IHOP Cedar Knolls is open for outside dining. IHOP is located at 102 E Hanover Avenue, Cedar Knolls
MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy’s decision to open restaurants this week at 25 percent capacity isn’t enough to help the restaurants and catering halls that didn’t close for good during the pandemic says Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce. She called for more help and relief from the Economic Development Authority.
“The prolonged shutdown of restaurants has driven many out of business and severely hurt others that are barely surviving,” said DeCroce (R-Morris). “The governor’s restriction on indoor dining will not allow restaurant owners to make a profit or recover lost revenue from having their doors locked to customers.”
DeCroce the prime sponsors of a bill (A4413), which passed both houses of the legislature unanimously last week, that appropriates $30 million to the state Economic Development Authority from the over $2 billion left in CARES Act block grants. The aid would be used to support establishments affected by the shutdown, particularly those that spent money to reopen on July 2 before Murphy reversed his decision by Executive Order No. 158.
“I don’t think the governor understands the extent of the economic and psychological misery his shutdown of the restaurant industry has caused,” said DeCroce. “His indiscriminate edicts hurt not just restaurant owners but staff, and those businesses that supply restaurants with food, linens, and equipment. The shutdown has rippled through the economy in ways the governor doesn’t realize.”
The restaurant industry affects more than 348,000 jobs in New Jersey, according to the National Restaurant Association. Murphy has not signed the bill.
BOONTON — The GFWC Woman’s Club of Boonton, a non-profit, community service organization is holding a garage sale fundraiser, Saturday, September 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The address is 425 Old Boonton Road, Boonton. Cash or Venmo only. Lots of items, very affordable, and all proceeds support local charities. Please wear a mask.
The club is also actively looking for new members to join their club! Today women’s clubs meet for community service, developing friendships, and to have fun. Even during these difficult times, the club has continued to meet, socialize and make donations to support the community. For more information, email the club at [email protected].
The Woman’s Club of Boonton is a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC) of GFWC, which was founded in 1894, or click here.
Michael Dailey, a Madison resident since 1998, is a Republican candidate for Madison Borough Council. Michael and his running mate Mackaella Goodwin are looking to bring diversity to a body that is currently comprised of all Democrats
MADISON — Michael Dailey is proud to announce his candidacy for Madison Borough Council in this year’s General Election. Michael and his running mate, Mackaella Goodwin, both Republican candidates, recognize that local government requires participation from citizens in order to work effectively and be truly representative of the people.
Background
Michael has lived in New Jersey nearly all his life and spent his youth in Roselle. After graduating from Seton Hall University, he started his career in the western US, but he eventually made his way back east and moved to Madison in 1998.
Michael’s work involves business-to-business sales within the custom home automation industry. For the last few decades, all of his customers have been small businesses in the tri-state area, and for a time Michael even ran his own small business. He knows first-hand the struggles that small businesses face as they operate within NJ.
Michael is a husband, father, employee, and community volunteer.
Goodwin and Dailey Priorities
Mackaella Goodwin and Michael Dailey are running for Madison Borough Council because they believe Madison’s borough government should serve the needs of the people who live and work in Madison, New Jersey. There are five areas that they will focus on as council members:
• Prevent any increase in property taxes.
• Address the needs of Madison’s playgrounds and athletic fields.
• Substantially lower the electric rates charged by Madison’s municipally-owned electric utility. Madison’s rates are among the highest in NJ.
• Continue to modernize Madison’s roads, sewers, and utilities.
• Ensure that Downtown Madison remains through solid planning for the future.
Meet the Candidates
Michael looks forward to the opportunity to serve on the Borough Council on behalf of his Madison neighbors. The candidates will not be knocking on doors this year due to the continuing pandemic, but voters can contact Michael and Mackaella at [email protected] and follow their campaign on the Madison Republican Committee website click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Section assisted other law enforcement agencies early Monday in the town of Dover in apprehending one of four suspects wanted for the gunshot slayings of two people in Glassboro on August 19.
“We are really thankful for the support. The people at the Morris County Sheriff’s Office were absolutely great,” said Thomas R. Gilbert, Acting Chief of Detectives for the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Squad was contacted over the weekend by Gloucester County authorities, who had an arrest warrant for a man identified as Daniel P. Hall, 23, who temporarily has been living in Dover.
