This newsletter is brought to you by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners.

Morris County News

Morris County Honors

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Clerics, community leaders and public officials came together in song, prayer and words of inspiration during the 54th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration held Monday at the Calvary Baptist Church in Morristown.

PBS Series "Travels with Darley" Spotlights Morris County

The public is invited to attend a premiere screening of the PBS series "Travels with Darley" at the Morris Museum on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. involving three new episodes focusing on New Jersey American Revolution sites, including one in Morris County.

Morristown National Historical Park Prepares for Nation's 250th

Morristown National Historical Park will soon commence several accessibility and preservation projects at both Washington’s Headquarters and the Jockey Hollow areas of the park. Projects include Ford Mansion, Washington’s Headquarters Museum, Guerin House, Jockey Hollow Visitor Center, the Wick House, and the cultural landscape at Washington’s Headquarters.

Morris County Chamber of Commerce with gradient

State of the County, Innovation with Purpose are 103rd Meeting Themes

Join the Morris County Chamber of Commerce for the 103rd Annual Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. Morris County Commissioner Director Christine Myers will give a State of the County address. Keynote speaker Thierry Klein, president of Bell Labs Solutions Research and Nokia Bell Labs, will talk about the challenges and opportunities of innovating with purpose.

— Latest edition of Business Edge

— Small business boom continues

Resource Fair to Connect with People Facing Homelessness

Morris County and the Mental Health Association (MHA) will host Project Homeless Connect on Friday, Jan. 26 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Morristown for families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Housing resources, health screenings, clothing, veterans services and more will be available to those in need. Morris County Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo will speak at the event.

Think Safety First on the Ice

Learn ice safety! Check out Lake Hopatcong Foundation's safety tips, ice emergency info, guide to ice thickness, how lakes freeze, and what to do if you fall through the ice.

— Knee Deep Club ice fishing contests

— Winter hiking, ice fishing at Pequest

Morris County Public Meetings

Jan. 24

— Commissioners Work Session

— Commissioners Public Meeting

Feb. 1

— County Agriculture Development Board

Feb 8

— Housing Authority

Feb. 13

— Heritage Commission

Flooded? Would Elevating Your Home Help?

The state Department of Community Affairs is interested in the number of homeowners in flood-prone areas who would be interested in elevating their homes. Fill out a brief form for the Mitigation Assistance Program (MAP) as they evaluate whether to fund the program.

— Flood Mitigation Program gives flooded homeowners a new start

— New flood history disclosure requirement

Weekend Plays to Music Lovers

Jan. 20: Come Original. Enjoy live music with this monthly showcase of local singer-songwriters performing original works.

Jan. 21: "Diversity of Beauty". The Baroque Orchestra of N.J. presents a performance comprised of classical works from composers including Bach, Vivaldi and more.

Jan. 21: Invented in New Jersey: The D-Lev Digital Theremin. Music and history unite with a talk and performance of the D-Lev Digital Theremin, invented in Boonton and presented by the historical society.

Morris Tourism is the Source

Visit Morris Tourism's day-by-day guide to concerts, festivals, historic events and more.

— Morris County historical orgs, museums

— Morris County museums and arts orgs

— View or download the Visitors Guide

— Search 'Skylands' on VisitNJ.org

— Morris Arts events

Talks and Exhibits Cover Civil War Generals, Douglass, Race Relations

Register by Jan. 22 for the opening of St. Elizabeth University's exhibit "The Ties That Bind: How Race Relations Shaped Morris County and New Jersey 1688-2018."

Guest speaker is Scholar Lillie Johnson Edwards, Jan. 30.

— On Jan. 25, North Jersey Civil War Roundtable presents the first of three talks on "The Winter of Gen. George Meade," an online program, Jan. 25.

— On Jan. 29, "Frederick Douglass: Advocate for Equality" will open at Morris County Library. The exhibit features an exploration of the full trajectory of Douglass's epic life from 1818 to 1895.

