MORRIS COUNTY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) joined a press conference to highlight the critical importance of tax relief for New Jersey families, including teachers and first responders, and urge the Senate to include an adequate fix to the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap in the Senate version of the reconciliation package.

Rep. Sherrill was joined at the press conference by the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Tom Suozzi (NY-03), President of the American Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten, and President of the International Association of Fire Fighters Edward Kelly.

Before the SALT deduction was capped in the 2017 tax bill, 54 percent of NJ-11 families took the deduction.

“It’s wonderful to be here with such a great group of colleagues and friends to talk about this critical deduction,” said Rep. Sherrill. “When we’re standing here today and we see our teachers here, when we see our firefighters here, we’re talking about the backbone of the organizations that got us through COVID. These are people that we really couldn’t have made it through the darkest days of the pandemic without. And to see that they’re getting kneecapped by the SALT cap is really devastating. Not only are our middle-class families paying the price, but our communities are paying the price – and they’re paying for it with the services we all rely on. That’s why we are calling on the Senate to ensure the SALT deduction is addressed in the final version of this bill.”

“We are here today to fight for tax cuts for the hard-working families we represent, like the firefighters, teachers, and first responders who support communities across the country and in Northern New Jersey. By reinstating the State and Local Tax deduction, we will be putting money right back into the pockets of hard-working Jersey families and families around the country,” said Rep. Gottheimer. “Now, I am again asking our Senate colleagues to keep moving forward, to include restoring SALT as part of their legislation.”

“New York State has one of the highest levels of union membership in the United States. The SALT cap caused union families to see a tax increase,” said Rep. Suozzi. “More importantly, the cap has accelerated a race to the bottom where wealthy taxpayers flee our state for lower tax jurisdictions that not only have low union membership but are openly hostile to unions. We must address this and ensure the Senate-passed version of the Build Back Better Agenda includes a SALT fix that we in the House can support.”

“In 2017, when Republicans were trying and failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they also silently raised taxes for hardworking middle-class families,” said Rep. Beatty. “By imposing a $10,000 SALT cap, small-minded politicians kneecapped middle-income families in the places where they were already struggling. It’s time to correct their mistake and reinstate the SALT deduction.”

“We’re fighting for the revival of SALT because working families need it. The first tax code in the USA had state & local tax deductions in 1913. Why? Because they knew then what we should know now: We have a federal system, services are developed by the states,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. “Let’s deliver for the middle class. This is a way of putting the incentive system back in place to invest in localities, in sewer systems, in fire systems, and in schools.”

“In 2018, the previous Administration signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which neither cut taxes nor created jobs. Despite the name of this law, it put enormous, unnecessary strain on cities and towns all across America, and it’s made it even harder for us as firefighters to do our jobs protecting the citizens. That financial strain has made funding levels unsafe. This critical funding is needed to ensure that firefighters and paramedics and teachers and police officers have the staffing, training, and equipment we need, not only to educate our kids, not only to police our streets, not only to fight the fires…but also to take care of the most vulnerable amongst us, our elderly, our children,” said Edward Kelly, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters. “I call upon our members in the Senate to support this initiative, to support your firefighters, to support your teachers, support the children and the elderly and the people who make this world, our world, that we all took an oath to serve, better.”

PARSIPPANY — Hanging up your holiday lights only to plug them in and find they don’t work!?

Don’t throw them out! The Parsippany Green Team is happy to sponsor a Holiday Lights Collection of non-working and working string lights. Drop-off bins will be at the Parsippany Recycling Center and the Parsippany PAL building through the middle of January.

Members of the Green Team will collect the lights and properly dispose of them.

Thank you to the Parsippany administration and employees at the Recycling Center and PAL for working with us so we can prevent the lights from going straight to the landfill.

Happy Holidays from the Green Team!

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Native, Small business owner, Pastor, and former Gubernatorial Candidate Phil Rizzo announced his campaign for Congressional District 11.

“The people of New Jersey are ready to take back our state. We’re tired of being told we don’t have a voice in our kids’ education, our health decisions, our livelihoods, our speech, our safety, and our elections,” said Rizzo.

Phil is no stranger to facing setbacks and beating them. As a kid growing up in Morris County, he lost his right arm at the elbow during a home accident. For an energetic child with a love of sports, this was devastating. But Phil bounced back despite his injury and went on to star in athletics, attend college, raise a family, start a small business, a church, and a school, and run for Governor of New Jersey – sparking a statewide movement still growing today.

“I’m running for Congress because empowering New Jersey didn’t end with the Governor’s race. Now it means standing up to the federal government and radical, out-of-touch Leftist politicians and unelected bureaucrats trying to tell New Jerseyans how to live our lives,” Rizzo explained. “It also means bringing appropriate federal accountability to New Jersey’s state government when it oversteps our Constitutional rights.”

“I will fight for New Jersey’s values and freedoms – for education that prepares our kids for life, not activism; for strong borders, law and order; for elections, we can trust; and for lower taxes, a balanced budget, fewer regulations, and a stronger workforce so New Jerseyans can actually afford groceries, gas, and electricity,” Rizzo promised.

