Hippity, hop - The Easter Bunny is coming to Jefferson!

            Enough with winter, let’s think spring because the Easter Bunny  has scheduled a visit to Jefferson Township to coincide with the Recreation Department’s 16^th annual Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 27 at the Jefferson Township Middle School field (behind the school) at 1000 Weldon Road. If there is inclement weather, the event will be moved into the school’s gym. 

            This event will take place after the GFWC Jr. Woman’s Club’s 29^th annual Bunny Brunch being held at the Jefferson Township High School cafeteria that morning.

            The Egg Hunt is open to all children up to 9 years of age at 12:30 PM.  Each child should bring his/her own basket to collect the eggs, and there will be a maximum of ten eggs allowed per basket.  All children will receive a gift from the Easter Bunny!

            There will be opportunities to take photographs with the Easter Bunny, so parents should be sure to bring a camera.   Everyone is also encouraged to stop by the Jefferson Township Middle School Student Council/Red Cross Clubs’ Bake Sale table.  All proceeds will benefit the Operation Camp Jefferson 2010 Fund to help send children in financial need to the township’s summer day camp program.

                The Recreation Department will be accepting donations for township residents in need of food through the township’s food pantry.  Especially needed are non-perishable food items such as canned tuna/meats, soups, beef stew, corned beef hash, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, non-refrigerated canned/bottled juices, canned or powdered milk, cereal, and crackers.  Paper products such as toilet paper, paper towels, and paper napkins will also be gratefully accepted.

            There is no admission charge to participate in the Egg Hunt.   For information/directions, call the Recreation Department at 973-663-8404 or visit www.jeffersontownship.net - Departments, Recreation or the Events section.

FALL FESTIVAL  -- Usually scheduled the second Saturday before Halloween, this event takes place at Camp Jefferson with refreshments, hayrides, pumpkin painting, and other fun events.


HOLIDAYS AT CAMP JEFFERSON -- Held on a Saturday in early December, the rustic Community Lodge at Camp Jefferson is transformed into a winter wonderland.  Come visit with Rudolph, Frosty, and most importantly, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the elves.  Music, refreshments, story time, and coloring are the norm for the day.  Bring your cameras for great pictures.

Jefferson’s Gazebo Christmas Tree to be lit  and Santa to arrive on December 4  

            The holiday season is quickly approaching, and the Jefferson Township Recreation Department is busy preparing the way for festivities to usher in the holiday season.  The annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Friday night, December 4 beginning at 7 PM at the Jefferson Township Gazebo, which is located in the Municipal Complex at 1033 Weldon Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ              

Local DJ Matt Scognamiglio will be playing some holiday music until the Jefferson Township Middle School Chorus under the direction of Joan Lucas performs and leads a holiday sing-a-long. Soon after, Mayor Russ Felter’s 2009 Citizens of the Year Marge Babich and Larry Parr are expected to throw the light switch to light up the gazebo and all the trees in the municipal complex.

Following that, the children will be gathered around to listen to a reading of the holiday classic “The Night Before Christmas” by Council Vice President Brooke Hardy as they eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus. 

When the time is right, Santa will enter the complex on his sleigh via a decorated Jefferson Township Fire Company No. 1 fire truck!  The man in the red suit will visit with the children and hand out candy canes, and his sidekick Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is expected to be joining him.  Complimentary refreshments will be available in the Municipal Building’s Lobby following the event.

Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or a paper product to donate to the township’s food panty to help the needy in the community.

This tree lighting event will usher in the Jefferson Arts Committee’s Christmas in the Village weekend of events.  For further information call the Recreation Department at 973-663-8404 or visit www.jeffersontownship.net (Departments: Recreation and/or Events).  Christmas in the Village information can be found at www.jeffersonarts.org or by calling 973-697-2032.

Santa Claus is coming to town…  Jefferson Township that is!

                       It’s that time of year again as children everywhere anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus, and the Jefferson Township Recreation Department will help fulfill those dreams even before December 25^th arrives!

            So gather up the eager children and join Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer on Saturday, December 5at the Community Lodge at Camp Jefferson located at 81 Weldon Road.  Santa will visit with the children from 10 AM to 4 PM (note that Santa & Mrs. Claus will take a lunch break from 12 noon to 1 PM) and hand out candy canes and good wishes.  In addition to visiting with Santa, there will be holiday music, children’s’ coloring pages, opportunities to write letters to Santa at the North Pole, a story time session, and a model train display (in the Train Cabin on the grounds) for everyone to enjoy.  In addition, Santa will have small gifts for the children, and beverages and food items will be available for a nominal fee from the Jefferson Township Middle School Student Council and the Red Cross Club. 

          Santa & Mrs. Claus and the Recreation Department would appreciate it if attendees coming could bring a non-perishable food item or a paper product to help restock the Jefferson Township food pantry.  The holidays are especially a good time to remember the less fortunate.

           Everyone is invited to come and join in the excitement and encouraged to bring a camera and/or video camera to catch those memorable shots of a child on Santa’s lap. 

   The Recreation Department’s Visit with Santa event is also part of the Jefferson Arts Committee’s Christmas in the Village weekend of events.  For further information call the Recreation Department at 973-663-8404 or visit www.jeffersontownship.net (Departments: Recreation and/or Events); and Christmas in the Village information can be found at www.jeffersonarts.org or by calling 973-697-2032.

Menorah Lighting scheduled for December 12

On Saturday, December 12, 2009, a Menorah Lighting Ceremony will be held in Jefferson Township to celebrate the season of Hanukkah also known as the Festival of Lights.  The ceremony to light the Menorah will begin at 7 PM on the grounds of the Municipal Complex at 1033 Weldon Road.  There will be holiday music, a special Hanukkah reading, guest speakers, and refreshments to follow in the Municipal Building’s Lobby.

The eight-day festival of lights is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and is observed by the kindling of the lights of a special candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Hanukiah, one light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. An extra light called a shamash (guard or servant in Hebrew) is also lit each night for the purpose of lighting the others, and is given a distinct location, usually above or below the rest.

Everyone is invited and asked to donate a non-perishable food item or a paper product to restock the Jefferson Township Pantry.  Suggestions include canned tuna/meats, soups, beef stew, corned beef hash, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, non-refrigerated canned/bottled juices, canned or powdered milk, cereal, and crackers or a paper product such as toilet paper, paper towels, paper napkins, etc. 

For further information call the Recreation Department at 973-663-8404 or log onto www.jeffersontownship.net