THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT

This July 4th marked a major milestone for the United States. What was it?

Stay Informed: Sparta Board Agendas & Minutes

• Council Meetings
• Environmental Commission
• Planning Board Meetings
• Zoning Board Meetings

Township news Snippets and upcoming meetings

Sparta's Fourth of July Parade Draws a Big Crowd for America's 250th
Sparta's Independence Day tradition brought the town out in force this year. The Elks Lodge #2356 parade stepped off from East Shore Trail on Saturday, July 4, with former Sparta Police Chief Ernest Reigstad serving as Grand Marshal, and wound down to Dykstra Park for a beer tent, kids' zone, food trucks and local vendors.

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/sparta/sections/arts-and-entertainment/articles/sparta-elks-fourth-of-july-parade-draws-big-crowd

A Cooldown Is Finally on the Way After a Scorching Holiday Weekend
After an Extreme Heat Watch pushed temperatures into the high 90s and 100s over the holiday, Sparta is trading the heat for a soggier, milder pattern this week, with periodic showers and thunderstorms replacing the dangerous highs.

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=41.0524&lon=-74.6279&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=text&TextType=1

Our Lady of the Lake's Annual Carnival Opens This Week With a Special Purpose
The parish's biggest fundraiser of the year returns to the church grounds on South Sparta Avenue Tuesday, July 7 through Saturday, July 11, 6 to 10 p.m. nightly. Beyond the midway and White Elephant Sale benefiting the parish's sister church in Haiti, this year's carnival carries extra meaning: proceeds will also help Sparta residents Scott and Chrissy Feely as Scott continues recovering from a serious medical crisis.

https://beaconnj.org/annual-our-lady-of-the-lake-parish-carnival-returns-july-7-to-11/

Sussex County Library System Kicks Off Its Summer Reading Challenge
The "Unearth a Story" Summer Reading Program runs through July 25, open to all ages with raffle tickets earned for reading books, audiobooks or magazines. The Louise Childs Branch in nearby Stanhope is hosting programming throughout the summer alongside the county's other branches.

https://www.sussex.nj.us/m/newsflash/home/detail/144

Local Scouts Earn Merit Badges on the Appalachian Trail
Kaylee Kelso and Barbara Hackett of Troop 1150 earned their Expedition Merit badges hiking the Pochuck Boardwalk, a scenic wetlands section of the Appalachian Trail in Vernon, learning about local wildlife and native plants along the way.

https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/troop-1150-members-earn-expedition-merit-badges-on-pochuck-boardwalk-hike-DY5980072

Quote Of The Day

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

- Winston Churchill

Here's one that might surprise you:

Just a few miles from Sparta, in Ogdensburg, sits what's known as the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World." The Sterling Hill Mine operated as a working zinc mine from the 1630s all the way until 1986, making it the last underground mine to close in New Jersey. When it shut down, brothers Richard and Robert Hauck bought the property and turned it into the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in 1990.

What makes the spot so special is what happens when the lights go out. More than 90 minerals found in the Sterling Hill and neighboring Franklin Mine glow in brilliant colors under ultraviolet light, and dozens of those minerals have never been found anywhere else on Earth.

Visitors can still walk the old tunnels today and watch ordinary-looking rocks burst into neon greens, reds and oranges in the museum's "Rainbow Room."

Next time you're looking for a local day trip, it's worth the drive.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_Hill_Mining_Museum

Day: Tuesday
Date: July 7, 2026
High: 73°F
Low: 59°F
Description: ⛈️ Chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon (50%)

Day: Wednesday
Date: July 8, 2026
High: 80°F
Low: 63°F
Description: ☀️ Mostly sunny

Day: Thursday
Date: July 9, 2026
High: 85°F
Low: 67°F
Description: ⛅ Partly sunny, chance of showers after 2pm (30%)

Day: Friday
Date: July 10, 2026
High: 84°F
Low: 65°F
Description: 🌦️ Partly sunny, showers likely, thunderstorms possible (60%)

