MORRIS COUNTY — Denville’s Richard Yobs, Sr., was honored at the Patriots Path Council Boy Scouts of America “Good Scout Awards Dinner” at Winnebago Scout Reservation, Rockaway.

The “Good Scout Award” is a recognition given by the Boy Scouts of America to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding community service, leadership, and support for Scouting. It is intended to honor individuals who serve as role models and inspire others to impact their communities positively.

It is impressive that Rich has been a Kiwanis Club of Denville member for over fifty years! He must have seen many organizational changes and developments over that time.

It is also commendable that he chaired the annual pancake breakfast for ten years. This would have required significant organizational skills and dedication to ensure the event ran smoothly and successfully each year.

Additionally, arranging for circuses under the tent for 12 years has been a unique and exciting addition to the community. Rich’s commitment to bringing such entertainment to Denville shows his passion for enhancing the lives of those around him.

Overall, Rich’s contributions to the Kiwanis Club of Denville have likely positively impacted the community and demonstrate his dedication to service and leadership.

Rich started volunteering early in the eighth grade.

He volunteered to help celebrate Denville’s anniversary. A couple of years later, he joined the ground observer corps.

In 1971 Rich had a busy year. He opened his business, Painten Place. Rich joined Pride Council in its formative years with Muriel Heppner D Dr. Shult, and Howard Shaw.

As a 25-year member, a lot was accomplished. Rich chaired the first annual Denville Rid Litter Day, including Rockaway River.

At a sub-meeting, Rich, Muriel, Dr. Solti, and several others set the groundwork for the Denville Blood Bank. As president of Pride, Rich was most proud of facilitating the Denville gardens and hosting a town-wide meeting opposing Route 80’s expansion announcement.

It would have completely separated Denville. Rich and his committee prevailed.

In 1971 Rich joined Denville Kiwanis and is a 52-year member. Rich chaired the annual pancake breakfast for ten years and arranged for circuses under the tent for 12 years.

Rich joined the Denville Chamber of Commerce in 1971. Rich was an assistant parade starter that first year and Christmas the following year. Rich was the starter and has been every year since. Denville Kiwanis now chairs the committee. Rich was chairman of Pride Council, Denville Chamber, and Kiwanis all the same year. Rich served on the Denville parking and economic development committees for over 20 years. He was on the Denville planning board for four years fighting the Mount Laurel decision.

Rich lobbied for an anti-loitering law in Denville that was passed. Most are unaware Rich signed off on painting merit badges for about eight years.

Rich rang bells for the Salvation Army for 20-25 years and worked on harvest festivals for years.

Rich was a certified lay leader at Denville community church for 20 years. He started a men’s breakfast group and did the cooking. Every Thanksgiving, Rich worked with Kiwanis delivering food from the local pantry to seniors. He worked with the Mccarter family, the township, and Kiwanis to rebuild MacArthur Park; He was honored to be named small businessperson of the year in New Jersey and represented New Jersey in Washington at the White House. As a Kiwanis member, he donated paint and helped paint the VFW on Ford Road and a special project at Celebrate the Children on Diamond Spring Road. He is a member of the American Legion Post 290 in Denville.

Yobs was in the submarine forest in the 1960s. Rich has been a Joe Bella Memorial Fund member since its inception. And for the last five years, has been its president.

MORRIS COUNTY — Law enforcement, elected officials, and community leaders joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by honoring the victims and professionals who support them while highlighting the progress that has been made in light of the challenges still to be overcome to raise awareness for victims’ rights in the face of crime.

“All too often, victims’ rights are lost in the noise that daily bombards us. This week it is our privilege to again call attention to those who have suffered and again to confirm our commitment to their protection and enforcement of their rights,” stated Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll.

Marking its 42nd anniversary this year, Congress declares one week in April as Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme, “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change,” calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and create environments where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported. Morris County Commissioner Director John Krickus presented a framed proclamation to Prosecutor Carroll declaring April 23-29, 2023, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Morris County, which the Board of County Commissioners adopted at their public meeting later that evening.

“The struggle for Victims’ Rights has been heavily rooted in Morris County for decades… We gather again to remain vigilant and ensure victims’ rights and needs are not pushed aside. Today, we reaffirm that we will defend and expand the hard-fought rights of crime victims everywhere,” said Director John Krickus.

Other speakers at the conference included Rhett Hackett, survivor and President/Co-Founder of the Humanity Preservation Foundation and host of the HandsOFF Talk Show (a weekly television show on the RVNTV network); Senator Anthony Bucco; Chief Michael Koroski, Morris Plains Police Chief and Vice President of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association; Alexis Rachel, Coordinator of the Morris County Sexual Assault Response Team and the Forensic Nurse Examiner Program (SART/FNE); and Maria Vinci Savettiere, Esq., Executive Director of Deirdre’s House and Chairperson of the Morris County Multidisciplinary Team.

