THE SPIRIT OF WINTER 2020 Supporting the Arts and Educational Programs During the COVID Pandemic Virtual Educational Programs Virtual Tours and Concerts Timed and Small Group, Socially Distanced Activities PAGE 15 PAGE 17 PAGE 18 PAGE 20 Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Essex County Executive and the Board of Commissioners Daniel K. Salvante Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE Dear Friend, The winter months are fast approaching, and we all wish the Essex County calendar was filled with tons of family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy this holiday season, as it has been in years past. But this year is different. Covid-19 has changed our world and health and safety is now our number one priority. Although we can’t gather in large groups and partake in our traditional holiday and seasonal activities, it is important that we still embrace the joyous times and think positive thoughts as best we can. While we must remain apart from each other physically, let us continue to find creative ways to connect and celebrate the spirit of the holidays. Whether it’s a walk in an Essex County park to enjoy the foliage and fresh air or a cup of tea or hot chocolate on a virtual platform with friends and family, there are many ways we can connect and center our minds on positivity. We encourage you all to safely create memories with those closest to you. It may look different this year, but the connection with our friends and family is needed even more during these times. Together we will continue Putting Essex County First. Happy Holidays! Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Supporting the Arts and Educational Programs Essex County Executive and the Board of Commissioners During the COVID Pandemic Daniel K. Salvante As the state works at fully reopening, Video conferencing and virtual Director of Parks, Recreation and Essex County and its partners in performances are taking center stage Cultural Affairs Cultural Affairs are working to bring the at theaters as the industry evolves. Arts back to the community in unique Peak Performances at Montclair State and exciting ways. The venues have University is offering an alternative to BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS temporarily closed but their interest in theater visits by partnering with WNET’s Brendan W. Gill, President providing premiere entertainment has ALL ARTS to launch PEAK HD. The Wayne L. Richardson, Vice President not waned. broadcast and digital platform gives Tyshammie L. Cooper Robert Mercado The Arts are more important during worldwide reach to the Montclair Romaine Graham Carlos M. Pomares these unpredictable times serving as a State University-based commissioner Rufus I. Johnson Patricia Sebold form of local entertainment for residents and producer of new works by major Leonard M. Luciano who remain confined to their homes with international experimental artists in limited places to go or things to do. Arts dance, theater, performance art, music, throughout the fall and early winter organizations and entertainment venues and more. The Paper Mill Playhouse is are reinventing themselves working to streaming productions from the stage as seasons for all ages. Turtle Back Zoo is provide supporters with the same level it winds down the year. busy staying current as well by offering of programing and enjoyment. Some The county is leading the charge, doing programs with in-person and virtual facilities that closed during the height of its part in motivating the community options, incorporating interacting with the pandemic are opening with modified as we continue to offer engaging the animals when possible. hours and reduced capacity. The and unique programs while following As the Essex County Parks Department Montclair Museum of Art is one such safety protocols. The Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs place. There is detailed information on Environmental Center, in an effort to Cover photo credit: Essex County Park Archives its website for accessible galleries and keep nature enthusiasts motivated and evolves to maintain a sense of normalcy entrance requirements. The museum students environmentally conscious, during the COVID pandemic, we will This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the also implemented safety measures in is offering virtual field trips on a variety continue to partner with the local arts Arts. The Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs received an operating accordance with state and local medical of topics. There are a number of community. We encourage your support support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department ■ of State. officials. science- and nature-themed programs in promoting The Spirit of Essex. 