MORRIS COUNTY — A Denville woman, Laura Decroce, 48, is confronting multiple charges following her alleged involvement in a hit-and-run incident early Monday morning, March 11th, in Denville Township.
The collision occurred around 12:45 a.m. on North Shore Road.
According to police, during the investigation of the crash, it was discovered that one of the vehicles involved had fled the scene before the arrival of law enforcement officers. However, the license plate of the suspect’s vehicle was left behind at the site.
Following a brief inquiry, authorities successfully located the vehicle and identified the driver as Laura Decroce.
Decroce was subsequently arrested and charged with driving under the influence, aggravated vehicular assault due to injuries sustained by the other driver in the crash, careless driving, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, failure to report a crash, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash with injuries, and refusal to provide breath samples for testing.
Decroce was released pending a court appearance.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This meeting is being held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, also known as the Sunshine Law, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6. Notice of the meeting was sent to the Daily Record and Star-Ledger on January 2, 2024, and published in the Record and Ledger on January 5, 2024. Notice was also posted on the Bulletin Board of the Municipal Building.” These notices were sent within 48 hours before this meeting and were sent in sufficient time for the publications to publish them.
The Town of Dover highly values the input of residents in making important decisions that affect the residents of our community. We also believe in the rights of residents to observe Governing Body Meetings. To ensure that all of our residents have the opportunity to offer comments, each statement/comment shall be held to a time of five minutes.
Mayor James Dodd (December 31, 2027)
Claudia P. Toro Council Member – First Ward (December 31, 2025)
Sandra Wittner Council Member – First Ward (December 31, 2024)
Sergio Rodriguez Council Member – Second Ward (December 31, 2025)
Geovani Estacio Council Member – Second Ward (December 31, 2024)
Michael Scarneo Council Member – Third Ward (December 31, 2025)
Karol Ruiz Council Member – Third Ward (December 31, 2024)
MORRIS COUNTY — On Saturday, March 9, crowds lined South Street, Morristown Green, and Washington Street to celebrate a parade rich with Irish heritage, led by Morris Plains Grand Marshall Jack Haren.
As the parade drew nearer, laughter and excited chatter filled the parking lot behind Town Hall, undeterred by the moisture in the air. Although the event is alcohol-free, parade-goers were greeted with the cheerful offer of a free beer as they turned from South Street towards the Green.
Jack Haren, a longtime resident of Morris Plains, was honored on February 17 by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Morris County. This marked the first-ever “publicity” parade in Morris Plains, celebrating Haren’s selection to lead the renowned St. Patrick’s Day parade in Morristown.
By 11:00 a.m., South Street was alive with 10,000 shades of green, from flags and hoodies to Lucky Charms t-shirts, despite the cold, wet weather. Promptly at noon, the parade kicked off from the Morristown Municipal Building, winding its way around the Morristown Green and up Washington Street, passing by the Morris County courthouse before culminating at the high school.
Among the participants, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon proudly marched in a kilt, while Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop shared an umbrella.
The spirit of the parade remained undeterred by the weather, as it has since its move from Wharton to Morristown in 1991. Organized by the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Morris County and the Irish American Association of North West Jersey, the event continued to thrive.
MORRIS COUNTY — Fran Palm, President and CEO of Zufall Health, alongside the Board of Directors, sadly announce the sudden passing of our beloved Founder, Robert Zufall, MD, affectionately known as Dr. Bob. Dr. Bob peacefully departed this life surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, just three months short of his 100th birthday.
His loss is deeply felt by his family, the health center, and the entire community. Dr. Bob, predeceased by his cherished wife, Kay, is survived by his five children, nine grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
His legacy lives on through the countless colleagues, patients, and community members who have benefited from the care provided by the health center bearing his name. “Dr. Bob’s optimism and warmth persisted until his final moments,” stated Palm.