Day: Saturday
Date: July 11, 2026
High: 83°F
Low: 62°F
Description: ⛈️ Partly sunny, chance of showers and thunderstorms (40%)

Day: Sunday
Date: July 12, 2026
High: 82°F
Low: 61°F
Description: ☀️ Mostly sunny

Day: Monday
Date: July 13, 2026
High: 83°F
Low: 62°F
Description: ☀️ Mostly sunny

Dinner Delivery and Catering

Indulge in a Culinary Experience

Whether you're planning a wedding, shower, milestone celebration, or in‑office luncheon, Amy - the creative force behind The Hungry Hearth -  brings warmth, flavor, and unforgettable hospitality to every event. Her custom catering menus are crafted with the freshest locally sourced ingredients and tailored to your vision, making each gathering feel personal, delicious, and beautifully memorable.

From elegant bridal showers to cozy baby showers, from Communion and confirmation parties to polished corporate luncheons, Amy transforms your occasion into a feast worth celebrating. Every dish is infused with heart, comfort, and the signature homemade touch her clients can’t stop raving about.

And for busy families, Amy still delivers her beloved dinner‑delivery magic every Tuesday and Thursday - offering generous family‑style meals, individual portions, and irresistible add‑ons that make weeknights effortless.

Let The Hungry Hearth elevate your next event with food that feels like home and tastes extraordinary.

Contact Amy today!

Email:thehungryhearth@gmail.com
Website: thehungryhearth.com

Adopt Me Today!
Proudly Partnering with Father John's Animal House

🐱 Meet Cookie — Your New Fur-ever Friend!

Adopt Cookie Today! 🐾 🧡

Breed: Domestic Medium Hair
Age: Around 6 years young
♀️ Gender: Female
🏥 Health: Spayed, Vaccinated, Microchipped 💉 ✨

Temperament: Gentle once she trusts you, with a funny habit of greeting you with a little hiss before melting into purrs 🐾

Meet Cookie! 🌟

Cookie has been through more change than any cat should have to handle. She lost the owner who loved her, then landed with a family member whose resident cat wasn't having it. Somewhere along the way, this sweet six-year-old girl learned that the world isn't always safe, and it shows in the way she guards her heart at first.

Here's her quirk, and it's a good one: Cookie says hello with a little hiss. It sounds tough, but stick around and you'll see it's really just her way of saying "I'm still getting used to you." Give her a few minutes of quiet company and that hiss turns into a purr, then into a cat who wants nothing more than to curl up in your lap. She just needs someone willing to let her set the pace.

Cookie would do best in a calm, quiet home without little kids or dogs, someone patient enough to let her come around on her own terms. She's not asking for much, just the time and space to feel safe again, and once she does, her people say she's every bit as affectionate as a cat who's never known heartbreak.

She's been through so much already. She deserves a warm home to spend every one of those days feeling loved.

👉 Fill out an adoption questionnaire at www.fatherjohns.org/adopt
📅 Appointments required Wednesdays & Fridays
🚪 Walk-ins welcome all other days (appointments preferred)

50 Father John’s Lane
Lafayette, NJ 07848

info@fatherjohns.org

(973) 300-5909

Father John's Animal House is a no-kill, 501(c)(3) shelter supported entirely by donations. Every animal is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before adoption.

Our Lady of the Lake CARNIVAL
July 7–11 , 2026

The Carnival is the largest fundraiser of the year. Please support it.
If you have questions, you may contact Gil Gibbs at 973-670-7217 
or email: carnival@ollsparta.org

Please help support our local events:

🎪 Our Lady of the Lake Parish Carnival — Tuesday, July 7 through Saturday, July 11, 6-10 p.m. | 294 South Sparta Ave. Rides, games, food and the beloved White Elephant Sale, all for a great cause this year.

