MORRIS COUNTY — The 2025 Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade is fast approaching. It will bring a vibrant celebration of Irish heritage to the streets of Morristown on Saturday, March 15, with a noon kickoff.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Keith Wood, who will be honored at the Grand Marshal Reception on Friday, March 7, at The Mansion at Mountain Lakes. The evening will feature live music, dancing with the Druids, bagpipers, drummers, hors d’oeuvres, carving and pasta stations, and beer and wine. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Jack “Squire” Downs of Madison has been named the Starter for the parade.

Parade Route & Details

The parade will begin at Morristown Town Hall on South Street, proceeding toward The Green, and continuing along Washington Street to Morristown High School.

With thousands of spectators expected to line the streets, the event will showcase local pipe bands, Irish dancers, community groups, and first responders, making it a must-attend celebration.

For more details and updates, visit the official parade website at www.paradeday.com.

MORRIS COUNTY — The New Jersey Division of Taxation has introduced a single application form for residents 65 and older or those receiving Social Security Disability benefits to apply for property tax relief programs, including Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ. This streamlined application can be submitted online or by mail, simplifying the process for eligible homeowners. Once submitted, the Division of Taxation will review eligibility and provide applicants with a letter detailing the specific benefits they qualify for.

It is important to note that eligibility requirements, income limits, and benefits for all property tax relief programs are subject to change based on the State budget.

The Division of Taxation also offers telephone appointments for individuals and authorized representatives to receive guidance on Income Tax and Property Tax Relief Programs. Appointments are available during two time slots:

• Morning: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

A representative will call within the scheduled window. If the first call is unanswered, a second attempt will be made. A new appointment must be scheduled if the second attempt is also unanswered.

For more information or to apply, visit the New Jersey Division of Taxation website by clicking here.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners tonight introduced their 2025 Budget, which does not increase the tax rate for a sixth consecutive year. The budget focuses allocations on expanding public safety, meeting growing human services needs, and investing in education, roads, bridges, and county infrastructure.

“While we continue to deal with cost increases beyond the county’s control, we have again minimized the impact on our budget, and there will be no county tax rate increase for a sixth consecutive year.  Over the past 5 years, the average annual increase in inflation was 4.24 percent. Yet, we have kept our average annual budget growth to 2.89 percent,” said Commissioner Deborah Smith, chair of the Commissioners’ Budget Committee.

The proposed $376.6 million spending plan was presented to the full board by the Budget Committee, including Commissioners Doug Cabana and John Krickus. They underscored that the budget is fiscally responsible, structurally balanced, and compliant with state spending caps.

Click here to download the budget presentation.

Highlights in the budget include:

• A combined $83 million towards public safety.
• Nearly $25 million to support education programs, including increased allocations to the County College of Morris and the Morris County Vocational School District.
• Continues a record $900,000 investment in Economic Development and Tourism, with $100,000 again earmarked for planning Morris County’s 250^th anniversary celebration of the American Revolution.
• $9.4 million to support the Morris County Park Commission, stewards of the largest county park system in New Jersey (20,455 acres of parkland)
• $39.7 million for Human Services and Health Services, with continued funding for enhanced homeless prevention services and adding crucial staff to the Office on Aging and the Office of Temporary Assistance

“We are broadening our commitment to law and public safety, including investments in the equipment, software and AI technology that allows our Prosecutor’s Office to meet growing state mandates on the processing and storage of digital evidence generated by modern law enforcement efforts,” said Commissioner Cabana. “We also will continue funding for our Basic Life Support and Emergency Medical Service Units, which responded to more than 3,764 calls last year, and we have increased staff recruitment at our Communications Center, where the countywide interoperable radio system serves all of Morris County’s 39 towns and provides a long list of additional emergency support services to our residents.”

The 2025 Budget reinforces the county’s commitment to assisting the most vulnerable residents, particularly those facing homelessness. This year, the county will continue last year’s boost to emergency assistance funding for shelter and support services, which had been doubled to $300,000, with an additional $150,000 dedicated to homelessness prevention. The 2025 Budget also expands staff to expedite food assistance applications and to support the increasing number of families seeking caregiving services for aging relatives.

“In 2025, our budget will continue our commitment to the County College of Morris and the Morris County Vocational School District. We are increasing our allocation to CCM by $250,000 and placing $4.5 million in our capital budget toward building the new Center for Health Professions Building,” said Commissioner Krickus. “We also are increasing our allocation to Vo-tech by $175,000 in this budget, bringing the total increase over the past four years to $400,000 to support operations inside the new Career Training Center slated to open on the campus at CCM this fall.”

The 2025 Budget introduced last night also includes the 2025 Capital Spending Plan initially presented in December, which allocates nearly $36 million to many projects, including resurfacing roads, improving intersections, replacing bridges throughout the county, and maintaining county facilities.

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, March 26, to consider the final adoption of the 2025 budget.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling is proud to introduce a new innovative pet therapy program at the Morris County Surrogate’s Court. The program is designed to comfort and support our grieving clients and assist our probate clerks who deal with grief daily. This significant initiative highlights the court’s commitment to fostering a compassionate environment for the families we serve and the dedicated professionals who guide them through complex emotional processes.

