PARSIPPANY — New Jersey Senator Andy Kim joined residents at the Parsippany PAL on Saturday evening for a public “Democracy Discussion,” where he introduced former Congressman Tom Malinowski as a candidate in the upcoming special election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.

The seat is being vacated by Mikie Sherrill, now Governor-elect of New Jersey. Malinowski is one of several Democrats running in the February 2026 primary to replace her.

Senator Kim and Malinowski became friends during their time serving at the U.S. State Department. Malinowski served as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, while Kim was an advisor on Afghanistan.

Addressing the crowd, Malinowski shared personal reflections about his early life growing up under a dictatorship in 1970s Poland. He spoke of the challenges his family faced in dealing with corruption simply to gain permission to leave the country in search of freedom and opportunity in the United States. That experience, he said, shaped his lifelong commitment to defending democracy and human rights.

“While serving at the State Department, I never imagined I would later have to confront attacks on democracy here at home,” Malinowski said.

During his time in Congress representing New Jersey’s 7th District, Malinowski championed infrastructure, small business, and national security efforts. He helped secure funding for the Gateway Tunnel and Portal Bridge projects, directed federal pandemic aid to local governments to prevent property tax hikes, and supported emergency relief for small businesses.

He was also a leader in the fight against domestic extremism and foreign corruption. Malinowski introduced legislation to seize Russian assets in support of Ukraine and took an early stand in calling for President Trump’s first impeachment for withholding aid to Ukraine for political gain.

He held 140 town hall meetings over four years and served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Homeland Security Committee, and as Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District will take place on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Early voting runs from Thursday, January 29 through Tuesday, February 3.

The general election is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026, with early voting available from Monday, April 6 through Tuesday, April 14.

PARSIPPANY — Winterfest 2025 brought holiday magic to the heart of Lake Hiawatha on Friday, December 5, as families gathered at the gazebo on North Beverwyck Road for an evening filled with festive cheer. Presented by Friends of Lake Hiawatha the beloved community tradition once again drew crowds of residents eager to celebrate the season together.

Children lined up to meet Santa Claus, sharing their Christmas wishes while volunteers served warm hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies generously donated by Foodtown. Gracy delighted young attendees with colorful face painting, and cheerful elves, along with festive holiday music, created a joyful atmosphere throughout the night.

A highlight of the celebration was a special giveaway sponsored by Unity Bank. Attendees entered for a chance to win a boys and a girls bicycle, adding excitement to the evening before the lucky winners were announced.

“Winterfest is our reminder that community spirit is alive and thriving in Lake Hiawatha,” said Antoinette Piccolo-Simmons, Co-Founder of Friends of Lake Hiawatha. “Seeing families come together, children smiling, and our streets glowing with holiday lights makes every hour of volunteer work worth it. Our goal has always been to bring joy to this neighborhood, and events like this show what we can accomplish when we work together.”

With smiling families, twinkling lights, and a strong sense of community pride, Winterfest 2025 continued its cherished tradition in Parsippany. The event once again showcased the spirit of Lake Hiawatha—bringing neighbors together to share warmth, joy, and holiday celebration.

Friends of Lake Hiawatha is a dedicated community organization committed to enhancing the quality of life throughout the Lake Hiawatha neighborhood. Through volunteer-driven initiatives, beautification projects, and family-friendly events like Winterfest, the group works tirelessly to strengthen community pride and create meaningful opportunities for residents to come together. Their efforts continue to make Lake Hiawatha a vibrant, welcoming, and connected part of Parsippany.

PARSIPPANY — A Verified Complaint filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Morris County, challenges the validity of numerous ballots cast in the Parsippany municipal election following an extensive review of vote-by-mail materials, provisional ballot envelopes, and USPS records. The complaint outlines several alleged irregularities, including mismatched voter signatures, ballots cast by individuals who died before Election Day, and ballots counted even though USPS documentation indicated the voters no longer lived at their registered addresses. According to the filing, these discrepancies raise serious questions about the accuracy of the certified results and justify judicial intervention to protect the integrity of the election process.

