Newbridge Church – An Authentic Community
By Henry M. Holden
“Newbridge Church in Morristown is an authentic community,”. Said Pastor Tim. “We are not a social club, and we are not pretending to be friends, we actually care about people, their emotional, spiritual and physical needs. Here you can get to know new people to journey through life with, serve others together, and discover the great things that God has planned for your life.”.
“You are welcome as you are!  Maybe you are seeking God for the first time, or maybe you have some church background and have desired to find a healthy church community to connect to.  Join us, and I am confident you will fit right in.  We would love to get to know you, hear your story, and join you on your spiritual journey!
“You will find a casual atmosphere, people from all life stages and faith journeys, and a service that’s crafted to help you experience the truth, grace, and love of Jesus. “At Newbridge Church, we are transforming our community for Jesus by providing a safe place to find love, freedom, and restoration,” said Pastor Tim.
“I’ve been in in pastoral ministry 22 for years. I am the reason I do it. It is my calling, and I believe we are the hope of the world and we’re trying to do a little part in Morris County.
Pastor Tim started a church in Basking Ridge in 2014. He rented a space for four years then moved to Morristown because they were given a building in 2018. “For the first four years we rented. We were in Morristown for almost seven years. We held our first service in Morristown on December 23, 2018.
One of his elementary school friends on Facebook recently sent him a message. “I’m 48 years old. She sent me a message from our first-grade yearbook that underneath my picture it said: “I want to be a pastor when I grow up.”
“I was a music major in a Christian college with a Bible minor. I went back to school when I was in my 30s to earn my Master of Divinity degree. I’ve been preaching for about 22 years. I was licensed to marry people and finally, about 15 years ago, I was ordained a pastoral minister.”
Contemporary worship music with meaningful, memorable lyrics to help connect with God, and prepare our hearts for hearing God’s Word. Our ministers bring practical, biblically based teaching. Sometimes we explore a book of the Bible in-depth, sometimes it’s a specific topic such as grace or suffering, and sometimes we focus on life issues such as relationships or finances.
“We started a food pantry, and it is thriving.  We have a mix of younger and older so we have a wide range of volunteers.
“During the Pandemic we survived when everyone was isolated from each other. We were putting together food boxes for about 40 people and delivering them in the community. We have a rich history of being generous. We have been trying to connect with the New Jersey Food Bank, but so far we have been unable to. All the food is local and donated by our friends. We also buy it from Cosco.
“Last year we gave away about 11,000 pounds of food. It’s a big giveaway and it’s all because of the generosity of our people. They come to us with food donations on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
Their generosity was demonstrated in 2022 when Newbridge Church confirmed its mission to help others by donating over 20,800 sandwiches to support homeless programs at the local nonprofit Bridges Outreach.
It’s a big giveaway and it’s all because of the generosity of our people they come to us. Our total committed people, who come about 270 were almost at capacity and we’re thinking about going to a larger location in the fall.
“We started English as a second language workshop on Monday evenings at 7:30 o’clock and it’s thriving.
“We have a variety of Spanish speaking people coming to learn English. We’ve also have people coming from, Egypt, Syria, Asia and other countries. You don’t have to speak that language to attend a course on second languages. The curriculum we have is very approachable. My wife runs that program, and she has about 12 or 13 people who help volunteer.
“Our total committed people, who come is about 270.We are close to capacity and we’re thinking about going to a larger location in the fall.
“God has so much to offer us in a relationship with him. We are grateful as a church to play a part in God’s restoration plan here in Morristown and beyond. I am hopeful that you will join us on that journey.”
Newbridge Church began in March 2014 with a core group of people whose diverse life journeys found a unified calling in seeing God redeem pain and disappointment to bring a new movement of hope to the people of Northern New Jersey. The people you will encounter at Newbridge desire genuine relationships and authentic faith. We don’t pretend to have all the answers and we’re quick to acknowledge that we are an imperfect people, but we are committed to creating a healthy church environment. For us, that starts with pursuing five core values:
“Experience Christ We want everyone to in their own way. – We believe that Jesus is the hope of the world and that salvation through Him brings both hope and healing to even our deepest pains and brings real significance to our greatest joys.”
·         Live grace – Pastor Tim believes that the Bible teaches that grace isn’t for “bad” people but for all people.
The gift of salvation by grace isn’t something we can graduate from because we still can’t keep our own rules – it is God who changes people. Our glory is in God’s redemption of our souls for freedom and because of this, we want our church to be a place where chains are broken, not formed. We will point to the grace that is ours in Jesus for real, true, and lasting life in Him.
·         Love well – We will love each other well as we live in the reality that God’s unfailing love for us is the purpose of our faith and hope. We want His unconditional love to mark our lives, so we must commit to the hard work of relationships that reflect the love He instructed us to have for each other. Serve Extravagantly – We believe that we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus so that others can see Him. Therefore, we will love like Christ by confronting injustice, breaking through social and cultural barriers, serving sacrificially, and pouring ourselves out into others in every way just as Jesus has done for us.
Together – We believe that for the Gospel to deeply transform people, we must go against the efficiency-driven mindset of our culture and build relationships one person at a time, investing time, energy, personal capital, and resources to see this happen.​
We share in Communion once a month. This is a sacred time to reflect on the gift of salvation given to us freely through the atoning work of our Savior Jesus. It is also a celebration of the new life that we have – right now! – through Him.
The children are also well cared for. “We have a safe and secure space staffed with experienced and caring teachers and assistants, ready to make your children feel welcome and well cared for during the service.” To learn mor e about the Kids program consult the website Kids — Newbridge Church
Call or visit 57 Kahdena Road, Morristown or www.newbridge.com (973)-630-1625
Two Morris County Residents Start
New Jersey History Podcast
By: Megan Roche
When Katie Feather and Ryan Ross were looking for a new hometown, the two each found Mendham. After a chance meeting at the Mendham Fourth of July parade, the two young families bonded and began spending a lot of time together. Feather, who has a background in radio and journalism, and Ross, who has a background in marketing, came together and launched a new podcast called Hometown History NJ.
“I’d be driving my kids to daycare and I’d be seeing these historical structures in Mendham and I’d always think “what a cool place” “the Phoenix House, what is that? It looks old, what is going on there?” and there was no real good, accessible way to learn about the town. Something that Ryan and I and our families had talked about was how do you even choose a hometown for your kids?” Feather said.
During season one, Feather and Ross delved into their new hometown of Mendham. With episodes on Mendham’s famous residents, how the school system was started, some history on Mendham’s early industrial days, the infamous Black Horse Tavern, and of course, the battle of Township vs. Borough.
In the summer of 2024, Ross and Feather launched Hometown History Homework. The little summer miniseries explored a bunch of towns and what makes them unique. With a lot of public interest in both the original podcast and the summer miniseries, Ross and Feather have teamed up yet again to launch a brand-new season of the original podcast.
In season two, set to launch in May, Ross and Feather are diving into Hunterdon County’s Clinton and its history. From the iconic red mill, the Lehigh Valley Railroad, to how the town got its namesake, Ross and Feather get to it all.
“We want to find the stories that are really interesting, that tell the best story itself and that we have accessible documents. One of the things that we really try to do is make sure that all of the facts we are putting forward are documented and accessible to people. In all the episodes we have, we not only have the transcript, but we have the footnotes of where things came from,” Ross said.
Feather is the producer and editor of the podcast while Ross is the host and writer of the podcast. Season two of the podcast will drop on May 7. For more information, visit hometownhistory.substack.com.

