County Report
June 2019
Board of Chosen Freeholders
John W. Bartlett Esq.,  Director  - Cassandra "Sandi" Lazzara,  Deputy Director
Assad R. Akhter - Theodore O. Best Jr. - Terry Duffy - Pat Lepore - Bruce James
COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
Tuesdays in the Plaza 2019
Every Tuesday from June 11 to October 1, the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders will host "Tuesdays in the Plaza" at the William J. Bate Memorial Courthouse Plaza, located outside of 77 Hamilton Street in Paterson. Join us each week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for music from local musicians, farmers markets, resource and outreach services, and other special events all summer long. 

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Passaic County Arts Center Opens
The John W. Rea House, located in Goffle Brook Park in Hawthorne, NJ, has officially reopened as the Passaic County Arts Center. This historic home, which has undergone a complete restoration, will provide a rotating gallery space for both established and emerging artists. Additionally, the Passaic County Arts Center has multi-purpose studio spaces for art classes. The goal for the arts center is to enlist local artists to provide high quality, free, and lost cost, arts programming open to all residents of Passaic County.

“Our goal is not only to breathe new life into this historic home, but to re-purpose it into a destination that attracts local residents and tourists alike,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Sandi Lazzara. “The Board of Chosen Freeholders has made an effort to expand opportunities for local artists, and this historic building will provide a new home for our growing art scene.”
Over the past two years, the County of Passaic has sponsored numerous community-based arts initiatives including the first ever Art in the Park Festival, the Little Falls Art Walk, regularly scheduled youth crafts classes, and planning of the first Passaic County Teen Arts Festival in almost a decade.

The Passaic County Arts Center will provide regularly scheduled programming for all ages including art classes for all skill levels, figure drawing, lectures, screenings and year-round exhibits. The Passaic County Arts Center will also serve as a space for artists to engage in professional development, build community, and foster high quality arts education for all.

The John W. Rea House was built c.1830 and is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. The restoration of the Rea House includes the restoring historic features throughout the interior and exterior, and the adaptive reuse of spaces for art galleries, working studios, and office space.

To view photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony, visit the County Photos page on our website.

LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Junior Police Academy 2019
Choose from two sessions:
July 22 - July 26
or
July 29 - August 2
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Passaic County
Police Academy
214 Oldham Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
Up for a challenge this summer? Join the Passaic County Sheriff's Department for one week at the Junior Police Academy, where you will experience an academy similar to the one real police officers in training go through. Learn about everything from K9 and defensive tactics to CSI.

The Junior Police Academy is open to children ages 11 to 14. The Academy will be held in two sessions: July 22 through July 26, or July 29 through August 2.

Push yourself to the limit this summer! Register on Eventbrite: 2019jrpoliceacademy.eventbrite.com.
SERVICES
"Identity Theft and Seniors" Seminar
The Passaic County Department of Senior Services and Northeast New Jersey Legal Services will host a seminar on identity theft and scams directed at seniors on Thursday, June 13 from 10 to 11 a.m.

For more information and to register, please call the Senior Services Department at (973) 569-4060.

Thursday, June 13
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Passaic County Department of Senior Services
930 Riverview Drive
Suite 200
Totowa, NJ 07512
Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event
The Passaic County Office of Solid Waste & Recycling Programs will host a Household Hazardous Waste Event, rain or shine, on Saturday, June 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the West Milford Recycling Center , 30 Lycosky Drive in West Milford. 

Materials accepted includes pesticides and herbicides, pool chemicals, aerosol cans, antifreeze, car batteries, used motor oil, old gasoline, mercury thermometers, fire extinguishers, propane tanks, and more. A full list of acceptable and unacceptable materials can be found on the  Passaic County Recycling  page on our website.
Saturday, June 8
7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
West Milford Recycling Center
30 Lycosky Drive
West Milford, NJ 07480
(Off Marshall Hill Road)
This program is free for Passaic County residents with proof of ID. Small quantity generators (CESQG's) must call (973) 305-5738 to pre-register; a nominal fee will be charged. 

The Office of Solid Waste and Recycling hosts recycling events throughout the year. For more information, call (973) 305-5738.

Passaic County Clerk Outreach Dates
Every month, the Clerk's Office Outreach Program visits several locations around Passaic County offering Passport processing, Veteran IDs, and Notary Oaths.
HEALTH AND ENERGY
"Eat Better Tonight" at the Hamilton House
Join the folks from City Green as they bring their popular cooking demo program, “Eat Better Tonight,” to Hamilton House with produce and herbs inspired by what would have been growing in the house’s kitchen garden.

This workshop will provide information on preparing healthy meals, taste tests of seasonal veggies, recipe and cooking techniques, and information on accessing local foods. Suggested donation of $5.00 per person.

Seating is limited. Please reserve in advance by calling the Hamilton House at (973) 744-5707 or the Passaic County Department of Cultural & Historic Affairs at (973) 706-6640.

PARKS AND PROJECTS
Dey Mansion to Participate in Blue Star Museums
Dey Mansion Washington's Headquarters will join museums nationwide in participating in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, a program which provides free admission to our nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families this summer.

The 2019 program launched on Saturday, May 18, 2019, Armed Forces Day, and will end on Monday, September 2, 2019, Labor Day. Military can find a list of participating museums at  arts.gov/bluestarmuseums .

Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the  National Endowment for the Arts  in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide.
The Dey Mansion Washington's Headquarters, located in Preakness Valley Park in Wayne, is a historic house museum listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. The museum has been curated to provide the visitor with an experience of stepping back in time. As you walk through the front door, you are transported back to Colonial New Jersey and the home of Colonel Theunis Dey in the year 1780, when it served as General George Washington’s Headquarters.

Under the direction of the Department of Cultural & Historic Affairs, the museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of the Dey Family and the important role that their home played as General George Washington’s Headquarters during July, October and November of 1780. Through tours, lectures, and special events, the Dey Mansion Museum promotes the exploration of life in Colonial America, the events and people of the American Revolution, and the need for historic preservation.

The Dey Mansion Museum is open year-round for tours, lectures, and other special events. Please visit  www.deymansion.org  for more information.

Passaic County Summer Events
Summer has (unofficially) begun! Join us in the Passaic County Park System all summer long for programs offered by our Parks & Recreation Department and Department of Cultural and Historic Affairs. From yoga to dog training to graffiti murals, there's something for everyone! See all of our upcoming events on our calendar.
Tavern Night at Dey Mansion: On June 8 from 6 to 10 p.m., enjoy beer brewing, music from the American Revolution period, vendors, games and food. Family friendly!

Meditation in the Park: Join us in Garret Mountain's Great Meadow every Monday at 9:30 a.m. and every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for this soothing class. Classes begin June 17. 

Free Fitness Training: Learn how to use the outdoor fitness circuit equipment in our parks. Starting June 20, classes will be held in Goffle Brook Park every Thursday and Saturday at 9 a.m. Classes in Weasel Brook Park will be held every Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Graffiti Mural in the Park: Join us in Weasel Brook Park as we create a one-of-a-kind piece of art. Open to all ages! To register, please contact Andrea Coloma at 973-706-6640 ext. 1150 or email   andreac@passaiccountynj.org.