The election was held on Tuesday, November 4, and the Morris County Board of Canvassers certified the results on November 17, issuing a Statement of Determination declaring Pulkit Desai duly elected as Mayor of Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Attorney John M. Carbone, representing Mayor James Barberio, noted that county records raise “deep concern” regarding the vote-by-mail tabulation. Carbone cited an initial election-night report showing 3,198 vote-by-mail ballots counted. However, the complaint alleges that subsequent official records reflected 3,789 vote-by-mail ballots included in the tally — despite only 3,565 being recorded as received by the statutory deadline of November 10. The filing states this results in an unexplained discrepancy of 224 ballots.

Parsippany Focus has analyzed the Verified Complaint and identified several potential inconsistencies, which are outlined below for the public’s review and understanding.

According to the petition, a review of the vote-by-mail and provisional ballot records shows that 33 provisional ballots appear to have affirmation signatures that do not match the voters’ signatures on file, and 122 mail-in ballots appear to contain certification signatures that do not match either the voters’ mail-in applications or their voter registration records. In addition, three mail-in ballots were cast by individuals who had passed away after submitting their ballots but before Election Day, rendering the votes invalid. The petition further states that 34 votes were illegally counted because the voters’ sample ballots were returned by the United States Postal Service as undeliverable, indicating the voters no longer lived in Parsippany. Of those, USPS records show that 14 voters moved out of the county or out of state. At the same time, 20 sample ballots were returned marked “No Forwarding Address,” suggesting that the individuals no longer resided at the registered address.

A1. Mail-in Ballot Voters Deceased Prior to Nov. 4

Kathleen Galletly, 299 Baldwin Rd #A-302, Parsippany (Deceased October 27, 2025)
Eric Munn, 6 Strowbridge Ave, Mount Tabor (Deceased October 5, 2025)
Shameekumar Patil, 2 Gunston Court, Morris Plains (Deceased October 17, 2025)

