Greater Morristown weekend preview: Tea, harps, Bards and Bowls

There is plenty of fun stuff to do around Greater Morristown this weekend, as you can see below. And there is plenty more on our handy calendar.

But we really have just one thing to say.

GO, GIANTS!!!

To put you in the proper mood, here is a fight song from our buddy, Bill Griese:

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THURSDAY, Feb. 2:

It may feel like spring, but they’re going ahead with the Winter 2012 exhibit at the Atrium Gallery. The opening is from 6 pm to 8:30 pm on floors 2-5 at the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court St., Morristown. Eight artists will be display 181 artworks including photos, mobiles, multimedia abstracts, oils and “naive” style Romanian creations by Alex Chereches.  Admission: Free. For the opening,  parking also is free in the garage below the building, accessible via Schuyler Place.

Everyone is raving about the LEGO®  exhibition at the Morris Museum. Discover why by seeing more than 25 large LEGO sculptures by artist Nathan Sawaya, at 6 pm, at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morris Township. Admission: $7-10.  Call  973-971-3700 for more.

What is Karma? What is Dharma?  Chew on these concepts at Food for Thought: An evening with Buddhist teacher Peter Kuczynski, from 7 – 9 pm at Zebu Forno, 9 South St.,
Morristown. Cost: $15 per person; $25 per couple, includes Soup, salad and sandwich. Call  973-538-0890 for more.

Tony Bennett’s 8 pm concert at the Mayo Performing Arts Center is sold out. But if you’re determined to duet with the legendary crooner, try calling the box office at 973-539-8008. Tickets are $85 to $150.

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FRIDAY, Feb. 3:

Al Parrish made a name for himself as the “burly red-haired wildman bass player” of Tanglefoot. At 8 pm he dusts off his guitar, and his yarns, at the Minstrel in Morris Township. Michael Prysock gets the show going at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road. Admission: Adults $7, children 12 and under are free. Call  973-335-9489 for more.

Only one artist has won Grammys for Classical and Jazz recordings: Paquito D’Rivera. The Cuban-born saxophonist and clarinetist brings his diverse act to the Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Tickets: $37-$67. Call 973-539-8008 for more.

It’s Open Mic Night at Zebu Forno, 8 pm at 9 South St. in Morristown. If there’s a song in your heart, send it to your vocal cords!

Morristown’s ambassadors of friendly hip hop, Universal Rebel, light up Morristown’s Dublin Pub at 10 pm. Admission to the establishment at 4 Pine St. is free.

 

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SATURDAY, Feb. 4:

A photo scavenger hunt promises family fun from 9 am to 4:30 pm at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum,  at 353 East Hanover Ave. in Whippany. The cost is $10 per family; photograph every item and win prizes. Meet at the Haggerty Education Center; call 973-326-7600 for more details. Also offered on Sunday, same times.

And while you’re scavenging, take a break–a tea break–at the Arboretum from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. It’s the annual Matilda’s Tea, named for Matilda Frelinghuysen, who once lived at Whippany Farm, as the Arboretum formerly was known.  “What is a high tea and what other kinds of beverages might [Matilda] have imbibed? What kind of spices warm up a cold February table? Learn to pour, fold fancy napkins, and enjoy delicious tea sandwiches and treats both savory and sweet. All young tea-takers will make several different kinds of party favors to use in their own tea parties at home,” says the Morris County Parks Commission. Recommended for age 6 and up. The event at 353 E. Hanover Ave. in Morris Township is $25 for adults, $30 for children. Call 973-326-7601

John McEuen of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fame joins Italian guitar virtuoso Beppe Gambetta at 8 pm at the Sanctuary concert series in Chatham. Tickets are $25. The Sanctuary is at the Presbyterian Church on Green Village Road. Call 973-376-4946 for more.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH? Super Diamond brings its Neil Diamond tribute show to the Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Tickets are $32 to $52. Call 973-539-8008 for information.

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SUNDAY, Feb. 5:

Have a whale of a good time with Oh, Jonah!, an Allan Pote musical performed by the children’s choirs of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown. Showtime is 10 am, admission is free. At 57 Park Place (on the Green). Call  973-538-1776 for more.

Feeling guilty about all the bad stuff you’re going to eat and drink during the Super Bowl?  Make some Giant strides in Morristown’s first Super Sunday 4 Miler, at 11:30 am on Maple Avenue. Registration is $30 in advance, and $35 on race day.

