MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners tonight adopted a special resolution proclaiming February as Black History Month, recognizing the lasting contributions of African Americans to the nation, the state of New Jersey and the local community.

The 2026 observance marks the 100^th anniversary of the first national recognition of Black History Week, established on February 12, 1926, by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a historian, author and educator widely known as the “Father of Black History”. This year’s national theme “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” honors a century of efforts to study, preserve and elevate African American history, culture and achievements.

“Tonight, we celebrate the remarkable accomplishments and lasting impact of our African American leaders and residents,” said Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw. “Black History Month gives us an opportunity not only to celebrate those contributions, but also to reflect on their significance in shaping our community and our country.”

Morris County’s efforts to preserve and share Black history continue throughout the year.

In 2024, the Morris County Historical Society launched the county’s first comprehensive survey of African American history and historic sites, making Morris County only the second county in New Jersey to undertake such a project. The multi-phase initiative aims to document significant locations across the county to deepen public understanding of the region’s African American heritage.

The Historical Society was recently awarded a $125,000 grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to complete the countywide survey. The grant required a formal partnership with the County of Morris, bringing together the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation and the Morris County Heritage Commission as official partners.

The Planning and Preservation office is serving as the project’s lead county partner, with support from the Heritage Commission. Both entities advance historic preservation through documentation initiatives such as the county’s Cultural Resources Survey program, which identifies and evaluates historic and cultural assets, including sites associated with African American history and the United States Colored Troops.

The Heritage Commission also continues to safeguard important historical records.

In 2024, the County of Morris administration recovered five 19^th-century manumission documents related to the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Morris County. The documents are now preserved within the county archive, ensuring they remain accessible as part of the public record.

Planning is also underway for the sixth annual Juneteenth reception at the Morris County Administration and Records Building in Morristown. The event will feature Art in the Atrium’s 34th annual exhibit of African American fine art. Since 1992, Art in the Atrium has displayed African American artwork on the second through fifth floors of the Administration and Records Building, reflecting the county’s ongoing commitment to celebrating Black history and culture.

The Board of County Commissioners encourages residents to use February as an opportunity to learn more about African American history and to recognize the resilience, achievements and cultural contributions that have shaped Morris County and the nation.

To learn more about Black History Month, visit blackhistorymonth.gov.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Clerk Ann F. Grossi announced the winners of the 2026 Morris County Manual Cover Contest, presenting awards to the top three finalists during a ceremony held in the Joan Bramhall Conference Room in Morristown.

“This contest continues to showcase the remarkable talent of Morris County students,” said Clerk Grossi. “Their creativity and dedication are evident in every submission. I am honored to recognize these students, their teachers and the judges who generously gave their time to support this long-standing tradition.”

View Photos from the Morris County Clerk’s Manual Cover Contest Ceremony

The annual contest invites high school students throughout Morris County to design the cover of the Morris County Manual, a comprehensive reference guide that provides contact information for local, county, state and federal officials, as well as boards and commissions. A panel of judges selected the top three designs from this year’s submissions.

“I use this book every day, and for the next year we will be looking at the winning artwork. I want to thank the county clerk for continuing this tradition and congratulate today’s winners and all who participated. In the year we are acknowledging the 250th anniversary of our nation, the county manual stands as a patriotic symbol of local government and civic service,” said County Administrator Deena Leary, who spoke at the ceremony.

The 2026 Morris County Manual Cover Contest winners, who received certificates of recognition and scholarship awards, are:

• First place: Ryan Orr, a senior at Morris Knolls High School, received a $500 scholarship. His design will appear on the cover of the 2026 Morris County Manual. His teacher, Sandra Ostrowski, was also recognized during the ceremony.

• Second place: Stephanie Opalka, a senior at Roxbury High School, received a $200 scholarship. Her teacher, Scott Schilling, was recognized with a certificate.

• Third place: Lauren McKeon, a senior at Morris Knolls High School, received a $100 scholarship. Her teacher, Sandra Ostrowski, was also recognized.

In addition to appearing on the front cover of the 2026 manual, the artwork of all three honored students will be framed and displayed at the Morris County Clerk’s Office throughout the year.

Judges for this year’s contest were Randolph Council Member Joanne Veech; former Parsippany Council Member Mike dePierro; and Morris County Clerk’s Office staff members Vincenzo Ferrara, Gaetana Decicco and Ines Prost. The ceremony was attended by student finalists, their families, educators and county officials.

The Morris County Manual, first published in 1906, serves as a comprehensive guide to government contacts and services within Morris County’s 39 municipalities. It also includes congressional and legislative district information and an election timetable for 2026.

The 2026 edition will be available online and in print in the coming weeks. Cli

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Democrats are beginning to unite behind Analilia Mejia following her victory in the Thursday, February 5 special primary election to fill the seat vacated by Governor Mikie Sherrill in Congress. However, the term she is seeking expires on January 3, 2027, and she could still face a challenge within her own party for a full two-year term in the June primary.

Mejia, a former political director for U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who endorsed her candidacy, secured the Democratic nomination with less than 30 percent of the approximately 64,000 votes cast. As of Tuesday, February 10, she held a 1.4 percent lead over Tom Malinowski, with ballots still being counted.

“I’m so excited to be able to say we did it,” Mejia told supporters gathered in Montclair. “The lesson coming out of this race is people power can win.”

