anne Aronovitch reflects on Morris arts council, looks ahead to Great Conversations
On March 29, Anne Aronovitch will host her final Great Conversations fundraiser as executive director of the Arts Council of the Morris Area.
Anne Aronovitch of the Arts Council of the Morris Area will be hosting her last 'Great Conversations' fundraiser on March 29. Anne is retiring as executive director of the council. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
For $195, you can dine at the Madison Hotel with a fascinating roster of movers and shakers–some 32 top names from the arts, education, medicine, sports, food, business and nonprofit arenas will break bread with patrons. A list is below.
Anne has a compelling story of her own. Classically trained as a pianist, she became a lawyer instead and assumed leadership of the Arts Council just as the economy was collapsing in 2008.
How has she kept the arts alive at a time of shrinking funding? How does she contrast artists with lawyers? Why is she retiring this year? What advice does she have for her successor?
We fired up our digital recorder for some great conversation with Anne Aronovitch. The podcast runs a little more than a half hour.
And here’s more about Great Conversations from the Arts Council:
TICKETS ARE GOING FAST FOR THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE MORRIS AREA’S ‘GREAT CONVERSATIONS’
On March 29, 2012, the Arts Council of the Morris Area hosts its singular benefit, GREAT CONVERSATIONS, starting with a 6 pm reception and 7:30 pm dinner at the Madison Hotel, 1 Convent Road, Morristown. Last year’s event sold out so be sure to reserve early!!
At this unforgettable evening, guests can dine with any one of 32 exceptional individuals, a veritable Who’s Who in the world of the arts, education, medicine, sports, food, business and the nonprofit world. Conversations that enthrall, excite, entice and inspire are the order of the day at this special occasion where guests have that rare opportunity of face-to-face contact with some of the true leaders of our contemporary world. Wouldn’t it be fun to talk with a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist or hear behind the scenes tales from an actor on the hit series, The Sopranos? Hear firsthand what experiences led to the anchor position on a national radio station or learn about the very latest advances which keep professional sports figures playing despite the frequent injuries sustained on the field. Ever dream of talking to a symphony conductor and discovering what it’s really like to be on that podium conducting hundreds of musicians? Or, find out what it takes to make it in the electronic/digital marketplace, succeed as a top chef or run an international foundation devoted to granting the wishes of seriously ill children? And, in these politically “fraught” times, wouldn’t it be fascinating to gain some perspective from a leader of a top political research institute or explore the impacts of technology on our future world? These are some of the experiences that await the lucky guests at Great Conversations. It truly will be a night to remember.
The 2012 Host Conversationalists include:
- Stephen P. Aluotto President, NK Architects
- Val Azzoli Former Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman, Atlantic Records; Adjunct Professor, Rap/Rock, Montclair State University
- Geoff Ballotti President and Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Exchange and Rentals
- Paul A. Boudreau President, Morris County Chamber of Commerce
- Linda Bowden Regional President, PNC Bank Northern New Jersey
- Wayne Cabot Anchor, WCBS Newsradio
- Ed Camp Head Linesman, National Football League
- Eileen Cornacchia Founder, Old Bags™ event development company; President, Little Blackbird, Inc.
- Hans Dekker President, Community Foundation of New Jersey
- Suzanne Delehanty Director, Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University
- Dave Fall Chief Operating Officer, Clickable, Inc.
- Nicholas Harary Chef and Owner, Restaurant Nicholas
- Jill A. Hawk Superintendent, Morristown National Historical Park and Thomas Edison National Historical Park
- Rob Kaufelt Proprietor, Murray’s Cheese, New York’s oldest Cheese Shop; Author, The Murray’s Cheese Handbook
- Woody Kerkeslager Chief Executive Officer, Information Futures LLC, Information Technology Futurist
- James A. Kutsch, Jr., PhD President and Chief Executive Officer, The Seeing Eye, Inc.
