Guide Me Home to Chatham, NJ

Chatham Recreation offers a wide variety of activities for children and adults.

Fall - Soccer, football, flag football, field hockey, and cheerleading.

Winter -  Basketball, traveling basketball, skiing, wrestling, ice hockey (independently sponsored), men’s basketball and women’s volleyball.

Spring -  Baseball, softball, T-ball, lacrosse, traveling-soccer (independently sponsored) and golf.

Summer -  Traveling baseball, and softball, men’s and women’s softball, tennis, and a variety of sports camps and youth activities.

Chatham Borough Recreation Areas

Shepard Kollock Park -  Located off Parrott Mill Road. Covered picnic area, plus an all purpose field, baseball, softball, boat launch to the Passaic River, and playground area.

Memorial Park -  Located off North Passaic Avenue. Baseball, softball, basketball, playground area, picnic tables, Chatham Municipal Pool (badges are sold only at the pool during posted pool hours.)

Garden Park -  Located off Main Street adjacent to the Middle School. Tennis practice boards, six tennis courts, basketball and playground area.

Lum Avenue Fields - Located off Lum Avenue and adjacent to the Chatham Train Station.

Baseball, softball, and all purpose fields

Stanley Park -  Located off River Road adjacent to the Passaic River. Picnic area with grill.

Detailed Recreation Brochures are available at the Chatham Borough Municipal Building at 54 Fairmount Avenue. For additional information, please go to www.chathamrecreation.org, or call: 973-635-7066.

Posted by:  Cynthia Edgar

In an effort to “go green” and eat fresher food, many people are shopping at local Farmer’s Markets.

These Farmer’s Markets provide conventionally and organically grown “Jersey Fresh” fruits and vegetables to the local community. They benefit the consumer by offering locally harvested fresh fruits and vegetables that are naturally more flavorful and nutritious. They also benefit the community by drawing residents to the downtown area, thus strengthening the town-spirit through the market place.

The Farmer’s Markets reduce the food miles between the field and table, thus lowering carbon emissions. By featuring organic produce, the amount of pesticides and fertilizers entering our local waterways is reduced, thereby improving many fragile ecosystems.

Many towns are now offering Farmer’s Markets….. here are a few:

Chatham Borough Farmer’s Market – Every Saturday through October from 8 AM to 1 PM, located at the Railroad Station on Fairmount Avenue.

Madison Farmer’s Market I – Every Thursday at Madison High School from 3:30PM to 7:30PM.

Madison Farmer’s Market 2 – Every Thursday at the Madison Community Pool from 3:30PM to 7:30 PM.

Summit Farmer’s Market – Every Sunday at the parking lot on the corner of DeForest Avenue and Beechwood from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Posted by:  Cynthia Edgar

Chatham Borough, New Jersey is “going green” with its first “Community Garden” on Division Avenue. Marcy Wecker, the chairwoman of the Chatham Land Conservancy and Preservation Committee said the garden would be a low-cost , self-sustaining enterprise for the Borough, serving local resident gardeners whose backyards are too small, shady, or deer-filled to be tilled. 

The new garden consists of 20 10-foot-by-20 foot plots, and there are four nearby water spigots, and a municipal parking lot close by.

Earlier this spring, Pete Coviello of Coviello Landscapers, brought 10 truck loads of compost to the Community Garden, and created the plots.

Mayor V. Nelson Vaughan said “I hope it will be over-subscribed!”

Posted by:  Cynthia Edgar

Chatham, New Jersey will hold its biannual Fishawack Festival on June 12, 2010 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in downtown Chatham Borough.  “Fishawack” gets its name from the Lenni Lenape Indians who crossed the Passaic River at a specific location (what is today Chatham Borough.)  The Indians would walk along the Fishawack Trail, which would later become a muddy road, a turnpike, and eventually become Main Street, Chatham.

Today, the Fishawack Festival is a celebration of community fun!  It is an entire day of activities, rides, games, crafts, music, food, etc. There is also a Fishawack Run – a 5K Race through the streets of Chatham neighborhoods.  All ages are encouraged to participate in the race, and awards are given to the top finishers of each age-group. And, while you’re out enjoying the many events of Fishawack stop in to see our new office located at 186 Main St in Chatham.

Fishawack Locations:

The Fishawack events will be held all over the downtown Chatham, New Jersey area. You can reach them all by foot and they are located just steps from the Train Station.

• Entertainment - The Gazebo @ Reasoner Park (Next to the Firehouse @ the intersection of Fairmount Ave. & Firehouse Plaza)
• Children’s Events - Memorial Park (Behind the Library of the Chathams, Main Street)
• Food Vendors - Firehouse Plaza (Opposite the Gazebo)
• Craft Vendors - So. Passaic Avenue, Fairmount Avenue & Post Office Plaza
• Information Booths  - Main St. & So. Passaic Ave.
• 5K Race - Train Station South Lot

For more information, please contact the Chatham Chamber of Commerce, or go to www.FishawackFestival.com.

Posted by:Cynthia Edgar

Chatham Moving and Storage is a local business with a great reputation for quality service. They are located at 223 North Passaic Avenue in Chatham, New Jersey. Their telephone number is 800-543-0753. They offer modern storage, packing and moving services.

If your destination is Madison, Harding Township, Chatham Township, Chatham Borough, Short Hills or Summit, or if you are moving out of the area, you should definitely put this local business on your list. I’ve had several sellers use their services with good results.

Until next time, enjoy the harbinger of spring!

Posted by:Lois Olmstead