MORRIS COUNTY — The 11th Hour Animal Rescue will host their “Third Annual Trivia Event? on Saturday, February 23 at Lake Hopatcong Elks Club, 201 Howard Boulevard, Mt Arlington.

There are two seatings available: Brunch Seating: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Brunch from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. followed by Trivia Game) and Dinner Seating: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Dinner from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. followed by Trivia Game)

Tickets: $25.00 Brunch Seating and $30.00 Dinner Seating.

Includes Trivia Game hosted by Joe Trivia and either brunch buffet or dinner buffet with coffee, tea and dessert. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Bring a team of up to eight friends or allow us to match you up with a team. Seats are limited and available on a first-come first-served.

Prizes for the winning team. Tricky Tray and 50/50 Raffle* *Must be at least 18 years old to participate.

For more information, contact [email protected]. Click here to pick your seating.

MORRIS COUNTY — Representatives of the Burlington County Sheriff’s and Prosecutor’s Offices want to replicate Hope One, an innovative mobile substance abuse recovery vehicle launched in April 2017 by Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon to help fight opioid and heroin addiction.

Hope One, which in the past 21 months has logged more than 6,000 contacts with individuals struggling with addiction or their families and friends, was parked Monday outside the Netcong Train Station, where Sheriff Gannon met with four law enforcement officials from Burlington County.

Hope One already was replicated by the Newark Police Department in December and earlier by the Cape May Prosecutor’s Office and Monmouth and Atlantic County Sheriff’s Offices.
Burlington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Mike Ditzel said he heard Sheriff Gannon speak about Hope One at a New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association meeting last fall, admired the concept, and believes Burlington County can be successful with the same proactive approach.

“This could potentially be a great addition to other programs we have, including youth programs to help stop addiction before it starts,” said Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigations Darren Anderson.

“We bring services to the client, out in the field,” Sheriff Gannon told the Burlington County officials. “It’s successful because of relationships we have with the service providers.”
Sheriff Gannon noted that 3,118 people statewide died of overdoses in 2018, a 15 percent increase over 2017 but Morris County saw a 1 percent decrease in overdoses in 2018 from the previous year. There were 84 deaths attributed to overdoses in 2018 in Morris County.
The sheriff related to the Burlington officials how a father approached the Hope One vehicle on Jan. 7 with a story of concern that his son, just home from a rehabilitation center, would relapse. The father was trained by Hope One staff to administer Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses the effects of opioids, and given a canister to bring home. He found his son unconscious from an overdose in their home the same day and was able to revive him with Narcan, the sheriff said.

There’s a cascading impact on families, the children, parents, spouses and siblings of addicts, Gannon said.

Since April 3, 2017, when Hope One made its debut on The Green in Morristown, the vehicle has made about 270 stops in locations throughout Morris County that statistics show are populated by at-risk people and where drug overdoses are occurring. Sheriff Gannon said 200 people who boarded Hope One in search of services were transported to treatment for mental health issues or to detox centers and treatment facilities for their substance abuse addictions.

Hope One was staffed during the visit by Burlington County officials by Morris County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Erica Valvano in plainclothes; Kelly LaBar, a peer recovery specialist for Morris County CARES; Madine Despeine, director of Self Help, Advocacy and Education for the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris; and Ashley Reed, a care navigator for Family Promise of Morris County.

In nonjudgmental style, the staff offer literature, resources, Narcan training, coffee, water, hand warmers and snacks to visitors to Hope One, and are equipped to immediately help individuals find treatment for their addictions.

The Hope One vehicle used to be a Sheriff’s Office SWAT truck that was stripped of law enforcement emblems and painted white and purple, the color symbolizing recovery. Hope One parks Mondays and Thursdays for about five hours in selected locations where at-risk people are known to congregate.

PARSIPPANY — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill was named Chair of the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The subcommittee is empowered with investigative authority on all matters concerning non-defense federal research.

“Federal research is vital to the innovation that drives our local economy and global competitiveness,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “I am proud to lead the subcommittee in support of the independence and integrity of science and scientists advancing the fields of energy, space, and transportation.”

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee has jurisdiction over non-defense federal research and development, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It also has jurisdiction over research and development at the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi announced the winners in the 2019 Morris County Manual Cover Contest.

1st place: Krystal Colon from Morris Knolls High School

2nd place: Andrew Donahue from Morris Hills High School

3rd place: Julian Mesa from Morris Hills High School

The judges of this year’s contest were Morris County Tax Board Commissioner William Kersey, Parsippany Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani, and from the County Clerk’s Office, Lauren Esposito, Maria May and Laura Roberts.

The Morris County Manual is a comprehensive resource containing the names and contact information of elected and appointed officials at all levels of government. The annual publication is designed to help simplify doing business with the various departments, boards and commissions and with all 39 municipalities throughout Morris County.

