MORRIS COUNTY

Olde Suckasunny Day delights in Roxbury

Michael Izzo
@MIzzoDR

ROXBURY People came early and flooded Main Street for the 28th annual Olde Suckasunny Day, the family-friendly event featuring food and entertainment in the heart of the township.

The 28th annual Olde Suckasunny Day takes place along Main Street Saturday.

Hundreds of people packed the event less than an hour after it began, to avoid the forecasted afternoon rain.

Three Main Street organizations sponsored the event, including the Roxbury Public Library, the Succasunna United Methodist Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna, with a portion of the roadway between those buildings closed until 2 p.m. for the celebration.

The free event featured food and games for kids, plenty of vendor booths including nonprofit groups and local businesses, as well as plenty of shows and demonstrations. Families came and went throughout mid-morning and early afternoon, some stopping by after soccer games with kids still in uniform.

Gavin Dixon, 3, of Randolph, takes aim at clown cans as he plays a game at First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna as part of Olde Suckasunny Day.

Jen Wasek, president of the Roxbury Public Library Board of Trustees, set up a booth in front of the library promoting several events including the new REACH initiative — Read Educate Advocate Connect Harmonize — which seeks to promote more interaction between residents and the library.

“We’re more than just books,” Wasek said. “We want to be a bigger part of the community.”

Wasek was also showcasing a “Tablet to Tablet” fundraiser, which offers contributors the chance to have their names drawn onto a mural that follows the history of the written word from the time of stone tablets to today’s digital ones, with scrolls and books in between.

30 slots are available for those contributing $100 to the library to have their names drawn onto the tablets, scrolls, books, and more.

“We’ve been getting a great response to far,” Wasek said. “I think I’d want my name on one of the books.”

Steve Barosi and son Michael, 31/2, check out a book on big machines at one of the vendor booths.

The mural will be drawn inside the library by Roxbury art teacher Isabel Speronza and completed in time for the new “Home for the Holidays” celebration this December.

“It’s Roxbury’s first attempt at a winter festival,” said councilman Marty Schmidt. “It’s going to be a fun celebration, the 5th of December.”

Pastor Rev. Carie Morgan is in her first year as minister at the First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna, and has been looking forward to her first Olde Suckasunny Day.

“The church looks forward to this all year,” Morgan said. “It’s a great way to be a part of the community. We open our building up and welcome people inside. I can’t wait to enjoy the day myself.”

The First Presbyterian Church was selling cookies, to benefit the church’s women’s ministry, and chili, to raise money for the Faith Kitchen in Dover.

Inside the church, they also held a Jazz Concert, a first for Suckasunny Day. Music from the Bon Temps Brass Band flowed out the church windows for everyone to hear on Main Street.

Roger Hendrickson, has co-chaired the Olde Suckasunny Day committee for the United Methodist Church of Succasunna for nearly three decades.

“After 30 years, this is like clockwork. It always seems to work out nicely,” Hendrickson said. “It’s all about having a good day.”

Hendrickson said the two churches and the library coordinate to ensure there is no overlap between each other’s food, vendors and games, and several local groups ensure it all runs smoothly.

Bryan Kunze, a fireman and EMT with Roxbury Fire Department, buckles Drew Kraus, 4, of Hopatcong into a stair chair at the 28th annual Olde Suckasunny Day on Saturday. At right is Liam Connolly, 5, of Succasunna.

“The volunteers show up, and everything works out. We have help from local Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Roxbury High School marching band,” Hendrickson said. “It’s a nice community effort between the two churches and the library, and also the rescue squad and fire department, who do a great job coordinating, but they’re ready to go if those sirens go off.”

The United Methodist Church offered plenty of food on site including ice cream from Cliff’s, and hamburgers and hot dogs cooked by church volunteers. They also hosted a thrift shop in the church basement with proceeds benefitting the church.

The street in front of the church building featured music, shows from martial arts groups, and an afternoon puppet show.

In recent years, Hendrickson said the church has tried to move more of their events into the street from the church grounds, giving the day a more “block party” vibe.

Debbie Roberts of Oak Ridge brought her nine-year-old son Nicholas to Suckasunny Day.

“I come every year,” Debbie Roberts said. “I like to look around at all the booths, it’s fun.”

Nicholas Roberts knew exactly what he was looking forward to.

“I want to go on the bounce houses. It looks very fun,” he said. “And get some barbecue food and cotton candy.”

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com