Editor’s Note: Mail-in ballots became available on September 22, 2025

A2. Invalid Signatures Main-In Ballot

Troy Adams, 38 Stockton Ct, Morris Plains
Christine Ahrens, 107 Schindler Ct, Parsippany
Heather Augar, 2467 State Route 10 Bldg 5-6B, Morris Plains
Rodney Ayres, 34 Centerton Dr, Parsippany
Opeyemi Bakare, 52 Intervale Rd, Boonton
Kelly Banko, 24 Glencove Rd, Morris Plains
Robert Barbarite, 54 Harrison Rd, Parsippany
Richard Best, 200 Reynolds Ave, Parsippany
Dhirubhai Bhayani, 95 Northfield Rd, Parsippany
Kanchan Bhimani, 6 Lodge Ln, Parsippany
Veronica Bikofsky, 11 Rickland Rd, Parsippany
Merri Blumenfeld, 19 Lucille Dr, Parsippany
Carlos Cabrera, 17 Stafford Ter, Parsippany
Nicola Cacciapaglia, 14 Haddonfield Dr, Parsippany
Guolian Cai, 299 Baldwin Rd Apt C408, Parsippany
Alexa Canella, 100 Vail Rd Apt S9, Parsippany
Alfred Cardaci, 137 Bridgeton Dr, Parsippany
Patricia Caroscio, 2220 Gates Ct, Morris Plains
Santhosh Chakilam, 65 Leah Way, Parsippany
Yu Chiu, 8 Timberlane Ct, Morris Plains
Terence Coletta, 485 Allentown Rd, Parsippany
Phillip Dalo, 132 Rainbow Trl, Denville
Deep Desai, 270 Jacksonville Dr, Parsippany
Ruby Dhanda, 30 Park Rd, Parsippany
Cinara Dias, 60 Edgefield Dr, Morris Plains
Denise Diessner, 11 Taylor Ct, Parsippany
Lauren Dilella, 51 Iroquois Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Xiao Dong, 3 Lodge Ln, Parsippany
Louis Eswood, 35 Murray Ct, Parsippany
Debra Florio, 31 Aldine Rd, Parsippany
Brendon Foster, 46 Hoffman Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Gina Gaccione, 43 Averell Dr, Morris Plains
Michael Gaccione, 43 Averell Dr, Morris Plains
Dharmeshk Gandhi, 17 Janelle Blvd, Parsippany
Pinki Gandhi, 17 Janelle Blvd, Parsippany
Garren Gebhardt, 1035 Littleton Rd, Parsippany
Praveena Grover, 114 Edgefield Dr, Morris Plains
Thomas Gubernot, 181 Flemington Dr, Parsippany
Isaiah Hamilton, 92 Reservoir Rd, Parsippany
Haralambo Hatzipetros, 379 Edwards Rd, Parsippany
Margaret Hendershot, 200 Reynolds Ave, Parsippany
Mark Holden, 646 Parsippany Blvd, Boonton
Devin Horvath, 30 Roosevelt Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Richard Hsu, 500 Parq Ln Apt 459, Parsippany
Kavita Jain, 106 Seasons Glen Dr, Morris Plains
Sevdije Jasaroska, 38 Farrand Dr, Parsippany
Jaquan Jones, 649 Littleton Rd Apt 94, Parsippany
Shigehiro Kanaya, 21 Nantes Rd, Parsippany
Aruna Kasireddy, 53 Erica Way, Parsippany
Priya Kaur, 10 Dunellen Rd, Parsippany
Anil Khajuria, 17 Brighton Trl, Parsippany
Babette Kornbleuth, 3116 Gates Ct, Morris Plains
Manan Lad, 18 Briarwood St, Parsippany
Jean Lee, 68 Stockton Ct, Morris Plains
Young Lee, 1111 Parsippany Blvd Apt 203, Parsippany
Krystal Lefebvre, 76 Bell Rd, Boonton
Joel Levy, 8 Waterloo Dr, Morris Plains
Daniel Lias, 59 Koch Ave, Morris Plains
Priya Limbachia, 142 Seasons Glen Dr, Morris Plains
Sonali Limbachia, 142 Seasons Glen Dr, Morris Plains
Saumit Madireddy, 126 Janelle Blvd, Parsippany
Madhu Maheta, 96 Janelle Blvd, Parsippany
Mary McFadden, 350 Baldwin Rd Apt L4, Parsippany
Madison McGrath, 60 Bell Rd, Boonton
Sathvik Medapati, 24 Raymound Blvd, Parsippany
Priyanka Mehrotra, 38 Meadow Bluff Rd, Morris Plains
Jennifer Millar, 60 Tarn Dr, Morris Plains
Dennis Murphy Jr, 20 Trouville Dr, Parsippany
Patricia Murphy-Fyfe, 20 Colonia Rd, Parsippany
Vijaya Nadella, 30 Eastbrook Rd, Parsippany
Amisha Naik, 10 Heritage Ct, Morris Plains
Tinalyn Nguyen, 125 Beachwood Rd, Parsippany
Sutha Paraman, 96 Raymound Blvd, Parsippany
Anjana Patel, 108 Richard St, Parsippany
Arti Patel, 64 Glassboro Rd, Parsippany
Chirag Patel, 40 Centerton Dr, Parsippany
Dipak Patel, 36 F Houston Taylor Ct, Morris Plains
Dipak Patel, 243 Marcella Rd, Parsippany
Jash Patel, 45 Winterset Dr, Morris Plains
Kailasben Patel, 52 Lisa Ct, Parsippany
Kamlesh Patel, 155 Atlantic Dr, Parsippany
Kinjaben Patel, 71 Wingate Rd, Parsippany
Krupa Patel, 3 Patrician Ct, Parsippany
Malti Patel, 363 Allentown Rd, Parsippany
Neha Patel, 19 Nantes Rd, Parsippany
Nimesh Patel, 102 Janelle Blvd, Parsippany
Nipurna Patel, 32 Alexander Ave, Parsippany
Parag Patel, 53 Raymound Blvd, Parsippany
Rakesh Patel, 40 Centerton Dr, Parsippany
Rakshaben Patel, 40 Dorothy Rd, Parsippany
Rashmiben Patel, 94 Patriots Rd, Morris Plains
Ritesh Patel, 32 Alexander Ave, Parsippany
Ruchitaben Patel, 8 Ridgewood Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Rushit Patel, 40 Dorothy Rd, Parsippany
Sachi Patel, 585 Allentown Rd, Parsippany
Kartik Pathak, 63 Eldora Rd, Parsippany
Mitchell Reiter, 19 Lucille Dr, Parsippany
Myong Sook Rim, 200 Reynolds Ave, Parsippany
Antoinette Rosamilia, 19 Delbrook Rd, Morris Plains
Barbara Rothfeld, 200 Mazdabrook Rd Rm 107, Parsippany
Carmela Sanchez, 1610 Gates Ct, Morris Plains
Prithika Satish, 69 Winterset Dr, Morris Plains
Everton Scott, 3 New England Dr, Lake Hiawatha
Anish Shah, 116 Cardigan Ct, Parsippany
Seema Shah, 28 Paine Ct, Parsippany
Vraj Shah, 5 Harden Ct, Parsippany
Mohini Shetty, 86 Atlantic Dr, Parsippany
Albert Shurdom, 385 Old Bloomfield Ave Apt 1, Parsippany
Curtis Smith, 90 Arundel Rd, Morris Plains
Jaime Staehle, 23 Calumet Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Ildiko Staudinger, 27 Fox Run, Denville
Gabrielle Stevens, 1407 Gates Ct, Morris Plains
Sneha Thudi, 2 Mill Run Ct, Morris Plains
Katelynn Timony, 1480 US Highway 46 Apt 248B, Parsippany
Kanchanben Trambadiya, 37 Barrington Rd, Parsippany
Kokang Tsui, 31 Barnsboro Rd, Parsippany
Edward Walter, 21 Homer St, Parsippany
Feifei Wang, 17 Brookside Ct, Parsippany
Andrew Wigg, 8 High Ridge Rd, Randolph
Michael Willis, 270 Reynolds Ave, Parsippany
Foong Wong, 3 Ray St, Parsippany
Clarissa Yes, 3 Beechwood Ave, Lake Hiawatha

