Furnishing Solutions Hosts Antique Appraisal Event

PARSIPPANY — Furnishing Solutions, the Homeless Solutions upscale resale store, will host an antique appraisal event, featuring John & Angela Conforti of Discovery Antiques & Jewelry in Bernardsville, onTuesday, January 19.

No registration is required; simply bring items to Furnishing Solutions between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. There is a ten piece per person maximum and a $10.00 appraisal fee per item. Photos of large pieces of furniture can be presented for appraisal.

Furnishing Solutions is located at 2960 Route 10 West, Powder Mill Plaza West, Parsippany and is open every day except Monday with the following hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to  5:00 p.m.; Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m; Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Contact Finishing Solutions at (973) 998-0322 with any questions.

Interested in getting involved with Furnishing Solutions? Email by clicking here to volunteer or click here to donate furnishings or clothing.

To sign up for emails to learn about private sales and special events, visit our website by clicking here.

All proceeds from Furnishing Solutions benefit Homeless Solutions’ programs to help the homeless and working poor in Morris County. 

Rotary Club Announces Distinguished Service Awards Honorees

rotary_logo-150x144PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Rotary will honor this year’s Distinguished Service Awards winners at a dinner at the Knoll Country Club West, on Saturday, February, 13.

This year’s honorees are:

Outstanding Citizen: Joyce Garrow

Outstanding High School Students: Mariya Rutenberg, Parsippany Hills High School and Samantha Gurth, Parsippany High School.

Outstanding Educators: Erin Andreotta, Gregory Dalakain and Lorraine Esposito.

Outstanding Law Enforcement: Remo D’Alessandro

Outstanding Public Safety: George Smith

Outstanding Business: The Music Shop

Dean Gallo Vocational Award: Rocco Ziccolello

Outstanding Rotarian: Bruce Downing

For information and tickets please contact Peggy Mader, (973) 538-6666 or email by clicking here.  For more information on Par-Troy Rotary, click here.

Attic fire in Lake Hiawatha home; no injuries reported

PARSIPPANY – A local resident on Seneca Avenue, Lake Hiawatha reported a fire at approximately 1:45 p.m. at 8 Seneca Avenue.

Lake Hiawatha Volunteer Fire Department 4, Parsippany Volunteer Fire Department District 5 and Boonton Rapid Intervention Team were dispatched to the scene. Par-Troy Emergency Medical Services and Rockaway Neck Volunteer First Aid Squad were also dispatched to the scene. There were no injuries reported.

The fire started in the attic and heavy smoke was coming from the roof.  The fire was quickly extinguished.

Parsippany Rescue and Recovery was dispatched to board up the home.

Local Beat: Parsippany Focus featured in NJ Commons

GRAND JURY SUBPOENAS MORRISTOWN HOUSING RECORDS A federal grand jury has subpoenaed a range of documents from the Morristown Housing Authority as part of what looks to be an expanding probe of the embattled agency. Kevin Coughlin of Morristown Green says the HUD is investigating concerns centered around federal Section 8 housing subsidies. Specifically, whether people…

Mack-Cali announces acquisition of Three Sylvan Way

PARSIPPANY — Mack-Cali Realty Corporation announced the acquisition Three Sylvan Way, an empty 147,241-square-foot, three-story, class A office building. This acquisition enhances the company’s holdings at the 600-acre Mack-Cali Business Campus, which includes 15 class A office properties totaling approximately 2.1 million square feet of space.

Three Sylvan Way features 50,000-square-foot floor plates with a saw-tooth design and large, open spaces providing great natural light. Along with One and Five Sylvan Way, the buildings share a connected, below-grade parking structure which acts as a protected walkway and provides easy access for tenants to utilize amenities across the complex.           

The buildings will be repositioned as an interconnected three-building mini campus, as part of the overall Campus. The buildings will undergo significant renovations to bring tenants important upgrades. The capital investment plan includes lobby renovations, the creation of a full-service fitness center with yoga rooms and a golf simulator, an upgraded business-class conference center, and numerous dining options, including a full-service café and coffee bar.