Enjoy a Winter’s Day on the Farm from noon to 4 pm at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morris Township. Wagon rides, maple-tapping, wood stove cooking, and more. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+), $4 for children ages 4 – 16, and $2 for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a valid membership I.D. Call 973-326-7644 for more.

Celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon with a real (almost) dragon, crafts, stories and more, at 2 pm at the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, 9 Main St., Madison. Cost: $3 for all participants and regular admission for all others. Call 973-377-2982 x 12 for more.

Bard’s language + modern staging = Romeo and Juliet by the Classical Theatre Project of Toronto, 3 pm at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center on 100 South St. All seats: $20. Call 973-539-8008 for details.

Speaking of Shakespeare…you can enjoy the soothing sounds of multiple harps without shuffling off your mortal coil. Duo Scorpio gives a free concert at 4 pm at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, 57 Park Place. Nothing quite says “Super Bowl” to us like two attractive young ladies with harps of gold.

At 6 pm it’s time for your weekly Open Drawing Session at Zebu Forno, 9 South St., Morristown. Three hours of live models, friendly instruction and pizza cost just $10. Bring your own art supplies; Chris and Danielle Merzatta provide the rest. Call 770-853-9727 for more information. Zebu has TVs, so you can cheer for the Giants while you sketch.

Local official asks Hillary Clinton to press Angola to release two Morris Township residents

A Morris Township official has asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to ramp up efforts to free two local residents who have been detained in Angola for 28 days.

“I ask that you increase your efforts and the efforts of the United States Government to bring home Patrick [Allocco] and Patrick Jr. They are our countrymen and my neighbors and friends,” wrote Deputy Mayor Bruce Sisler in a letter to the Secretary.

The Alloccos have been held since the rapper NAS failed to appear for a New Year’s Eve concert in Angola. Patrick Allocco, the concert promoter, said Friday that it’s been three days since $300,000 paid to the performer has been returned.

“Today’s deal du jour from the local promoter is that we pay an immediate additional $50,000 and then defer $25,000 in installments upon our return home,” Patrick said on Facebook.

“This, of course, contradicts the Public Prosecutor who has already called for our release upon the return of the $300,000. And how about the early release of my son? We are now in the fourth weekend of what our American counterparts in Egypt have dubbed ‘de facto detention.’ We continue to be held by the government of Angola for no reason that should be acceptable to the United States.”

Bruce Sisler added that he has spoken with Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.), who he said is working with the State Department on this matter.

Greater Morristown weekend preview: Happiness, the Great American Dream, Blaire, and an Intergalactic Nemesis

From pithy folk to kitschy comics, Greater Morristown has you covered this weekend. Take a look-see below, and if you crave more, dive into our calendar listings.

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THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2012:

Music at Noon features a family act if there ever was one: A pair of Lederers and a pair of Kallers will trace their musical heritage: Pauline and Nancie Lederer will play piano and violin, respectively, while Marnie and Rick Kaller will handle cello and piano, respectively. Showtime at the Morristown United Methodist Church is 12:15 pm; there is a suggested donation for the 30-minute concert of $6 for adults and $5 for seniors.  Students with ID are admitted free.  Free childcare is provided.  A light luncheon also is available before or after the concert (11:30 am to 1:30 pm), at $7 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. At 50 S. Park Place. Call 973-538-2132 for more details.

Body, Mind and Spirit resumes at 5 pm for an hour of  “spiritual readings and resources that inspire us to enhance our own wholeness, to promote unity and to seek ways to help our precious world be made whole as God intended.”  At the Parish House of the Presbyterian Church, 65 South St., Morristown. Admission is free; all are welcome. Call 973-538-1776 for more details.

See The Economics of Happiness, “a movie about the world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions,” for free at the Unity Charter School in Morris Township at 6:30 pm. Light snacks will be provided; a discussion will follow the screening. The school is at 1 Evergreen Place, off Ridgedale Avenue.

 

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FRIDAY, Jan. 27:

The Minstrel presents the tug-at-your-heartstrings songs of David Masengill, with opener Honor Finnegan, at 8 pm in Morris Township. David, a Tennessean by birth, plays guitar and dulcimer and has touched many with compositions such as My Name is Joe and Great American Dream.  Admission is $7, children under 12 are free. At the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road. Call 973-335-9489 for details.

 

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SATURDAY, Jan. 28:

A photo scavenger hunt promises family fun from 9 am to 4:30 pm at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum,  at 353 East Hanover Avenue in Whippany. The cost is $10 per family; photograph every item and win prizes. Meet at the Haggerty Education Center; call 973-326-7600 for more details. Also offered on Sunday, same times.

