MORRIS COUNTY — Gubernatorial candidates Republican State Senator Jon Bramnick and Democrat former Senate President Steve Sweeney today released the following statement in response to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

“The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump this weekend is a stark reminder of the need for civility in our political discourse. Disagreement is a foundation of our cherished political system, but the current environment in which political opponents are treated as enemies breeds extremism and political violence. We condemn this weekend’s horrific events and urge all residents and elected leaders to treat each other with civility and respect.”

PARSIPPANY — Community Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with severe mental health diagnoses and homeless veterans and their families, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from Bank of America. This grant will enable Community Hope to continue providing essential services such as shelter, food, clothing, and medicine to those in need while promoting economic mobility in New Jersey.

• The need for essential services, especially shelter for unhoused veterans, increased significantly after the expiration of the CARES Act.
• Community Hope, founded in 1985, has provided housing and support services for nearly 40 years, including the 95-bed Hope for Veterans Program and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.
• The grant will help Community Hope meet current demands and prepare for future needs.
  
  Carmine V. Deo, CEO of Community Hope, said, “We are thrilled to receive this award from Bank of America. The Foundation’s generosity will allow us to continue providing essential services to some of New Jersey communities’ most at-risk and underserved members.” President of Bank of America New Jersey, Alberto Garofalo, said, “Access to safe and suitable housing is crucial for health, education, and employment opportunities. With partners like Community Hope, we can provide housing and necessary support services to individuals with mental illness and veterans.”

Community Hope provides housing and support services to thousands of veterans, veteran families, active military members, and people with mental illness each year. Since 1985, it has enabled thousands to recover from mental illness, homelessness, substance use, and poverty.

Bank of America is a global financial institution that provides banking, investing, asset management, and other financial services to individual consumers, businesses, and corporations. It serves approximately 69 million clients in the United States and operates in over 35 countries.

Community Hope is located at 959 Route 46 East, Suite 402, Parsippany.

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey High School Republican (NJHSREPS) Vice Chairman Chris Ilic recently met with Congressman Jeff Van Drew in Washington, D.C., to discuss legislative initiatives involving the NJHSREPS.

In a bipartisan effort, the New Jersey High School Republicans and New Jersey High School Democrats introduced the Involve Our Youth Act at the Trenton Statehouse. In January, this bill passed both the Assembly and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy. The legislation aims to enhance youth civic participation across New Jersey, allowing students one excused absence per school year to attend civic events.

The New Jersey High School Republicans are developing another bill focused on youth military education, which they hope to introduce soon to the New Jersey Legislature.

Founded in January 2021, the New Jersey High School Republicans (NJHSREPS) serve as the official youth auxiliary of the NJGOP. Their mission is to unite and mobilize teens interested in political advocacy and making a difference. NJHSREPS has gained recognition for its public policy and campaign efforts throughout the state.

For more information, visit their website: www.njhsreps.org.

NJHSREPS is also set to host a Young Conservative Brunch on Friday, July 26th, at the Stage House Tavern in Somerset, featuring speakers such as Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea.

PARSIPPANY — On Tuesday, July 9, Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio was at the scene of a horrific accident on Littleton Road, and was heartbroken over this tragedy where our community experienced the senseless loss of a child’s life due to a motor vehicle crash.  In the wake of recent fatalities on State and County roads here in Parsippany, I am calling for action from the NJDOT to increase pedestrian safety and respond with a fix on their streets.  I’m asking for the county’s help and commitment to slow down vehicles and reduce the overall risk to our residents and visitors on their roads.

I have spoken with Chief Pantina to implement aggressive action to slow cars down on
Parsippany roads and to be relentless in enforcing the laws to save lives and protect our
community. Safety cannot take a back seat. The Parsippany Police Department will immediately begin expanded enforcement against drivers who fail to recognize the importance of pedestrians and bicyclists on our streets. I have spoken with our Engineering department to prioritize pedestrians alongside cars for all ongoing and future road projects. Instead of just focusing on pavement condition and paving the street in kind, they will layer in safety improvements for all resurfacing projects.

I am truly saddened by the unnecessary loss of a community member last night, and my heart goes out to his family.

This article was written by Mayor James Barberio.

MORRIS COUNTY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced the launch of the application process for students from New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District seeking to be nominated for a U.S. military service academy this coming year.

“I am so proud of the men and women from my district considering careers in military service. As a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, I know our nation’s service academies provide world-class academics and leadership training that is second to none. There is no better place than one of the U.S. military academies for New Jersey students interested in a career as a military officer,” said Rep. Sherrill.

The application process for a Service Academy nomination is currently open and the deadline to submit your application is October 24, 2024. 

The nomination application is open to high school seniors applying to the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, as well as college students looking to transfer into one of the Academies. Students seeking an appointment to one of these institutions must receive a nomination to be appointed to attend. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination.

The Congresswoman can only offer a limited number of nominations yearly, and the nomination process is highly competitive. Furthermore, only a fraction of nominated students ultimately receive an appointment to attend an Academy.  

Due to the high number of qualified applicants, the Congresswoman has a competitive application process that considers the academic, athletic, extracurricular activities, and community involvement of candidates who apply. In addition, every candidate is interviewed by Congresswoman Sherrill’s Academy Nomination Board, which consists of Academy alumni, military veterans, and civic leaders from the community.

Click here for more information and to complete an application.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Rep. Sherrill’s office at (973) 526-5668 or email the NJ-11 Academy Nomination Coordinator at willy.tolba@mail.house.gov.