Face Masks Solicit Much Debate At BOE and Council Meetings

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The Mt. Olive Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual “Breakfast with the Mayors” on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at Liebenzell Retreat Ministries in Long Valley. It was attended by several business owners and residents of both townships.

Chris and Ragnar lost their home when a resident died last fall. They are cuddly sweet 6–7-year-old boys, healthy and up to date on shots, neutered, microchipped and negative for FIV/FeLV. As one can see, they really love each other and want to stay together. Trouble is, most people looking to adopt a cat are only interested in adopting one! Chris has gotten some interest since orange tabbies are in high demand, but the Mt. Olive TNR Project can't bear to separate them. Does anyone have room in his or heart and home for both of them? They are gentle giants and sweet as can be from being bottle fed as kittens. Ragnar, the black and white one, follows his fosterer around like a dog (and also doesn't mind the actual dog in the home). Chris is quieter but loves to cuddle once he knows his owner. To meet them, fill out an application at www.mtolivetnr.org or contact mtolivetnr@gmail.com or (973) 804-6273.

If there were ever a contest for kindest neighborhood, Wyndham Pointe in Flanders would surely be in the running with another community project recently announced.

Jessica of 7 Farmstead Court in Flanders is collecting an array of items to help support battered women and their children. As a community project, Jessica is collecting donations to support The Jersey Battered Women Services. 

The JBWS provides safety, support and solutions for abuse.

“Help me to get these donations to the people that need it the most,” says Jessica in her donation flyer. “Please support the JBWS by donating any of these items.”

For her community project, Jessica is collecting toiletries and personal items such as baby wipes, large diapers, liquid hand soap in pump bottles, body wash, women and men’s razors, shaving cream, shampoo/conditioner, styling products like gels and relaxers, Vaseline; and styling tools such as curling irons, flat irons, hair bonnets, brushes and hair ties.

She is also collecting new women’s clothing including yoga pants sized medium and up; slip-on elastic waist/drawstring pants, t-shorts and tank tops; zip-up sweatshirts; slippers for women and children; briefs and bras; and socks.

In existence for 45 years, JBWS supports and protects survivors of domestic partner abuse. It has helped many in need and “is trying to find many solutions to help solve this horrible problem by creating an environment that people can feel safe.

Drop off donations at 7 Farmstead Court, Flanders. There is a bin outside the front door. 

“Thank you for your consideration and donations,” writes Jessica.

Musconetcong Lodge #42 F&AM in Budd Lake invites residents to an All You Can Eat Breakfast Fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 20, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  Menu includes scrambled eggs, pancakes, Texas French toast, home fries, Belgian waffles with famous homemade strawberry sauce and whipped cream, bacon, sausage patties, Taylor ham pork roll, orange and apple juice, chocolate milk, coffee, and tea.  

Cost is $9 per person; $8 seniors (62 & up); $5 children (4-10); under 4 are free.  Proceeds help to defray the lodge building overhead.
 

Photo: Charles Craig and the late Vicky Craig

Morris County’s Board of County Commissioners recently adopted a special resolution proclaiming February 2022 as Black History Month 2022, urging residents to honor the centuries of contributions by African Americans to the nation, state and county.  

“Tonight we join our fellow Americans across the United States in celebrating the remarkable accomplishments and lasting impact on our nation by our African American leaders and citizens with a resolution declaring February 2022 ‘Black History Month,’” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen during the board’s public work session in Morristown.  

“Through our resolution tonight, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners encourages everyone to honor and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to our daily lives in America and towards the betterment of life within Morris County and across the globe,” he added.  

Lauren LeBeaux Craig, executive director of Art in the Atrium (ATA), gave a presentation to the board on the organization’s current and future exhibits of African American art in Morris County, including an exhibit proposed for the county administration building beginning in April.  

“ATA has worked in alliance with the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, the Office of the Morris County Administrator and numerous corporate and community partners. 

We have been hosting a Black History Month exhibit on the Novartis campus for the past 15 years, and we are currently hosting an exhibit at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown,” Craig explained.  

