The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders has added Scribd to the list of social media the board uses to keep county residents informed.

Scribd.com allows for the publication of writings or documents in one location for easy viewing, printing or sharing by the public.

To date, the freeholders have placed 17 publications on Scribd including the county budget; the Directory of County Government Services; Programs and Services for Seniors, Disabled and Veterans in Morris County; the Morris County Tourism Bureau's Visitors Guide; and the Park Commission's quarterly publication, Pathways.

Scribd can be easily accessed from the county government Web site, http://www.co.morris.nj.us, or directly at http://www.scribd.com/MorrisCountyNJ .

Morris County government is also on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Each is also accessible from the county Web site, and each uses the name MorrisCountyNJ.

"We want to give Morris County residents as many ways as possible to stay in touch with their county government," said Freeholder Director Gene Feyl.

Morris has more than 500 "followers" who receive county government updates or "tweets" via Twitter, and over 200 "fans" on its Facebook page.

Visitors to YouTube.com/MorrisCountyNJ can view the freeholder TV show, "Focus on Morris County," which airs on Cablevision and Comcast cable systems in the county, as well as video from the Morris County Park Commission.

Individuals may also get county government news via e-mail by registering on the county Web site to receive Morris County Connections.

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The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders would like interested Community Service Providers to know about a training opportunity to become certified in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for LPCs and LCSWs with 3 years experience.

Information and applications to participate are available on request by contacting the Morris County Department of Human Services at (973) 285-6860.

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The Morris County Sheriff's Office will be collecting toys until Dec. 11 in conjunction with the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

The goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that someone cares. Through the gift of a new toy, these children are able to experience the magic of Christmas.

New, unwrapped toys may be placed in one of the Toys for Tots collection boxes located in various county government buildings, including the lobbies of the Morris County Courthouse and the Morris County Administration Building in Morristown; the Morris County Library on East Hanover Avenue in Whippany; and the Morris County Garage on Hanover Avenue in Hanover Township.

Only new and unwrapped toys can be accepted. While toys are requested for any age, there is a special need for toys for boys and girls in the 3 to 8-year-old age range.

Private companies that ask their employees to donate new toys during holiday parties or toy drives may also use the Sheriff's Office in the Morris County Courthouse as a drop off location.

The toys will be delivered to the Toys for Tots warehouse where they will be marked for distribution to the less fortunate children in our local communities. The Marine Corps Toys for Tots coordinator will be working closely with local social welfare, community agencies and church groups to identify the children who would benefit most from receipt of the toys.

More information may be obtained by calling Sgt. Gerald Pennino in the Morris County Sheriff's Office at 973-285-6805.

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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. 8. Registration is for the July 2010 and January 2011 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 Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 5 p.m.

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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Crews from the Morris County Mosquito Commission and the Municipal Utilities Authority have begun their annual ritual of searching for, finding and removing discarded tires from streams, roadsides and wooded areas throughout the county.

Kristian McMorland, superintendent of the Mosquito Commission, said removing the abandoned tires is part of the commission's year-round mosquito control activities.

"Tires can hold standing water creating the perfect habitat for many mosquitoes," McMorland said. "Removing abandoned or illegally dumped tires not only helps to reduce mosquito levels and the threat of West Nile virus, but it improves environmental quality."

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

In the two weeks that crews have been out, some 900 tires have been collected from areas in Washington Township, Jefferson, Mount Olive, Morris Township and Chester Township, McMorland said.

Since the program began eight years ago, more than 51,500 tires have been collected, according to McMorland.

Under the program, Mosquito Commission crews find, collect and transport the tires to a trailer supplied by the MUA. The tires are then brought to a registered recycling facility where, according to Kathleen Hourihan, MUA district recycling coordinator, the tires are shredded and the byproduct sold for various uses including playground cover.

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

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Parents and teenagers who would like to better understand each other may want to attend a program Dec. 3 at the Meadow Wood Manor in Randolph called "Yes, Teens AND Their Parents are Crazy."

The free parent-youth summit, which begins with dinner at 6 p.m., is designed to facilitate teen-parent communication.

The featured speaker, adolescent psychologist Dr. Michael Bradley, promises to take parents and other adults such as educators, clinical and behavioral health professionals and members of the law enforcement community "inside a teen's head," and help them understand why teenagers think and act the way they do.

Bradley will also help the teenagers who attend see the dilemmas of the teen years from their parents' perspective and show them how to develop new strategies for resolving old conflicts. The program will also feature a panel of parents and teenagers.

Pre-registration by Nov. 27 is required. To register or to obtain more information, call 1-866-782-5273.

