MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Clerk, Ann Grossi, Esq., has revealed plans for a Passport Outreach Event scheduled for Tuesday, October 17. The event will be held from 9 am to 2 pm at the Rockaway Township Municipal Building, located at 65 Mount Hope Road.
If you plan to attend, make sure to have the following items with you:
Evidence of Citizenship: This could be a passport or a certified birth certificate.
Photograph: One 2×2 color photo with a white or light background.
Identification: A valid driver’s license.
Payment Information:
Please note that cash will not be accepted at the event. You may pay using a personal check, bank check, or money order.
Fees:
Adults (16 and older): $130 check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State, plus a $35 check or money order payable to the Morris County Clerk.
Children (15 and under): $100 check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State, plus a $35 check or money order payable to the Morris County Clerk.
Expedited Fee: If you need expedited processing, there is a $60 fee per application, plus $19.53 for a 1-2 day return delivery service.
Please allow approximately 15 minutes to fill out the application and an additional 15 minutes for it to be processed.
For any more information, you can visit the clerk’s website by clicking here or contact them by phone at (973) 285-6161. Make sure to take advantage of this opportunity if you need passport services!
MORRIS COUNTY — Both chambers of lawmakers have unanimously approved StayNJ, a program designed to significantly reduce property tax bills for seniors in New Jersey. However, there are lingering doubts about the program’s survival until the awards start being distributed in 2026.
StayNJ is targeted at New Jersey homeowners aged 65 and above, offering them tax credits that could cover up to half of their property tax bills, with a cap of $6,500. This applies as long as the homeowner’s annual income does not exceed $500,000.
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex), the mind behind the program, stated, “We have heard from seniors across the state on this issue. We know what a difference this will make for families making difficult decisions. We owe it to our seniors and to their families to ease those burdens.” Governor Phil Murphy put his signature on the bill Friday evening.
The cap on the awards will be adjusted in line with property tax bills, and the program’s estimated cost stands at $1.3 billion when payouts begin in the first quarter of 2026.
However, some advocates and Republican officials have raised concerns about whether these awards will ever be realized. Specific provisions in the bill halt payments if the state fails to meet its commitments regarding school aid, pension payments, or two tax deduction programs designed for seniors and military veterans. Moreover, StayNJ payments will be obstructed if the state is unable to make them while maintaining a surplus equivalent to 12% of annual spending.
Certain Republicans argue that these conditions, combined with a recent dip in New Jersey’s revenue, virtually ensure that StayNJ payments will never be made. Others criticize the $500,000 income cap, suggesting that it directs aid toward residents who don’t require assistance with property taxes.
Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Morris) commented, “We have seniors in the state of New Jersey today, who under the provisions of this bill can make $450,000 a year and still get $6,500 back in property tax relief. That $6,500 doesn’t come from a phantom fund. It comes from the money that we take from all the other taxpayers in the state of New Jersey.”
Bergen and Assemblyman Kevin Rooney (R-Bergen) were the only two who voted against the bill in either chamber. A proposed amendment by Bergen that would have lowered the income cap to $200,000 was also rejected by the Assembly.
The Mountain Lakes Economic Development Advisory Committee is seeking new members, Regular and Students.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — The Mountain Lakes Economic Development Advisory Committee, a devoted group of thinkers, strategists, and lovers of their community, has embarked on a quest to enhance their town’s economy is seeking new members, Regular and Students.
The Economic Development Advisory Committee advises the Borough regarding issues related to economic development, including business retention and recruitment, and considering smart approaches to development, such as the reuse of existing spaces and overlay zoning. The Committee meets on the first Monday of every month at 6:00 p.m.
If you are interested in being considered for membership on the Economic Development Advisory Committee, please submit your name and qualifications to the Borough Clerk.
More information about the Economic Development Advisory Committee is available by clicking here.
In the heart of the beautiful Mountain Lakes, the Economic Development Advisory Committee was no longer just a group of individuals. It had become a symbol of unity, hope, and the bright future that lay ahead. It was a testament to what could be achieved when regular members and students came together, driven by a common goal and a shared love for their town.
MORRIS COUNTY — Banking industry veteran and borough resident Daniel Sharabba has joined Unity Bank as senior vice president and senior retail officer.
Sharabba is responsible for the development and execution of the community bank’s branch banking operations.
“We are excited to welcome Daniel to the Unity Bank family,” said James A. Hughes, Unity Bank president and chief executive officer. “Daniel brings great banking experience to the team and has an impressive background growing both business and consumer relationships. We look forward to his continued success with Unity.”
Unity Bank will be opening soon in Lake Hiawatha.
Sharabba previously served as regional manager and vice president with Citizens Bank, overseeing 17 retail locations, across five counties in Northern and Central New Jersey. Prior to that, he was with J.P. Morgan Chase, serving as private client branch manager, vice president, financial advisor, and office manager.
Sharabba is an Advisory Board member of nourish.NJ, a food bank based in Morristown, and the New Jersey Devils not-for-profit organization.
He and his wife, Emily, have two children, Macie and Leo.
Sharabba has a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance from Montclair State University.