“This acquisition is an example of how Mack-Cali is making it a priority to focus on our core holdings, like the Business Campus, that offer state-of-the-art office spaces with first-class amenities,” said Mack-Cali president Michael DeMarco. “We are looking forward to making considerable investments in the entire Mack-Cali Business Campus to continue strengthening its position as a leading office location.”

“Adding Three Sylvan Way to our portfolio will allow us to join our properties in a way that will bring incredible value to both our portfolio and tenants,” said Ricardo Cardoso, Mack-Cali executive vice president and chief investment officer. “Our renovation plans will allow Mack‑Cali to command more attractive leasing rates.”

Mack-Cali Business Campus is ideally located at the nexus of I-287 and Routes 10 and 202, and offers shuttle service to the nearby Morris Plains train station. 

Among the improvements that Mack-Cali Business Campus is slated to undergo are the introduction of multiple new amenities including:

  • Interconnected pathways/walking jogging trails
  • Enhanced dining options, including new on-campus restaurant pad sites
  • Wegmans supermarket, scheduled to open in 2017
  • The introduction of a “food truck park” in the center of the Campus
  • Improved outdoor community spaces
  • New and expanded fitness centers and conference facilities
  • Renovated building lobbies
  • New signage and branding

About Mack-Cali Realty Corporation

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation is a fully integrated, self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) providing management, leasing, development, and other tenant-related services for its two-platform operations of waterfront and transit-based office and luxury multi-family assets. Mack-Cali owns or has interests in 276 properties, consisting of 148 office and 109 flex properties totaling approximately 30 million square feet and 19 multi-family rental properties containing approximately 5,700 residential units and a pipeline of 10,000 units, all located in the Northeast. Mack-Cali strives to provide its tenants and residents with the most innovative communities that empower them to re-imagine the way they work and live.

Additional information on Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and the commercial real estate properties and multi-family residential communities available for lease can be found on the Company’s website at www.mack-cali.com.

Statements made in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate, and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise.

 

Kaitlyn Partington Named to Dean’s List at Lebanon Valley College

Kaitlyn Partington
Kaitlyn Partington

PARSIPPANY — Kaitlyn Partington of Mount Tabor, is one of nearly 700 Lebanon Valley College students named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester. Dean’s list students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.4 out of 4.0.

Partington, a 2013 graduate of Parsippany Hills High School, is pursuing a bachelor of science in business administration and digital communications at The Valley.

Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., welcomes 1,573 full-time undergraduates studying more than 30 challenging and sophisticated majors, as well as customized self-designed majors. Founded in 1866, LVC has graduate programs in athletic training, physical therapy, business, music education, and science education. Learn more at www.lvc.edu.

Annville is 15 minutes east of Hershey and 35 minutes east of Harrisburg; Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are within two hours.

Youth Exchange Trip to Japan

The Rotary Clubs in our area are looking for 28 students to represent the region in a cultural exchange with Japan.  The Ross Redmond Short Term Youth Exchange Program, now in its thirty-seventh year, offers students ages 16 to 19 the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture, interact with Japanese students and form friendships that will last a lifetime.

This three-week trip, tentatively departing on June 30, 2016 and returning on July 21, 2016, will visit major cities in southern Japan including Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. There will also be a separate trip to Hiroshima to visit Peace Memorial Park and the Holocaust Museum. The group will stay on the island of Shikoku, the smallest of the four main islands in Japan.  Each student will meet and live with four host families in each of the island’s four prefectures.

The total cost of the trip including food, lodging and airfare is $3,000.  Students, who must live or attend school within Rotary District 7470 (Essex, Morris, Sussex or Warren Counties),  are selected through an interview process that occurs during February and March.

Applications are now being accepted.  To apply click here.  The Ross Redmond Short Term Youth Exchange Chairman, Jim Allison can be contacted at JRA188@aol.com or (201) 213-6382 to answer any questions.

Complete information regarding Rotary District 7470 is available by visiting their website.

Breaking News: Apartment Fire in Baldwin Manor

PARSIPPANY — At approximately 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, January 6 Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department District 5, Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department District 6, Lake Hiawatha Volunteer Fire Department District 4 were dispatched to the scene of an apartment fire at 200 Baldwin Road, Building 7.