A survivor of child sexual abuse, Hackett went public with his story on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010 when he was one of 200 men featured on a special that underscored the prevalence and long-term effects of male sexual abuse. The appearance placed him in the spotlight, prompting him to advocate for victim rights full-time. He launched a nonprofit organization called the Humanity Preservation Foundation to focus on domestic violence, child abuse, and bullying. He and his team host numerous events and prevention education programs, lead outreach efforts to connect childhood trauma and addiction and offer a recovery platform, “Recovery Your Way,” as an extension of their services.

“In this country, we have a problem with asking for help—we don’t do it. I always tell my team, fraternity brothers, and schools: You are not the law or the therapist. There are professionals in the community able to help. Let’s direct (victims) to them because they are going to help in the best way possible, so they (the victims) don’t revictimize themselves,” stated Hackett.

The Morris County, Sexual Assault Response Team, collaborates with law enforcement to assist survivors who wish to report their assault but may be fearful due to their criminal history or immigration status. SART/FNE Coordinator Alexis Rachel acknowledged the level of coordination in Morris County among law enforcement, child welfare agencies, and the organizations investigating crimes and providing services on behalf of survivors, especially during Covid-19. She commended the Jersey Battered Women’s Service (JBWS) Crisis Response Team for ensuring survivor safety and access to shelter, the Victim/Witness Unit for striving to maintain a continuity of care and services, and Deirdre’s House for taking child victims under their wing and connecting them with highly trained child specialists.

“Sexual violence is one of the most interpersonal forms of crime, as it is both physical and psychological and is the most underreported,” remarked Rachel.

Her team aims to empower victims by treating them like patients and reassuring them that they are safe and have control over how things progress. Resources and information for future services are provided so they can seek support when ready. The Forensic Nurse Examiner Program will be expanded by implementing a Non-Fatal Strangulation Response Team for greater survivor outcomes later this year.

Chief Koroski added that the Morris County Police Chiefs Association’s mission is to care for its officers through resiliency training and wellness programs as they experience trauma similar to survivors.

“As chiefs, our primary focus will always be prevention and deterrence of crime, and we hope that we can stop just one more heartless act of violence that shatters our communities,” said Chief Koroski. “We must work on prevention and preplan to build our community’s resilience, and the partnerships with those gathered here today are the foundation of that resiliency.”

Senator Bucco praised everyone on their work and voiced concerns that the victims’ rights movement has lost momentum recently. This statement was echoed by Executive Director Savettiere.

“Victims’ rights have had a setback… We must listen carefully to victims’ voices, as they can be quiet and reluctant. Because when a victim needs to come forward, they are in a very vulnerable state. They don’t necessarily want to tell their story but are compelled to for various reasons; it’s part of their own healing process and need to seek justice,” said Savettiere.

Deirdre’s House is a nationally accredited child advocacy center and the only location in Morris County where child abuse and neglect victims can receive comprehensive services under one roof and at no cost. Here, they can undergo forensic interviews and trial preparation with law enforcement, receive medical examinations and treatment from a pediatric abuse specialist, and receive clinical counseling services in English and Spanish. Since its opening in 1996, the center has served over 43,000 children.

“I would like to commend Morris County law enforcement officers and victim/witness service providers who work collaboratively and comprehensively among our agencies and continue to bring a high level of sensitive services to our victims and survivors, especially Sheriff James Gannon and his team who provide vital support services to law enforcement, victims and survivors in our ongoing efforts to reduce crime and its impact on our communities,” remarked Prosecutor Carroll.

Last year, the MCPO dedicated a stepping stone near the victims’ tree outside the Administration Building to symbolize victims taking the first step towards healing. The victims’ tree is lit annually during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week as a beacon of hope. This year, a wreath adorned with a “2023 in Recognition and Remembrance” ribbon was placed next to the tree.

PARSIPPANY — Solix, Inc. recently hosted New Jersey State Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (LD-25), who toured the Company’s Parsippany headquarters, learned more about Solix’s government and commercial client work throughout the United States, and held a town hall forum with employees.

Based in New Jersey for over 20 years, Solix is a business process solutions provider that helps connect people to essential programs and services. The Company has served as administrator of complex regulatory programs, provided comprehensive eligibility determination and enrollment services, deployed web-based and mobile technology solutions, and provided multi-channel customer care for national, state, and county-level projects.

