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CCM President Anthony Iacono Named to NJBIZ Education Power List

By
Frank Cahill
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Dr. Anthony J. Iacono

RANDOLPH — Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, president of County College of Morris (CCM), has been named to NJBIZ’s Education Power List, which recognizes leaders from New Jersey’s higher education sector across community colleges, public universities, private institutions and education organizations who are helping shape the future of education in the state.

“I am honored to be recognized by NJBIZ and to be included among so many dedicated education leaders throughout New Jersey,” said Iacono. “This recognition reflects the collective work of CCM trustees, faculty, staff and students, and our community partners who are committed to ensuring CCM continues to meet the changing needs of our region. CCM is uniquely positioned to create opportunities that change lives while strengthening communities and the economy.”

As part of the recognition, NJBIZ asked education leaders about their proudest professional achievements, the changes they foresee disrupting education and the career advice that has guided them. Iacono said one of his proudest achievements has been “forging partnerships and collaboratively designing effective systems that advance the mission of community colleges, support student success and contribute to the vitality of the communities we serve.”

With more than one hundred programs of study, CCM continues to expand opportunities in high-demand fields, including engineering and technology, advanced manufacturing, entrepreneurship, business, culinary sciences and cybersecurity. Under his leadership, the college has made significant investments in facilities and resources to support these programs, including the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center, the Veterans Resource Center, and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Culinary Science. The Morris County Vocational School District also partnered with CCM to open the Morris County Career Training Center, which gives high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while completing their high school education. The college is preparing for the future opening of its Center for Health Professions, which will expand learning opportunities in high-demand healthcare fields.

Iacono said he is especially appreciative of the college’s state legislators, county commissioners and donors, whose support and philanthropy help make investments in student success and regional opportunity possible.

CCM has one of the highest graduation and transfer rates among New Jersey’s community colleges and continues to serve as an economic engine for the region, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual economic impact.

Asked about the most disruptive changes facing education in the coming year, Iacono pointed to demographic, economic and technological shifts. “A declining population of eighteen-to-twenty-four-year-olds, changing demographics, current economic trends and new technologies are four major disruptors,” said Iacono. “Each has the potential to transform and strengthen higher education if understood and well handled.”

His approach to leadership continues to be guided by advice he received earlier in his career. “The best career advice I have ever received and still live by today — pay attention to the people you serve or someone else will,” said Iacono. “Understand the needs and interests of employers, employees, students and the community while embracing change and creating the future.”

This is not the first time NJBIZ has recognized Iacono for his leadership; he has previously appeared on the publication’s Education Power 50 and Manufacturing Power 50 lists. He was also recently named the top community college leader in New Jersey and received a regional Chief Executive Officer honor from the Association of Community College Trustees.

Boonton Council to Hold Hearings on Knox Box Rules, False Alarm Fees, and Snow Parking Penalties

By
Frank Cahill
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BOONTON — The Boonton Mayor and Town Council will hold public hearings Monday, September 21, on three ordinances introduced at the September 8 meeting: new requirements for Knox-Box rapid entry boxes on commercial buildings, a fee schedule for nuisance and false fire alarms, and changes to the town’s snow parking prohibition.

A closed session on litigation begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the open public meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The meeting is held in person and livestreamed on Zoom. No action may be taken in closed session. Click here to view the agenda.

Residents may comment in person or in writing. Written comments must include the name, address, and phone number of the author and may be emailed to Town Clerk Elizabeth Bonsiewich at [email protected] with the subject line “Public Comment” at least eight hours before the meeting. Mailed comments must be received by 4:00 p.m. the day before the meeting. All public comments are limited to three minutes.

Ordinance 24-26: Knox-Box Requirements

The ordinance replaces Section 27-6 of the town code and requires an Underwriters Laboratories-listed Knox-Box on the exterior of certain structures so the Fire Department can enter during emergencies without forced entry. Boxes would be required on:

  • New commercial and industrial buildings, within 120 days of the certificate of occupancy.
  • Existing commercial and industrial buildings with automatic fire detection or suppression systems, within 120 days of notification by the Fire Official.
  • Commercial buildings undergoing improvements that require Planning Board or Zoning Board approval, before a final certificate of occupancy is issued.
  • Multifamily residential buildings with restricted access, locked common entrances, or common corridors, within 120 days of notification by the Fire Official.
  • Any other structure where the Fire Official determines a box is necessary.