Here’s a show that’s not for the faint-hearted: Blast blasts through Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm with “35 brass, percussion and visual performers in a unique explosion of music and theater which evolved from the showmanship and pageantry of the drum corps, bands and color guards that perform on athletic fields across the nation.” Tickets are $42-$67. Call 973-539-8008 for details.

Lightning-fast guitarist Frank Vignola headlines at the 26th anniversary Central American Benefit Folk Concert at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in Morris Township. The doors open at 7:15 pm for the 8 pm BYOB show, which also features singer/songwriter Larissa d’Andrea and the Fellowship’s Ken Piascik percussion ensemble as the opener, in an intimate setting with cabaret seating. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.  At 21 Normandy Heights Road; call 973-540-1177 ext.203.

The Blaire Reinhard Band brings its high-energy show to Morristown’s Famished Frog at 9:30 pm., but let’s keep it down. We don’t want to  wake the baby!  Yes, the BRB has all kinds of great news–including Gray Reinhard’s recent gig with Bruce Springsteen. No word if the Boss will duet with his new buddy at the Frog. Who knows? Admission is free, you must be over 21 to get in, at 18 Washington St. Call 973-540-9601 for more.

Our buddy Jon Zlock takes his guitar and a bagful of great covers and original tunes to Hennessey’s Washington Bar, at 140 Morris St. in Morristown, starting at 10 pm. There is no cover charge.

 

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SUNDAY, Jan. 29:

Were people really shorter in the 18th century?  What about George Washington’s wooden teeth? Time to debunk some myths! Park Rangers at the Ford Mansion in Morristown will poke holes in apocryphal tales during tours at 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm. Admission is $4 per adult. Call 973-543-4030 for more.

Feeling artsy? Try your hand at sketching with friendly artists at Zebu Forno in Morristown, from 6 pm to 9 pm. For $10, you get pizza, a live model and bonhomie. Bring your own art supplies to the Open Drawing Session at 9 South St.; Chris and Danielle Merzatta provide the rest. Call 770-853-9727 for more information. And while you’re there, check out an exhibition by eight students from Morristown High School’s Art Mentoring Program.

The County College of Morris takes on New Paultz in collegiate hockey action at 6 pm in Mennen Arena, Morris Township. Tickets are $3 for adults, $2 for everyone else.

Channel your inner 7-year-old at The Intergalactic Nemesis, a graphic novel that comes to life at the Mayo Performing Arts Center at 7 pm. For ages 7 and up. Tickets are $27-$37. Call 973-539-8008 for more. The Mayo is at 100 South St., Morristown.

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MONDAY, Jan. 30:

Wish jazz guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli a happy 86th birthday at the Bickford Jazz Showcase in Morris Township.  The 90-minute concert starts at 8 pm; tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Bucky has backed Benny Goodman and Frank Sinatra–and he’s still going strong on his seven-stringed guitar.  He will be accompanied by Ed Laub, who does very well with only six strings.  The Bickford Theatre is at the intersection of Columbia Turnpike and Normandy Heights Road; call 973-971‑3706 for more.

 

Report: Two more men allege sexual misconduct by former Delbarton headmaster

Two more men have come forward to allege sexual improprieties by the Rev. Luke Travers, former headmaster of the Delbarton School in Morris Township, reports The Star-Ledger.

Brian Kvederas, a former Morristown fireman living in Bridgewater, told the paper that the priest startled him with a kiss on the lips during a retreat in Basking Ridge 25 years ago, after Brian, who was a high school senior, had sought advice about his future.

See video interview

The paper also cited an unnamed 41-year-old North Carolina man, a former altar boy at Morristown’s Assumption Church, who claimed that Father Luke kissed his neck and “put his cheek to my cheek” following confession at a 1987 youth ministry retreat in Cedar Knolls.

At least five people now allege sexual misconduct by the priest, according to the website underthegreenwave.com.

The Rev. Travers taught at Delbarton and served as headmaster from 1999 to 2007. When allegations surfaced earlier this month, the priest was fired as an administrator at an abbey in Richmond, Va., and sent back to Morris Township, according to the paper.

Delbarton officials say they have been investigating allegations pertaining to the priest since June, and that they have contacted the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ledger reported.