B. Invalid Signatures Provisional Ballots

Paulina Bersey, 15 Adelphia Rd, Parsippany
Sandra Black, 10 Sioux Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Kiranben Desai, 1111 Parsippany Blvd Apt 628, Parsippany
Naynaben Desai, 24 Harden Ct, Parsippany
Joseph Harodetsky, 11 Lincoln Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Harvey Li, 300 Parsippany Rd Apt 7T, Parsippany
Stefani Mathew, 73 Alloway Rd, Parsippany
Iqra Niazi, 349 Lake Shore Dr, Lake Hiawatha
Jorge Novoaochoa, 17 Wenonah Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Nicole Osorio, 42 Dacotah Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Mahendra Patel, 5 Little John Rd, Morris Plains
Usaben Patel, 1480 US Highway 46 Apt 183A, Parsippany
Arman Saadat, 56 Willow Ln, Parsippany
Stephanie Shen, 12 Ronald Rd, Lake Hiawatha
Jayeshkumar Solanki, 11 Pleasant Valley Way, Boonton
Amol Srivastava, 119 Springhill Dr, Morris Plains
Dylan Williams, 30 W Morris Ave, Mount Tabor
Jailene Veloz, 350 Baldwin Rd Apt A13, Parsippany
Thomas Caiazzo, 274 Rutgers Ln, Parsippany
Joanne Fisher, 872 S Beverwyck Rd, Parsippany
Kimberly Jacobson, 4 Ute Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Cynthia Nunez, 273 Allentown Rd, Parsippany
Nishit Patel, 84 Erica Way, Parsippany
Samir Patel, 19 Roosevelt Ave S, Parsippany
Vallav Patel, 1100 Parsippany Blvd Apt 5, Parsippany
Deborah Spiotti, 88 Iroquois Ave, Lake Hiawatha
David Tillman, 181 Crown Point Rd, Parsippany
Shaun Zuber, 2467 State Route 10 Bldg 21-8A, Morris Plains
Kwadwo Agyemang, 55 Stephen Ter, Parsippany
Melissa Feeney, 41 Meadow Bluff Rd, Morris Plains
Jessica Ho, 47 Westminster Dr, Parsippany
Reema Patel, 24 Harden Ct, Parsippany
Ilaben Zala, 36 Oak Ridge Rd, Parsippany

