MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Tourism Bureau is pleased to announce the return of its popular heritage walking tours and programs for fall 2022. Learn about the history, people, and architecture of the Morristown area with a knowledgeable guide. These small group, one-hour tours will run between September 24 and October 29.  Note: days and times of programs vary.

Pre-registration and pre-payment are required, and no walk-ins will be accepted. Tickets cost $25.00 per person. The programs will sell out, so register early. New this year, each tour participant will receive a $10.00 Morristown Partnership Gift Certificate redeemable at 200 local restaurants and businesses.

Tickets may be purchased online by clicking here.
For more information, contact the Morris County Tourism Bureau at (973) 631-5151 or welcome@morriscountytourism.org

Fall 2022 Program Schedule: 

Tour Descriptions:

The Seeing Eye Guide Dogs in Morristown – Ever wondered about the beautiful guide dogs training around Morristown?  They are learning to guide the blind with their future owners.  The Seeing Eye has been in Morris County since 1931.  You’ll hear about their history, walk around Morristown visiting places important to the Seeing Eye, and have a photo op at the Morris Frank and “Buddy” statue.  The tour will begin at the office of the Seeing Eye at 14 Maple Avenue between Market and DeHart Street.  The tour will be given on Saturday, September 24 at 11:00 a.m. and repeat on Saturday, October 15 at 11:00 a.m.

Morristown Walking Tour “Bones and Stones”- Get an overview of 300 years of Morristown history and visit architectural highlights of the Morristown Historic District including the 1827 Courthouse, the Morristown Green and the 1733 graveyard.  Your guide is Carol Barkin of the Morris County Tourism Bureau and member of the Morristown Historic Preservation Commission.  This tour will be given on Saturday, September 24 at 11:30 a.m. and repeat Saturday, October 1 at 11:30 a.m. Tours will begin at 6 Court Street, Morristown.

Victorian Morristown Walking Tour – Saturday, October 1 at 11:00 a.m.  Stroll by Morristown’s 100 Victorian residences anchored by Macculloch Hall and the Thomas Nast House. Karen Ann Kurlander, a local resident and Victorian lifestyle expert will be your guide. The tour will begin at the Starbucks at the corner of Market and West Park Place.

Meet the Stickleys at Craftsman Farms – Tour the Log House at Craftsman Farms, Gustav Stickley’s early 20^th century estate and a National Historic Landmark. Stickley was a leading designer of the Arts and Crafts movement and Craftsman Farms represents the apex of his career. The Log House is the centerpiece of Craftsman Farms’ verdant acreage and was the Stickley’s family home from 1911-1917. Currently, the Stickley Museum is under construction to rebuild the Annex after extensive damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020. This tour is a special opportunity to visit and will be limited to just 15 people and will take place on Saturday, October 15 at 1:30 p.m. at 2352 Route 10 West, Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Morristown’s Gilded Age:  The Foote Mansion and Springbrook Farm – This popular program begins with a lecture in the Great Room of the Foote Mansion, saved and adapted nearly 90 years ago as the Loyola Retreat Center. You’ll learn about Morristown’s Gilded, the prominent Foote Family, and tour the mansion and gardens of the largest home ever built in Morristown.  The program will be given on Sunday, October 23 at 2:00 p.m. at 161 James Street, Morristown.

*Halloween in the Whippany Burying Yard – This fun tour of the 1718 Whippany Burying Yard is our annual Halloween party which begins with a torchlight tour of Morris County’s first graveyard and resting place of its earliest settlers.  The tour will take place on Saturday, October 29 at 5:00 p.m.  Costumes are encouraged and refreshments will be served.  All ages and scary costumes welcome!  Park at the Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge at 301 Route 10 East, Whippany, and then walk west to the graveyard.  We are pleased to offer this tour free to the public but pre-registration is required.

Please note: Day, times and starting points vary. No walk-ins will be accepted.  No refunds. Wear weather-appropriate clothes and comfortable shoes.  Tours will be held in sun and light drizzle. Tours will be rescheduled in case of severe weather. Service dogs only please. These tours are designed for adults and children over age 12.

The Morris County Tourism Bureau (MCTB) is a division of the Morris County Economic Development Alliance (MCEDA) a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The organization holds the distinction of being the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Morris County.

The specific purpose of the MCEDA is to attract, develop, and retain businesses in the County (this activity provides relief for, the poor, distressed and underprivileged, combats community deterioration, and lessens the government’s burden). A second, but no less important, mission is to serve as a destination marketing organization that positively affects the economy of Morris County by promoting the area’s exceptional historic, cultural, and recreational attractions by providing services to residents, business travelers and tourists.