ATA also will be bringing a new exhibit to the county atrium from April through September, with plans to host a Juneteenth celebration  Art in the Atrium (ATA), now 30 years old, took its name from the atrium at the Morris County Administration Building in Morristown, where Craig’s parents, Victoria Craig and Charles Craig, established ATA, a nonprofit, volunteer organization with the mission to educate and exhibit African American fine art in Morristown. ATA’s annual exhibition, the largest of its kind in the state of New Jersey, has been a successful showcase of art by emerging and established artists.  Other Events in Morris County Celebrating Black History Month:  Museum of Early Trades & Crafts in Madison: The Coopers: “Freedom,” Abduction and Life in Central Delaware & Dr. Still and The Underground Railroad in NJ     

County College of Morris: If These Stones Could Talk – A Conversation about New Jersey’s African American History     

Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown: Art in the Atrium celebrates its 30th Anniversary with exhibits in MPAC’s art galleries     

The Morristown & Morris Township Library: Exploring Black History & Genealogy.

The Arc of Warren County in Washington has recently been awarded a grant in the sum of $12,680 from The John A. & Margaret Post Foundation for the cost of a power generator at one of the agency’s 17 group homes in Washington.     

This grant award will make a substantially positive impact on the daily operations of the agency. The project will start immediately and will be completed within four months.  On average, the agency needs to relocate residents one to three times per year in the group homes that do not have a power generator.  This is because thunderstorms and snowstorms routinely cause a loss of power in the rural areas of Warren County.      

The State of New Jersey mandates that relocation is necessary in extreme cold or hot temperatures in group homes.  This has caused travel for the most vulnerable of The Arc of Warren County’s residents in treacherous weather and road conditions causing serious hardship for the agency.  As a result of the limited hotel options in the immediate area, sometimes staff and residents have had to temporarily relocate up to 20 to 30 miles away from their homes.  

This is the fourth power generator that The John A. & Margaret Post Foundation has funded for The Arc of Warren County in recent years.  The Arc of Warren County was awarded grants for the cost of generators that were installed in the organization’s group homes in Belvidere, Alpha and Phillipsburg in 2019 and 2020.     

“The continued support that The John A. & Margaret Post Foundation has been extremely beneficial to The Arc of Warren County and those we serve,” says John Whitehead, CEO of The Arc of Warren County.  “In addition, many of our residents find it very frightening and disruptive when they need to relocate due to power loss, even if it is for a short period of time.  These generators make it possible for us to save on relocation expenses so we can spend our limited resources on other routine costs associated with operating residential programs.”     The John A. and Margaret Post Foundation supports charitable organizations that benefit the quality of life for families and society in general with a primary focus on organizations in northwest New Jersey and northeast Pennsylvania.     

The Arc is a national organization that serves individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their family members since 1950.  The Arc of Warren County is one of 700 chapters of The Arc and serves more than 1,100 people annually for the past 68 years.  Programs include residential group homes and supervised apartments, day services, community-based supports, advocacy services, recreation and summer camp, Special Olympics training, early intervention and a wide variety of additional social services.

Strengthen Our Sisters has organized a GoFundMe page to help raise funds to repair its shelter.  

“Freezing temperatures have damaged our pipes and rising costs of repairs threaten the ability to provide safe supportive shelter for women and children,” says Sandra Ramos of Ringwood, founder of Strengthen Our Sisters, a non-profit organization that opens its heart and door to battered women and their children. Ramos started the GoFundMe page on Feb. 2 with a goal of raising $77K.  

“We're raising money to benefit Strengthen Our Sisters, and any donation will help to keep our families housed and warm,” says Ramos.  “Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much!”  More information about Strengthen Our Sisters can be found at WWW.SOSDV.ORG  Visit the GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/8938f80d

Local animal book publisher J. Pace Publications has released a new anthology, and a Tewksbury author is one of its contributors.  "Curling Up with Cats: True Stories of Feline Rescue and Adoptions" includes 378 stories about cats who have been rescued from different  situations or adopted through shelters.

Long-time animal book author, magazine journalist and J. Pace Publications founder, Loren Spiotta-DiMare  of Tewksbury contributed a story entitled ‘Second Chance.’ It's about her paternal uncle, Roland Spiotta of Maplewood  who rescued a cat trapped in a cottage long ago.  After the rescue, the two became inseparable. Most of the other stories  were written by the cat owners.   

"My first book, Macaws, was published in 1979,” says Spiotta-DiMare. “Siamese Cats followed a few years later.  Both were produced  by TFH Publications, an international animal book publisher.  But most of my books, written for both adults and children,   have been about dogs, though I’ve also written about horses, rabbits and even a bear.” 

