County seniors seeking their Idol

SUSSEX COUNTY - Early in May, America settled the debate over who would become its newest American Idol when Taylor Hicks ran away with the much coveted title. But the more important question remains, “Who will become the next Sussex County Senior Idol?” Last year, senior singing sensation Betsy Edsall wowed audiences with her rendition of a Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” garnering her enough votes to catapult her to the final round of Sussex County’s first-ever Senior Idol contest, and ultimately landing her the winning title of Senior Idol. This year the title will again be up for grabs when the Sussex County Division of Senior Services hosts the second annual Senior Idol contest at the N.J. State Fair. On August 10, in the Performing Arts Tent of the Sussex County Fairgrounds, seniors age 55 and older are encouraged to come and showcase their talents - whatever they may be - as competition is not limited to singing alone. Contestants must be senior residents of Sussex County. They will be asked to complete an official entry form and submit a brief contestant bio. The order of performances will be determined by Senior Services, with actual performances to be judged by volunteer members of the Sussex County community. In judging entrants, the following will be considered: attire, voice, choreography, command of the audience, stage presence, skill level, and song selection. When selecting a talent to showcase, entrants should keep in mind that the contest is family-oriented and so their attire, lyrics, and the overall nature of their performance should be suitable for a family audience. Contestants should plan on arriving at the Performing Arts Tent by 11 a.m., or risk possible disqualification; performances will begin promptly at noon. Performers must be present throughout the entire competition in order to be eligible to win. Seniors interested in entering the competition can request an entry form from the Division of Senior Services by calling 973-579-0555, or by sending a written request to the Division of Senior Services at One Spring St., Newton, NJ 07860.