Upon arrival, reports that a dog was saved in the fire by volunteer firemen, and two residents were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, and refused further medical care. Parsippany Emergency Medical Services, Rockaway Neck Volunteer First Aid Squad and St. Clares Paramedics are on the scene along with Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department.

One officer was transported to St. Clares Hospital for smoke inhalation.

Parsippany Rescue and Recovery is at the scene and filling up air tanks.  Two Parsippany Township buses are being used as shelter for the residents that were evacuated from the building. There were a number of pets evacuated.

Parsippany Animal Control responded to the scene to shelter the pets.

The apartment that was on fire was found to be unoccupied.

All residents were allowed back into their apartments with the exception of the apartment that was the source of the fire. That apartment is uninhabitable.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time.
200baldwin

Son of alleged ‘Sopranos’ sentenced to 6 years on drug and prostitution charges

NEWARK — He is a son of an alleged captain in one of New Jersey’s reputed organized crime families, the one said to be the inspiration for the swaggering mob-based TV series, “The Sopranos.” But on Tuesday, Anthony “Whitey” Stango of Brick was not the image of a TV tough guy but a humbled man, sentenced…

Criss Angel to perform at Mayo Performing Arts Center

MORRISTOWN–World famous Las Vegas magician, Criss Angel, will perform at the Mayo Performing Arts Center next Friday as part of his roadshow, The Supernaturalists. The show, featuring nine performers hand-picked by Angel, comes just a few months after The Supernaturalists did a short run at The State Theater in New Brunswick. However, while the previous engagement…

19 rescue dogs searching for a good home

MADISON — Nineteen dogs of all shapes and breeds from Ohio are looking to start the new year in New Jersey. The canines were among 160 animals rescued from an Adams County, Ohio home on Dec. 9 after authorities suspected neglect by their owner, The Humane Society of the United States said in a press release…

Powerball jackpot for tonight soars to $450M

The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing has climbed to its highest point in nearly 11 months. Following 17 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner, this evening’s top prize is $450 million with a cash option of $275.4 million. It’s the sixth-largest prize in U.S. lottery history. The last time this much money was at stake…

Ex-Scout, 22, emerges as key figure in sex and porn case against ex-Scout leader

MORRISTOWN — A former Boy Scout, now 22, emerged as a central figure Tuesday in the case of Stephen Corcoran, the former Parsippany Boy Scout leader accused of sexually assaulting three Scouts in the 1990s and also possessing child pornography in 2011. The ex-Scout, who told authorities that Corcoran had shown him the child porn, had…

Scholarships Available for High School Seniors from The 200 Club of Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY — The 200 Club of Morris County is pleased to announce the 2016 Scholarship Awards Program available for High School Seniors.

Scholarships are awarded on a one-time basis for the 2016-2017 academic year. Award criteria includes academic performance, community service, extracurricular activities and financial need.

The Scholarship Committee will review and approve applications impartially with no knowledge of the applicants’ identities.

Announcement of the awards are made in mid-April with an Awards Dinner in May 2016.

Qualifications: Applications will be limited to high school seniors who have a parent actively serving Morris County in a law enforcement / public safety capacity, or whose parent has retired and has satisfied their agency’s retirement eligibility requirements, or are themselves in one of the following branches of law enforcement or public safety:

• Police and Law Enforcement, including Federal and State agencies
• Fire Department (including volunteer fire fighters)
• Volunteer Ambulance Corps/First Aid Squads

DEADLINE for applications for the 2016-2017 school year must be completed by March 1, 2016.

Click here for information on eligibility and to complete on-line application.

Eligibility is limited to the children of law enforcement and public safety personnel or high school seniors engaged in the branches reflected under our Qualifications.

State Police eligibility is restricted to those who live or have their primary assignment in Morris County. Children of personnel working in clerical or other non-related public safety duties are not eligible.

Likewise, children of members of The Two Hundred Club of Morris County are not eligible.

All eligible students may apply without regard to race, religion, color or gender.

Dr. Louis Valori appointed to President of Council

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council held their reorganization meeting on Tuesday, January 5.  The council voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Louis Valori as their new president, replacing Paul Carifi, Jr. Robert Peluso was voted in as Vice President, to serve his second two-year term.

