Morris County has been rated by Forbes.com as one of the best places in America to raise a family.

Forbes ranked Morris County 6th among 20 counties across the nation, ahead of such counties as Marin County, Calif., Washington County, R.I., Albemarle County, Va., and Somerset and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey.

According to Forbes, Morris earned its 6th place ranking for several reasons, including what it called "a phenomenal high school graduation rate of 98.4 per cent."

Other factors used in the rating system included cost of living, home price, property tax rate as a percentage of median home price, percentage of homes occupied by owner, per-capita income, air quality, crime rate and commute time.

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The Morris County Mosquito Commission is asking for the public's assistance in its efforts to control and reduce the mosquito population in the county and minimize the threat of the diseases they carry.

Kristian McMorland, commission superintendent, said the most important thing a homeowner can do is exercise more vigilance around his or her yard.

"Mosquitoes need water for breeding," McMorland said. "By eliminating standing water around the outside of a house, a homeowner is helping to reduce mosquito levels."

McMorland said there has been a considerable spike in recent days in the population of the Culex mosquito.

"These mosquitoes are container breeders and are most likely utilizing containers in residents' backyards to breed," McMorland said.

He said cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have accumulated outside a home should be emptied or disposed of.

McMorland said wheelbarrows and plastic wading pools that are not in use should be turned over, water in bird baths should be changed regularly, clogged gutters should be cleared and larger pools, even if they are not being used, should be cleaned and chlorinated.

More information about the Morris County Mosquito Commission may be obtained on its Web site, www.morrismosquito.org, or by calling the commission at (973) 285-6450.

The Web site is updated on a regular basis with the latest news about the commission's activities in the fight against mosquitoes, including information about spray operations, times and specific spray locations and neighborhoods.

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