Bomb Squad Truck
Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon and Bureau of Law Enforcement Undersheriff Mark Spitzer said numerous Sheriff’s Office assets were deployed to Dover early Monday – the K-9 and Warrant Sections, Bomb Squad and Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) –in the event additional resources were needed during Mr. Hall’s apprehension. The Special Operations Group (SOG), which provides medical support to members of SERT, also was on the scene.
“This morning, the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) expertly maintained the perimeter and secured points of possible egress as Sheriff’s Office Detective Corporal Charles Wilfong, of the Warrants Section, accompanied Detectives from the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Dover and Glassboro Police Departments to a location on North Bergen Street in Dover,” said Undersheriff Spitzer.
Mr. Hall was located in a room of the house and taken into custody without incident around 7:30 a.m. on a warrant for two counts each of murder, felony murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and robbery and one count each of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Sheriff Gannon and Undersheriff Spitzer commended Detective Corporal Wilfong and Detective Lieutenant Michael Turkot, who oversees the Warrants Section, and the other Sheriff’s Officers on the scene who were faced with a potentially risky arrest operation.
“I’m proud of the skills and professionalism of all the Sheriff’s Officers involved and pleased we could assist Gloucester County in apprehending a suspect in a horrific double homicide,” Sheriff Gannon said.
The slayings of Manuel DelaRosa Jr., 26, and Shantal Farrow, 36, were discovered on August 19 at 9:16 a.m. by Glassboro Police Department Officers who were conducting a check on the well-being of the men at their residence on Warrick Avenue in Glassboro.
The victims were discovered inside the home, dead from gunshot wounds. Through various investigative techniques and the use of technology, authorities identified four men, including Daniel Hall, as suspects in the robbery and murders of the two victims.
Also charged in the homicides are Abdelgadi H. Hassan, 19, Trenton, Altaifjoe H. Hassan, 23, Glassboro, and Devon J. Conover, 19, Trenton.
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.
Democratic candidates for Madison Borough Council, Councilman John Hoover and former Councilman Bob Landrigan view the reconstruction work on Burnet Street. The Burnet Street project includes the construction of all new sidewalks and milling and paving of the roadway. The project is partially funded by a NJDOT Local Aid Grant
MADISON — In a joint prepared statement, Democratic candidates for the Madison Borough Council, Councilman John Hoover of Overhill Drive, and former Councilman Bob Landrigan of Green Village Road point to the borough’s program of sustainable infrastructure investment, which continues to be a major win for Madison residents.
Mr. Landrigan observed: “When I was first elected to Council in 2012, the borough was seriously under-investing in infrastructure, and generating most of its investment dollars by drawing down the existing capital improvement fund along with one-time sales of borough property. This was clearly not sustainable. Now, guided by recommendations from the 2014-2015 strategic planning effort, the council is funding our general capital and utility investment on a financially responsible, pay-as-you-go basis.”
Councilman Hoover continued: “This year Council has allocated over $7.8 million for borough-wide capital improvements and has defined a $30 million plan of investments in Madison’s roads, utilities, and other critical infrastructure for the next five years. Over $4.6 million is going to general capital in 2020, of which nearly $2.7 million is for our roads and $625,000 is for stormwater and sanitary sewer improvements. An additional $3.2 million is going to investments in our water and electric utilities.
This year, the borough has taken on two major road reconstruction projects. The Glenwild Road – Glenwild Circle project is now complete. Improvements include new curbing, drainage improvements, and roadway milling and paving (including repaving the TJS School parking lot). The Burnet Road project is still underway. The project includes milling, paving, and the construction of new sidewalks and is partially funded by an NJDOT Local Aid Grant.
All of Madison’s roadway milling and paving projects for 2020 have now been completed. These included projects for Roscoe, Alma, Rachael, Alexander, and Highland Avenues; Cedar, Walnut, and Grove Streets, Peachtree, East, and West Lanes; and Cross Gates Road. In addition, the Covid-19 lockdown made it expeditious to undertake the planned repaving of the borough’s Maple Avenue, Kings Road, and Prospect Street parking lots.
Needed equipment will also be purchased this year for our police, public works, and fire departments. The planned purchase of a replacement of the 30-year-old reserve Fire Engine #3 and the 25-year-old Rescue Vehicle #4 with a single, combined pumper and rescue vehicle is anticipated to take place later this year. The borough has been accruing funds for this major equipment purchase since 2018.”