C. Sample Ballots Returned by USPS

Ashley Banks, 2212 Harry and Judy Dr, Morris Plains
Lauren Calabrese, PO Box 440, Mount Tabor
Julio Cesar Rivera, 14 Carlson Pl, Lake Hiawatha
Samantha N Cocchi, 83 Continental Rd, Morris Plains
Michael Connor Tran, 3 Woods End Rd, Morris Plains
Glenn S DeLorenzo, 36 Avignon Dr, Morris Plains
Anita DeLorenzo, 36 Avignon Dr, Morris Plains
Jedidiah Fretts-Howard, 646 Littleton Rd Apt 62, Parsippany
Tykee Hall, 114 Reservoir Rd Unit 114, Parsippany
Erich Hauck, 17 Moraine Rd, Morris Plains
Akash Hossain, 228 Longport Rd, Parsippany
Samantha A Kay, 649 Littleton Rd Apt 50, Parsippany
Michael Kertesz, 57 Orston Rd, Parsippany
Ellie Korn, 350 Baldwin Rd Apt J6, Parsippany
Crawford Lewis, 98 Fieldcrest Rd, Parsippany
Ryan Lewis, 98 Fieldcrest Rd, Parsippany
Dylan Miksis, 15 Adelphia Rd, Parsippany
Melvyn Miller, 14 Crescent Dr, Parsippany
Hunter Muhlhauser, 2467 State Route 10 Bldg 7-7B, Parsippany
Margaret Naraine, 300 Parsippany Rd Apt 16W, Parsippany
Daniel Norton, 25 Norman Ave, Lake Hiawatha
Pratibha Patel, 1100 Parsippany Blvd Apt 8, Parsippany
Ashvinbhai Patel, 1100 Parsippany Blvd Apt 8, Parsippany
Hemlata Patel, 50 US Highway 46, Pine Brook
Lisa Perna, 227 Atlantic Dr, Parsippany
Tara Phillips, 1479 US Highway 46 Ste 110, Parsippany
Rebeca Radford, 2 Campus Drive, Parsippany
Kalpana Rao, 257 Kingston Rd, Parsippany
David M Rubino, 32 Holland Rd, Parsippany
Germaine Samuels, 200 Baldwin Rd Apt G4, Parsippany
Christopher Santucci, 7 Sand Hill Ct, Parsippany
Rasheed Stewart, 57 Redstone Dr, Parsippany
Mukesh Vaghmode, 25 Upper Rainbow Trl, Denville
Michael Zinckgraf, 39 Glacier Dr, Morris Plains

LEGAL VOTES REJECTED

At least five legal voters who attempted to cast their votes were precluded and prohibited from voting and constitute legal votes rejected.

Jesus Hernandez, 236 Allertgun Rd, Parsippany
Sadia Kahn, 1489 Rt 46 Apt 123B, Parsippany
Catherine O’Connor, 33 Delanco Dr, Parsippany
Charles White, 26 Winding Way, Parsippany
Kira King, 17 Sedgefield Dr, Morris Plains

The judge has ruled that the case will move forward and has established an extensive timeline leading up to trial. According to the court’s scheduling order, multiple procedural deadlines have been set to accommodate the volume of evidence and anticipated testimony. The tentative trial date has been scheduled for January 5, pending completion of all pretrial requirements.

Superior Court Judge Noah Franzblau will preside over the trial.

Editor’s Note: All information on this page is public information.

PARSIPPANY – Liquid Church, one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing Christian churches, has successfully completed its annual Christmas Outreach, surpassing its goal of packing more than 1 million holiday meals for hungry children and families around the world.

Over 6,000 volunteers came together across six New Jersey locations on Friday, December 5th, and Saturday, December 6th, serving in partnership with Rise Against Hunger. The massive effort produced nutritionally fortified meals that will now be distributed globally to communities facing food insecurity.

Designed as a family-friendly service experience, volunteers of all ages—parents, teens, and young children—worked side-by-side in an energetic assembly-line environment. Each location packed thousands of meals within hours, contributing to the overall million-meal achievement.

“Every year at our annual Christmas Outreach, I’m blown away by the selfless hearts in our community as people all across the state put the love of God into action,” said Tim Lucas, founder and lead pastor of Liquid Church. “By packing over a million nutritious meals, we are making a lasting impact for families battling hunger worldwide and bringing the hope of Christ at Christmas to those who need it most.”

Liquid Church once again partnered with Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization committed to ending hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives, and responding to global emergencies. Volunteers packed meals at Liquid Church locations in Princeton, Parsippany, Wayne, Somerset, Mountainside, and Garwood.

