MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood has retired after more than 31 years as an assistant prosecutor, including 29 years with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

Calderwood’s retirement was marked Wednesday, September 30, with a walkout ceremony at the Morris County Administration and Records Building, where she was recognized for her years of service and dedication to the people of Morris County. Honoring her were Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Mark Castellano, Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw, State Senator Anthony Bucco, Sheriff James M. Gannon, Wharton Police Chief David Young, Rockaway Borough Police Chief Conrad Pepperman and Montville Police Chief Andrew Caggiano on behalf of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez and her colleagues in the Prosecutor’s Office.

Director Shaw presented Calderwood with a framed Resolution of Honor on behalf of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, recognizing her more than three decades of service to the justice system.

“Over the years, Maggie has been a prosecutor, a supervisor, a leader, a teacher and a mentor. She has helped guide attorneys and law enforcement officers, shared her knowledge with the community and represented the Prosecutor’s Office in some of the most serious matters handled in our county,” said Director Shaw. “On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, we thank Maggie for her extraordinary service to Morris County and wish her and her family all the best in retirement.”

Calderwood served as First Assistant Prosecutor beginning January 4, 2021, providing leadership across the Prosecutor’s Office and working closely with law enforcement agencies and other members of the county’s criminal justice system. She previously served as chief assistant prosecutor, executive assistant prosecutor and supervising assistant prosecutor, overseeing divisions and units including Major Crimes, Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment, Domestic Violence, General Investigations, Pretrial Services and Professional Standards.

As a trial attorney, Calderwood prosecuted numerous high-profile and complex jury trials involving murder, aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and aggravated sexual assault cases involving adult and child victims. She has been recognized as a Certified Criminal Trial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey since 2011.

Throughout her career, Calderwood has also shared her legal and law enforcement knowledge through lectures at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, local schools and community organizations.

Her work has earned several professional honors. In 2019, Calderwood was recognized by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris/Sussex Vicinage, and the Morris/Sussex County Bar Association as part of the “Women Pioneers in the Law” exhibit for her contributions to the justice system. She received the Morris County Bar Association’s Criminal Practice Award in 2022 for her professionalism and dedication to the field, and in 2024 received the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey’s “Outstanding Advocacy Over a Career” award.

Calderwood has also served as co-chair of the Morris County Bar Association’s Criminal Practice Committee since 2020.

Her legal career began with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office in 1994, where she represented the state in numerous jury trials. She joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 1997 after serving as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Stephen F. Smith, presiding criminal judge of the Morris County Superior Court.

Calderwood earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Moravian College in 1988 and a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1992.

“I congratulate First Assistant Maggie Calderwood on an outstanding career as a prosecutor,” Prosecutor Carroll said. “I believe her career serves as a model for how a legal professional should practice criminal law. Her skills, experience, reputation for integrity, common sense and legal knowledge made her an invaluable and effective leader in Morris County law enforcement.

“First Assistant Prosecutor Calderwood has the respect and admiration of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office staff, the defense bar, the judiciary, as well as every police department in Morris County — a tremendous achievement by any measure. On a personal level, I wish to thank Maggie for serving as my First Assistant, and for her sage advice and dedication during my administration over the last six years. Her legacy of professionalism will live on in the more than 200-year history of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office,” he continued.

MORRIS COUNTY — A 35-year-old New York man was arrested on Monday, September 28, after Denville Police officers found he was driving a vehicle with fictitious license plates and showed signs of impairment.

At about 3:15 p.m., officers were monitoring traffic on Route 10 East when they received an alert on a vehicle’s registration. The inquiry showed the vehicle was displaying fictitious license plates.

Officers then found the vehicle and its driver, Ahmed Sekou Sow of New York, New York, in a parking lot on Route 10 East. During the investigation, officers saw that Sow showed signs of possible impairment. After standardized sobriety testing, Sow was placed under arrest and taken to Denville Police Headquarters for processing.