Recently, the program welcomed therapy dogs Mulligan and Story, whose calming presence has already made a powerful impact on clients and staff alike. For grieving clients, the dogs offer a soothing connection during one of life’s most challenging moments, providing comfort and even smiles amid their sorrow. For our hardworking probate clerks, who face the emotional weight of assisting grieving families daily, these comfort pets bring much-needed moments of relief and renewal, supporting their well-being as they perform their vital work.

Surrogate Darling is proud to bring this meaningful and beneficial resource to our community. The pets will visit the Surrogate’s Court each month throughout the year.

For more information about the Morris County Surrogate, click here.

CONDADO DE MORRIS – La Albacea del Condado de Morris, Heather Darling, introduce un innovador programa de terapia con mascotas

La Albacea del Condado de Morris, Heather Darling, se enorgullece de presentar un nuevo e innovador programa de terapia con mascotas en la Corte de Sucesiones del Condado de Morris. Este programa está diseñado para brindar consuelo y apoyo a nuestros clientes en duelo y ayudar a nuestros empleados de sucesiones, quienes lidian diariamente con el dolor de quienes han perdido a un ser querido. Esta importante iniciativa resalta el compromiso del tribunal de fomentar un ambiente compasivo tanto para las familias a las que servimos como para los profesionales dedicados que las guían a través de procesos emocionales complejos.

Recientemente, el programa dio la bienvenida a los perros de terapia Mulligan y Story, cuya presencia tranquilizadora ya ha tenido un impacto positivo en clientes y empleados. Para los clientes en duelo, estos perros ofrecen una conexión reconfortante en uno de los momentos más difíciles de la vida, brindando consuelo e incluso sacando algunas sonrisas en medio de su tristeza. Para nuestros dedicados empleados de sucesiones, que enfrentan diariamente el peso emocional de ayudar a familias en duelo, estas mascotas de apoyo proporcionan momentos de alivio y renovación, contribuyendo a su bienestar mientras desempeñan su importante labor.

La Albacea Darling se enorgullece de traer este recurso significativo y beneficioso a nuestra comunidad. Las mascotas visitarán la Corte de Sucesiones del Condado de Morris cada mes durante todo el año.

Para obtener más información sobre la Albacea del Condado de Morris, haz clic aquí.

MORRIS COUNTY — The New Jersey Senate passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) to allow fusion energy projects to receive funding from the Clean Energy Fund.

“Fusion energy is rapidly transitioning from scientific theory to real-world application,” said Senator Pennacchio. “This revolutionary energy source has the potential to provide a zero-carbon sustainable future, and this bill will help direct critical funds for its research and development. By classifying fusion energy as a Class I renewable and unlocking investment, New Jersey can position itself as a global leader in fusion technology, helping restore America’s energy dominance once again.”

Nuclear fusion is a naturally occurring process that powers stars, and if harnessed on Earth, it could generate limitless clean energy. Senator Pennacchio’s bill, S-364, would classify fusion energy as a Class I renewable, making fusion projects eligible for financial assistance from New Jersey’s Clean Energy Fund.

Senator Pennacchio has been a leading advocate for fusion energy, sponsoring several bill packages intended to establish New Jersey as the epicenter of its research and development. Most recently, in 2024, the Senate Economic Growth committee passed S-366 to allow fusion energy and technology companies to receive benefits under certain economic incentive programs.

You can read the full bill by clicking here.

CONDADO DE MORRIS – El Senado de Nueva Jersey aprueba legislación bipartidista para financiar proyectos de energía de fusión

El Senado de Nueva Jersey aprobó una legislación bipartidista patrocinada por el senador Joe Pennacchio (R-26) que permitirá que los proyectos de energía de fusión reciban financiamiento del Fondo de Energía Limpia.

“La energía de fusión está avanzando rápidamente de la teoría científica a la aplicación en el mundo real”, dijo el senador Pennacchio. “Esta fuente de energía revolucionaria tiene el potencial de proporcionar un futuro sostenible sin emisiones de carbono, y este proyecto de ley ayudará a dirigir fondos críticos para su investigación y desarrollo. Al clasificar la energía de fusión como una fuente renovable de Clase I y desbloquear inversiones, Nueva Jersey puede posicionarse como un líder global en tecnología de fusión, ayudando a restaurar nuevamente el dominio energético de Estados Unidos”.

La fusión nuclear es un proceso natural que alimenta las estrellas, y si se logra aprovechar en la Tierra, podría generar energía limpia e ilimitada. El proyecto de ley del senador Pennacchio, S-364, clasificaría la energía de fusión como una fuente renovable de Clase I, lo que permitiría que los proyectos de fusión sean elegibles para recibir asistencia financiera del Fondo de Energía Limpia de Nueva Jersey.

El senador Pennacchio ha sido un firme defensor de la energía de fusión, patrocinando varios paquetes legislativos con el objetivo de establecer a Nueva Jersey como el epicentro de su investigación y desarrollo. Recientemente, en 2024, el Comité de Crecimiento Económico del Senado aprobó el proyecto de ley S-366, que permite a las empresas de energía de fusión y tecnología recibir beneficios bajo ciertos programas de incentivos económicos.