Morris County Native Working in Professional Hockey Recounts His Journey
By: Megan Roche

When Casey Christensen was growing up, he played hockey with his friends when Lake Hopatcong would freeze over, but he never imagined he’d make a career out of it. While he’s not playing professional hockey, Christensen has made a name for himself in the front office of the Norfolk Admirals.
After separating from the US Navy, Christensen began a job hunt. Thinking that he would find something that matched his Navy skillset as a Cryptologic Technician, Christensen’s search led to dead ends.
“I was getting a lot of dead ends on the job front. I was trying to pursue the same type of job I was doing in the Navy which was signals intelligence. I had a top secret clearance so I was hopeful that would help me get in somewhere. Due to COVID, nothing was really happening,” Christensen said.
After thinking about sports memories from his childhood, Christensen decided to look into some of his passions.
“I felt like I should pursue something that I actually love and am passionate about instead of something that I was qualified for. Sports has always been a huge thing for me. I grew up playing sports and loved going to different games. I always loved the vibe at a professional sporting event,” Christensen said.
With his GI Bill from the Navy in hand, Christensen began classes at Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, VA. After finishing up his two-year degree, he headed off to Old Dominion University, also in Norfolk.
Starting with the Norfolk Admirals as an unpaid intern, Christensen worked his way through the sales department ranks and ahead of the 2023 season was named Vice President of Sales.
“It’s very easily the most fun job I’ve ever had. I love it. It’s a small business feel, it’s a family feel, we’re not corporate really. It’s high paced during the season and there are decisions to be made just about every minute of every day. In the summer, we spend our time planning. It’s really been an experience that’s allowed me to sharpen my skills across a variety of different disciplines of the business of professional sports,” Christensen explained.
In 2023, Christensen was named the ECHL’s Ticket Sales Professional of the Year. At the start of the 2024-2025 season, he was also named the team’s alternate governor. As alternate governor, Christensen sits on the league’s board and gets to attend annual meetings.
“I sit with our team owner on the Board of Governors and get sort of a view what goes into the decision making on the ownership side in professional sports, and more specifically in minor league sports. It’s a whole different ball game compared to the higher levels where a lot of your revenue is coming in from TV deals, whereas a lot of our revenue comes from ticket sales. The business decision making is a bit different and I really get to experience that with the board,” Christensen said.
While he’s been with the Admirals, Christensen has aimed to be as well rounded as possible. From the marketing team to the accounting and bookkeeping staff, he has a hand in everything.
Ultimately, Christensen loves what he does everyday. He hopes that other kids who love sports like he did eventually find their way to the business side of sports.
“There’s a lot of people that will tell you just to take a role to get your foot in the door. I would strongly advise against that. Find something in professional sports that you are most interested in, whether that is sales, marketing, operations, merchandise, and really try to focus on that. From my experience, the highest performers at least have some idea of what they want. I really pursued sales as something I was interested in and I was able to really specialize in that first, and since then, I’ve grown into larger roles,” Christensen said.
The Admirals, a farm team for the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, is located in coastal Virginia. For more information, visit norfolkadmirals.com.

Little Patients, Big Heroes: Morris County School of Technology to Host Teddy Bear Clinic

The Morris County School of Technology’s (MCST) Academy for Education & Learning, Law & Public Safety, and Healthcare Sciences is excited to announce its Teddy Bear Clinic, a fun and educational event for children ages 3-9, taking place on Saturday, May 3rd. This event, running from 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m at MCST’s Denville campus, will provide children with the opportunity to give their stuffed animals or teddy bears a “check-up” while interacting with local first responders from Denville Police, Fire, EMS, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Clare’s EMS, and the NJ Forest Fire Service.
Children will build personalized first aid kits, gain essential fire safety skills, tackle a fire themed obstacle course, explore the science of fingerprinting, and try on real firefighter gear. Join us for a special reading by local author Heather Prinzo, featuring her book Lookin’ Within.
Also, children will have a chance to explore real emergency vehicles, including a fire truck, police car, and ambulance. This hands-on experience will allow them to see these vehicles up close and learn about the important roles they play in the community. The event will also include face painting and temporary tattoos.
Scott Shaw, the Director of Career & Technical Education (CTE) for Morris County School of Technology shared,  “Unified Career Technical Education efforts by teachers and programs, including collaborations like the Teddy Bear Clinic, in Morris County create opportunity, build awareness, and deliver a positive impact for our students and community.” As a direct result of these unified efforts, the community benefits from the positive impact of CTE programs. The Morris County School of Technology continues to develop innovative programs that serve both students and the community.
The Teddy Bear Clinic would not be possible without the generous support of local businesses and organizations, including The American Cancer Society, The Pasta Shop, Pure Barre, Playa Bowls Denville, Thatcher McGhee’s Denville, Kona Ice, Fully Promoted, Morris County Vocational Technical Education Association and the Morris County School of Technology PTO. Their contributions have been instrumental in making this event a reality.
The event is free and open to the public! To register please visit mcvts.jumbula.com/home. For any questions regarding the event, please contact Samantha Shane at mcstevents@mcvts.org 

Morris County Unveils Logo to Commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary

