EAST HANOVER — When a fellow student needed assistance, Hanover Park High School student Matt Valenti stepped forward without hesitation. There was no spotlight, no need for recognition, just a sincere willingness to help in the moment.
It is these everyday choices that help define the culture at Hanover Park High School. Small acts can make a meaningful difference.
The Hanover Park community is proud of Matt for leading by example and demonstrating what kindness looks like in action.
EAST HANOVER — Students at Hanover Park High School recently had the opportunity to participate in an engaging, hands-on learning experience as members of the school’s Health Occupations Students of America program welcomed back several distinguished alumni.
The visiting graduates returned to their alma mater to share their professional knowledge, career experiences, and passion for the healthcare field with the next generation of Hornets. Their guidance provided students with valuable real-world insight into emergency medical services and health-related careers, reinforcing classroom instruction with practical application.
Partnering with the school for the program was East Hanover Emergency Medical Services, whose team worked alongside students to demonstrate equipment, review emergency response procedures, and provide interactive instruction. The collaboration allowed students to explore potential career pathways while gaining a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and rewards of serving the community in healthcare roles.
The event highlighted the strong connection between Hanover Park High School and its alumni, as well as the importance of community partnerships in preparing students for future success.
Once a Hornet, always a Hornet.
EAST HANOVER – Hanover Park High School, Principal Thomas J. Callanan, announced the following is the honor roll for for the second marking period.
Distinguished Honors are for grades of 4.00 or above for the marking period.
High Honors are for grades of 3.50 to 3.99 for the marking period. Honors are for grades of 3.00 to 3.49 for the marking period.
Distinguished Honors
Grade 12
Ava Adochio, Daniel Amalfitano, Lindsay Behre, Natasha Blumberg, Jack Botwin, Ava Caccavelli, Jonathan Callanan, James Casola, Sabrina Casola, Evangelina Chaveco, Kayla Chung, Daniela Cicalese, Sophie Cicerone, Carlie Corrao, Tanvi Daita, Nyla Daly, Ava Damurjian, Lily David, Mia DeNicola, Christopher DeTitta, Allison DiBrienza, Christina DiGrazio, Julianna DiRienzo, Margaret Dolan, Piotr Dymnicki, Grace Eilers, Cristina Galhofo, Jared Gerben, Alyssa Giuca, Gianna Hastie, Joshua Ho, Cory Hueston, Scott Hunter, Nicholas Ionete, Ishan Kapadia, Harlan Kim, Samantha Larena, Michela Le Rose, Matthew Lei, Kelly Lu, Juliana Madigan, Ruby Marlin, Jaythan Martinez, Valentino Martinez, Allison Massarano, Gabriella Messana, Brenda Moreno Arias, Kayla Nemec, Chinwe Orjiekwe, Dev Ramcharan, Sydney Shepard, Julia Shrager, Asia Sohoni, Caden Thomas, Thi Tran, Ava Trinity, Heidi Tsai, Nina Tsai, Madison Viana, Kaitlin Vitti, Fiona Wang, Iclal Yapici, Isaiah Zeitz and Sandy Zhong.
Grade 11
Maria Adesso, Angel Ajish Yohannan, Anvitha Bharathkailash, Carinna Bolante, Jackson Bozydaj, Alexandra Burmeister, Bernis Cakmak, Cody Capizano, Madelyn Cardone-Tamburello, Parvati Chiarella, Melissa Coniglio, Gabriella Conte, Alyson Crofton, Evan Cushman, Jaedyn D’Ambola, Luke David, Neil DellaTorre, Francesca Devane, Meadow Dougherty, Darius Firooznia, Jonathan George, Tory Henning, Cheyanne Johnson, Amber Jones, Brendan Keane, Victoria King, Alexa Lombardo, Ava Madine, Vanshi Naithani, Cambria O’Connor, Stella Roberts, Gianna Schiavone, Shalin Shah, Patricia Shallis, William Tober, Sabas Vega and Sofia Viegas.