The candidates concluded: “Madison has long funded municipal infrastructure projects from the utility surplus. This minimizes the need for bonding, keeps our municipal tax rate down, and helps to maintain our enviable AAA credit rating. An additional benefit is that: it gives our non-profits the opportunity to contribute to the cost of maintaining the key infrastructure that benefits them.
Infrastructure continues to age and ultimately deteriorates. But because our previous councils have pursued responsible fiscal policies, we are able to continue to invest in equipment, our roads, our sewers, our water mains, and our utilities at a rate that ensures that we stay ahead of this process of deterioration – even in the face of unexpected revenue shortfalls as a consequence of the pandemic crisis. We are maintaining our infrastructure at a sustainable rate, and we fund it in a responsible manner utilizing the utility surpluses.”
Senator Anthony M. Bucco, Jr., Republican Candidate for Congress Rosemary Becchi and Mountain Lakes Councilwoman Audrey Lane
PARSIPPANY — Republican Candidate for Congress Rosemary Becchi recently held a successful fundraiser at Knoll Country Club.
Area politicians came out to support Becchi were Mountain Lakes Councilwoman Audrey Lane, Senator Anthony M. Bucco, Jr., Morris County Freeholder Tayfun Selen, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Parsippany-Troy Hills Council President Michael J. dePierro, Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani, Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., Morris County Republican Chairwoman Laura Ali, Former Morris County Republican Chair John Sette and Morris County Young Republicans Chairman Justin Musella.
Becchi is running for election to the U.S. House to represent New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Rosemary and Morris County Freeholder Tayfun SelenMountain Lakes Councilwoman Audrey Lane with Morris County Freeholder Tayfun Selen
Rosemary is a leading tax policy lawyer and consultant who works as a Strategic Advisor and Counsel at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where she specializes in tax and financial services matters. Rosemary began her career in the public sector at the IRS as an attorney and advisor before moving on to the majority of the staff of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee as tax counsel. It was during her time on the Finance Committee that Rosemary co-authored the “529 college savings plans,” that are used today by parents across the country to help their children pay for college. She has also held in-house executive positions, including as vice president of federal government relations at Citigroup and Fidelity Investments.
Rosemary also has been a political advocate both on the national and local levels. She has authored multiple commentary pieces on tax and financial services issues. She has served in a leadership role of the Tax Coalition, including serving as the chair. Most recently, Rosemary was Chairman of the Board of Running Start, an organization dedicated to getting more women elected to public office. Rosemary is also the New Jersey Chair for Maggie’s List.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani, President Michael dePierro, Rosemary and Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr.Paul Meyer, Rosemary and Morris County Young Republicans Chairman Justin Musella
MADISON — There were two third-tier prizewinning tickets sold for the Friday, August 28, drawing that matched four of the five white balls and the Gold Mega Ball drawn winning the $10,000 prize. Those tickets were purchased at the following locations:
QuickChek, located at 233 Main Street, and 66 Bloomfield Petroleum LLC, located at 66-80 Bloomfield Avenue, Newark.
The winning numbers for the Friday, August 28, drawing were: 03, 09, 50, 53, and 64. The Gold Mega Ball was 01, and the Megaplier Multiplier was 03.
In addition to the third-tier prizes won, seven players matched four of the five white balls drawn making each ticket worth $500. One of those tickets was purchased with the Megaplier option, multiplying the prize to $1,500. Moreover, 21,351 other New Jersey players took home $91,788 in prizes ranging from $2 to $600.
The next drawing will be held Tuesday, September 1, at 11:00 p.m. All New Jersey Lottery Mega Millions tickets, must be purchased before 10:45 pm to participate in the drawing. Mega Millions tickets cost just two dollars; by adding the Megaplier option for an extra dollar per play, players can increase their non-jackpot winnings up to five times. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 46 participating jurisdictions. Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays.
MORRIS COUNTY — Keeping with the nation’s oldest rivalry, Assemblyman Ryan Peters, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate will be shaving the head of Assemblyman Brian Bergen, a West Point graduate, at his legislative district office in Lumberton on Friday.
Chalk one up for Midshipmen after Bergen lost an early summer bet. The Morris County lawmaker bet that a bill he introduced (A4147) to limit Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order authority would pass the state legislature before September 1, but it did not.
The measure would have required the full state legislature to vote on any of the governor’s executive orders within two weeks or else the order would expire.
“In theory, this should’ve been a bipartisan bill that puts the power back in the hands of the people and the legislators they voted for to represent them. All this would have done is bring back the system of checks and balances our founding fathers created,” Peters (R-Burlington) said.
