PARSIPPANY — Republican Candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli will appear at a Town Hall Event on Saturday, October 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, 100 Centertown Drive.

The event is free to attend, but RSVP is required. Text PARSIPPANY to 21776.

For questions or concerns, please contact Seven Szemple at (732) 259-8975 or email sszemple@jack4nj.com

MORRIS COUNTY — September is National Suicide Prevention Month.  Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, and President of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, Mount Olive Police Chief Stephen Beecher report an increase in suicide rates this year in Morris County and remind residents that resources are available.

Suicide rates have continued to rise in the last three years.  In 2019, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Section and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to 27 suicides.  The statistic rose to 30 suicides in 2020 and the county has already responded to 36 suicides year to date this year.

Sheriff James M. Gannon said, “Suicides are up drastically in comparison to previous years.  There’s a lot going on in the world.  COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, isolation and hopelessness are affecting people. We have available services to Morris County residents through Hope One.  No one should feel alone.”

Hope One travels four times a week to locations throughout Morris County, bringing services to persons in need. A Sheriff’s Officer, licensed mental health professional, and a certified peer recovery specialist staff the vehicle. They offer mental health services and help people access services and Narcan training.  The stigma-free environment offers conversation and critical support through the Mental Health Association of Essex & Morris.  Hope One has provided 61 mental health services this year and 236 to date from April 3, 2017.

To find Hope One locations and times click here.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:  1-800-273-8255 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741

MORRIS COUNTY — The public is invited to attend the first annual Morris County National Coming Out Day on Saturday, October 9, from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m. Light refreshments, food, and music.

The event is a collaboration with LGBTQ+ liaisons from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris Township Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and Morristown Police Department, and is intended to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the LGBTQ+ community in providing a safe environment. Health and wellness resources will be provided for education and awareness.

Annually observed on October 11, National Coming Out Day is intended to support LGBTQ+ individuals and sometimes individuals outside the LGBTQ+ community to “come out.”

This event will be held at 10 Court Street (between Morris County Superior Court and Morris County Administration Building.

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy’s latest COVID directive requiring children two years and older to wear masks in childcare centers drew the ire of Senator Joe Pennacchio, who called the order “useless and unworkable.”

“Every parent who has ever tried to get a photo of their two-year-old in a Halloween mask knows this rule is futile,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “When you put any covering on a 2-year-olds’ face, they instinctively grab it and pull it off.

“The Governor knows this. He knows his mandate is impossible to accomplish and impossible to enforce.”

The mask requirement was included in an executive order signed by Murphy on Monday giving workers at daycare centers five weeks to be fully vaccinated for COVID or face weekly testing for the virus.

“This is the latest of a long list of edicts that haven’t made any sense,” Pennacchio said. “Masks were required for outdoor visitors to the beaches and state parks, and restaurants were forced to close at 10:00 p.m. as if the virus became more contagious later in the night. Prisons were opened up while orders sealed the virus among the elderly and frail in nursing homes with devastating effects. And now two-year-olds crawling around behind masks. None of this ever made any sense.

“Daycare workers are going to spend all day changing dirty diapers and masks and chasing after kids who lost their masks,” Pennacchio said.

The Senator again questioned where is the science and data to support this type of edict.

Initial COVID studies last year showed that COVID had a minimal effect on young children. A Yale University study of more than 57,000 childcare centers in the U.S. determined that keeping facilities open does not contribute to the transmission of COVID.

A research review of 11 studies measuring virus transmission in child care and preschool settings determined “evidence suggests that early learning programs are not associated with increased risk of contracting COVID-19 when health and safety precautions are in place.”

Pennacchio noted that more recent studies continue to indicate that “young children are at low risk for developing COVID-19 but also don’t play a significant role in the spread” of the virus.

“Trying to force a room full of two- and three-year-olds to keep their masks on for the duration of the workday is a foolish waste of time,” said Pennacchio. “It’s just more nonsense from the front office in Trenton.”

MORRIS COUNTY — Embark on a well-paying career in advanced manufacturing by taking part in paid-on-the-job training through the County College of Morris (CCM) CareerAdvance USA apprenticeship program.

The first step to becoming an apprentice in the CareerAdvance USA program is to take part in a boot camp to learn the basic skills needed for employment in advanced manufacturing. The boot camp covers all the advanced manufacturing basics and gives students the opportunity to earn college credits over a six- to a nine-week timeframe. Training takes place in the college’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center, featuring the latest equipment in a high-tech environment.

While the apprenticeship program is offered at no cost, there is a $3,750 fee, plus the purchase of supplies, to take part in the boot camp. There are opportunities for scholarships, funding for those unemployed or underemployed, as well as structured payment options.

It is estimated that over the next decade advanced manufacturing will need to fill 3.4 million jobs with most of those positions being related to the pending retirement of baby boomers. Along with good job prospects, the field pays well with an average starting salary of $45,000 to $65,000 plus benefits after completing an apprenticeship.

If a career in advanced manufacturing interests you, join one of the Virtual Info Sessions to learn how to prepare for an apprenticeship. The sessions take place on Wednesdays. The upcoming sessions are:

• September 15 at 12:00 noon
• September 29 at 2:00 p.m.
• October 13 at 5:00 p.m.
• October 27 at 9:00 a.m.
• November 10 at 2:00 p.m.
• November 17 at 5:00 p.m.
• December 8 at 2:00 p.m.

To learn more about CCM’s advanced manufacturing apprenticeship program and to register for an information session click here or email CareerUSA@ccm.edu.

PARSIPPANY — Meet the Candidate Event with Governor Phil Murphy at Hilton Parsippany, One Hilton Court will take place on Thursday, September 30  at 11:15 a.m.

Phil Murphy is the current Governor of New Jersey, yet he still is a candidate running for re-election. The Gubernatorial Speaker Series concludes with a Democratic candidate and incumbent, Governor Phil Murphy.

He will discuss his platform and take questions from attendees.

The price to attend is $65.00 to $85.00. Those interested in attending can click here to register.

The event is sponsored by the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, Meet the Candidate Gubernatorial Speaker Series.