‘Stranger danger incident’ near school board office

A man in a red Acura offered a fifth-grade girl a ride Monday at 5 p.m., the Madison school district is reporting on its Web site.

Police Lt. Darren Dachisen, a department spokesperson, said the girl declined the ride and the man, who was described as being about 20 years old, drove on. It occurred on Woodland Road, near the borough school board offices.

The school district labeled it a "stranger danger incident.''

School officials are asking students to refrain from contact with strangers and report any suspicious encounters.

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Chatham Senior Services celebrates renovations, 20th anniversary

The Senior Services of the Chathams' Board of Trustees threw a party at the end of January to show off the newly renovated Senior Center. Over 65 people attended the event and they also took some great photos (which appear after the jump.)

Board members Jeff Keating and Bill Fagnant serve drinks.

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Chatham man scores third win on Jeopardy!

Chatham resident Vijay Balse won on Jeopardy for a third time Monday night, bringing his total earnings to $70,801.

Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek with contestant Vijay Balse of Chatham. (Photo courtesy "Jeopardy!" Productions, Inc.)

He finished Monday’s episode with $14,399. In the first episode, which aired Thursday, March 4, he won $28,801. He took $27,601 on the second episode Friday.

He'll continue to appear and compete as defending champion until he loses.

Trivia buff Balse auditioned for the ABC quiz show six times starting in the early 1990s before being called to appear on the show in November. The shows were taped in December.

A native of Mumbai, India, where he attended undergraduate school, he said he's been watching the show since he moved to the U.S. in 1985 -- the year after Jeopardy debuted.

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47-46: Chatham girls basketball wins 2nd consecutive state crown

By SANDY SEEGERS • DAILY RECORD

NORTH CALDWELL — Lauren Winschuh of Chatham had a simple plan when she entered Monday night's North 2 Group II girls basketball final against West Essex.

"I couldn't make any mistakes," Winschuh said. "There was a lot going on."

There certainly was.

Winschuh, a sophomore forward, entered the game with 2:03 left, replacing Kelsey Hart who had fouled out. At the time, the top-seeded Knights held a two-point lead.

West Essex's lead expanded to six points on four free throws but the second-seeded Cougars, receiving two critical baskets from Winschuh, pulled out a 47-46 victory to earn their second consecutive sectional title.

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60 wine vendors, 30 restaurants, scotch, micro brews at Taste of Madison Monday

Felicia Williams, store manager of Whole Foods, shows off some of the market's offerings at last year's Taste of Madison. (Photo by Elbaliz Mendez)

Thirty restaurants and 60 wine vendors are expected to be at the ninth annual Taste of Madison fundraiser, organizers said.

The event, featuring signature dishes from eateries in the borough, is scheduled for Monday at the Ferguson Recreation Center of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

VIP admission — which gives attendees first dibs on the culinary offerings — starts at 6 p.m. General admission starts at 7 p.m.

The event will feature wines from around the world and specialty bars with micro brews and single malt scotch, event co-chair Carmela Moeller said. Gourmet coffees and desserts also will be served, and valet parking will be available.

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Grace Church features lunchtime organ meditations

Anne Matlack, organist and choir director at Grace Church, 4 Main St., Madison, and assistant organist Eric Stroud are again offering lunchtime organ meditations throughout Lent, running through Friday, March 26. The recitals begin at 12:15 p.m., following brief noondayprayer, and end at 12:45 p.m.

Anne Matlack, organist and choir director at Grace Church in Madison

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Church holding Spring Exchange Sale of children’s items

Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church in Chatham will hold its annual Children's Spring Exchange Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The church, at Main Street and Elmwood Avenue, will offer low-cost, gently used children's clothing and equipment. Sale items include children's spring and summer clothing (infant to size 14), toys, infant equipment, athletic and dance shoes and children's videos and video games.

For more information, contact Nancy Kent at 973-635-5481 or call the church office Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 973-635-5567.

