FLORHAM PARK — The Florham Park Rotary Club presented Newark Academy graduate Anika Lippe with a certificate and Rotary banner during the Friday, June 21, meeting at the Florham Park Diner.
In celebration of the borough’s 125th anniversary, known as a “Community of Volunteers,” the Florham Park Rotary awarded six scholarships to students this year.
Click here to visit the Florham Park Rotary website.
DOVER — The Town of Dover and Levitate Creative Services are partnering to launch Dover Art Week.
During Dover Art Week, July 20 to July 28, the public is invited to tour businesses, galleries, bars, venues, and art-related spaces to see a variety of artwork and enjoy the spirit and culture of the city while mingling with other residents and visitors.
Local businesses are encouraged to stay open late during the week to host special events, such as openings for new artists, live music, or special classes. Participation in Dover Art Week means inclusion in the official program and promotion.
Several new murals will be installed in town during Dover Art Week, with an unveiling event scheduled for Saturday, July 27. Artists and muralists interested in participating can fill out a form by clicking here.
MORRIS COUNTY — Join the session to learn more about navigating the key legal issues facing older adults. Experts will cover topics such as estate planning, advanced directives, government benefit programs, services available, information on long-term care, and payment options. The discussion will also address geriatric care issues at home, including planning and modifications, conducting a home safety assessment, and policy issues facing older adults.
An informational session will be followed by a robust Q-and-A session where experts will answer questions and provide resources.
When: July 16, 2024, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: In person at NJ Law Center, One Constitution Square, New Brunswick, and virtually via Zoom
Free and Open to the Public
Sponsored and Hosted by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation
Presented by the NJSBA Elder and Disability Law Section
DOVER — The Town of Dover Mayor and Council meeting for Wednesday, June 25, will be held at 7:00 p.m. at 37 North Sussex Street, Dover, NJ 07801.
Click here to download the agenda.
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 sufficient time for the publications to publish them.
The Town of Dover highly values residents’ input in making important decisions that affect our community. We also believe in residents’ rights to observe Governing Body Meetings. To ensure that all residents have the opportunity to offer comments, each statement/comment shall be limited to 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 – The Morris County Mosquito Commission will be conducting mosquito spraying in two towns on Thursday morning, using an All-Terrain Vehicle to treat specific wooded areas in Hanover Township and Rockaway.
The spraying will take place from 4:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 27, weather permitting.
Scheduled Treatment Areas:
The commission will utilize either Anvil 2+2, with the active ingredient Sumithrin (EPA#1021-1687-8329), or Zenivex E4, containing Etofenprox (EPA#2724-807).
For more information, click here or call (973) 285-6450.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit was recognized by the New Jersey Homicide Investigators Association (New Jersey Homicide Investigator’s Association) for the successful investigation and prosecution of the Baby Mary homicide cold case. The award was presented on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the 29th Annual Advanced Homicide Conference at Princeton University.
The body of an abandoned newborn baby, named “Baby Mary,” was discovered in the Mendham Township woods by two boys on Christmas Eve in 1984. At the time of her discovery, the baby girl’s umbilical cord was still attached, and the Medical Examiner determined the infant had been alive at the time of her birth. The death was ruled a homicide.
Over the last four decades, investigators have vigorously pursued every lead to identify Baby Mary and learn more about the circumstances leading to her discovery in the woods. Using new technology, law enforcement networking in three states, and old-fashioned police work, investigators were able to identify Baby Mary’s biological father and mother in 2023. The biological father passed away prior to being identified by investigators. There is no evidence the biological father was aware of the pregnancy, or Baby Mary’s birth or death.
As a result of the diligent work of MCPO investigators, a juvenile delinquency complaint was filed against the biological mother of Baby Mary on April 24, 2023. Mary Catherine Crumlich was a juvenile at the time of her birth. On February 28, 2024, Crumlich entered a guilty plea to Manslaughter, an offense which would be a second degree crime if committed by an adult. On April 3, 2024, the Hon. Michael P. Wright, J.S.C. imposed a disposition of probation conditioned upon 364 days imprisonment at the Morris County Correctional Facility.