Star-Ledger video:

‘Coats and Cans For Kids!’ rescheduled for Jan. 28 in Morris Township

The Morristown Junior Colonials Youth Basketball League has rescheduled its “Coats & Cans for Kids!” clothing and food drive, during an 11-game basketball tournament that will take place at Frelinghuysen Middle School on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 1:30 – 6:30 p.m. The tournament and drive were postponed last Saturday due to the snowstorm.

The fourth- through eighth grade teams, their parents and spectators are encouraged to bring in new or gently used outerwear and/or non-perishable groceries that will be donated to Family Service of Morris County (FSMC) and the Interfaith Food Pantry of Morris County (IFP).

Morristown resident Dan Hajjar, a coach with the Junior Colonials, is organizing the collection and arranging to have the items delivered to local families in need through the two agencies.

“We often hear about global problems of hunger and poverty, but we forget that these problems exist here in our community. Through my involvement with FSMC and IFP, I’ve seen firsthand the effects that family insecurity can have on so many people in our community. We decided to use the tournament as an opportunity for our kids, their families and spectators to help others and make a positive change in our community.”

The basketball tournament is open to the public. Items being sought are new and gently used coats and jackets, mittens, gloves and hats as well as canned and boxed food such as soups, spaghetti sauce and vegetables (low salt preferred), cereal, rice and pasta.

Family Service of Morris County (FSMC) is a private, nonprofit organization changing lives in the community for nearly 200 years. Founded in 1813, FSMC provides a variety of vital services to over 7,000 children, families and seniors to help them get through the most challenging times in their lives. These services include giving children the best start in life, building and maintaining healthy families, keeping seniors independent and in their own Homes, and preventing substance abuse in families and communities through education. For more information about FSMC call 973-538-5260 or visit:  www.fsmc.org.

The Interfaith Food Pantry provides primarily non-perishable groceries to Morris County families having difficulty making ends meet. Through its program and other agencies it serves, the Pantry helped feed 5,000 families in 2010, distributing 727,000 pounds of food. In addition to providing emergency and supplemental food, IFP provides nutrition counseling, referral services and educational programs for youth groups. For more information, call 973-538-8049 or visit www.mcifp.org

Former soap star has guilt-free prescription for Super Sunday in Morristown

If you’re one of those people who feels pangs about all that beer and guacamole on Super Bowl Sunday, Chris Russo has a sure-fire remedy.

It’s called the Super Sunday 4 Miler, a Morristown road race on Feb. 5.

“Everyone feels guilty about going to house parties with their Doritos and beer. Now, you can also get some exercise,” said Chris, who doubles as co-director of the Superhero Half Marathon, which celebrates its third year this spring.

The Super Sunday 4 Miler will start at 11:30 am on Maple Avenue and meander through Morris Township, returning to a bar on DeHart Street featuring…beer!

Barring any wrong turns, you should be at your barstool hours before the Giants square off against the Patriots.

Registration is $30 ($35 on race day). The first 500 runners receive long-sleeved, wicking tech shirts. Prizes will be awarded in several categories, and runners can earn 500 race points from USA Track & Field. A special Polar Bear prize awaits the entrant wearing the least clothing. (Sorry, no nudity.)

If Chris, 32, looks familiar, there are several reasons.

All My Children, the late TV soap opera, is one of them. Okay, maybe it’s a stretch to call Chris a star…. he appeared a handful of times, portraying a waiter at a yacht club. Buy hey, that’s pretty cool.

“I had my own dressing room,” the Cedar Knolls native said with a grin.

Chris dusted off his thespian skills last summer at the MorristownGreen.com Film Festival, where he starred as the Green Thumb, a litter-fighting superhero in The Last Ride of Sustainable Man.

Before the Green Thumb, Chris dabbled in Little Green Men. His UFO hoax made headlines and landed the Morris Plains resident and a co-conspirator in municipal court.

Chris also tried some modeling after his days at Gettysburg College, where he was a sprinter and long jumper on the track team. He did fashion shoots for Playboy and appeared in Wired layouts.

MODEL RUNNER: Please click icon below for captions

“He is outgoing, with a lot of charm and charisma,” said his partner at Superhero Events LLC, Heather Gardiner, 33, of the Morristown Running Company on South Street. “I do more of the behind-the-scenes stuff… we complement each other well.”

The 4 Miler is a tad longer than standard 5K races–just long enough for casual runners to burn off some serious calories before the big kickoff, according to Chris and Heather, who met on a Running Company group jog.

