MORRISTOWN: Margaret Nordstrom and her husband just bought their home in the Middle Valley section of Washington Township and wanted to see what plans, if any, were in store for the road in front of their house built in the 1700s.

The couple learned Morris County had plans to expand that road from two to four lanes. That would accommodate heavy traffic and ultimately ruin the neighborhood.

They mobilized the homeowners, researching ways to stop those plans. When all was said and done, the group had their roadblock: They had their neighborhood listed on the state and national registers of historic places. That move was a checkmate against road changes.

That was 1987. A couple of years later, Nordstrom was elected to the local township committee and served as mayor. Voters later gave her a promotion, electing her to the Morris County freeholder board, where she has served for a decade.

Monday night, she was one of six women honored by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and New Jersey Women in Law Enforcement, which teamed up to celebrate Women's History Month. Some 100 people attended the event from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Morris County Records and Administration Building on Court Street in Morristown.

Nordstrom said the celebration is important, providing clear examples of true leaders to young women. She hopes she can help and inspire the next generation of female leaders. "I honored the women whose shoulders I stood on. I certainly didn't get here on my own. Public service needs more women."

Also honored: Patty Sly, the executive director of the Jersey Battered Women's Services; Twannah Ellington, assistant director of Drew University's Educational Opportunity Scholars Program; Chief Carol Ackerman of the Morris County Sheriff's Office; Gloria Sullivan, captain of the Morris County Park Police; and Chief Karen Sullivan of the Interlaken Police Department and president of the New Jersey Women in Law Enforcement.

The keynote address was provided by Minister Carol Paterson of the Calvary Baptist Church.

Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., said the office takes great pride in recognizing the honorees. "As the nation celebrates Woman's History Month, we at the Morris County Prosecutor's Office are proud to honor these phenomenal woman who make Morris County a better place to live. These woman have been of great assistance to this office and are recognized for their contributions to the law enforcement community as a whole."

Chief of Investigations William Schievella agreed, noting the honorees have forged their own paths in their chosen careers. "A lot of glass ceilings have been broken by all of the honorees and that is significant and something that should be celebrated."

(This report was filed by Agent Bill Swayze, who can be reached at (973) 285-6200.)