Anti-Drug Skating Event Aims to be Uplifting Fun

The event comes from a county's Natural High Initiative, an effort to keep kids away from illegal drugs and encourage healthy choices.

The Morris County Partners in Substance Abuse Prevention program continues the Natural High Initiative it began six years ago with an evening of free family ice skating at the Mennen Arena, 161 East Hanover Ave. in Morris Township, on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. Morris County Municipal Alliance Coordinator Steve Nebesni said the event is intended to show children and teens that they can achieve highs naturally—without the aid of drugs or alcohol—by engaging in fun, uplifting activities like the skating event. Other ideas the Natural High philosophy suggests for uplifting activities include a family movie or a game night at home complete with popcorn and soft drinks. Resource tables will be available at Thursday's skating party, and the evening’…

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Mennen Arena Emergency Shelter to Close Friday

Morris Township facility has been primary county shelter since Sandy hit area; those still there will be moved to Public Safety Training Academy.

In a sign that things are (for some, very slowly) returning to normal here, the county announced Thursday it was beginning to wind down usage of Mennen Arena in Morris Township as Morris County's primary shelter. "As the recovery from Hurricane Sandy continues, the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, in cooperation with the Red Cross and the Morris County Department of Human Services, is in the process of closing the Mennen Arena ... as a primary shelter," the release states. The goal is to have Mennen closed as a shelter by noon Friday. Any residents currently at the shelter will be moved to the Public Safety Training Academy’s gymnasium, which will be able to house up to 80 people, the release states. The animal shelter set up …

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Last Chance: All County Garage Sale Registration

Deadline is coming up April 22

The Friends of Historic Speedwell is sponsoring an All County Garage Sale on May 5 and 6 at Mennen Arena to raise funds for the nonprofit organization Historic Speedwell. Anyone can register to become a vendor until the April 22 deadline. Mark Sutherland, the superintendent of Historic Speedwell, said that the organization is hoping for about 80 people to sign up for a spot in the arena. As of mid-April it's up to about 45 people, but Sutherland said organizers getting more people everyday. Vendors must pay $100 fees to rent spaces, but they get to keep all of the proceeds from their sold items. The admission charge for the public is $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students, and free for children 12 and under.  The funds from the…

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5 Things You Need to Know Today

Kristi Yamaguchi Coming to Mennen

Retired skating champion signs books at Mennen Arena

Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi will sign copies of her book at the Mennen Arena on Sunday, March 4. 1) The book: "It's a Big World, Little Pig," featuring Poppy the Pig. 2) The time: From 5 to 7 p.m. 3) The cost: Those who pre-order books for $12.99 will receive a free public skating session the day of he signing. 4) The Limit: Two books per customer. She will sign up to 300 books. 5) For more information: Call 973-326-7611.

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Evacuees Find Shelter, Finally, at Mennen

After a 26-hour ordeal, a vulnerable population from South Jersey arrives to a Morris County welcome.

Five coach buses and five vans rolled into the William G. Mennen Arena at 10 a.m. Saturday, delivering 367 evacuees from South Jersey to the last destination of a 26-hour journey. The fragile and vulnerable residents of Atlantic City and Pleasantville boarded their buses at 8 a.m. Friday, and hit three destinations before Mennen. Many are from nursing homes, according to Joan Lyons, a Pleasantville resident who helped sign-in the evacuees at the arena. The population was quickly deemed one of special needs by Scott Digiralomo, the Morris County director of the Department of Law and Public Safety and the coordinator of the county’s Office of Emergency Management. Saturday night, Red Cross staff members were still working to define the needs…

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August Brings Hockey Camps to Mennen Arena

Children and adults can hone their skills.

Spending some time on the ice sounds very appeaing right now and, if you like hockey, Mennen Arena has several programs coming up:

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Saturday at Mennen: Skate With Champions

Mennen Arena is offering a one-day session for children and adults on Saturday, July 9.

The Mennen Arena is offering children and adults an opportunity to learn to skate with some of the best in the sport. On Saturday, July 9, three-time U.S. Pairs Champions Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman will offer specialized half- and full-day clinics. The children's clinic will begin with an on-ice session from 8:15 to 9:45 a.m. There will then be a 15-minute break before an off-ice training session begins from 10 to 11:30 a.m. with the arena's pilates instructor. The cost is $40. Following the clinic, children will have an opporunity to have items autographed or have pictures taken with Ina and Zimmerman,who placed fifth in the pairs competition in the 2002 Olympics. For the adult figure skating clinic, Gaylene Ambrosini, Mennen's pilates …

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Relay For Life: Twelve Hours of Walking Start Friday

Event raises funds to battle "the disease that never sleeps."

More than two hundred people are counting down the days and working hard to fundraise before the Relay For Life event that begins Friday at Mennen Arena. "It is a twelve-hour, overnight event where "teams" walk the track to raise money for all types of cancer," said Brittany Santore, event co-chair. Thirty-six teams are listed on the Relay for Life website, ranging from the Morris Township Fire Department to the women of the Jerzey Brigade roller derby team. The Calvary Baptist Church has two teams with a total of 23 members. There are teams from local high schools including Morristown, Delbarton, and Randolph.  Santore has been involved in Relay for Life in the Morris area for three years, but her journey with the organization began in …

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Beat the Winter Birthday Blues With a Cool Kids' Party

Fun local options for winter birthday boys and girls.

Don't feel left out in the cold just because your child has a winter birthday. Patch has suggestions for parties at local hot spots. Or bring the party even closer with entertainers who'll come right to your home. Parties Outside the Home: Have the Party Come to You

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Photo Gallery: A Walk Through the Solar Array at Mennen Arena

Large panels create a futuristic landscape.

Enormous solar energy panels are being installed above more than 500 parking spaces at Mennen Arena in Morris Township. The project is part of a larger effort by the Morris County Improvement Authority–called the Morris Model– that will bring 14,000 solar panels to 19 public buildings. Energy savings are expected to be more than $3.8 million.

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