MORRIS COUNTY — Morris Catholic High School will host its Fall 2025 Open Houses on Wednesday, October 15, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 26, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both events will take place at the school’s campus, located at 200 Morris Avenue in Denville.
The event invites prospective students and their families to discover what makes Morris Catholic unique, where every student matters. Guests will meet dedicated teachers, explore state-of-the-art facilities, and learn more about academic programs and extracurricular activities. Current students will also share their personal experiences about life at Morris Catholic.
These Open Houses offer families the opportunity to envision their future in a vibrant, supportive school community.
Children at Goryeb Children’s Hospital enjoy a moment of creativity and fun, thanks to community donations from the Boredom Busters Drive — part of the LEAD Morris Project — bringing smiles and hands-on activities to brighten their hospital stay.
MORRIS COUNTY — Hospital stays can often feel long and stressful, especially for preteens and teenagers who may find themselves with little to do during recovery. This month, the LEAD Morris Project is helping to change that with the Boredom Busters Drive for Goryeb Children’s Hospital, running through Monday, October 27.
The initiative encourages community members to donate new STEM kits, art projects, and small games to help bring creativity and joy to young patients during extended hospital stays. The focus is specifically on preteens and teens, who are often overlooked in traditional toy drives.
“Every kit or project truly makes a difference,” organizers noted. “Something as simple as a LEGO set, art kit, or STEM project can turn a long hospital day into an afternoon of curiosity, creativity, and connection.”
Recommended Donation Items
Donations must be new items only. Suggested items include:
LEGO sets
Playing cards and small games
Art kits (diamond art, origami, friendship bracelets, etc.)
Community members can bring their donations to any of the following participating locations:
Morris County Chamber of Commerce 325 Columbia Turnpike, Florham Park
The Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey 7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong
Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
During performances of Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Fulton Bank 272 Route 46, Rockaway
Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Garden Savings Federal Credit Union Branches:
Dover Branch, 23 Prospect Street, Dover
Parsippany Branch, 129 Littleton Road, Parsippany
South Orange Branch, 15 Scotland Road, South Orange
Newark Branch, 120 Ferry Street, Newark
Sayreville Branch, 2909 Washington Road, Parlin
Brick Branch, 990 Cedar Bridge Avenue, Brick
For those who prefer to make a financial contribution, funds will be used to purchase needed items directly for the children. Donations can be arranged by emailing [email protected] or [email protected].
“We’re so grateful for the community’s compassion and generosity,” said Michael Harrison, a member of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. “Together, we can brighten hospital days and bring smiles to young faces who need them most.”
The Boredom Busters Drive runs through Monday, October 27, and all contributions—large or small—help make hospital stays a little brighter for the children at Goryeb Children’s Hospital.
DOVER — In an era of relentless visibility, Mahat Jalan is an actor who chooses silence over the spotlight. Though born in Dover, New Jersey, and known in international film circuits, Jalan’s trajectory doesn’t follow the usual arc of red carpets or viral interviews. Instead, his recent path—from the historic streets of Tashkent to the understated lanes of Wadia—reveals a life guided by presence, not promotion.
Stillness on Set in Tashkent
In September 2025, Jalan spent three days in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, filming a French-language feature supported by a Los Angeles-based production house. The project explores displacement, exile, and reinvention—recurring themes that seem to mirror Jalan’s own inner landscape.
According to crew members, Jalan’s time on set was marked by an unusual stillness. During breaks, he wandered Chorsu Bazaar, sketched archways near the Hazrati Imam Complex, and studied light as it passed across walls and minarets. “He doesn’t just stand in a place, he absorbs it,” said a cinematographer working on the project. “It’s as if he’s translating space into emotion.”
A Quiet Diwali in Wadia
Shortly after returning from Uzbekistan, Jalan made a lesser-known journey—traveling by road to Wadia, a remote village in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district. Wadia is seldom in national news, though health reports cite its longstanding challenges with HIV and limited access to care.
Yet for several years now, Jalan has visited Wadia during Diwali. His visits are unannounced. No press. No photos. Just quiet time spent sharing sweets—peda, jalebi, motichoor laddoo—and listening.
“He comes like one of us,” said a local resident and former truck driver living with HIV. “No distance. He just listens. No one else listens.” Another villager added, “He remembers who lost whom. Every year.”
In a world that measures generosity by public gestures, Jalan’s simplicity stands apart.
Tracing Roots — or Letting Them Be
Public records list Jalan’s full name as Raphael H. Tudor, born to a Welsh-Hindu family in Dover. But beneath the surface is a lineage touched by history. In the Cardiff County Archives, a 1952 marriage certificate confirms the union of his grandfather, Indian civil engineer Kishanlal Jalan, and a Welsh woman named Elizabeth Tudor—who later settled in Palanpur, Gujarat, under the name Ratanbaa Jalan.
