Approximately 400 smiling graduates participated in commencement exercises at County College of Morris in Randolph on May 28.

The ceremony culminated the college's 40th anniversary year. Since CCM opened its doors in 1968, 41,231 students have earned degrees or certificates, with 1,101 students receiving their degrees in the 2008 - 2009 academic year.

Holding to tradition, CCM President Edward J Yaw gave the keynote address, using the opportunity to highlight several outstanding students. Freeholder Director Gene F. Feyl also addressed the graduates, congratulating them for achieving what he said was a "a milestone" in their lives.

"You have met all of the challenges that a college education threw your way," Feyl said. "You should be very proud of what you have accomplished."

Some of the most popular programs CCM students received degrees in are: Humanities Social Science (Liberal Arts), Business Administration, Nursing, Criminal Justice, Biology and Exercise Science.

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

The first session, Local Resources for Job Seekers, is Monday, June 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 Monday, June 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m. This session will cover everything you need to know to 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, June 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 and online resumes.

A third seminar June 22 from noon to 1:30 will tackle online job applications and the various ways to apply for positions opnline.

Networking 101 is a new topic and will be the theme of a seminar June 29 from noon to 1:30 p.m. This session will focus on proven strategies, innovative techniques and "guerilla tactics," with special emphasis on local opportunities.

Space for each seminar 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 Morris County Freeholders on May 27 presented the county's Distinguished Military Service Medal to 15 Morris County veterans during the annual Memorial Day observance on the front lawn of the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown.

Veterans who received medals were Kevin Perry of Denville; Andrew Adams of Flanders; Paul Adams of Flanders; Brian Costanza of Flanders; Anthony T. Luzetsky of Lake Hopatcong; Jack Ford of Madison; Joe Replogle of Mendham; Peter J. King of Montville; Michael Laver of Morris Plains; Emerson Crooks of Randolph; Steve Goetz of Rockaway; James Tom of Rockaway; Dana B. Phelps of Rockaway; Roberto Bracero Jr. of Roxbury; and Robert J. Barone of Wharton.

The freeholders began their practice of honoring the county's veterans with Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals in 2000. Since that time, some 8,400 medals, unique to Morris County, have been presented to veterans or to their family members.

To learn more about the Distinguished Military Service Medal, contact the Morris County Veterans Services Office at 973-285-6866.

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The Morris County Freeholders have gone on record as being opposed to a proposal by Gov. Jon Corzine to transfer $4 million from a dedicated EMT Training Fund to other areas of the state budget.

The training fund was established by the state in 1992 to reimburse certified agencies that train and test volunteer ambulance, first aid and rescue squad personnel who are seeking emergency medical technician certification or recertification.

Transferring $4 million from the dedicated fund and leaving it with only $400,000 will result in volunteer first responders having to pay for training themselves and will have an adverse impact on public health and volunteer emergency services, according to the freeholders.

According to the freeholders, re-allocating the money will shift the cost of volunteer EMT training to the volunteers, the county, municipalities and residents when they can least afford it. The freeholders said it is unfair to ask those who generously volunteer their time to attend training courses and answer emergency calls to now have to pay for their own training when they already provide so much to their community.

The EMT Training Fund is supported by a 50-cent surcharge on each fine collected by the state for motor vehicle violations, and not by tax dollars.

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The Morris County Freeholders on May 13 honored the 38 recipients of
the 2009 Valor and Meritorious Awards presented by the 200 Club of Morris County.

"Morris County is blessed to have an exceptional group of first responders - police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel who regularly put their lives at risk to save ours," said Gene F. Feyl, Morris County freeholder director. "The freeholders consider it an honor to be able to recognize these brave men and women."

The freeholders presented framed resolutions of commendation to Michael Heath, Danny Jenkins, Sara Matthews and David Tsolakis of the Rockaway Township Fire Department; John Heston Allocco, Barbara Coulter, Erin Crowley, William Dudley, Katherine Erck and Christie K. Graham of the New Vernon Volunteer First Aid Squad; and officers Michael Gromek and Daniel Irons of the Harding Township Police Department.

Also recognized by the freeholders were Mountain Lakes patrolmen Brian Bolitski and Jason Dimick; firefighter Donald A. Gunthner of the Lincoln Park Fire Department; Sergeant William Karback and patrolmen James Herbek and Ronald Wenzel of the Lincoln Park Police Department; Detective Sergeant Michael J. Buckley, Detective Keith F. Cregan, Detective Robert B. Gibbons, Sergeant Robert F. Holtz, Detective Thomas Loia, Patrolman Bruce W. Summers and Police Officer Scott Thomas Weaver of the Morristown Police Department; and Denville Police officers Richard J. Byrne , Jr. and Daniel S. Fernandez.

The freeholders also honored Paterson Patrol Officer Corey M. Green; Special Agent Michael A. Alongi of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and New Jersey State Police officers Daniel G. O'Brien, Wojciech Jastrzab, Matthew J. Benjamin, Louis S. Crisafulli, Cesar A. Garces, Richard Mondragon, Jeffrey R. Heimbach, Tyrone A. Coronato and Detective Sergeant Thomas M. Ryan.

Each of the individuals was selected by the 200 Club of Morris County for having displayed bravery and heroism in 2008 while putting their lives on the line to serve and protect others.

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Boaters who are getting their vessels ready for some fun on the water have a program once again enabling them to protect the environment as much as they protect their own boats.