How Morris County voted:

1. Tom MALINOWSKI — 8,562
2. Analilia MEJIA — 6,802
3. Tahesha WAY — 4,690
4. Brendan W. GILL — 2,052
5. Justin STRICKLAND — 1,147
6. Zachary (Zach) BEECHER — 909
7. Jeff GRAYZEL — 872
8. John BARTLETT — 633
9. Anna Lee WILLIAMS — 304
10. Cammie L. CROFT — 279
11. J-L CAUVIN — 103
12. Dean DAFIS — 83
13. Marc CHAABAN — 65
14. Write-In Totals — 37

Malinowski conceded on Tuesday and said he looked forward to “supporting her in the April general election.” The former congressman from the neighboring 7th District did not indicate whether he would support Mejia for a full term, nor did he rule out entering the regular June primary himself.

Mejia, a Glen Ridge resident, prevailed over a field of more than a dozen Democratic candidates. Party insiders had largely viewed the contest as a showdown between Malinowski and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, who ultimately finished fourth.

In the April 16 special general election, Mejia will face Republican Joe Hathaway, the former mayor of Randolph, who ran unopposed in his primary, and independent candidate Alan Bond. The 11th Congressional District, which includes portions of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties, was drawn to favor a Democratic candidate.

The primary election for the full two-year term beginning next January will take place in June. The filing deadline is Monday, March 23.

PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, February 7, Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Pulkit Desai and Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Vice President Diya Patel joined residents at the Parsippany Library to celebrate the Lunar New Year, welcoming the Year of the Horse with vibrant cultural performances, festive traditions, and a strong spirit of community.

The event brought together families, students, and community members to experience time-honored Lunar New Year customs, including music, dance, and symbolic decorations representing good fortune, strength, and renewal. Attendees enjoyed an afternoon that highlighted the rich cultural diversity of Parsippany while creating opportunities for learning and connection.

Mayor Desai and Councilwoman Patel greeted residents throughout the program, expressing appreciation for the library’s role as a welcoming gathering place and for the community members who helped organize and participate in the celebration. The event underscored Parsippany’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and cultural understanding, values reflected in the township’s many community-based programs.

Library staff and volunteers played a key role in hosting the celebration, ensuring an engaging and family-friendly atmosphere for all ages. As the Year of the Horse begins, the event served as a meaningful reminder of the importance of unity, tradition, and shared celebration within the Parsippany community.

PPARSIPPANY — Dr. Trivikrama Reddy, a Parsippany resident, Senior Staff Engineer in Product Development at BD, and longtime Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology, recently completed a meaningful humanitarian project benefiting the tribal village of Rangaseela in Andhra Pradesh, India.

With more than two decades of industrial experience, a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, and an MBA from NJIT, Dr. Reddy brings together technical expertise, leadership, and a deep commitment to service. Those qualities were on full display during his recent trip to India, where he personally funded and inaugurated a gravity-operated water plant designed to deliver clean water from distant hills directly to the tribal community.

The new infrastructure now provides reliable access to clean water, significantly improving public health, daily living conditions, and overall quality of life for hundreds of villagers. The project received enthusiastic local support and was covered by regional television outlets, underscoring its social impact and importance.

Community members expressed heartfelt gratitude for the life-changing improvement, reflecting the strong bond forged between Dr. Reddy and the villagers he served.

Through this initiative, Dr. Reddy continues to demonstrate how engineering-driven solutions can address real-world challenges, while embodying the values of compassion, responsibility, and global citizenship—both as a professional and as a proud Parsippany resident.

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany taxpayers learned an expensive lesson before the new Mayor even had a chance to take office.

On December 21, 2025—days before a new administration was set to begin—the Township executed a separation agreement with then-Business Administrator Jamie Cryan that guaranteed him six months of pay, totaling $94,860, effective upon his departure on January 6, 2026.

Six months.

That figure should raise eyebrows, particularly because New Jersey law places a clear limit on severance payments to municipal administrators. N.J.S.A. 40A:9-138 caps such payouts at three months’ salary. Curiously, that statute is nowhere cited or discussed in the agreement itself.

Instead, the agreement openly concedes that Cryan was paid in excess of statutory limits in exchange for a release of claims. Translated into plain English, Parsippany taxpayers paid an extra three months of salary—approximately $47,000—to buy peace.

The obvious question is: peace from what?

Jamie Cryan was an at-will administrator who served entirely at the pleasure of the governing body. There has been no public disclosure—none—of any discrimination claim, retaliation claim, whistleblower allegation, or other legally cognizable grievance that would expose the Township to liability.

That matters, because New Jersey law is unambiguous. An at-will municipal administrator may be terminated for any reason or for no reason at all, including nothing more than a newly elected Mayor and Council wanting leadership aligned with their own priorities. That is not controversial. It is the job description.

Yet Parsippany paid as though it were settling serious legal exposure, without ever identifying what that exposure supposedly was. The separation agreement was signed by Former Mayor James Barberio just days before his last day in office.

The timing only deepens the concern. The agreement was executed before the incoming Mayor and Council took office, effectively tying their hands and locking in a generous payout to the ousted Mayor’s departing political ally before voters’ choices could take effect. One wonders what urgency justified rushing this deal through the door.

Perhaps residents should not be surprised. This is, after all, the same Mayor whose own unsuccessful legal efforts to reclaim an office he lost at the ballot box reportedly cost the Township significant sums. When public funds are treated casually, six-figure goodbye checks begin to look less like aberrations and more like standard operating procedure.

The agreement itself includes no admission of wrongdoing by either side and contains an extraordinarily broad release of virtually every conceivable employment-related claim under state and federal law. What it does not include is any explanation to the taxpayers as to why paying double the statutory cap was necessary, prudent, or even defensible.

Ramon Rivera, the labor attorney who represented the Township at the time the agreement was executed, did not return Parsippany Focus’s request for comment.

Until someone does, taxpayers are left with a simple question: if the law caps severance at three months, and there was no apparent legal threat, why did Parsippany pay for six?

Cryan was originally hired as Parsippany Business Administrator on January 9, 2023.