Property owners would pay for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of the boxes, which must stay clear of snow, ice, landscaping, and signage. Owners must notify the Fire Official immediately when a lock is changed or access credentials change and place updated keys in the box within 24 hours. Noncompliant owners would receive a written notice of violation with a 30-day correction period, or a shorter period for high-hazard occupancies. Access to the town’s master keys would be limited to Boonton Fire Department officers, the Knox-Box program administrator, the Fire Official, and licensed fire inspectors working under the Fire Official.

Ordinance 25-26: Nuisance and False Fire Alarms

The ordinance sets response fees for alarm activations that do not involve an actual emergency, calculated over a rolling 12-month period:

  • Commercial, industrial, and multifamily residential properties: a warning for the first and second false alarms, $500 for the third, $750 for the fourth, and $1,000 for the fifth and each one after.
  • Owner-occupied one- and two-family homes: a warning for the first three false alarms, $100 for the fourth, $250 for the fifth, and $500 for the sixth and each one after.

Alarm users required to have a fire alarm system, or who voluntarily maintain a monitored system, would have to register with the Bureau of Fire Prevention within 60 days of the ordinance taking effect and list at least two emergency contacts who can reach the property within 30 minutes. Testing without advance notice to Morris County dispatch, the Bureau of Fire Prevention, and the monitoring company counts as a false alarm and can carry a separate penalty of up to $500. Resetting an active alarm before the Fire Department arrives carries a penalty of up to $500, and intentionally causing a false alarm carries a municipal penalty of up to $200 in addition to any state charges. Fees can be appealed to the Fire Official within 15 days of the billing notice.

Ordinance 26-26: Snow Parking

The ordinance amends Section 201-29 of the parking code, listed for public hearing and proposed adoption. Parking on any public street would be unlawful between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. when at least three inches of snow covers the streets, as measured by the Boonton Police Department’s shift commander at Town Hall. The prohibition stays in force for eight hours after the precipitation ends. Licensed physicians and visiting nurses making professional calls are exempt, as are county, state, and federal roads: Main Street, West Main Street, Myrtle Avenue, Washington Street, and Boonton Avenue. Any violation requires a court appearance and a penalty of not less than $100.

Consent Agenda (Resolutions 26-231 through 26-238)

  • Approve the September 8 regular meeting minutes and payment of vouchers.
  • Set fees for next summer’s Parks and Recreation Youth Summer Camp Program for Boonton children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Full-day camp, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., is $180 per week with early enrollment and $215 per week with late enrollment. Before Camp Care, 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., is $65 per week with early enrollment and $75 per week with late enrollment. An additional day, available only after the registration deadline and if space allows, is $60 per day. Early enrollment applications are due by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, and there are no sibling discounts.
  • Appoint Mark Wrobel to the Planning Board as a Class III member, with a term expiring December 31, and to the Boonton Green Team.
  • Authorize the purchase of two self-contained breathing apparatus sets and six air cylinders for the Fire Department from New Jersey Fire Equipment Company through the Bergen County cooperative contract, at a cost not to exceed $28,971.52.
  • Approve an additional $23,802.20 to Tilcon New York, Inc. for the town’s road paving program through the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council Contract 6C, due to fuel and asphalt price adjustments.
  • Authorize the online sale of a surplus Seagrave custom pumper fire truck through GovDeals, with a starting bid of $35,000.

New Business (Introductions)

  • Ordinance 23-26 (title only) amends Chapter 300 of the town code to regulate rooming and boarding houses, including cooperative sober living residences and group homes.
  • Ordinance 27-26 (title only) amends Chapter 300 to modify the expedited waiver of site plan review process and set minimum standards for residential units in the B-1 District.

The agenda also includes committee and liaison reports, council, administrator, and town attorney comments, and a public portion of the meeting before adjournment.

Morris County Lists 31 Mail-In Ballot Drop Box Locations

By
Frank Cahill
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File Photo

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County has 31 mail-in ballot drop boxes located throughout the county. Voters can deposit a voted ballot in a drop box beginning approximately 45 days before each election. All ballot drop boxes close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.

