MORRIS COUNTY — Cliff Dawkins, a Rockaway Borough Democrat and employment & labor attorney, today announced that he is exploring a run for New Jersey State Senate in the 2020 LD 25 Special Election.
“I’m considering entering the race for State Senate because we deserve a new kind of leadership in Trenton. It is clear to me from my conversations with friends, family, and neighbors that our representatives have not been doing enough for families here in the 25th District. We need property tax relief, affordable healthcare, fully funded schools, and investment in our infrastructure. I’m looking forward to meeting voters all across the 25th District to listen to their concerns and discuss new ideas. Now is our moment to come together and build a future our community can truly be proud of.”
Dawkins works as an Employment and Labor attorney at a premier law firm. He also serves on the boards of several professional and nonprofit organizations.
Dawkins holds a business degree from Cornell University, a Master’s in Public Policy from Rutgers University, and a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers Law School. While at Rutgers, he was a Harold and Reba Martin Fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics.
He has taught classes on the subjects of politics, leadership and government at Princeton University, Rutgers University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Dawkins resides in Rockaway Borough with his wife, Tammy, and their two children.
Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Kristen Totaro, Parsippany Area Chamber Hanover Committeeperson Barbara Freda, Peter Curiello, Physical Therapist, Keith Scott, Hanover Township Mayor Ronald Francioli, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Member Frank Cahill, Tonya Gavrielides, Director of Operations, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso and Nicholas Mazzone, Physical Therapist
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Trinity Rehab, an all-inclusive physical therapy and rehabilitation center providing comprehensive treatment for patients of all ages, walks of life and fitness levels, held a complimentary open house and wellness event on Tuesday, December 2 at its newly opened facility at new Hanover Commons Plaza next to ShopRite at 170 E. Hanover Avenue.
Hanover Township Mayor Ronald F. Francioli, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso, Executive Board Member Frank Cahill, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce Hanover Township Committeeperson Barbara Freda and other guests attended the grand opening ribbon cutting. It also acted as a start to the company’s grand opening “Welcome to Greater Morristown” community drive, in which Trinity Rehab will provide free screenings throughout December.
Led by Trinity Rehab Northern Regional Director, Keith Scott, MPT, OCS, the on-site team will provided valuable prevention tips and rehabilitation treatment options, including one of the greatest safety risks when winter weather looms ~ slips, trips and falls. Attendees of the open house toured the facility, meet the center staff, test the state-of-the-art AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill® and schedule a one-on-one wellness consultation.
Trinity Rehab not only treats injuries but strongly believes in prevention through education. It is inherent in the Trinity Rehab Three T – Technology, Teamwork and Tailor-Fit – Approach taken with all patients but equally for the community as a whole. Programs are designed to discuss the broad nature of physical therapy in a way that addresses that every ‘body’ is unique and each person has a different cause for their symptoms even if the diagnosis is the same. “I have always been committed to providing the highest level of care by custom-designing patient programs that meet one’s specific needs and goals,” says Scott, MPT, OCS. He goes on to say, “This open house is a great way to introduce area residents to the Trinity Rehab culture and our pledge of excellence as well as become integral members of the community working together to make a difference.”
Founded in 2001, Trinity Rehab is an all-inclusive physical therapy and rehabilitation center that treats patients of all ages, walks of life and fitness levels for back and neck pain, orthopedic injuries, post-operative rehab, sports related injuries, auto or work accidents, hand therapy and other common or rare conditions. State-of-the-art technology, including the highly effective, non-invasive EPAT® treatment, video monitoring and AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill®, is complemented by its teamwork approach and tailor fit treatment plans unique to each patient’s needs. Trinity Rehab is located at 170 E. Hanover Avenue, Cedar Knolls, with flexible appointment scheduling Monday through Friday. Trinity Rehab has a growing list of convenient locations throughout New Jersey and participates with Medicare and most commercial insurances. For more information, click here or call (800) 518-0977.
FLORHAM PARK — On Wednesday, December 11 at approximately 4:35 p.m. an observant and concerned resident called to report two males stealing stealing packages on Brooklake Road.
Florham Park Police arrived within seconds and immediately gave chase on foot into a wooded area with quick assistance from our neighbors at Madison Police. Within minutes, one suspect was arrested and a second possible suspect was identified.
After further investigating, that second party was also formally arrested. Thank you to the alert and concerned citizens for reporting a crime in progress and providing great detail.