“Making New Jersey government more efficient is a goal I share with Solix, so gaining insight into their work that connects people, organizations, and schools to critical services was encouraging. Headquartered here in New Jersey, Solix stands as a prime example of the type of outstanding talent that can be tapped into right here to create better processes that will ultimately advance our economy,” Dunn said. “This New Jersey-based business is improving lives locally and nationally, and I value the opportunities I have to learn from the employees making that happen.”

Assemblywoman Dunn serves on the Assembly Budget, Commerce and Economic Development, and Women and Children Committees and is appointed to the Human Relations Council and the Women’s Re-entry Commission. She is also a founding member and current Co-Chair of the Legislative Disability Caucus and currently serves as a board member of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation. She volunteers as a JBWS-certified domestic violence crisis response team member for local police departments.

With Solix as a partner, public and private sector organizations can simplify complex requirements and improve the user experience for programs that significantly impact the well-being of individuals and organizations across the country.  The Company provides process and customer care solutions that result in more than $2 billion in annual funding.  Solix employees are proud that they positively impact so many lives throughout the United States, exemplified by our recent work on pandemic response and economic recovery initiatives, including rental assistance and small business grant programs. For more information about Solix, please visit www.solixinc.com or call (800) 200-0818.

MORRIS COUNTY — Matt O’Donnell, the attorney who cooperated in a corruption sting operation where prominent political figures were accused of taking bribes in exchange for legal work. Facing three years in prison, O’Donnell could see postponement since cases, where he is a potential witness have not yet been heard, as reported in NJGLOBE.

Former Jersey City Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas, former Morris County Freeholder John Cesaro, and former Mount Arlington Councilman John Windish are scheduled to appear before a Superior Court judge on June 14 for a hearing.

The five defendants are charged with taking thousands of dollars in bribes from Matt O’Donnell in the form of campaign contributions. In return, the defendants allegedly promised the cooperating witness, a tax attorney, that they would vote or use their official authority or influence to hire or continue to hire his law firm for lucrative government legal work. Envelopes and paper bags filled with cash – and even a coffee cup stuffed with cash – were delivered to the defendants by the cooperating witness at restaurants, parking lots, a political fundraiser, and a campaign headquarters. Other times the cooperating witness offered checks from illegal “straw donors” – individuals reimbursed to write checks to the defendant’s campaign in amounts that complied with the legal limit on individual donations.

The following five defendants were charged separately in criminal complaints with second-degree bribery in official and political matters:

• John Cesaro – Former Morris County Freeholder  (Click here to download indictment)
• Sudhan Thomas – Jersey City School Board President (Click here to download indictment)
• Jason O’Donnell – Former State Assemblyman and Former Bayonne Mayoral Candidate (Click here to download indictment)
• John Windish – Former Mount Arlington Council Member (Click here to download indictment)
• Mary Dougherty – Former Morris County Freeholder Candidate

The defendants who held public office at the time of the alleged conduct – Thomas, Cesaro, and Windish – also are charged with second-degree acceptance or receipt of unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior.

“We allege that these political candidates were all too willing to sell the authority of their public office or the office they sought in exchange for an envelope filled with cash or illegal checks from straw donors,” said Attorney General Grewal. “This is old-school political corruption at its worst— the kind that undermines the political process and erodes public faith in government. We are working through the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability to create a culture of accountability in New Jersey, where public officials know they must act with integrity or face the consequences.”

“These cases reflect one of OPIA’s core missions, which is to root out corruption and misconduct in state and local government and related elections,” said OPIA Director Thomas Eicher. “We are determined to hold public officials and candidates responsible for their actions, no matter their political positions or alliances. New Jersey has some of the nation’s strongest anti-corruption laws, and we will use them to ensure that government officials single-mindedly serve the public interest, not their own selfish interests.”

The defendants were charged in an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability which began in early 2018 and focused on political figures in Hudson and Morris counties who allegedly solicited illegal campaign contributions from the cooperating witness in return for promised official action to provide him with government work.

The alleged criminal conduct occurred between August and October 2018.
Attorney General Grewal commended all of the prosecutors and detectives who conducted and supervised the investigations for the OPIA Corruption Bureau under the leadership of OPIA Director Thomas Eicher. Deputy Attorneys General Pearl Minato, John A. Nicodemo, and Anthony Robinson are prosecuting the cases under the supervision of Counsel to the Director Anthony Picione. Former OPIA Deputy Chief Jeffrey Manis also supervised the cases.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The second-degree charges against those who held public office at the time of the alleged conduct – Thomas, Cesaro, and Windish – carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison without eligibility for parole under New Jersey’s enhanced penalties for official corruption.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Attorney General Grewal created the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability in September 2018 to combat corruption and strengthen public confidence in government institutions. Earlier this month, the Attorney General issued a directive codifying OPIA and making it a permanent part of the Attorney General’s Office. That directive established the OPIA Corruption Bureau as the lead office within the Department of Law & Public Safety to investigate and prosecute state criminal violations involving corruption and abuse of public trust.