Rumors have long swirled about a distant connection to the Tudor dynasty. One retired Welsh archivist recalls a 1961 letter referencing “our family’s thinning bloodline, still traced to Henry VII.” Yet Jalan has never confirmed these links. Those close to him say he shows little interest in heritage as validation. “He lives in the now,” said one family friend.
Between Craft and Care
In his work, Jalan leans toward the quiet corners of cinema. Independent features. Art-house screenings. Global film festivals. His performances are meticulous, his public presence minimal.
“He acts for remembrance, not recognition,” said a collaborator from the Tashkent project.
With limited social media and few interviews, he stands in contrast to a culture obsessed with performance, not just on stage but in daily life.
The Choice to Witness
From the blue-tiled courtyards of Uzbekistan to the sun-scorched fields of Wadia, Jalan seems to exist in the in-between—both seen and unseen, rooted and drifting. He sketches mosques one day, then sits beside villagers navigating quiet hardship the next.
For Parsippany, Jalan remains a native son not often seen at local galas or front pages. But his journey—across continents and communities—offers something increasingly rare: a model of quiet commitment, a reminder that one can shape the world not just through visibility, but through presence.
JEFFERSON — Jefferson Township Council Meeting – October 1, 2025, filmed by Citizens by Jefferson Township.
Jefferson Township Council Meeting was held October 1. This meeting is called pursuant to the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Law. This meeting of September 3, 2025 was included in a list of meetings notice sent to the official newspapers of the Township, the Daily Record and the Star Ledger, on January 8, 2025 and was posted on the bulletin board in the Municipal Building on January 8, 2025 and has remained continuously posted as the required notices under the Statute. In addition, a copy of this notice is and has been available to the public and is on file in the office of the Municipal Clerk.
A baby monkey sits inside a small cage — an image that serves as a somber reminder of the cruelty exposed in recent federal cases involving the creation and distribution of “animal crush” videos. File Photo
MORRIS COUNTY — A Wharton man was sentenced to prison on September 30 in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.
Giancarlo Morelli, of Wharton, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for conspiring to create and distribute animal crush videos.
“Those making or sharing animal crush videos have reason to fear capture and swift justice in the form of sentences like today’s,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Congress has said clearly that this conduct has no place in our society. Beyond dark corners of the web, it is reviled. Anyone who sees it should turn in perpetrators to federal law enforcement. We will prosecute everyone we can, as we did with this chat group. If you’re involved in these groups, get out and get help.”
“If you pay others to torture animals or to share images of that horrific abuse, you can expect to be held accountable as if you committed the torture firsthand,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “Today’s sentence shows our resolve to punish everyone who participates in these despicable and sadistic conspiracies.”
“The acts of torture and abuse of young monkeys in this case are beyond disturbing,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Lawson of FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office. “As a result of the work of the FBI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and our Department of Justice partners, those involved in the creation and distribution of these repulsive animal torture videos are being held accountable for their criminal actions.”
“Those who produce or distribute animal crush videos should know that federal law enforcement is fully committed to identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting these offenders,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. “Such acts are universally condemned, and we commend vigilant members of the public who report these crimes when they are discovered. As demonstrated by this successful prosecution, we will aggressively pursue all who participate in these abhorrent acts.”
According to court documents, Morelli paid another individual 19 times for videos depicting the torture and abuse of monkeys. Morelli also kept up an extensive correspondence with the individual supplying him with the videos, providing feedback on the content of the videos, and offering suggestions for future videos.
According to statements of facts signed by Morelli, the videos included depictions of baby and adolescent monkeys being tortured in a multitude of ways, including having their genitals burned and cut off.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.
DOVER — Mayor James P. Dodd issued a letter to residents this week explaining the reasons behind this year’s property tax increase, emphasizing transparency and outlining steps his administration is taking to maintain fiscal discipline.
According to Mayor Dodd, the largest portion of the increase stems from the Dover Board of Education, which approved a 15.68 percent rise in the school tax levy. For the average homeowner, that translates to approximately $50.81 more per month. In comparison, Dodd noted that the municipal portion under his administration increased by only 4.5 percent.
The mayor attributed much of the spike to Governor Phil Murphy’s removal of the former 2 percent cap on school tax increases, which now allows Boards of Education to raise taxes without limits. Dodd stated that while the Dover Board cited increased costs for salaries, benefits, and utilities, a major factor was its decision to purchase property and build a new school, despite voters previously rejecting that plan in a referendum.
“Rather than financing through a bond, which would have spread costs over time, the Board raised school taxes by $4 million in one year,” Dodd said. He added that he met with the Superintendent and Business Administrator to urge them to use a bond, but his recommendation “was not accepted.”
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Municipal Finances and Police Overtime
On the municipal side, Mayor Dodd said Dover continues to face challenges from the previous administration, including “unsustainable salary hikes and uncontrolled police overtime.”