2 The Spirit of Essex The Spirit of Essex 3 • An ECEC educator will meet the to offer a variety of science- and nature- host facilitator (teacher, scout, group themed programs throughout the fall and ANNUAL ESSEX COUNTY NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST WINNERS ESSEX COUNTY leader, etc.) in the virtual classroom 10 early winter seasons for all ages. There minutes prior to the start of class for a are both in-person and virtual options, The Essex County Environmental Center and the Essex County Parks Department sponsored its annual Parks Photography SPOTLIGHT check-in to test the technology; with more programs in development. Contest in the fall. All contest entries portrayed beautiful images highlighting the wide range of opportunity and natural splendor • The host facilitator is responsible In-person programs are held outdoors found throughout the Essex County Parks System. We received 53 adult entries and 23 youth entries. All contest entries were for admitting participants into the and follow all current health and safety displayed on the Environmental Center Facebook page. The winners are: virtual classroom, answering any protocols; as conditions improve these technological questions, calling on FIRST PLACE classes may move indoors. Virtual FIRST YOUTH FIRST Seasonal events sponsored by participants and reading any typed PLACE PLACE programs will be ongoing. With school ADULT FIRST YOUTH questions to the ECEC educator. PLACE the Essex County Department holiday Mini-Camps and Wonders of the ADULT of Parks, Recreation and ESSEX COUNTY TURTLE Wild supplementary science classes, to Cultural Affairs BACK ZOO Early Childhood Education and Family 560 Northfield Avenue Nature Club, there’s a program for 1st Place -Adult 1st Place -Youth Joshua Goodman Giancarlo Morano ESSEX COUNTY CODEY ARENA West Orange; 973.731.5800 you and your family to enjoy. To learn 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange www.essexcountynj.org/turtlebackzoo more about what the Zoo has to offer 973.731.3828 and register for programs, visit https:// www.essexcountynj.org/codeyarena Essex County Turtle Back Zoo is proud turtlebackzoo.com/education/. ■ Winter Learn to Skate Lessons – Classes begin in December Call the Main Office at SECOND (973) 731-3828 ext. 0 or check online PLACE YOUTH SECOND at Essexcountyparks.org (Codey Arena) PLACE ADULT SECOND PLACE YOUTH SECOND ESSEX COUNTY PLACE ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER 621-B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland 973-228-8776 2nd Place -Adult 2nd Place -Youth www.essexcountynj.org/ John Shiever Chelsea Shey environmentalcenter VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS $50 per program, 30 minutes Choose from the Following THIRD Virtual Field Trip Topics PLACE THIRD YOUTH THIRD • Seasonal Discovery Nature Tour PLACE PLACE ADULT THIRD YOUTH PLACE • Frog Pond Science ADULT • Backyard Birding • Lenape Learning Area Tour & Lenape Skills • Camping 101 • Fish & Fishing 101 3rd Place -Adult 3rd Place -Youth • Passaic River Studies Lynda Zarillo Elise Linn • Mighty Migrations Butterflies • Wild about Wildlife Recycling (grant funded/free for Essex County institutions while funds last) HONORABLE • Green Building Tour MENTION YOUTH HONORABLE HONORABLE MENTION MENTION • Honey Bees & Native Pollinators…and WEAR A MASK AND PRACTICE ADULT YOUTH HONORABLE MENTION more! ADULT How to book a Virtual Trip with the SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN Environmental Center VISITING ESSEX COUNTY PARKS Honorable Honorable • Call the Center to schedule and Mention -Adult Mention -Youth confirm a virtual time to meet and send Jerry Golub Alex Salazar a log-in link for an ECEC educator to AND VENUES enter your virtual classroom; 4 The Spirit of Essex The Spirit of Essex 5 PROFESSIONAL 2020 ESSEX COUNTY SENIOR CITIZEN ACRYLIC 1st Place – Winifred Boss – ENCHANTED FOREST ART SHOW WINNERS 2nd Place – Lynne Palmer – PEONY POWER CRAFT 1st Place – French Textile and Lavendar – Maya Bloom MIXED MEDIA 1st Place – Maria Lupo – PROPHETS DREAM 2nd Place – Carol Jenkins – CHATOTIC CALM OIL 1st Place – Christine Elvin – ROAD LAST TAKEN 2nd Place – Gail Gardella – THE FLOWER STATION PASTEL 1st Place – Chas Palminteri – DAVID 2nd Place – Richard Digiovanna – LIVINGSTON MARSH PHOTOGRAPHY 1st Place: Winifred Boss 1st Place – Robert Szpila – PRESBY Enchanted Forest DIGITAL 1st Place – Annette Kushen – UNTITLED SCULPTURE 1st Place – Nikki Pusin – Quurtle 2nd Place - Lester James Johnson – BALLS IN A CAGE WATER COLOR 1st Place: Maya Bloom 1st Place – Jill Vondervor – ATLANTIC CITY THE ESSEX COUNTY PARKS SYSTEM: French Textile and Lavendar 2nd Place – Jane Ballinger – THE FALLS HONORABLE MENTION Celebrating 125 Years of Green Spaces, Marian Jones – VERONA PADDLE BOATS Recreation and Preservation NON-PROFESSIONAL