As part of its White-tailed Deer Management Program, the Morris County Park Commission will be conducting a controlled deer hunt in several county parks.

The program aims to reduce the threats posed to native flora and fauna by an overabundant deer population.

The controlled hunts are specifically used as a population management tool and do not represent recreational hunting opportunities.

The following parks will be CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC on the specified dates listed and will only be opened to hunters with access permits. Hunting is prohibited at all other times.

Mount Hope Historical County Park in Rockaway Township on Dec. 17, 18 and 19;

Black River County Park - Cooper Mill, Kay Environmental Center, Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center and Willowwood Arboretum in Chester Township on Dec. 4, 10, 11, 18, Jan. 15, 22, 29, 2009 and Feb. 5, 11, 2009;

Schooley’s Mountain County Park in Washington Township on Dec. 4, 11, 18, Jan. 15, 22, 29, 2009 and Feb. 5, 11, 2009;

Lewis Morris County Park in Harding, Mendham, and Morris townships on Dec. 3, 10, 17, Jan. 14, 21, 28, 2009 and Feb. 4, 11, 2009 until noon;

Loantaka Brook Reservation in Chatham, Harding and Morris townships, Section 1: Kitchell Road to Loantaka Way on Dec. 10, 11, Jan. 7, 8, 2009, Feb. 4, 5, 2009; Section 2: Loantaka Way to Green Village Road on Dec. 17, 18, Jan. 14, 15, 2009, Feb. 18, 19, 2009;

Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, Turkey Mountain only in Kinnelon and Montville on Dec. 4, 11, 18, Jan. 13, 20, 27, 2009, Feb. 3, 10, 2009.

Additional information about the Park Commission's White-tailed Deer Management Program may be obtained by calling 973-326-7622.

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The Morris County Public Safety Training Academy is again offering an Alternate Route Basic Course for Police Officers.

The program gives individuals interested in becoming police officers the opportunity to attend a police training academy at their own expense prior to being hired by a police department.

The alternate route program creates a pool of trained officers for communities to hire while saving local police departments the expense associated with officer training.

Registration for the written examination, given to qualified individuals to participate in the training course, is being conducted at the Public Safety Training Academy, formerly the Firefighters and Police Training Academy, 500 West Hanover Ave., Parsippany-Troy Hills, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. through Jan. 9.

Registration is for the July 2009 and January 2010 basic police classes.

Candidates must reside in Morris, Sussex or Warren counties and must present two proofs of residency at the time of registration. Candidates must also pay a $75 non-refundable registration fee in cash or money order payable to the Morris County Firefighters and Police Training Academy. Personal checks will not be accepted.

The written exam will be given at the academy at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Candidates for the alternate route program must be 18 and no older than 35 by the completion of the program and in good health.

Individuals must also have a minimum of 60 college credits or two years of active military service or a combination of the two. Proof of military service is required when registering.

Candidates must be U. S. citizens, be of good moral character, and must not have been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.

In addition to the written exam, the selection process consists of a physical agility test, comprehensive background investigation, oral interviews, medical and psychological examinations and drug testing through urinalysis.

This program has been approved for Morris County by the New Jersey Police Training Commission.

More information about the Alternate Route Basic Course for Police Officers may be obtained by calling the academy at 973-285-2979 or by visiting the academy Web site, www.morrisacademy.org.

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The Morris County Library's series of free career resource seminars continues in December.

The first session, Local Resources for Job Seekers, is Monday, Dec. 1 from noon until 1:30 p.m. and will concentrate on the free job search sources available to all job seekers. This session will also cover such topics as cover letters, resumes, job outlooks, interviews and networking, recruiters, agencies and career change.

A Crash Course in Company Research is set for Monday, Dec. 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m. This session will cover everything you need to know about researching potential employers, including company profiles and financial information, products and services, company history and its corporate family tree.

Internet Job Search Tips will be discussed at a seminar Monday, Dec. 15 from noon to 1:30 p.m. This strategy session will focus on the practical aspects of searching for jobs on the Internet and will include New Jersey jobs, Civil Service jobs, salary surveys, online ads, employment services and online resumes.

The Target Job Search is the theme of the fourth career seminar scheduled for Monday, Dec. 22 from noon to 1:30 p.m. This session will explain how to take a proactive role in a job search, and how to identify potential employers meeting your professional standards and personal style.

A fifth workshop, Online Job Applications, will be conducted Monday, Dec. 29 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Filling out sample job applications online and security issues will be among the topics discussed.

Space is limited and registration is required. Individuals may sign up for the entire series or a single session. All of the seminars will be held at the Morris County Library, 30 East Hanover Avenue in Whippany.

