Events Calendar

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 19TH DUE TO A CONFLICT WITH BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT. 

This presentation will present a chronological history of Madison through three time periods - 1710 to 1834 The Bottle Hill Era, 1834 to 1889 The Era of Explosive Growth, and 1889 to the present The Maturing Era of the Borough of Madison.  The talk will not only emphasize events that occurred, but also the  incredible array of people who significantly contributed to the town’s history. The entire presentation will be accompanied by a large number of historical images using PowerPoint slides. 

The presenter is Dr. Doug Simon, a Madison resident and expert historian. Dr. Simon is emeritus professor of political science at Drew University where he specialized in international affairs, U.S. foreign policy, international organization, and national security.  A two-time recipient of Drew’s Distinguished Teaching Award as well as the Sears Outstanding Educator Award and the Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Political Science Association, Dr Simon is also an author in his own right as well as a contributor to many publications.  In retirement, he  became interested in the history of Madison and for the last eleven years has served as editor of the Madison Historical Society Newsletter and has authored a number of articles on Madison history for not only the newsletter but the magazine, Madison Living. 


*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Georgia O’Keeffe, one of the most important and fascinating artists of the Twentieth Century, has given us images of audacious flowers, dramatic cityscapes, glowing landscapes, and haunting depictions of bones against the stark desert sky. This talk will examine her innovative works and her long and productive life.

This lecture will be given by Janet Mandel. Janet Mandel taught in New Jersey’s public schools for 32 years, the last eighteen of which were at Columbia High School in Maplewood, where she taught English, art history, and World Languages and Cultures. In October of 2003 she was named runner-up for the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) Teacher of the Year award and was formally recognized by the New Jersey State Legislature and Governor Codey for this achievement. In May of 2004 she was the recipient of the “Innovations in Special Education Award” from the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and the Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped (ASAH). Now retired, Janet presents illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at adult schools, libraries, museums, senior centers, community centers, and similar venues.

*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Theresa is the Chef and the owner of Jeremiahs Catering & Cooking Studio. Known as Chef T, she considers food quality and the nutritional value of each food as being extremely important. This is why she tries to come up with balanced dishes, by using only fresh and high-quality ingredients. The result is food that tastes amazing and is filling at the same time, providing all the nutrients the body needs in order to stay healthy.

Join us for a series of cooking classes with Chef T as she teaches us how to prepare a main course and suggestions for accompanying side dishes. 

Tuesday, Sept 14, 2021 Sweet and sour pork with jasmine rice
Tuesday, Oct 5, 2021 Octoberfest chicken schnitzel with creamy mushroom sauce
Tuesday, Nov 9, 2021 Creamy spinach zucchini cups and traditional mashed potatoes
Tuesday, Nov 30, 2021 Beef and onion piroshki (like pierogies)

All classes start at 2:30p.m. and are held on Zoom. You must register separately for each class. 

Whisky is the national drink of Scotland, and the most popular spirit in the world: it is a multi-billion dollar industry employing thousands globally and one of the UK’s leading exports. Yet, it is more, much more than this; it’s a story – a story of a drink, a culture, a people, a land and a way of life. From the
humblest of origins, to the glamorous world of ‘Mad Men’ Scotch has come a long way, and it is a fascinating tale.

So, with glass in hand we will begin that journey and explore the origins of spirit, its eventual arrival into Scotland and how the process was refined and perfected to the malts and blends we enjoy today. We will also stare through the looking glass of time to the people who made whisky so popular; the fight
against government and taxmen; halcyon days and the dark days; its global reach with roots still firmly planted in the hills and glens of rural Scotland. I’ll explain how the stuff is actually made, where it is made and how geography as well as history has had a part to play in whisky’s development. How is Scotch different to Bourbon or Irish, and how have their stories differed and related to our saga? There are quirky stories, interesting characters and the mystery of the lost distilleries to illuminate us as we unravel the secret of the Water of Life. Cheers!

The presenter is David McNicoll, a self-professed expert on whisky. Seriously though, Davis is an expert. He has worked with a number of Scotch brands as Ambassador in New York City; he owns a travel business that specialises in Scottish historical, clan and whisky tourism; and, he has recently published a book called: The Language of Whisky. 

*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Create a beautiful silk scarf with unusual methods of stamping, techniques in folding and tying then adding vibrant colors. Not only that, you can wear them home!


*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Get a heads-up on your upcoming reading list with publishing insider Carol Fitzgerald as she shares news about late 2021 buzz-worthy titles and a look ahead to early 2022.  Carol is the President of The Book Report Network—a group of internet sites on books and authors that have become the gathering places for a large and devoted community of booklovers since 1996, and the host of the “Bookreporter Talks To” video/podcast series.

