Wibit, an evolution of water play for all ages that was made popular in Europe, has made its American debut at Sunrise Lake at Lewis Morris County Park in Morris Township.

Wibit provides a track where players can overcome obstacles and race each other in a friendly competition on the water. Wibit kayaks are also available for a relaxing ride around the lake or for a race with family or friends to see who's the fastest.

Wibit is anchored down near the Sunrise Lake shore. Life vests are to be worn at all times while participating in the Wibit, and lifeguards will be on duty to supervise the aquagames.

More information about Sunrise Lake and its summer hours of operation may be obtained by calling 973-829-8257, or by visiting the Morris County Park Commission Web site, www.morrisparks.net.

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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."

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 that are left outside should be turned over, water in bird baths should be changed regularly and clogged gutters should be cleared.

Recent rain events have caused some isolated pockets of mosquitoes to emerge, according to McMorland.

"Staff will be monitoring these locations and have stepped up control efforts to eliminate potential mosquito issues," he said.

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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The Morris County Advisory Committee on Women has elected a Morris Township resident as its new chairperson.

Edith Frank of Convent Station will lead the committee that was established by the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2003.

The committee's new co-chair is Jane D. Alcoff of Whippany, while Elaine Muller of Denville continues as secretary.

Frank and Alcoff were named to the advisory panel in 2008. They, along with Muller, serve on its executive committee and Alcoff and Muller also serve on the leadership committee. Muller has been a member of the advisory committee since 2004.

The freeholders created the advisory committee to study the needs, issues, interests and concerns of women in the county.

The other committee members are Gloria Carelli of Riverdale, a former advisory committee chairperson; Heather Clarke-Peckerman of Morris Plains; Pam Bennett-Santoro of Morris Township; Dianne Hartshorn of Morristown; Patricia O'Dowd Donohue of Boonton; Elizabeth Smith of Mendham, the advisory committee's immediate past chairperson; and Mariana Vergara of Wharton.

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The Morris County Freeholders today leveled harsh criticism at Gov. Jon Corzine for nominating former Bergen County State Senator Francis X. Herbert, who now resides in Rockaway, to become Morris County superintendent of elections just days after the freeholder board had asked the governor to withhold making any such any nomination.

That post has been vacant since the November death of longtime elections superintendent RoseAnne Travaglia.

Freeholder Director Gene F. Feyl, in a letter to the governor dated June 12, said the freeholders are interested in merging the functions of the superintendent's office into the bipartisan board of elections as 13 other New Jersey counties have successfully done. Such a consolidation would produce "significant economic savings and improved efficiencies in the elections process," wrote Feyl, who noted this year's county budget does not include funds for a superintendent of elections.

"Governor Corzine is burdening our county with an unnecessary position that will undoubtedly result in services being reduced in other, more critical areas," Feyl said. Since Mrs. Travaglia's passing, the superintendent's office has been effectively managed by a dedicated career employee and not a political appointee, Feyl said.

"During this period, Morris County has successfully conducted several elections without relying on such a position," Feyl said. "The governor's action Thursday flies in the face of his repeated calls for government to achieve cost savings with minimal impact on services."

According to Feyl, the governor's action undermines Morris County's efforts to streamline county government.

"Since 2005, Morris County has reduced its workforce by over 300 positions, while the state has continued to add workers to its payrolls," Feyl said. "As local and county governments struggle to maintain services by eliminating and combining positions, we are appalled to learn that in today's catastrophic economic climate the governor would force such an unwarranted and purely political appointment upon the taxpayers of Morris County."

Merging the elections functions of the superintendent of elections and the board of elections requires legislation. In his letter to the governor, Feyl asked for Corzine's assistance in getting the legislation adopted, and welcomed the chance to speak with the governor to explain the freeholders' position in more detail. Feyl said neither Corzine nor the governor's office has responded.

Feyl refutes accusations from Democratic leaders in the county who contend the seven Republican Freeholders want to consolidate the position to avoid having it filled by a Democrat. "If you view this as a form of political chess, the move by the governor could be considered a stroke of genius," Feyl said. "But, unfortunately for the governor and more unfortunately for taxpayers in Morris County, this is not a game and we are not pawns. This action will burden our county budget once again with another unnecessary expense."

Feyl said the governor should be focusing on Trenton's problems instead of continuing to add to the cost of local governments.

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The Morris County Freeholders this year are continuing to take some of their regular public meetings on the road, and will be in Chatham Township on June 24.

The freeholders will conduct their regular public meeting in the township municipal building, 58 Meyersville Rd., starting at 7:30 p.m.

"We've been taking some of our meetings to various towns across the county since 2007, meeting local officials and exchanging ideas with them face-to-face," said Gene Feyl, freeholder director. "Going from town to town also makes it more convenient for residents of those communities and nearby towns to attend one of our meetings and to learn more about Morris County government."

The freeholders this year have conducted public meetings in Pequannock and Randolph, and they will do the same in Denville, Chester Township, Florham Park, Morris Township and Harding before the end of the year.

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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, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, offering summer jobs at participating government offices, schools, community-based organizations and nonprofit agencies.

The program is expected to begin on or about July 1 and run for seven to eight weeks, depending on the number of young people who sign up.

Only youth who meet the income eligibility requirements as well as other significant barriers to employment under the Workforce Investment Act will be able to participate. Family income would need to be at or below the poverty level unless the youth has a disability or is a foster child in which case only his or her income is considered.

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.

All applications must be approved before July 1.

More 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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The Morris County Vocational School District has seven senior high school students who have been selected as Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars.