O’Donnell McCord PC was located at 5 Mount Kemble Avenue, Morristown.

MORRIS COUNTY —  Senator Anthony M. Bucco has introduced legislation that would delay the fourth round of fair share affordable housing obligations for municipalities from 2025 to 2028.

“The pandemic and related shutdowns and restrictions imposed by Governor Murphy had a major impact on the ability of municipalities to resolve their third-round affordable housing obligations,” said Bucco (R-25). “While towns are still trying to get back on track, the next round is quickly approaching. If we don’t implement a reasonable delay to the fourth round, we’re sure to end up with more confusion, litigation, and unnecessary costs for property taxpayers. This bill offers relief to our towns and much-needed time to keep working.”

Bucco’s bill, S-3739, would delay the start of the fourth round of affordable housing obligations, including present and prospective needs and related litigation, until July 1, 2028.

The legislation recognizes that municipalities have incurred significant expenses in complying with fair share affordable housing obligations, which ultimately are borne by New Jersey taxpayers.

It also notes the severe hardship towns have faced in trying to comply with their affordable housing obligations as a result of the pandemic, along with the recognition of the New Jersey Supreme Court that affordable housing policies are best left to the Legislature.

“The short delay we’re proposing is no different than the numerous other deadlines and timeframes the Legislature has already updated to account for the disruptions of the pandemic,” Bucco added. “By delaying the fourth round of affordable housing obligations, we can provide much-needed relief to taxpayers and municipalities while also ensuring that we have the data and resources necessary to make informed decisions about future affordable housing policies.”

MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblyman Brian Bergen is marveling that Gov. Phil Murphy and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer—two governors that imposed some of the harshest pandemic restrictions in the nation—are hosting a one-day event on Wednesday about teen mental health at the MGM Grand Detroit.

Lockdowns and social isolation, brought to New Jersey residents by unchecked executive powers over the last three years, led to the teen mental health epidemic today, Bergen said. After Murphy barred in-person learning March 18, 2020, students endured remote learning for the entire 2020-2021 school year, only returning to the classroom, masked and distanced, the following September.

Bergen has staunchly advocated for curbing executive and public health emergency powers since early in the Covid-19 pandemic. His bill (A875), with near-unanimous Republican support in the Assembly, would limit the governor’s emergency orders, rules, or regulations to 14 days without Legislative extension. Otherwise, the orders expire.

His resolve to see this bill advanced strengthened after abysmal test scores and skyrocketing self-reported incidents of depression and anxiety in teens started being reported by mainstream media outlets and intergovernmental organizations, who were cheerleaders for lockdowns despite warnings for poor mental health outcomes, he said.

“Murphy inflicted this mental health crisis on our teens when he adopted God-like powers to the deafening silence of Democrats,” Bergen (R-Morris) said. “As for him and Whitmer, I’d sooner discuss mental health with Lorraine Bracco, who only played a psychiatrist on television.”

The New Jersey governor is among the most powerful in the nation, with the state’s constitution granting him or her the authority to issue executive orders. In 2005, then acting Gov. Albio Sires signed the Emergency Health Powers Act. The legislation, sponsored by Democrat Sen. Joseph F. Vitale, expanded the powers of the governor and state health commissioner to declare a public health emergency and grant them access to whatever tools are needed to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the emergency. The governor can extend that emergency every 30 days without legislative oversight.

Murphy signed more than 130 Covid-related public health emergency executive orders and extended his powers 17 times.

“He got a taste of monarchic authority and it shows, not only in his regal decorating choices but his absolute abuse of emergency powers, which by the way, he only let go of recently when he could no longer hide behind the CDC or feds,” Bergen said. “The blank check he was handed needs to be revoked. Our children’s educations and lives were forcibly given into his hands, and he failed them. Never again.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February 2023 reported that three in five teen girls “felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021–double that of boys, representing a nearly 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade.” Its findings echo that of Johns Hopkins University, which during the same year found that more than 50% of teens surveyed said “the pandemic and response has created problems,” especially causing significant changes in sleep and eating patterns. The World Health Organization said overall reports of depression and anxiety spiked 25%.

“The governor made his ego ‘the science.’ That he has the Fauci’s chutzpah to lead the charge in ‘strengthening teen mental health’ is, quite frankly, bizarre,” Bergen said. “I truly believe we wouldn’t be in this mess had government functioned the way it should, emergency or none. No one man in this nation should have the power he had, and still has.”

“At least he’s holding the roundtable in a majestic hotel,” Bergen added.