Council Vice President Robert Peluso was reappointed to serve another two years as Vice President
Council Vice President Robert Peluso was reappointed to serve another two years as Vice President

Dr. Valori stated his new council position as President by addressing the audience: “I want to start by thanking the council for instilling its faith and confidence in me to lead this government body in good faith while tackling the tough issues that face this town.”

“When I was elected to this council two years ago. I promised Parsippany residents I would work to deliver on accountability in municipal government reign in on municipal spending and property tax hikes, promote business and partnerships and improve township services,” he continued.

Dr. Valori said “In the time which I served on the council we have made great progress in these measures:

  1. We cut the budget by 2.2 million dollars over the past two years without any layoffs to township employees nor any negative impact on services.
  2. We increased the number of police officers patrolling our streets from 87 to 101 officers. This will help provide our residents with increased safety and security and enhanced traffic enforcement throughout the township.  Additionally, we lowered overtime costs in the police department by $200,000.
  3. We provided our valuable blue-collar workers fair and equitable contract which is long overdue and fair to the taxpayers
  4. We focused on economic growth with the town being the corporate headquarters for GAF. United Parcel Service  will also locate its new corporate headquarters for the Technical Division in our township in the near future, and CVS along with other major companies will be calling Parsippany their home in the not too distant future.
  5. We successfully fought to retain open space and worked to keeping our parks prestigious and will soon have a multipurpose field at Smith Field.”

“As much as we can celebrate our overall achievements, we will not rest on our laurels as more work remains. My dedication to lead the council to advance upon the accomplishments made thus far and work collaboratively with our valuable employees to improve the way the township does business-will continue. For example during my council meetings I will make sure that the Chief Financial Officer, Ann Cucci, and Business Administrator, Ellen Sandman, to provide a status report on all township utilities and departments this will keep the council updated and provide transparency to the public,” said Valori.

He also stressed “Some of the other areas I want to focus on are legal bills.  Our township budget and taxpayers have been burdened by these skyrocketing costs.  I will work closely with our Chief Financial Officer and Business Administrator regarding all legal fees. Continued reform is alive and well as I will now lead this council to embrace the ongoing changes about more transparency, fiscal restraint and accountability. These are critical responsibilities this council needs to aggressively take on to facilitate a better quality-of-life for our residents whom we serve.”

Valori ended “Parsippany taxpayers can trust that this council will continue to embark on its unwavering commitment not to give in to any special interest that seeks what is easy or popular or blindly pursue past paths of least resistance which makes absolutely no sense and have cost taxpayers too much money. Moving forward starting today, I look forward working with my fellow council members, Mayor James Barberio and the administration to provide an efficient effective accountable government. Thank you and God Bless Parsippany.”

In addition to making committee appointments, four resolutions were passed:

  1. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Confirming the Appointment to the Township Public Defender and Awarding Contract for Professional Services to Matthew W. Young, Esq. of the Firm Nuzzi & Mason, LLC for the year 2016. The vote was 5-0.
  2. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Confirming
    Freeholder Doug Cabana
    Doug Cabana, Esq.

    the Appointment to the Township Public Defender and Awarding Contract for Professional Services to Joseph E. Bock, Esq. for the year 2016. The vote was 5-0.

  3. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Confirming the Appointment to the Township Chief Municipal Prosecutor and Awarding Contract for Professional Services to Doug R. Cabana, Esq. The vote was 4-0, with Mr. Paul Carifi, Jr., abstaining.
  4. Resolution of the Township Council of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Confirming the Appointment to the Township Municipal Prosecutor and Awarding Contract for Professional Services to John Cesaro, Esq. The vote was 4-0, with Mr. Paul Carifi, Jr., abstaining.

The next council meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 19 with more than a dozen resolutions to award contracts to the Township Attorney John Inglesino, Todd M. Galante, Esq., Stephen Trimboli, Esq., and Michael B. Lavery, Esq., among other professional services.

Peluso Named Vice President Government Banking at Kearny Bank

Robert J. Peluso
Robert J. Peluso

FAIRFIELD — Robert J. Peluso has been named Vice President/Government Banking Officer at Kearny Bank.

Prior to joining the Bank, he served as Vice President/ Relationship Banker & Managing Director Government Banking at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.

