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Tuesday December 31, 2002

Happy New Year 2003

Photos By
Joe
Gigli

(left) A young member from the audience assists Benjamin Lipman, during a comedy juggling routine.

(above) Doug Haislip, of Solid Brass. (right) Sarah Khoudja and Chris Metz, stroll through the green.

By Jeanne Dikdan Gigli

MORRISTOWN – Mother Nature must have been in a good mood to have blessed us with such fair weather on Dec. 31 for the 11^th annual First Night Morris County, a family-oriented, non-alcoholic New Year's Eve celebration of the arts and community held at various venues in and around the Green in Morristown.

A Great Night for First Night
Morris Event Largest in the State

(left) Kristen Shannon and Anthony Alfrieri, of Roxbury.

By Jeanne Dikdan Gigli

MORRISTOWN – Mother Nature must have been in a good mood to have blessed us with such fair weather on Dec. 31 for the 11^th annual First Night Morris

(above) The Schlosser family enjoy the night Mom Stacey, Dad Bill, Scott on left, Katie on right, with there friend Caya. (below) Story teller Mary Rachel Platt, keeps the children (below left) intrested.

County, a family-oriented, non-alcoholic New Year's Eve celebration of the arts and community held at various venues in and around the Green in Morristown.

 "First Night Morris County began in 1992 and is now the largest First Night celebration in the state, run completely by

volunteers and supported by individual and corporate contributions," said Cindy Zimmerman, First Night Morris chairman.

 As time ticked away closer and closer to the stroke of midnight on a night where temperatures were in the low to mid 40s, the Green was a hustle and bustle of couples clinging to each other arm-in-arm, families strolling together with children from 3 months up to 14 years old, and groups of friends laughing and singing. It was a wonderful night to be outdoors at midnight to view the fireworks display.

 However, before the pyrotechnics show was a wealth of activities from comedy fairs and story telling hours to outdoor concerts and craft activities that occurred at 25 different locations. For example, there was Mary Rachel Platt, a professional international storyteller, who spoke to audiences about the legend of the Alabama Indians and the tale of the star people who live in the sky. She also incorporated the help of nine children to tell the story of the Indian dove who lost her egg.

(above) Katheryn Davis, of the UK with her children Zachary and India, create some crafts. (below) "No Dicipline" performs on The Green.

 Other performers and activities were Benjamin Lipman and his Cascade Comedy Show that included magic and juggling; a showcase of music by pianist Rio Clemente and ballet, jazz and modern dance by Dance Innovations; a craft-making session where children could either decorate with markers, beads and ribbon a mini terra cotta tile or construct a celebratory shaker from a glossy paperboard tube with streamers and colorful stickers; 11-member Solid Brass ensemble that provided the crisp, musical sound of brass instruments; the irresistible raggae sound of No

Discipline who performed under a tent on the Green; vocalist Kathryn McAteer and pianist/composer John Conte presented a mix contemporary theatre selections and jazzy standards; Guy Davis, acoustic guitarist.

 Happy and healthy New Year to everyone!

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