They will serve as race directors for the Randolph triathlon later this year. And their Superhero Half Marathon on May 20 could be one for the record books: They aim to cram more caped crusaders onto Ginty Field in Morris Township than have been assembled anywhere before. The movie Megamind set the mark with more than 1,500 superheroes in one place, said Chris, who sells pharmaceuticals for Pfizer in between racing gigs.

Superheroes do good deeds, of course, and Chris and Heather have performed a few by now. Their half-marathons have raised more than $12,000 for charity. This spring’s race will benefit the local Meals on Wheels program and the American Cancer Society, Chris said.

Heroic efforts will be made to complete next month’s 4 Miler regardless of wintry weather. If local police decide conditions are unsafe, however, runners’ fees will be applied towards next year’s event.

 

 

Greater Morristown weekend preview: Tuba solos, quilts, LEGO mania and more

A potpourri of enlightening and entertaining pursuits awaits the intrepid adventurer in Greater Morristown this weekend.

You can experience tubism and funny folk, narrative quilting and religious discussion, and historical exploration from the Revolutionary War to World War II.

And if all that’s not enough, check out our handy calendar for even more options.

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THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2012:

Tuba, anyone? The eclectic Music at Noon series features the tuba stylings of Alan Baer, principal tubist of the New York Philharmonic, accompanied by pianist Eric Malon. Showtime at the Morristown United Methodist Church is 12:15 pm; there is a suggested donation for the 30-minute concert of $6 for adults and $5 for seniors.  Students with ID are admitted free.  Free childcare is provided.  A light luncheon also is available before or after the concert (11:30 am to 1:30 pm), at $7 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. At 50 S. Park Place. Call 973-538-2132 for more details.

Frankie Valli of Four Seasons fame sings at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Tickets are $77-$117, but the concert is sold out, so your best bet is to call the box office at  973-539-8008.

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FRIDAY, Jan. 20:

Artist Adel Gorgy is exhibiting her photos of classic artworks by Picasso, Van Gogh, Matisse and others, starting at 8 a.m. in Morristown’s Atrium Gallery, at 10 Court St. Admission is free. The exhibition runs through March 12. A reception is scheduled for Feb. 2 at 6:30 pm. For details call 973-285-5115.

If you happen to be near Philadelphia around 5 pm, stop by the Hamilton and Arronson Galleries of the University of the Arts at 320 S. Broad St., for the reception of an exhibition of works by the County College of Morris Fine Arts Faculty. The show, which runs through Feb. 20, includes paintings, photographs, and sculptural objects by artists James Gwynne, Keith Smith, Todd Doney, Andrea Kelly, Raul Villarreal, Leah Tomaino, Clay Allen, Clair Wollock, Robert Ricciotti, Patrick Gallagher, Nieves Grueiro, Barry Zawacki, Kathy DeFilippis, Denise DeVone, Karin Lowney-Seed, Barbara Neibart, John Reinking, Marisol Ross, Patricia Redline, Kimberly Nicholais and Sonia Paulino.

Red Tails, from executive producer George Lucas, tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, black fighter pilots who served with distinction in the segregated U.S. military during World War II. The Delta Sigma Theta sorority is hosting a  special screening and discussion at 7 pm, at Clearview Cinemas in Headquarters Plaza, Morristown. Six African American veterans from Morris County will share their experiences after the film. A limited number of tickets are available for $5; for details contact Carolyn Lamb at: cal7macdst AT gmail DOT com (replacing the AT and DOT with the appropriate symbols).

If there is a funnier folkie than Vance Gilbert, we have yet to meet him.  He’s headlining at The Minstrel in Morris Township at 8 pm, with opener Caitlin Canty.  Vance is a fine guitarist and vocalist, but there are plenty of those. It’s a rare performer who also can make you laugh out loud–and Vance has that gift, too, which explains why he toured with the late George Carlin.  Admission is $7. At the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road. Call Call 973-335-9489 for more.

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SATURDAY, Jan. 21:

A photo scavenger hunt promises family fun from 9 am to 4:30 pm at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum,  at 353 East Hanover Avenue in Whippany. The cost is $10 per family; photograph every item and win prizes. Meet at the Haggerty Education Center; call 973-326-7600 for more details. Also offered on Sunday, same times.

Does your tool shed have a stylyard, beatle and lanthorn?  Probably not. But Henry Wick’s sure did, back in Revolutionary times. Join a Park Ranger between 1 pm and 4 pm at the Wick house in the  Morristown National Historical Park to discover what these tools did, and more. Admission: Free.