 A new logo highlighting Morris County’s pivotal role in the American Revolution and planning for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration has been unveiled by the Morris County Tourism Bureau, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners and the Morris County 250th Anniversary Steering Committee.
The logo, designed by Kraus Marketing of Morristown in collaboration with the Morris County 250th Anniversary Steering Committee, incorporates the colors of the official Morris County seal and features a striking silhouette of Gen. George Washington and “his horse.” He actually had two favorite steeds named Nelson and Blueskin – just a bit of the landslide of trivia to follow over the next two years as Morris County welcomes tourists from near and far to celebrate and reflect on its key role in the American Revolution.
The logo design is accompanied by the phrase “Celebrating 250 Years of Revolutionary History in Morris County,” and will soon adorn banners, hats and other forms of marketing materials that will accompany Morris County’s official events, tours and celebration of America’s Second Continental Congress declaring independence from Britain in July 1776.
The 250th anniversary, or “Semiquincentennial,” marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. More Revolutionary War battles and encampments occurred in New Jersey than any other colony — with Morris County hosting many key figures from the era and preserving numerous historic sites that will be the focus of public events in 2025 and 2026.
“This logo is more than just an emblem– it embodies the influence Morris County had on our nation’s path to freedom. The 250th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate our county’s past, and we invite everyone to visit and experience the unique history that helped shape America’s founding,” said Commissioner Christine Myers, a steering committee member.
To prepare celebratory events for the 250th this year and into 2026, The Morris County 250th Anniversary Steering Committee was formed last year and enlisted leaders of historical societies, higher education, museums, libraries, business associations, tourist organizations, civic groups, scholars and government officials. The goal is to promote not only the historic role Morris County, and its diverse community played in the American Revolution, but also to highlight the rich and varied history that followed.
During the Revolutionary War, Gen. George Washington and the Continental Army spent significant time in Morris County, with Morristown serving as a strategic winter encampment in 1777 and again 1779–1780. The second encampment, one of the harshest winters of the war, tested the resilience of Gen. Washington’s troops as they endured extreme cold and food shortages. Washington also resided at the historic Ford Mansion in Morristown, which recently reopened to the public following extensive renovations.
By personifying the image of George Washington, Morris County’s 250th anniversary logo captures the spirit of the American Revolution while authentically representing Morris County’s historical significance.
“This logo embodies the rich history and heritage of Morris County. As the Crossroads of the Revolution, our county played a key role in America’s fight for independence and we sought a design that truly reflected that significance,” said Sarah Neibart, Executive Director of the Morris County Semiquincentennial Initiative at the Tourism Bureau.
Upcoming events highlighting Morris County’s role in the 250th anniversary include the 16th annual Pathways of History tour, Morristown National Historical Park’s (NHP) Spring Encampment at Jockey Hollow and the Lafayette Farewell Tour this summer.
This year, Pathways of History, organized by the Morris County Historical Society, will offer both spring and fall weekend tours for the first time. All are welcome to attend, and admission is free to the annual event showcasing historic sites managed by Morris County’s smallest, all-volunteer organizations.
The upcoming spring tour will take place on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature a record 29 organizations across 20 municipalities.
The Spring Encampment at Jockey Hollow, Morristown NHP’s largest annual special event, will be held the same weekend, May 3 and 4, and features re-enactors from across the Northeast who bring the Revolutionary War to life with demonstrations. The event is also free and open to all, offering visitors a glimpse into 18th-century military and civilian life– including replica cannon fire!

New Jersey Pipe Band to Play in Largest
Military Concert in US
By: Megan Roche
The Camden County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums may have put Saint Patrick’s Day behind them, but the pressure is on to prepare for the band’s fifth appearance in the Virginia International Tattoo.
The Virginia International Tattoo was established in 1997 and is a signature event of the Virginia Arts Festival. The concert is an annual celebration of patriotism and international goodwill.   Every year, the Tattoo welcomes over 800 performers from all over the world in a display of military bands, drill teams, massed pipes and drums, Celtic dancers, choirs, and more.  It is the largest tattoo in the United States, drawing an international audience each year, and was listed as American Bus Association’s Top North American Event for 2016.
Historically, tattoos stem from a 17th-century European tradition of military drummers alerting soldiers that it was time to return to their barracks for the evening.  After hearing the call of the local regiments’ fifes and drums, the Dutch Low Country innkeepers would call “Doe den tap toe!” – “Turn off the taps!”  The “tap too” evolved over time, and the word “tattoo” now refers to a ceremonial performance of military music by massed bands.
The Camden County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums will be making the trek to Virginia for the fifth time in late April. From rehearsal days, student performances, and four days of evening shows, the band will be busy.
Drum Major Mike Nelson has been involved with the band for 30 years, since the groups inception in 1995.
“My son and I went down to Virginia as spectators to watch the tattoo in 2018. It really piqued my interest and I met Jen, one of the producers of the tattoo, that same weekend. After talking with Jen, the Camden County Emerald Society got an invite to go to the tattoo in 2021. Well, when COVID hit, they cancelled everything. I had asked for our invitation to be pushed back to 2022. At the last minute, the tattoo had a band that dropped out and they needed a replacement for the 2021 show and I threw together a group of guys and we went,” Nelson said.
With over 800 dancers, performers, military and bagpipe bands as part of the show,  Nelson looks forward to traveling to Norfolk each year and knows that each year will be a tougher goodbye than the last.
“We keep in touch with each other throughout the year, we’ve been to weddings of people we’ve met at the tattoo. The friendships and the bonds that are formed are just incredible. You leave there on Monday and you start driving home and you really start missing people,” Nelson said.
The Camden County Emerald Society performs at various events throughout the South Jersey and Philadelphia areas during the year, but the tattoo has a special place in Nelson’s heart.
“The camaraderie is unbelievable. It’s always special to get together and catch up with old friends. It’s so awesome that we have Facebook and you can talk throughout the year, but to give someone a hug, a handshake, and a smile in person is second to none,” Nelson said.
The 2025 Virginia International Tattoo will run from April 24-27. Tickets for the tattoo are currently on sale through www.vafest.org.

