MORRIS COUNTY — This Sunday, a rededication ceremony for a restored Revolutionary War replica cannon will mark the unofficial start of Morris County’s celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary. The event will feature a ribbon-cutting at 11:00 a.m. in front of Acorn Hall in Morristown, just ahead of the Morristown Festival on the Green, which kicks off at noon.

The public is invited to visit and view the newly restored cannon, which stands on an island between Morris and Lafayette avenues, in front of Acorn Hall. The cannon has served as a symbol of Morris County’s rich Revolutionary War history for the past 20 years. Morris County played a crucial role in America’s fight for independence, hosting two winter encampments of General George Washington and his troops, and housing historically significant sites like the Ford Mansion, Fort Nonsense, and Jockey Hollow.

Event Details:

• What: Rededication of the Replica Revolutionary War Cannon
• Where: In front of Acorn Hall, between Morris & Lafayette Avenues, Morristown
• When: Sunday, September 29, 11:00 a.m., one hour before the Morristown Festival on the Green

This cannon rededication marks one of the first events in a series that will celebrate the upcoming Semiquincentennial. Earlier this year, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners committed $100,000 to the Morris County Economic Development Alliance and the Morris County Tourism Bureau to coordinate the 250th-anniversary celebrations.

“Our 250th is a great opportunity for our county. We invite everyone who wants to learn about the American Revolution to visit, explore, and discover how Morris County played a pivotal role in establishing the best nation in the world,” said Commissioner Director Christine Myers.

The replica cannon was originally installed outside Acorn Hall, home to the Morris County Historical Society, in the early 2000s by the Greater Morristown Historic Foundation. The installation aimed to raise awareness of Morris County’s role in the Revolutionary War. Over the years, exposure to the elements caused the cannon’s wooden structure to deteriorate, requiring extensive restoration.

The Greater Morristown Historic Foundation, founded by philanthropist Richard “Dick” Deskovick, made significant contributions to the area, including the Patriots’ Farewell fountain on the Morristown Green. Though the foundation has since disbanded, its legacy lives on through projects like the Cannon. In 2023, Ryan Dawson led a group of local citizens to restore the cannon, continuing the tradition of community-driven preservation.

“The cannon’s condition was brought to my attention by Jennifer Wehring of the Morristown Partnership,” said Dawson. “She and I knew the community would step in once someone took ownership of the project. Between members of the community and civic organizations, we raised the funds to bring the cannon back to life. It was a true group effort, and I knew Morristown’s residents would rise to the occasion.”

For more information, contact the Morristown Partnership at (973) 455-1133, or the Morris County Historical Society at (973) 267-3465.

MORRIS COUNTY — County College of Morris (CCM), named the #1 Best Community College in New Jersey by Salary Potential from Payscale, will host a Fall Open House on Saturday, October 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event enables prospective students – high schoolers and parents, adult learners, career changers, and veterans – to explore first-hand how the highly ranked CCM education provides the best pathway to achieve one’s educational goals. 

Visitors may speak with CCM faculty, department representatives, and the Workforce Development team to learn about the more than 100 associate degree, certificate, and professional programs. Tours of the park-like campus to see the college’s state-of-the-art facilities, labs, studios, and performing spaces are offered. Students interested in a college education exclusively online can learn about Virtual Campus as well.

Representatives from CCM’s diverse student support services will be available for visitors to connect with, including personalized academic advisement, tutoring, a Center for Student Well-Being, transfer services, career services, and accessibility services. Visitors can also learn about the college’s more than 50 co-curricular clubs, student government, and Div. II/III athletic programs.

 A free application for admission, resulting in a $30 savings, will be provided at the Open House for those who are interested in pursuing degree programs. Visitors can apply that day and immediately register for courses too. CCM also has funding opportunities for veterans and families.

For visitors who are interested in workforce development programs, CCM’s Center for Workforce Development will be available to advise and enroll students at the Open House. To enroll, there is no application necessary.  

To learn more about this comprehensive campus-wide event, visit https://www.ccm.edu/events/fall-open-house/. Registration is required for the three sessions, which start at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.

Visitors can also enter to win a gift card for free CCM swag, books, supplies, and more at the Campus Store.

CCM is located at 214 Center Grove Road in Randolph. The college proudly graduates 1,000 students each year and has the highest graduation rate and one of the highest transfer rates among New Jersey’s community colleges.

MORRIS COUNTY — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Denville Chief of Police Frank Perna, confirmed the sentencing of Joseph Palumbo Jr., 34, of Columbia, on charges related to the unlawful manufacturing and sales of firearms without serial numbers, more commonly known as ghost guns, in Morris and Warren Counties.

On May 20, 2024, Palumbo Jr. pled guilty two counts of second-degree Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm and two counts of third-degree Possession of a Firearm without a Serial Number. On September 13, the Honorable Judge Claudia Jones imposed an aggregate sentence of five years in New Jersey State Prison, with 42 months of parole ineligibility.

An investigation revealed Palumbo Jr. carried out the illegal manufacture and sales of ghost guns between December 2023 and February 2024 in Morris and Warren County. The sales involved one homemade handgun without a serial number, five homemade AR platformed assault firearms without serial numbers, and two large-capacity magazines. Palumbo Jr. was taken into custody and charged following a motor vehicle stop on February 8.

During the subsequent execution of search warrants for Palumbo Jr.’s Columbia residence and the defendant’s vehicle, two additional homemade AR platformed assault firearms without serial numbers, approximately 36 additional firearms, numerous firearms components used to manufacture firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and approximately 3 firearm silencers were seized.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will not raise prices for First-Class Mail or other Market Dominant products in January 2025, following a recommendation from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The USPS Board of Governors accepted DeJoy’s suggestion, meaning the cost to mail a one-ounce single-piece First-Class letter will remain unchanged.

DeJoy highlighted that the USPS’s operational strategies are improving service reliability and efficiency, with projected inflation on the decline. As a result, no rate increase is expected before July 2025.

“Our strategies are working, and projected inflation is declining,” DeJoy said. “Therefore, we will wait until at least July before proposing any increases for Market Dominant services.”

The Postal Service reaffirmed its commitment to keeping costs low while delivering mail and packages across the nation at least six days a week as part of its long-term Delivering for America plan. The USPS also noted that very few countries have a lower price for domestic single-piece letters.

This decision aligns with the Postal Service’s public service mission to provide affordable, nationwide service while maintaining financial sustainability.