HANOVER — Ken Shapiro CPA/PFS, CFP(R) of Shapiro Financial Security Group, Inc. will lead a conversation via Zoom on January 27, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., to help taxpayers as they prepare for their 2021 tax filings.
Topics include last-minute tax planning ideas for 2021, recent tax law changes impacting 2022 returns, and possible investment and cash management strategies to consider for the new year. To register for the presentation, visit the Whippanong Library event page by clicking here.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Italian American Police Society of NJ hosted a Holiday Party for hundreds of children and volunteers from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northern New Jersey at the Parsippany Police Athletic League. Santa and Mrs. Claus joined officers to provide toys, gifts, pizza, and gift cards to children in single-parent families.
The Society, founded in 1987, is comprised of more than four thousand local, county, state, and federal law enforcement officers of Italian ancestry. The Society holds several charitable and social events each year and is the state’s largest ethnic law enforcement organization.
MADISON — As the current #COVID19 surge – fueled by the Omicron variant – impacts #MadisonNJ, the Madison Health Dept. is asking customers, employees and visitors of Madison businesses and other indoor public spaces to mask up (except when seated and eating/drinking at a food establishment).
MORRIS COUNTY — Marking its 30th year as the Mid-Atlantic’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts, First Night Morris County will feature over 50 performances at 13 in-person venues throughout downtown Morristown, from 4:00 p.m. to Midnight on December 31.
This year’s event adds a live stream of 4 different acts from the Mayo Performing Arts Center, which can also be seen live and in-person, plus on-demand access to over 40 films and select live performances through January 3.
The live stream and on-demand access bring the venue total to 15. This is the first time that First Night will offer a live stream from a venue and the second year of on-demand services. Attendees have access to all in-person performances, live streams, and on-demand capability included in their admission, plus complimentary parking, free shuttles, a mobile app, film festival, and a Midnight Countdown to welcome in the New Year.
Thanks to its supporters/partners/volunteers, First Night Morris County provides its attendees with outstanding value and world-class performances. Once again, this year’s performances feature the exceptional artists audiences have come to expect at First Night Morris County. Thanks to artistic guidance provided by Dr. Lynn Siebert of Morris Arts, the program is well-balanced, offering numerous performance genres: theatre, music (rock, jazz, classical, etc.), visual arts, world cultures, children’s programs, and so much more.
This year’s program is available by clicking here.
For additional information or to purchase tickets click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce’s bill to increase annual payments to blind and other wartime-service disabled veterans unanimously passed the full Assembly on Monday.
Under the bill (A2559), service members in programs for blind and paralyzed veterans would receive an annual assistance increase to $1,800 from $750.
“The amount given to disabled veterans through these programs has not changed in 40 to 50 years. They earned these annual payments by sacrificing life and limb in selfless service to our country. This increase recognizes their lives were forever changed during the war,” DeCroce (R-Morris) said.
Veterans, who sustained a total loss of sight, are permanently paralyzed in a part of their body, lost a limb through amputation, disease, or an accident as a result of service, and their surviving spouses, are currently entitled to an annual sum of $750, which is paid out monthly.
“Now is an especially appropriate time to pass this bill as consumers face rising costs of food, gas, and everyday goods,” DeCroce said. “It is a small way to extend our gratitude to service members and helps them make ends meet.”
As of March 2021, there were 185 blind and otherwise disabled veterans receiving an allowance under the Blind Veterans’ Allowance Program and the Paraplegic and Hemiplegic Veterans’ Allowance Program. Some veterans may be eligible for both allowance payments.
The last increase for blind veterans was in 1971. The payment under the program for paralyzed veterans has not changed since 1981.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph K. Kimker, Morris Township Police Chief Mark DiCarlo, and Morristown Police Chief Darnell Richardson announce charges have been filed against Ruben Gonzalez, 19, of Morristown, in connection with alleged serial sexual assaults that occurred between December 2020 and November 2021.
Subsequent investigation revealed four different victims whose ages range from 14 to 18.
The sexual assaults occurred in Morris Township and Morristown. Upon arrest and following the issuance of a search warrant, a subsequent analysis of the defendant’s cell phone identified several videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children.
Following investigations of these incidents, Gonzalez has been charged with:
Gonzalez is currently in the custody of the Morris County Correctional Facility following a detention hearing, pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act.
Anyone with information relating to this case or any related incident is asked to call Detective Melissa Enslen of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6307 or Detective Scott Weaver of the Morristown Police Department 973-292-6656.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood announce the hiring of Robert J. Gross, Jr. as Assistant Prosecutor for the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
Assistant Prosecutor Gross was officially sworn in by First Assistant Prosecutor Calderwood at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office on December 20. Assistant Prosecutor Gross will be assigned to the Specialized Services Unit.
Assistant Prosecutor Gross began his legal career as a law clerk in 2019 for Judge Peter F. Bariso, Jr. at the Superior Court of New Jersey, 6th Vicinage in Jersey City. He served as an assistant prosecutor at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Juvenile Unit from 2020 until starting with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. He has held internships and externships with the Exxon Mobil Corporation, Centre County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania, Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Division of Criminal Justice-Appellate Bureau, and the New York County District Attorney’s Office-Investigations Division-Rackets Bureau.
He also volunteered with the Penn State Law Veteran’s Clinic. Assistant Prosecutor Gross holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University, paralegal certification from Georgetown University, and a Juris Doctorate from Penn State Law. Prosecutor Carroll said, “I believe Assistant Prosecutor Gross will make a fine addition to our prosecutorial team.”
EAST HANOVER — Russo Development and Onyx Equities are planning to bring big changes to a portion of Novartis’s 202-acre U.S. headquarters on Route 10 and Ridgedale Avenue.
On December 13, the partners announced purchasing 62 acres from the pharmaceutical company at Route 10 and Ridgedale Avenue. There, they’ll eliminate 900,000 square feet of vacant office space to build up 826,800 square feet of industrial space.
The site is currently a part of the Novartis 202-acre U.S. headquarters campus.
“We are excited to redevelop a portion of one of northern New Jersey’s premier sites into a first-class industrial project,” said Russo Development CEO Edward Russo. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with East Hanover Township and Novartis as the company transforms its East Hanover campus to a more flexible and collaborative workplace design.”
“Morris County is a jewel for commercial uses of all types because of its extensive highway system and pool of highly qualified, skilled labor,” said John Saraceno, Jr., managing principal for Onyx Equities.
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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