Grade 10
Brandon Asistido, Ava Berardi, Bree Bertoline, Rithika Bhoopathi, Lilia Broyer, Sophia Caccavelli, Morgan Campbell, Madeline Carrell, Genevieve Cavicchia, Ellie Chuang, Ava Clarke, Jake Cosentino, Brooke Damurjian, Manual de Araujo, Hansh Dondapati, Christopher Doscher, Emilia Dymnicki, Brayden Esposito, Lily Folkemer, Giuliana Gagliardo, Julia Ho, Melissa Ho, Sydney Holmes, Ryan Huang, Natalie Kelly, Madelin Kinney, Sahil Kulkarni, Gianna Langereis, Sean Lee, Nina Matarazzo, Sebastian Mayan, Ryan McPartland, Ryan Medich, Kylie Mesz-Atchison, Sebastian Miller, Martina Mulholland, Ava Mushinske, Raghav Natarajan, Vincent Nguyen, Shilah Noori, Nicolette Novalis, Lucia Orlovsky, Tyler Palmarozzo, Sofia Paulus, Mikayla Pham, Giovanna Pignataro, Isabella Pignataro, Karl Policarpio, Albina Qosaj, Adrianna Rhodes, Amber Saif, Caitlin Sherwood, Jordyn Stevens, Dylan Sugg, Brooklyn Tabao, Kevin Tran, Trent Underwood, Isabella Vicari and Maveric Yoon.
Grade 9
Danielle Ahlert, Maya Alexander, Stella Alvarez, Olivier Asselin, Liana Banasiak, Aubrey Beck, Avidanth Bharathkailash, Analisa Cannizzo, George Caponegro, Felipe Carabajal Stortoni, Brooklynn Catalano, Joshua Chung, Spencer Croessmann, Kyler Cushman, Avery Davis, Shivali Dhrangadhria, Santino DiPaolo, Francesca DiStasio, Allison Dolan, Isabella Frank, Luca Garruto, Nina Greenwald, Mia Guillen, Stacey Guo, Ella Heinold, Samantha Hunter, Maxwell Jordan, Chayse LaBerth, Samantha Lupo, Riley Magee, Christopher McCann, Lola Palardy, Tanay Paripatyadar, Leon Reyes, Katherine Rios, Morgan Rios, Massimo Salvatore, Kaylee Scully, Sanvi Shah, M Haaris Shaikh, Alexa Shrager, Michael Soliman, Sienna Sommerville, Olivia Spina, Kelly Stella, Rhea Thaker, Charles Tober, Natalie Tomczyk, Emma Toto, Kushal Verzi, Minette Viljoen, Kiran Viswanadhan, Sofia Woroch, Danica Zhu and Marti Zizza.
High Honors
Grade 12
Brooke Ahearn, Louana Baltazar, Ava Buchanan, Gianmarco Canziani, James Carney, Jiana Casale, Jolie Casale, Jack Connolly, Sophia Cortese, Milo Crimi, Mohamed Elsadig, Alexa Gagliardo, Colin Heinhold, Abigail Holmes, Samantha Manias, Mario Marrano, Salvadore Mazzuca, Avery Neilan, Phat Nguyen, Theodore Petro, Dante Rosato, Ella Santos, Darya Tarasevich, Hailey Underwood, Alejo Viera Perez, Robert Vogt, Wylder Wickman, Nicholas Zakhary and Morgan Zwigard.
Grade 11
Tala Abualhayja’a, Robert Akos, Ayham Bitar, Philip Bogardus, Christopher Buzza, Sofia Cabrera, Emma Ciasullo, Tyler Del Vecchio, Arianna DiPaolo, Vincent Dorey, Patrick Dorst, Olivia Farneski, Maeve Flaherty, Vincent Fusella, Paul Grieco, Braden Huang, Aiden Jackson, Gavin Krus, Karina Kuzmych, Denece Lee, Joseph Marcantonio, Chloe Mazzarella, Gabriealla Mhley, Sutton Paulus, Cristiano Pereira, Isabella Piscitelli, Adriana Rosa, Presley Sacher, Nicholas Scerbo, Francesco Scrocco and McKayla Sommerville.