Sow was issued motor vehicle summonses for the following:

• Driving While Intoxicated (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50)
• Careless Driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-97)
• Driving While Suspended (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40)
• Driving an Unregistered Motor Vehicle (N.J.S.A. 39:3-4)
• Reckless Driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-96)
• Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle (N.J.S.A. 39:4-51B)
• Failure to Possess an Insurance Card (N.J.S.A. 39:3-29C)
• Fictitious Plates (N.J.S.A. 39:3-33A)
• Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Liability Insurance (N.J.S.A. 39:6B-2)

Sow was released pending a future court date in Denville Municipal Court.

Editor’s Note: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

TRENTON — New Jersey allows vehicle owners to designate a Transfer on Death beneficiary for their car, helping next of kin bypass the probate process.

How Transfer on Death Works in New Jersey

• The Designation: Registered vehicle owners can complete a Transfer on Death Beneficiary Designation Form to name a beneficiary who will receive ownership after the owner’s death.
• Bypassing Probate: The vehicle does not become part of the formal estate, meaning no letters of administration are required for the transfer.
• Keeping the Form: The form is kept by the vehicle owner rather than filed immediately with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

Claiming the Vehicle After the Owner’s Death

When the owner passes away, the designated beneficiary must present the following documents to the MVC:

• The completed Transfer on Death Beneficiary Designation Form. Click here to download the form.
• The current vehicle title
• A certified copy of the owner’s death certificate
• A universal title application along with valid personal identification
• Proof that any existing liens on the vehicle have been paid or transferred

The Next-of-Kin Registry

The Next-of-Kin Registry is a New Jersey statewide web-based system that allows individuals at least 14 years of age to voluntarily submit and maintain emergency contact information through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. This non-public information will only be used by law enforcement officers to locate designated emergency contacts in the event that a person is involved in a vehicle crash that renders him or her unable to communicate.

The Next-of-Kin Registry was established in response to “Sara’s Law,” which was created in memory of Sara Elizabeth Dubinin of Sayreville. Miss Dubinin became unresponsive following a motor vehicle crash and lapsed into a coma before her parents could be notified. She eventually passed away. The law sought to ensure that an emergency contact could be notified immediately in the event of a vehicle crash.

Residents can register or update Next-of-Kin information online, or by mail by printing out the form, completing the information and mailing it to:

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
Driver Management Unit – Data Entry
Post Office Box 134
Trenton, New Jersey 08666-0134

Information needed to fill out the form:

• Applicant’s first and last name
• Applicant’s address
• Applicant’s driver’s license number (or non-driver identification card number)
• Applicant’s full Social Security number (online only)
• Up to two emergency contacts, with first name, last name and primary 10-digit phone number (example: (609) 292-6500) for each
• Applicant’s signature
• Parent or guardian signature, if the applicant is under 18 years old
• If you are a parent of a minor, the same last name, a birth certificate and marriage license are required for verification
• If you are the guardian of the minor, guardianship papers and/or any legal paperwork showing this must be shown for verification

Note:

• It is the sole responsibility of all individuals who use the registry to ensure the accuracy of the information they submit and to keep it up to date.
• Emergency contacts must be at least 18 years old.
• If the registry user is under 18 years of age, the emergency contact must be his or her parent or legal guardian.

Contacts may be changed and/or added at any time by logging onto the registry online or mailing in an updated form.

To learn more about the Next-of-Kin Registry, click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners has proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, highlighting JBWS’ 50 years of service to victims of domestic violence and its partnership with law enforcement to connect people experiencing abuse with immediate support and resources.

Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw presented a framed proclamation to Diane Williams, president and chief executive officer of JBWS, and Robin Hughes, crisis response team project manager at JBWS, during a public meeting last week. They were joined by Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, Prosecutor Robert Carroll and members of the Prosecutor’s Office leadership team: Chief of Detectives Mark Castellano, Chief Assistant Prosecutors Meg Rodriguez and Tia Menacchio, and Supervising Assistant Prosecutors Tara Wang and LaJuan Tucker.