Florham Park Police Department relies on great residents like you to help them do their job and keep your neighborhoods safe.
EAST HANOVER — Dickenson Clayton is among the 486 students who will receive degrees from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania at the Winter Commencement ceremony on Saturday, December 14 at 9:45 a.m. in Koehler Fieldhouse.
There will be 406 bachelor’s degrees, 78 master’s degrees and two doctoral degree awarded.
East Stroudsburg University, one of the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, opened in 1893 as East Stroudsburg Normal School. Today, ESU is a comprehensive university in northeastern Pennsylvania offering 58 undergraduate programs, 21 master’s programs and two doctoral program. Over 6,000 students are enrolled for the high quality, affordable, and accessible education ESU provides. Nearly 30,000 ESU alumni live in Pennsylvania.
Freeholder Darling with Freeholder Director Cabana
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders gave an unofficial sendoff to Freeholder Heather Darling, who will depart the county governing board at the end of the year to take her new elected post as Morris County Surrogate.
Freeholder Director Doug Cabana lauded Darling for her efforts as a freeholder, wishing her well in her new job as fellow freeholders Kathy DeFillippo, John Krickus, Stephen Shaw and Deborah Smith gave her a round of applause.
Darling received a framed rendering of the Morris County Courthouse as a parting gift.
Darling, speaking at the freeholders’ annual holiday gathering at the County Administration Building in Morristown, thanked her colleagues for their support and thanked county employees for their hard work “to always make us all look good.”
She will start her new job as Surrogate in the new year.
Heather Darling, John Krickus, Kathryn A. DeFillippo, Deborah Smith and Stephen Shaw
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County has the second lowest unemployment rate in New Jersey, behind only Hunterdon County, according to the October, 2019 figures provided by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The county’s 2.6 percent unemployment compares favorable to the state’s 3.3 percent unemployment rate. The county has approximately 6,800 unemployed residents according to the state report.
Morris County’s unemployment rate for October was 2.6 percent, which is unchanged from September and down from 2.8 percent one year ago, in October 2018.
In October, Morris County had the second lowest unemployment rate in New Jersey at 2.6 percent, behind Hunterdon County at 2.5 percent. Cape May County had the highest unemployment rate at 5 percent.
New Jersey’s unemployment rate for October was 3.3 percent, up from 3.2 percent in September but down from 3.5 percent one year ago, in October 2018.
Morris County’s total labor force was 261,700 in October, up from 257,900 in September and 252,300 one year ago, in October 2018.
Statewide, unemployment rates are higher mostly in the southern part of the state, ranging from 4.4 percent to 5 percent in Salem, Atlantic, Cumberland and Cape May counties, while Essex County in North Jersey also has a 4.2 percent rate.
Jobs most in demand across the state, according to the report include software developers, registered nurses, retail sales, wholesale and manufacturing sales, customer service representatives, retail sales supervisors, medical and health services managers, and secretaries and administrative assistants (excluding legal and medical).
Visit the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development website to dig much deeper into the numbers, by clicking here.
If you are seeking a job, visit NJ Career Connections or visit the Morris-Sussex-Warren Workforce Development Board website by clicking here.
DEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe, Freeholder Stephen Shaw, Rev. Michael Muller of St. Peter’s Church, Susan Marshall, Brian Marshall, and NJ Infrastructure Bank Executive Director David Zimmer
MOUNTAIN LAKES — A rain garden project at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church designed to ease flooding, soil erosion, and polluting runoff, has been honored with a Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award at a ceremony today at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton.
Brian and Susan Marshall of Mountain Lakes, who are the owners of Garden Magic garden design company, received one of just 10 statewide awards presented by state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine McCabe for their “Next Generation Rain Garden.’’
The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards, which are the state’s premier environmental honors, recognizes outstanding environmental performance, programs and projects that offer significant contributions to environmental protection in New Jersey.
“We offer congratulations to Brian and Susan Marshall and the project team at St. Peter’s for this remarkable project,’’ said Morris County Freeholder Stephen Shaw, who attended the awards ceremony. “On behalf of all county residents, the Board of Freeholders commends them for their commitment to their church, community and the environment.’’
“This is a great example of the excellent environmental work done by so many of our county residents, who treasure and respect our natural spaces,’’ added Freeholder Director Doug Cabana.
The DEP considered more than 50 applications for this year’s awards. A panel of judges reviewed and scored the nominations on criteria including documented environmental benefit, contributions to meeting the state’s environment needs, replicability by others, leadership and innovation, and education and outreach undertaken as part of the effort.