In 2023, police overtime reportedly cost taxpayers $795,000, with an additional $407,504 in Extra Duty. For 2024, overtime expenses totaled $640,000, plus another $490,596 in Extra Duty.
“Meanwhile, our Chief of Police has refused directives from the Appropriate Authority,” Dodd stated, adding firmly, “This stops now.”
The mayor announced plans to replace the Chief with a Public Safety Director to ensure “controlled spending, efficiency, and accountability.”
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Fiscal Responsibility and Looking Ahead
Despite ongoing challenges, Dodd highlighted his administration’s success in reducing municipal spending. The town’s budget was cut by $1.5 million in 2023 and another $2.7 million in 2024, without layoffs or reductions in services.
“We remain committed to protecting taxpayers, restoring fiscal responsibility, and ensuring Dover remains a strong and vibrant community,” said Dodd. “As always, I remain honored and humbled to serve as your mayor.”
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The information above was provided by the Town of Dover.
HANOVER — Morris County, in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), will host a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, October. 14 regarding the “East Hanover Avenue Bridge Catenary Rail Clearance Project.”
The meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with presentations scheduled at 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of the NJTPA Freight Concept Development Study, which is exploring options to eliminate height restrictions on the NJ Transit Morristown Line between Denville and Morristown. These restrictions currently prevent Plate “F” railcars, which is the standard size freight railcar, from moving freely between the Washington Secondary Line and the Whippany Line.
“This study is an important step in improving freight mobility in Morris County. We encourage residents, business owners, and local officials to participate in the meeting to learn about the project and contribute input,” saidStephen Shaw, Morris County commissioner deputy director and secretary of the NJTPA.
The NJTPA is conducting this study in partnership with Morris County. For more information, including links to join the virtual meeting, visit: morristownlinerailclearance.com
About the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority
The NJTPA is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for 13 northern New Jersey counties. Under federal legislation, MPOs provide a forum where local officials, public transportation providers and state agency representatives can come together and cooperatively plan to meet the region’s current and future transportation needs. It establishes the region’s eligibility to receive federal tax dollars for transportation projects.
The NJTPA Board consists of one local elected official from each of the 13 counties in the region (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren), and the cities of Newark and Jersey City. The board also includes a governor’s representative, the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the executive director of NJ Transit, the deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and a citizen’s representative appointed by the governor.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they were creating a “green list” import alert to prevent illicit GLP-1 active ingredients (API) from entering the country. The move comes following months of calls from state attorneys general, including New Jersey’s Attorney General Matthew Platkin and members of Congress, including New Jersey Congressman Herb Conaway, to stop the flow of these ingredients from South and East Asia.
While this enforcement will help stem the flow of illicit API from entering our ports at locations like JFK Airport and Philadelphia, it cannot stop compounders that are continuing to skirt the law. To do that requires more aggressive action, including shutting down the compounders making illegal GLP-1s and stopping the sale of them by telehealth companies.
These compounding pharmacies are utilizing the same illicit API that the FDA has sought to eliminate from the ecosystem. And with enough illegal semaglutide and tirzepatide coming from China for at least 78 million doses last year alone, many of these compounding pharmacies can continue to make and sell illegally compounded GLP-1s to telehealth companies for the foreseeable future.
As a registered dietitian, I know these illicit GLP-1 products present a pharmaceutical danger, and given the nature of these products, those dangers can often go undetected until they cause irreversible harm. It only underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement to shut down this dangerous underground market. The way we shut this down requires state and federal actors working hand-in-hand. Beyond increasing enforcement to stop the flow of new illicit API, the FDA, Attorney General Matthew Platkin, and Governor Phil Murphy must take enforcement actions against illegal compounders and telehealth companies selling illegally compounded products. It’s clear that bolder action is needed to truly stop this knockoff market from growing.
April Milevski, MS, RDN, is the Owner and Functional Dietitian at Fed by Strength LLC
HANOVER— The Bee Meadow School PTA is once again hosting its popular Thanksgiving Pie Fundraiser, featuring fresh, homemade pies from Delicious Orchards — and this year, the entire community is invited to take part!
Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving, visiting family, or just want to skip the baking while still serving a classic dessert, this is the perfect solution.
Available Pies:
Apple
Cherry
Pumpkin
Pecan
Why order? •Skip the stress, not the flavor •Impress your guests or hosts •Support local students and school programs at Bee Meadow School
Order Dates: October 6–24 Pickup Location: Local pickup in Whippany the week of Thanksgiving
All proceeds directly benefit Bee Meadow students and school initiatives.
HANOVER — The Hanover Township Health Department will host a free rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, November 1, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Whippany Fire Station, located at 10 Troy Hills Road.
No appointment is required. Pet owners are reminded that dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a secure carrier. Vaccinations will be administered at no cost.
For more information, residents are encouraged to read the flyer by clicking here or contact the Hanover Township Health Department at (973) 428-2485.
