At Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
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THE SPIRIT OF SUMMER 2016 FAMILY FUN NIGHTS at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo PAGE 3 PAGE 5 PAGE 8 PAGE 14 Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Essex County Executive and the Board of Chosen Freeholders Daniel K. Salvante Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE Dear Friend, Welcome to the Essex County Parks System! Our 22 parks, five reservations and numerous recreation facilities are jewels in the crown of Essex County, providing opportunities for our residents and visitors to enjoy beautiful vistas, serene walking paths and modern recreation facilities on which to play. We invite you to spend a day at our South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange. You can have a wild adventure at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, seeing animals from five continents, including our newest arrivals – four Masai Giraffes in our newly opened African Adventure exhibit. In addition to learning about nature and conservation from our state-of-the-art natural habitat themed exhibits, you can climb 40 feet above ground in our Treetop Adventure and get a thrill on our zip line. There is also our 19-hole miniGOLF Safari, paddle boating on the Orange Reservoir, picnicking in the Clipper Pavilion or enjoying the Regatta Children’s Playground. If getting closer to nature is more your style, take a 1.7-mile walk on the pathway around the Reservoir or venture into our 2,000-acre South Mountain Reservation. We also have a variety of events taking place throughout our historic Parks System, the first county parks system created in the United States. Each week from June to September you can bring a lawn chair or blanket and sit under the stars listening to some of the most talented performers in the area during our 2016 Free SummerMusic Concert Series. And join us in celebrating the birth of our nation during three Firework Spectaculars in Brookdale Park, Branch Brook Park and Weequahic Park. If you’re more interested in movies, check out our lineup of blockbusters being shown at Kip’s Castle and on the top floor of our Turtle Back Zoo parking deck. Enjoy these flicks at day’s end when the sun goes down and the temperature is a little cooler. There are plenty of other activities to enjoy from our three public golf courses, ice skating at Codey Arena and learning about nature and habitats at the Environmental Center. It’s all here in our latest edition of The Spirit of Essex. We look forward to seeing you in our Parks this summer. Together we will continue Putting Essex County First. Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Essex County Executive and the Board of Chosen Freeholders BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS Britnee N. Timberlake, President Brendan W. Gill, Vice President Rolando Bobadilla Wayne L. Richardson Rufus I. Johnson Patricia Sebold Lebby C. Jones Cynthia D. Toro Leonard M. Luciano This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/ Department of State. The Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. 2 The Spirit of Essex ZOO HAPPENINGS FOR THE WHOLE FAMIlY Spend Family Night at Turtle Back Zoo Have you heard the news? Essex of a healthy and genetically diverse County Turtle Back Zoo recently and demographically varied animal and enjoy dinner welcomed several new residents! The population. Take a walk around; see or a quick bite newly-opened African Adventure exhibit if you can spot other SSP animals! features four Masai giraffes, eland, to eat at the whistling ducks, ostrich and tortoises. With continuous renovations and new exhibits, attendance at the zoo Savanna Cafe. The three-acre exhibit, which includes has soared year after year. In 2015, a 7,000-square-foot giraffe barn, is we welcomed an all-time record designed to resemble an African 755,239 visitors and this year we are on pace to exceed 800,000. Savanna habitat. In addition to providing The continuing popularity was the our visitors with an opportunity to reason a new, expanded Savanna witness the tallest mammals on earth, Café was opened on April 28th. The the African Adventure is participating in two-story, 16,500-square-foot dining the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ facility provides much needed seating Species Survival Plan (SSP). Current to accommodate large crowds and estimates by the Giraffe Conservation ensures first-class accommodations. Foundation put the giraffe population at about 80,000, which is down from Don’t miss out on what Essex County 140,000 in 1999. Turtle Back Zoo is Turtle Back Zoo has to offer. now among 29 AZA accredited zoos Insider tip: Stay tuned because you that house 119 giraffes. Organized never know who will join our zoo