Summer Camp Registration

Opens Feb. 1

Looking for a fun, unique experience for your child this summer? Check out Morris County Park Commission's summer camps.

Youth: Join Explorer Post to Learn About Law Enforcement Careers

Law Enforcement Exploring offers students and young adults ages 10-20 a "hands-on" program to gain exposure to the criminal justice careers as well as have positive interaction with law enforcement professionals. Morris County Sheriff's Office runs Explorer Post #140. Participants are divided by age. It's free. Join anytime.

Gardeners Get Ready: Talks, Workshops, Plots, Conference

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County is taking registrations for the 2024 online Gardening Education Series. Topics for the 16-week class include botany, soils, entomology, plant pathology, composting, vegetable and fruit gardening, trees and shrubs, pruning and lawn care. Begins Feb. 6. Register.

— Feb. 3: Author Marta McDowell talks about her book, "Gardening Can Be Murder" for the Frelinghuysen Arboretum Friends Benjamin Blackburn scholarship lecture.

— Gardeners! Frelinghuysen Arboretum has many community garden plots available. Call 973-631-5004.

— Community Garden Conference, 3/2

Parks Sets Hikes, Maple Sugaring

Here's a sampling of special events at Morris Parks. Pre-registration is required.

— Jan. 19: Owl Moon Night Hike. Winter is the best time to look and listen for owls! Bring a flashlight. $10.

— Jan. 20, 21, 27 and 28: Maple sugaring demos. ID and tap maple trees, collect sap and make syrup outside! $6

— Jan. 24: Garden Sprouts: Food For Friends. Learn about birding and bird feeding. $10 per child w/adult

— Jan. 25: Homeschool Days: Iron Rails. Learn about Chester's own railroad in the 1880s. $10 per child.

— Jan. 27: Summer Camp Fair. Check out the offerings and be ready to register on Feb. 1. Free.

— Jan. 30: Maple Sugaring for Littles. Maple sugaring story and a walk and talk with a naturalist. $7 per child.

Art Show, Farmers Market, Lead Testing Set This Weekend

County College of Morris Art Gallery is hosting the New Jersey Photography Forum's ‘Give It Your Best Shot.’ The show's opening reception will be held Jan. 25; the show will close Feb. 22.

— Jan. 20: Free lead testing at Morris County Library

— Jan. 21: Winter Farmers Market, Sundays

— Jan. 24: History Lunch Break with The St. Cecilia Window

— Jan. 31: Paul Stankard Flower and Flame Documentary Film

Cancer Thriving and Surviving Workshop Begins Feb. 8

The Morris County Health Department's Cancer Thriving and Surviving group will meet for six weeks to learn to increase energy, deal with symptoms, manage emotions, and communicate with providers. People with cancer, survivors, family and friends are invited. Starts Feb. 8. Free.

We're Hiring: Join the Division of Human Services

Work for the County of Morris in making a difference! Explore fulfilling career opportunities in public service with the Division of Human Services. Check these and other employment opportunities:

Senior Citizen Program Aide

Community Service Worker

Human Services Aide

Your Mental Health Matters

In crisis? Dial or text 988.

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Health. NAMI HelpLines are available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

— Connect by phone 800-950-6264 or text "Helpline" to 62640, or chat.

— NAMI Teen and Young Adult HelpLine: Text Friend to 62640, or call 800-950-NAMI (6264).

— Visit the NAMI website for info, support, education, blogs, videos and advocacy.

— The Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris serves Northern N.J.

— Atlantic Behavioral Health newsletters

Human Services Offers Aid

Morris County's Human Services connects residents with transportation, public assistance, mental health and addiction services, job training, prevention services for youth, veterans support and disability services.

— Navigating Hope is their office on wheels.

— Hope One is a mobile resource for addiction and mental health.

— Jan. 31 deadline to enroll in N.J. healthcare insurance