The ballot drop boxes are all outdoors and under surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They resemble a United States Postal Service blue mailbox but are red, white and blue and display the words “Morris County – Official Ballot Drop Box.” County representatives will pick up the ballots, and all security measures will be followed when collecting and transporting the ballots back to the Board of Elections.

The 31 ballot drop box locations are listed below.

LocationAddressDrop Box Placement
Board of Elections10 Court Street, MorristownAcross the street outside the front entrance to the Morris County Courthouse
Boonton Township Municipal Building155 Powerville Road, BoontonOutside the main entrance
Butler Borough10 High Street, ButlerAt the entrance next to the stairs
Chatham Borough Municipal Building54 Fairmount Avenue, Chatham BoroughAt the south side entrance
Chatham Township Municipal Building58 Meyersville Road, Chatham TownshipAt the front entrance
Chester Township Municipal Building1 Parker Road, Chester TownshipIn the parking lot on the left side of the municipal building
Denville Municipal Building1 Saint Mary’s Place, DenvilleOutside the main entrance
Dover Municipal Building37 North Sussex Street, DoverIn the front of the building
East Hanover Municipal Building411 Ridgedale Avenue, East HanoverIn the parking lot near the back door
Florham Park Municipal Building111 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham ParkAt the entrance to the Police Department
Hanover Township Municipal Building1000 Route 10, WhippanyOutside the main entrance
Jefferson Township Municipal Building1033 Weldon Road, Oak RidgeOutside the main entrance
Kinnelon Borough Town Hall130 Kinnelon Road, KinnelonBy the front entrance
Long Hill Town Hall915 Valley Road, GilletteNear the side entrance
Madison Public Safety Complex62 Kings Road, MadisonIn Commuter Parking Lot 3
Mendham Borough3 Cold Hill Road South, MendhamOutside the front entrance
Montville Municipal Building195 Changebridge Road, MontvilleIn front of the municipal building
Morris Plains Municipal Building531 Speedwell Avenue, Morris PlainsOutside the entrance
Morris Township Municipal Building50 Woodland Avenue, Morris TownshipAt the rear of the building by the middle entrance
Morristown Municipal Building200 South Street, MorristownIn the rear parking lot by the right side entrance
Mount Olive Municipal Building204 Flanders/Drakestown Road, Budd LakeAt the parking lot entrance to the municipal building
Mount Arlington Municipal Building419 Howard Boulevard, Mount ArlingtonOn the left side near the courtroom entrance
Parsippany Municipal Building1001 Parsippany Boulevard, ParsippanyOutside the main entrance facing Route 287
Pequannock Municipal Complex Senior House530 Newark Pompton Turnpike, PequannockAdjacent to the municipal building, outside the main entrance to the Senior House
Randolph Municipal Building502 Millbrook Avenue, RandolphOutside the main entrance
Rockaway Borough Municipal Building1 East Main Street, Rockaway BoroughTo the left of the front entrance
Rockaway Township Municipal Building65 Mount Hope Road, Rockaway TownshipOutside the Police Department
Roxbury Township Town Hall1715 Route 46, LedgewoodOutside the main entrance
Town of Boonton Municipal Building100 Washington Street, BoontonBy the front entrance
Washington Township1 East Springtown Road, Washington TownshipAt the Washington Township Police Department, outside the front entrance
Wharton Municipal Building10 Robert Street, WhartonOutside the main entrance

Morris County Entrepreneur Teams Can Apply for Up to $400,000 in Income Replacement Grants

By
Frank Cahill
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0

MORRIS COUNTY — Entrepreneur teams in Morris County can apply for income replacement grants of up to $400,000 through the New Jersey Innovation Fellows Program, which is open to teams across the state.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is accepting applications for the program, which supports teams launching businesses in the state’s targeted industries. Those include clean energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and other innovative sectors.

Base grants of $200,000 are available. Teams can receive bonuses of up to $200,000 more for entrepreneurs who live in Opportunity Zones, self-certify as women or minorities, or graduated from a New Jersey college or university.

To be eligible, a team must have at least three full-time members, and at least half of them must be first-time entrepreneurs. Teams must commit to working full time, at least 35 hours per week, for two years and take part in a mentorship program.