“The challenge ahead will take a fighter with the true spirit of New Jersey — someone who won’t be pushed around, who doesn’t take no for an answer, and who won’t back down when it comes to defending the freedoms of our people and lifting the voices of New Jerseyans.”

“With such overwhelming enthusiasm, momentum, and energy,” says Rizzo, “New Jersey’s best days are ahead.”

Congressional District 11 includes the following towns in our readership area: Boonton Town, Boonton Township, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Madison, Morris Plains, Mountain Lakes, and Parsippany-Troy Hills.

MORRIS COUNTY — Leslie T. Bensley, who built the Morris County Tourism Bureau from a mere idea in 1997 into a driving economic force in the region, was honored by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners upon the announcement of her retirement as Executive Director of the agency after 24 years.

Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw presented her with a framed Resolution of Honor on behalf of the board, followed by state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, who issued a state honor during the board’s public meeting.

“We are forever indebted. You put Morris County on the map and helped the local economy. It is phenomenal what you have done. Once again, on behalf of this board, and all the residents of Morris County and all the people who visit Morris County, it’s my privilege and honor to present you with this resolution, and to thank you,” Shaw said.

The Beginning
Bensley has been at the helm of the Tourism Bureau since it opened its doors across the street from the historic Morris County Courthouse with the support of the board, then known as the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and particularly then-Freeholder Frank Druetzler.

“I am very humbled and honored to have been the executive director for nearly a quarter-century,” said Bensley, praising Druetzler for having the foresight to invest in the Tourism Bureau.

“I remember when Frank hired me in 1997, he did something so remarkable. He saved and salvaged tourism because when it had started before, it had petered out, and he felt it was too important to this county not to do something,” Bensley explained.

Shaw noted that Bensley initiated the Bureau’s efforts to promote Morris County’s exceptional historic, cultural and recreational opportunities, helping Morris County tourism to grow four-fold and generate more than $2.3 billion in annual economic activity in 2019. The New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism estimates the county averaged 6.5 million annual visitors at the time.

Bensley initially focused on Morris County’s historic links to the Revolutionary War in luring visitors to the area through “heritage tourism.”

“That’s been my guiding star. That’s my loadstar. It says, tell the destination story,” Bensley explained. “No matter who else has American Revolutionary history, or Gustav Stickley history, or Thomas Nast history or the magnetic telegraph history, our story is unique to us. So as long as you are true to that, you will find an audience because it is worthy.”

Force of Nature
Bensley’s heritage tourism focus was so effective, she was appointed in 2010 to the Governor’s Task Force for Heritage Tourism, where she served as vice-chair and worked on the publication of the Heritage Tourism Plan for New Jersey. The document served as a roadmap for heritage tourism development throughout the state.

“Leslie is a force of nature. She can move anything, and she could probably solve climate change,” said Druetzler, who attended the meeting. “What was the visitor’s center before she came? In the lobby was a bulletin board with some flyers on it. That was it. … Morris County is really the true capital of the American Revolution and she made people realize that.”

Number One Cheerleader
Bucco referred to her as “the number one cheerleader of Morris County.”

“Not only did you represent millions of people that were coming into the county, but billions of dollars in economic revenue that your office helped to generate around the county — and that is so important for the economic growth of this area,” Bucco said. “So tonight I’m honored to also present a Senate and General Assembly Citation recognizing your work. I also have a Senate resolution which will be adopted on the floor of the Senate and the Assembly recognizing all of your achievements, so good luck and God bless you.”

The New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism honored the Morris County Bureau of Tourism’s marketing campaigns on many occasions over the years. Bensley was additionally honored with the 2013 Award of Recognition by the New Jersey Historical Commission for her many years of support, advocacy, and promotion of Morris County’s history and historic sites.

A Tour of the Tourism Bureau
Under Bensley’s tutelage, the Bureau grew by creating a membership program and obtaining grants beyond the county contributions. She also established historic kiosks and walking tours, as well as destination signs to guide visitors, and frequently created public events to attract attention to Morris County’s historic locations.

During her tenure, Bensley also served as the Treasurer of the Advocates for New Jersey History, co-founded the Coalition of New Jersey Destination Marketing Organizations, and served on the boards of both the Crossroads of American Revolution Heritage Area and the New Jersey Travel Industry Association.

Bensley lives in Morris Township with her husband of 36 years, Charlie, with whom she had two children, Eliza and Sam. She said she plans to spend more time in retirement being a tourist as well as spending time in Morris County with a new addition to her family: grandson, Graham McKenzie Folsom.

Visit the Morris County Tourism Bureau website.

PARSIPPANY — Athos is a Sato — a mutt from Puerto Rico who is similar in body type to a Shiba Inu/Chihuahua mix! He is eight months old.

Athos is searching for a loving, patient family who takes their time letting him adjust to their home as he can be a bit fearful. He craves affection but needs to be taught that it’s safe and ok! He would thrive with a canine companion to help show him the ropes.

He gets along with other dogs but is not sure about cats. He is house trained and has good leash manners.

He is up to date on all of his vaccinations and is very healthy.

Athos is five years old and weighs forty pounds. Athos likes children above the age of 16 because sometimes he gets spooked by loud noises or fast movements.

If you are interested in adopting Athos click here.