Township Times
Christmas Week edition
News for the next week ...
12/24 - Christmas Eve
12/25 - Christmas Day (Municipal Offices Closed)
12/26 - Day After Christmas (Municipal Offices Closed)
12/27 - Recycling Depot 9:00AM-12:00PM
12/31 - Municipal Building Ribbon Cutting and Plaque Dedication - 12:00 PM
12/31 - Township Committee Meeting - following ribbon cutting
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Each week we will include a fun fact or historic tidbit about our great hometown
scenes from yesteryear – winter of 1942
POWERVILLE ROAD AT THE TOP OF DOLAND’S HILL
FOUR CORNERS IN THE BACKGROUND
IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY THIS WAYSIDE FARMS BOBSLED OFTEN PROVIDED SNOWY DAY TRANSPORTATON FOR TOWNSHIP SCHOOL CHILDREN
Bobsled passengers are:
Mr. and Mrs. Demas Stickle
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wright; Jean Wright Ricker
Photos contributed by Gretchen Longo
THE STICKLE FAMILY – WINTER OF 1942
THE PRESENT DAY LOCATION IS 540 POWERVILLE ROAD
THE LONGO’S GARAGE STILL STANDS, BUT THE BARN AND BLACKSMITH SHOP ARE GONE
Bobsled passengers are:
Mr. and Mrs. Demas Stickle
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wright; Jean Wright Ricker
Wayside Farms draft horses Dolly and Nell know the way to carry the sleigh!
If you have any old photos or newspaper articles about Boonton Township that you would like to share, please let us know!
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Wishing Everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!
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After a little more than a year in the trailers, we're in the new Municipal Building & Police Headquarters!!
please join us for the
Ribbon Cutting & Plaque Dedication
December 31, 2025 at 12 Noon
Once we're all settled in, we will hold a formal dedication and community open house in the Spring
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Holiday Recycling:
Saturday, December 27: Depot 9 AM to Noon
Thursday, January 4: NO CURBSIDE RECYCLING
Friday, January 9: Make-up Curbside Recycling
Christmas trees accepted at Recycling Depot on January 3 and 24
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Please note
the variable message board in front of the Municipal Building is experiencing some technical issues resulting from the work on the front lawn so it's not up-to-date
we expect it will be repaired by next week
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Road Work
Beginning on or about Wednesday December 17, 2025, Farber Hill Road will be closed to all thru traffic for utility work. The road closure will occur between Twin Hills Drive and Meriden Road. A detour has been established which will allow all thru-traffic to circumvent the work zone. This road work and road closure will occur daily Monday through Friday, with the exception of 12/19 through 1/5, during which time the utility crew will be suspending their work as to not impact holiday travelers and visitors. The road work is then scheduled to resume on January 6, and the project is expected to be complete on or about January 16, 2026.
All thru-traffic traveling from Boonton Township to Rockaway Township will need to use the detour outlined above which involves Split Rock Road, to Decker Road, to Lyonsville Road and ultimately Meriden Road. Residents of Farber Hill Road and all adjoining neighborhoods should review the information below pertaining to instructions on how to best access and exit their neighborhoods during this project:
Residents of Farber Hill Road and Twin Hills Drive:
Access can be obtained to any home on Faber Hill Road and Twin Hills Drive via Rockaway Valley Road. The road closure is projected to be northwest of Twin Hills Drive. During the hours of operation, residents of Twin Hills Drive leaving their neighborhood will only be permitted to make a left turn and proceed southeast on Farber Hill Road towards Rockaway Valley Road.
Residents of Miller Drive, Decker Lane, and Wetmore Drive:
Residents on these neighborhoods are encouraged to access and exit their neighborhoods via Wetmore Drive from Rockaway Valley Road. Although access to these neighborhoods can be granted from Farber Hill Road to Miller Drive, significant traffic delays will occur if traveling this route. During the hours of operation, any vehicle exiting Miller Drive onto Farber Hill Road will only be permitted to make a right turn and proceed southeast on Farber Hill Road towards Rockaway Valley Road.
Residents of Eagle Rock Drive:
Residents of Eagle Rock Drive will have access to their neighborhood only from Meriden Road. Residents of Eagle Rock Drive can access their homes via the Split Rock Road detour. Residents of Eagle Rock Drive leaving their neighborhood will only be permitted to make a right turn and proceed North on Meriden Road.
School bus routes will remain unaffected during this project. Any correspondence pertaining to potential school bus adjustments will come directly from your respective school district.
We greatly appreciate everyone's anticipated cooperation.
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Dod Licensing for 2026
Be on the lookout for the 2026 Dog License renewal forms!