These tours are also generously supported by the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the NJ Department of State with additional funding provided by the division of Travel and Tourism, NJ Department of State, the County of Morris, and the Morris County Economic Development Alliance’s Private-Public Supporters.

MORRIS COuNTY – Where can a family play pickleball, dodgeball, and take a boot camp class, all in one week, and all for free? Why the Y of course! Lakeland Hills Family YMCA invites the community to its annual Welcoming Week, this year bigger and better than ever! Conveniently located where the Mountain Lakes, Parsippany, and Boonton borders meet at 100 Fanny Road in Mountain Lakes, the area’s leading community organization is offering a free week of fun events, all in one place, from September 13-18.

Communities are stronger and more cohesive when people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to get to know one another and work side by side to advance the common good. Welcoming Week brings YMCAs and other nonprofit organizations across the country together to help elevate the growing movement of communities that fully embrace all Americans and their contribution to the social fabric of the U.S.

“Celebrating community is what Lakeland Hills Family YMCA is all about,” says Alejandro (Alex) Martinez, CEO and President of the Y. “Our Y is excited to present an entire week of free programs and activities for families and children. Our community looks to Lakeland Hills Family YMCA for support in all facets of life – health and wellness, mental health awareness, spiritual connection, youth development, and more.”

Martinez continued, “Welcoming Week is being presented the day after we have our ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new Welcome Center. The Welcome Center has a mission-based purpose to foster community support. The Center is in memory of Kris Joganow, a long-time Y employee, friend, and supporter of the Y. Kris, the wife of our former CEO, Dr. Vik Joganow, passed away from COVID-19 in 2020. We are truly fortunate to reopen our facility to a beautiful new community-centric Welcome Center. This new space, which spans almost the entire first floor of our facility, includes areas for community programs and meetings, “Kris’ Coffee Corner” with enhanced free hot beverages, healthy self-vending machines with cashless purchases including parfaits, sandwiches, salads, snacks, and more. Additionally, the Lounge offers comfortable seating for meetings, work from your laptop with self-charging areas, a teen space, and more. These renovations and upgrades are due to the philanthropic efforts of individuals supporting Kris Joganow’s memory as well as corporations and other donors.

The Welcome Center at Lakeland Hills Family YMCA will have its official grand opening on Monday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m. for invited guests, donors, and dignitaries. It begins with a cleansing of the space followed by an ecumenical blessing of the new Center. The Y reopens to its members and the community on Tuesday, September 13. This is also the first day of Welcoming Week.

For the full calendar of events, programs, and activities as part of its Welcoming Week, click here or call Lakeland Hills Family YMCA at (973) 334-2820.

For more than 100 years the Y has been the leading community organization serving thousands of people, with its focus on Healthy Living, Youth Development, and Social Responsibility. No one serves the community as powerfully as the Y does every day.

MORRIS COUNTY — Having helped thousands of women to gain economic self-sufficiency and fulfilling lives, The Women’s Center at County College of Morris (CCM) recently received a $150,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and Division on Women continuing their support of the center’s mission.

“The Women’s Center offers a full range of comprehensive services to support displaced homemakers with achieving financial independence,” says Director Shannon Lengares. “We do this through goal setting, career counseling, educational and training scholarships, computer skill building, resume and cover letter writing, workshops including financial management, job search strategies, interview preparation and more.”

The center also offers a Job Club Speaker Series, Job Seekers Support Group and connections to community resources. In addition, it offers a legal program that consists of free 30-minute legal consultations with family law attorneys and a divorce workshop series that is offered twice a year. While most of its clients are women, the center’s services also are available to men who meet the displaced homemaker criteri.

Displaced homemakers are individuals who have managed their homes for several years while being financially supported by a spouse, partner or family member and due to divorce, separation, death or disability then find themselves needing to serve as the primary source of household income. In many cases, displaced homemakers are underemployed and unable to financially support themselves or their families. Others may have difficulty obtaining employment due to a gap in work history.

The Women’s Center has been a part of CCM for over 30 years. In the 1970s, when the national divorce rate rose rapidly, many women who had worked primarily in their home, raising a family, suddenly faced the daunting task of obtaining or updating skills and reentering the workforce. In 1979, the New Jersey Displaced Homemakers Act was signed into law by then Governor Brendan Byrne. The act did not appropriate funding but mandated that action be taken to address the issue of displaced homemakers. In 1982, the Vocational Division of the New Jersey Department of Education appropriated startup funds for six displaced homemakers’ centers. Today such centers are found across the state.

If you know someone who could use the services offered through The Women’s Center at CCM or to learn more about the program by clicking here.