The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority will celebrate its 50th anniversary with its annual Recycling Awards Dinner on Friday, Nov. 7 at the Hanover Manor, 16 Eagle Rock Avenue in East Hanover.

In keeping with the 50th anniversary motif, the theme of this year's dinner is "The Golden Age of Recycling."

Also during the dinner, the MUA will honor individuals, businesses, municipalities, civic, educational and other groups for their contributions toward waste reduction, reuse, recycling or the purchase and use of recycled products.

Since the MUA began sponsoring the awards dinner in 1988, more than 250 recycling advocates have been recognized.

When the Morris County Freeholders created the MUA in 1958, the agency was strictly a water authority. Over the years, its responsibilities grew to include solid waste reduction, reuse and recycling, household hazardous waste disposal and litter abatement.

The MUA also recently revised the county's solid waste management plan to emphasize that the recycling of certain materials is mandated by law for all residents, businesses, schools and other institutions in Morris County.

Tickets for the dinner, which begins with a cash bar cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m., are $38 per person.

More information may be obtained by calling the Morris County MUA at 973-285-8396, or by visiting the MUA Web site, www.mcmua.com.

---

The Morris County Department of Human Services is assisting the state in promoting the Safe Haven Infant Protection Law, which allows an individual to give up an unwanted infant with no fear of arrest or prosecution.

The county wants the public to know that under the Safe Haven law, a distressed parent who is unable or unwilling to care for an infant may give up custody of a baby that is up to 30 days old and shows no signs of abuse or neglect by taking the child to a local hospital or police station, with no questions asked.

An individual acting on the parents' behalf may also bring the baby to a Safe Haven location, again with no questions asked. The child will be examined and given medical treatment, if needed, and will then be taken into custody by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services who will place the infant in a pre-adoptive home.

If the mother brings in the baby, she will be offered medical treatment and social services, which she may refuse if she wishes.

Morris County's publicity effort is targeting all females of child-bearing age.

The county has informational posters and brochures about the Safe Haven Infant Protection Program that it will distribute to businesses, places of worship, libraries and other establishments that are willing to display the information.

Since the Safe Haven law was enacted in 2000, three infants have been safely surrendered in Morris County.

More information about the Safe Haven law may be obtained by calling the Safe Haven Hotline, 1-877-839-2339, or by visiting the Safe Have Web site, www.njsafehaven.org.

Any organization wanting to post or distribute Safe Haven information may contact Kellye Smith of the Morris County Department of Human Services at 973-285-6864.

---

A online survey is giving commuters and existing bus riders in northwest New Jersey an opportunity to share their views on how the transit system can better meet their needs.

The survey is a key element of a study of bus service in parts of Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties that is being conducted by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and NJ TRANSIT.

TransOptions, the Transportation Management Association for the area, is hosting the survey. Those interested can go to www.nwnjbus.org to link to the survey, which asks questions about transit use, transportation needs and related issues.

The survey provides all travelers - including those in areas that are currently not served by buses or other transit - with a chance to discuss their needs and make transit-related recommendations.

The Northwest New Jersey Bus Study will develop a comprehensive look at the needs for future bus service as well as current and emerging bus service, parking and facility needs. Onboard surveys of bus riders already are well underway.

The NJTPA and NJ TRANSIT are co-managing the project, which will consider potential bus improvements on several critical travel corridors, including parts of Interstate 80 and Routes 15, 23, 46 and 94.

The study will examine existing markets and identify emerging ones for bus travel to employment centers and other destinations, ultimately leading to recommendations for more travel options for residents and workers in the area.

Improvements considered may include new and restructured routes; new or expanded park-and-ride facilities; vanpool, carpool or shuttle operations; and possible highway improvements such as shoulder lanes in congested areas.

---

The Morris County Sheriff's CrimeStoppers Program reminds county residents that information about criminal activity may lead to a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Under the CrimeStoppers Program, citizens who have information relating to crimes, criminal activity or fugitives may call 973-COP-CALL or 1-800 SHERIFF. Their information will be taken by a CrimeStoppers operator and forwarded to the proper law enforcement agency. The information will be kept confidential, and the name of the individual is never asked.