Sister Cities: Morris, New Jersey, Meet Morris, Illinois
By Megan Roche
About an hour south of Chicago lies a farming town. With agriculture as one of its staples, visitors can find corn fields by the dozens. That town? Morris, Illinois.
In 1673, Canadian fur trader, Louis Joliet, and Jesuit missionary, Father Jacque Marquette, passed through the Illinois River Valley. It was Joliet who had a vision for a canal from the Illinois River to Lake Michigan that would connect the Atlantic with the Mississippi River. One hundred sixty-three years later his dream became a reality when construction began on the I&M Canal.
The first map of this area drawn by French fur trader Robert Cavalier Sieur de la Salle between 1679-1690 shows a village of 1,500 Mound Builders that were located near the present site of Morris. The mounds were 2-4 feet height and 17-30 feet in diameter at the base. Construction of the canal in the 1840’s uncovered several artifacts and skeletons. Over 10,000 similar mounds have been discovered throughout Illinois.
Those early years in Morris are still very much alive in the town. The town prides itself on being a canal town.
“In the early years, we were certainly a canal town and a river town and because of our proximity to the river, it truly played a big part with the grain in our community. We’re a big farming community as well and we have some of the richest soil in the world. At one point, we had the world’s largest inland grain elevator system,” Stan Knudson, Community Affairs director of Morris, Illinois, said.
Similair to our Morris in New Jersey, the Illinois sister is known for its downtown.
“Our historic downtown is one of our points of pride. It was first constructed prior to the 1900’s so it’s been here a long time. We have 16 blocks of historically protected area that encompasses our downtown. You see a lot of communities that want downtown districts and they are building them to look old and feel nostalgic, but here in Morris, Illinois, we’ve got the real deal,” Knudson said.
The downtown also plays host to many of Morris’ events, including a nationally attended bicycling event.
A point of pride for Morris is sports. Morris is home to Major League Baseball father/son duo Ed and Scott Spiezio, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Jack Boyle, Chicago Cubs pitcher Billy Petrick, Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox shortstop Kelly Dransfeldt, and National Football League linebacker Ed Brady.
“We’re really big and driven by sports in our community. We’ve always had good public high school teams in football, baseball, and softball. We treat everyone as Morris people and our teams love it,” Knudson said.
Morris is also home to the first privately funded nuclear power plant ever built in the United States.
With just under 15,000 people that call Morris, Illinois home, Knudson couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
“One of our taglines is visit for a day, stay for life. We truly hear it all the time. People will tell us that they came down for a couple events and they decided that this would be a great place to live. We have a lot of folks that move here that tell us that it all started with a visit for an event and now they call Morris home,” Knudson said.
To learn more about Morris, Illinois, visit morrisil.org.

200 Club of Morris County 2025 Meritorious
and Valor Awards
By Claudia Ehrgott
The 200 Club of Morris County announces their 2025 Meritorious and Valor Awards recipients. The awards recognize outstanding service of first responders. Those whose lives are placed in danger receive the Valor Award. An act of Valor is an extraordinary event in which a person put his or her own safety aside. It is an act of extraordinary courage, which went beyond the call of duty. Very often, one’s life is at risk.
Those who perform above and beyond the call of duty, but whose life is not actually in danger, receive a Meritorious Award. Meritorious awards recognize individuals whose professional or volunteer activity rises above the expected norm for their profession.
Each January, Valor and Meritorious candidate recommendations are presented to The 200 Club of Morris County by our Public Safety VIP Liaisons: President of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association; Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police; President of the Morris County Alliance of Active Fire Chiefs; President of the Morris County EMS Alliance; Director of the Morris County Office of Emergency Management.
This year’s 30 local heroes are from the following 7 towns and departments serving Morris County: Police departments: Boonton, Dover, Morristown, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ State Police. Fire departments: Parsippany District #4 and District #5.
A celebration takes place each April at which honorees are recognized by 200 Club members, their family and friends, members of the business community, as well as public safety officials from police, fire, emergency medical services and the New Jersey State Police.
This year’s 51st anniversary event will be held April 24 at Birchwood Manor in Whippany, NJ. The gala-style awards celebration event hosts over four hundred attendees. More than 700 dedicated first responders have been honored since 1972 and can be viewed here: https://www.200clubofmorriscounty.com/valor-meritorious-awards.
Show your support through a sponsorship, celebratory ad, and tickets! Come enjoy an evening of tribute to these women and men to celebrate their service for others.
What is The 200 Club? For over 50 years, the 501(c) 3 non-profit organization has provided emotional and financial support to Morris County’s first responders and their families. Over 5 million dollars has been distributed by our organization including death benefits for families of the fallen and over 725 scholarships to high school seniors.
Questions? Contact Club Administrator Lori Richmond at 973-630-7933 or admin@200clubofmorriscounty.com.

