Cedar Hill Celebrates the Holidays

Elementary school holds annual 'Holidays and Traditions' celebration.

The following was submitted by the Cedar Hill School. Have something you'd like to announce? Upload it here. Cedar Hill School was loud with the sounds of music, laughter, and enjoyment Thursday as the school celebrated its annual “Holidays and Traditions” day. “Holidays and Traditions is a way for the children to be exposed to the foods, music, games, and stories of holidays from around the world.  It’s a tradition that started at the school before I arrived, and it’s a well loved day,” said Principal Dr. Michael Raj.  “Parent volunteers come into the school bringing dishes to pass, music, photos, books, and stories of their traditions, including Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Christmas.  The children learn a lot through seeing, hearing, …

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Elf on the Shelf Hiding Spots: Share Your Photos

Our Patch Elf on the Shelf has gotten ahold of our computer and now wants to know what his buddy elves are up to. Share your photos here!

Hi friends! I'm the Patch Elf on the Shelf. Call me Patchy. I've heard about more of my friends hanging around the area lately, and I wondered what they were up to. Could their families post pictures here on Patch to show me? I'd love to catch up with them. We all go back to Santa on Christmas Eve, but in the meantime, we'll be watching you! Cheers, Patchy the Elf Add your photo by clicking on the green "Upload Photos and Videos" icon.

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Santa Express Chugs Through Morris County

Rides lasted nearly an hour, children treated to special visit from St. Nick.

A unique way to celebrate the holidays is to take a historic train ride with Santa. Trains departed from the Whippany Rail Museum throughout the day on Saturday.

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Best Holiday Photo Sponsored By Unique Photo: Submission Deadline Extended

Submissions are still being accepted. Upload your best holiday photo in Montville.

‘Tis the season to spread the holiday cheer in Montville. In partnership with Unique Photo, Patch is launching a photo contest for the picture that best captures all the things we love about the holiday season.  Enter our contest to give your photo the chance to compete and then browse the contest to see other entries from your Patch. The submission deadline has been extended until Dec. 16 at 11:59 p.m. The winners from 10 participating area Patches will then go on to the final round, where the winner will be awarded a $500 gift card to Unique Photo. Here’s how it works: Beginning Nov. 26, upload your favorite photo to this article (it’s super easy—just make sure you are a registered user first. In the caption, tell us who or what is in …

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85-Foot Christmas Tree Survives Sandy, Keeps Woman's Memory Alive

Bloomingdale man lights up Norway Spruce every year as tribute to late wife.

Hanukkah Recipes: Miraculous Eating to Honor the Maccabees

Enjoy these terrific recipes to make your Festival of Lights celebrating extra special.

When one thinks of Hanukkah eating, the thought usually goes to the traditional: yummy potato latkes, crisp apple fritters, cookies and sweets and the myriad varieties of Sufganiyot (doughnuts). But dishes served to celebrate the annual Jewish Festival of Lights encompass so much more. Here are some terrific recipes we've tried and adored. These delicacies offer a miraculous way to wish your family and friends Ah Lichtige Hanukkah... a bright Hanukkah. We could eat this all day and all year long (and, in fact, we do!): This traditional golden brown Jewish egg bread is light and fluffy, rich and beautiful, making it perfect for Hanukkah feasts. This delicious recipe comes from A Taste of Home. Coming from the Sephardic tradition, this salad…

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Hanukkah 2012: Celebrating the Festival of Lights Locally

'Latkerama' and public menorah lighting scheduled to help families celebrate.

Saturday marks the first of eight nights of Hanukkah for the Jewish community. As Jews are preparing their menorahs, or, in Hebrew, "hanukiah," Saturday, the leaders of two local temples are reminding their congregants, and others, of the reason for the season. Rabbi Mark Finkel, of the Pine Brook Jewish Center, said Hanukkah is a reminder of religious freedom, "which we take for granted in the United States as one of our freedoms." "It was something that was rarely known in the ancient world," he said. "We see, in terms of our world today, that there is religious intolerance." Finkel said the story of Hanukkah dates back to ancient times when a group of Jews, the Maccabees, had to fight for their freedom. After returning to their temple …

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Finding the Perfect Christmas Tree With Some Help

Vreeland Farms owners describe the difference between some of the most popular trees this season.

Each of them is green, has needles and reminds people of the upcoming holiday. But not every Christmas tree is the same. Laura Cluff and Mike Casella, both 27-year-old West Milford residents, have co-owned Vreeland Farms, on Route 202 in Montville, since July. The couple is leasing the farm stand, hoping to build a bigger business and eventually get married. "We're trying to start our own business and trying to succeed," Casella said. The stand, which was previously owned by Cluff's aunt, has continued to offer specialty items, like jellies and jams, syrup, spices, and non-traditional items, like the colorful spinners that can be seen from Route 202. The stand does not offer particular produce items all year, rather focuses on seasonal …

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