Acupuncture in Morris Plains, NJ

County-Wide Survey of African American History Underway

February 2024 was unanimously proclaimed Black History Month by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners recently, as an ambitious Morris County Historical Society effort continues to survey, document and preserve the heritage of African Americans in Morris County.

“We encourage everyone to join us in recognizing and celebrating the important contributions African Americans have made to our society throughout history to support the success of our county and the United States,” said Commissioner Director Christine Myers.

Earlier this year, the Historical Society launched the county’s first survey of African American historic sites, making Morris County only the second in New Jersey to undertake such a project, according to Amy Curry, Executive Director of the Historical Society.

The wide-ranging survey is being completed in four phases respective to four different regions within the county. The Historical Society’s goal is to complete one phase of the survey each year. Phase 1 is underway and focusing on an area that includes Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Long Hill, Madison, Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township.

“The county is big and has very significant African American history that spans its whole history, from pre-revolutionary to whatever we consider recent past. As a museum, and having a collection with very few tangible objects to connect visitors to that history, it makes it more difficult to tell the history,” Curry said.

Included in the history of Morris County and the rest of the state is the stain of slavery, which only gradually ended in New Jersey starting in 1804 and culminating with a state constitutional amendment signed Jan. 23, 1866, several months after the end of the Civil War.

Last year, Morris County rescued five historic documents related to the emancipation of slaves in the area – specifically local manumissions regarding five African American slaves living in Morris County. Manumissions are official, hand-written documents by which slave-owners certified the freedom of individual African Americans held in bondage.

Joseph R. Klett, Director of the New Jersey State Archives, discovered the five Morris County documents were being advertised on the Internet last year for sale at a pending auction. Klett notified Morris County, which worked with the state to secure the return of the 19^th Century manumissions.

The auction house and the estate of a private collector who had owned the documents for many years voluntarily provided them to Morris County once the county and state notified them that the documents are official public records belonging to Morris County. The documents are now being held in the archives of the Morris County Heritage Commission.

“This was an important find, and we are very thankful the state archivist acted quickly to help us secure these historical documents once they were found for sale online. We are also grateful to the auction house and the family of the collector, both of whom were understanding, cooperative and responsive when we laid claim to the documents,” said Director Myers.

To inspire more residents to become involved in the African American history survey, the Morris County Heritage Commission provided a grant supporting three community engagement workshops hosted last year by the Historical Society and Sankofa Heritage Collective of Morris County, Morris County’s first Black historical society.

The survey was made possible through a grant awarded in December by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. The Historical Society, a member-supported 501(c)3 non-profit, secured another state grant to support its work from the New Jersey Historical Commission.

The Historical Society has a collection of over 27,000 historic objects pertaining to Morris County. However, Curry said it became apparent that objects specific to local African American history were lacking when the collection was showcased during the Historical Society’s 75^th Anniversary celebration and the 50^th Anniversary of its ownership of Acorn Hall in 2021.

That is when plans began for a survey of the county and Black history sites, including the people and the stories within those physical locations that make them significant.

To learn more about Black History Month, visit blackhistorymonth.gov/.

To commemorate Black History Month, the Ties that Bind exhibition is currently on display at St. Elizabeth University until February 29^th.

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Photos

Photo 1: Local historic manumissions denoting the emancipation of five African American slaves living in Morris County.

Photo 2: (l-r) Brian Murray, Assistant County Administrator and Amanda Hefferan, Director of the Morris County Heritage Commission, archiving the manumissions at the Heritage Commission office located at the Morris County Library, 30 E Hanover Ave. in Whippany, N.J.

Photo 3: Beverwyck estate in Parsippany-Troy Hills, which was operated as plantation under owner William Kelly from 1759 to 1771.

Public Invited to Attend Event In Person and Online

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners will hold its annual reorganization meeting for 2024 on Friday, Jan. 5, at 6 p.m. at the county’s Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street, Morristown. The meeting will be held in person and may be viewed online via WebEx.

Commissioner Tayfun Selen, who was reelected in November to a three-year term, will take his oath of office. A former mayor of Chatham, he was selected to serve an unexpired term on the board in 2020 and was elected later that year to serve a full three-year term.

Also to be sworn in is Morris County Clerk Ann F. Grossi, who was reelected in November to serve her third, five-year term.

Commissioner John Krickus, who served as Director in 2023, will turn over the gavel to Commissioner Christine Myers, who served as Deputy Director last year. Stephen H. Shaw will serve as Deputy Director for 2024. The commissioners elect the director and deputy director from among themselves.

Rounding out the Board of Commissioners are Douglas R. Cabana, Thomas J. Mastrangelo and Deborah Smith.

About County Government

Morris County’s seven-member commissioner board is elected at-large to serve staggered three-year terms. The board sets policies for the operation of all county services, including six county government departments and their divisions. While the commissioners appoint and approve members and budgets of authorities, commissions, boards, and study committees, these groups may act independently of the Board of County Commissioners.