*Remember your dog needs an up-to-date rabies vaccine for the upcoming year or it WILL NOT be licensed*
If you are unsure if your dog's Rabies Certificate is up to date, please contact Daria VanderGoot at 973-402-4024 or dvandergoot@boontontownship.com
Click the below link for a list of FREE rabies vaccine clinics.
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News from the Boonton Township Fire Department
Holiday fire safety tips
The winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together.
It’s always fun to decorate for the winter holidays and to cook special meals, but holiday decorations and cooking can increase your risk for a home fire.
As you deck the halls this season or fix a festive meal, please be smart about fire safety.
Be careful with your holiday decorations. Make sure they don’t block windows and doors. Additionally, following these few steps can help make your holidays fire-safe.
*Water your live Christmas tree every day. A dry tree is a fire hazard. Trees too close to a heat source cause one in every four winter fires.
*Make sure you are using the right lights. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
*Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
*Keep lit candles away from decorations and things that can burn. More than 1/3 of home decoration fires are started by candles. Consider using flameless candles, they look very similar and are safer.
*Blow out lit candles and turn off all light strings and decorations when leaving the room or going to bed.
Cooking is the main cause of home fires and injuries no matter the season. From frying your to making pies, be sure to follow these rules to prevent cooking fires.
Stand by your pan – if you leave your kitchen, turn the burner off.
Watch what you’re cooking. If you see any smoke, or grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent them being bumped or pulled over.
Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby to put out pan fires.
We hope that you all enjoy the holiday season and think fire safety.
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News from RVS
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2026 Recycling Schedule
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Morris County Library
Monday - Thursday: 9:00-9:00
Friday & Saturday: 9:00-5:00
30 East Hanover Ave.
Whippany, NJ 07981
973-285-6930
Special Events
Stay up to date with events and activities provided by the Morris County Library by signing up for their newsletter or viewing their website:
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Have questions about Gas install in your area?
If you have any questions regarding connection of service, please call 848-206-8340 and speak to one of the customer service representatives for the Sales Department.
or call Customer Support team at (800) 221-0051.
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Rockaway Valley Garden Club (RVGC)
Guests are always welcome, and we encourage you to come join us to see what we are all about.
Check us out at our website: www.RockawayValleyGardenClub.org or on our Facebook page.
Any questions can be sent to our email address: info@rockawayvalleygardenclub.org
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Green Team News
Check Out the DEP Website with the below Link:
*Meetings are typically held on the first Friday of the month at 3PM unless there is a schedule change*
In 2023, the Boonton Township Green Team received the Bronze Status for New Jerseys Sustainable Jersey Application. The Green Team worked together to complete certain topics to submit the application. The Team is looking to achieve Silver Status for the upcoming year.
*Contact Daria VanderGoot for more information about the Green Team at dvandergoot@boontontownship.com*
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News from our Health Officer
Public Health Nurse Office Hours
Our Public Health Nurse has weekly office hours on Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
The Public Health Nurse serves as a vital resource to our community for health-related referrals such as vaccines and COVID tests or weight loss management.
Blood pressure screenings are done during office hours - no appointment is necessary.
We suggest calling beforehand to verify hours for the week. Stop by during office hours for more information.
For health-related information visit the Morris County Public Health website at:
https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Residents/Public-Health
for up-to-date data and information.
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Recycling News
Earn up to $50 When You Recycle Old Appliances
or call 888-314-8141
Visit energysaveNJ.com/fridge or call 888-314-8141 to schedule your pickup.
JCP&L will collect your working appliance. No-contact pickups are available.
You’ll receive $50 for recycling your fridge or freezer.
Receive an additional $25 when you recycle an air conditioner or dehumidifier with a qualifying full-size refrigerator or freezer.
*As a reminder all missed pickups should be reported no later than 9:30AM the following morning*
*If your recycling can is not set out to the curb the night prior to curbside, the County will not consider you as a missed pickup*
*DO NOT PUT YOUR RECYLABLES IN PLASTIC BAGS, THEY WILL NOT BE TAKEN CURBISDE OR AT THE DEPOT*
*For more information on recycling visit MCMUA Website*
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Book Club
All Book Club Meetings are at 7pm – AT THE YMCA as Town Hall is under construction. The YMCA has graciously allowed us to have all our meetings while town hall is under construction there!
*There is a new room location within the YMCA
We will meet January 13 at 7pm in the YMCA to discuss “Attachments” by Rainbow Rowell. This book and discussion will be led by Joan Lionetti.
For those of you reading ahead, for February, we will be discussing “The Briar Club” by Kate Quinn. Adrienne Charleton recommended this book and she will lead the discussion.
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Notary Services
are offered free-of-charge to all Township Residents
at the Municipal Building during regular business hours Monday-Friday from 8am-12pm or 2pm-4pm
it's a good idea to call the Clerk's Office at 973-402-4002 in advance to ensure a Notary is available.