Each year, the County Clerk conducts an art contest to select a cover for the Morris County Manual. The contest is open to all high school art students within the county. The creators of the top three covers selected by a group of judges are presented with monetary scholarship awards by County Clerk Ann F. Grossi.

The 2018 Winners were: First Place Winner: Felicia Terreri is a senior at Whippany Park High School. She plays varsity softball and is actively involved with the Art Club. Felicia was voted Most Spirited and humbled to have been crowned Homecoming Queen. During the school year, Felicia works as an aide for Hanover Township’s aftercare program and enjoys working as a lifeguard during the summer. Her free time is spent painting, snowboarding, watching movies and spending time with family and friends. She plans to attend college and pursue a career in Graphic Design.

Second Place Winner: Aayush Saxena is a junior in the Academy of Computer Science at Morris County School of Technology. He designed the cover as part of Advertising Art and Design elective at MCST. He is a member of the Robotics Club and the Tech Club. His hobbies include reading and playing video games. He volunteers at Dover Hospital. He resides in Randolph with his parents and younger brother, Aakansh. After high school he would like to work for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Third Place Winner: Jared Redington is a sophomore student attending Morris Hills High School in Rockaway. His interests include Track & Field (throwing the javelin, and shotput), photography, magic, hiking, and spending time with his friends & family. Jared is also an Eagle Scout, a member of Wharton Troop 67, and one day hopes to pursue Military Intelligence as his future career.

MORRIS COUNTY — Long-time Morris County Housing Authority employee Kelly A. Stephens was recently selected as Executive Director of the agency, which creates and maintains affordable living environments and provides other assistance for more than 1,000 residents in the county.

Stephens is a 23-year veteran of the Morris County Housing Authority. She began at the agency in 1996 as a social services coordinator and moved through positions as an administrator, director of operations and deputy director.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitative services, a certificate in gerontology and is a certified public housing manager.

Stephens succeeds Roberta Strater, who retired in December as Executive Director after 42 years of service with the Housing Authority.

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of a highly respected director, Roberta Strater,’’ said Stephens. “Throughout the years, working with Roberta, I have been fortunate to affect the lives of many of our residents as well as the community.

“Our staff at the Housing Authority works collaboratively as a team to provide safe, decent, affordable housing to low income senior citizens, families and people with disabilities in Morris County.  We intend to continue with that important mission.’’

The Housing Authority was created by the Morris County Board of Freeholders in 1972 to develop and manage housing for low-and moderate-income residents of the county.

Its current mission is to “enhance the lives of the citizens of the county by creating and sustaining decent, safe and affordable living environments that foster stability and self-sufficiency for seniors, families and people with disabilities with low to moderate incomes.”

In carrying out this mission, the Housing Authority provides leadership, maximizes resources, and promotes partnerships to develop and implement sound housing policy.

The Housing Authority is overseen by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It utilizes its $10 million dollar annual budget to provide safe and decent housing and other assistance for approximately 1,050 county residents.

The Housing Authority owns and manages seven housing complexes, including 423 units of public housing and Section 8/515 housing and congregate housing. It also manages the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program and the Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program.

For more information click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Donald Dinsmore and William Felegi have teamed up with the former Mayor of Pequannock Township, Cathy Winterfield to form a ticket to win three seats on the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Dinsmore, a Harding resident and Attorney declared back in December of 2018 his intention to run for a seat on the Freeholder Board.  Since then he teamed up with Will Felegi, a veteran of the National Guard who achieved the rank of sergeant as a tanker. He is currently a Middle School teacher who is also the Former Chair of both the Morris County Young Republicans and Jefferson Republican Club.  Most recently the duo announced their formation of a complete ticket aligning themselves with former Mayor and Councilwoman of Pequannock, Cathy Winterfield who is a Financial Administrator at Seton Hall University.

“I am thrilled to be running with Cathy and Will and proud to be using the slogan as ‘The Future of Morris’ because that is what we represent.  We are running to bring open government and a greater focus on affordability to the Board.”, says Don Dinsmore.

Will Felegi had this to say, “Morris County is a great place to live. With a rapidly changing economy and targeted attacks by people that want to turn our state into a Sanctuary county, we need smart, resourceful and talented minds that will bring a new sense of urgency and collaboration to the Board. Don, Cathy and I will be the open, honest and resourceful voices on the Freeholder Board.”

“Public service is an honor that I take seriously and with gratitude. I am excited to bring my intellect and vision to the whole county and to represent our part of the county that has been underrepresented on the Freeholder Board for decades. With my commitment to historical preservation and student development, I feel that our team is best suited to serve the needs of Morris County residents for years to come”, said Cathy Winterfield.

You can learn more about the team of Dinsmore, Felegi and Winterfield by clicking here.