PARSIPPANY — Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology’s Environment Subcommittee, secured House passage of two bipartisan bills she introduced to address flooding, the most widespread of all weather-related natural disasters in New Jersey and across the United States.

This legislative package will head to the President’s desk for his signature after Senate action later this week, according to a press release issued Thursday, December 15.

“Unexpected severe rainfall and flooding are costly and upend the lives of New Jersey families. Recent extreme weather events like Hurricane Ida only underscore the importance of an effective understanding and response to high water,” said Rep. Sherrill. “These common-sense bills will protect lives, homes, and neighborhoods by improving forecasting and communication of extreme weather events to serve at-risk areas better. I am proud we were able to advance this legislation for New Jerseyans and all Americans who face dangers from these natural disasters.”

“Updating the data we rely on to determine flood elevations and manage the stormwater runoff will help flood-prone communities to protect their homes and businesses better, enabling New Jersey and our nation to become more resilient to the increasing extreme weather we are experiencing,” said Commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Shawn M. LaTourette.

“Accurate precipitation data are among the most overlooked and highest reward opportunities to ensure our cities and towns are built for a future of more frequent and intense rainfall,” said Melissa Roberts, executive director of the American Flood Coalition.

“We commend Representative Sherrill for her leadership to enact bipartisan legislation to provide consistently updated, forward-looking data to inform better and protect communities on the front lines of flooding.”

“Passage of these two bills now will ultimately save thousands of lives and untold billions of dollars in taxpayer and private sector losses from flood disasters going forward,” said Chad Berginnis, executive director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), which represents over 20,000 state and local floodplain officials and other floodplain management professionals, “ASFPM strongly supports both the FLOODS Act and the PRECIP Act to update and modernize basic data and information systems that underpin flood risk management efforts across the nation.”

The Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support (FLOODS) Act establishes a National Integrated Flood Information System to coordinate and integrate flood research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It also establishes partnerships with higher education institutions to improve total water predictions. It establishes a committee to ensure coordination of federal departments with joint or overlapping responsibilities in water management. The bill is designed to improve flood risk communications, including flood watches and warnings.

MORRIS COUNTY — As has usually been the case in recent years, First Night Morris County in Morristown will offer New Jersey’s most ambitious program of family-friendly arts events on New Year’s Eve this year, with music, comedy, film, visual arts, and children’s entertainment at various venues, some of which also will be streamed or offered on-demand, online.

The 31st annual First Night Morris County will feature more than 70 performances at more than 20 downtown venues, free parking, shuttles, and two firework displays from 4:00 p.m. to midnight Saturday, December 31, with tickets starting at $25.00.

The event brings art, film, music, comedy, and family-friendly fun to Morris County in the form of a safe, alcohol-free, and substance-free community celebration.

Fireworks over the Green are coming back this year; depending on the weather, they will occur at 9:15 p.m. and midnight.

Early bird admission runs through Wednesday, December 21, at $25.00, or $22.50 each, when purchasing four or more.

Regular admission pricing begins Thursday, December 22, and runs through the event at $30.00 per admission or $23.75 each when purchasing four or more.

To purchase tickets and for more information, click here, visit the Mayo Box Office at 100 South Street or call (973) 539-8008 during regular business hours.

With the artistic guidance Morris Arts Director of Galleries and Morris Township resident Lynn Siebert provides, the program offers numerous performance genres, including theater, music from around the world, visual arts, world cultures, and children’s programs. Mark Boutros and Don Jay Smith’s work to curate the First Night Film Festival, held in collaboration with the Thomas Edison Film Festival, First Contact Film Festival, and MCEDA Film Committee, brings over 50 films for all ages and interests.

For $25.00, First Night attendees have access to all in-person performances, the family and children’s activities at Morristown High School, the Film Festival, two firework displays, and a midnight countdown to welcome in the new year, plus a live stream and on-demand access to more than films in this year’s Film Festival, a print program, and a mobile app. First Night attendees also receive complimentary parking and free shuttles.

With the waning of COVID-19, a full schedule of family and children’s programming returns this year, providing opportunities for hands-on participation for younger art aficionados and their families. Centered at Morristown High School, the family and children’s programming begins at 4:45 p.m. and includes various interactive performances, storytelling, international dance, painting, and LEGOs.