Mr. Peluso graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Montclair State University and earned his MBA in Corporate Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

In his position, Peluso will enhance the Bank’s strategic direction to capitalize on the government banking and non-profit opportunities in our marketplace. He will support and manage Kearny’s government and non-profit deposit and lending relationship portfolios. He will also engage community partnerships, chambers of commerce, economic development programs, and government associations to provide a superior banking experience.

Peluso serves as a Council Vice President in Parsippany-Troy Hills, where he resides with his wife Ildiko and son Robert. He has also been the President of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce for the past 17 years and is the Founder and President of the Parsippany Area Visitor Center and a Board Member of the Morris County Economic Development Corp.

In addition, Peluso serves as an advisory board member for Homeless Solutions, Employment Horizons, Morris County Technical School and YMCA. He was named Lakeland Hills YMCA Citizen of the Year 2001.          

Kearny Bank, a federally-chartered stock savings bank, has supported the communities it serves since 1884.

The Bank has assets of $ 4.3 billion and operates 42 full-service banking offices in Northern and Central New Jersey and Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York.

Morris County Law Enforcement Prevents 42 Fatal Heroin and Opiate Overdoses

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces today that during 2015 Morris County Law Enforcement agencies collectively saved 42 people from succumbing to a fatal opiate overdose through the administration of Narcan® (Naloxone).

In the summer of 2014, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office formally launched a Nasal Narcan® (Naloxone) program in Morris County that trained and equipped Morris County police officers to administer the antidote Narcan® to persons suffering from an overdose of heroin or prescription opiates.  The Morris County Narcan® Program is a partnership between the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, participating municipal police departments and Atlantic Ambulance Corporation.  The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office arranged with Atlantic Ambulance Corporation to provide training and medical oversight to Morris County municipal police departments that opt to participate in the Narcan® Program.  Today there are a total of 27 police departments in Morris County that are equipping their police Officers with Narcan.

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can be used to counter the effects of an opiate overdose.  Naloxone displaces opioids from the receptors in the brain that control the central nervous system and respiratory system.  An aerosol form of naloxone, Narcan® is administered nasally through use of a syringe-atomizer.

Unfortunately, police officers in Morris County are encountering significant numbers of overdoses from opiates in the form of heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet® and Percodan®) and hydrocodone (Vicodin®).  This epidemic is being experienced throughout the State of New Jersey.

Tragically, at least 37 individuals died in Morris County during 2015 from an opiate overdose.

However, in 2015 Narcan® was administered by first responding police officers a total of 48 times and is credited with 42 “saves” which represents recovery from a potentially fatal overdose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prosecutor Knapp stated: “The State of New Jersey is plagued by addictive heroin and other opiates.  Morris County is not immune from this epidemic.  Law Enforcement is taking a dynamic approach when dealing with these addictive poisons.  Equipping our first responding police officers with Narcan is a critical and compassionate approach to the opiate epidemic.  In 2015 there were 42 instances in which police officers valiantly gave someone suffering from an opiate addiction a second chance to seek treatment.  The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office will continue to work together with local law enforcement and the community to fight against this opiate epidemic.  We greatly appreciate the support of Atlantic Health System in this continuing battle.”

Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp wishes to thank all the police officers that saved a life using Narcan in 2015 as well as Atlantic Ambulance Corporation and, specifically their Education Coordinator, Rory McGuinness, MICP, CCEMTP for contributing to the Morris County Narcan Program’s success.

Exploring Careers in Law for Teens

Young men and women, ages 14-18, who are interested in careers in the practice of Law are invited to the first gathering of Law Explorer Post 22 on Saturday, January 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. We will meet at the Morristown Campus of the County College of Morris (30 Schuyler Place Morristown). Those interested should attend with a parent or guardian.

Law & Government Exploring is a hands-on program that exposes participants to many career opportunities. The Law Explorer Post will meet monthly and give young people an opportunity to interact with lawyers, judges and elected officials and to learn about various specializations within the legal profession. Explorer Post 22 is chartered by the Morris County Bar Foundation and the post’s advisors are practicing attorneys.

For further information on becoming a Law Explorer, please contact Linda Mainenti Walsh Esq. at (973) 643-5059 or lwalsh@sillscummis.com or Andrew Jacobs Esq. at (973) 532-9681 or ajacobs@arjacobslaw.com.

