Superintendent Reports Enrollment Is On The Decline: Around Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Patch reviews last week's top stories in and around Chatham.

School Enrollment Continues To Decline, Chatham Superintendent Says

Chatham Superintendent Michael LaSusa reports that enrollment in the School District of The Chathams has been steadily declining in recent years and does not appear to be changing anytime soon. As reported at the Chatham Board of Education's regular meeting last week, enrollment in the district has continued to fall this year, according to LaSusa.

National Night Out Is Back This Year In Chatham

The annual National Night Out community event will be the first Tuesday in August in both Chatham Borough and Township, police announced. Police, fire, and other first responders invite the Chatham community to a night of fun that includes free ice cream and swimming, food trucks, a dunk tank, a tattoo station, live music by Jacob Mathews, and more.

Morris Man Convicted In Prescription Drug Scheme With Ex-Principal

A federal jury has convicted a Randolph man of conspiring to defraud public health benefit programs by billing for medically unnecessary compound prescriptions, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. Matthew Puccio, 40, of Randolph, was convicted on July 19, of conspiracy to commit health care fraud following a seven-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez. Puccio, who formally worked as a sales representative, will face up to 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from his crime, Sellinger said.

Property Tax Bills Delayed In Chatham Borough

Chatham Borough homeowners will see a delay in receiving their 2022 tax bill for August, borough officials announced recently. Because of the delay, the statutory Aug. 1 due date for third-quarter taxes will be extended until Sept. 2, officials said. "There will be no additional grace period. If payment is received after Sept.2, the interest will be calculated from Aug. 1 to the date payment is received," officials said.

Medical Center Replaces Long-Closed Morris Co. Pathmark Supermarket

Only two years after breaking ground in Jefferson Township, Commercial Realty Group (CRG), a second-generation family-owned firm, has resurrected another property, now known as The Advanced Medical Center – Jefferson. The building, which had once been a Pathmark grocery store, is now the Advanced Medical Center – Jefferson, a fully leased, 45,000-square-foot Class A medical office building.

14 Juveniles Hospitalized With Chlorine Inhalation Symptoms In Madison
A group of juveniles at Drew University were hospitalized early Monday afternoon after experiencing breathing problems caused by chemicals from the pool, according to Madison police. An investigation revealed that a higher than normal concentration of liquid chlorine was accidentally released into the pool, causing symptoms of chlorine inhalation in 14 people.

Seniors Can Cool Off For Free At Chatham's Colony, Memorial Park Pools

As the heat wave in New Jersey continues and is expected to last through the weekend, senior Chatham residents are encouraged to visit their local pool when temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher. Chatham Borough's Memorial Park Pool at 22 North Passaic Avenue and the Colony Pool Club at 55 School Avenue are both open for free to all seniors during the heatwave.

Chatham Spends $17.2K Per Student: How Does That Compare In NJ?

Last school year, school districts in New Jersey budgeted an average of $18,208 per student. According to New Jersey Department of Education data, the School District of The Chathams budgeted a little less than that. According to the data, Chatham spends $17,248 per pupil. That figures come from the state's 2022 Taxpayers' Guide to Education, which shows the amounts spent and budgeted per student by districts and schools.

Annual Deer Hunt Scheduled Throughout Morris Co. Parks

In an effort to help reduce and maintain the local white-tailed deer population, the Morris County Parks Commission approved the 2022-2023 deer hunt in Morris County Parks. The goal of the deer hunt is to keep deer populations low enough to allow for the restoration of native plant communities within the parks. According to the commission, studies have found that at high densities, deer browsing can have a negative impact on forest communities. Overbrowsing can eliminate understory herbaceous plants, shrubs, and saplings, leaving only adult canopy trees in the forest.

Missing Morris Co. Man Found Using Project Lifesaver
Two Morris County Sheriff's Office deputies were able to quickly locate a missing 21-year-old Project Lifesaver client who became separated from his caregiver on July 20 in Pequannock's Mountainside Park. Detective Marc Adamsky and Sheriff's Officer Ashley Craig were able to locate the missing Butler man using a Project Life Saver receiver after the Sheriff's Office organized and deployed a search effort.