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Prescription Drug Drop Box Program
check the County website for drop off locations.
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If you do not wish to receive a
Vote by Mail ballot
for all future elections,
Ballot Opt-Out Form
is available at
https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/forms/mib-voter-opt-out-form-050621.pdf
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Holiday Safety Tips From BTPD:
The 2025 holiday shopping season is in full swing and much of that shopping will be conducted through
online retailers. These purchases will then be shipped out and in some cases can be intercepted while
enroute or even upon arrival at your home. Porch pirates stole $12 billion worth of packages over the
past year, with as many as 58 million Americans becoming the victims of thefts in the last 12 months
alone. This amounts to an average loss of $206.90 per package which is taken.
Approximately 85% of people have concerns about their packages being stolen, but here in New Jersey
only about 2 in every 100 people will experience a package theft. These statistics can vary based on the
type of residence packages are being shipped to, with 8% of packages shipped to apartment buildings,
5% sent to condos and 3% send to a home being pilfered. Some other factors which can increase your
odds of being a victim of package theft include: frequent package deliveries to your home and packages
being left out for extended periods of time after delivery.
No matter how many precautions one takes with packages, thieves can still strike. Quickly confirming
and reporting the crime is essential, especially if you hope to replace a gift before the holidays. Here are
some steps to follow if you believe a parcel has been stolen:
1. Verify delivery: Double-check to ensure a package was delivered before jumping to conclusions.
Track the package online, look for confirmation messages, or check your door for notices to
ensure the parcel isn’t delayed or awaiting a signature. Ask family, friends, or neighbors to see if
they collected the package on your behalf. If you have security cameras, review the video to
determine if you caught a thief in the act. If you’re confident a package was stolen, preserve any
evidence and start reaching out to retailers and authorities.
2. Notify sellers and shippers: Contacting the seller is the most prudent first step, as they may
quickly send a new package. Many retailers will replace purchases with little hassle. Still, some
may require the filing of claims, submission of police reports, or refer you to the shipper instead.
Many e-commerce sites provide simple links to expedite the process, but to save time and
frustration, assemble all relevant information (like order number, tracking details, or delivery
time) before initiating your report.
3. Contact the authorities: Catching porch pirates without visual evidence is challenging, but it’s
always important to report their activity. Filing police reports provides documentation that can
expedite claims and provide valuable data points to help cops stop crimes and possibly protect
your neighbors or next delivery. Increased reporting of package thefts also encourages
politicians to consider the issue more seriously. This year, Pennsylvania, Florida and
Washington DC, enacted stricter legislation to prosecute pirates. They join nine other states
(Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and
Texas) that label porch pirates as felons and three others (California, Minnesota, and New York)
considering similar measures.
4. Confirm your coverage: If the retailer or shipper resists prompt replacement or reimbursement,
check with your home insurance company to see if you’re protected against theft (and whether
the package value exceeds your deductible). Also, contact your credit card company to halt
payment or activate purchase protections.
Unfortunately, only 25% of porch pirate victims contact the police. 91 % report the crime somewhere
however, most commonly reaching out to the retailer and/or delivery companies. Some easy steps you
can take to help thwart porch pirates include: scheduling shipments for when you are home, installing
doorbell cameras (with recording capabilities active), take advantage of the option for in-store pickup,
and have neighbor's pickup your packages or bring them inside for you.
The Boonton Township Police Department is here if you are the victim of theft or if you observe
suspicious activity (such as occupied cars or people loitering in the area). Please do not hesitate to contact us
to report an incident or request a police response.
| " ALERT BOONTON TOWNSHIP " |
STAY CONNECTED WITH…
BOONTON TOWNSHIP’S EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO REGISTER
This notification system allows residents to receive e-mail, text message, and/or other alerts regarding emergency notifications and other important messages regarding our community. With this program, you can choose to receive alerts by whatever method of communication you prefer.
Visit www.btpolice.org and click on the “emergency notifications” tab on the right side of the page. Follow the instructions to be redirected to the "Alert Boonton Township" registration page. Once redirected, ensure you are on the page for Boonton Township New Jersey and follow the step by step instructions on the web page to create an account and receive emergency alerts for Boonton Township.
"Alert Boonton Township" also automatically signs you up for Smart911 which provides you and your family with a potentially life-saving resource. Smart911 is a free emergency 911 component which helps our emergency dispatchers better assist you during an emergency. This service also allows residents to create a safety profile which can include any information they would like to share with first responders during an emergency.
FOLLOW THE BOONTON TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT ON FACEBOOK!
Type in @BOONTONTWPPD IN YOUR FACEBOOK SEARCH BAR OR IN MESSENGER TO FIND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PAGE
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