The program is being supported by the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Morris County Department of Human Services, the Mental Health Substance Abuse Advisory Board, the County Alliance Steering Subcommittee, the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Municipal Alliances of Morris County, Morris County Partners in Substance Abuse Prevention, Morris County Prevention is Key and Saint Clare's Health System.

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The Morris County Freeholders presented Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals this Veterans Day week to 11 veterans in recognition of their service to our country.

Freeholder Director Gene F. Feyl told the group the freeholders were honored to pay tribute to individuals who proudly served this nation here and abroad. He said it was appropriate the recognition came during the week Veterans Day is observed.

"From the birth of our nation to today's war on terrorism, all generations have been asked to defend our freedom," Feyl said. "And, during this Veterans Day week, it is you we honor, you who have so honorably worn the uniform of our great nation."

The freeholders presented the medals to World War II veteran Thomas Bubryckie of Chester; Korean War veterans Robert Axt of Boonton and Augustine "Gus" Magistro of Wharton; and Vietnam veterans Norus Achmetov of Boonton; Robert Drexler of Landing; Karl Hipp of Randolph; Frank Malone of Lake Hopatcong; and John Reilly of Brookside.

Medals were also received by post-Vietnam veterans Hugh James Coghlan IV of Mountain Lakes; Barry Kaplan of Lake Hiawatha; and Gregory J. Somjen of Dover.

"The freeholders and all of the residents of Morris County are extremely grateful for your service," Feyl told the recipients.

Since the freeholders began the program in 2000, more than 8,950 medals that are unique to Morris County 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 Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders has approved spending $14,140,298 from the county's Preservation Trust Fund to help preserve 1,049 acres of open space in 12towns.

The freeholders approved funding the 17 projects nOV. 9 based upon the recommendations of the county's Open Space Committee.

Among the projects being funded is a joint effort by Mount Olive and The Land Conservancy of New Jersey. They received $2.6 million to preserve approximately 536.5 acres of woodlands and fields between River Road and Shop Lane and extending further northeast to both sides of Flanders-Drakestown Road in the township.

The Trust for Public Land was awarded $1.95 million for 56.5 acres south of Split Rock Road and east of Lyonsville Road in Rockaway Township. This wooded property provides critical habitat for wildlife and also contains the headwaters of the Stony Brook.

The New Jersey Conservation Foundation was awarded more than $1.8 million to preserve 228.1 acres south of Drakestown Road in Washington Township, to further protect the water quality of the South Branch Raritan River.

Preservation projects in Denville, Florham Park, Hanover, Madison, Mendham Township, Montville, Pequannock, Randolph and Roxbury were also approved. A complete list of the 2009 approved projects will soon be found on the Morris County Preservation Trust website, http://www.morrispreservation.org.

A tax of 3 cents per $100 of assessed property value is used to fund the program,and 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 awarding grants in 1994, over 22,400 acres of open space in Morris County have been funded for preservation. Morris County voters approved the program in November 1992.

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The Morris County Library is collecting brand new, never read children's books for holiday distribution.

The Books for Kids book collection program is in progress, and will end Dec. 5. All books collected will be distributed by various social services agencies in Morris County.

The recipients of the books will range in age from infancy through adolescence.

The books should be unwrapped, and they may be placed in the designated collection box in the lobby or handed in at the Children's desk.

The Morris County Library is located at 30 East Hanover Ave., in Whippany. More information may be obtained by calling the library at 973-285-6981.

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November has been declared Family Caregivers Month in Morris County by the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

A family caregiver is described by the Morris County Department of Human Services as an unpaid family member, friend, partner or neighbor who provides significant levels of care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability, or who are affected by the frailties of old age.

The department estimates there are approximately 50,000 family caregivers in Morris County assisting loved ones with the basic activities of daily living.

Freeholder Director Gene Feyl, who issued the caregiver proclamation, said the agencies working to assist family caregivers are to be commended.

"Caring for a loved one can be a rewarding experience, but it can also present severe financial, health and stress-related problems for the caregiver," Feyl said.

"The county government's Caregiver Connection and the Morris County United Way's Caregiver Coalition are working together to provide information, easy access to resources and the support these unpaid individuals need to improve their quality of life while they continue to carry out their vital responsibilities as family caregivers."

Feyl urged all Morris County residents to recognize, honor and support the family members, friends and neighbors who provide needed care to their loved ones.

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The Morris County Office of Health Management has posted information about flu shot locations on its Web site, www.morrishealth.org .

The information about confirmed clinic dates and sites will be updated weekly and published each Friday, according to health management officials. They note that vaccine is being received in limited quantities and all clinics are subject to vaccine availability.

Private providers who accept walk-in patients are also being posted on the Web site.

Peter Summers, Morris County health officer, said any municipal health department can provide additional information or answer questions regarding either seasonal or the H1N1 Influenza.

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