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Community Corner

Rose Guide: Support the Arts this Weekend in Madison

Besides baseball and blood drives, there are a few fundraisers this weekend to keep music alive in Madison.

Last school year, Madison High School's Director of bands Russ Batsch put together the school's first marching band in over 20 years. They performed at football games, parades, traveled to Boston for competition with money from fundraisers, and impressed crowds at the West Essex High School Band competition, all during their first year together.

The band is already working to exceed last year's accomplishments: it has already doubled in size and is recruiting incoming freshman talent, and members are already practicing even more than they did last year.

Funding, however, is always an issue with the arts, especially in times when schools across the state are forced to cut back on everything from faculty to basic supplies.

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So the marching band is working even harder this weekend by holding a car wash on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hollenbach Family Chiropractic parking lot, 250 Main St. Each car wash is $10.00. The event is open to all, and highlights a weekend in Rose City with multiple fundraisers, as well as baseball games, live music and a blood drive.

Friday, July 16th

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  •  The Madison junior baseball team will face Par-Troy West in District 1 tournament play at 7 p.m. at Smith Field.
  • The Madison Recreation Department is holding a fundraiser at Grace Hall inside Grace Church from 7:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. for their summer musical, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." The cast and crew of the musical will be performing favorites from various Broadway shows, from such classics as "Phantom of the Opera," "West Side Story"  and "Rent," as well as newer hit musicals such as "Wicked." Dessert will also be served, and kids under 13 get half off the $10.00 admission fee.
  • George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man will be performed at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at 8 p.m.
  • Trumpeter Ralph Douglas brings his group to Shanghai Jazz for a performance starting at 7 p.m. No cover, but reservations required.

Saturday, July 17th

  • The Madison Masonic Temple at 170 Main St. is hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.. Donors must be 17+ and in good health, and are asked to bring identification and eat a meal before giving blood. Each donor will also be given a free cholesterol screening.
  • "Arms and the Man" has two scheduled performances at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey on Saturday, the first at 2 p.m. and the second at 8 p.m.
  • Teenage pianist Emmet Cohen and his trio, who performed with Oscar Peterson at the Grammys and are now returning from a European tour, will be performing on Saturday at Shanghai Jazz with seatings at both 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.

Sunday, July 18th

  • "Arms and the Man" has two more scheduled performances on Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
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