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4.

For more information and to apply, Click here.

Copyright 2026 Zoomus Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission from the publisher.

Carter Rubelowsky Named to University of Alabama Summer Dean’s List

By
Frank Cahill
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0

FLORHAM PARK — Carter Rubelowsky of Florham Park was named to The University of Alabama Dean’s List for the summer semester.

A total of 624 students enrolled during the summer semester at The University of Alabama were named to the dean’s list with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the president’s list with an academic record of 4.0 (all A’s).

The dean’s and president’s lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The lists do not apply to graduate students or undergraduate students who take less than a full course load.

For more information, visit news.ua.edu.

The University of Alabama is the future-ready flagship. The university develops leaders and a workforce for a changing world, advances research and innovation that solve real problems and strengthens communities across Alabama and beyond. Part of The University of Alabama System, the university holds a global reputation for excellence and offers more than 200 degree programs. Through more than 30 research centers, the university leads creative inquiry and discovery that fuels economic growth and opportunity.

Copyright 2026 Zoomus Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission from the publisher.

Charges Dropped Against Florham Park Officer Accused of Choking Woman Who Blocked Him

By
Frank Cahill
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Gregory M. Dietz

FLORHAM PARK — Charges have been dropped against a Florham Park police officer accused of choking a woman until she blacked out.

The charges against Officer Gregory M. Dietz, 34, were dropped this week due to insufficient evidence, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Public Information Officer Carmen Martin.

“We cannot comment further on the specifics of the matter,” Martin said.

Dietz had been charged with the following in connection with an alleged incident in Roseland on Sunday, July 5, court records show:

  • Second-Degree Aggravated Assault (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1)
  • Harassment (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4)
  • Stalking (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10)
  • Criminal Trespass (N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3)

Dietz’s attorney, Marco Laracca, issued a statement following the decision.

“Anyone can be accused of a crime,” Laracca said. “But an accusation is not proof, and everyone accused deserves to be treated fairly and judged on the evidence.

“The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office’s decision to dismiss these charges reflects a fundamental principle of our justice system — criminal charges should proceed only when supported by sufficient evidence. I am tremendously happy for Mr. Dietz and his family. They have endured an extraordinarily difficult ordeal, and I hope they can now put this nightmare behind them and move forward with their lives.”

The charges were filed Sunday, July 19, after a woman accused Dietz of striking her across the face and squeezing her neck with both hands until she blacked out, NJ Advance Media previously reported, citing an arrest affidavit.

The woman said Dietz’s attention became unwelcome after they met more than a year earlier, alleging he repeatedly sent inappropriate messages and later touched her without consent. After she blocked Dietz and told him to stop contacting her on July 5, he allegedly entered her apartment building, struck her and squeezed her neck until she blacked out. She contacted authorities after encountering him again on July 18.

Dietz was suspended without pay from the date of his arrest, Florham Park Police Chief Karl E. Svenningsen said. When reached by email on Friday, September 18, Svenningsen said: “We have no comment at this time as this continues to be a personnel matter being investigated by internal affairs.”

Dietz was sworn in as a probationary Florham Park police officer effective February 1. A warrant was issued Sunday, July 19, and executed the following morning, court records show. Essex County jail records show Dietz was committed to the jail Monday, July 20, and released four days later.

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.

Wonder Cutting 533 Jobs in New Jersey

By
Frank Cahill
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0

NEW JERSEY — Wonder, the food delivery and takeout company known for bringing meals from restaurants and celebrity chefs directly to customers, is eliminating 533 positions in New Jersey, according to a recently filed WARN notice.

The layoffs are expected to be completed between September 16 and January 8. The affected positions are connected to the company’s New Jersey operations as it consolidates its footprint.

Wonder has built its business around delivering restaurant-quality meals to customers, including offerings associated with high-profile chefs such as Bobby Flay and Michael Symon. The size of the job reduction makes the announcement one of the more significant recent food-industry layoffs in New Jersey.

Wonder has several addresses within Morris County, none of which are expected to be affected by the announced cuts. In Parsippany, the company maintains a corporate office at 399 Jefferson Road and a retail food hall location at 1295 U.S. Route 46. It also operates a food hall in Randolph at 146 Center Grove Road and another in Ledgewood, inside the Walmart at 461 Route 10.