One of the previous Table of Hope Backpack Giveaways held at County College of Morris.
>MORRIS COUNTY — As parents start to plan for a new school year, Table of Hope once again is helping to make things easier with a free backpack distribution event at the County College of Morris (CCM).
The Backpack Giveaway at CCM takes place Friday, August 18, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Parking Lot 1 on CCM’s campus at 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph. Visitors are asked to use CCM’s Center Grove Road entrance.
CCM has hosted numerous events with Table of Hope to assist those in need. This latest distribution event will provide backpacks filled with school supplies, consisting of pencils, rulers, glue sticks, notebooks, and more.
To volunteer for the Backpack Giveaway or to make a donation click here and click “Volunteer” or email [email protected].
First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Sandler, and Prosecutor Robert Carroll.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood have elevated Kelly Sandler to the position of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor, and Tara Wang to the role of Senior Assistant Prosecutor within the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
A formal ceremony was held on August 1, 2023, in the Commissioner’s Public Meeting Room.
Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Sandler will supervise the Domestic Violence Unit and Firearms Returns within the Family Division.
First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Senior Assistant Prosecutor Tara Wang, and Prosecutor Robert Carroll.
Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Sandler joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 2016 as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Major Crimes Unit and the Arson/Environmental Crimes Unit. Since the resumption of trials in the last 2 years during and post-covid, SAP Sandler has successfully tried three jury trials as lead counsel, specifically State v. Kelvin Briggs, which resulted in a conviction for sexual assault, endangering and invasion of privacy and a 24-year NJSP sentence; State v. Andrew Pena, which resulted in a conviction for Corrupting a Jury and Obstruction and a 5-year NJSP sentence and State v. Shonette St. Clair who was found guilty by a jury on June 7, 2023, of two counts of second degree Arson and related charges. SAP Sandler also assisted Sr. AP Tara Wang in trying Edwin Urbina for murdering a 3-year-old boy resulting in a life sentence.
Immediately prior to the pandemic shutdown, SAP Sandler traveled with members of the Major Crimes Unit to California during the investigation of State v. Laureano-Gonzalez, a homicide defendant who had fled New Jersey to avoid prosecution, which ultimately ended with his plea of guilty in May 2020. She also recently effectively argued for an 18-year sentence in the homicide prosecution of Edilson Trejo, who killed an acquaintance in front of a child. SAP Sandler has received past commendations for her work on an Environmental Crimes prosecution for State v. Roberto Benitez, a case involving a violation of the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act, which resulted in a $10,000 fine; and the successful Sex Crimes prosecution of State v. Kelvin Briggs.
Prior to joining the MCPO, SAP Sandler worked as an Assistant Prosecutor for eight years in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office where she served primarily in the Special Victim’s Unit and the Trial Team. While there she was the Human Trafficking liaison to the Attorney General’s Office. She successfully prosecuted the first case charged in the State under the revised Human Trafficking statute, resulting in a sentence of 20 years in New Jersey State Prison with 20 years of parole ineligibility in State v. Charles Torres, Sr.
SAP Sandler also represents the MCPO as the liaison to the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Task Force and the New Jersey Northern Region Child Fatality Review Board. She is currently the co-Chair of the Women Lawyers Section of the Morris County Bar Association. Prior to joining the MCPO, SAP Sandler clerked for Presiding Criminal Judge Scott Moynihan in Union County. She holds a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law – Newark and a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University.
Senior Assistant Prosecutor Wang will continue to be assigned to the Major Crimes and Arson Units within the Tactical Division.
Sr. AP Wang started with the MCPO as a legal intern in 2010 and 2011. She later worked briefly for a civil defense firm and clerked for Civil Judge David H. Ironson in Morris County, before formally joining the MCPO in 2014 as an Assistant Prosecutor. While assigned to the General Investigations Unit, where she successfully tried State v. Jamal Nurse, involving the armed robbery of a Babies-R-Us in East Hanover where the defendant received a 12-year prison sentence; and State v. Casey Powers, involving a burglary of firearms from a residence in Mount Olive which resulted in a 15-year prison sentence.
In 2018, Sr. AP Wang was transferred to the Major Crimes and Arson & Environment Crimes Units, where she has been involved in a number of notable cases, including the trial of defendant John Formisano, an Acting Newark Police Lieutenant who was convicted of murdering his estranged wife and attempting to murder her boyfriend in Jefferson. Earlier this year, Sr. AP Wang brought to trial the case of State v. Edwin Urbina, who was ultimately convicted of murdering a three-year-old boy in East Hanover. The defendant, in that case, received a sentence of life without parole plus 20 years.
Sr. AP Wang has completed several noteworthy trainings while a member of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, including the Division of Criminal Justice’s Basic Course for Arson Investigators and Top Gun here in New Jersey, as well as the National Computer Forensics Institute’s Digital Evidence in Court for Prosecutor’s Program in Hoover, Alabama.
Sr. AP Wang earned her Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bryn Mawr College.
