MORRIS COUNTY — Anthony Citro, 43, formerly of 37 Chestnut Hill Drive East, Denville, has been sentenced to 17 years in New Jersey State Prison.

On November 16, 2022, Anthony Citro entered a guilty plea to first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter before the Hon. Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. On December 15, Judge Taylor imposed a sentence of 17 years in New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), which makes the defendant ineligible for parole until he has served 85% of the sentence imposed.

The charges arise from an incident that occurred on May 17, 2021. At approximately 7:24 a.m., law enforcement received a 9-1-1 call regarding a fire at 37 Chestnut Hill Drive East, Denville. Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement officers located Anthony Citro outside the residence, with apparent blood on his clothing. Smoke was observed coming from the residence.

The Denville Volunteer Fire Department members responded to the scene and extinguished the fire, which was later determined to be incendiary. While suppressing the fire, the body of a deceased female was located inside the residence. The female was identified as Eileen Citro, 68, the defendant’s mother. The cause of death was ruled homicide by the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office. The manner of death was determined to be sharp force injuries.

An investigation determined that a bookcase, a wall, and “numerous personal items” were set on fire in a first-floor bedroom using butane.

Neighbors told police that Citro appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the fire and had a history of drug dependency. He also has a history of mental illness

Eileen was a graduate of Parsippany High School, Class of 1971.

Prosecutor Carroll would like to thank and acknowledge the various agencies that participated in the investigation, including the members of the Denville Volunteer Fire Department, the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Morris County Department of Law and Public Safety, the Denville Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office – Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson/Environmental Crimes, Major Crimes and High-Tech Crimes units.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Junior League of Morristown (JLM) accepts grant applications from community non-profit organizations in greater Morris and Somerset counties from Sunday, January 1, to Tuesday, January 31.

The JLM Grant Program provides community grant awards to non-profit community organizations to support projects consistent with the league’s mission, vision, and impact area.

The league’s mission is to promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women, and improve communities through trained volunteers. Its vision is for women to be catalysts for community change, and the impact area is to address the unmet needs of teens.

The grants awarded by the JLM help support non-profit organizations in various ways, including helping to fund their first year of operation, funding an initiative or project, or funding an event or organization that will create a significant community impact.

“The Junior League of Morristown is proud to be able to support non-profit organizations in our community that is supporting teens through these grants,” said Junior League President Melissa Spiotta, the Board of Education president for the K-12 Morris School District. “There is so much need, and we are happy to help.”

The 2018 to 2022 JLM Community Grant recipients include:

• Nourish NJ, $8,120,
• Visions and Pathways, $2,500 and $10,200,
• I Grow it Green, $2,500 and $10,200,
• Cornerstone, $1,000 and $3,500,
• Spring Street CDC, $1,000 and $3,500,
• Arts by the People, $4,100 and
• Jersey Battered Women’s Service, $2,500.

Previous award recipients include:

• Roots and Wing, $15,000,
• Women’s Health and Counseling Center in Somerville, $20,000,
• El Primer Paso in Dover, $25,000,
• Literacy Volunteers of America of Morris County, $4,500,
• Children’s Cultural Arts Center, $3,000 and
• Children on the Green, $2,000.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Commissioner Kathryn DeFillippo was celebrated for her decades in public service during a holiday gathering at the Morris County Administration & Records Building, where her colleagues presented her with the traditional rocking chair for Commissioners retiring from public office.

Commissioner DeFillippo, who has served three terms on the Morris County Board of County Commissioners since 2014, when it was known as the Board of Chosen Freeholders, announced last year that she would be leaving public service at the end of this year. She has served twice as Director of the Board during her tenure.

“It was a tough decision a year ago when I announced I wasn’t going to run, but it was the fair thing to do — to let people know that I had decided it was time for me to retire … I have enjoyed working and being a part of Morris County. Thank you,” said Commissioner DeFillippo, who attended the event with her husband, Roxbury Councilman, and Past Mayor Robert DeFillippo.

“I look forward now at … the younger generation and sharing with them how important it is to give back to your community, whether it’s in an elected position or just coming to a meeting or doing something as simple as, you know, landscaping around the library, helping out. Do something with your community,” Commissioner DeFillippo added.

Commissioner DeFillippo served as Mayor of Roxbury Township in 2009 and served on the Township Council from 2006 through December 2013.  She also served as deputy mayor in 2011, 2012, and 2013 and was a member of the town’s Zoning Board and a past president of the Roxbury Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Kathy’s departure from the board at the end of this month is bitter-sweet for all of us.  We share her happiness in spending more time with her family and being free to do many things she and Bob would like to do. However, this board will be hard-pressed to replace what Kathy has brought to the board during her three terms since 2014 – I am talking about her intense compassion for the less fortunate in our community,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen.

Commissioner DeFillippo, retired, served as the chief liaison to the Morris County Department of Human Services and area nonprofits after a private career as a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor that involved helping society’s most vulnerable citizens. She retired in 2016 from the board of the NJ Metro Chapter of the National MS Society after serving as a trustee for ten years, and she was the director of a sheltered workshop for physically and mentally handicapped adults in New York.