🎨 Intro to Studio Art at The Art Project — Thursday, July 9, 5 p.m. | 1A Main Street, Sparta. A laid-back way to try your hand at something creative.

🏖️ BBQ at the Beach — Thursday, July 9, 5 p.m. | 45 Lake Ter, Sparta. Casual lakeside grilling with neighbors.

🎸 Sparta Arts Summer Concerts: The Outcrops — Friday, July 10, 7 p.m. | Dykstra Park. Free live music under the summer sky.

🎭 Bye Bye Birdie - Saturday Matinee — Saturday, July 11, 2 p.m. | Pehron Hall, First Presbyterian Church of Sparta, 32 Main Street. Rising Stars Youth Theatre takes the stage.

🍅 Dani & Ally at Sparta Farmers Market — Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m. | Sparta Farmers Market. Live acoustic music while you shop for the week.

🎬 Movie Night — Saturday, July 11, 8 p.m. | 45 Lake Ter, Sparta. Bring a blanket and settle in under the stars.

🐾 Storytime with Creature Comfort Pet Therapy — Saturday, July 18, 11 a.m. | Sparta Public Library, 22 Woodport Rd. Gentle therapy animals and story time make for a sweet morning.

🎤 Chris Gagg at the Homestead Rest — Saturday, July 18, 6 p.m. | The Homestead Rest. Acoustic folk to close out the weekend.

🕺 Friday Night Line Dancing at the Elks — Friday, July 17, 7:30 p.m. | Sparta Elks #2356.

🏈 Girls Flag Football Camp — Monday, July 20 - Thursday, July 23 | Pope John XXIII High School.

🏛️ Time Travelers: A Camp for Young History Lovers — Thursday, July 23 - Friday, July 24 | Sparta Train Station.

🎸 David Kraai at Krogh's — Thursday, July 23, 6:30 p.m. | Krogh's Restaurant & Brew Pub.

🎉 Maxwell & Molly's Purple Party - Hamburg & Sparta — Sunday, July 26, 10 a.m. | 4 N Village Blvd Suite D.

🧹 Clean-up Work Day — Saturday, July 25, 8:30 a.m. | Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.

🎭 Disney's Lion King Jr. - Saturday Matinee — Saturday, July 25, 2 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church of Sparta.

⛳ Summer Scramble Golf Outing — Friday, July 31, 7 a.m. | SkyView Golf Club.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Emergency - Police, Fire & Ambulance Call 
911

UTILITIES:

Jersey Central Power & Light
(888) 544-4877

Sparta Water & Sewer Utility
(973) 729-7133

TOWNSHIP OFFICES

Township Manager's Office
(973) 729-4471

Township Clerk
(973) 729-4471

Planning & Zoning
(973) 729-4471

Building Department
(973) 729-4471

Tax Collector
(973) 729-4903

Recreation Department
(973) 729-2383

Public Works
(973) 729-7133

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Sparta Public Library
(973) 729-3101

Chamber of Commerce
(973) 579-1811

Board of Education
(973) 729-2155

Sparta High School
(973) 729-6191

Department of Public Works
(973) 729-7133

HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

Sparta Township Health & Senior Services
(973) 729-8093

Sparta Senior Services
(973) 729-2383

Sussex County Division of Social Services (Newton)
973-383-3600

Sparta Community Food Pantry
(862) 266-0563

Question: This July 4th marked a major milestone for the United States. What was it?

Answer: America's 250th birthday - the semiquincentennial. Sparta marked the occasion with its Fourth of July parade down East Shore Trail to Dykstra Park, part of nationwide celebrations of 250 years of independence.

Newsletter Advertisements and Sponsorships Available!

Contact Sparta Spotlight:

SpartaSpotlight@gmail.com

Call or Text: (570) 856-8163

Note: We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of event details, business updates, and local news. However, plans can change! Please confirm with organizers or official sources before attending. We appreciate your understanding as we strive to keep our community informed and connected.