“At Liquid Church, it’s our heart to serve others—both locally here in New Jersey and globally in countries like Zambia, where we continue our mission to provide clean, safe drinking water,” Lucas added. “The overwhelming response from our community makes this outreach possible. We simply could not reach the million-meal mark without the incredible support of volunteers who share our vision.”

For more information on upcoming outreach opportunities, visit LiquidChurch.com/ChristmasOutreach.

Liquid Church is one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing Christian churches. Founded in 2007 by Lead Pastor Tim Lucas, the church’s vision is to “Saturate the State with the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” with six physical campuses across Mercer, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union Counties. More than 5,000 people participate weekly through in-person services and Church Online. Global outreach efforts include building hundreds of clean-water wells throughout Africa and Central America. NPR, CNN, FOX News, and TIME magazine have featured Liquid Church’s innovative ministry. Learn more at www.LiquidChurch.com.

Rise Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organization growing a global movement to end hunger through community empowerment, nutritional support, and crisis response. With U.S. locations and five international offices, the organization provides immediate food assistance while implementing sustainable, long-term solutions to lift communities out of hunger. Learn more at www.riseagainsthunger.org.

The funniest thing about love is that it doesn’t forgive any of us. At least once in our lives, love has had a better hand of cards than we did, and it played them damn right. We inhaled it like poison, blind in our devotion to the one who made us rage. Oh, love and rage. A fatal intertwining, worthy of Kafka’s writing. That gentleman really knew what he was talking about. Many people struggle to recover after reading Kafka. Too bad he died as a relatively unknown author, believing himself to be a failure. Anyways, the point is, love, in its sly omnipotence, gets even the most impenetrable of us, even those who self-proclaim themselves as if they were these unmovable towers of reason, bastions against the chaos of emotion.

Even the CEOs who outsmart the world, telling themselves they are immune, that they can observe without feeling, that they can dissect love with intellect alone, they cannot. At least, not all of the time. Love thrives precisely where pride trembles, and in that quiet capitulation to the absurd and the ineffable, CEOs are revealed not just as rulers of their empires, but as fragile witnesses to their own hearts, things they have treated for too long as mere organs. Or maybe, they are not wrong on this one. The heart might truly be just an organ, far from the metaphors it has long been burdened with. Either way, whether because of the heart, a brain malfunction, or compulsive behavior, love exists. Just imagine a fancy CEO, obsessed enough with themselves to have their name tattooed on every gadget they use, meeting a partner who embodies pure love. It must be absolutely hilarious.

Act I – How Desire Emerges Before Conscious Awareness, Disrupting Even The Most Calculated Minds 

Even the sharpest, most calculating minds, people who schedule their lives down to the minute, who can forecast markets and plan empires, aren’t immune to the slow, quiet pull of desire. For it doesn’t arrive as a storm; it sneaks in, a shadow brushing against the edges of thought, unnoticed at first. Seeing their name pop up on your phone first thing in the morning, hearing a certain tone in their voice, noticing tiny habits that make them unmistakably themselves, these are the things that train the brain before the conscious mind has a chance to catch on. Anyhow, the tragedy truly begins when that person disappears for a while, even briefly, and the brain suddenly notices the void. Absence makes the anticipation spike, desire intensifies, and what once felt optional now feels like a necessity, like a room full of people who run out of oxygen, and they are all fighting for the single individual holding the disposable cylinder. That individual is the one who left you linger in absence. 

The culminating point of Act I: Even the most rational, disciplined individuals, the ones who pride themselves on control, can find themselves caught off guard, subtly reshaped by forces they didn’t even know existed. Logic can map out markets, but it cannot map out longing.

Act II – How Emotional Impulses Override Rational Planning, Leaving Ambition Vulnerable 

Ambition is a funny thing. It makes you think you’re in full control, that your plans, spreadsheets, and strategies can bend the world to your will. And then a smile, a glance, a fleeting moment, and suddenly, everything shifts. The brain isn’t a neat machine, and emotion sits at the table, whispering instructions your conscious mind doesn’t even hear. Even the most disciplined planners, CEOs, strategists, people who think in charts, find priorities bending, goals realigning, decisions quietly influenced by attachment, desire, or simple curiosity. The only logical explanation? The prefrontal cortex, which governs long-term planning, is continually influenced by limbic structures such as the amygdala, which respond to immediate emotional salience, and the insula, which monitors internal bodily states, creating a tension between reason and affect. Studies on decision-making under stress or social influence reveal that even highly disciplined individuals can be swayed by desire, attachment, or fear, often without realizing it. Ambition, carefully cultivated through military-like routines, incentives, and cognitive discipline, is especially vulnerable when emotions introduce uncertainty into assessments of risk or reward.