The Forge and the Development of Shongum
By Henry M. Holden
In 1715, William Penn, a Quaker benefactor received 2,500 acres of land provided from the proprietors of West Jersey which included Morris County, and the area later called Shongum.
Penn never visited the land since he was literally on his deathbed ill and living in England. At the time of his death, he left his children to develop Shongum.
The name Shongum is an Indian derivation. In 1935 historian and Indian expert, Reginald Pelham Bolden, stated that the word Shongum is a corrupted version of the words N’ashaue and Gunnuak meaning midway between or high place.
From the 1600s to the mid-1800s the construction and the operation of a forge remained standardized.
The name Forge is somewhat misleading in the sense of the word as we use it today. It is more properly called a bloomery, and the person operating it is called a bloomer.
At one time, several centuries ago Morris County and Shongum were heavily forested. As the human population increased some of the forests were stripped to make charcoal which in turn produced a heat that could be used to fashion iron products.
Waterpower, generally coming from man-made dams required to work a large bellows above the hearth to carry off the fumes and smoke. The forge was a hearth with a hood and earlier forges were made of stone or brick.
When the bloom was removed from the hearth, and while still hot, it was hammered in the early days with sledgehammers. Later a trip hammer driven by waterpower was used.
The heat of the fire was increased by the air coming from the bellows.
The bloomer stirred the hot mass using a stick of green wood which gave off more carbon monoxide as it charred. More and more of the growing iron particles came together and formed a spongy mass of iron, interlaced with veins of slag. This mass is called a bloom, and the forgers often spoke of the bloomery.
Later, power-driven rollers and squeezes were devised which would make the job faster and more evenly.
The finished product was wrought iron, and it was made from the iron from the Succasunna mine and in abundance around what would eventually be Randolph Township. It played a important role in the development of Shongum.
Two other ingredients essential to the forge operation were waterpower and charcoal. The ore, flux, and charcoal were heated in a hearth. Oxygen, to make the mix heat more rapidly was forced into the hearth through an opening called a tuyer. This bellows was operated by power supplied from a water wheel. After a few hours the proper temperature was reached and the iron started to melt.
With the constant reheating of the bloom, (this process could go on for days) until iron had been worked into a form of a “merchant bar.” The bar was three inches wide, one and 1/2 inches thick and four or five feet long. It could be then melted, and shaped into usable articles that or sold, as is to other processors.
To remove the impurities tremendous force was needed.. This was accomplished by means of cams attached to the water wheel. They were connected to a huge log about 13 feet long. When the hammer was raised and released gravity brought it down on the anvil and bloom with approximately 500 pounds of force.
Between 1758 and 1773 Great Britain placed restrictions on the forge operators, and products made on the forges. It became illegal to process the iron bars which had to be shipped to England where they were processed and sold back to the Colonists as manufactured articles such as shovels, axes, saws, etc. This would become one of the underlying causes of the rebellion.
The Dan Brook, which had its beginning north of Mount Freedom, was, and is an important feature of the landscape of Shongum. It was damned to form the 24-acre pond, which was the forerunner of Shongum Lake. This pond, referred to in early deeds and maps, as Shongum Pond formed the reserve of waterpower used in the operation of the forge and also a sawmill, which was built lower down on the stream.
In earlier days, the local, Minsi Indians, use the banks of the stream for a branch of their trail, which ran from Minisink in the Delaware River to Naversink at the Jersey shore.
In 1769 an important event took place in the area. The road which is now called Shongum Lake Road and Shongum Road was completed. This first portion began at the top of the mountain in the Succasunna (Hanover Avenue) Plains in the middle of the road that leads from Morristown to Suckasunny plains . It was four rods wide (66 feet) and passed the Shongum Pond and ended at a certain apple tree in the lane on the southwest side of Robert Youngs orchard. This would place the ending where the present Openaki Road begins. The second portion began at the same apple tree and continues for 2.6, miles and ends on the road that leads from Millbrook to Skooleys Mill. Building this road allowed the mine operators easy access to the roads leading to the Succasunna mine, forge and iron markets.
On May 20, barely two months before the Declaration of Independence work began on the road from Shongum forge to Suckasunny plains which extended the road. It crossed the road leading from Mt. Freedom to Dover west of the Friends Meeting House (Center Groove Road).
Today, a visitor from two centuries ago would not recognize the Shongum he knew. The lake is surrounded by upscale housing and there are roads leading to 27 historic sites in Randolph.
The Shongum forge served from 1758, through the War for Independence, and closed in 1823, a span of 65 years. It was situated below the Shongum Lake dam. Today the site is a parking lot for the Shongum Lake Property Owners Association. 
Beloved and precious creatures, I have known and loved:

Remembering Little Snowball
By Richard Mabey Jr.

Sometimes, it’s hard for me to believe that it was only about a year and half that I had a rather successful dog walking business, in my neighborhood. Altogether, I had about 20 clients. When I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, back in December of 2023, my Cardiologist highly recommended that I give up my little business. On busy days, I was walking a good five or six miles a day, taking the little pups for their walks.
Lately, I find myself thinking, more and more, about the dogs who have touched my heart and life. Sadly, some have passed away. Some of their mommies and daddies have moved away, and I know I will never see those little dogs ever again. During my morning devotional time, after I’ve read a few pages of the Holy Bible, I pray for the dogs to whom I looked upon as friends.
And lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Little Snowball. She was a little pupper, all white in color. A most happy dog. A bit high strung, but for some reason, she would calm down whenever I would take care of her.
Little Snowball’s daddy and mommy were Ted and Jean. They were both in their early eighties. They lived on the next street over from me. They would frequently drive out to a little town in North Carolina to visit with their daughter and son-in-law, for about a week at a time. They were very kind people and I would stay at their home and take care of Little Snowball, while they were away. I think that Ted had a very good pension, because they would always pay me very well for my time of taking care of Little Snowball.
In June of 2023, Ted went Home to be with the Lord. He had, had a heart attack. It was only a few days after Ted passed away that Jean’s daughter helped her mother pack up her stuff. They had a big garage sale. I bought one of Ted’s books, Ernest Hemingway’s first novel, “The Sun Also Rises.” I cherish it.
Right after they had their big garage sale, Jean put the house up for sale and moved to North Carolina to live with her daughter. It was very, very sad to say goodbye to Little Snowball. For I knew, in my heart of hearts, I would never see that adorable little puppy ever again. Sometimes life just isn’t fair.
About a week after Jean moved away, I received an email from her. She told me that she and Little Snowball were doing well. And, that they had plans to visit Mount Airy, the real Mayberry. I had often talked about the real Mayberry with Ted and Jean. They had never visited there at all.
I wrote Jean back and told her that I was happy that she and Little Snowball were happy in North Carolina. I made a little joke to Jean that she needed to be careful driving in North Carolina, that there was a nervous Deputy Sheriff (namely Barney Fife) there that had given his own mother a speeding ticket.
Sadly, I never heard from Jean again. I was going to write her again, but thought that it was best not to push on the door.
The old adage, when one door closes, another one opens, is all so very true. I now am focused on educating as many people as I can possibly reach, about the detailed intricacies of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Just last week, my General Practitioner complimented me that she thought I probably knew more about HCM than most Primary Physicians know. I told her that I read and study, the latest cutting edge trials of HCM, anywhere from an hour to three hours a day. HCM is the single most difficult heart disease to diagnose. It is a silent killer.
Hold dear to your Divine Purpose. Be true to the calling that God has placed in your heart. Falter not. Be not distracted by the nay slayers. Hold a love for all living things, deep within the chambers of your heart. Never abandon your dreams. Never give up! Never, ever surrender! For with God, all things are possible.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

On Eagle’s Wings Chapter 3:

The Flame Within Thy Heart, Burns Ever So Brightly

By Richard Mabey Jr.