Grade 10
Giancarlo Andolino, Paityn Armstrong, Victoria Behringer, Jonathan Berry, Dylan Brown, Dante Cavezza, Matteo Cesaro, Carissa Christopher, Matthew Cohen, Sean Diskin, Azman Farooqui, Connor Fisher, David Frasca, Mikaela Gardiner, Giada Garruto, Leana Giuliano, Adan Gjonbalaj, Shayla Gooch-Asim, Brendan Hamilton, Benjamin Jimenez, Sophia Marinelli, Blaise Markey, Nicholas Martinelli, Luke Matusheski, Mia Mayan, Ryan Mellage, Michael Miscia, Sara Mokhemar, Zaina Mokhemar, Sabrina Mulholland, Isabella Murudumbay, Diana Orani, Luciana Ott, Maya Rinzivillo, Giuliana Rodrigues, Giulia Scioscia, Fiona Seubert, Gianna Spatola,Giuliana Spatola, Giuseppe Spatola, Demarcus Steward, Isabella Valastro, Gabrielle Valentino, Markiyan Vulchak, Liana Weakland, Sofia Weiss and Callen Yadlovski.
Grade 9
Jude Abdy, Leon Alexin, Nicholas Amato, Amadu Barrie, Maria Bumazhnaya, Adrianna Capozzi, Dante Caputo, Elias Chen-Ott, Isabella DeMelo, Brian DiBrienza, Charles Dorst, Layla Flaumenbaum, Brody Fleming, Dylan Gabelman, Vinzian Gutierrez, Arianna Levine, Patrick Long, Emersyn Lopez, Christina Madigan, Owen Murray, Quinn Neilan, Chikezie Orjiekwe,Marc Ortiz, Arnav Patel, Joseph Pepe, Peter Quinn, Erick Quito Alvarado, Liam Rocha, Anthony Rosa, Alexander Spagnuolo, Devyn Strauss, Caden Williams, Liam Wu and Camryn Zwigard.
Honors
Grade 12
Jake Colatrella, Madison DeRosa, Luchiana Salvatore and Lauren Schmit.
Grade 11
Francesca DeFillippes, Kyle Dunn, Ryan Lenci, Joseph Monticello, Luke Morgese, Kevin Ranghel and Liam Teeling.
Grade 10
Antonio Cardella, Khari Cooper, Sophia Di Popolo, Karim Fernandez, Makayla Ferraro, Luciana LaSala, Alexa Latona,Andrea Lozada, Mason Marchal, Mark Perillo, Sofia Ritrivi, Arianna Schilare and Marino Zizza.
Grade 9
Danelle Ho, Alanna Iannacone, Joson Joseph, Idris Muhammad, Marco Orani, Michael Paris, Leonard Rettenberg and Celeste Sewall.
Hanover Park opened in 1956 and serves the Townships of East Hanover and Florham Park. The current enrollment is 697 in grades 9-12 with 192 in the Class of 2026. The school operates on a traditional 8-period schedule. Each academic course meets daily for a minimum of 42 minutes. Hanover Park has a Student:Faculty ratio of 9:1 and a Student:Counselor ratio of 140:1. Hanover Park students are consistently recognized at the state and regional level for outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts.
FLORHAM PARK — The Rotary Club of Florham Park will offer scholarships to high school seniors who reside in Florham Park and have demonstrated a strong record of volunteering and community service.
The scholarships are designed to assist students who are applying to attend an accredited college or technical school.
“Our club members are very proud of our Florham Park students and how significantly they contribute their talents to keeping this community such a wonderful place to live,” said Betty O’Brien, Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Florham Park and Chair of the Scholarship Committee.