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Where Is It?

Where Is It?

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DARE fundraiser pancake breakfast on Saturday

Bring six bucks and your appetite. From Madison police:

DARE fundraiser breakfast

Please support the DARE pancake breakfast fundraiser this Saturday 3/13/10. It will be held at the Madison Elks Lodge located at the corner of Main St. & Rosedale Ave. This all you can eat pancake breakfast will be from 8:00am until 11:00am and will cost $6.00 per person. Thank you for your support!

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Chatham swimmer Strand takes win over frequent foe

By JANE HAVSY • DAILY RECORD

Michael Strand, a Chatham junior, won the state backstroke title Sunday at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.

Strand used strong work off the walls to hold off Luke Papendick, a Kinnelon sophomore who has been swimming against Strand since they were 12.

"It's awesome," said Strand, who used a similar strategy of strong turns to place second to Henry Scott of Columbia in the butterfly.

Strand's winning backstroke time of 50.03 seconds was just 13 hundredths ahead of Papendick, the defending champion in the event.

When Strand stepped down from the podium after receiving his medal, Chatham coach Dave Steele told him, "We've been waiting two years for that." Strand was less than half a second off Cougars alumnus Chris Dart's state record of 49.67, a possible goal for next year.

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Iraq war plays out in Madison ring

By ROB JENNINGS / DAILY RECORD

"The Patriot" had wrestling villain "Saddam Insane" on the mat. (KAREN FUCITO / SPECIAL TO THE DAILY RECORD)

The early days of the war in Iraq were revisited Sunday at Madison High School, but not as part of a history lesson.

Two wrestlers known as "Saddam Insane" and "Hasheem 'Chemical' Ali" grappled with "The Patriot" and the "World Famous Wrestling Clown" inside the school gymnasium as part of a fundraiser for the high school baseball team.

There were more than 150 spectators, each paying either $18 for ringside seats or $16 for bleacher seats for several bouts featuring wrestlers from the Hazlet-based National Wrestling Superstars.

The event was sponsored by the Madison High School "Bullpen Club," which due to budget cuts has been raising money for athlete uniforms and other supplies.

Ring announcer Johnny Falco — not his real name — kicked off the first match at 3:15 p.m. with the standard introduction: "Let's get ready to rumble."

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Madison hockey stuns Chatham in quarterfinals

By DAN BREEMAN • SPECIAL TO THE DAILY RECORD

MORRIS TWP. — In a state tournament brimming with upsets, the Madison hockey team may have pulled off the biggest one to date on Sunday afternoon.

Led by a pair of goals from freshman Erik Andersson and stellar goaltending from freshman netminder Grant Perry (33 saves), the Dodgers, seeded 21st, stunned fourth seed Chatham 3-2 in the quarterfinal round of the Public B tournament at Mennen Arena.

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The London Day School – Tour & Summer/Fall Registration

Title: The London Day School - Tour & Summer/Fall Registration
Location: 10 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932
Link out: Click here
Description: The London Day School (LDS) is a premier, enrichment based Pre-School and Kindergarten, offering both half and full day programs.

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Scenes by Chatham Twp. photographer

For your viewing pleasure, a selection of photos submitted by Chatham Township photographer Elizabeth Niesuchouski. (Click for full size)

Red Barn and Waterfall, Chester, Vt.

"Welcome to Madison"

Fallingwater, Pa.

Christmas tree in Chatham Borough (from a previous year)

(Do you have photos? Post them yourself. Or send the files, along with some information about them, to me at jake@injersey.com)

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Happy birthday, Widget

Widget the Beaver, the friendly puppet mascot of The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, had a birthday party at the museum on Feb. 28.

Guests were asked to wear brown, Widget's favorite color.

Museum Education Coordinator Meg Wastie, Widget the Beaver and Julian DiCrescenzo of Madison celebrate Widget's birthday in a previous year with a craft activity. (Courtesy METC)

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