DOVER — The Dover Police Department will host “Coffee with a Cop” on Tuesday, November 12, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Dover Free Public Library. This relaxed gathering aims to bring officers and residents closer together, allowing community members to share questions, concerns, and ideas over a warm cup of coffee.

In addition to the Coffee with a Cop event, Dover will hold a Ward Meeting for the 1st and 4th Wards on Thursday, November 14, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Dover Free Public Library. This gathering provides a platform for residents of these wards to discuss neighborhood issues, learn about upcoming projects, and connect with their local officials.

Both events reflect the Dover Police Department’s commitment to fostering transparency and strengthening relationships within the community. Residents are encouraged to attend one or both events to be part of an open dialogue and a collaborative approach to improving Dover. The Dover Free Public Library will be the heart of these community connections, providing a comfortable environment for constructive discussions.

“We look forward to seeing everyone again,” Dover Police officials said. “This is an opportunity for everyone to come together, voice their thoughts, and work hand-in-hand to make our community stronger.”

Whether it’s sipping coffee with a cop or engaging in meaningful discussions at the Ward Meeting, Dover residents are encouraged to participate and make their voices heard.

DOVER — As of November 6, 2024, unofficial election results have been released for Dover’s Third Ward council seat. Veronica Velez won the seat with 643 votes (58.67%), while Councilwoman Karol Ruiz, running as an independent candidate after losing the Democratic endorsement, received 404 votes (36.86%). Jhon Londono garnered 44 votes (4.01%), and there were 5 write-in votes (0.46%), with a total of 1,096 votes cast.

Velez campaigned as part of the Rescue Dover team.

Ruiz’s decision to run independently came after her loss to Velez in the Democratic committee’s endorsement, where Velez received 16 votes to Ruiz’s 5.

Ruiz’s independent candidacy raised questions about New Jersey’s “Sore Loser Law,” which prevents candidates who lose in a primary from running as independents in the general election. Legal experts noted that New Jersey courts have upheld this law in recent cases, possibly affecting Ruiz’s eligibility.

During her campaign, Ruiz set a fundraising record for an individual ward candidate in Dover, raising over $17,000 since January. She emphasized her dedication to serving the community and providing an independent voice on the town council.

In other Dover campaigns Dover’s First Ward Town Council seat, Incumbent Sandra Wittner secured a decisive victory with 527 votes, accounting for 63.65% of the total. Her opponent, Nancy Pino, received 298 votes. This outcome reflects Wittner’s strong support within the community.

Dover’s Second Ward Town Council seat, incumbent Democratic candidate Geovani Estacio Carillo secured a decisive victory with 693 votes, accounting for 60.51% of the total. His opponent, Republican Danny A. Jenkins, received 453 votes, representing 39.49%. This outcome reflects Estacio’s strong support within the community.

Dover’s Fourth Ward Town Council seat, Marcos Tapia, running unopposed, received 509 votes, capturing 92.88% of the total.

The Election Night Reporting System, courtesy of the Morris County Clerk, has been diligently updating the numbers, offering the public real-time insight into the vote. While these figures provide an early look, officials remind residents that results are unofficial until every ballot has been accounted for. This includes any provisional ballots cast at polling stations and mail-in ballots that arrived after polls closed but were postmarked in time.

MORRIS COUNTY — The state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) is accepting applications from counties, municipalities, and school districts for Local Recreation Improvement Grant (LRIG) Program funding.

The Murphy Administration allocated $20 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget to this competitive grant program, which is now in its fifth year supporting the improvement and repair of public recreation facilities including local parks, municipal recreation centers, and local stadiums.

LRIG funds will be awarded to successful grant applicants to help cover costs associated with updating community centers, playgrounds, pools, fields, walking or bicycle trails, rail trails, multi-sport courts, and recreational facilities; one-time personnel costs directly related to improvements; project development professional services costs; equipment costs including playground and recreation facilities equipment; and environmental remediation costs required to prepare recreation sites for use.

New Jersey counties, municipalities, and school districts are eligible to apply.

To qualify for LRIG funding, applicants must:

• Describe the intended use of grant funding for the improvement or repair of a specific local recreation site and identify any previously encountered obstacles to repair or improve the space.
• Demonstrate their capacity to complete the proposed project and provide project management and oversight for all activities and fiscal operations.
• List key personnel and/or consultants who will be managing the grant funds and proposed project.
• Provide a cost breakdown of the project.
• Submit a governing body resolution acknowledging and approving any grant application and the proposed plan or design for the recreation space or community facility for which funding is sought.\

A sample resolution can be found on the DLGS website by clicking here.

Certify that the property where improvements will be made is owned by the county, municipality, or school district.

Applications must be submitted through the DCA SAGE Portal by clicking here. They are due no later than 5 p.m. on January 31.

Program guidelines and detailed information about the FY 2025 LRIG Program are available by clicking here on the DCA website.

 For more information about DCA, click here or follow the department on social media.