To date, the author/publisher has had 23 books published.  She is long-time member of the  Dog Writers Association of America.  Her titles include several reference books: The Sporting Spaniel Handbook and  Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; a coffee table book entitled Beyond the Finish Line:  Stories of Ex-Racehorses; and children’s  picture books such as Sergeant Reckless:  Hero War Horse, Bowser’s Back!, Hannah's House Rabbit and Broke Leg Bear.  

“During book signings I was often asked if I had a book about cats, so, I decided I better create one," the author/publisher says. Her friend’s orange cat brothers Murphy and Dickens inspired her to produce a book about rescued cats.  

“The boys were  abandoned in an apartment when their owners moved out,” she says. “I was mortified when I heard the story."    

“Fortunately, the boys were discovered and taken to St. Hubert Giralda's Animal Welfare Center in Madison. A good friend  of mine adopted Murphy and Dickens and has provided them with a secure, loving and forever home. You never met two friendlier   cats.”   

The cover of Curling Up with Cats was created by long-time animal artist Pat Olds of Washington.  

“I met Pat at an event supporting an animal organization,” Spiotta-DiMare says.  “I loved her style  and knew she would create a lovely cover painting.  And she did.”  The book was designed by Michele Heusel of Morristown.  She is a professional graphic artist with more than 20 years   of experience in the advertising and publishing fields. Heusel was an art director for Modern Drummer Publications  before transitioning to a freelance designer.    A paperback book, "Curling Up with Cats" lists for $12. When requested, 20% of the purchase price will be donated to a cat rescue group or animal shelter of the buyer's choice.  To order the book visit Amazon.com or www.LorensReadingRoom.com.  For questions, contact Spiotta-DiMare  at author@LorensReadingRoom.com.

The Morris County Small Business Grant Program began accepting online applications at 8 a.m. on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, to aid local small companies, entrepreneurs and non-profits impacted by the pandemic.     The program will provide grants of up to $15,000 to reimburse small businesses and non-profit organizations for specific pandemic recovery expenses incurred on or after March 3, 2021 – a timeline established under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is the source of the funding.

“We have committed $5 million in ARPA dollars to this program to help small businesses, which are critical to the character, vitality and economy of every town in Morris County,” says Tayfun Selen, director of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners. “We also want to help the non-profit organizations that do so much to inspire civic engagement, enrich our culture and provide shelter, food, counseling and comfort to our most vulnerable populations. We would not be able to continue as a community without them.”     

The Small Business Grant Program eligibility requirements include: Available to businesses with 25 or fewer full-time employees (or equivalent); in operation since Jan. 1, 2019;  located within Morris County;  less than $5 million in sales/revenue; proof of a decline in sales/increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.   The Morris County Chamber of Commerce will be coordinating outreach to potentially eligible businesses, including those who may not have traditionally sought government grant funding in the past.   “We will be working with the Morris County Commissioners to connect qualifying small businesses throughout the county with this grant program,” says Meghan Hunscher, president and CEO of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation. “It offers an opportunity for some of them to cover costs they incurred trying to stay open or reopen while struggling to keep their employees working and meet the needs of their customers.”     

“This grant will give the small businesses of Morris County some much needed financial relief,” says Michael Stanzilis, Morris County Chamber of Commerce vice president of Membership and Government Affairs. “The Chamber of Commerce truly appreciates the Morris County Commissioners’ commitment to the success of our small businesses.”  Details may be found at morriscountysmallbusinessgrant.com on eligibility guidelines, supporting documents required to submit an application and more.

The Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD) announced on Jan. 26 a November construction start on its new Career Training Center at the County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph, which will expand the vocational school operations by 30 percent.

“The new center has the potential of adding 500 students to the school district, exposing career-focused and college-bound high school students to the type of specialized skills that will lead them to successful futures,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen.

The construction schedule and details on the project were presented to the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, as the board introduced a bond ordinance to support construction.     

“This new initiative allows students to pursue career training while gaining an industry-valued credential and college credits simultaneously,” said Scott Moffitt, superintendent of the Morris County Vocational School District. “It puts students on a path to be career and college ready, while completing high school graduation requirements in their local district.”

Moffitt adds, “Building upon successful programs already operating as a result of the long-standing partnership between CCM and MCVSD, high school students will now have more access to a variety of high-demand program offerings in areas such as artificial intelligence, mechatronics, renewable energy technology, certified nurse assistant and dental assistant to capture a wide range of interests and passion."

