'Spamalot' and 'Lear' Headline Trilogy's Plays in Park in Basking Ridge

Local cast and directors rehearsing for annual series of free outdoor plays at Pleasant Valley Park.

Trilogy Repertory Company, based in Basking Ridge, opens another great summer season of Bernards Township Parks and Recreation “Plays in the Park” series with with Monty Python’s musical comedy “Spamalot” on July 11 at Pleasant Valley Park in Basking Ridge. Trilogy will continue the season with a second production starting August 1 with Shakespeare’s drama “King Lear,” in partnership with Westfield’s Troupe of Friends. All performances are free, and will begin at 8 p.m. in the outdoor amphitheater at the park off Valley Road. “Spamalot,” directed by Trilogy principal Jaye Barre of Basking Ridge, with musical direction by Lois Buesser of Boonton and choreography by Charlene Bitzus of Basking Ridge, tells a story of medieval knights and …

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Beautiful Day for Fishing Derby at Southard Park

Stocked pond at annual fishing derby in Basking Ridge draws crowd of kids and adults to cast a rod on Saturday morning.

It's an event that inspires fish tales for a long time to come — Bernards Township's annual Fishing Derby at Southard Park pond, specially stocked for the occasion — and there's always a surprise or two. The second-biggest fish caught so far as of about 10 a.m. on Saturday was a 14-inch long trout, said Sean O'Grady, assistant director of the Bernards Township Parks and Recreation Department. The department had stocked the pond with trout from Pennslvania beforehand, O'Grady said. But as for the record 15-inch catfish pulled out of the murky, aerated water? "That was just in there," O'Grady said. On Monday, O'Grady said the official biggest fish caught was a 15-inch trout. The event was blessed with sun this year — as it had been in the …

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Community Art Show Reception on Sunday

Bernards Township artists will display pieces at the Environmental Education Center through April; Mayor's awards Sunday.

More than 20 Bernards Township artists are be featured through the Parks & Recreation Department’s 2nd annual Community Art Show, on display through April at the Environmental Education Center at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge. Opening reception and Mayor's awards on Sunday An opening reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the EEC, to officially welcome all the artists and announce the 2013 Mayor’s Arts Awards.  The Mayor’s Arts Awards, first established in 2011, honors those demonstrating leadership and dedication to the fine and performing arts in Bernards Township. All artists are adults who reside in Bernards Township. Their artwork spans all mediums, including oils, watercolors, photography and sculpture. The …

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Hockey Rink Expected to Reopen in the Spring

Asphalt already laid, rink waits final covering.

The closed roller hockey rink at Harry Dunham Park off Somerville Road in Basking Ridge is expected to open again in the spring, after a final acrylic coating is put on an asphalt base already laid by a contractor hired to refurbish the township recreational facility. Township Engineer Tom Timko said that the the final color coating must be done in the spring. He said after the facility reopens, the township Department of Parks and Recreation will oversee any scheduling, if any. The final completion of the facility — the laying of the top coat — is dependent on the weather in terms of temperature and sufficient dry weather, said Jennifer Gander, director of the township parks department. After it reopens, the facility will be open to those…

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Sandy Closes Township, Schools County Facilities in Bernards

Update: Bernards Township offices also closed.

Bernards Township schools, the township library and the area's parks and recreational facilities have already been declared closed in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy, even as the first brisk winds stirred the area on Sunday evening. All township municipal offices are closed on Monday, except for the Department of Public Works and police department, said Township Administrator Bruce McArthur. On Sunday afternoon, township schools were declared closed for Monday, even though the storm is anticipated to be a two-day event. School officials reportedly had been mulling the decision earlier on Sunday whether to close for the day before the notice later went up on the school website. The Bernards Township Library announced late Sunday afternoon …

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Halloween Activities Saturday in Basking Ridge Center

Put on that costume and hurry over to downtown Basking Ridge for some Halloween fun.

Saturday is the day that the Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Bernards Township Library and the Bernards Township Department of Parks and Recreation mix together a brew of fun activities for local children to celebrate Halloween. All are free — it's a good chance to give your costume a dry run, to pick up some treats, and to meet friends for Halloween fun. For the chamber's annual safe Trick or Treat, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local businesses will be open and tables will be set up along South Finley Ave to give out treats and information.

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Olde Mill Inn Bike Racers Shine Despite Overcast Skies

Annual end-of-summer race in downtown Basking Ridge drew hundreds of participants on bikes, as well as many spectators.

The 21st annual Olde Mill Inn bike races in Basking Ridge came off like a charm for about 250 children and teens who took part in the kids races, and 310 adults, mostly elite amateurs with a sprinkling of professionals, who raced in several other categories. Despite some cloudy skies and a few drops of rains, the event, a traditional end-of-summer gathering for cyclists and local families, was a success as usual, said Greg Cordasco, co-owner of Liberty Cycle in Basking Ridge. The Olde Mill Inn again was the main sponsor of the event, while Liberty Cycle and the Bernards Township Department of Parks and Recreation were presenters. Some Basking Ridge residents or cyclists for Team Liberty Cycle were among those who placed in top spots, …

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A Serious/Funny 'Inherit the Wind' On Stage This Weekend

The drama 'Inherit the Wind,' Trilogy Repertory Co.'s second play in Pleasant Valley Park, on stage Saturday night.

Theater lovers who want to see a free (donations accepted) staging of the classic drama, "Inherit the Wind," have one more chance—at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Pleasant Valley Park in Basking Ridge. The drama — based on the Scopes Monkey Trial of the 1920s — was the second play in the Plays in the Park series presented by the Bernards Township Department of Parks and Recreation. The first was "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," a rollicking comedy and musical presented earlier in July. This year, the usual two-play season will be extended with scheduled performances of "The Taming of the Shrew" on Aug. 24-25, to be presented by a Westfield troupe. Although "Inherit the Wind" is the most serious drama, it still presents moments of …

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All 'Champions' At Pleasant Valley Pool

Pleasant Valley Pool Hosts This Year's Meet of Champions for Age 10 and under with participants from 11 teams.

The annual Meet of Champions swim competition was partially hosted at Pleasant Valley Park Pool last weekend, with swimmers 10 and under from eleven teams throughout Somerset, Morris and Warren counties swimming in Basking Ridge. The teams regularly put the Meet of Champions on their calendars as a highlight of the summer swim season. Along with the PVP swimmers, participants included the Bernardsville Swim Team, the Chester Riptides, the Bee Meadow Swim Team, the Burnham Park Barracudas, Cromwell Hills, The Glacier Hill Swim Team, the Hackettstown Hurricanes, Lake Hiawatha Swim Team, the Morris Plains Marlins and Stardust Recreation. The younger swimmers held their meet on Saturday at Pleasant Valley Pool, while 11 and older team members …

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Memberships Still Available at Town Pool

There's still openings at the municipal pool at Pleasant Valley Park, and also at the town's Coakley Russo Memorial Golf Course.

It's July, and the temperatures are climbing into the 90s. If you don't have a backyard pool, and if you don't live in a development with an association pool, you still have the opportunity to sign up for the municipal pool at Pleasant Valley Park. Unlike a few years past, when there was a waiting list, there still are openings for families and other types of memberships, according to the Bernards Township Department of Parks and Recreation. New families memberships cost $850, including $400 for an initiation fee and the usual $450 annual membership fee. The next year, the fee is $385 for those who pay early (Jan. 27 for this year), with the regular $450 fee due about a month later, or this year by Feb. 24. A late fee of $100 was levied …

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