- Jacques Lacombe Music Director, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
- Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, EdD, President, Centenary College
- Ruth B. Mandel, PhD Director, Eagleton Institute of Politics; Board of Governors Professor of Politics, Rutgers University
- Damion A. Martins, MD Director of Internal Medicine, Team Physician NY Jets, Director of Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Director of Executive Health & Corporate Health, Atlantic Health System
- Anne Matlack, DMA Artistic Director, Harmonium Choral Society
- Maria R. Morris Executive Vice President, Head of Global Employee Benefits Business, MetLife, Inc.
- David Noonan Journalist; Novelist; National Affairs Editor, Reader’s Digest
- Amy Ellis Nutt 2011 Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist for “The Wreck of the Lady Mary;” Enterprise writer, The Star-Ledger
- Todd Rechler Co-Chief Operating Officer and President, RXR Construction & Development
- Al Sapienza Actor, “The Sopranos”
- John Schreiber President and Chief Executive Officer, New Jersey Performing Arts Center
- J. Peter Simon Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, William E. Simon and Sons
- Richard A. Watson Trustee, Estate of Mark Twain
- Tom Weatherall President and Chief Executive Officer, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Jersey
- Philip A. White, Jr. President and Chief Operating Officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, LLC
- Barbara and John Art Collectors, American Folk Art and Indigenous Australian Art; U. S. Chairman, Global Wilkerson Poverty Project
While guests enjoy these wonderful conversations, they are also helping the Arts Council of the Morris Area to continue its important work bringing wide ranging programs and services to the community, the schools, artists and arts organizations. Whether it’s original theatre, symphonic experiences for the young, high school scholarships or composition contests, artist residencies, programs for nursing home residents, the Giralda Music and Arts Festival, programming for First Night Morris County, exhibitions/collaborations among individual artists and groups, or a host of other services, the Arts Council’s work enriches the quality of life for all who live in the Morris area.
So leave behind the electronic media and savor the art of live conversation, meet some extraordinary individuals and help a truly worthy organization to give back to its community.
Our event is generously sponsored by: J. Weber Design, LLC; RXR Realty; Paul and Gail Mandel; The Madison Hotel; MetLife Foundation; The Star-Ledger; Avis Budget Charitable Foundation; Investors Bank; Kings Super Markets; NK Architects; and Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.
The Arts Council of the Morris Area is a private not-for-profit organization founded in 1973 and long dedicated to enriching the community through the arts. It fulfills its mission to bring the arts to the center of community life through arts in education, arts programming in the community, arts advocacy and support for artists and arts organizations.
For more information and for tickets, please visit www.morrisarts.org or contact the Arts Council at (973) 285-5115.
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts has awarded the Arts Council of the Morris Area a “Citation of Excellence” and designated it as a “Major Service Organization” in recognition of its “solid history of service excellence, substantial activity and broad public service.”
Video: The 2012 St. Patrick’s Parade in Morristown, from the line of march
Here is a video view of the 2012 Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade from the line of march. A splendid time was had by all!
The parade is a highlight of every year for us at MorristownGreen.com. We have had some splendid adventures, and met many splendid people, in and out of the line of march since 2008. The joy on the face of Grand Marshal Rich Smith on Saturday was the closest thing you will ever see to the grownup version of a kid on Christmas morning. Simply remembering that sight makes us happy.
MG correspondent Robyn Quinn–who is being honored next week by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office for her wonderful volunteer work as a parade organizer–compared the parade to a symphony. It takes many musicians to make a great performance.
The analogy extends to the great folks who marched with MG and celebrated with us afterward. We are thankful for these friends and neighbors who share their precious time and talent with us, and with you.
A MERRIER BAND YOU'LL NEVER SEE! From left: Scott Schlosser, Mitzi Chaves, Peter Bacas (behind banner),Sharon Sheridan, George, Cathy Veit, Irene Avlonitis, Donna Bangiola, Douglas Vorolieff, Leslie Raff, Gus Bacas, Steve Loewenthal, Judy Stein-Loewenthal, Zachary and Jake, and Sky. Not pictured: Berit Ollestad and family. Photo by Stacey Schlosser
Per usual, Sharon Sheridan was masterful at marching and covering the parade. Sharon is putting together some high-quality children’s art events next month at St. Peter’s; please visit her Kickstarter page and support this project if you are able.
