MORRIS COUNTY — Delta Dental of New Jersey (DDNJ) associates with 35 backpacks worth of school supplies collected during their recent Pack a Smile collection drive that will be donated to children enrolled in the Gracious Smiles program at Camden’s KIPP Academy. Gracious Smiles provides comprehensive dental care to children in preschool programs, youth in after-school programs, elderly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, veterans and their spouses.
Delta Dental donates school supplies to “Gracious Smiles”
Carol Martarano Receives Award from Madison Rotary
MADISON — Each year Madison Rotary Club President presents an “Outstanding Rotarian” award to a new Rotarian who has joined Madison Rotary in the last year.
This year President Michel Belt presented the award to Carol Martarano for all of her service to the club and community.
Carol assumed the leadership to the Grants and Sponsorship Committee. The committee reviewed all of the criteria for providing club grants and sponsors and worked diligently reviewing all of he grant applications.
Over 30 local charities have been selected to receive grants totaling over $30,000. The grants will be presented in early July.
The Madison Rotary Club, a group of 88 community-oriented volunteers who are part of a 1.2 million members worldwide service organization, annually supports some 30 local-education, arts, youth and humanitarian groups by awarding grants and sponsorships that, “build a better future”. The Club meets Thursdays, 7:45 a.m. for breakfast at the
YMCA, 12:15 p.m. for lunch at the Madison Hotel. To learn more about Rotary click here.
Whippany Fire Department’s Referendum was approved
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Voters in Whippany Fire District 2 approved a referendum on Saturday, August 10 to finish the construction of the new firehouse located on Troy Hills Road.
The voters approved “construction of a firehouse for an amount not exceeding $6,100,000.00 and undertake the issuance of bonds relative to the project.”
The Fire Company and Fire District commissioners worked tirelessly to make this happen and have overcome several unforeseen obstacles which prevented them from completing the project in a timely manner.
As part of the referendum the Fire District has an opportunity to replace their current $3 million variable rate construction loan with a low-interest fixed rate loan administered by the Morris County Improvement Authority. They also need to borrow additional funds to help finish the remaining work on the new firehouse which is estimated to be $2.8 million.
Once the old firehouse is sold – it is under contract – and the loan specifications are finalized, the actual amount borrowed should drop to about $4.9 million. Interest costs and risks will also be reduced due to the lower, fixed rate. Of the $4.9 million borrowed, $3 million will be used to pay off the existing variable rate loan. The remaining $1.9 million plus proceeds from the sale of the old firehouse will go toward completion of the new firehouse.
The request to borrow up to $6.1 million provides a margin for safety should the old firehouse sale not close in a timely manner. Should that happen, all proceeds from the sale would go straight to paying down the loan. Ultimately, Fire District No. 2 intends to only borrow an additional $1.9 million. So, what does this mean to Whippany Fire District No. 2 taxpayers? The Morris County Improvement Authority has estimated that at $4.9 million in bonding – $1.9 million more than the district’s current debt – the average Fire District No. 2 homeowner would pay about $12 annually in additional fire taxes. In the unlikely event that the full $6.1 million in bonding is utilized, the increase would equate to around $17 per year.
Boonton Main Street Receives Grant from “Main Street New Jersey”
BOONTON — Acting Governor Sheila Y. Oliver announced the award of nearly $350,000 in Main Street New Jersey (MSNJ) grants to 17 Main Street district organizations throughout the state, including Boonton Main Street. The grants will help improve the quality of life for New Jersey residents by assisting communities with their downtown revitalization efforts. Boonton Main Street was awarded $23,000.00.
This year marks the first time in its 30-year history that the MSNJ Program has awarded grants to designated MSNJ district organizations around the state. The grant funding is part of a larger effort by the Murphy Administration to commit more resources to community revitalization programs that focus on small businesses and neighborhood improvement projects.
“Governor Murphy and I recognize how important programs like Main Street New Jersey are for improving local economies and creating jobs in the heart of our communities, which is why we are investing significant resources in them,” said Acting Governor Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. “The grant funding will be used for restoring storefronts and facades, creative and cultural placemaking, and developing strategies to take downtowns to the next level. We are confident these projects will have a tremendous impact on mains streets around the state and can’t wait to see the results!”
The MSNJ Program helps municipalities improve the economy, appearance, and image of their central business districts through the organization of local citizens and resources. Municipalities must apply and be selected to join the MSNJ Program, which was established in 1989. These designated communities receive technical support and training to assist in restoring their Main Streets as centers of economic and social activity. This year, designated communities were also eligible for the MSNJ grants, which are funding awards of $25,000 or less aimed at assisting projects such as storefront improvement, placemaking, and transformation strategies development that can be completed in six months or less.
