Places in Essex County: Greenwood Gardens

Despite its location just outside Downtown Millburn, Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills remains a secret to many Essex County residents. The 28-acre property, which opened to the public last year, borders Old Short Hills Park and the South Mountain Reservation. 

Originally, Greenwood Gardens was the home of New York real estate broker and millionaire Joseph Day, who called the estate 'Pleasant Days'. Day later sold the property to lawyer Peter P. Blanchard, Jr. Years later, Blanchard's son formed a non-profit organization to turn the property into the public garden that it is today.

Visitors to Greenwood Gardens can view the pasture, which is home to a variety of farm birds and goats. There are also various meadows and ponds, in addition to a large formal garden and a tea house. Plus, a sculpture exhibition will be on display at the gardens until November 2. Called "Art in Nature", the exhibition was formed by Greenwood Gardens and Studio Montclair. According to the Greenwood Gardens website, "over 30 pieces (are) on display throughout the garden and...feature the work of internationally and regionally recognized sculptors, William Tucker, Jon Isherwood, and Mia Westerlund Roosen". A free tour of the exhibition will be led by curator Karen Wilkin on Monday, September 29.

General tickets for Greenwood Gardens cost $10, and must be purchased in advance. The gardens are open in Spring, Summer, and Fall on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and select Saturdays. 

Greenwood Gardens

274 Old Short Hills Road

Short Hills

GreenwoodGardens.org

(973) 258-4026

 

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MAPSO News Roundup: Upcoming Events

South Orange and Maplewood will celebrate National Night Out tonight. In South Orange, festivities will take place at Flood's Hill in Meadowland Park starting at 6:30pm. Activities include a public safety fair, a kids zone, and a merchandise giveaway. In addition, the Lego Movie will be shown at 8:30pm. In Maplewood, the events will start at 6:00pm and conclude at 9:00pm in Dehart Park. According to the Maplewood Police Department, "the event is to promote various crime prevention programs including: neighborhood watch groups, neighbor home security surveys and crime prevention tips". Activities include a bounce house, video game truck, and a dunk tank. Emergency equipment will be on display.

The first annual PlayDay South Orange will take place on Sunday, September 21 from 1pm to 6pm. According to the South Orange Village Center Alliance, "PlayDay is the one day when everyone gathers together to celebrate and play in the street of the South Orange Village Center. This is the largest public event in South Orange and will allow our entire community to literally play in the street with athletic tournaments, fitness activities, table games, street games, inflatable games, art installations, music, food and dance." Activities will take place throughout the village center.

First Night will return to South Orange and Maplewood after a two year hiatus. The local New Year's Eve tradition will take place this year at Columbia High School from 5pm to 10pm. “I am thrilled to help bring First Night back to our community,” said Michael Goldberg, President of the First Night Board.

Rock and roll band 'The Nerds' will perform at the event. First Night of Maplewood and South Orange is sponsored by Atlantic Health, BCB Community Bank, and the Townships of Maplewood and South Orange Village. According to the First Night website, volunteers are needed to help both in planning the event, and on the night itself. A meeting will be held regarding the event on August 12 at 7:30pm in the South Orange Plaza building at 76 South Orange Avenue in South Orange.  

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Newark News Roundup: New Chipotle, Boat and Trolley Tours

Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened a new location in Downtown Newark. The restaurant opened on July 19 at 222 Market Street. "We are excited to be a part of the community", said Danielle Winslow of Chipotle. "We look to put restaurants in locations where a high volume of our customers are, specifically in urban and suburban areas with strong residential and daytime populations. Newark was a perfect fit for us." The new location is within the RockPlaza Lofts development, near Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and the SEED Gallery. Chipotle currently has two other Essex County locations in West Orange and West Caldwell. The new restaurant is hiring crew members.

A variety of events will be taking place in August at the riverfront along the Passaic River in Newark's Ironbound District. Every Monday, there will be free yoga classes from the Newark Yoga Movement at the Riverfront Meadow, in addition to free Zumba classes every Tuesday. Newark Riverfront Revival will conduct 90 minute kayak tours of the Passaic River on Saturday, August 16, and 7 mile boat tours of the Port of Newark will take place on Saturday, August 23. Kayak and boat tours cost $15, however tickets are only $5 for Newark residents. Tickets for both tours must be purchased in advance. Those interested can call (201) 341–2311 or email newarkriverfront@gmail.com. Riverfront Park is located along Raymond Boulevard opposite Somme Street.