To be considered and begin the application process, students should obtain an application from their school counselors within the next two weeks. Students who are awarded a Rotary Club of Florham Park scholarship will receive a certificate, a check, and an invitation to participate in the Florham Park Independence Day Parade.
The scholarship funds are made possible through the generous support of the Florham Park community, including fundraising efforts such as the Taste of Florham Park and the Halloween Dog Parade and Costume Contest.
To learn more about the Rotary Club of Florham Park, guests are welcome to attend a weekly breakfast meeting held every Friday from 7:47 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. at the Florham Park Diner, located at 182 Ridgedale Avenue.
Dear Editor:
I have been a Republican my entire life and for 50 years I have been proud to call myself one. This year, I decided that I would do my best to represent our Republican brand by seeking to run for Council in the Town I love.
Yesterday, during a Republican Club meeting, I was informed by those in attendance that Senator Bucco, Sheriff Gannon and other Party “leaders” were present at a meeting and that they were endorsing three people who are directly responsible for our continued annual property tax spikes without even having the opportunity to speak my mind and practice my American right to seek a proper nomination from my Party.
This is not the America I grew up in. This is political insider garbage and it is the type of thing that is strangling this town and our State as a whole. It is also the type of thing that many of us despise about our governments lately.
I would like everyone to know that my interest in making a difference in Jefferson is pure and selfless. Sheila and I are going to mount a strong and open campaign for Jefferson and we want you all to be a part of it.
Please help us Save Jefferson.
Dotte Santasieri
Sheila Brown
Jefferson Needs Us. WE NEED YOU!
DENVILLE — A 36-year-old Roxbury woman was charged with drug offenses following an incident at Saint Clare’s Denville Campus on Sunday afternoon.
According to the Denville Police Department, officers responded to the hospital at approximately 1:51 p.m. on February 9, 2026, after receiving a report of a patient allegedly in possession of controlled dangerous substances (CDS) and drug paraphernalia.
Police identified the individual as Mallory Grunn, 36, of Roxbury.
Upon arrival, officers determined that Grunn was in possession of a controlled dangerous substance and related drug paraphernalia. She was charged with two counts of possession of CDS (2C:35-10A(1)) and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia (2C:36-2A).
Grunn was issued complaint summonses and is pending a court appearance in Morris County Superior Court.
Editor’s Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: 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.
MORRIS COUNTY — A Dover resident was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle stop in the early morning hours of Saturday, February 15.
Officers from the Township of Denville Police Department conducted a traffic stop at approximately 12:47 a.m. on South Salem Street in Randolph after observing a vehicle speeding on Route 10 westbound.
Police identified the driver as Francil L. Amaya-Ramirez, 29, of Dover.
During the investigation, officers determined that Amaya-Ramirez was operating the vehicle while intoxicated. He was placed under arrest and transported to Denville Police Headquarters for processing.
Authorities issued multiple motor vehicle summonses, including:
After processing, Amaya-Ramirez was released pending a court appearance in Denville Municipal Court.
Editor’s Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: 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.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Get ready to wear your green and celebrate in true Irish fashion.
A festive St. Patrick’s Party will be held on Saturday, March 14, at the Our Lady of Mercy Gym, located at 90 Whippany Road, Whippany. The evening promises great food, live music, dancing, and plenty of Irish spirit.
The event will run from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., giving guests a full evening of celebration. Admission is $40 per person, and tickets are required.
Guests will enjoy a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner complete with dessert. Beer and soda and water are included with admission. A live band will provide entertainment throughout the night, keeping the dance floor lively and the celebration going strong.
Table reservations are available for those attending with friends or groups. Organizers encourage guests to bring their own drinks and wine, along with appetizers to share — and, of course, bring friends to join in the fun.
Tickets can be purchased by contacting Ralph Cetrulo at [email protected]. Tickets are also available online by clicking here.
With great food, music and community spirit, the St. Patrick’s Party at Our Lady of Mercy Gym is shaping up to be a memorable night for all who attend.
