Time to Celebrate Jefferson Township!

A community is defined as  a group of people who have common cultural, ethical and  religious beliefs, living together in a particular local area.  We—the residents of the Milton/Oak Ridge community and the residents of the Lake Hopatcong—are the people who make up the larger community known as Jefferson Township, NJ.   As our Mayor Russ Felter states: "One Town, One Future."  So it is indeed fitting and appropriate that our township, founded in 1804, should come together and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jefferson Township Day this year.

Saturday, July 9 marks the silver anniversary of the Jefferson Arts Committee's annual Jefferson Township Day celebration.   It's a time to celebrate the wonderful community we live in, enjoy the day's and night's well-planned activities with our family, neighbors, and friends. 

The concept was conceived back in 1986 when the Liberty Days Committee  was formed by township residents Jack Kelly, Debbie Smead, Janet Breckenridge,  and Frances Focacci, and some other interested township residents. They wanted  to celebrate the Statue of Liberty’s Centennial in Jefferson Township  with a huge celebration, and they did just that.  After such a successful event, they decided to form a committee to  continue the celebration concept; and in 1987, they formed the Jefferson Arts  Committee (JAC), naming it after its new chairman Jack Kelly.  And so, Jefferson Township Day was born to continue on the excitement of the 1986 Liberty Days event!   And here it is, 25 years later!

Many familiar events and activities will mark this year's event,  but many new ones have been added in an attempt to bring everyone out for this special commemorative day.  

Besides the new and exciting mobile video-game trailer where 16 players will sit in a 4D lounge theater that's climate controlled with smell-a-vision,  the new 16-pad i-Dance group exercise dance game experience, the new wet and wild hose-laying competition scheduled by Fire Company No. 1 (marking their 75th anniversary) to be joined by up to eight contiguous aid fire companies, the new delicious food competitions featuring a hot dog-eating and watermelon-eating contest as well as a pie baking and chili bake contest, perhaps the most exciting this year is the 7:30 pm outdoor concert on the main stage of the Jefferson Township High School field, 1010 Weldon Road, Oak Ridge featuring the Robert Murdock Band and its British Invasion Tribute!

With their authentic vintage clothing and musical arrangements, the band takes audiences on a memorable trip back in time, as if you were attending a concert from a bygone era.   The British Invasion Tribute is actually three shows in one and an experience that the whole family can enjoy!  The first show includes songs by iconic British groups such as The Zombies, Dave Clark Five, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, Herman's Hermits, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Manfred Mann, and many more.  The American Response follows with music by such legendary artists as The Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, The Mamas and The Papas, The Turtles, and The Byrds, just to name just a few. This journey through the 1960s concludes with an extraordinary note-for-note rendition of Side B of The Beatles' Abbey Road album that you definitely won't want to miss.

And did I mention that after this exciting evening concert, a huge 25th anniversary aerial fireworks display will illuminate the skies of Jefferson Township like no one has ever seen before?  You definitely have to be there to see and hear it happen because JT Day chairman John Focacci promises it to be bigger and better than last year and the years before that—and those fireworks displays brought the crowd to a standing ovation every time!

Log onto www.jeffersonarts.org for up-to-date information about the day's activities that begin with an old-fashioned hometown parade at 11 a.m. on Weldon Road, includes continuous  live entertainment on three stages and various locations right on the field, a children's fishing contest, a bicycle parade and contest, inflatable activities for all, 14 food vendors, 80 arts/crafts/merchandise vendors, children's games of skill, an Irish Road Bowling contest, and loads of fun. 

With no admission fee until 5:30 p.m., and then only an admission fee onto the fields of $2 per adult and $1 per child, it's a deal you can't afford to miss.  Bring along a lawn chair or blanket for your seating comfort and enjoy. 

Jefferson Township Day is a time to join together as a community, a hometown we all share and also a time to welcome those from other communities with open arms.   Come celebrate and enjoy a fun-filled day and an exciting evening in your own hometown!   See you there!