Rep. Sherrill Announces 2019 Congressional App Challenge Launch
MORRIS COUNTY — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) is excited to announce that her office is hosting the 2019 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for students in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, and the submission portal is now open.
“The technical skills and innovation highlighted by the Congressional App Competition are crucial not only to the competitiveness of our future workforce, but to solving the biggest challenges we face as a nation like election security, climate change, and healthcare access,” said Congresswoman Sherrill. “I can’t wait to be inspired by the creative spirit our New Jersey students bring to the 2019 challenge and to see which issues they choose to tackle with their apps.”
The competition is open to middle school and high school students who live or attend school in NJ-11. Students with all levels of coding experience are encouraged to participate. This is an excellent opportunity to develop the skills and innovative spirit needed to create your own apps. The CAC accepts computer programs (or apps) written in any programming language, for any platform (desktop/PC, web, mobile, raspberry Pi, etc.). The full set of eligibility rules for individual and team entries can be found by clicking here.
Winners will be selected by a panel of judges from New Jersey’s 11th District and honored by Congresswoman Sherrill. Their apps are eligible to be featured on display in the U.S. Capitol building, on house.gov and on the Congressional App Challenge website.
Students are encouraged to register online by September 10, 2019, before submitting their app by the November 1, 2019 deadline. Click here for more information.
Impaired Driving Enforcement Crackdown to be Conducted Locally as Part of Statewide Year End Campaign
MORRIS COUNTY — Police agencies from around New Jersey, including the Morris County Park Police Department, are gearing up for the state’s largest annual drunk driving crackdown. The 2019 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Statewide Labor Day Crackdown begins Friday, August 16 and concludes on Monday, September 2. During the campaign, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols targeting motorists who may be driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement backed up by educational activities including national radio and television advertisements, posters, banners, and mobile video display signs. The campaign looks to curtail impaired driving during the busy summer travel season, including the Labor Day holiday period.
“During the past five years, New Jersey’s roadways experienced 36,778 crashes and 679 fatalities involving impaired drivers,” said Chief Gabe DiPietro. As part of the initiative, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides grants to local police agencies throughout the state to run the two-week campaign. During last year’s crackdown, participating agencies made 1,196 DWI arrests.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2019 crackdown offer the following advice:
- If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going out.
- Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
- Spend the night where the activity is held.
- Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
- If you’re intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep.
Madison Sidewalk Sale Days August 22-24
MADISON — The Madison Area Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to come shop, dine and visit the downtown business district during its Sidewalk Sales Days, Thursday, August 22 through Saturday, August 24.
Madison businesses will be showcasing current sale items plus offer a look at their new inventory. Tables will be permitted on the sidewalk and all are welcomed to browse.
“This is a perfect way to kick off the incoming fall season and welcome those back into town after a relaxing summer, “said Karen Giambra, Executive Director, Madison Area Chamber of Commerce.
Free parking is available at lots on Wavery Place, Cook Avenue, Elmer Street and Kings Road. For more information on parking click here.
For more information please contact The Madison Area Chamber of Commerce at (973) 377-7830 or by email at [email protected]. Visit the Chamber website by clicking here.
East Hanover Council Meeting – 08/05/2019
EAST HANOVER – East Hanover Council Meeting of Monday, August 5, 2019
Rescheduled Summer Concert & Classic Car Show
EAST HANOVER — The rescheduled date for the Summer Concert in the Park featuring “Garden State Radio,” and our Classic Car Show is Wednesday, August 21.
The concert starts at 7:00 p.m. at Lurker Park Main Field, 631 Ridgedale Avenue.
The classic car show will be held prior to the concert.
GFWC Woman’s Club Awards Scholarships to LPN Graduates
MORRIS COUNTY — Thanks to a generous grant from New Jersey Natural Gas, GFWC Woman’s Club Denville-Rockaway Area will be able to continue its scholarship program in the coming year. This Scholarship Program awards gift-cards to middle school students, who advance to high school while overcoming difficulties. They also award a scholarship to a graduating Morris Knolls and Morris Hills High School student, as well as, two students graduating from the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Program at Morris County School of Technology.
The most recent Scholarship recipients include two 2019 graduates from the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Program of the Morris County School of Technology, Jaqueline Mondero and Julia Donna.
The GFWC Woman’s Club of the Denville-Rockaway Area, founded in 1932 is a non-profit community service organization, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others, one project at a time. To learn more about the organization, visit the GFWC Woman’s Club of Denville-Rockaway area Facebook page or click here.
New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) keeps homes warm and businesses running for over half a million customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean, Morris, Middlesex and Burlington Counties. Annually, NJNG supports more than 2,000 organizations across the communities it serves with an emphasis on education, health, and the environment. Click here for more information.