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SUNDAY, Jan. 22:

Morristown’s Episcopal Church of the Redeemer will mark the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s historic Roe v. Wade decision  with talks by the Rev. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, former president of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. She presently serves as president and dean of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. Rev. Ragsdale will speak at the adult forum at 9 a.m. and preach at the 10:30 am service, at 36 South St. All are welcome. Redeemer Rector Cynthia Black says: “Dr. Ragsdale is skilled at helping people of faith reconcile issues of reproductive choice and spirituality from a pro-choice perspective. She ably articulates a faith position that takes into account the fact that women and their families need access to safe abortions.”

Discover the The Birth of the Hebrew Scriptures, as told by retired Bishop John Shelby Spong. He gives the third talk in his four-part series at 10 a.m. in the Great Hall of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 70 Maple Ave., Morristown. Admission is free. Discover why there are three versions of the Ten Commandments, along with the history, politics and issues that shaped the Torah over 500 years. Call 973-538-0555 for more details.

Meet LEGO artist Nathan Sawaya, from noon to 2 pm at the Morris Museum in Morris Township. He will talk about his amazing Art of the Brick exhibition (video below), and sign books and posters. Admission is $20.  (For $100, you also can enjoy coffee and a breakfast buffet with the artist at 10:30 am.) At 6 Normandy Heights Road. Call 973-971-3706 for more details.

Watch Nathan Sawaya, Lego Brick artist on PBS. See more from State of the Arts.

What was it like being a soldier at Jockey Hollow during the Revolution? Visit the replica soldier huts at the Morristown National Historical Park to find out. Experts will be there to field questions from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Admission: Free. Call 973-543-4030 for more.

Every quilt tells a story. At least, Margaret Beach’s narrative quilts do. They are on display through March 6 in the Art Upstairs Gallery at the Mayo Performing Arts Center, at 100 South St., Morristown. Meet the artist from 3 pm to 5 pm at a free reception. Margaret’s quilted “canvases” draw on works by Thoreau, Shakespeare and James Thurber. The Gallery is open two hours prior to and during all performances at MPAC, and by appointment by calling 973-539-0345, x 6583.

Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino is the featured attraction of Faith on Film, at 4 pm in the Parish House of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, at 65 South St. “An aging widower is forced to confront his own deep prejudices as his crime ridden Detroit neighborhood becomes an enclave for southeast Asian immigrants.” Admission is free.

Meet eight artists from Morristown High School’s Art Mentoring Program, at a 4 pm reception for their new exhibition at the Zebu Forno café on 9 South St.  The mentoring program is funded by the Lauren Elizabeth Failla Foundation and run by the Arts Council of the Morris Area. Professional artists Dan Fenelon of Madison and Susan Faiola of Morristown have worked closely with students Amber Collins, Rei Warren, Mayre Barrios, Karina Cabrera, Monica Argenio, Daisy Sierra, Bekah Lee and Cristina Mendoza. Admission is free.

If the Zebu art show inspires you, stay right there at 6 pm for another Open Drawing Session. Three hours of live models, friendly instruction and pizza cost just $10. Bring your own art supplies; Chris and Danielle Merzatta provide the rest. Call 770-853-9727 for more information.

The County College of Morris takes on Raritan Valley Community College in hockey action at  Mennen Arena in Morris Township at 6 pm. Admission is $3 for adults, and $2 for students, seniors and children.

Nutrition 101: Why local food is good for you, from Unity Charter School talk in Morris Township

By Cathy Veit

Where does our food come from? What foods are in season? What is the quality of the food that we are eating? How processed is the food on our plates?

Several food authorities shared some observations–and weighed in on genetically modified foods–at the Eco-Exchange Food and Nutrition Forum at the Unity Charter School in Morris Township last week.

Wanda Knapik, president of My Local Garden, sponsored the event along with the Unity Charter School. Since its founding in 1998, the school has integrated sustainability into its core curriculum. The room was packed with parents who voiced concerns about the food they feed their children, as well as other members of the Morristown community and surrounding towns.

Speakers included Jennifer Bostedo of Gourmet Dining; Jim Walsh, state director of the Food and Water Watch; Marnie Vyff, founder of the Mountain Lakes Organic Co-op; farmer Mark Canright of Comeback Farm; and farmer and beekeeper Roman Osadca of Valley Falls Farm.

They urged citizens to take back control from the major corporations, and to search out local farmers. According to Vyff, 80 percent of our grains and 80 percent of our meats are each controlled by four companies. Foods grown from GMO seeds (Genetically Modified Organisms) use 10 times more insecticides than were prevalent 50 years ago–and still lose half the crops to bugs.

