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Whippany Woman Charged with Eluding, Child Endangerment After Police Chase

By
Frank Cahill
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The Morris County Correctional Facility, located at 43 John Street in Morris Township, serves as the primary detention center operated by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.

FLORHAM PARK — Florham Park police officers Jason Conley and Alex Tredy observed a gray Nissan with Pennsylvania plates traveling on Route 24 West on June 16 at 1:50 a.m. that was using both the right and left lanes to operate in at the same time, according to police. Officers also observed the vehicle making abrupt lane changes as well as slow, drifting lane changes.

Believing the operator may have been impaired, officers attempted a motor vehicle stop. The driver refused to stop for emergency lights and sirens and continued operating through a construction zone before exiting the highway, running stop signs and traffic signals, and eventually stopping in the parking lot of a residential complex in Hanover Township.

The operator of the vehicle, Alyece Cassidy, 32, of Whippany, refused to exit the vehicle and needed to be physically removed, police said. She also refused commands when advised she was under arrest for eluding, and based on additional observations at the time, officers’ suspicion was affirmed that she was under the influence of intoxicating substances. During her arrest, a significant quantity of marijuana, both raw and used, along with edible THC products and alcohol, were observed and seized. A one-year-old child was also in the rear of the vehicle.

After being removed from the vehicle, the child was transported by the Florham Park First Aid Squad to police headquarters, where the child was turned over to a responsible family member. Cassidy submitted samples for the testing of alcohol and other intoxicating substances in her body.

Cassidy was charged with 13 motor vehicle offenses, including 10 moving violations inclusive of a driving while intoxicated charge. She was additionally charged with the following crimes and lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing before a Superior Court judge:

  • Eluding, a second-degree crime
  • Child endangerment, a fourth-degree crime
  • Obstruction of justice, a fourth-degree crime
  • Resisting arrest, a disorderly persons offense

Editor’s Note: 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.

Free Summer Gazebo Concert Series Continues with Jersey Sound

By
Frank Cahill
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — The Jefferson Arts Committee’s free summer concert series continues Friday, July 24, with a performance by Jersey Sound at the Jefferson Township Gazebo, located in the Jefferson Township Municipal Complex, 1033 Weldon Road.

All concerts in the series begin at 6:30 p.m. and are free to attend, with free parking available. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket, along with their own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. The event is family friendly, carry in and carry out for trash, and a dedicated portable restroom will be on site.

Friday’s performance features Jersey Sound, one of the Tri-State area’s most popular premiere oldies bands, performing a combination of music genres. The band’s set spans classic oldies, classic rock, Motown, rhythm and blues, British Invasion and pop hits originally recorded by some of the biggest names in rock and roll, performed by the band’s vocalists and rhythm section.

Frank Capello will return with his LIL ICE Trike Company ice cream truck to many of the concerts, offering frozen treats for sale. While admission is free, a free-will donation is always appreciated to help fund the concert series.

The concert series continues throughout the summer, with the final concert scheduled for Friday evening, August 21. In the event of inclement weather, a concert will be relocated to the Jefferson Township High School Auditorium, located at 1010 Weldon Road. Snacks and beverages are not permitted inside the auditorium.

Dover Man Charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Child Endangerment After Route 46 Crash

By
Frank Cahill
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Photo for illustration purposes only. The actual incident may not reflect the photo.

MOUNTAIN LAKES — Mountain Lakes Police patrol was dispatched to Route 46 West on June 21 at approximately 3:56 p.m. for a motor vehicle accident.

Upon investigating the accident, Patrolman Stewart arrested the driver of one of the involved vehicles, 28-year-old Bryan Rodriguez-Ruiz of Dover, who was charged with the following:

  • Driving while intoxicated
  • Endangering the welfare of a child

Rodriguez-Ruiz was released pending a mandatory court date.

Editor’s Note: 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.

Boonton Man Charged with Assault, Terroristic Threats Following Mountain Lakes Investigation

By
Frank Cahill
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File Photo

MOUNTAIN LAKES — The Mountain Lakes Police Department was notified by another agency on June 6 of an assault that had occurred inside a vehicle as it traveled through the department’s jurisdiction.