A new crowdfunding campaign aims to create a trolley bus tour of Newark. The campaign was started by resident Charley Cano, and aims to reach $50,000 by August 21. 

"For the past four years I have been trying to think of a way to get more people from out of town to come visit Newark and actually explore the downtown areas beyond Prudential Center and NJPAC", said Cano in an email to Essex County Place. "Last year I held a few pop-up art events and some real estate open houses. During my research and observations I noticed an increase in international visitors and folks from other states. I was strengthened in my belief that Newark will be the next great downtown". 

According to Cano, a route has been mapped out for the trolley to stop at several unique arts and cultural institutions, galleries, restaurant and shopping districts, performing arts venues and outdoor sculpture sites. "The tour would also promote the city of Newark as a whole, as a place to actually come visit and experience, and not just a cheaper hotel room or transportation stop on the way to New York", Cano added. "I want to show the world that downtown Newark is actually a safe, fun, interesting and beautiful place".

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West Orange News Roundup: New Dunkin' Donuts, Tutor Time

A new Dunkin' Donuts location will open in West Orange in the fall on South Valley Road. The new location will be in the Valley Plaza Shopping Plaza between Lucky 7 Wine and Liquor and Peking House Chinese Restaurant. The Valley Plaza location will be the fourth location of the international chain in the township, and will replace Valley Card Gift and News. In addition, the Dunkin' Donuts on Northfield Avenue will relocate down the street to the site of Julio's Restaurant.

The Livingston location of Tutor Time Child Care Centers has announced that they will relocate to the former Ekko Restaurant on Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Tutor Time also offers preschool and prekindergarten, and is expected to open in the fall.

The Township of West Orange has announced that the Ginny Duenkel Pool on Cherry Street will offer Tailender membership, valid from August 9 until Labor Day. Individual memberships cost $110. Those interested in becoming a member of the pool can call the Recreation Department at (973) 325-4085.

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MAPSO News Roundup: Charity Golf Outing, Blues Fest, Police Blotter

The Aspiring Kindness (AK) Foundation will host a charity golf outing at the Maplewood Country Club on Baker Street on Saturday, July 28. According to WCBS 880, the foundation is hoping to raise $10,000 for the health and counselling  services at Seton Hall University in South Orange. According to the AK website, Aspiring Kindness was inspired by Aaron Karol, who died after a fire at Seton Hall in 2000. More information is available here.

According to the South Orange Police Department, the South Mountain Annex on Glenview Road was broken into between July 11 and July 14. Police say the suspect entered the building after breaking a door window. No items were taken from the school. In addition, SOPD reports that before a vehicle was involved in a police pursuit and crash on Monday in Union County, it was removed from a Holland Road driveway. The SOPD is investigating both incidents.

The 5th annual Essex County/South Mountain International Blues Festival (SMIBF) will take place on Saturday, September 7. Originally known as the South Orange International Blues Festival, the event will take place at South Mountain Reservation in West Orange. SMIBF is organized by local blues musician Mike Griot. 

"In these difficult economic times, programs such as these not only provide affordable entertainment, but boost pride in our community, stimulate the local economy, galvanize our residents and improve our quality of life", said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo in a statement on the SMIBF website.

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Ricalton's Grand Opening Celebration Saturday

Ricalton's Village Tavern in South Orange will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, July 26. The celebration will take place from 3pm until close, though most activities will take place from 3pm until 6pm. The event will feature live music, passed hors d'ouerves, drink specials, champagne toasts, raffles, prizes and giveaways.

"We really want everyone in the area to come and see the space and what we have done to it", said Tom McLaughlin, who is one of the owners of Ricalton's.

The restaurant features an Irish pub on the ground floor, and a bar and dining room on the main floor. According to McLaughlin, specialties include scallops over risotto, Tuscan pork chop, and chili rubbed salmon. 

"We opened our restaurant in South Orange because we believe that the Village is going through a very nice renewal period". McLaughlin said. "There is a lot of new construction and renovation going on in the Village and we are delighted to be a part of that", he added.

Ricalton's Village Tavern is located at 19 Valley Street in South Orange.

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New Parking Garage Coming to South Mountain Recreation Complex

A new 500 car parking garage is in the process of being built at the South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange. The facility, which is scheduled for completion in early 2015, will be five stories tall, and will be located behind the Codey Arena near the Turtle Back Zoo entrance.

“With Turtle Back Zoo as our anchor and new attractions like the paddle boating and 1.7-mile walking path at the Orange Reservoir, our Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex has become a regional destination for people seeking leisure, recreation and educational activities. This popularity has outpaced the amount of available on-site parking,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. said in a press release. “The construction of this 500-space facility will enhance our visitors’ experience, provide more accessible parking and alleviate the burden being placed on our reservation and the surrounding neighborhoods where our visitors are parking".