The November groundbreaking and construction schedule is dependent on weather and constituency in the supply chain of materials. The two-story, 45,940 square-foot Center will cost $24.8 million, with $6.2 million coming from the county and $18.6 million from the state under Securing Our Children’s Future (SOCF) Bond Act.   It will be built next to the Advanced Manufacturing Center at CCM, which also has plans for a new Entrepreneurship and Culinary Science Center on campus. Both projects were first announced at a joint press conference last August hosted by the Morris County Commissioners, Moffitt and Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, president of CCM.   Both projects build on strong partnerships established with business and industry as well as existing programs designed to prepare high school students, college students and adults for rewarding careers in high demand industries.   The MCVSD expansion will operate on a share-time model for high school juniors and seniors. It will focus on workforce development and offer students industry credentials, work-based and project-based learning opportunities and up to 18 college credits. The project expands on an existing partnership MCVSD has with CCM to provide high school students the opportunity to earn college credits, industry-valued credentials and access to an associate degree, either upon completion of high school or one year after graduation.

In honor of Women’s History Month this March, the Legacy Project at County College of Morris (CCM) in  Randolph looks at the interesting lives and compelling work of various American women in history,  including Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

CCM Adjunct Professor Deborah Hoeflinger plans to walk participants through the life of the legendary Ginsburg  on Thursday, March 3, from 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. via Zoom.      

Ginsburg, a lawyer, and professor at Rutgers Law School and Columbia Law School was the first Jewish woman and only the second woman to serve as an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.  

Ginsberg, who served on the Supreme Court from 1993 until she died in 2020, penned many notable  majority opinions and became dubbed “The Notorious RBG,” propelling her to celebrity status.  

Hoeflinger earned her B.A. and two M.A.s from Montclair State University. She taught social studies and  law for many years at Butler High School. She has been a judge for National History Day, a presenter at  the Oxford Roundtable in Oxford, England, a grant reviewer for the Department of Education, and a  reader for the advanced placement exams. She has been an adjunct professor at CCM for 10 years.     

On Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. via Zoom, Dr. Nancy C. Unger, professor of history at Santa Clara  University, will provide an overview of the role gender plays in history. She’s using a richly illustrated  presentation based upon her book, “Beyond Nature’s Housekeepers: American Women in  Environmental History,” a California Book Award Finalist, and encourages Q&A discussion.    

Unger is also the author of the prize-winning biographies “Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous  Reformer” and “Belle La Follette: Progressive Era Reformer.” She is co-editor of “A Companion to the  Gilded Age and Progressive Era,” and publisher of dozens of scholarly essays and articles. Her  multi-media appearances include CNN.com, C-SPAN, NPR, TIME.com and PBS.  

“Women have always played a unique role in the shaping of the American environment,” said Dr.  Michelle Iden, professor in the History & Political Science department and co-director of the Legacy Project.  

“Their stories feature vibrant characters and shine a light on an underappreciated, often inspiring, and always complex history.”  This Women’s History Month event is co-sponsored by The Legacy Project’s Commemoration  Committee and The Office of Special Events at CCM. Each of the free events is held via Zoom. Email  legacy@ccm.edu; call 973-328-5469 for additional information.  

The Legacy Project is an interdisciplinary initiative that presents engaging lectures for students, faculty,  staff and members of the public. It is guided by a 35-member advisory committee consisting of faculty  and staff at CCM.  

New Jersey resident Michael E. Uslan plans to discuss his journey as part of the Gates Ferry Distinguished  Visiting Lecture series at Centenary University in Hackettstown during a virtual presentation called “The Boy Who Loved  Batman” on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. 

As a kid growing up in Central Jersey, Uslan was an avid comic book collector who was dismayed by the  campy portrayal of Batman in the 1960s television series. While attending Indiana University, Bloomington, he attempted to break into the film industry, earning national fame for his  creation of a popular course at the university initially called The Comic Book in Society. Publicity  surrounding the course—which was the first accredited college course on comic books—eventually led  to a job offer from DC Comics, owner of the Batman franchise.  

Uslan eventually purchased the rights to Batman from DC Comics. Originator and executive producer of  all the modern Batman movies, beginning in 1989 and continuing to Joker and the imminent release of  The Batman, Uslan also was involved in the production of such films as The Lego Movie, Constantine,  And National Treasure.  He won a Daytime Emmy for Best Animated Series for the children’s television  program, Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?  

He is currently overseeing The Stan Lee Universe and legacy of characters for Genius Brands. Uslan is  also an author, including comic books, graphic novels, and two memoirs, Batman’s Batman  being published on March 1 and The Boy Who Loved Batman, which is being adapted by the Nederlander  Organization into a Broadway play called Darknights and Daydreams.  