The students are Jessica Douglas and Anastasia Noce, both enrolled in the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts; Joseph Viviani, in the Academy for Finance and International Business; Jacqueline Tyma and Nathalia Espinoza, both in the Academy for Law & Public Safety; and Gregory Fast and Jay Bhalodi, both enrolled in the Academy for Mathematics, Science and Engineering.

The award recognizes student's secondary school academic achievement. A student must have a class rank of one, two or three in the graduating class and rank within the top 10 percent of the graduating class at the end of the junior year; or must have a class rank within the top 10 percent of the graduating class at the end of the junior year with combined critical reading and math SAT scores of 1260 or higher at the end of the junior year.

Distinguished Scholars are awarded an annual scholarship of up to $1,000, without regard to financial need. Students may use these awards to continue their education at New Jersey institutions of higher education.

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Influenza in Morris County, both H1N1 and residual seasonal flu, continues to be seen widespread across the county.

The Morris County Office of Health management reports hospitals continue to test for H1N1 in patients with influenza-like illness requiring hospitalization. Confirmed cases listed on the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Web site, http://www.state.nj.us/health, may reflect this number as we go forward, said Morris County Health Officer Peter Summers.

"From a public health perspective, it is no longer necessary to sample cases in the community, although we do have a surveillance system in place that will continue to monitor severity," Summers said.

Some schools in the area are still seeing higher absenteeism rates than usual for this time of year, and students with influenza-like illness are asked to remain home for seven days or 24 hours after symptoms disappear, which ever is longer, Summers said.

"Due to the mild nature of the influenza, many children recover before the seven days, but it is still possible for them to shed virus, which is why the schools are enforcing the seven day recommendation," Summers said. "This is being done under guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state."

Summers said thorough and frequent hand washing is the best way to slow the spread of illness and to stay healthy. Eating nutritious foods, such as fruits and vegetables, getting some physical activity and enough rest are also helpful for staying healthy.

Individuals with underlying chronic illness of any kind and who have flu-like symptoms should contact their health care provider for medical guidance. Any municipal health department can provide additional information or answer questions regarding the H1N1 Influenza. Individuals may also visit the Morris County Health Management Web site, http://www.morrishealth.org.

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The Morris County Improvement Authority today received the green light from the State Local Finance Board to proceed with its pilot Renewable Energy Program, which the authority called the first of its kind in the state and perhaps in the nation.

This approval will permit the MCIA to issue up to $30 million in bonds, guaranteed by the county, to finance a program that calls for renewable energy sources - in this case solar panels - to be installed on buildings of program participants.

In addition to some Morris County and Morris County Park Commission facilities, the Boonton, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Mountain Lakes, Morris Hills and West Morris School Districts will be participating in the initial pilot program.

In addressing the LFB in Trenton today, Boonton School District Superintendent Dr. Christine Johnson told the board members the move to "go green" will result in both environmental and educational benefits to all participating school districts.

She also noted the program features the ability to lock into a power purchase price for 15 years. "This will be of significant benefit to all participating school districts as they develop their respective budgets," she said. She concluded her remarks by reminding the Local Finance Board that the Renewable Energy Program results in "no impact to the participating entities' capital budget, gross or net debt."

Morris County administrator and MCIA Chairperson John Bonanni told the LFB that local interest in the project is growing. "Morris County has spent the last six months developing this program, which is fully supported by the Morris County Board of Freeholders," Bonanni said. "More than 40 local municipalities and schools districts, large and small, have expressed interest in participating in the program. We wanted to design a program to take advantage of economies of scale so that governments and school districts with smaller roof space could participate and receive the same benefits as those with larger roof space."

Morris County Freeholder William J. Chegwidden, liaison to the Improvement Authority, said the pilot project is only the beginning. "Our towns and school districts have expressed tremendous enthusiasm about this program," he said. "Once we get the pilot program off the ground, we intend to develop a second round of interested entities. The freeholder board views this as a long term project."

In the Morris Hills Regional School District, Superintendent Dr. Ernest Palestis said the social and educational aspects of the renewable energy project should not be underestimated. "We are certainly pleased that the district will experience long term energy cost savings," Palestis said. "But, the concept of installing solar power units at Morris Hills and Morris Knolls high schools has also excited our staff and students. Teachers look forward to using the solar power units as living lessons about energy efficiency and alternate forms of energy."

The Improvement Authority will now solicit requests for proposals for a Power Purchase Agreement from a solar developer who would own, operate and maintain the equipment, according to Chegwidden. "Under our program, a private solar developer would be able to take advantage of tax credits, depreciation, and renewable energy revenue that is available in the solar industry," he said. "These incentives would then be passed on to the participating local governments by the developer, who would sell the solar energy generated to them at a fixed price, lower than the existing cost of retail energy, for a 15 year period."

Additional information about the renewable energy initiative may be obtained by calling the Morris County Improvement Authority at 973-285-6020.

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The Morris County Freeholders on June 8 dedicated the new Inamere Road Bridge in Morris Township.

The bridge carries approximately 1,250 vehicles a day over the Whippany River and links Morris Township, Morristown, Morris Plains and Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Construction of the new federally-funded $2.2 million structure, which replaces a temporary bridge that was built more than 30 years ago to replace an even older span, began in July 2008 and was completed on schedule.

The new bridge is wider and slightly rotated to smooth out the curves in the roadway.

As part of the project, a new pedestrian bridge has been installed on the east side of the other Inamere Road Bridge to assist pedestrians in safely traversing between Patriot's Path and Morris Township recreation facilities.

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