Brian Marshall said he applied for the state award after seeing a message in August from the Freeholder Board, encouraging county residents to participate in the statewide contest.
He explained that the St. Peter’s rain garden is a landscaping solution to manage the negative impacts of stormwater runoff – flooding, erosion, and contamination of water resources.
Prior to installing the rain garden, during heavy rains runoff from the church and rectory roofs, driveway, and hill behind the church would cascade down the hill, running so hard it would many times jump the storm drain and carry eroded sediment and various pollutants down to The Boulevard and eventually into Mountain Lake.
Also, the water was eroding the soil and undermining tree root systems, and caused church basement flooding.
Marshall, a gardener and water resources engineer, said planning for the project began in late 2018, but not before he called on other experts from Rutgers University, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service, and the Whippany River Watershed Action Committee to take a look at the site.
A final layout for the rain garden was ready by early 2019, planting of native plants occurred in the spring, and the rain garden was completed in the summer.
The St. Peter’s Church rain garden consists of a rock-lined berm, a shallow stormwater basin, and a new garden planted with native shrubs and perennials. The basin slows the flow of water as it starts to race down the hill, easing erosion and downstream flooding.
Water caught in the basin infiltrates the ground over several hours, recharging groundwater and filtering out pollutants. The native plants in the rain garden keep the soil porous, soak up some water, and remove some of the chemical impurities from the runoff.
“From the beginning, it has been a huge success,’’ said Brian Marshall, who noted that a side benefit of the project has been to attracting birds, butterflies and other creatures to the garden, which has become a natural learning center for young students attending the Academy for Children pre-school housed at St. Peter’s.
Students sitting at rain garden and get nature lesson
PARSIPPANY — Award-winning cat-book author and Cat Writers’ Association Professional Member, Shawn Flynn, invited to join the Central Jersey Cat Fanciers for their 19th Annual Cat Show at the Hilton, One Hilton Court on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 3, 4 and 5, to share his inspirational pet rescue story.
Flynn’s book, “THE KITTY Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him,” is a heartwarming tale that reveals how the pets we love sometimes turn around and care for us (ABBE Road Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-9987880-0-5, $9.95). His book was named a first-place winner in Top Shelf Magazine’s 2018 Indie Book Awards in three categories that include Animals/Pets, Novella and Relationships Non-Fiction. It also won a 2017 Readers’ Favorite Book Award and was an award-winning finalist in the 2017 International Book Awards competition. Flynn will be at the show all three days which is scheduled for:
Central Jersey Cat Fanciers 19th Annual Cat Show, Hilton Hotel, 1 Hilton Court, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 3rd, 4th and 5th. The show runs from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.
“It is an honor to have been invited to participate in the Central Jersey Cat Fanciers 19th Annual Cat Show as they really have a great club,” commented Mr. Flynn. “With 4 out of 5 households in the U.S. owning at least one pet, I know that there are plenty of pet lovers in New Jersey.”
“One of those unique and compelling stories that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf, “THE KITTY Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him” is unreservedly recommended for community library collections.” –Midwest Book Review
“The story of Kitty and Shawn was very moving… I never expected such a heartwarming story to come from a man… I would recommend this book to all animal lovers, not just cat lovers…” –Readers’ Favorite FIVE STAR Review
The Central Jersey Cat Fanciers Cat Club is a member of The International Cat Association, the world’s largest genetic registry of pedigreed and domestic cats.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — Santa will visit Mountain Lakes on Saturday, December 14. He will tour the town on the fire engine from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and visit with friends at the firehouse from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Santa will have treats for all his friends and refreshments will be served at the firehouse.
Mountain Lakes Fire Department is located 100 Boulevard, Mountain Lakes.
PARSIPPANY — At the December 11, Hanover Park Regional High School District Board of Education meeting, six teachers were recognized as 2019 New Jersey Exemplary Secondary Educators through the New Jersey Department of Education.
The Exemplary Secondary Educator Recognition Program honors educators who have a positive impact on their students, colleagues and the school community, and possess a clear vision for quality teaching and learning.
The nominated educators undergo a rigorous selection process which entails criteria such as demonstrated examples of exceptional teaching and leadership skills, endorsements from teachers and school administrators, and positive involvement in school activities and the community.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County has the second lowest unemployment rate in New Jersey, behind only Hunterdon County, according to the October, 2019 figures provided by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