This is the third condensed chapter of the book that I am presently writing, about my journey to earn scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. This is a true story.
In 1966, Lincoln Park was very much a different place than it is now. To the best of my memory, I don’t think that there was a single street light in the entire town. The town was more of a village than a suburban town. There were more farms back then. And, it seems that half of the town’s acreage was filled with forest land. And truly it seemed, everyone was related to everyone else, in some form or another.
In early September of 1966, I turned 13 and began the eighth grade at Chapel Hill School. It was a tough time for me. I had not attended school for practically all of seventh grade, being in and out of three long-term stays at the Barnert Hospital in Paterson, fighting off a full-blown case of Rheumatic Fever. So, when I began the eighth grade, I was not the strongest kid in my class. I was not the most coordinated, by any means. And, I wasn’t that good at sports.
The two things that brought great joy to my heart, were church youth group and scouts. At the baseball field of old Chapel Hill School, I was the strike-out king, but I could shine like a diamond in church youth group and scouts. And in scouts, one thing burnt brightly in my heart, the dream of becoming an Eagle Scout.
I loved reading the little Merit Badge Pamphlets. They were composed of 8½ by 11 inch paper, folded in half. Each Merit Badge Pamphlet ran between 40 to 60 pages in length. And, there were dozens upon dozens of these wonderful little booklets to read. One such Merit Badge Pamphlet struck a chord within my heart and mind. It was the Conservation of Natural Resources, Merit Badge Pamphlet.
I remember that it was quite a bit thicker than most of the other Merit Badge Pamphlets. If I remember right, it was more than a hundred pages long. While I was in the eighth grade, I must have read that booklet more than a dozen times. I planted a dogwood tree along Mabey Lane. I built a bird feeder and bird house and kept a daily log of the bird activities. And, I studied and studied the importance of conservation of our natural resources.
I remember that a scout had to write an essay about the importance of conserving our natural resources for this particular merit badge. I remember that Mom loaned me her pride and joy, Underwood Typewriter, so that I could type up my essay. I remember that my essay ran well over 10 pages in length. My dad bought me a plastic cover to put my essay in. I was incredibly proud of that essay.
My fellow scout, Donald Stone and I attended the classes together, for the Conservation of Natural Resources Merit Badge. It was after one of the classes, that was held at the Merit Badge Counselor’s home, that we waited for my dad to pick us up to take us home. There in the midst of our Counselor’s driveway, we made a pledge that we both would make Eagle Scout, no matter what. We even shook hands on it, thus cementing the agreement in concrete. We both kept our vows. We both earned the coveted rank of Eagle Scout.
Now at 71, I look back at those days of innocence with great fondness. Although, a certain sadness fills my heart. It seems like I blinked my eyes and that 13 year old boy, became an old man. None of us can stop the clicking of the clock.
I now look back at how hard I worked on my Conservation of Natural Resources essay. I think that writing that essay was an important step in my growth to develop a deep love for putting words down on paper. It was an important step to my staircase journey to earning scouting’s highest rank.
To be continued.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

God Loves You More

Than You Will Ever Know

By Richard Mabey Jr.

God loves you more than you will ever know. No matter how tough life gets. No matter the storm winds that seem to envelop you. No matter how hopeless a situation may seem to appear. No matter how bad a medical report you’ve been given by your doctor. Please, please, please remember this eternal truth: God loves you more than you will ever know.
My neighborhood friend, Brad, recently passed away. He lived two streets down from me. He had two little dogs, and it seemed that just about every time that I walked one of my clients’ dogs, he would be walking one of his dogs. Brad and I had a common bond of recollecting old landmarks of Lincoln Park and Mountain View. As if the odds were a million to one, Brad had once lived in Mountain View, for many years. In many ways, it would always feel as though Brad was one of my close cousins.
Not far from my home, there is this little park. It’s a cozy little park. There’s a horseshoe set up, Bocce ball court, and a shuffleboard court. There’s a good six or seven park benches scattered about this little park. One bench in particular sets just below a tall, towering Live Oak that provides welcomed shade from the hot, Florida sun. Brad and I used to let the pups run free and talk about life in general.
It was about three years ago, sitting on that shady park bench, that Brad broke the news to me that he was diagnosed with cancer. At the time, I had no idea that I had Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. At the time, my Cardiologist was convinced that I suffered from the beginning stages of A-Fib. Brad told me that he recently broke the bad news to his wife.
Brad was a deeply religious man. At the time, during our heart to heart conversations, Brad told me that he wasn’t afraid to die. Brad told me that he knew God loved him. That death was nothing to fear. That it was simply like walking from your living room into your bedroom. It was just that simple. Brad would often say to me, “God loves you more than you will ever know.”
Yesterday, I walked the short distance to my little neighborhood park. I sat in the shaded park bench, where Brad and I would watch our dogs run and play. Brad is gone now, at least from this physical plane. And, I don’t take care of dogs any more. I just got too easily winded, taking the pups for walks.
Brad’s insightful words gently echo into my heart, mind and soul, that God loved me more than I would ever know. And, it’s true. It’s very, very true. God loves you more than you will ever know.
In the last couple of months, I’ve had moments where I just wanted to quit everything. To give up writing. To just give up and watch Gunsmoke and Bonanza all day long. But something would stir, deep in the chambers of my heart. That simple statement, God loves me more than I will ever know, would echo within me. My father would often tell me that my writing, was my ministry.
No matter how tough things may seem. No matter how hopeless your situation may seem. No matter what struggles you are enduring. You simply cannot give up. You absolutely must roll up your sleeves and continue on. Give it all you got. Focus. Let the flame of determination burn brightly in your heart, mind and soul. Never, ever surrender!
Tell yourself a hundred times, no a thousand times, “God loves me more than I will ever know.” Burn that truth into the core fibers of your heart. For it really is true, God loves you more than you will ever know. 
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