More information may be obtained by calling the library at (973) 285-6939, or by visiting the library’s Web site, www.mclib.info.

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The state's Home Energy Assistance Program is now taking applications from eligible Morris County residents who may be having trouble paying their heating bills.

The HEA Program helps individuals and families who pay their own heating bills or who have their heating included in their unsubsidized rent.

Applications are evaluated by household size, monthly gross income, heating bills and several other criteria.

The HEA Program is administered by the New Jersey departments of Community Affairs and Energy through the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs, which for the past eight years has been designated by the state as the county agency to receive the applications for assistance.

Applications for the HEA Program are being accepted now to April 30.

For more information or to request an application, contact the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs at its 95-97 Basset Highway location in Dover at (973) 366-1131, or at its 120-122 Speedwell Ave. office in Morristown at (973) 644-5627.

The agency is also available to provide presentations about the HEA program and the application process in front of senior citizen, church and community service groups.

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The Morris County Freeholders have put the governor and state legislature on notice that they "unequivocally" oppose any attempt by the state to auction excess property at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital for private use.

The freeholders, in a resolution sent to Gov. Jon Corzine and legislative leaders, said state law requires any surplus land transferred from Greystone be designated as parkland, open space, historic or farmland preservation, for municipal or county use, or for state Department of Human Services programs of administrative purposes.

However, the freeholders said there appears to be a movement by the state to recommend the public auction of 130 acres of newly declared surplus property at Greystone for private use.

The board contends such action allowing for private development would be a clear violation of existing law, and would have a negative impact on the support services of neighboring municipalities.

The freeholders also said private development of the property would be inconsistent with the continued provision of psychiatric and social services at Greystone itself, and the newly created Central Park of Morris County recreation and social services complex.

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Careful. That plastic "bottle" you are about to put into your recycling bin may not be acceptable in your town's recycling program. In fact, it may not even be a bottle.

According to the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, for a plastic container to be acceptable in most Morris County municipalities, it must in fact be a bottle, and it must also have the correct code on or near its bottom.

"For an item to be considered a bottle, its neck or opening must be narrower than its 'shoulders' and its bottom," said Penny Jones, recycling education specialist with the MUA. "Some examples of acceptable bottles are those used for soda, water, juice, milk, shampoo and laundry detergent."

Jones said the bottle must also be coded #1 PETE or #2 HDPE. Plastic containers with codes other than #1 or #2, or those with no codes at all are not recyclable, she said.

Before putting the coded #1 or #2 bottles into a recycling bin, the good recycler should put the cap or lid into the trash, and not back onto the bottle. Then he or she should rinse the bottle and put in into the recycling bin.

Empty bottles that once contained hazardous materials such as motor oil or antifreeze must be put into the trash.

Residents, businesses and institutions who have questions about the acceptable recyclable materials where they live are encouraged to call their municipal recycling coordinators.

More information on recycling may also be obtained by visiting the MUA Web site, www.MCMUA.com or by calling the MCMUA at (973) 285-8394.

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The Morris County School of Technology is encouraging 8th grade students eligible to attend a Morris County high school and their parents to consider applying to one of the school's academic and career academies.

An 8th grade student has until Dec. 5 to apply.

Academies are scholastically-challenging "schools within a school," designed to attract students who have similar interests and aspirations.

The Academies of Morris County are individual magnet high schools that offer students a challenging and exciting curriculum designed to prepare them for the rigors of college and a future career.

Additionally, the students who attend the Academies of Morris County enjoy all the benefits of a high school athletic program and extra-curricular activities within a small school atmosphere.

Students may select from among The Academy of Automotive Sciences; The Academy for Visual & Performing Arts; The Academy for Networking Information; The School of Cosmetology; The Academy of Construction Arts; The School of Culinary Arts; The Academy for Finance and International Business; The School of Veterinary Science; The Academy for Health Care Sciences; The School of Child Related Careers; The Academy for Law & Public Safety; and The Academy for Mathematics, Science and Engineering.

In every case, students take a college-preparatory program that provides them with multiple options after graduation, including admission to some of the finest colleges and universities or a career path to entry-level employment in some of the nation's fastest growing industries.

An 8th grade student has until Dec. 5 to apply.

For additional information, call the Morris County School of Technology at (973) 627-4600, Ext. 277, or visit the school's Web site, www.mcvts.org.

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The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders will solicit input from the public Dec. 10 on the 2009 county budget.

The Freeholder Budget Committee has been meeting on a regular basis throughout the year and is now in the process of formulating next year's spending plan.