Prosecutor Carroll said, “I am proud to promote these accomplished prosecutors. Kelly and Tara have each distinguished themselves in the courtroom and amongst their colleagues. I anticipate many more successful investigations and trials in cases they are involved in.”
Photo for illustration purposes only. The actual incident may not reflect the photo.
BOONTON TOWNSHIP — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Chief of confirmed the arrest of Justin N. Emker, 19, Butler, in connection with allegedly filming others in a bathroom stall.
The defendant has been charged with three counts of third-degree Invasion of Privacy.
On July 22, Boonton Township police officers were approached by a concerned citizen at the Rockaway Valley Aerodrome (RVA) Fields in Boonton.
The citizen reported that someone had been in the women’s bathroom for an extended period of time.
Officers located a person later identified as Emker inside one of the bathroom stalls. Further investigation revealed three videos on the defendant’s cellular phone that allegedly depict adult females’ intimate parts while they used the restroom facilities.
Following the arrest, he was released pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act with pretrial release conditions that include monitoring, prohibited from returning to the RVA Fields, and limited cellular phone usage. The defendant is scheduled to appear in court on September 6.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Prosecutor Carroll would like to acknowledge the Boonton Township Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes / Child Endangerment Unit for their efforts in this investigation.
If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Sex Crimes / Child Endangerment Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the juveniles are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
BOONTON — Looking for a way to honor a loved one or celebrate a milestone? An engraved park bench is a great way to honor someone while beautifying our parks.
You may purchase a new bench with an inscription that will be remembered and appreciated. They will work with you to determine an appropriate location for a new bench.
MORRIS COUNTY — Harmonium Choral Society will hold selective auditions for a limited number of openings in all voice parts for experienced singers with good sight-reading ability for the 2023-2024 concert season. Auditions will be held on select dates between August 26 and September 5 at Grace Church in Madison, 4 Madison Avenue at Kings Rd. Click here to learn more and sign up:
Rehearsals for the acclaimed 100-voice chorus begin September 10 and will be held at Grace Church in Madison on Sunday nights. Harmonium schedules three major concerts per season – December, March, and June – as well as a Chamber Singers concert and special appearances throughout the year. This year’s concerts are December 8 at 7:30 pm. and December 10 at 3:00 p.m., at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown; March 9 at 7:30 p.m. and March 10 at 3:00 p.m. at Morristown United Methodist Church and June 1 at 7:30 p.m. and June 2 at 3:00 p.m., also at, Morristown United Methodist Church.
Harmonium concert soloists are usually selected from the chorus’s members, over one-third of whom are professional musicians and/or music educators. Members are also invited to audition for the Harmonium Chamber Singers, a 20-voice ensemble selected from the full Harmonium chorus. This year’s repertoire ranges from Mozart’s Vespers to a world premiere by Dale Trumbore, with works from the Renaissance to the present.
Harmonium Choral Society, based in Morris County, is one of New Jersey’s leading choral arts organizations. The 100-voice choral society, directed by Dr. Anne Matlack of Madison, has been recognized for its eclectic programming, choral excellence, and community spirit, and sponsors commissions and musicianship workshops. Harmonium’s composers-in-residence are Mark Miller and Martin Sedek; the chorus has also commissioned and premiered works by Amanda Harberg, Matthew Harris, Elliot Z. Levine, Dale Trumbore, and many more. The chorus also sponsors an annual High School Student Choral Composition Contest, which celebrates its 27th anniversary in 2024. This innovative program won the prestigious Chorus America Education and Outreach Award.
Nephros secures spacious Morris County facility for growth
HANOVER — Lee & Associates New Jersey arranged a 16,000-square-foot industrial lease for Nephros at 30 Leslie Court. The commercial real estate firm’s Josh Krantz served as tenant broker in the transaction; Kate Granahan and Chad Hillyer of CBRE represented the landlord, Faropoint.
Nephros is a leading water technology company providing filtration solutions to the medical and commercial markets. The commitment represents an expansion of Nephros’ New Jersey operations and is the third lease Krantz has brokered on behalf of the South Orange-based firm.
“This property’s Morris County location, offering easy access to regional thoroughfares as well as Nephros’ headquarters, was very attractive to our client,” said Krantz. “Due to the nature of its business, the company’s products must be stored in a temperature-controlled environment under 68 degrees. With that as a key requirement in our site search, property ownership agreed to install a new air conditioning system at 30 Leslie Court and is also upgrading the building’s sprinkler system.”
Nephros will occupy more than half of the 25,000-square-foot building. 30 Leslie Court offers 17-foot ceiling heights, office space, two dock doors, and parking for about 15 vehicles. It is proximate to major thoroughfares including routes 10 and 46; interstates 80, 287, and 280; and Newark Liberty International Airport.
Lee & Associates New Jersey has locations throughout the state and represents the regional operation of Lee & Associates, one of the nation’s largest agent-owned commercial real estate brokerage and property management firms. Lee & Associates professionals combine the latest technology, resources, and market intelligence to deliver superior service and optimize results for clients. Established in 1979, the company maintains more than 75 offices in the United States and Canada. In 2022, Lee & Associates’ 1,500+ team members assisted with over $32 billion in transactions.