Ever wonder how Car Insurance started?
The History and Evolution of Car Insurance
Car insurance is a critical aspect of modern life, ensuring that drivers and pedestrians alike are protected from the financial risks associated with accidents, theft, and other unfortunate incidents on the road. But where did this vital safety net originate? To fully appreciate the concept and structure of car insurance as we know it today, it’s essential to delve into the history of the automobile itself and the societal shifts that necessitated the creation of this industry.
The Origins: From Horse-Drawn Carriages to Motor Vehicles
Before cars dominated the streets, there were horse-drawn carriages. These carriages occasionally caused accidents, leading to damage and injury. While the formal idea of “insurance” existed centuries before cars, with practices like marine insurance in the 14th century, it wasn’t until the invention of the automobile in the late 19th century that the framework for car insurance started to take shape.
The late 1800s marked the dawn of the automobile era. Early cars, such as those produced by Karl Benz and Henry Ford, were revolutionary but far from perfect. They were expensive, slow, and prone to mechanical issues. However, as more people adopted these vehicles, accidents became inevitable. With limited traffic laws and no real system to determine liability, disputes about damages were common, often leading to legal battles.
The lack of protection for both drivers and pedestrians highlighted the need for a structured system to manage risks. Enter car insurance.
The First Car Insurance Policies
The first recorded car insurance policy was issued in 1897 in the United Kingdom by the General Accident Corporation. This policy focused on third-party liability, covering the damage a driver might cause to others but not the driver’s own vehicle. It reflected the understanding that automobiles, though revolutionary, posed unique dangers not seen with horse-drawn carriages.
In the United States, car insurance took root shortly after. By the early 20th century, automobile use was growing rapidly, particularly due to the success of Ford’s Model T, which made cars more affordable for the average person. With the rise in car ownership came an increase in accidents and property damage, further emphasizing the need for insurance.
In 1898, a policy was issued in Dayton, Ohio, to Dr. Truman J. Martin. This policy, underwritten by Travelers Insurance Company, covered Dr. Martin against liabilities associated with accidents involving his car. Like the British policies, it focused primarily on protecting third parties.
The Legal Push: Compulsory Insurance Laws
As cars became faster and more common, governments began implementing laws to ensure road safety and financial responsibility. One of the significant milestones in car insurance history was the introduction of compulsory insurance laws.
In 1927, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to require drivers to carry car insurance. This mandate was aimed at ensuring that all drivers could compensate others for damages or injuries they caused. Other states soon followed suit, recognizing the importance of protecting their citizens and reducing the burden on courts and individuals involved in accidents.
Compulsory insurance laws also paved the way for the concept of “no-fault” insurance, which emerged in the mid-20th century. Under no-fault insurance, drivers’ own insurance policies cover their damages and medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident. This system was designed to streamline claims processes and reduce litigation.
Innovations and Expansions in Coverage
As the automotive industry evolved, so did the insurance sector. Early policies focused solely on third-party liability, but by the mid-20th century, insurers began offering more comprehensive options. These included:
Collision Coverage: Protecting a driver’s own vehicle in case of an accident.
Comprehensive Coverage: Covering non-collision-related incidents, such as theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Safeguarding drivers against damages caused by individuals who lacked adequate insurance.
Medical Payments and Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Ensuring that medical expenses for the driver and passengers were covered after an accident. These developments reflected the growing complexity of modern transportation and the increasing costs associated with vehicle repairs and medical care.
The Role of Technology in Shaping Car Insurance
Technology has always been intertwined with the car insurance industry. Early policies were handwritten, and claims processes were slow and often contentious. However, the advent of computers and data analysis in the mid-20th century revolutionized how insurers assessed risk and handled claims.
Insurers began using actuarial science to analyze historical data and predict the likelihood of accidents, allowing them to set premiums more accurately. Additionally, the introduction of telematics—a system that monitors driving behavior through GPS and sensors—has become a game-changer in recent years. Telematics allows insurers to reward safe drivers with lower premiums, creating a more personalized and fair pricing model.
Modern Car Insurance Challenges and Innovations
The 21st century has brought its own set of challenges to the car insurance industry. With the rise of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, insurers had to develop policies that covered commercial and personal driving scenarios. Similarly, the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous cars has forced insurers to rethink traditional risk models.
For instance, EVs often have higher repair costs due to their specialized components, leading to higher premiums for their owners. Meanwhile, autonomous vehicles—designed to reduce accidents caused by human error—pose questions about liability. If an autonomous car causes an accident, is the driver, manufacturer, or software developer at fault?
To address these challenges, insurers are partnering with tech companies to better understand and adapt to these emerging trends. Some insurers now offer coverage specifically tailored to autonomous vehicles, while others are exploring blockchain technology to streamline claims processes.
Car Insurance Around the World
While car insurance is ubiquitous in many countries, its structure and regulations vary significantly. For example:

• In the United Kingdom, car insurance is compulsory, and drivers must display a valid policy to register their vehicles.
• In Germany, third-party liability insurance is mandatory, and uninsured driving is a criminal offense.
• In the United States, each state has its own regulations, with some requiring only liability insurance and others mandating additional coverage.

These differences reflect cultural and legal nuances but also highlight the universal importance of car insurance in modern society.
Conclusion
Car insurance has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the late 19th century. What started as a simple liability policy has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar global industry, offering a wide range of coverage options to meet the needs of diverse drivers and vehicles.
As technology continues to reshape the automotive landscape, the car insurance industry will undoubtedly face new challenges and opportunities. From autonomous vehicles to climate change, insurers will need to adapt quickly to stay relevant and provide the protection drivers expect.
In a world where cars are no longer just modes of transportation but also symbols of freedom, innovation, and progress, car insurance remains a cornerstone of modern life—ensuring that the road ahead is as safe and secure as possible for everyone.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
Welcomes its 2025 Season 