Committee members will be available Dec. 10 prior to the regular public freeholder meeting to meet informally with any county resident, mayor or member of any local governing body who would like to share his or her ideas about county government spending next year.

"It's important for the public and local elected officials to have a better understanding of the county's budget process," said Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom. "The freeholders face some difficult budget decisions in 2009. We continue to thoroughly examine all of our programs, and we welcome any thoughts our constituents may have about county spending."

The Dec. 10 session will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Knox Room on the fifth floor of the Administration and Records Building on Court Street in Morristown.

Individuals who are unable to attend the informal session may send their written comments to the Morris County Administrator's Office, PO Box 900, Morristown, N.J., 07963-0900.

Comments may also be e-mailed to the freeholders in care of the county public information office at jgarifo@co.morris.nj.us.

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The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders has approved spending $23,093,836 from the county's Preservation Trust Fund to help preserve 21 projects in 16 towns.

The freeholders approved funding the projects based upon the recommendations of the county's Open Space Committee, which reviewed 30 applications.

The largest grant, $6 million, went to the nonprofit Trust for Public Land to assist in the purchase of 187.7 acres of vacant woodlands next to Lewis Morris County Park, Jockey Hollow National Historic Park and preserved land in the Washington Valley Historic District. Acquisition of the woodlands, which are within the Delbarton School, will enhance trail linkages to Patriot’s Path and other regional trails.

Montville received a grant of $2,541,980 to acquire two densely forested properties on either side of Miller Lane known as Starkey Park. The 48.6 acres are adjacent to municipally preserved land and also contain wetlands and trails for passive recreation.

The smallest grant award, $40,000, went to Morris Plains for the purchase of less than half an acre of property on Route 202 behind the Shop Rite-Kohl's Shopping Center. The property will enable an existing trail network to be connected, providing passive recreation in a highly urbanized area.

Other grant recipients were Boonton in the amount of $1 million for the Miller-Kingsland property; Boonton Township in the amount of $1 million for the Kokora II project; Denville, which had two projects approved, in the amounts of $300,000 for property directly east of the Knuth Farm and $222,000 for the Kovacs Property; the nonprofit Protect Our Wetlands, Water & Woods in the amount of $700,000 for Jonathan’s Woods Extension; Florham Park in the amount of $1 million for the Passaic River Greenway Project; and Jefferson Township in the amount of $850,000 for the Casterock Preserve.

Also receiving open space grants were Kinnelon in the amount of $1.4 million for the Weber Tract; Madison in the amount of $1.3 million for the Madison Recreation Center; Mendham Borough in the amount of $110,000 for Tranquility Garden; Mendham Township, which also had two projects approved, in the amounts of $1.5 million for Pitney Farm and $1.85 million for the Leddell Preserve; The Schiff Natural Lands Trust in the amount of $1.75 million for the North Branch Addition to Schiff; Morris Plains in the amount of $289,856 for open space on the north side of Malapardis Road; the Passaic River Coalition in the amount of $687,500 for the Willow Hall Property in Morristown; the Canal Society of New Jersey in the amount of $82,500 for the Morris Canal Greenway; Pequannock Township in the amount of $70,000 for the Woodland Lake Park Extension; and Roxbury Township in the amount of $400,000 for the Landing Recreation Project.

A complete list of the 2008 approved projects will soon be found on the Morris County Preservation Trust website, http://www.morrispreservation.org.

A tax of 4 cents per $100 of assessed property value is used to fund the program. Any of the 39 municipalities in the county and qualified charitable conservancies are eligible to apply for project funding.

Since the Open Space program began in 1994, nearly 17,700 acres of open space have been preserved in Morris County.

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The Morris County Improvement Authority and the Morris County Freeholders have introduced a Countywide Renewable Energy Initiative.

The program is being offered to all municipalities, public school districts and local authorities in the county and consists of having renewable energy sources such as wind devices or solar panels installed, where possible, on buildings or on the grounds of program participants.

The initiative would be financed by the Improvement Authority, with bonds guaranteed by the county. The Improvement Authority would absorb all debt service payments, which would be funded through the resale of the electricity generated by the alternative energy sources.

Freeholder William Chegwidden, liaison to the Improvement Authority, said partnering with the county under this program will make it more cost effective for a town or school district to "go green."

"Implementing a renewable energy program can be much too expensive for an individual town or school district," Chegwidden said. "Morris County's initiative would allow a town or school district to go green by joining with the county to reduce a portion of its energy bills and not incur any out-of-pocket costs."

Under the initiative, the county will hire an energy consultant to determine if renewable energy devices would be feasible in a participating town or school district, and where the devices could be placed.