Walsh explained how the nonprofit Food and Water Watch of New Brunswick acts as a counterbalance to the big corporations, and to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The same companies that manufacture herbicides, pesticides and GMOs are relied upon by the government to  provide evidence that their products are safe, a process Walsh said is a conflict of interest. Food safety is not being sufficiently regulated, he said.

GMO-grown food makes up an ever-greater percentage of the nation’s food supply, Walsh said. Currently, 88 percent of corn and 94 percent of soy is grown from GMO seeds, as compared with 7 percent of soy and just 1 percent of corn in 1996, he said.

An alarming development,  according to Walsh, is government approval for the first GMO corn for human consumption, to be sold this year. Previously, it was only approved for animal consumption and for use in processed foods.

The Food and Water Watch is enlisting volunteers to persuade Walmart against selling sweet corn that is genetically engineered. The fact that the GMO food is not labeled is controversial;  40 other countries label food that is GMO.  Walsh suggested people go to justlabelit.org to petition the FDA for mandatory labeling of GMO foods.

According to the The Center For Science in The Public Interest, a consumer advocacy organization, there are benefits and risks of genetically engineered crops. On the plus side, BT-cotton (BT refers to a gene inserted into the cotton), requires less spraying with highly poisonous insecticides, because it has been engineered to kill the insects that eat it.

Potential harm from genetically engineered crops includes production of new allergens from genes that are brought from one species to another, harming beneficial insects and birds and creating weeds that are difficult to eradicate as these crops cross-breed with plants in the wild.

The CSPI also states that “FDA regulates GE food and feed crops through a voluntary notification process rather than by a mandatory pre-market approval process.”  A CSPI report found the FDA’s oversight of GE food safety “not as rigorous or as independent as it should be.” The organization’s suggestions for improving the regulatory process can be found at:  http://www.cspinet.org/biotech

Canright, a second-generation organic farmer from Hunterdon County, wore pinstriped overalls, spoke with a melodic drawl and sprinkled his talk with humor. He said this winter has been so mild that it’s proving farming is a four-season activity. He displayed vegetables that he picked just last week: Kale, bok choy, Chinese cabbage, white turnips and arugula, which he offered to the audience. The arugula that I took home still has the roots and is very tasty. Volunteers and apprentices work on Canright’s farm, where he also grows pears, Asian pears, fuzzy kiwi, grapes, apples and peaches.

Themes of the evening were the advantages of eating locally grown fruits and vegetables, and eating what is in season. In the winter, these include potatoes, parsnips, kale, bok choy, leaks and scallions, pink grapefruit and blood oranges (which are at peak ripeness at the end of January).

There also was some discussion about the difference between raw milk and pasteurized milk, and whether dairy is included in the Co-op. Vyff replied that the Mountain Lakes Organic Co-Op sells milk from grass-fed cows from Pennsylvania, not raw milk, as it is illegal to sell raw milk in New Jersey. The Co-op delivers fresh organic local vegetables and fruit year-round to four drop-off points statewide for $20 to $40 per week.

Osadca grows 240 varieties of garlic on his farm in Newton! He said the soft-necked garlic sold in the supermarkets is mostly grown in China, and also in South Korea and India. It has just one-third the medicinal properties of his hard-neck garlic, he said. I brought one of his garlic bulbs home and can’t wait to cook with it.

Next up at the Unity Charter School: A screening of the movie The Economics of Happiness on Jan. 26.

Seeing Eye in Morris Township names puppy to honor Betty White

The Seeing Eye has come up with a pretty cute 90th birthday gift for actress Betty White.

A black Labrador retriever born in October has been named Betty in honor of the former Golden Girls star, whose involvement with The Seeing Eye dates to a public service announcement she recorded in the 1980s.

Below is the announcement from the guide dog training center in Morris Township. Happy Birthday, Betty!

FROM THE SEEING EYE:

The Seeing Eye Names a Puppy in Honor of Betty White’s 90th Birthday
Golden Girl’s Seeing Eye® Involvement Dates Back to 1980s Radio PSA

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Betty White’s love and support for animals is well known, however, many may be unaware that her support for The Seeing Eye reaches as far back as the 1980s. In honor of Betty White’s 90th birthday and her contributions on behalf of Seeing Eye® dogs, The Seeing Eye has named a puppy in her honor. “Betty” is a black Labrador retriever who was born on October 2, 2011.
“Betty’s love of animals has always extended to Seeing Eye dogs,” said Seeing Eye President and CEO Jim Kutsch. He has known Betty for several years and serves alongside her as a trustee at another national non-profit. “Over the years, every time I’ve had the opportunity to meet with Betty personally, my own Seeing Eye dog was immediately drawn to her kind and gentle nature. I’m honored to call her my friend and wish her many more very happy birthdays.”