She also worked in the insurance industry in the Washington, D.C., area, providing medical management and vocational rehabilitation services to injured workers.

“I would be remiss if I did not squeeze in the fact that Kathy was chair of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) for two years, from 2020 through 2021. She had been on the board since 2014 and was presented with a Leadership Award by the Newark Regional Business Partnership earlier this year for her service,” Director Selen said as DeFillippo was presented with the county’s traditional wooden rocking chair.

“As Kathy always said, the important work of the NJTPA is too often ignored. It oversees regional transportation planning, and it annually authorizes more than $1 billion in federal transportation funding for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey. Kathy, we are very proud that you represented us, especially in a leadership role at the NJTPA,” Selen added.

Commissioner DeFillippo remains active with the MS Society as an advocate in government relations and has been the driving force behind bringing the Walk MS to Roxbury in 2006, helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars to find a cure and to raise awareness for people afflicted with MS.

MORRIS COUNTY — Nearly 600 donors have contributed $30,000 to support the family of 22-year-old Flynn Michael Brown, a former Mount Olive High School football player who was tragically murdered on Friday, December 2, while attending Jackson State University.

A friend organized the GoFundMe and wrote, “Flynn was a star, a leader. He would make sure everyone was good, even if he wasn’t good. He brought joy to life and always had open arms for anyone. He blessed everyone he came in contact with. His life did not deserve to be cut short by a heinous act of violence.” Flynn was his parent’s only son.

Flynn is described in the fundraiser as a “star” and “leader” who “brought joy to life and always had open arms for anyone.”

“He would make sure everyone was good even if he wasn’t good,” the campaign says.

“He blessed everyone he came in contact with. His life did not deserve to be cut short by a heinous act of violence.”

The campaign funds will be used to transport Flynn’s body from Jackson for the memorial, as well as for funeral arrangements and attorney expenses.

Flynn is survived by his loving parents, Michele and Michael, his girlfriend, and countless family members and close friends.

To view the GoFundMe, click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, and additional administrative members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office recognized Morris County Administrator John Bonanni for his years of service to the office.

A ceremony was held on December 8, 2022, in which Administrator Bonanni was presented with a recognition plaque for his retirement – “with sincere appreciation for your 33 years of dedicated and excellent service and unwavering support for the MCPO.”

Prosecutor Carroll said, “On behalf of the MCPO, we all wish John a great and well-deserved retirement. John has been a great friend and supporter of our office and law enforcement at every level in Morris County. He played a key role in setting a high standard for inter-agency cooperation that is a model for county law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey. His dedication to protect and serve our citizens will be missed.”

MORRIS COUNTY — The power of positive thinking will be a focus of the monthly Recovery Recognition Breakfast hosted by Prevention is Key (PIK) this December. PIK is a north Jersey-based non-profit substance misuse prevention agency. The Recovery Recognition Breakfast began as a small gathering to acknowledge the work of the agency’s volunteers but has grown into something much bigger. Community members are invited to join PIK on the second Monday of each month to discover recovery resources, network with peers in or exploring recovery, and learn something new.

The December breakfast is sponsored by Absolute Awakenings and will welcome speakers Harvey Rich and Joey Himelfarb to educate guests on the power of positive thinking. The program will conclude with special guests from Creature Comforts Pet Therapy. The animals will be available for pets and cuddles following the formal speaking program.

The breakfast is scheduled to be held on December 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the Rockaway Center for Addiction Recovery Education and Success (CARES), located at 25 West Main Street.

Questions and RSVPs can be directed to Laura Jennings Pitt at (973) 949-7979 or ljennings@mcpik.org,

Prevention is Key (PIK) is a 501(c)3 organization that has delivered culturally competent, evidence-based prevention services in Morris County and the surrounding counties for almost 25 years. The agency was founded in 1989 to coordinate substance misuse prevention in Morris County. From our roots as a resource center and awareness campaigns with a modest budget to our current implementation of both direct service and environmental change strategies, including our recent addition of the Center for Addiction Recovery and Success (CARES) Peer to Peer Recovery Center, has made PIK the premiere substance misuse prevention agency in north central New Jersey. For more information, click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, announce the hiring of Alexandra L. Pecora as Assistant Prosecutor for the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

Carroll officially swore in Assistant Prosecutor Pecora at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office on December 5.

Assistant Prosecutor Pecora is assigned to the General Investigations Unit within the Courts & Administration Division.

Assistant Prosecutor Pecora most recently served as an Assistant Prosecutor for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and a Law Clerk for the Honorable Frederic R. McDaniel in Union County. During her tenure with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, she was assigned to the Trial Team, Domestic Violence Unit, Juvenile Unit, and Appellate Unit. AP Pecora previously served as a legal intern for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and private law practice in West Orange and as a Juvenile Justice Extern in Montgomery County, PA.

AP Pecora holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law. Prosecutor Carroll said, “I welcome AP Pecora to our team. We are excited to have her join our office.”