For more on the Baby Mary case arrest and disposition, visit https://ow.ly/VnpC50SiXLZ
Members of the MCPO Major Crimes Unit recognized by the NJHIA include Lt. Michael Gomez, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn, Sgt. Sasha Gould, Sgt. Matt Magnone, Det. Melissa Atoche, Det. Matthew Belcastro, Det. Greg Federici, Det. Dakota Keyworth, and Det. Muhammad Thomas. Investigative support members were also recognized: Mendham Township Police Chief Ross Johnson, FS3 Christine Schlenker of the NJSP Office of Forensic Sciences, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Det. Rosie Brown, and Mendham Township Police Lt. Steve Bittman, Sgt. Matthew Ambrosi, and Det. Jim Arnesen.
Prosecutor Carroll said, “Congratulations to the men and women of the Major Crimes Unit, who brought closure to a heartbroken community and justice for a little girl abandoned four decades ago. The new forensic DNA technology was just one step in the complex and exhaustive investigation, across multiple states, which the members of the MCU team utilized to bring this case to fruition. I cannot overstate the amount of effort that went into this case. Mendham Township, and the hard-working investigators of the MCU, never forgot Baby Mary.”
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Acting Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Roxbury Police Chief Dean Adone confirmed that Gerald Veneziano, 41, of Belleville, has been charged with Reckless Vehicular Homicide in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on May 31, 2024, in Roxbury.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on May 31, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office was notified of a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles on Howard Boulevard in Roxbury. Investigation revealed that a northbound 2021 Chevrolet Silverado collided with a southbound 2019 Mazda 3.
The driver of the Mazda, Jacob Davis, 19, of Flanders, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Silverado was identified as Gerald Veneziano. He was extricated from the Silverado and transported to Morristown Medical Center with serious internal injuries. Numerous open alcohol containers were found in the vicinity of the Silverado. Subsequent investigation revealed the Silverado was traveling at approximately 90 miles per hour at the time of the collision.
As a result of the investigation, Veneziano was subsequently charged on June 21 with one count of second degree Reckless Vehicular Homicide in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5a. He has also been charged with a number of motor vehicle offenses. In accordance with state law, the defendant’s arrest photograph will not be released.
Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Veneziano has been released from the Morris County Correctional Facility on a series of non-monetary bail conditions including surrender of his driver’s license and submission to alcohol testing. The next scheduled court appearance is a Pre-Indictment Conference on July 29, 2024, before the Hon. Judge Claudia R. Jones, J.S.C.
The investigation was conducted by the Roxbury Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dear Residents of Dover,
On June 21, 2024, the Town of Dover received notice that the former Town Administrator, Betty Lou Decroce, would be filing a 15 million dollar lawsuit against the Town of Dover. The tort claims notice from the former administrator is entirely baseless and contains false allegations against the Town and me. The tort claims notice is nothing less than an attempted money grab by a public official who presided over herself obtaining an unearned $60,000 raise to bring her salary over $240,000 per year, making her one of the highest-paid administrators of any town this size throughout the State of New Jersey for a part-time position, which is how she and the prior administration classified her title in the state pension system.
There was absolutely no retaliation in connection with the administrator’s termination. Simply put, while we did not legally need a reason to terminate her employment because she served at the pleasure of the governing body, I will say that her performance was extremely poor and hurt the Town of Dover.
Therefore, we had no choice but to let her go, however this was not done in retaliation as alleged. It was done based on her unlawful and non-compliant practices and inability to perform.
Ms. DeCroce’s defamation claims are similar, without any basis in reality. Ms. DeCroce confirms in her tort claims notice what I said on May 7, 2024: that, in her entire career, no town besides Dover had ever appointed her to serve in the statutory position of municipal administrator. By pointing only to her tenure as a deputy in a state agency, Ms. DeCroce confirmed in her tort claim notice she had never been responsible for running the day-to-day affairs of a municipality such as Dover, which is guided by the complex rules laid out by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. DeCroce does not refute the May 7 statement made by a Councilman present during the prior administration that Mayor Blackman and the previous Council were on the brink of terminating DeCroce’s employment and would have done so had I not been elected. Thus, the prior administration agreed with me regarding Ms. DeCroce’s proven inability to perform the duties of Town Administrator in an adequate manner.
The Town will vigorously defend any legal action she brings concerning this matter. If DeCroce brings to a court the meritless allegations of defamation as set out in her tort claims act notice, the town will explore frivolous litigation penalties under the newly enacted anti-SLAPP Act.
Mayor James P. Dodd
DOVER — Dover Child Care Center, Inc. has been honored with the Optimum Derek Jeter GOAT Award for Community Excellence. This hidden gem offers our young students a head start towards success. Great work!