In addition, a new traffic signal will be installed on Northfield Avenue between the Codey Arena and walkway to the Orange Reservoir. 

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Bakery, Restaurant, Fitness Center Slated for Gateway

A new bakery, Italian restaurant, and fitness center are slated to open in The Gateway, a mixed use building being built in the South Orange Village Center. 

One of the new businesses, Mara's Cafe and Bakery, will serve a variety of desserts, including cheesecakes and pies. Mara's has locations in Denville, Fanwood, and Brooklyn. The bakery will be owned by Will and Alyse Eisenstein. 

The site of The Gateway had been vacant for many years before the land was acquired. A car dealership owned by Andrew Beifus, Jr. of Beifus Motors was formerly located on the site. 

"It really is the Gateway to the entire village", said project developer Edward Ayuso of EEA Industries. "It's going to transform the entire downtown".

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57 luxury residences will be located inside The Gateway. In addition, a rooftop deck will be available for private events. According to Ayuso, The Gateway will open to residential tenants in the beginning of September.

"Having more people move into the Village Center is a great thing for South Orange and our merchants", said Matt Glass of the South Orange Village Center Alliance. "More Village residents means more potential shoppers and diners who appreciate our high-density Transit Village setting where you can walk to just about everything". 

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South Mountain Reservation Dam Project Cancelled

An 810 foot dam will not be constructed in the South Mountain Reservation.

The group 'Save our Reservation' posted the following on their Facebook page:

"The NJ Department of Environmental Protection informed the Army Corps of Engineers to remove the proposed South Mountain dam as an option for further study! Yes, that's right - it's over! But, of course, we said that once before when the Union/Essex Mayors' Council voted unanimously for the same result, after the Corps said that it would be looking to the local Mayors for a decision - and then announced that it would be looking to the DEP for the decision. However, THIS time the Corps was very clear about the fact that it would be bound by the DEP decision - its "local source" partner in the entire flood mitigation study. And what the Corps got today was a letter on State stationery, bearing the names of Governor Christie and DEP Commissioner Bob Martin on the letterhead. So, we're pretty confident this time. What the DEP did recommend was further study of Option 4 (work on the Orange Reservoir dam + channel improvements downstream) and Option 7a (flood-proofing structures in Cranford). We are particularly optimistic about the efficacy, cost, and fairness of Option 4, and have promised downriver folks that we will stay involved in this matter to help relieve them of ruinous flooding. More about that later. Part of the problem is funding - what else? But for now - celebrate! Our cherished South Mountain river valley has been saved! No need to write any more emails for now. And thanks for ALL of your support! The power of the people, coupled with social media, is really something, isn't it? Remember, Save Our Reservation came into being on February 22. We haven't moved mountains since then, but we apparently have moved a dam out of the way!"

The group 'RAFSA' posted the following on the South Mountain Conservancy website:

"Today, in response to public meetings and comments and a DEP review, John Moyle, Manager of the NJ Bureau Dam Safety and Flood Control, directed the US Army Corps of Engineers to no longer consider the dam-detention basin in the SMR for Rahway River Basin flood abatement. Instead, the NJ DEP recommended that more economically feasible and less environmentally destructive flood abatement options be pursued. The 810-foot dam and 80-acre detention basin at the heart of the Reservation is off the table. To all those who worked to oppose this misdirected flood abatement option, we thank you, especially the organizing by Save Our Reservation under the direction of former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta. SMC, SOR and RAFSA (Rahway Alternative Flood Solutions Alliance) hope to work with the corps and Mayor’s Council to ensure that further study is funded so optimal solutions can be implemented to reduce flooding in Millburn, Cranford, and other towns."

This article will be updated.

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News 12 'On the Road' to Visit South Orange

News 12 New Jersey will visit South Orange on Friday, as part of the 'On the Road' series on the cable news channel. 

According to News 12, anchor Roxanne Evans and meteorologist James Gregorio will "highlight the city sense and village vibe of South Orange through its restaurants, shops and residents".

"Each year, ‘On The Road’ captures the genuine Jersey spirit unique in each community", said news director Randal Stanley. "Our News 12 New Jersey viewers invite us into their hometowns to share what makes them ‘Jersey Strong’".

The live broadcast will take place in front of Stony's on Sloan Street in Downtown South Orange at 5pm. 

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