Mayor Dr. Joseph P. Scarpelli and the Board of Commissioners announced plans for the Memorial Day Weekend starting with “A Walk in the Park” a tour sponsored by the Nutley Historical Society that will be held on Sunday, May 27. The tour, led by Nutley Museum director John Simko, begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Mud Hole (near the intersection of Passaic Avenue and Vreeland Avenue) and travels along the Third River. Mr. Simko will discuss the river’s role in Nutley’s history as a source for early industry, as inspiration for world-renowned artists, as a symbol of civic pride, as an important boundary marker, and as a fitting memorial to our war veterans.
Visit the sites of three former mills, tour the pre-Revolutionary War Van Giesen homestead, find out why the Third River splits in two, learn about the beginnings of our hundred-year-old Carnegie Library and even older Town Hall, and walk through one of Nutley’s oldest cemeteries. “A Walk in the Park” ends at eleven o’clock inside Nutley’s first brick schoolhouse (now the Nutley Historical Society and Museum) where refreshments will be served. The museum will be open and tour-related pieces from our archives will be on display.
“A Walk in the Park” is free, but is limited to 30 people and requires registration. You can register for the tour by emailing johnsimko1014@gmail.com or by calling 973-752-8984 and leaving a message with your phone number or e-mail address. You will receive confirmation via e-mail or a phone call.
The Township’s Annual Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 28, 2018. Weather permitting, the Nutley War Memorials Remembrance Ceremony will start at 7:30am at the VFW Post 493. Following the Remembrance Ceremony, we will be honoring our Nutley fallen firefighters at the Public Safety Building at 10:30am. Our Memorial Day Parade opening ceremonies and welcome will begin at 11:00am at the Park Oval. The parade route is the same as previous years – Chestnut Street to Passaic Avenue to Centre Street to Franklin Avenue, with the reviewing stage in front of JHW Middle School. Rev. Pam Bakal will offer the prayers at the opening ceremonies and this year’s Grand Marshall is John P. McGuire.
“The Memorial Day Parade serves as a tribute to honor all of our U.S. service men and women who have honorably served and made the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation” said Mayor Scarpelli
Mayor Scarpelli and the Board of Commissioners will be inviting family members of soldiers, both past and present, to march in the parade, and is collecting names of those in our community who are currently serving. These names will be added to an already existing banner which will proudly be carried throughout the parade, and then displayed on the Nutley Park Oval fence outside of the Town Hall. We would also like to thank the Patriots Club for placing American Flags on the veteran’s gravestones at the cemeteries in town.