An investigation involving multiple neighboring agencies resulted in the arrest of 42-year-old Corey Porcelli of Boonton, who was charged with the following:

  • Simple assault
  • Terroristic threats

Porcelli was taken into custody by another agency to face additional charges in that jurisdiction.

Editor’s Note: 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.

Video: Jefferson Township Council Meeting – July 15, 2026

By
Frank Cahill
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Jefferson Township

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — Jefferson Township Council Meeting – July 15, 2026.

Click here to download the agenda.

Free Summer Gazebo Concert Series Continues with Jungle Habitat

By
Frank Cahill
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0
Jungle Habitat Band delivers high-energy live entertainment with a mix of classic rock, pop, and party favorites. Known for engaging performances, the band keeps audiences dancing, singing along, and enjoying every show together.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — The Jefferson Arts Committee’s free summer concert series continues Friday, July 17, with a performance by Jungle Habitat at the Jefferson Township Gazebo, located in the Jefferson Township Municipal Complex, 1033 Weldon Road.

All concerts in the series begin at 6:30 p.m. and are free to attend, with free parking available. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket, along with their own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. The event is family friendly, carry in and carry out for trash, and a dedicated portable restroom will be on site.

Friday’s performance features Jungle Habitat, a high-energy tribute act celebrating the Top 40 hits of the 1970s, spanning rock, disco, adult contemporary, yacht rock, glam rock, punk rock, sugar pop, rock and roll, country and power pop classics. The band’s performance is designed to evoke the era of transistor radios and 77 WABC, and will include several costume changes.

Frank Capello will return with his LIL ICE Trike Company ice cream truck to many of the concerts, offering frozen treats for sale. While admission is free, a free-will donation is always appreciated to help fund the concert series.

The concert series continues throughout the summer, with the final concert scheduled for Friday evening, August 21. In the event of inclement weather, a concert will be relocated to the Jefferson Township High School Auditorium, located at 1010 Weldon Road. Snacks and beverages are not permitted inside the auditorium.

For more information, contact the Jefferson Arts Committee at (201) 230-8879 or (973) 697-3828, or by email at [email protected].

Boonton, Boonton Township and Mountain Lakes to Hold Joint National Night Out 2026

By
Frank Cahill
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File Photo

BOONTON TOWNSHIP — The Town of Boonton, Boonton Township and Mountain Lakes Police Departments will host their annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Rockaway Valley Athletic Field, located at 353 Powerville Road in Boonton Township.

The free, family friendly event gives residents the chance to meet local police officers, firefighters and emergency medical responders while connecting with neighbors from all three communities. National Night Out is a national campaign aimed at building partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve and promoting a sense of togetherness among neighbors.

Activities planned for the evening include a bounce house, a dunk tank, and free food and drinks. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet officers and staff from local police, fire and emergency medical services departments.

Organizers say the event is intended to strengthen relationships that make the communities safer and stronger, and they are encouraging residents of Boonton, Boonton Township and Mountain Lakes to come out for an evening of community celebration.

Cyril “Cy” Wekilsky, Former Boonton Mayor, Dies at 89

By
Frank Cahill
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Cyril "Cy" Wekilsky

BOONTON — Cyril “Cy” Wekilsky of Boonton passed away on July 13, 2026. He was 89 years old.

Born Krum Cyril Wekilsky on March 26, 1937, in Tehran, Iran, Wekilsky came to the United States at the age of 16. He graduated from Plainfield High School and went on to study engineering at the Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Missouri. After a brief time in Rolla, he traveled to Europe, where he studied German and met the love of his life, Synnove, in Bad Reichenhall, Germany.

The couple moved to Synnove’s native Norway, where they were married in 1963 before embarking on an ocean voyage to begin their life together in America. They were welcomed to New Jersey by Wekilsky’s sister, Dorothy Slover, and her husband, Dick Slover. Their son, Eric, was born the following year, followed four years later by their daughter, Christine.

While raising his young family, Wekilsky pursued higher education and graduated from Rutgers University in 1972 with a degree in chemistry, accompanied at commencement by his wife and children.