by AZA, it ensures the sustainability neighborhood next! The Spirit of Essex 3 ESSEX COUNTY the classic fairy tale Cinderella, which KIP’S CASTLE PARK stars Lily James as the put-upon young ESSEX COUNTY 22 Cresmont Road woman forced to endure a life of labor Verona ~ 973.433.7469 at the hands of her stepmother after SPOTLIGHT her father dies unexpectedly. Forced FRIDAY NIGHT FLICKS to do every menial chore imaginable, Friday nights just got more exciting! This Ella maintains her good spirits and June, visit Essex County Kip’s Castle eventually strikes up a friendship with Seasonal events sponsored Park for weekly screenings of family- a stranger in the woods who turns out by the Essex County friendly films on the lawn and under the to be the prince. When the royal court Department of Parks, stars. Arrive early for some pre-movie holds a gala ball, Cinderella wants entertainment. Free admission. Gates nothing more to attend and, although Recreation & Cultural Affairs open at 7pm; movies begin at dusk. her stepmother won’t allow it, she gets Concessions will be available for sale. help from a surprising source. ESSEX COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER Big Hero 6 [PG] 621-B Eagle Rock Avenue Friday, June 10. Rain Date: Roseland ~ 973.228.8776 Saturday, June 11 When a criminal plot threatens the Butterfly Tent Safari hi-tech metropolis of San Fransokyo, Monday, July 18 through brilliant young robotics whiz Hiro Friday, July 29 Hamada leaps into action with his tech- 12pm to 3pm savvy friends and his robot companion Saturdays, July 16, July 23 & July 30 Baymax in Disney Animation’s Special Programs TBA adaptation of the popular Marvel For all ages. Comics series. Flutter on over and visit our live butterfly tent. All are welcome to make and Cinderella [PG] take a butterfly craft and participate Friday, June 17. Rain Date: in table activities. More information on Saturday, June 18 registration and fees will be announced. Disney’s 2015 live-action film takes on ESSEX COUNTY RIKER HILL ART PARK 276 Beaufort Avenue, Livingston Open House & Art Sale Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 11am to 5pm Get an inside glimpse of the art world by attending the Essex County Riker Hill Art Park Open House. While visiting a variety of different art studios, guests will have the opportunity to talk to the artists, purchase art work, and stop by the Friday Night Flicks gallery to view a compilation exhibition. at Kips Castle Park Artists in residence work in a variety of disciplines, including clay, jewelry, glass blowing, painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography. Free admission, but artwork is for sale. 4 The Spirit of Essex ESSEX COUNTY TURTLE BACK ZOO 560 Northfield Avenue West Orange ~ 973.731.5800 www.essexcountynj.org/ turtlebackzoo New in 2016! Savanna Café and our African Adventure exhibit featuring giraffe, ostrich and antelope. 2016 Essex County Open House Saturday, June 4 from 10am to 2pm Visit the Zoo for games and activities to entertain and provide information to raise public awareness about the programs and services provided by Essex County. Family Nights Wednesdays and Thursdays Essex County Turtle Back Zoo has extended hours to 8:30pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays from July 6th to September 1st. Take advantage of the late hours when the summer temperatures are cooler and the workday is over. On Wednesdays, pair your trip with a Zoo-vie! Back this year on Wednesday evenings in July and August! Enjoy blockbuster movies under the stars on the rooftop of our Zoo parking deck. Bring your own chair. Movie schedule will be announced. Rain cancels. Films begin at dusk. July 6th Jumanji July 13th Jaws July 20th Zookeeper July 27th Kung Fu Panda 3 August 3rd Muppets Most Wanted August 10th Aladdin August 17th Finding Nemo August 24th Babe the Gallant Pig August 31st Zootopia The Spirit of Essex 5 SENIOR CITIZEN ART SHOW Visual artists, professional and non- 2. Exhibited in a professional gallery professional, over the age of 60 and 3. Held professional membership in a NIGHT currently residing in Essex are invited to guild or association participate in the Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show. Non-professional classification is a MOVES person who does not meet the above Art Drop: Friday, August 7 criteria. AT THE from 10am to 12 noon Exhibition: Wednesday, August 3 Artwork may be submitted in one of ZOO through Thursday, September 1 the following categories: 1. Acrylic Join us for a guided tour of some Awards Ceremony: 2. Craft-NO craft kits or molds will be of the zoo exhibits at night where Thursday, September 1 accepted you will learn about animal senses 3. Computer imagery-Art work created and adaptations. Tour times vary Eligibility using a pixel-based painting or by date.