Her advocacy for Seeing Eye® dogs and their handlers began as a voice actor. In the 1970s, she recorded a radio PSA with comedian and singer Stan Freberg about guide dogs users’ right to ride in taxi-cabs with their dogs. Visit http://www.SeeingEye.org/Betty to listen to the radio PSA. Many guide dog users can attest that its message about Seeing Eye dogs’ right to access is still needed today.

She also starred in a video about puppy raising inspiring hundreds of families to raise Seeing Eye® puppies that would grow up to guide people who are blind and visually impaired throughout the United States and Canada. In 1994, White was honored with the Seeing Eye’s Buddy Award, a rare honor that has been reserved for the charity’s most dedicated volunteers. More recently, Betty was a guest of honor at The Seeing Eye’s 75th anniversary gala and has donated her time to the organization’s online fundraising auction each year it has taken place.

Established in 1929, The Seeing Eye provides specially bred and trained dogs to guide people who are blind. Seeing Eye® dog users experience greatly enhanced mobility and independence, allowing them to retain their active lifestyles despite blindness. The Seeing Eye is a philanthropy supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, bequests, and other planned gifts.

The Seeing Eye is a trademarked name and can only be used to describe the dogs bred and trained at the school’s facilities in Morristown, N.J. If you would like more information on The Seeing Eye, please visit the website at www.SeeingEye.org, call (973) 539-4425, or email info@seeingeye.org.

Art in the Atrium celebrates 20th anniversary at Morris Museum

By Marie Pfeifer

Art in the Atrium kicked off its 20th anniversary last week with Celebrating Our Legacy, an exhibition featuring 30 top African-American artists that will run through March 18 at the Morris Museum in Morris Township.

Created two decades ago by Charles and Viki Craig, Art in the Atrium is curated this year by Tarin Fuller, director of Iandor Gallery in Newark.

Rosalind Nzinga Nichol showcases her gorgeous over-sized fabric snowflakes, which serve as the centerpiece of the show.

“Some of the snowflakes were made from linen dresses and other favorite fabrics from my life. You cut up all the fabric, boil it, mix it up good and put some additives in and allow it to dry,” Nichol explained.

Photos by Bill Lescohier, Marie Pfeifer and Kevin Coughlin. Please click icon below for captions.

The show also honors Norman Wilfred Lewis, who passed away in 1979, and Russell Aldo Murray, who died in 2007.

Lewis, born in Harlem, was a skilled painter, sculptor, tailor, pianist, dancer, puppeteer, and educator with a passion for calligraphy, drafting and needlepoint. He enjoyed a long and prolific career that included exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum.

Murray was remembered fondly for his many foibles but he also knew how to get people to work together. “This was an invaluable gift,” Fuller said.

Fuller gave a talk on the art of setting up a gallery, either at home, as a business or in a museum. I have to admit it did look easy when I was viewing her finished work. Everything flowed so beautifully. But I doubt that it is easy to include so many media in one large room. I’ll take her at her word that it is complicated.

A series of African-American art lectures is planned as part of the celebration. The series is free, except as noted, with museum admission. Registration in advance is required.

Saturday, Feb. 4, from 1—2 pm, Craft Traditions: A survey of African origins of African-American art and craft traditions.

Thursday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 pm, $7.  Morris Museum Associate Curator Angela Sergonis leads a tour of featured exhibitions, including Celebrating Our Legacy.

Friday, Feb. 17, at 1 pm, Senior Friday Tour. Free with museum admission, a museum educator leads a tour and discussion of the Celebrating Our Legacy exhibition. Morris Museum Associate Curator Angela Sergonis leads a tour of featured exhibitions, including Celebrating Our Legacy.

Saturday, Feb. 25, 1—2 pm, Fine Arts & Artists: From Early African-American Masters to the Harlem Renaissance and Mid-20th Century Artists. Thursday, March 8, from 6:30—7:30 pm.

Thursday, March 8, from 6:30—7:30 pm, Panel Discussion: Collecting African American Art.

The Morris Museum is at 6 Normandy Heights Road. Call 973-971-3700 for more details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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