Scott Schlosser, Paul Hausman, Berit Ollestad and Hal Crosthwaite also trained their lenses on the parade; their eye-popping results will be rolling online as fast as we can post them.
Speaking of rolling, we were thrilled to use the wearing of the green to promote green energy–in the form of John Tetz’s pedal-powered velomobile. John is an artist and engineer who designed this unique banana-shaped vehicle himself, to the delight of squealing kids along the parade route. His starring role in The Last Ride of Sustainable Man at our MG Film Fest last year is another example of art imitating life.
John wasn’t the only environmental movie star parading with us. Donna Bangiola, star of The Legend of Lake Pocahontas at the 2010 MG Film Fest, devotes much of her spare time to cleanups of Lake Pocahontas, a little known jewel in our midst.
The symphony analogy was particularly apropos for our house band, Timeless Jazz, stars of Morristown’s Got Talent! Gus and Peter Bacas have enlivened countless MG events with their sparkling riffs. They gave their instruments the day off this time, and we are glad the brothers had a chance simply to enjoy the parade.
There also was true valor in our ranks–and we’re not just talking about enduring the embarrassment of cavorting with a guy in 18th century loungewear.
The parade route took MG contributor Judy Stein-Loewenthal near the manhole that injured her arm in an explosion last summer. That cannot be a pleasant memory; we applaud Judy’s courage.
It also was a privilege marching with (in alphabetical order) Irene Avlonitis; Mitzi Chaves; Judy’s husband Steve Loewenthal and sons Zachary and Jake and their dog Sky; Jackie Ollestad and her grandson Mateo; Leslie Raff; Stacey Schlosser; Cathy Veit; Douglas Vorolieff, and the young ladies who joined our parade in progress. MG correspondents Marie Pfeifer and Carl Hausman circled up with us later.
Of course, an Army marches on its stomach, and our troops were well fed by Chef Melody of the Main Event.
The soundtrack on the video is courtesy of Flutatious!
MORE ABOUT THE ST. PATRICK’S PARADE
Photos by Scott Schlosser and Kevin Coughlin. Please click icon below for captions.
Video: Spongebogged by Morristown Green film fest winner Eric Ruhalter
Eric Ruhalter, a prize winner in the last two MorristownGreen.com Film Festivals, gives new meaning to “elevator pitch” with this video touting his updated book, The Kid Dictionary: Hilarious Words to Describe the Indescribable Things Kids Do.
Reprising the elevator theme from his award-winning film 9 Matches, the Morristown filmmaker and his young stars, Crosby, Jaxen and Maya Ruhalter, give viewers a vocabulary lesson that should make perfect sense to keepers of miniature humanoids.
Some dictionary examples:
MADDRESS
(mahd-DRESS) v :
To refer to a child by his first and middle name in a stern voice, denoting that he’s about to get in trouble.
FRIENDSOMNIA
(frend-SOHM-nee-uh) n :
The lack of sleep that occurs at a kids’ “Sleepover.”
POODINI
(poo-DEE-nee) n :
A baby who has learned how to escape from their crib.
GARBOFLAGE
(GAHR-boh-flaj) v :
To hide a piece of your child’s artwork under other trash in the wastebasket so they don’t catch you throwing it away.
DOMESTIC VIOLATION
(doh-MESS-tik VY-o-lay-shun) v :
The potentially lethal mistake of referring to a stay-at-home mom as someone who “does not work.”
SPONGEBOGGED
(SPUNJ-bahgd) adj :
The inability to record a movie because your DVR is filled with kids’ shows.
In his spare time, Eric is a senior writer and producer for AMC Television and agent for 10-year-old Crosby Ruhalter, who topped his dad with a second-place finish in the 2011 MG Film Fest.
Video: ‘Domino Tracks,’ second prize in 2011 MG Film Fest
Video: ‘Nine Matches,’ third prize in 2011 MG Film Fest
Video: ‘Good for the Earth,’ winner of 2010 MG Film Fest
Crosby Ruhalter, center, celebrates his second-place win with his dad, Eric Ruhalter, who won third prize in the 2011 MG Film & Music Fest. Sharon Sheridan photo