DOVER — Principal Mr. Freddy R. Nuñez announced the Class of 2024 graduates, which consists of 271 students.
The 2024 Class Officers are Abigail Collins, President; Ava La Presti, Vice President; Amelia Shappell, Secretary; and Caiden Llinas, Treasurer.
The Class Officers are Christian Healy, Class President; Sulma Calderon Alvarez, Class Vice President; Sadina Harris, Class Secretary; and Kellyn Calle Rojas, Class Treasurer.
The Class Salutatorian is Christian Healy, and the Valedictorian is Angel Santos Utrera.
Dover High School Class of 2024: Angel Acevedo, Sebastian Acevedo, Yuleisy Acevedo-Lopez, Cesar Aguilar, Kerwin Aguilar, Heidy Aguilar Castillo, Jose Aguilar Luna, Luis Aguilar, Kassandra Agustin, Jeimy Alvarado Hernandez, Genesis Alvarado, Carlos Argueta Diaz, Nicolas Arteaga Yanguas, Daniel Astudillo Riera, Lizzy Banegas Villeda, Jaylin Barraza, Listher Barros Vargas, Liliana Barrios Bustillo, Harvey Bejarano Villamil, Luis Beltre Sierra, Loany Benites Rodriguez, Alexander Bixler, Camilo Brenes, D’Andre Bryant, Bruno Burgueno, Stephanie Caamano Enriquez, Milagro Caban, Luna Cabrera Castro, Kevin Cabrera Hernandez, Lady Cabrera Riera, Jessie Cabrera Rios, Sulma Calderon Alvarez, Tamara Calderon Mendez, Kellyn Calle Rojas, Danisha Campos-Camano, Katherine Campos Albarran, Scarlet Canales, Nedys Caraballo, Katherine Carcamo Cerna, Rony Carcamo Salgado, Maynor Cardona Molina, Chris Carranza, Keegan Carvajal, Nicolas Carvajal Ospina, Alejandro Castellanos, Jonathan Castillo, Catalina Castro Gutierrez, Suigly Castro Perez, Mariana Ceballos Ospina, Johanna Champion, Idaly Chicas Murillo, Shaun Cloughley, Sharo Colon, Olvin Contreras Carcamo, Alan Cruz, Diana Cuc Tamatzin, Arianny Cuevas Hodge, Yael Del Salto, Suyai Delgado-Calderon, Nicolas Diaz, David Dominguez Guerrero, Yeferson Dominguez, Erika Dominguez Perez, Jeremiah Donacien, Jaylen Dorsainvil, Mateo Duque, Isabella Duque Castano, Jad Duval, Yesenia Elias Romero, Isabella Ellis, Yecsel Enamorado Soriano, Valentina Esquivel, Yasmin Esquivel-Martinez, James Farley Jr., Nicole Figueroa, and Astrid Figueroa Guevara.
Also Justin Flores, Brandon Flynn, Dina Fonseca Ulloa, Gianna Fontana, Kalil Friday, Johan Fuentes, Yeferson Funez Dominguez, Erick Gaibor Jarrin, Manuela Gallego, Christopher Galloza, Cristhian Galo Argueta, Rodrigo Galvez Tapia, Melvin Garcia, Jousten Garcia Adan, Nicolas Garzon Duque, Camila Gauna, Indalesy Geraldo, Olivia Gillen, Isabella Giraldo Mejia, Ashley Godoy Estrada, Samara Goebel, Karla Gomez Ortega, Daisy Gomez Riveros, Jeiner Gonzalez, Kevin Gonzalez Agosto, Marian Gonzalez Canales, Ximena Gonzalez Marin, Andres Gonzalez Melo, Gladi Gonzalez Onofre, Shayla Graham, Melany Grajales Herrera, Zamara Granada, Vianey Granados, Darius Gray, Camila Guajardo, Joel Gudino, Serigne Gueye, Piper Hanlon, Sadina Harris, Tiffany Harris, Christian Healy, Harrison Henao, Chantelise Henriquez, Mary Hernandez Garcia, Samuel Hernandez Hernandez, Roberto Hernandez Jr., Andres Hernandez Mejia, Kyara Hernandez Villa, Nelson Herrera Taborda, Luis Huerta Garrido, Maily Indacochea Pico, Hillary Juarez, James Koo, Melanie Koo, Anastazha Lane, Santiago Largo Cortes, Briza Lazaro Rivera, Yonatan Lazo, Neylin Lemus Diaz, Matthew Lombardi, Nicolle Londono Gonzalez, Karina Lopez, Mario Lopez, Yaritza Lopez, Lyla Lopez, Wilmy Lopez De La Rosa, Santiago Lopez Guzman, Ashley Lopez Nieto, Juan López Ramírez, Elizabeth Lucero, Ashley Lujan Relayze, and Dario Luna.
