MORRIS COUNTY — Summer fun kicks off at the Morris County 4-H Fair at Chubb Park in Chester next week, from July 18-21. Fair hours are 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Download the daily schedule here.  Admission is free, but a parking donation of $5.00 per vehicle is requested.  Friday evening, parking donation request is $10.00 to cover the cost of fireworks.

A wide variety of activities are lined up, including pony and hay rides, watermelon eating and cake decorating contests, demonstrations by nonprofits and youth groups, Dress-a-Pet and Dress-a-Cage contests, Cow Pie Bingo, wood carving demonstrations, archery, dunk tank, games, live entertainment and food concessions. Animal displays include dogs, horses, goats, poultry, rabbits, and other small animals.

A special $15.00 pay-one-price for all kiddie rides is scheduled for Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., and a $30.00 pay-one-price for all amusement rides will be offered on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Thursday night will officially start the Fair with the Parade of Clubs and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Friday will feature fireworks, after the 4-H Graduation Ceremony, and 4-H Talent Show.

Highlights on Saturday include the popular goat races, Canine Nosework Demonstration and Sled Dog Demonstration.  Fairgoers can take hot air balloon rides from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for $10.00, weather permitting.

Sunday highlights include the Radical RC 4-H Racers, open pet show and the 4-H Awards Ceremony.

Dogs may be brought to the Fair on a 6-foot leash.  Retractable leashes are not permitted.

The Fair is sponsored by the Morris County 4-H Association in support of the 4-H Youth Development Program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

For more information about the Fair, 4-H clubs, or becoming a 4-H volunteer click here or contact the 4-H office (973) 285-8301 or email [email protected].

MORRIS COUNTY — Seniors Helping Seniors is looking for mature adults who enjoy giving back, are compassionate and are looking for the perfect part-time job.

The hours are flexible to your schedule… you tell us your availability – day, evening or weekends.  Work as much or as little as you like. Perfect for stay at home Moms and older adults.

Supplement your income, stay engaged in your community and make a difference in the lives of an elderly person.

With the Seniors Helping Seniors (SHS) family you get all the good feeling of volunteering — for pay. SHS provides both rewarding work and financial benefits for seniors seeking flexible, part-time employment opportunities. If you are looking for a way to give back and feel good about the work you do then give us a call or fill out the online application.

Caregivers help seniors stay independent in their own home and communities. They provide companionship, family respite, cooking, light housekeeping, driving to appointments and errands and assist with leisure activities.

The job entails providing companionship, socialization, help around the house or running errands.  For more information call Seniors Helping Seniors at (973) 435-4873 or (973) 534-7950.

MORRIS COUNTY — Looking for that magical puff to appear with everything you’ve wanted in life and more? Look no further, Puff will bring it all.

Puff is a ten-year old Maltese Chihuahua mix. He is a lovable, loyal companion once you break open his shell.

He was surrendered to a municipal shelter and was found shaking in his kennel. He is scared at first greetings but quickly warms up once you gain his trust.

One of the fastest ways to Puff’s heart is through food! This little senior will do anything if treats are involved! He also enjoys taking peaceful strolls in the grass and sunbathing.

Puff is a softie who enjoys being held and pet. He will quickly bond with you this way. Once he does, he will become your little shadow and want to go everywhere with you!

Puff needs a quiet home where he feels safe and comfortable. He prefers not to be around children since he becomes stressed. He enjoys the company of dogs who are relaxed and independent. He would be fine in a home with cats.

With patience and time, Puff will provide someone with an abundance of love. He needs a family who will understand his rough past and work towards bringing out his amazing qualities!

If you are interested in adopting Puff, please fill out an application by clicking here.

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MORRIS COUNTY — “School districts shouldn’t have to choose between funding special education programs or providing services to other students,” Pennacchio said. “With extraordinary special education costing enormous amount of dollars, we must ensure every child has an equal educational opportunity without negatively impacting a school’s budget. My proposal would make certain that our most vulnerable students, regardless of their zip code, are provided with the resources they need to succeed.”

Pennacchio’s bipartisan legislation, S-3758, would shift special education costs away from school districts and to the State.

If a school district anticipates that the cost of providing special education and related services included in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) will exceed $55,000, that student would be considered to require a high needs placement. A school district would forward the IEP to the newly created Office of High Needs Placement Funding within the Department of Education. That office would be responsible for entering into contracts with, and making payments to, providers of the special education and related services for these students.

The bill establishes a High Needs Placement Committee in the Office of High Needs Placement Funding. The committee members will include the commissioner and State Treasurer, or their designees, and 15 public members.

Under current law, extraordinary special education costs aid is awarded to school districts as a reimbursement of costs incurred in the prior school year in educating individual special education students whose costs exceed certain thresholds. Unfortunately, the State has not been reliable in fulfilling this important responsibility, and the program is only 65% funded in the current fiscal year. This bill eliminates this category of State aid, instead making the State responsible for 100% of these extraordinary special education costs and making it impossible to shirk their responsibility.

According to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, more than half of a New Jersey homeowner’s property tax bill supports their local school districts. Senator Pennacchio believes that this legislation will provide providing significant relief to property taxpayers.

“The property tax crisis that many rural and suburban homeowners face is the result of a flawed school aid formula that provides little state aid to many of those school districts,” Pennacchio added. “Enacting this reform will lower property taxes, improve the quality of education, and protect New Jersey’s special education children. It truly begins the process of funding all of our children the same regardless of their zip code.”

This legislation is also part of a comprehensive and bipartisan “Path to Progress” bill package aimed at implementing essential fiscal reforms that will help to hold the line on spending and taxes. This Legislature took a first step in in this year’s budget by appropriating an additional $55 million dollars to reimburse a greater portion of the extraordinary special education costs incurred by school districts.

“I want to thank Senate President Sweeney for his commitment to help our most vulnerable students,” Pennacchio added. “I look forward to this bill passing the Legislature and becoming law this fall, and towards that, I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues, the Assembly, the Murphy Administration, and special education advocates to ensure that this bill is done right – truly protecting our most vulnerable children.”

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Surrogate Candidate Heather Darling visited the Daily Plan It in Morristown on Tuesday, July 9. The Daily Plan It is a business service provider offering mail and meeting room packages to businesses that do not need full-time dedicated office space. More importantly, while providing services to the business community, the Daily Plan It has a bigger purpose; to train and employ citizens with disabilities so that they are empowered through their contributions to society.

The environment at the Daily Plan It provides a professional setting for businesses while, at the same time, incorporates the perfect environment, equipment and support for the very specific needs of the individuals working within the business.

The Daily Plan It, Presents of Mind and Vaseful are New Jersey businesses created by Community Options Enterprises, Inc.; a non-profit organization whose mission includes developing and operating businesses that offer training and employment opportunities to people with disabilities. The goal of Community Options Enterprises, Inc. is to give disabled citizens an opportunity to contribute to society which, in turn, allows them to enjoy the same sense of pride and accomplishment that others obtain from their careers.

The importance of self-worth to individuals with disabilities is as important for any other segment of the population. Working offers individuals with special-needs a chance to develop their talents and expand into other job opportunities, gives a sense of financial independence, and helps them to connect socially.