The schedule of children and family activities includes “Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother” by Kit’s Interactive Theatre, Folktales from Around the World with storyteller Julie Pascual, Square Dancing with Mary Moody, Bollywood and Contemporary Indian Dance with Mani, Fun with LEGOs with Maniac4Bricks, Paint Night with the Artsy Palette led by artist Patty Darden, the Children’s Fun Festival with Juggles the Clown, NJ Tap Soloists Maurice Chestnut and Jeffry Foote, the Hilarious Hypnotist Show with Mr. Hypno, StoryFaces with Christopher Agostino and “Dinoman Dinosaurs!” and his life-size inflatable dinosaurs.

This jam-packed schedule of family-friendly events repeats throughout the evening to provide multiple opportunities for family fun at First Night.

First Night is welcoming back fireworks over the Green with two displays.

This year’s visual arts exhibits include the Atrium Gallery exhibit “Through Women’s Eyes” at the Morris County Administration Building. The exhibit opens at 4:00 p.m. featuring the work of five female artists: Medy Bozkurtian, Isabella Pizzano, Lisa Moran, Kay Reese, and Marilyn Greenberg. Siebert curates the gallery.

Two exhibits at the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) begin at 7:00 p.m.: The Morris County Art Association member exhibit at the Upstairs Art Gallery and Nina Nemeth’s “People and Places” at the Starlight Gallery.

Live opera performances will be provided by the Vocal Trio of Harmonious Beginnings at the Church of the Redeemer starting at 7:15 p.m. The performance delves into an array of Sacred, Broadway, Opera, and Americana with solo performances, duets, and classic presentations of three-part vocal harmony. The trio features the powerful vocal talents of performers Ted Chletsos, Lauren D’Imperio, and Stephen Lasher, accompanied by pianist Kristin Dabaghian.

Live Choral And Classical Music Performances

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Commissioner Kathryn DeFillippo was celebrated for her decades in public service during a holiday gathering at the Morris County Administration & Records Building, where her colleagues presented her with the traditional rocking chair for Commissioners retiring from public office.

Commissioner DeFillippo, who has served three terms on the Morris County Board of County Commissioners since 2014, when it was known as the Board of Chosen Freeholders, announced last year that she would be leaving public service at the end of this year. She has served twice as Director of the Board during her tenure.

“It was a tough decision a year ago when I announced I wasn’t going to run, but it was the fair thing to do — to let people know that I had decided it was time for me to retire … I have enjoyed working and being a part of Morris County. Thank you,” said Commissioner DeFillippo, who attended the event with her husband, Roxbury Councilman, and Past Mayor Robert DeFillippo.

“I look forward now at … the younger generation and sharing with them how important it is to give back to your community, whether it’s in an elected position or just coming to a meeting or doing something as simple as, you know, landscaping around the library, helping out. Do something with your community,” Commissioner DeFillippo added.

Commissioner DeFillippo served as Mayor of Roxbury Township in 2009 and served on the Township Council from 2006 through December 2013.  She also served as deputy mayor in 2011, 2012, and 2013 and was a member of the town’s Zoning Board and a past president of the Roxbury Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Kathy’s departure from the board at the end of this month is bitter-sweet for all of us.  We share her happiness in spending more time with her family and being free to do many things she and Bob would like to do. However, this board will be hard-pressed to replace what Kathy has brought to the board during her three terms since 2014 – I am talking about her intense compassion for the less fortunate in our community,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen.

Commissioner DeFillippo, retired, served as the chief liaison to the Morris County Department of Human Services and area nonprofits after a private career as a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor that involved helping society’s most vulnerable citizens. She retired in 2016 from the board of the NJ Metro Chapter of the National MS Society after serving as a trustee for ten years, and she was the director of a sheltered workshop for physically and mentally handicapped adults in New York.

She also worked in the insurance industry in the Washington, D.C., area, providing medical management and vocational rehabilitation services to injured workers.

“I would be remiss if I did not squeeze in the fact that Kathy was chair of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) for two years, from 2020 through 2021. She had been on the board since 2014 and was presented with a Leadership Award by the Newark Regional Business Partnership earlier this year for her service,” Director Selen said as DeFillippo was presented with the county’s traditional wooden rocking chair.

“As Kathy always said, the important work of the NJTPA is too often ignored. It oversees regional transportation planning, and it annually authorizes more than $1 billion in federal transportation funding for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey. Kathy, we are very proud that you represented us, especially in a leadership role at the NJTPA,” Selen added.

Commissioner DeFillippo remains active with the MS Society as an advocate in government relations and has been the driving force behind bringing the Walk MS to Roxbury in 2006, helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars to find a cure and to raise awareness for people afflicted with MS.