The actual day-to-day operation of the county government departments -- Employee Resources, Finance, Human Services, Law & Public Safety, Public Works and Information Technology -- is supervised by the county administrator, Deena Leary. Each of the seven commissioners serves as a liaison to at least one of those departments and to other areas of county government.

The essential services provided by county government are those that either cannot appropriately be provided by the state or are beyond the scope or ability of local governments.

County government responsibilities are divided into two distinct types:

The mandatory areas of responsibility are:

In addition to required services, Morris County government provides a variety of programs and services which benefit the entire county. County-level management and delivery of these services provides significant cost savings and efficiencies over duplicative services from municipality to municipality. This saves taxpayer dollars, while enhancing the quality of life for those living and working here.

These vital services include:

Budget Structurally Balanced; 8.8% Ratable Growth Offsets Costs

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners tonight introduced their 2024 Budget with no increase in the tax rate for a fifth consecutive year, due to another year of growing ratables and prudent fiscal management to overcome rising costs.

“Despite state mandates driving up costs and hikes in expenses that are out of our control, such as health care costs, Morris County is again introducing a thoughtful, fiscally responsible budget. It addresses our obligation as County Commissioners to provide the services our residents require and deserve. It makes the investments necessary to keep Morris County the premier county in New Jersey, and yet it still enables us to keep the tax rate flat,” said Commissioner Deborah Smith, Chair of the Commissioners’ Budget Committee.

The proposed $365.3 million spending plan was presented to the full board by the Budget Committee, including Commissioners Doug Cabana and John Krickus. The plan continues to prioritize investments in public safety, infrastructure, education and economic development, and expands services to veterans.

Highlights in the budget include:

View the Budget Presentation

“Public safety remains a paramount interest. The 2024 Budget provides strong funding to our Sheriff’s Department, his Patrol Division, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and our Department of Law & Public Safety,” said Commissioner Krickus, noting public safety spending is being increased by more than $3 million.

Prudent fiscal management and an 8.8 percent increase in ratables also helped Morris County to address growing expenses forced by mounting state mandates on operations at the Morris County Clerk’s Office and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

“Our 2024 Budget also continues the Preservation Trust Fund investments that bolster the quality of life here and attract the people and businesses making Morris County the premier place to live, work and raise a family,” said Commissioner Krickus. “To date, we have invested $169 million in farmland preservation, $295 million in open space preservation, $50 million into historic preservation, $100 million into flood mitigation and $5 million in trail design and construction.”

The budget also focuses on the needs of veterans and families facing homelessness.

“We continue to expand our commitment to our veterans by funding a fourth Veterans Service Officer and a seasonal intern. We also are expanding our services to the growing homeless population,” said Commissioner Doug Cabana.

“We certainly are grateful to have nonprofit partners helping us to address the needs of our neighbors who find themselves seeking shelter. But it should be understood by everyone that the Morris County’s Human Services Department and its Office of Temporary Assistance serve the majority of our homeless population -- and the most troubled individuals found in that population,” added Commissioner Cabana.

The 2024 Budget doubles to $300,000 a line item in emergency assistance funding to shelter and support people experiencing homelessness. The budget also allocates another $150,000 toward funding allocated to prevent people from becoming homeless.

The introduced 2024 Budget also includes the 2024 Capital Spending Plan initially presented in December, putting nearly $35 million toward many projects, among them road resurfacing, improving intersections replacing bridges in the county and maintaining county facilities.

The Morris County Commissioners will consider adoption of the 2024 Budget at their Wednesday, April 10, 2024 public meeting.

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8 has people abuzz with excitement, even though Morris County won't be in the path of totality. And for those who want to really take in this spectacle, there are several fun and educational eclipse-related events going on around the county.

The maximum eclipse is estimated around 3:25 p.m. on Monday, April 8 in Morris County. The moon will cover about 91 percent of the sun at the peak of the eclipse, according to a NASA map that is searchable by ZIP code.

Some New Jersey schools will dismiss students early on Monday, citing safety concerns, as the eclipse will be going on during normal dismissal time. No Morris County districts have changed their schedules as of Tuesday, April 2, though the Rockaway Valley School in Boonton has an after-school program planned for students in 5th through 8th grades.

Garden State skies will darken as if it were dawn and the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, will be visible, NASA said in a statement. Eye safety will be the number one priority when viewing a total solar eclipse, and those seeking to look directly at the phenomenon must wear specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing, the agency said.

Here are some places to see the eclipse on Monday:

Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Morris Museum

The Morris Museum Astronomical Society will set up a telescope for observation on the parking deck, and have a live Internet feed of the eclipse in the theatre. Programming runs from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Free with RSVP. 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960.