MORRIS COUNTY — Friends of Jockey Hollow has hired Greg Socha as its Deputy Director, the organization announced.
Socha began his tenure on Monday, February 2, and will collaborate closely with Executive Director Leslie Bensley to ensure a smooth transition before assuming the role of Executive Director in mid-2026. The decision to expand the organization’s leadership capacity follows a recent strategic planning session that recognized the group’s significant growth since its founding in 2022 and the need for increased operational support.
A Morristown resident, Socha brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, with a focus on land conservation and stewardship throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Friends of Jockey Hollow, he served as a Senior Project Manager at The Trust for Public Land, where he led land protection efforts across New Jersey. In that role, he was responsible for sourcing, structuring and financing conservation projects, as well as overseeing due diligence, closings and ensuring permanent stewardship of protected properties.
Before his work with The Trust for Public Land, Socha spent 10 years leading the Land Conservation and Stewardship team for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. He also previously served as President of the Board of Trustees for Grow It Green Morristown. Socha holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a Master of Forestry degree from the Yale School of the Environment.
Since 2022, Friends of Jockey Hollow has raised more than $2 million to support a wide range of projects at Jockey Hollow, including the recent renovation of the 1974 Jockey Hollow Comfort Station and funding the park’s continued operation during the recent federal government shutdown.
This year, Friends of Jockey Hollow, working alongside Morristown National Historical Park staff, has assumed expanded responsibility for enhancing the Annual Spring Encampment at Jockey Hollow, scheduled for April 18 to April 19, as part of the 250th anniversary celebration.
The organization will also break ground on the first new trail in the park in more than 80 years. The trail will interpret the Pennsylvania Line Mutiny of 1781, the largest mutiny of the American Revolution. The Campaign America 250 initiative will continue raising funds to support significant new projects, including the planned renovation of the main Jockey Hollow Visitors Center.
Friends of Jockey Hollow is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the Community Foundation of New Jersey, dedicated to preserving, enhancing and sharing the history of Jockey Hollow for future generations.
For more information click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — Beginning in February, low- and moderate-income residents can once again have their taxes prepared and filed at no cost through a free tax preparation program offered by United Way of Northern New Jersey and its community partners.
The program is part of the national Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) initiative and is designed to help individuals and families who earn generally $65,000 or less annually. IRS-certified volunteers provide professional tax preparation services to ensure residents receive all eligible credits and refunds, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and other valuable state and federal benefits.
United Way officials say the program plays a critical role in helping working families keep more of what they earn.
“Every year, thousands of dollars in tax credits go unclaimed,” organizers note. “This program ensures local residents receive the full refunds they are entitled to — without paying high preparation fees.”
Residents can schedule appointments at designated tax preparation sites throughout Morris County and neighboring areas. In many cases, services are available both in person and virtually, providing flexibility and convenience.
Participants are asked to bring:
All returns are prepared by trained volunteers and reviewed for accuracy before submission.
For many families, tax refunds represent the largest single infusion of income they receive all year. Refunds are often used to pay down debt, catch up on rent or utilities, cover childcare expenses, or build emergency savings.
Beyond preparing returns, United Way also connects participants with additional financial resources, including:
Organizers emphasize that using free tax preparation services can save residents hundreds of dollars compared to paid tax preparers — money that stays in the local economy.
Residents are encouraged to schedule appointments early, as time slots fill quickly during peak tax season. For locations, eligibility details, and appointment scheduling, Click here for more information.
The free tax preparation program will run throughout tax season, helping Morris County residents maximize refunds, avoid costly preparation fees, and strengthen their financial stability.
For many working families, it’s not just about filing taxes — it’s about building a stronger financial future.
Morris Focus was founded in 2017 and is published in print and online formats. Its mission is to provide timely and accurate news coverage to Morris County residents and promote community engagement and involvement. The newspaper covers various topics, including local government, education, business, and sports. We can be reached by calling (973) 559-6000—a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce.
Contact us: [email protected]
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