Wekilsky enjoyed a distinguished career in the chemical industry, working for Drew Chemical, Allied Chemical, American Cyanamid and Cytec Industries, taking him across the globe. Later, he and his longtime friend and colleague, Al Rosa, founded Rosa Technologies, through which Wekilsky continued traveling and working well into his eighties.

Although his adventures led him around the world, Boonton was always home. It was the community he loved, the place where he built his life, and the town he devoted himself to serving.

Wekilsky’s commitment to Boonton spanned more than five decades. Beginning in 1973, he volunteered with Boonton and Mountain Lakes Baseball and Football Grayhawk Football, the Boy Scouts of America as a Scoutmaster, Boonton and Mountain Lakes Baseball, and the Boonton Board of Education. He was also a charter member of the Tri-Town Kiwanis Club. When asked why he devoted so much of his time to public service, he would simply say, “I’d rather be part of the solution than the problem.”

In 1980, he became president of the Boonton Board of Education. His dedication to the community led him to serve as a Boonton alderman, mayor of Boonton, and again as Boonton councilman, positions he held from 1988 until 2026. Throughout his years of service, Wekilsky also served as a Boonton Fire Department commissioner and contributed his leadership and expertise to numerous organizations and boards, including the Planning Board, Zoning Board, Boonton Police Department and Kiwanis Ambulance, among many others.

Few sights were more familiar around town than Wekilsky in his white truck, wearing his trademark denim shirt, jeans and baseball cap. His presence, wisdom and unwavering commitment to his community will be deeply missed.

Above all else, Wekilsky was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He expressed his love through action, generosity and steadfast support, enriching the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Wekilsky was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Synnove Wekilsky.

He is survived by his son, Eric Wekilsky (Della); daughter, Christine (Neil); grandsons, Zachary (Catherine) and Nicholas (Brenna); sister, Dorothy Slover; and several cherished nieces and nephews.

A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, July 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Codey and Mackey Funeral Home of Boonton, 107 Essex Avenue, Boonton. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Boonton United Methodist Church, Vreeland Avenue and Lathrop Avenue, Boonton. Reflections and a celebration of his life will follow at the Boonton Fire House, 311 Boonton Avenue, Boonton. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Boonton Fire Department. To share condolences and memories with the family, visit Codey and Mackey Funeral Home’s website.

America’s 250th Birthday Celebrated with Lake Hopatcong Flotilla

By
Frank Cahill
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Martha Wells, president of the Chatham Township Historical Society; Samantha Rutledge, director of tourism & strategic partnerships, Morris County Tourism Bureau; Amandra Broschart, director of the Morris County Heritage Commissioner; Sarah Neibart, executive director of the Morris County 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee; Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw; Morris County Assistant Administrator Brian Murray; Justine Brooke Murray; Morris County Commissioner Doug Cabana; Carol Barkin, outreach manager, Morris County Tourism Bureau; Shiela Roldan, business and operations specialist, Morris County Tourism Bureau.

LAKE HOPATCONG — More than 130 star-spangled boats and vessels carrying hundreds of flag-waving passengers joined a flotilla that cruised around New Jersey’s largest lake this past Saturday to celebrate America’s 250th birthday during a day of festivities.

Hosted by the Morris County 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee and the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, the free celebration transformed the lake into a sea of red, white and blue as the decorated boats and watercraft floated past residents, businesses and community organizations who had decorated docks, homes and storefronts along the shore.

Sarah Neibart, Commissioner Deborah Smith, Justine Brooke Murray, Commissioner Christine Myers and Joan Bedrin Murray aboard the historic Missa Lotta.

The Hopatcong Fire Department welcomed participants from the River Styx Road bridge, sounding its fire engines and saluting the passing boats. Raccoon Island resident Bill Kays, portraying General George Washington, cruised the lake aboard his classic Chris-Craft, delighting spectators and adding a Revolutionary-era touch to the floating celebration.

The reenactor portraying Gen. George Washington leads the boat parade across Lake Hopatcong behind the historic Missa Lotta and the Floating Classroom.