South Branch Preserve

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey will have free viewing glasses, snacks, and activities from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chair to make yourself comfortable for the eclipse viewing. Free with RSVP. 56-60 Wolfe Rd, Budd Lake, NJ 07828.

Riverdale Public Library

Grab a snack and a drink and your eclipse glasses, and watch the celestial marvel with neighbors at the library. People will be gathered from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m., and ages 4 and up are welcome. Event is free; no RSVP required. 93 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Riverdale NJ, 07457.

An event at the Boonton Holmes library has reached capacity, organizers said.

Also, the Longo Planetarium at County College of Morris is showing "Totality: Great American Eclipse 2024" on select Fridays and Saturdays through May 11. This 45-minute show explores the science of how eclipses of the sun and moon occur, and how to see them. It is recommended for ages 8 and up. Tickets are $10.

Community Resource Event Assists Homeless and At-Risk Residents

In a time-honored tradition this morning, advocates stood shoulder to shoulder in Morris County with residents experiencing homelessness as Project Homeless Connect resumed for the first time since being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

More than 35 community-based service providers gathered at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown offering food, warm clothing, housing and employment information, financial benefits, mental health and substance abuse services, veterans’ information, energy assistance, health care screenings, haircuts, gift cards and more.

View More Photos from the Event

Project Homeless Connect, except for the pandemic break, has been co-organized annually since 2008 by the County of Morris and the Mental Health Association of Morris County annually to provide resources free of charge to people at risk of homelessness or already experiencing homelessness.

“This special event is happening today thanks to the unique partnerships between county government, community-based agencies, churches, corporations and many others who have donated goods and their time to help. Morris County ranks among the wealthiest counties in the state; yet, homelessness continues to rise. It can affect anyone. If you are struggling or know someone struggling with homelessness, or someone at risk, please come and talk to us,” said Morris County Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo as he welcomed everyone into the event.

Morris County’s Navigating Hope, a mobile social services van operated by the county Department of Human Services, and the Morris County Sheriff's Office’s Hope One van, a mobile substance abuse resource center, were parked in front of St. Peter’s Church on Maple Avenue with staff greeting attendees.

“This is a special day, and I think it speaks to the importance of making connections in our community. I often say it, but I think it’s worth saying: Morris County does it better. It’s because we show up, and because we care. Everyone here today, thank you for being here, and for showing up,” said Sheriff James Gannon.

Each January, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency conducts the Point-in-Time (PIT) homeless count. During the street and shelter count this year, outreach teams asked individuals where they slept the night of January 23rd. The count provides a snapshot of how many people in Morris County are experiencing homelessness.

According to the 2023 homeless count, 465 people were experiencing homelessness in Morris County on Jan. 24, a year ago this week. Of those, 29 people were unsheltered and the balance, 436, were sheltered in emergency shelters or transitional housing. Of all homeless people in the state in 2023, five percent lived in Morris County.

Between 2022 and 2023, homelessness jumped by 32 percent overall in New Jersey, and Morris County’s rate increased by 34 percent. COVID-19 housing resources and opportunities ending may be factors attributable to the increase. The count also may have represented a more accurate tally than previous pandemic years as outreach teams could engage more with people in their communities as the crisis of the pandemic waned.

Morris County’s 2023 PIT summary is available here. To view the full 2023 Morris County PIT report, click here.

In 2019, Morris County also launched “Everyday Connect” to offer year-round services to those who need support beyond one annual event. On a rotating basis throughout the year, service providers visit Dover and Morristown drop-in centers, Edna's Haven and Our Promise. Homeless residents can access services at these locations without an appointment and have the option to obtain a permanent mailing address. The program is made possible through Grant-In-Aid funding by the county.

The Morris County Continuum of Care is responsible for overall planning around preventing and ending homelessness in the county.

Hope One’s staff offers critical support for people struggling with addiction -- with the goal of preventing drug overdoses and deaths -- by distributing and training in the use of lifesaving Narcan. Since the program’s launch in 2017, more than 43,000 contacts have been made, over 8,500 Narcan kits have been distributed and 146 kits are known to have been used to save a life.

Navigating Hope, which operates in partnership with Family Promise of Morris County, visits local municipalities each week where assistance is needed most. Recent weather events, for example, prompted a response in areas that were hit hardest by flooding. The staff provides on-site benefits, eligibility screenings and application assistance, as well as referrals to other resources. A second vehicle was added last year to increase support services and meet more residents in their communities.

The County’s Human Services Department also has a partnership with the Sheriff’s Office to help provide identification to residents ages 18 to 54 who may not have a driver’s license. These cards are used for identification purposes only and may not be accepted by certain agencies that require a state ID.

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Photos

Photo 1: (l-r) Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo and Sheriff James Gannon.

Photo 2: Sheriff Gannon connecting with a service provider at the event.

Photo 3: A Project Homeless Connect volunteer approaching the Hope One tent.