The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority and the Morris County Park Commission are partnering for the second year in a row to conduct a free recycling program for boat shrink-wrap.

The Park Commission is hosting a collection container for boat shrink-wrap at Lee's Marina County Park on Lake Hopatcong through June 30.

Plastic shrink-wrap is a popular and cost-effective material used by marinas and boat owners alike to protect boats and other marine vessels from harsh winter weather conditions, sunshine and other harmful elements.

"Up until now, there were very few alternatives to disposing of most of the boat shrink-wrap generated in Morris County except depositing the material in a landfill," said Penny Jones, recycling education specialist with the MCMUA. "This recycling program is a far better option."

The collection container at Lee's Marina, 443 Howard Boulevard, Mount Arlington, is marked for shrink-wrap. Boat as well as marina owners are asked to roll their dry shrink-wrap up on a clean surface, tie it into a bundle using a strip cut from the end of the wrap as a tie, and put it into the recycling container from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day of the collection program. Owners of boats or watercraft that are stored or docked elsewhere may also take their shrink-wrap to Lee’s Marina County Park for recycling.

Approximately 11 tons of boat shrink-wrap were collected in 2008 and kept out of landfills.

More information about the program may be obtained by calling the MCMUA at 973-285 8394.

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Human Service providers have been informed that Request for Funding Application packets for state and county funding for 2010 are now available from the Morris County Department of Human Services.

Each packet contains detailed information about the application process. Funding application requests must be submitted to be considered for Chapter 51 state funding for substance abuse prevention, education and treatment programs and for Older Americans Act funding for programs to provide services in access, home, community and nutrition support for people 60 years of age and older and their caregivers.

Applications will also be considered to renew funding for programs under Grant In Aid for the areas of mental health, substance abuse, aging, veterans, disabilities, youth services and general human services; Peer Grouping to prevent premature institutionalization for the elderly and/or disabled; Social Services for the Homeless for short-term assistance for families at risk of homelessness; the Personal Assistance Services Program for persons with disabilities; State-Community Partnership for community-based services for at-risk juveniles or to prevent juvenile delinquency; and Child Abuse Prevention education models geared toward the family.

Full applications may be submitted for renewal funding streams and will be considered in the unforeseen event that funding becomes available. All completed applications must be submitted to the Morris County Department of Human Services by 3p.m. June 26.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Morris County Department of Human Services at (973) 285-6850.

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Morris-Sussex-Warren Employment & Training Services is offering summer employment to income-qualified youth between the ages of 16 and 24.

The agency is taking part in the 2009 Youth Summer Work Experience Program, offering summer jobs at participating government offices, schools, community-based organizations and nonprofit agencies.

The program is expected to run from July 6 to Aug. 28, depending on the number of young people who sign up. Only youth who meet the income eligibility requirements under the Workforce Investment Act funded thorough the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be able to participate.

Once qualified, the youth will be assigned to approved worksites by the Morris-Sussex-Warren Employment and Training Services. Typical jobs may include assisting in routine office duties, general indoor or outdoor maintenance, recreation aide and food service assistant.

Each job will pay $7.25 an hour, and the work week will be between 20 and 30 hours. The positions are limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis by those who qualify.

Additional information may be obtained by calling the Morris-Sussex-Warren Employment and Training Services at 973-829-8400, or toll-free at 1-800-870-3478.

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Are you planning to move, or are you simply doing some spring cleaning?

The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority reminds you that before you start throwing out your unwanted items, certain materials are required by law to be recycled and not placed in the trash.

Those items are cardboard boxes; plastic bottles coded 1 & 2; glass bottles and jars; aluminum and steel (tin) cans; newspapers; copy paper; junk mail; organic materials; used motor oil; hazardous dry cell batteries; lead-acid batteries; metal appliances; whole tires; and oil-contaminated soil.

The MUA notes that towns and the county are now able to fine waste generators who do not recycle.

Tips on getting rid of your cast-offs, information about mandated recyclable materials, the schedule for your town's curbside recycling program and decals for recycling and trash bins are available by contacting your local municipal recycling coordinator or by visit your municipal Web site.

For more helpful hints and to learn about disposing of household hazardous waste such as computers; cleaning products; pesticides; oil-based paints; auto fluids; gas; chemicals; propane cylinders; fluorescent bulbs; and mercury-containing devices; contact the MUA at 973-829-8006 or visit the Web site at www.mcmua.com.

The MUA also suggests anyone with new or gently used items such as furniture; appliances and building materials consider donating them to the Morris Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Mine Hill. The ReStore may be reached at 973-366-3357 or at www.morristrestore.org.

So go ahead and clean out that clutter, but in your rush to remove, remember to recycle.

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The Morris County Board of Freeholders conducted a county government orientation session for local elected officials April 30.

Mayors and members of governing bodies and school districts from communities across the county were in attendance to get a better understanding of how county government works.

"County government offers a wide array of services to its citizens," said Freeholder Director Gene F. Feyl. "The freeholders thought it would be helpful to give municipal officials and school district representatives an overview of those services as well as information on how to obtain them."

Those in attendance heard brief presentations from the six county government
department directors, their responsibilities and the programs and services their departments offer. They also received an update on the county’s H1N1 Swine Flu monitoring efforts.

The freeholders began the orientation program in 2006, and according to the New Jersey Association of Counties, Morris was the first county in the state to reach out to local officials in this manner.

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