“We are committed to honoring his extraordinary legacy of service in every patient interaction.” Further details about Dr. Bob’s remarkable life will be shared in an upcoming obituary. We invite you to share your fondest memories of Dr. Bob below, celebrating his lifelong dedication to serving the community.
Donations in his memory can be made by clicking here.
MORRIS COUNTY — While touting increases in education funding, Governor Phil Murphy and his administration have been notably silent on the $20 million cut to community colleges in the state, say Senator Parker Space, Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, and Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia. The Northwest New Jersey lawmakers are calling on the administration to reverse the cut and start fairly funding the county college sector to prevent potential tuition increases on students and negative impacts on workforce development.
“New Jersey simply cannot afford to continually underfund community colleges. They play a vital role in our state’s workforce development efforts and provide affordable access to a diverse body of students who have a desire to earn a degree or certificate, including some who thought they’d never be able to get into college or have their unique educational needs met in a higher education setting,” Space said. “The astounding lack of investment in our community colleges by the state is shortsighted and hurts educational opportunities.”
According to Murphy’s budget documents released this week, he plans to cut $20 million from the operating support for the state’s 18 community colleges, bringing the funding level down to FY23. The $20 million increase in operating aid last year represented the first significant state investment for community colleges in more than a decade.
“We are very concerned about what this cut means for Sussex County Community College, the County College of Morris, and Warren County Community College because they all drive partnerships with employers, county governments, and high schools to create career pipelines in this region. From nursing to manufacturing and everything in between, there is a great need for specially trained residents with the skills and education to fill in-demand jobs and they are coming from our county colleges,” Inganamort said. “The governor’s claim of significant investment in New Jersey’s county colleges is simply false. New Jersey has one the worst state-funded county college systems in the country, even before this cut. It’s time for the state to reverse course.”
Aaron Fichtner, president of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, said in a statement that the proposed reduction jeopardizes the operation of New Jersey’s 18 community colleges, which serve over 230,000 residents and power key industries. He said colleges will be forced to make difficult decisions, including raising tuition, cutting programs and student support, and reducing staffing.
“Roughly 55% of community college funding comes from students paying tuition. Students go to community college so they can graduate without debt. We can’t support a state budget that unfairly burdens our most economically disadvantaged college students,” Fantasia said. “Our county colleges serve both valedictorians and adults earning their GEDs. They can respond to the needs of the community by acting as an information hub for local veterans, opening campus food banks, and holding workshops for senior citizens and high schoolers alike. We are committed to collectively working with our colleagues and stakeholders to prioritize funding for our community colleges while highlighting their invaluable contributions to this state.”
Only about 20% of funding for community colleges comes from the state, putting it among the top five most underfunded systems in the nation. County college officials, who did not expect the $20 million increase last year to be a one-time state investment, are clamoring to understand the rationale behind the decrease, but have yet to be provided answers. They plan to attend the first public budget hearing on March 11 to make their case.
DOVER — If you need to renew your driver’s license and registration, and don’t want to make a trip to the local DMV, no worries. An upcoming visit from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s (NJMVC) mobile unit in Dover will give residents the chance to do these tasks and more.
The MVC “Agency on Wheels” will be available on Monday, April 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Dover Public Schools, 21 Belmont Avenue. Click here for more information.
The mobile unit has a limit of 40 customers per date with an additional 10 customers to be placed on a standby list. A social security card or 2022 W2 form, current pay stub, or 1099 form are required to participate, as well as six points of ID.
Some services that will be available include:
Driver Licenses – The Mobile Units provide the opportunity for drivers to renew their license, obtain a duplicate license, change their name or address on their license, add a boat endorsement, add a veteran designation, register to vote, and/or make organ donation selections.
Non-Driver Identification Cards – The Mobile Units can provide residents with photo identification that may then serve as a primary or secondary form of personal ID.
Registrations – Drivers may renew their registration or obtain a duplicate registration card for their vehicle in the Mobile Units.
REAL ID – Mobile units can provide REAL ID to a limited number of customers. Customers who have scheduled appointments for REAL IDs must arrive no later than 11:30 a.m. on the day of the appointment.