Morris County Freeholders Reorganize County Government

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholder held their annual reorganization meeting on Sunday, January 3, with new freeholders Christine Myers of Mendham Township and Deborah Smith of Denville, taking office, and Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo of Roxbury selected as the county governing board’s leader for a second straight year.

Parsippany resident John Cesaro was sworn in to his second term three-year term by state Senator Joseph Pennacchio, R-Montville, and Freeholder Hank Lyon was administered an oath by friend and attorney Donald Dinsmore after his colleagues selected him to serve as deputy freeholder director.

Myers and Mastrangelo both stressed the need to focus on the county’s economic growth, including an improved effort to draw and keep businesses and jobs in Morris County.

“We will face some difficult decisions in 2016 that will force us to find the right balance between resources and services – between meeting the needs of all residents and keeping taxes from becoming an overwhelming burden,’’ said Freeholder Director DeFillippo.

“It will take leaders who have the courage and the understanding that we were elected to act in the best interests of all residents of Morris County, not just the loudest or those who represent special interests,’’ she added.

In addition to DeFillippo, Myers and Smith, the all-Republican 2016 Freeholder Board includes Freeholder Doug Cabana of Boonton Township, Tom Mastrangelo of Montville, John Cesaro of Parsippany-Troy Hills, and Hank Lyon of Montville.

DeFillippo said 2015 was a year of significant accomplishment, including:

  • No increase in county taxes for a third year in a row;
  • Maintaining the county’s coveted Triple-A bond rating;
  • Continued financing of an aggressive road improvement effort, with paving of nearly 30 miles of roads in 2015;
  • Settlement of the county’s solar litigation to limit the county’s financial exposure – “something none of us was completely happy about but a difficult decision that had to be made;
  • Ensured that historic churches across Morris County would continue to have access to historic preservation funds.

“It will be critical that we, as the county’s elected representatives, step up and be the leaders that residents of Morris County sent us here to be,’’ she said.

Cabana, who is the longest serving freeholder, outlined what he said would be a “major focus on Homeland Security’’ in 2016 and the need to be prepared for violent incidents. Included is development of a Rescue Task Force Program by the county Office of Emergency Management that focuses on the ultimate goal of saving lives in the event of attacks.

“Recent incidents throughout the nation and world concerning active shooter and hostile incidents are becoming increasingly frequent occurrences,’’ Cabana said. “We learned from the tragic attack in San Bernardino that we all must be vigilant during this volatile time in world history. Morris County is not immune from this violence.’’

Morris County will spend $500,000 of federal Homeland Security funds this year as part of this initiative to better prepare first responders for such attacks, with a primary focus to quickly treat the injured and save lives.

As part of this effort, the county will offer specialized training to all local response agencies. Police officers who completes the course will get a kit with specially designed life-saving equipment, while many first responder ambulances and other response vehicles will receive specialized medical kits.

On a separate issue, Freeholder Director DeFillippo announced a change in times for country government meetings in 2016. They will be still be held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The board’s work sessions – which are open to the public – will be held at 9:30 a.m., and regular public meetings, at which residents can voice their comments, will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the County Administration and Records Building at 10 Court Street in Morristown.

 

There’s Still Time to Enroll for the Spring Semester at CCM

RANDOLPH — County College of Morris (CCM) will be holding three in-person registration sessions for the Spring Semester later this month.

The sessions take place in the Student Community Center on CCM’s Randolph campus, 214 Center Grove Road, during the following dates and times:

  • Thursday, January 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Friday, January 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, January 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Spring Semester begins January 19. Before registering for classes, students need to apply to the college. Visit the Admissions office or go to www.ccm.edu/admissions to apply.

At CCM, students can choose from more than 50 associate degree programs, along with a full range of certificate and certification programs. In addition, the college has numerous transfer agreements in place to simplify the process of transferring credits for those who wish to continue their education and earn a bachelor’s degree. A listing of those agreements can be found by clicking here.

Offering a high-quality education at half the price, CCM can save students about $20,000 – $40,000 or more per year on their higher education. Along with that savings, students benefit from small class sizes and a faculty specifically focused on teaching.