The Improvement Authority plans to explain the initiative at two information sessions Dec. 11. The first, at 8:30 a.m. at the Morris County Library, is for school districts. The second, at 6 p.m. in the Freeholder Public Meeting Room in Morristown, is for municipalities.

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The Morris County Freeholders on Nov. 12 presented Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals to 12 veterans in recognition of their service to our nation.

Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom praised the recipients for their service, patriotism and sacrifices.

"You took an oath of service to protect and defend this great nation of ours, and you did so with courage and determination both here, and in conflicts around the world," Nordstrom told the veterans. "We owe all of you an enormous gratitude."

Medals were posthumously awarded to World War II veterans Charles B. Jones of Madison; Gordon W. McWilliams of Mountain Lakes; and Donald Silverthorne of Lake Hiawatha. Family members accepted the medals on behalf of each of their deceased loved one.

The freeholders presented medals to Korean War veteran Ronald R. Bauer of Florham Park and Lawrence C. Forno of Convent Station who served during the Cuban missile crisis.

Vietnam veterans honored by the freeholders were Thomas M. Bacon of Morristown; Charles Bradshaw of Mine Hill; James A. Corlett of Madison; Anthony Desimone of Morristown; Dr. Kenneth Gerwin of Morristown; and Gary Flanagan of Dover.

Receiving a medal for his service during the Gulf War was Raymond J. Vito of Cedar Knolls.

Since the freeholders began the program in 2000, more than 8,400 Distinguished Military Service Medals have been presented to veterans or to their family members.

More information about the program may be obtained by contacting the Morris County Veterans Service Office at 973-285-6866.

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The Academies of Morris County are winding down the parent-student information sessions for parents and their 8th grade students that they have been conducting for the past few weeks.

The sessions are geared toward students and parents wanting to obtain more information about the 12 full-time publicly-supported academic and career academies for Morris County high school students.

The information sessions will help parents learn how the magnet high school program administered by the Morris County Vocational School District can enhance a child's education.

The final parent-student information session for the Academy of Automotive Sciences; the Academy of Construction Arts; the Academy of Networking Information Technology & Communications; the Academy for Health Care Sciences; the Academy for Finance and International Business; the Academy for Visual & Performing Arts; the School of Cosmetology; the School of Child Related Careers; the School of Veterinary Science; and the School of Culinary Arts will be conducted Saturday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. at the Morris County School of Technology, 400 East Main Street, Denville.

A last information session for the Academy for Mathematics, Science and Engineering will be conducted Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at Morris Hills High School, 520 West Main Street, Rockaway.

One final session for the Academy for Law & Public Safety will be held Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at Butler High School, 38 Bartholdi Avenue, Butler.

More information about the parent-student information sessions may be obtained by calling the Morris County School of Technology at 973-627-4600, ext. 277 or by visiting the school's Web site at www.mcvts.org.

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The threat of West Nile virus being transmitted to humans may be over for the year, but the work of the Morris County Mosquito Commission is not.

In the past few days, since Nov. 3, crews from the Mosquito Commission and the Municipal Utilities Authority have found and removed for recycling more than 330 discarded tires from streams, roadsides and wooded areas in eight locations.

Kristian McMorland, superintendent of the Mosquito Commission, said 22 of those tires were found and removed from one known West Nile Virus location off Blackwell Street in Dover.

"Finding that many tires in such a short amount of time is real cause for concern," McMorland said. "Tires that can hold standing water make perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. By removing abandoned or illegally dumped tires, we are helping to reduce mosquito levels and the threat of West Nile virus next year."

Finding and removing the abandoned tires are part of the commission's year-round mosquito control activities.

McMorland noted abandoned or illegally dumped tires can also contaminate waterways and surface water run-off.

Anyone knowing of a location where tires have been dumped or discarded may call the Mosquito Commission at (973) 285-6450 or the MUA at (973) 285-8390.

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The Morris County 4- H is selling 2009 Entertainment Books, with proceeds benefitting the Morris County 4-H Lubrano Scholarship fund.

The 2009 Entertainment Book contains hundreds of discount coupons for dining, shopping, sporting events, lodging, movie theaters, attractions and much more.

The Lubrano Scholarship is a memorial scholarship started in memory of the late Andy Lubrano, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in California 1993. Lubrano was a 4-H member for many years who raised Seeing Eye Puppies.

The Morris County 4-H awards a $1,000 scholarship each year to a senior who has been in 4-H at least during his or her four years of high school.

The 2009 Entertainment Book is $25.

To purchase a book, call the Morris County 4-H office at 973-285-8300, ext 230.

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