Finding the right school and navigating the college application process can be overwhelming. This presentation by college consultants guides you through a step by step process and provides valuable information so that your student finds the right school for them.  You will get the answers to questions like:

• How can my student stand out in college admissions?
• How do we strategically approach visits?
• How do we know where my student will “fit in?”
• Is there a way to create structure out of a seemingly chaotic process?
• When and how do we get started?
• What is the purpose of the essay?
• Does my student need a major going into freshman year?

Brought to you by the experts at admittedcollegecounseling.com

*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Join us as we are once again rocked by Vinnie Bruno, Rock Historian Extraordinaire. This lecture is the story of rock’s original “bad boys” as we journey with them thru their formative years as a cover band devoted to American blues, into their early shows which dictated violence and chaos, thru their notorious drug busts, personal and songwriting conflicts, and management and legal issues while earning the reputation as the greatest rock n roll band with classics from “Satisfaction” to “Brown Sugar."  For our encore we will highlight some of their post 60’s work.

Vinnie is a Beatles Scholar and Sixties Rock Historian.  He is recently retired as Director of First Year Programs at LaGuardia Community College (City University of New York). He holds an MPA from Baruch College and as an adjunct professor for 25 years he taught courses in numerous disciplines including Humanities, Business and Mathematics. As a 60’s Rock Historian he offers programs on the many extraordinary innovative artists who defined an era by creating musical landscapes that captivated a generation and whose influence in popular culture still endures five decades later.

*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

From Day to Day is a World War II concentration camp diary—one of only a handful ever translated into English—secretly written by Odd Nansen, a Norwegian political prisoner. Arrested in January 1942, Nansen, son of polar explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen (Nobel Peace Prize 1922) was held captive for the duration of the war in various Nazi camps in Norway and Germany.  The book had been out of print for nearly 60 years when Timothy Boyce stumbled across it. Fascinated by the heroic story and saddened that such a magnificent book was so scarce and nearly forgotten, Boyce set out to get the book back in print. It now features a new introduction and extensive annotations by Boyce and a preface by Thomas Buergenthal, whose life (as a ten year-old) Nansen saved while in Sachsenhausen, later recounted in his own memoir A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy.  Hear more about this incredibly moving story as Boyce shares the story of Odd Nansen with the audience.  From Day to Day may be purchased at www.timboyce.com for $39.99. All royalties from the sale of this book are given to the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., and the Center for the Study of the Holocaust in Oslo, Norway. 

*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Immigration and Ellis Island ----A brief summary of immigration to the United States from colonial days to modern times, and the role Ellis Island played during some of the busiest years of immigration from 1892 to 1924. In particular, major changes in immigration laws and regulations since 1787 will be reviewed....as well as reactions to "new immigrants" ever since the first colonies were established.

The presenter for the evening is Bruce Schundler. Bruce worked for two years as a seasonal National Park ranger at the Ellis Island National Monument. Besides leading regular tours and some VIP tours, he developed the basic outline of the park’s website, and wrote the first version of “How to Trace Your Immigrant Ancestor”---a pamphlet which was distributed to visitors for several years.”

*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Theresa is the Chef and the owner of Jeremiahs Catering & Cooking Studio. Known as Chef T, she considers food quality and the nutritional value of each food as being extremely important. This is why she tries to come up with balanced dishes, by using only fresh and high-quality ingredients. The result is food that tastes amazing and is filling at the same time, providing all the nutrients the body needs in order to stay healthy.

Join us for a series of cooking classes with Chef T as she teaches us how to prepare a main course and suggestions for accompanying side dishes. 

Tuesday, Sept 14, 2021 Sweet and sour pork with jasmine rice
Tuesday, Oct 5, 2021 Octoberfest chicken schnitzel with creamy mushroom sauce
Tuesday, Nov 9, 2021 Creamy spinach zucchini cups and traditional mashed potatoes
Tuesday, Nov 30, 2021 Beef and onion piroshki (like pierogies)

All classes start at 2:30p.m. and are held on Zoom. You must register separately for each class. 