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey welcomes its 2025 season with five very innovative and promising productions, guaranteeing a journey for its patrons. At its core, STNJ’s mission is to share William Shakespeare’s works as well as other classics while also try to fulfill three different factors: 1) A reflection of what is happening in the world, 2) A counterpoint or alternative view of what is happening in the world, and/or 3) an escape from things, whether it be drama or comedy.
According to Artistic Director Brian B. Crowe, the concept that ties all of this season’s plays together is “violent delights.”
“We always look at quotes from the plays,” he explains. “The one quote that really kind of struck me from all the plays is this great quote from Romeo & Juliet that the Friar has, and he refers to these ‘violent delights’ and this crazy juxtapositions of violent, which doesn’t always mean like aggression and pain and that sort of thing, but these extremes and delights. So these extreme delights, whether they be actual violence, as you would see in Romeo & Juliet, to giddy and over the top, like you would see in Earnest. We’re looking at these violent delights that all these plays kind of bring to life. And there’s so many of these extreme delights you get in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged, these delights about rebirth and who you are and finding out your true value in the world in It’s A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play. Obviously the passions that ripple through Frankenstein are certainly clear on that.”
Kicking things off is the Oscar Wilde classic The Importance of Being Earnest, considered one of the funniest plays ever written, playing May 14 to June 1. In the midst of a crazy world, why not escape with a bit of humor?
“I think we all need a healthy dose of laughter on occasion, and that certainly will provide it,” says Crowe. “What’s nice about Oscar Wilde is in the deliciousness of his wit and eccentric characters, he also still gives us a little bit of social commentary, which is kind of fun there.”
Following that is the Shakespearean section of the season, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] (July 9-27) and Romeo & Juliet (September 10-October 5). Usually performed and maybe remembered by some on the theatre’s outdoor stage, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again] returns, but now performed on the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre stage for the very first time. It is performed by an acting trio that attempts to present all 37 of William Shakespeare’s plays in one evening.
“It is a hilarious romp. It is slapstick and silly. If you like Shakespeare, you’ll like this play. If you hate Shakespeare, you will LOVE this play,” Crowe says.
Romeo & Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most recognizable and performed plays. The play had two recent well documented runs within this past year. There was the London production starring Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers and then the Broadway production starring Kit Connor and New Jersey’s own Rachel Zegler.
With so many renditions of this one Shakespeare play telling the story of the heartbreaking tragedy of two teenage star-crossed lovers, one may wonder how a theater company faces the challenge of giving it a fresh new take.
“We frequently get asked, as a Shakespeare theatre, how are we going to do it new? What’s going to be new about it? One thing I think is interesting is that every time we do it, or anybody does it, it is new because our worldview is different. Where we are in our own lives is different. The world is radically different now than it was back in the 70s and 80s when I first experienced it. I’m different, the world is different, but the play is the same. It just becomes different because it’s through a different lens.”
“We’re going to tell the story beautifully well and with a tremendous cast,” Crowe continues. “Bonnie Monte is directing the show. She’s the Artistic Director Emerita here who has a long history of just doing amazingly rich work with classics and making them feel fresh and new and alive and immediate, but really by just honing in on what is really happening in these epic stories that have been around for centuries because they still speak to us as individuals. We keep coming back to some of these because they still, in a more profound way, speak to us more regularly. Romeo & Juliet is one of those plays that with this deep shifting from disagreements to hatred going on in the world right now and finding another way around it is unfortunately continually relevant to us as a culture, as a world right now.”
Although it is a tragedy, Crowe adds that people often forget that Romeo & Juliet is also a hysterically funny love story, so depending on what audiences are looking for, this production has something for everyone.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey has an intriguing calendar set up. While most theater companies hold their seasons from September through June, STNJ’s seasons begin in the spring and end in the winter, right before the new year. This is because originally they had to share space with Drew University throughout the school year when they first began during the early 70s. When they renovated and opened the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre home space in 1998, this granted them the ability to operate throughout the year. Since audiences were so used to the summer programming, the schedule remained mostly unchanged, but this time starting things in May instead of June. They are also touring from February through May, therefore producing all year round.
This season, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s touring company actually features Romeo & Juliet, along with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for this year’s Short Shakespeare, which will be presented at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on April 19. As a result, the theatre offers not one, but two upcoming opportunities to see the play, the first a condensed version that appeals more to younger people and families and the second a mainstage production of the full play in all of its glory.
A third opportunity to embrace Romeo & Juliet, complete with out loud readings, group discussions, and guest speakers, presents itself through STNJ’s current Virtual Book Club – Romeo, Juliet, and More!, running on Tuesdays on Zoom now through April 15.
This season then comes to a close with holiday productions Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (October 22-November 16) for Halloween and It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (December 3-28) for Christmas.
Crowe is particularly excited about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which will be directed by Crowe himself and making its The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s debut this season.
“It’s just a play I’ve been dying to do. It’s a story I’ve been dying to do. This particular script I’m very excited about. Not only are you getting the fantastically rich story of Frankenstein that many of us know, but I don’t think we necessarily really know the story. I think there’s so much about that, like some classics where you kind of go, ‘I know the general idea of Frankenstein. It’s the monster, and he’s scary and mean, and the mad scientist is also a little crazy and mean.’ But there’s so much more to that story and what I love about this play is that it brings that out. And it also focuses a bit on Mary Shelley, so you get a little bit about her life woven into this, which is a beautiful, beautiful piece. We’ll have some special events around it as we gear into Halloween.”
It’s A Wonderful Life, best known from Frank Capra’s 1946 film, on the other hand, is a little bit more well known and familiar to many, full of nostalgia and hope during the festive holiday season.
“It’s just such a beautiful, beautiful story and reminds us of the importance of our own humanity and how much we as individuals affect and touch and are part of the communities we are in, even if we don’t realize it, and looking for the betterment in the people around us, and also in ourselves and that we are valuable and important parts of the world,” says Crowe.
The difference here, however, is that this version of the story is told through a 1940s style live radio recording, complete with a Foley artist providing the sound effects.
“All these kind of things all come alive in this very fun visual feast as you get to hear what’s happening as he’s creating them, because they’re not the way you think a lot of these are created. The last time we did the show, many, many years ago, the kids especially were just in awe. Not only of the story and all the voices that all the actors do, but also the fun element of Foley, the sound creation in the show.”
Speaking of these younger audience members, this season also offers Classics for Kids! Tanglewood Marionettes presents Hansel and Gretel (April 5) and Perseus and Medusa (September 27). Also featured will be the scripts-in-hand presentations of UNEXPECTED: The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen (June 14) and Merry, Merry Mischief!: Holiday Classics (December 13).
The theatre’s educational programs will also be underway this summer. The Summer Professional Training Programs will take place with the Acting Apprenticeship from May 27 to June 30 and the Internship from June 30 to August 11. The Summer Shakespeare Junior Corps (ages 10-14) will take place from July 28 to August 8 and the Senior Corps (ages 14-18) from July 7 to July 25.
Other events coming up include Volunteer Night on April 7, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Annual Gala at The Thomas H. Kean Theatre Factory on April 26, and the Thomas H. Kean Theatre Factory Tour on May 3. Also at the theatre factory will be the live reading of Shakespeare “Out Loud” – Troilus and Cressida on April 29 and May 6. Later on in the year they will also hold the Something Wicked Trivia Night Fundraiser on October 18 and a Costume & Prop Sale on October 25. Another chance to join the Virtual Book Club this fall, this theme being The Monsters We Make!, will take place on Tuesdays from October 21 through November 25.
These many aspects and more aim to make The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and the classic works they produce more accessible for audience members from all walks of life.
“It’s stories that have been around for centuries and are still around because they still talk to us at the core of who we are as a society. They still speak to us,” says Crowe. “It is imperative for is as a community of artists and us as an institution to provide every opportunity we can to get every individual and family and community member that is in our circle of reach here to have the ability to come see these shows. All these things were written and made for every single one of us as human beings and I think the more we get into a theatre and a shared space and one shared story we get to experience and laugh together and cry together and be shocked together, that’s building community. It’s more of what the world needs right now. This watching entertainment on small screens, not only is bad for your eyes, it’s bad for your soul. Getting in with other people in your community is the best way to get us all back on the same page, which we desperately need to do right now.”
For more details, please visit shakespearenj.org.