“But the Democrat legislators are obviously intent on sitting back and letting the governor make every decision for them and everyone else in the state for six months and counting. I was fairly certain that would be the case,” he continued.
“I made a bet expecting good policy that enforces checks-and-balances would triumph over politics,” said Bergen (R-Morris). “Unfortunately, that isn’t the case in New Jersey where Democrats view checks-and-balances as obstruction of power instead of a fundamental American principle. Next time I will take a safer bet, like who will win the Army versus Navy football game this year!”
Bergen will stop by Peters’ office on 668 Main Street in Lumberton at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, September 4. Peters will shave his head with a straight razor and shaving cream.
“The Democrat legislators in this state had a chance to join Republicans and choose democracy over a monarchy, and they went with the latter,” Peters said. “Now we’re going to go through with our bet to highlight how absurd this New Jersey monarchy has become.”
PARSIPPANY — New Jersey motorists will be paying more than 40 cents a gallon in gas taxes starting October 1 if Gov Phil Murphy pushes ahead with his plan to raise the gas tax by 9.3 cents, says Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce.
The gas tax hike is part of the governor’s revised FY 2021 budget that seeks to raise taxes and create yet another new social program.
“The governor should be working with the legislature and the White House to find innovative ways to address the state’s financial problems rather than heap more financial misery on residents and businesses,” said DeCroce. ‘Tax hikes are not the solution to everything New Jersey needs to do.”
DeCroce noted that the fuel tax hikes will take effect immediately on the heels of a series of toll hikes that will also hit motorists across New Jersey starting in September.
The gasoline tax finances the state’s Transportation Trust Fund – which pays for infrastructure improvements. Built into the TTF regulations is an automatic tax hike if revenue drops to a certain point. DeCroce says, however, the state should have foreseen the TTF revenue decline coming after the governor closed most businesses in the state and furloughed government workers.
DeCroce says the governor has issued dozens of executive orders to get around state laws and create new regulations and he could have issued another executive order to override the fuel tax hike trigger.
“Someone in the administration had to realize that with businesses closed, most of the state government closed, and people working from home — that fuel consumption would drop and so would fuel tax revenue,” said DeCroce. “The answer to every problem in New Jersey is not to automatically raise taxes.”
DeCroce said that instead of sparring with the White House at every turn, the governor should have been reaching out to President Trump’s team to discuss an increase in federal infrastructure funding.
“The president is a big supporter of infrastructure financing and so am I. New Jersey has some of the worst roads and bridges in the nation that need to be addressed. I am sure the state could have received federal help for infrastructure funding and not hit residents with another tax increase,” said DeCroce.
Hanover Park School District serves Hanover Park High School and Whippany Park High School
Dear Hanover Park Regional High School District Community,
As discussed at our August 26 Board of Education meeting, there were two scenarios that would cause the district to shift to 100% distance learning – staffing or indoor air quality.
The district received requests throughout the course of the summer from teachers who require leaves and accommodations. These requests have continued into this week and have brought us to the point where we can no longer provide the quality of instruction that students in the Hanover Park Regional High School District deserve.
As of today, it is simply not possible to overcome our significant staffing issues in time for opening. Therefore, the Hanover Park Regional High School District will transition to our Distance Learning for All platform highlighted on page 6 of the Reopening Plan.
Chromebooks will be distributed on September 3 and 4 as previously outlined by your building principals. Freshmen students will receive a modified virtual schedule for Tuesday, September 8 – building principals will be in contact with you shortly regarding this new Freshman Orientation schedule. All students will transition to a full-length, full-class period “remote” school day on Wednesday, September 9. High school athletics and extracurricular activities will continue as planned. We anticipate that due to the lack of staffing in the district, the shift to distance learning for all will occur through the end of the first marking period, November 13, 2020.
Keeping our teachers connected to every student will be the guiding principle of the district’s distance learning plan. The staff is currently participating in targeted professional development to ensure that the distance learning experience is responsive to the needs of every student.
Please know that the district’s goal will continue to be to provide students with the best quality, uninterrupted education as possible. Our administrative team will continue to work to ensure that high-quality instruction is being provided throughout the course of the 2020-21 school year, regardless of whether we are in a full distance learning, hybrid, or full in-person format.
Updates on our progress to bring our students and staff back to school in a safe and productive manner will continue throughout the fall.