Also Amiyah Marcial, Daysan Marte, Brian Martinez, Juan Martinez Pinzon, Milton Martinez Hernandez, Francisco Mas Mendoza, Karla-Michelle Matias, Kiara Matos, Keyla Mejia, Joseiry Mejia Cruz, Arllan Mejia Funes, Melizza Mejia Lazo, Sandra Mejia Lemuz, Milania Melendez, Jose Mencia-Ramirez, Eduardo Mendez Rosario, Oriana Mero Cedeño, Santiago Meza Molano, Jorel Miller, Nathaly Minchala Pinto, Samantha Montes Pineda, Ian Moreno Vivanco, Maria Moya Intriago, John Munoz, Santiago Narvaez Morales, Amiyah Nelson, Cristian Neri-Reyes, Yocelin Nieto Velez, Juan Niño Cardozo, Naida Norales Acosta, KC Nutting, Diego Ocampo, Valentina Ocampo, Natalia Oeo, Yesi Oliva Lagos, Samantha Olivares Rivera, Sheniellys Oquendo Galarza, Elena Orama, Zaida Ortiz, Tommy Ortiz Carballo, Nathaly Ortiz, Antony Ortiz, Dylan Ortiz Pozo, Sarah Ottenheimer, Raymond Pagan, Gerry Paguay Cabrera, Matthew Patino, Glendi Pavon, Saul Perez, Milter Perez Estrada, Nallely Perez Aleman, Kristel Pérez Portuguez, Jade Petroche, Maria Pineda Moya, Niurka Pogio Sanchez, Mia Ponce, Jeris Ponce Ponce, Fredal Portillo Rodriguez, Johan Pozo, Joshua Quiles, Mia Quintanilla Rodriguez, Steven Quintero Munoz, Leslie Quintero Salazar, Ashley Quiroz Zeferino, Sheyla Rafael, Matthew Ralda, Sebastian Ramirez, Alex Ramirez Amaya, Sofía Ramírez Londono, Alexis Ramirez Sanchez, Andrew Ramos, Dylan Ramos Benavides, Christopher Ramos-Gama, Kelvin Ramos Martinez, Kevin Ramos Salazar, Leonel Ramos Sanchez, Nathalia Restrepo, Herney Restrepo-Chavez, Aaron Riofrio, Kristian Rivera Aguilar, Christopher Rivera Avila, Jose Rivera Casas, Daniela Rivera Santos, Edgardo Rivera-Rosales, Ariana Rodas Palacios, Ariana Rodriguez, Christian Rodriguez, Paolo Rodriguez, Zamara Rodriguez Granada, Genesis Rodriguez Medina, Alexa Rodriguez Morales, Kevin Rosales Marroquin, Donovan Rosales Rodriguez, Kayden Rossy, Jayleen Sanchez, Sebastian Sanchez, Angel Santos Talavera, Angel Santos Utrera, James Scott, Kassandra Sepulveda, Jacob Sharp, Odalis Silva Espinoza, Tania Solis-Delgado, Laura Suarez Ochoa, Juliana Suarez Torres, Kevin Suasnabar, Luis Tapia Hernando, Isabella Torres, Anthony Trongone, Tiago Uyaguari, Alan Valdebenito, Alexis Valle, Maria Valverde Fernandez, Sergio Varon Giraldo, Dimas Vasquez Hernandez, Sofia Vega, Mathew Velazquez-Albornoz, Karen Ventura Sorto, Ermain Villa Jr., Joshua Wilches Veloza, Maya Willis, George Yepez Sellan, Eric Zhindon Buri, Sofia Zuluaga, and Carlos Zuniga Portillo.
Members of the Dover Board of Education: Ms. Daniella Mendez, President; Ms. Kimberly Philips, Vice President; Ms. Debora Acevedo; Ms. Sandra Downs; Mr. Scott Miller; Ms. Tia Nutting; Ms. Victoria Pinales; Dr. Krista Seanor and Ms. Maria Solines.
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: news@morrisfocus.com
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