To register for the free lecture, visit centenaryuniversity.edu. 

The Gates-Ferry Distinguished Visiting Lecture at Centenary University recognizes the dedication to the  University of Joseph R. Ferry, trustee from 1948 to 1976 and treasurer of the Board of Trustees for 20 years. It was established to set high standards and goals for students and faculty, and to enrich the  quality of life on the Centenary campus.

The Department of Music, Performing Arts & Music Technologies at County College of Morris (CCM) in  Randolph is serving up a special treat for music lovers with a Tech Talk featuring acclaimed drummer Karl  Latham, professor of music at CCM.  

The talk, which is free and open to the public, is set to take place Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 12:30 p.m. in the Music  Technology Center Performance Lab on CCM’s campus. During the presentation, Latham will talk about  DIY recording, releasing and more.  Latham, who also is a producer, engineer and owner of Firefly Studio, has performed, recorded and  produced across many musical genres with Grammy Award winning artists, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame  members and a multitude of renowned artists.  He has performed for nearly 20 years in the groups of European musicians Wolfgang  Lackerschmid and Johannes Mossinger.  Latham co-led the 2016 BMW World Jazz Award  nominated “Constellations” with Mark Egan and Ryan Carniaux and co-leads Don Braden/Karl  Latham Big Fun(K). Latham has worked on the Broadway productions of “Bring It On,” “Hamilton,”  “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and “Ain’t Too Proud.”    Along with teaching at CCM, Latham is an instructor at two other New York area colleges, is an  appointee to the Percussive Arts Society Education Committees and an approved instructor of Gary  Chester “The New Breed.” He is an endorsing artist for Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Evans  Drumheads, Innovative Percussion, RME-USA, AEA Ribbonmics, Heil Sound, Primacoustic, Radial  Engineering, Avantone Pro and Big Fat Snare.

To learn more about the Department of Music, Performing Arts & Music Technologies at CCM, visit  ccm.edu/academics.

There’s no doubt: College students are facing an unusually high amount of stress this semester. And it’s not just the winter blues. In a new survey recently released by leading telehealth firm Timely MD, nearly nine out of ten college students report a major mental health crisis across the nation’s college campuses.

Mental health experts at Centenary University in Hackettstown point to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is entering its third year, as a significant source of stress for college students. In fact, a national survey of almost 1,700 students revealed that 70 percent of college students feel emotional distress and anxiety resulting from the pandemic, and 51 percent say they are more stressed and anxious than last January. In New Jersey, 70 percent of college students report having a higher level of anxiety than a year ago, according to a study by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

College presidents are equally concerned. In a 2021 survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed, 96 percent of U.S. college and university presidents surveyed said the mental health of students is a top concern, while 94 percent reported the same of their employees. 

“There is universal agreement that mental health has to be a top priority on all of our campuses,” said Centenary University President Dr. Bruce Murphy, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army who has studied the effects of stress in the military. “At Centenary, we’ve seen a definite increase in the number of students seeking counseling support since the beginning of the academic year.”

Winter is a particularly fraught time for students. Cold and snowy weather restricts many outdoor activities, which has an impact on overall well-being. 

Mikolaya Nynka, LPC, director of the Centenary University Counseling Center, reported a 24 percent increase in the number of students seeking services compared to fall 2020.

“This winter the Counseling Center is seeing increases in student anxiety, loneliness, depression, and frustration,” comments Nynka. “While COVID-19 accounts for some of this, we are also seeing students impacted by personal traumas and losses. This affects their stress level and ability to function. Getting support and learning the importance of practicing self-care is critical in reducing the potential long-term effects of these stressors.”  Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Kerry Mullins noted that the recent Omicron surge is a reminder that the pandemic will continue to have far-reaching effects.  “As we enter the third year of this pandemic, more than half of our current students have experienced their college days with significant COVID-19 restrictions and related stressors such as loss of loved ones, financial strains, and class and social disruptions associated with isolation and quarantine,” Mullins said. “These pandemic-related stressors, coupled with traditional college pressures such as academic rigor and personal challenges, have certainly resulted in an increased toll on the students’ mental health.”  Nynka and Mullins say that colleges need to be proactive about offering a variety of mental health services tailored to student preferences. Nynka explained that while she prefers to see students in person, counseling sessions have been mostly virtual due to COVID-19. The counseling center also hosts an online wellness platform, YOU@Centenary, designed to meet the needs of the whole student body and tailored specifically to Centenary University and its campus resources. Last semester, the university also invited the Warren County Hope One Initiative to campus. The mobile resource provides lifesaving resources to those struggling with substance abuse and addiction.  “A positive outcome of the pandemic is that it brought mental health to the forefront,” Mullins added. “As we continue to navigate this pandemic and support each other, it is vital that we not only offer services to support our students, but also that people reach out when they see someone in need. We are all in this together.”

