MORRIS COUNTY — Saint Clare’s Health was awarded an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group’s spring 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes Saint Clare’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients in their care. We are also pleased to announce that our Prime Healthcare sister hospital St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark also received A Safety Grade.

“It is indeed gratifying to receive such a high recognition from the Leapfrog group twice in a row ,” said Brian Finestein, CEO of Saint Clare’s Health. “It provides the public with third party recognition that your community hospital, which has a reputation for compassionate care, is also a leader in safety measures as well,” he added.

“To be recognized nationally as an ‘A’ hospital is an accomplishment the whole community should take pride in,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Hospitals that earn an ‘A’ grade are making it a priority to protect patients from preventable medical harm and error. We congratulate hospital leaders, board members, staff, volunteers and clinicians who work so hard to earn this A.”

Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and Denville Police Chief Frank Perna announce that Mr. Michael Romeo, 32, with a last known address of Sewell, has been convicted and sentenced related to a carjacking incident that occurred in the Township of Denville on July 10, 2018.

Romeo was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison and must serve five years of this sentence before being eligible for parole.  The Defendant is also subject to a five year term of parole supervision following completion of the term of incarceration.

On January 14, 2019, the Defendant entered a guilty plea to Carjacking, a crime of the first degree.  In pleading guilty, the Defendant admitted that on July 10, 2018, the Defendant accepted a ride from the victim into the Township of Denville.  When being dropped off, the Defendant admitted to putting the victim in fear of bodily injury so that he could steal the victim’s vehicle.  The Defendant then drove away from the scene in the victim’s stolen vehicle.

Members of the Denville Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit subsequently located the Defendant and the victim’s stolen car in Philadelphia, PA.  On July 12, 2018, the Defendant was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department.  The Defendant was later extradited to New Jersey to face charges related to this incident.

Sentence was imposed by the Hon. David H. Ironson, J.S.C.  The State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Tara Wang in this matter.

MORRIS COUNTY — Legislation enabling municipalities to preserve land they acquired through tax foreclosures is on awaits Governor Phil Murphy’s review after gaining Assembly approval today.

Sponsored by Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths, the bill (S1707/A2534) exempts municipalities from community fees on land acquired for open space. It eliminates deed covenants that have blocked the state Department of Environmental Protection’s purchase of three parcels from Sandyston Township for the last four years.

“This bill accomplishes two goals,” said Wirths (R-Sussex). “It encourages land preservation where it makes sense and brings in new revenue to a municipality like Sandyston, which can use the proceeds to hold the line on property taxes. It’s a win-win.”

The township acquired eight acres on Devita Road bordering Stokes State Forest in tax foreclosures. An agreement with DEP was stalled by language in the deeds allowing property owners to form a community and asses fees to maintain its private road and lakes. There are more than a dozen residences and undeveloped lots and one road.

“Unnecessary restrictions are interfering with municipalities trying to sell unwanted parcels of land,” said Space (R-Sussex). “Property taxpayers are on the hook for these properties. This measure promotes open space while protecting the rights of landowners.”

The Senate passed a version of the bill sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho in September.

PARSIPPANY — Meet Lola, a seven-year-old Bulldog-Beagle mix! This sweet, happy girl cannot wait to become your best friend!

Lola is a potty-trained, friendly, outgoing girl who needs a forever home! Some of her favorite activities include playing with toys, snuggling with her foster dads, and running around in the backyard. She is well-trained and will even tell you when she has to go out by tapping the door! Lola’s a smart girl!

While she is an adult dog, she still has a lot of fun left in her. Lola really loves toys but is a good mix of lazy too as she also enjoys watching a movie on the couch. Lola has not lived with a dog in the past but may be able to. A meet and greet is required.

Let Lola snort her way into your heart.

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