Presented by Opera at Florham. this program will allow participants to experience the Operatic enhancement of dramatic scenes that tell a similar, if not the same story.  In the process, one will gain an appreciation of the Opera composer’s genius, as he adds the wonderful dimension of very appropriate music to the drama at
hand. Comparative scenes will be presented from:

• Zefferilli’s Film, Bernstein’s “West Side Story” & Gounod’s “Romeo & Juliet”
• Camille with Greta Garbo & Verdi’s “La Traviata”
• A Tale of Two Cities with Ronald Coleman & Giordano’s “Andrea Chenier”
• The Odd Couple & Verdi’s “Rigoletto”

*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

With the holiday season approaching, our appetites are craving all our favorite traditional foods that accompany holiday celebrations. If you are hoping to enjoy this holiday season without sacrificing your health and nutrition goals, this workshop will offer some easy and practical tips for staying healthy through the holidays without sacrificing your favorite foods and drinks. Join Jennifer Shukaitis, MPH, Assistant Professor at Rutgers University to learn about tips and strategies to maintain your health and nutrition goals through the holidays.

*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Mallory Mortillaro serves as the Curator of Collections for the Hartley Dodge Foundation in Madison, NJ. While she was cataloging the artwork housed inside of the Hartley Dodge Memorial she uncovered a masterpiece that had been lost to the art world since the 1930’s. After a year of research the piece was authenticated as an official work by Auguste Rodin. Mallory will share the story of how a simple art cataloging project evolved into a search for a mysterious piece’s provenance, and became one of the biggest art finds in recent history.

Speaker Biography:
Mallory Mortillaro serves as the Curator of Collections for the Hartley Dodge Foundation. In this position she worked to authenticate an original Rodin sculpture, lost to the art world since the 1930’s. Mallory holds a BA and MAT, both from Drew University. She balances her work as an Art Historian with teaching 7th grade English. She lives in Whippany, New Jersey with her husband.

Theresa is the Chef and the owner of Jeremiahs Catering & Cooking Studio. Known as Chef T, she considers food quality and the nutritional value of each food as being extremely important. This is why she tries to come up with balanced dishes, by using only fresh and high-quality ingredients. The result is food that tastes amazing and is filling at the same time, providing all the nutrients the body needs in order to stay healthy.

Join us for a series of cooking classes with Chef T as she teaches us how to prepare a main course and suggestions for accompanying side dishes. 

Tuesday, Sept 14, 2021 Sweet and sour pork with jasmine rice
Tuesday, Oct 5, 2021 Octoberfest chicken schnitzel with creamy mushroom sauce
Tuesday, Nov 9, 2021 Creamy spinach zucchini cups and traditional mashed potatoes
Tuesday, Nov 30, 2021 Beef and onion piroshki (like pierogies)

All classes start at 2:30p.m. and are held on Zoom. You must register separately for each class. 

Want a special way to get ready for the holidays? Well, look no further! Join us for a wonderful Floral Workshop: Designing in Winter White
with Kerry Patel of The Flowery.  As the seasons shift from autumn to winter, nature provides us a serene, neutral landscape from which we we can draw inspiration. You will create a floral arrangement using both fresh and dried plant material that you can take home with you. All materials provided.
Kerry is a local Madison mom and entrepreneur. She is passionate about flowers and has an exquisite eye. Kerry believes that floral design is about more than putting stems in a vessel. She has learned how to connect to each stem, to each imperfect flower, to each design. She learned that meaningful and intentional floral design begins within. Not only is her description of flowers very poetic but so are her floral arrangements. You can learn more about Kerry at Kerry Patel Poetic Florals at kerrypatel.com


*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Registration is limited so don't delay and sign up today. 

It’s a beautiful day! Let’s take a walk. Let’s take a ride. Let’s “visually” explore the Revolutionary War/Morristown, NJ/George Washington connection. (Something you’ve been meaning to do for as long as you can remember, right? So, LET’S DO IT!) 
Join us for this Zoom lecture hosted by Joel Farkas. 


*This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

Join us for a live, virtual journey through history, as Museum docents or curators answer your questions and walk you through a slideshow of objects and imagery via Zoom. 
Experience the natural beauty of the United States through the eyes of artists in New-York Historical's collection. Discover how an evolving understanding of science and the emergence of early conservation movements shaped the 19th-century work of naturalist John James Audubon and the landscape painters of the Hudson River School.
*Sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*

A quiet and reserved man who lived for his art, Frederic Chopin appeared only in a little over two dozen public concerts. His music is filled with moments of intense depth and anguish. However, despite being in physical and mental agony for most of his life, his playing was graceful, poignant, and delicate. 

Delve into the life of contrast of this 19th century musical prodigy who preferred the darkness when the world so longed for his light.

This program is presented by Dan Lupo of From A to G Music.

*Sponsored by the Friends of the Madison Public Library*