“October is observed as Domestic Violence Awareness Month to raise awareness of domestic violence, recognize organizations working to support survivors and encourage efforts to build safe and healthy relationships free from abuse,” said Director Shaw. “We appreciate the partnership between JBWS and law enforcement and the work JBWS has been doing for 50 years to make sure victims of abuse have access to help when they need it.”

Williams and Hughes discussed JBWS’ Crisis Response Team, which works with law enforcement following domestic violence incidents to provide victims with immediate support, safety planning and connections to additional services.

Hughes said the partnership with law enforcement has grown significantly since she began working with police departments more than a decade ago. Seven years ago, following a domestic violence homicide in Morris County, JBWS worked with police chiefs across the county to establish automatic call-outs, allowing officers to request an advocate whenever a survivor seeks help at a police department.

“Our numbers of victim advocates exceed every other county in the state of New Jersey. We have built a partnership where, when a survivor walks into a police department, an advocate is there to support that person, provide resources and explain the restraining order process,” Hughes said. “That connection matters. It can really change the trajectory of someone’s life.”

The program has continued to expand through training for law enforcement, an automated call-out system and coordination with hospitals in cases involving non-fatal strangulation. Hughes said the Crisis Response Team assisted more than 1,000 people at police departments last year, with many requesting connections to additional services such as shelter, counseling and housing assistance.

“I think everyone sees the passion from these two ladies and what they do. You did something that opened up police departments to outside services coming in and joining with them. From that, we’ve built the Morris County ARRIVE Together Program, and other programs have been established throughout the state. I really thank all of you,” Prosecutor Carroll said, also recognizing members of his staff who were present.

JBWS provides emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, transitional housing and other services for survivors of domestic violence and their families. Last year, JBWS’ Crisis Response Team conducted 1,023 interventions. During that same period, 200 adults and children found protection for a combined 8,876 days through Arbour House, JBWS’ Emergency Safe House Shelter and hotel placements. Another 67 adults and children stayed for a combined 10,076 days at the Carol G. Simon Transitional Living Resource Center.

JBWS also operates the Morris Family Justice Center, which marked its 10th anniversary this year, and brings multiple agencies together at the county Administration and Records Building to provide coordinated services to victims of domestic violence. Last year, the Morris Family Justice Center provided comprehensive services from multiple agencies to 579 adults. Another 1,139 people received critical legal advocacy services, while 429 survivors received adult counseling services.

“Our Family Justice Center is celebrating 10 years of those kinds of partnerships, many of them with people in this room. We have incredible partnerships between the county, law enforcement and other nonprofit organizations, and we provided services to 579 survivors in 2025. But what that story doesn’t tell you is that those 579 survivors represent all of the children impacted by those survivors,” said Williams.

Founded 50 years ago by a group of women who recognized the need for a safe place for survivors of domestic violence, the organization initially provided emergency shelter in the homes of its founders before establishing its first shelter in Morris County. JBWS has since grown into a multifaceted agency providing safety, support and solutions for survivors and their families.

“JBWS has been part of Morris County for 50 years, and we are grateful for the people who have made that work possible,” Hughes said. “We have a lot of success stories that people never hear about because they do not make the news. Those successes are happening every day through these partnerships.”

Anyone in Morris County seeking help related to domestic violence can contact the JBWS 24-hour helpline at (877) 782-2873. Services are confidential and available to victims, as well as family members, friends and professionals seeking information about how to help.

MORRISTOWN — The Morris Music Men Chorus will present a show called “Hot Brass and Cool Harmonies” on Sunday, November 1.

The show will be a dynamic fusion of vocal harmony and live instrumentation, promising an unforgettable afternoon of harmony, instruments and entertainment, from classic pop to contemporary, with something for everyone in the family.

The show will be held on Sunday, November 1, at 3:00 p.m. at Dolan Hall in the Annunciation Center at Saint Elizabeth University, 2 Convent Road, Morristown.

For information and tickets, visit www.morrismusicmen.org. Tickets will also be available at the door. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students.