License Plates – The Mobile Units allow drivers the option to surrender license plates.
Placards – Drivers may obtain a Persons with a Disability, Purple Heart, or Disabled Veteran placard from the Mobile Units.
Examination Permits – Customers can apply for an examination permit to take a written (law/knowledge) test. However, the written test itself is not available in the Mobile Units
REAL ID appointments are limited and must be scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. only.
Issuance of a REAL ID requires additional proof of identity. Click here to see what to bring to satisfy these requirements.
James Gannon, the Sheriff of Morris County, John Sette, the Chairman of Morris County CrimeStoppers, and Patrick Minutillo were seen enjoying the “Gannon Family Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration.
BOONTON — There’s no debate that the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Morristown has been a premiere event in Morris County for many years, but immediately after the parade has ended, and the crowds have dispersed, comes another long-standing event that many of us look forward to every year. The “Gannon Family Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration,” still going strong after 58 years.
Gannon Family Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration
Despite some very gloomy weather throughout the day on Saturday, March 9th, over 400 people weren’t about to let a little rain and chilly temps dampen their spirits. They came out in droves, to the meeting hall of the SS. Cyril & Methodius Church in Boonton, sporting their finest green attire, to share a relaxing, fun, and spirited afternoon, complete with an Irish American meal of all-you-could-eat corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes. As every year, all courtesy of the Gannon family. Of course, there were also plenty of desserts, Irish soda bread, and some cold brews to wash it all down.
Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, brother Kevin, as well as many other family members and friends, began the preparations days in advance (in actuality, this is an ongoing process starting the year before). The amount of food that had to be prepared had to be assembled in numerous large pots in the Sheriff’s daughter’s driveway and then delivered to the meeting hall. An unbelievable 305 pounds of corned beef, 100 pounds of potatoes, and 100 pounds of cabbage, and almost all of it went! As much hard work as it took to put this amazing annual dinner together, you could hear the excitement and satisfaction in the Sheriff’s voice as he discussed how much he enjoyed and looked forward to carrying on this tradition year after year. A labor of love!
Irish American meal of all-you-could-eat corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes. As every year, all courtesy of the Gannon family.
Of course, this celebration offers more than a great corned beef and cabbage dinner. The large crowd was also treated with a local group of young step dancers, Morris County Bag Pipers, John Fox Jr. and Dan McConnell, (after all, what would an Irish function be without bagpipers), and the ongoing live music from the McArdle Brothers Band. And it was evident the crowd loved it all, you could feel the energy in the room. Lots of laughter, community spirit, and camaraderie filled the room throughout the event.
Attendees included such dignitaries as Commissioners Doug Cabana, Steve Shaw, Tayfun Selen, Morris County Prosecutor, Robert J. Carroll, and Morris County CrimeStoppers Chairman, John Sette, among many other local business leaders, residents, and other supporters and friends.
Morris County Commissioners Stephen Shaw, Doug Cabana, and Patrick Minutillo
As mentioned, this event is about more than just great food, and a fun time for Sheriff Gannon, and his family. The event is a celebration of life. On the walls of the hall are photos of family members, past and present, who this event is in memory of. Specifically, the family patriarch, NYPD Detective Edward F. Gannon, the Sheriff’s father and mentor, their mother, Genevieve, who before passing never missed this event, Judge Edward V. Gannon, as well as many other family members who are no longer with us. It is a joyous event and a fitting way to honor and remember those before us. As one person nicely stated on social media; “Events like these bring people together, create lasting memories, and contribute to the rich cultural fabric of the community.” I could not agree more. Slainte!
Lots of laughter, community spirit, and camaraderie filled the room throughout the event.
FLORHAM PARK — Garden Communities has launched pre-leasing at 147 Columbia Turnpike, with the first resident move-ins expected in late spring. The boutique multifamily rental community combines 126 luxury apartments with a complement of lifestyle amenities in one of Morris County’s most desirable suburban locales.