The culminating point of Act II: The cruel joke is that this is universal. We like to imagine ourselves immune, but human beings are wired to respond, to anticipate, to crave. And that craving doesn’t check your calendar or respect your objectives. It just is.

Act III – When Love Meets Consequence: Lessons from Suppressed  Emotions 

Even the most disciplined CEOs can be blindsided by the heart. Imagine someone who runs an empire, whose life revolves around control and precision, falling for the wrong person, someone whose charm masks recklessness, whose presence slowly erodes both emotional and financial stability. Funds mismanaged, accounts exposed, decisions clouded by attachment, entire empires can wobble because the heart refuses to stay in its lane. This is why a business  password manager, multi-factor authentication, and compartmentalized control of business assets are not boring rules. They are lifelines, particularly the business password manager, as they ensure that when emotions may rage, access remains impenetrable. Love may pierce the armor of pride, it always does, but it should never pierce the value of an enterprise. 

But beyond spreadsheets and digital safeguards lies the deeper lesson, the one that informs us about how suppressing emotion doesn’t make us invincible but blind. Denying longing warps judgment, builds tension, and amplifies risk. Emotions are not weaknesses, they are signals, guides, sometimes inconvenient, sometimes terrifying, but always telling you something you need to know. Ignoring them might preserve a sense of control for a while, but sooner or later, the heart asserts itself in ways that can be costly or enlightening. 

Learning to see, respect, and navigate your own feelings without surrendering entirely is perhaps the hardest, and most necessary thing one must learn throughout their journey on Earth. 

​

PARSIPPANY — In a dramatic turn of events following one of the closest elections in Parsippany history, Mayor James R. Barberio has filed a formal legal challenge contesting the results of the November 4 mayoral race.

The verified complaint, filed Friday at 4:14 p.m., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County, alleges serious irregularities in the vote-by-mail process that Barberio claims may have altered the election’s outcome. Democrat Pulkit Desai was certified the winner by the Morris County Board of Canvassers on Monday, November 17, edging out Barberio by just 80 votes.

“I am deeply concerned that the mayoral race in Parsippany may have been improperly certified. The problem relates to vote-by-mail ballots. According to county records, as reported on the Morris County Board of Elections website 3,198 vote-by-mail ballots were tallied on election night,” said John M. Carbone, Esq.

This is the third attempt since November 4 to overturn the results certified by the Morris County Board of Canvassers.

According to the complaint, official county records show a discrepancy of 224 vote-by-mail ballots—with 3,789 votes counted, but only 3,565 confirmed as received by the November 10 deadline.

Barberio’s filing details alleged violations of multiple provisions under New Jersey election law, citing “illegal votes received or legal votes rejected,” and “errors by the Morris County Board of Canvassers in counting the votes and declaring the result.”

“The margin is razor-thin,” the complaint reads. “Documented irregularities surpass 700 votes—nearly ten times the certified margin of victory.”

Barberio, the Republican nominee, is seeking judicial review of hundreds of ballots, including overvotes, undervotes, and late-arriving mail ballots. The suit also names as respondents the Morris County Clerk, Board of Elections, Superintendent of Elections, and the Parsippany Municipal Clerk.

The court has not scheduled a hearing as of press time. If the results are overturned, it could prompt either a recount or a potential re-election.

Barberio led Desai by 211 votes, 9,555 to 9,339.  But provisional and vote-by-mail ballots counted by the Morris County Board of Elections gave Desai a lead of 9,976 to 9,898, a margin of 50.5% to 49.65%.

Democrats also picked up two council seats, with Matt Kavanaugh and Diya Patel easily defeating Republican incumbent Frank Neglia and his running mate, Jigar Shah. That splits the township council, 3-2.

Superior Court Judge Noah Franzblau will preside over the trial.

This is a developing story. Parsippany Focus will provide updates as more information becomes available.