Wonder is a food-delivery company that prepares meals from a variety of restaurant and celebrity-chef concepts in its own kitchens and delivers them directly to customers’ homes. The company has partnered with several well-known chefs and restaurant personalities as it has expanded its offerings, a strategy that has helped it attract attention in the increasingly competitive food delivery market, where companies continue to face pressure from labor expenses, food costs, delivery economics, and changing consumer habits.

Wonder’s job cuts come as restaurants and food-service companies continue to navigate a challenging operating environment. Restaurant closures, franchisee bankruptcies, and workforce reductions have become increasingly common as businesses contend with elevated costs and shifting consumer spending.

For the workers affected by Wonder’s latest announcement, the layoffs will unfold over the next several months, with the WARN filing providing advance notice of the planned reductions. The cuts are another reminder that the pressures facing the restaurant and food-delivery industries extend beyond individual restaurants, reaching companies operating behind the scenes to produce and deliver meals to consumers.

Mountain Lakes Resident To Be Honored At Caldwell University Alumni Awards Luncheon

By
Frank Cahill
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0

MOUNTAIN LAKES — Caldwell University will honor Mountain Lakes resident Barbara McFadden with the Veritas Award for Excellence in Service and Educational Impact at the university’s 39th June Dwyer Castano Veritas Awards Luncheon.

The luncheon, an annual event run by the Office of Alumni Affairs to honor professional excellence among the university’s alumni, will be held on Sunday, December 20.

According to a statement from Caldwell University, McFadden spent her career going above and beyond for her students.

A 1982 graduate of Caldwell University, McFadden began as an elementary school teacher in Elizabeth before spending nearly two decades as an English as a Second Language teacher in Rockaway Township.

“In that position, she fostered a welcoming environment for immigrant and refugee students to develop language skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging through engaging, hands-on learning experiences that celebrated diverse cultures and backgrounds,” reads the statement.

Dover High School Graduate Charged With Murder In Boyfriend’s Death Following Two Year Search

By
Frank Cahill
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Julian Morris is 33 year old black male. 5'6" 160 Pounds

BIRMINGHAM — Julian Taylor Morris, a 2011 graduate of Dover High School, has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of his former boyfriend, Deundray Cottrell, more than two years after Cottrell disappeared during a Fourth of July visit to his family in Birmingham, Alabama, according to the Birmingham Police Department.

Morris, 33, was taken into custody by the United States Marshals Service on Monday in Miami and is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Florida without bond, pending extradition to Alabama.

Cottrell, 31, was reported missing on the Fourth of July while visiting his family in Birmingham. Police said they later found clothing believed to belong to Cottrell and surveillance video showing him walking near Fourth Avenue North while family members searched for him.

Two days after he was reported missing, officers found Cottrell’s body inside a shed about a block from his family’s home. The Birmingham Police Department ruled the death a homicide, saying Cottrell had been strangled.

Investigators identified Morris as a person of interest days after the body was discovered, saying he was the last person to see or hear from Cottrell and had stopped communicating with detectives once the body was found.

Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett said the arrest reflects the department’s continued commitment to the case.

“This arrest, as well as the other arrests on cases from previous years, show how relentless our department is and how dedicated our officers are. We never stop working for justice,” Pickett said. “We will continue to pursue those responsible for violent crimes, no matter where they may run. We will continue to seek justice for Deundray Cottrell and his family and remain committed to holding those responsible accountable.”

Morris is a 2011 graduate of Dover High School.

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 Town Council Meeting – September 15, 2026

By
Frank Cahill
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Jefferson Township Council President Josh Kalish

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

Click here to download the agenda.

Township of Jefferson officials:

  • Mayor Eric F. Wilsusen (R) — Term expires December 31, 2026
  • Council President Josh Kalish (R) — Term expires December 31, 2026
  • Council Vice President Barbie Garruto (R) — Term expires December 31, 2028
  • Councilman Robert Birmingham (R) — Term expires December 31, 2028
  • Councilwoman Melissa Senatore (R) — Term expires December 31, 2026
  • Councilwoman Yvonne Ioffredo (R) — Term expires December 31, 2026

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 7.

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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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