Situated at 147 Columbia Turnpike on a former office building site, the community features one- and two-bedroom apartments distinguished by their spacious, light-filled interiors and thoughtful contemporary design. Gourmet, center-island kitchens, spacious walk-in closets, in-suite washers and dryers, individually controlled heating/cooling, and remote keyless entry are among the community’s many luxury highlights.
According to their website, a one-bedroom, one-bathroom, 1,082 square feet with a den and balcony ranges from $2,945 to $3,045.
“Early enthusiasm and interest in 147 Columbia have been strong,” said Garden Communities’ Scott Loventhal, managing director. “These are beautiful, spacious apartments in the heart of a thriving municipality. We are thrilled to kick off leasing and look forward to welcoming our first residents.”
The two-building community’s pedestrian-friendly location, moments from downtown Florham Park, adds to its appeal. 147 Columbia offers a coveted address near shopping and dining, entertainment, parks, business centers, institutes of higher education and healthcare facilities. Locational advantages also include easy access to major highways and public transportation, and proximity to dynamic neighboring communities like Livingston, Morristown, Madison, and Chatham.
As one of the region’s most active developers in its high-end niche, Short Hills-based Garden Communities has a robust multifamily project pipeline that will introduce dozens of new communities in the tri-state area over the next several years. The company is recognized for its responsive, hands-on approach to property operations, and its focus on meeting the needs and desires of modern renters.
MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio released the following statement to highlight legislation that would help towns meet court-mandated development quotas through regional contribution agreements (RCAs).
“Local officials are struggling to accommodate high-density, court-mandated development in their towns. It’s about time that we recognize their challenges and give municipalities the tools they need to preserve open space in their communities,” said Sen. Pennacchio (R-26). “We need to strike a balance between growth and preservation. We’re not just talking about helping more people achieve the American dream; we’re talking about helping families build successful futures in the communities they love. By allowing the use of RCAs once again, towns that would be negatively affected by mandatory development will be able to support the construction of low-cost housing units in areas that can best handle the growth and are eager to do so.”
Since 2008, municipalities have been prohibited from using RCAs to meet court-mandated development quotas. This has created a burden for towns that have been forced to find space to build court-mandated development in communities that may not be able to support the increase in density.
On Monday, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will vote on Democrat-led legislation to reform municipal responsibilities concerning court-mandated development.
Senator Pennacchio believes RCAs — voluntary agreements between two willing municipalities to meet court-mandated development quotas — need to be a part of broader reforms to achieve fair results for both municipalities and homeowners in New Jersey.
Senator Pennacchio’s legislation, S-431, would amend the Fair Housing Act to re-authorize the use of RCAs by municipalities to meet court-mandated development quotas. The bill would also establish a role in the approval process for the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Commissioner of Community Affairs, and the Attorney General.
Under the bill, municipalities would be authorized to propose transferring up to 50% of their fair share housing obligations to another municipality within its housing region through an RCA.
“Municipalities are in desperate need of relief from the burden of court-mandated development quotas. We need a broad, bipartisan approach to fix this issue for municipalities and this bill could accomplish that,” Sen. Pennacchio added. “RCAs would ensure that every town in New Jersey has skin in the game when determining the best areas to build low-cost housing.”
DOVER — Police arrested two individuals, identified as 41-year-old Tracy Scafidi from Dover and 36-year-old Gary Savage from Hopatcong, for attempting to steal hundreds of dollars worth of Red Bull from a Target store in Fairfield.
The suspects filled their carts with cases of the energy drink and attempted to exit the store without paying.
Security personnel recognized them from previous incidents and monitored their activities. Scafidi loaded her cart with 12 cases of Red Bull and several other items, while Savage filled his with eight cases.
The total value of the stolen items amounted to $479.08. Upon searching the suspects, police found drug paraphernalia on them.
Both individuals face charges of shoplifting, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia and are being held at Essex County Jail awaiting their initial court appearance.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