PARSIPPANY — The holiday season officially arrived in Parsippany as Santa Claus made a festive entrance aboard a brightly decorated Parsippany Fire Truck, delighting children and families who lined up to welcome him.

With lights flashing and just the right touch of holiday cheer, Santa waved from the fire truck as members of the Parsippany Fire Department proudly escorted him to the event. Children rushed forward with excitement, eager to greet Santa, pose for photos, and share their Christmas wishes.

Adding to the holiday magic, Sandra Neglia and Mayor James Barberio took the stage to read and sing a lively rendition of “The Night Before Christmas,” entertaining the crowd and bringing smiles to families across the park.

The Parsippany High School Choir also performed a collection of holiday songs, filling the air with seasonal melodies that set the perfect tone for Santa’s arrival.

Local officials, community leaders, and residents joined together, continuing a treasured Parsippany tradition that celebrates unity, joy, and the spirit of the season.

With Santa’s arrival by fire truck and festive performances throughout the evening, the holiday season in Parsippany is officially underway.

PARSIPPANY — A remarkable century of life was celebrated recently as Senator Joe Pennacchio presented a proclamation to Phyllis Corsi, recognizing her extraordinary journey and her deep connection to Parsippany, Boonton Township, and now Montville.

Born on November 7, 1925, in Leeds, England, Corsi grew up during the World War II era. During the war, she met the American serviceman who would become her husband. The two married, and in 1947, Corsi traveled to the United States as a war bride, bringing with her their one-year-old daughter.

Corsi began her American life in Newark, later moving to Parsippany in 1956, where she and her family became part of the town’s early growth. In 1972, she moved to Boonton Township, where she lived until her husband’s passing in 2008.

Now a resident of Mira Vie in Montville, Corsi continues to share her stories, her warmth, and her remarkable perspective shaped by 100 years of life experiences. From wartime England to modern Morris County, she has witnessed profound change and embraced every stage of her journey with resilience and grace.

During the proclamation presentation, Senator Pennacchio praised Corsi’s longevity, courage, and the meaningful contributions she has made to the communities she has called home.

Corsi’s life story stands as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by war brides and the lasting impact they have had on families and communities across New Jersey.

PARSIPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting – Tuesday, December 2, 2025, agenda meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the municipal building.

Click here to download the agenda

Click here for a copy of the 2025 calendar.

Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Law by filing the notice in the Office of the Township Clerk and by posting the meeting notice on the bulletin board at the Municipal Building on December 2, 2024, where it has remained posted since that date. A legal notice appeared in the Daily Record and the Newark Star-Ledger on December 6, 2024. 

Executive Session

The Council plans to enter a closed executive session to discuss attorney–client privileged matters related to affordable housing. Once confidentiality is no longer required, minutes will be made public.

Second Reading & Public Hearing on Ordinances

Several ordinances are up for final consideration and public comment, including:

• Amendments to a previously adopted bond ordinance
• Establishment of 2025 salary ranges
• Adjustments to sewer rental fees
• Increases to water rates and charges
• Amendments to the township’s cannabis ordinance

Public Session

The public will have an opportunity to speak on any township matter before the Council.

Consent Agenda

The Council is expected to vote on routine items including:

• Issuing a new hotel/motel liquor license (Troy Hotel)
• Cancelling and refunding property taxes for a 100% permanently disabled veteran
• Authorizing budget transfers 2025-12-02-Council-Agenda

Approval of Minutes

The Council will vote on approving minutes from the November 3 agenda meeting and the November 25 regular meeting.

Reports & Presentations

Updates are expected from:

• The Mayor
• Township Council
• Township Attorney
• Business Administrator
• Township Clerk
  The Council will also address filling an unexpired term on the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

First Reading of New Ordinances

Two major financial-agreement ordinances will be introduced:

• A tax exemption agreement with PARQ Urban Renewal, LLC
• A tax exemption agreement with BBX Parsippany Urban Renewal, LLC
  Both will be scheduled for second reading on December 16. 2025

Non-Consent Agenda

The Council will consider renewing 2026 licenses for amusement games, entertainment, taxis/limos, and tourist accommodations. 2025-12-02-Council-Agenda

Payroll & Bills

The CFO recommends approval of:

• Approximately $1.65 million in payroll
• About $1.5 million in bills from the December 5 voucher list