Help is available 24/7 for anyone experiencing mental health, depression or self-harming issues: Text NJ to 741741 for free crisis support from New Jersey MentalHealth Cares or call NJ Hopeline at 1-855-654-6735.

Photo: Beverly Mills and Sharon Elaine Buck. co-authors of the book, “If These Stones Could Talk: African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain, and Surrounding Regions of New Jersey.” Photo Credit: Jackie Fay

In celebration of Black History Month, County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph, is offering an online discussion with local historians Beverly Mills and Sharon Elaine Buck who will talk about their book “If These Stones Could Talk: African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain, and Surrounding Regions of New Jersey.”

Mills and Buck serve as trustees of the Stoutsburg Cemetery Association, a historic cemetery for​ people of African descent nestled in the Sourland Mountains in Hopewell. The duo are the founding members of the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum.

According to Kirkus Reviews, the book is “a stunningly thorough and poignant study of African Americans.” Kirkus Reviews goes on to say, “At the heart of this moving chronicle is the authors’ impassioned desire to 'break the cycle of America’s historical omissions' regarding its black citizens, whose significant contributions have often been consigned to oblivion.”

The talk takes place via a live Zoom event on Tuesday, Feb. 22, from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

To participate in the event, email legacy@ccm.edu for the Zoom link. This event is co-sponsored by the Office of Special Events, the Legacy Project's Signature Series and the Legacy Project's Commemoration Committee at CCM.

It will premiere on the CCM YouTube channel starting Friday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. To learn more about CCM, visit www.ccm.edu.  

High school juniors and seniors throughout Morris County can jump start their college education by earning both their high school diploma and up to 39 college credits at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph.     

Through CCM’s Share Time Programs with the Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD), students spend half of their school day on campus taking courses in one of four specific programs – Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts & Hospitality, Cybersecurity & Information Protection, and Engineering, Design & Advanced Manufacturing.      

MCVSD is holding an Information Session for interested 10th grade students and their families on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Community Center on CCM’s campus.     

Registration in advance is requested at www.mcvts.org/apply/. MCVSD is currently enrolling students for Fall 2022. In the event of inclement weather, the Information Session will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24.     

The Share Time Criminal Justice Program is for students interested in law, public safety, corrections and security. College courses cover such areas as public safety careers, criminology, policing, emergency management, juvenile delinquency, forensic science and cultural diversity.      The Culinary Arts & Hospitality Program, housed in CCM’s state-of-the-art professional kitchen and dining room, gives students a solid foundation of knowledge and management principles used in restaurant-style service, with real food truck experience, plus an introduction to baking. These studies can lead to careers in such diverse fields at hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, amusement parks, convention centers, country clubs, travel, tourism, destination marketing, event planning and other related industries.     

Students in the Cybersecurity & Information Protection (CIP) Program take information technology and cybersecurity courses at CCM’s Center for Cyber Security. CCM was the first community college in New Jersey to be designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. To gain that designation, CCM needed to demonstrate that its cybersecurity curriculum is aligned with national standards. Classes offered are information technology, network security, software engineering, ethical hacking, digital forensics and more.     

Engineering, Design & Advanced Manufacturing (EDAM) offers students classes in engineering, computer science, electronics and other technology applications. Students also get to participate in HUNCH, the High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware program, where they fabricate parts for the International Space Station. In addition, they may earn a certificate in mechanical engineering technology.      

Upon high school graduation and completion of the two-year Share Time Program, students are provided with multiple pathways to pursue on their way to building a rewarding career. They can: Continue attending CCM and earn an associate degree; gain additional skills through CCM’s Center for Workforce Development and apprenticeship opportunities; enter the workforce with college credit; and transfer with advanced standing to a four-year college or university.      Students in 10th grade may apply via an online application at www.mcvts.org/apply; click on Share Time Programs. The application deadline is March 31. For additional information, email didomenicog@mcvts.org or call 973-627-4600, ext. 277.