“Seeing so many families, boaters and residents come together on Lake Hopatcong to celebrate America’s 250th birthday was truly inspiring,” said Morris County Commissioner Christine Myers, a member of the Morris County 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee. “The incredible turnout, patriotic spirit and enthusiasm shown by everyone on the water and along the shoreline was an uplifting and memorable way to honor America’s 250th birthday.”

The Patriotic Boat Parade departed from Nolan’s Point, with the historic Miss Lotta and the Floating Classroom leading the procession, followed by more than 130 vessels decorated in red, white and blue. Sailboats participating in the All Fleet Sail, along with kayakers, canoeists and paddleboarders joining the Paddler Flotilla, followed with their own routes along the lake. Live music and family-friendly entertainment continued around the lake throughout the day.

Morris County officials who joined the outing included Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw, Deputy Director John Krickus, Commissioners Douglas Cabana, Deborah Smith and Christine Myers, state Senator Anthony M. Bucco, County Clerk Ann Grossi, Assistant County Administrator Brian Murray, and Morris County 250th Anniversary Celebrations Committee Executive Director Sarah Neibart, along with staff from the Morris County Tourism Bureau. Lake mayors in the flotilla included Jefferson Township Mayor Eric Wilsusen, Mount Arlington Mayor Michael Stanzilis, Roxbury Mayor Shawn Potillo and Hopatcong Mayor Marie Galate. Ron Smith, chairman of the Lake Hopatcong Commission, was also aboard the Miss Lotta.

Morris County Sheriff James Gannon also participated, patrolling the lake with Chief Warrant Officer Jack Ambrose and local police while greeting boaters and helping ensure a safe celebration.

Morris County extended its appreciation to Marty Kane, president, and Bob Kays, vice president, of the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, as well as the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and the many partners, volunteers and community organizations whose efforts made the celebration possible.

The event was part of Morris County’s countywide 250th anniversary initiative, commemorating the county’s role in the American Revolution while encouraging residents and visitors to explore its historic sites, communities and destinations.

Centenary University Names Daniel Armida Director of Athletics

By
Frank Cahill
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Daniel Armida

HACKETTSTOWN — Centenary University has named Daniel Armida as its new director of athletics, following a national search that drew candidates from New Jersey and across the country.

The search included an extensive interview process involving multiple groups of representatives from the campus community. University officials said Armida brings a combination of athletic leadership, student development expertise, business acumen and a commitment to the success of student-athletes and coaches.

Armida has spent the past three years at Centenary as assistant coach for men’s and women’s volleyball, mental performance coach and student success specialist, working with students to strengthen academic performance, leadership skills, confidence, resilience and personal growth.

“Dan’s unwavering belief that athletics should develop the whole person, mind, body and spirit, stood out throughout the search process,” said Centenary University President John Schol. “I am confident that under Dan’s leadership, Centenary Athletics will continue to build on its proud tradition while creating new opportunities for success.”

Armida brings more than 25 years of coaching experience to the role. Before joining Centenary, he served as a mental performance coach for Team USA’s sitting volleyball team, scouted for the Atlanta Braves organization, founded and led nationally recognized athletic programs, and coached athletes at the youth, high school, collegiate, national and professional levels. He is also a certified mental performance master coach who operates a private practice, the World’s Strongest Mindset program, which has featured collaborations with three-time World’s Strongest Man Bill Kazmaier and former Mr. Universe Stuart Garrington.

“I am honored to step into the role of director of athletics at Centenary University,” Armida said. “My approach starts with a simple belief: People do their best work when they feel seen, valued and heard. My goal is to build a culture that feels like family, one where we compete at the highest level while never losing sight of the person behind the performance.”

Centenary student-athletes celebrated a national champion, a team that finished third in the nation, a team that placed first in the conference, seven student-athletes recognized on Academic All-American teams, two conference coaches of the year and a team that earned a national sportsmanship award over the past year, according to the university.

Founded in 1867 by the United Methodist Church, Centenary University is located in Hackettstown, New Jersey, with an equestrian center in Washington Township. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs grounded in a liberal arts foundation and career-focused learning.

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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.

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