Turtle Back Zoo announces new attendance record

WEST ORANGE, NJ — On Wednesday, Dec. 21, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. welcomed the Vickers family from Bloomfield as the 755,240th visitors to Turtle Back Zoo during 2016. This breaks the annual attendance record set last year and is the 12th consecutive year that a new annual attendance record has been established. “We […]

Become a volunteer docent at the Turtle Back Zoo

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Essex County Turtle Back Zoo is recruiting volunteers for the 2017 Docent Class. Docents are volunteer educators who give educational talks, act as tour guides and are stationed throughout the Zoo to provide information to visitors about the Zoo and its animal collection. This is a highly selective volunteer position and […]

Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular returns

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The 10th annual Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo has begun and free admission is being offered. During each show, approximately 50 animal and holiday-themed figures will light up the winter night in Turtle Back Zoo and the surrounding South Mountain Recreation Complex. More than 100,000 […]

First ‘BARKtoberfest’ a success

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The first “BARKtoberfest” pet adoption event recently took place in the Berson Learning Center parking lot at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange on Oct. 29. The event raised more than $3,300 for participating animal shelters and rescue groups, including The Friends of the Livingston Animal Shelter, part of the Healthy […]

Essex, Turtle Back Zoo partner with Sea Turtle Recovery Group

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Essex County recently announced a partnership with the nonprofit Sea Turtle Recovery from Northfield, N.J., to operate the Prudential Sea Turtle Recovery Center at Turtle Back Zoo. Currently under construction, the Sea Turtle Recovery Center is the first facility of its kind in New Jersey and will enable Turtle Back to […]

‘BARKtoberfest’ pet adoption event coming to Turtle Back Zoo

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Meet adoptable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens while supporting local animal shelters and rescue groups during “BARKtoberfest,” scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. The event will take place in the zoo’s Berson Learning Center, located directly off Northfield […]

County honors two exceptional Italian-Americans

County honors two exceptional Italian-Americans

NEWARK, NJ — The 2016 Essex County Italian-American Heritage Month observance was held Wednesday, Oct. 5, in the lobby of the Essex County Hall of Records. Decorated in the festive Italian colors of red, white and green, the lobby was a standing-room-only backdrop for the cultural festivities. During the cultural event, Essex County Executive Joseph […]

County announces eight winners in photography contest

ROSELAND, NJ — Eight local residents received awards in the annual Essex County Parks Photography Contest. Winners were awarded in adult and youth categories and were recognized on Saturday, Sept. 24, during the annual Fall Family Festival at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland. “We congratulate the winners of the Essex County Parks Photography […]

Craft beer tasting event to benefit the nonprofit Parks Foundation

WEST ORANGE, NJ – The Essex County Parks Department invites the public to participate in “Ales N’ Tails Oktoberfest” at the Turtle Back Zoo. Visitors will be able to sample more than 50 craft beers during a festive evening benefiting the Essex County Parks Foundation. “Ales N’ Tails Oktoberfest” will be Saturday, Oct. 1, from […]