If that information leads to an arrest and an indictment, the individual is eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

CrimeStoppers is a program designed to encourage cooperation between the citizenry and the law enforcement community. It offers citizens direct and easy access to their law enforcement community and the incentives of anonymity and a cash reward.

Morris County Sheriff's CrimeStoppers is a non-profit corporation funded by contributions from the business and private sector. It is administered by a volunteer civilian Board of Commissioners who oversees the routine business affairs, control the finances and determine reward amounts and the methods of payment.

---

For the 34th consecutive year, the nation's two largest bond rating agencies have bestowed a AAA rating on Morris County bonds.

Both Moody's Investors Service, Inc., and Standard & Poor's gave the county their highest government rating.

Standard and Poor's said its rating reflects Morris County's "strong and diversified economic base."

The agency also applauded the county government for what it called "a history of sound financial planning and conservative budgeting."

"I think the rating agencies were also gratified to see that the freeholders have started a process of program-based budgeting," Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom said.

"We are taking a hard look at county government programs, eliminating ones that are too costly, obsolete or redundant and maintaining and delivering needed services in a more efficient manner. We are not only looking at this year, but 2009 and 2001 as well."

The AAA rating is important because the higher the rating, the more money the county and Morris taxpayers save in interest payments on bond and note sales.

---

The Morris County Youth Shelter this summer collected more than 7,000 diapers for distribution to needy Morris County families.

Kristen Lewin, adolescent counselor at the Shelter, coordinated the countywide diaper drive. The Whippany resident said the inspiration for the drive came after the Youth Shelter residents and staff volunteered at the Interfaith Food Pantry and saw families who needed not only the food, but also diapers and other essentials for their children.

"We all were inspired to try to help in some small way and the Diaper Drive seemed like a great way for us to give back to the community," Lewin said.

The Youth Shelter arranged for drop off locations at several county government facilities as well as Temple B’nai Or in Morristown. The Hanover Township School Age Child Care Summer Program also joined in, making this one of their projects for the summer.

The 7,000 diapers have been distributed to the Interfaith Food Pantry, the Morris County Office of Temporary Assistance and Child & Family Resources, all of whom partner in the community to help needy families.

"The diaper drive has given the youth at the Shelter a sense of community and the feeling of helping others less fortunate," said Mark Smith, Shelter director. "This is an important part of the philosophy at the Shelter, which provides short-term care for children who, for various reasons, can no longer stay in their homes."

Christine Kelly Gothmann, youth activities coordinator at the Shelter, said the staff and residents of the Shelter hope to make the diaper drive an annual event.

"The diaper driver gave staff and youth alike a chance to participate in a most worthy cause," Gothmann, of Denville, said. "It gave us a tremendous opportunity to help others."

For more information about the Morris County Youth Shelter or to learn how you can help with future diaper drives, call (973) 285-2970 or visit the Morris County website at www.co.morris.nj.us.

---

More than 500 people Sunday evening attended Morris County's observance of the 7th anniversary of 9-11.

They heard New York firefighter John Fila, who grew up in Boonton, tell of the horror of his firehouse having all 15 of the firefighters on duty the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, killed in their rescue attempts after two planes hijacked by terrorists hit the World Trade Center.

Among the firefighters killed was one who only a day or two before had asked if he could work for Fila on Sept. 11.

The county's annual Remembrance Service and Candlelight Vigil was conducted at the Morris County September 11th Memorial on West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany, next to the county's Public Safety Training Academy, where Fila said he received his training as a firefighter.

The September 11th Memorial pays tribute to all of those who died in the terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C., placing special emphasis on the 64 victims from Morris County whose names are engraved on plaques affixed to the Memorial’s base.

For the first time Sunday, the public had the chance to view ruby-colored paving stones engraved with the names of each of the nearly 3,000 people who died Sept. 11, and which have been set in the ground as a walkway surrounding the Memorial.

"Each paver is etched with the name of one of the innocent victims whose life was stolen from us," said Morris County Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom. "Each paver and each plaque is a symbol of a person whose death September 11 left a gaping hole in the hearts of many."

---