PARSIPPANY — A car fire on Route 80 West, at approximately 2:15 p.m. in the Express Lanes near mile marker 45.6. is slowing down traffic and causing major delays.
Cars are exiting in Montville on Route 46, and the traffic is backed up for miles. In addition, the bridge on Bloomfield Avenue from Montville to Parsippany is closed to major road paving.
As soon as additional details are available, Parsippany Focus will update this article.
MORRIS COUNTY — Youths from 13 Morris County towns were among the graduates of the third annual Morris County Public Safety Youth Academy this month, after facing an intensive week-long course that immersed them in a hands-on host of public safety programs and exercises.
The 30 high school students who participated in the unique and free program, sponsored by the Morris County Board of Freeholders, ranged in age from 13 to 17 and entering grades 9 to 12 this fall.
Graduates came from Boonton, Chester, Long Hill, Mendham, Montville, Morris Plains, Morristown, Mount Olive, Randolph, the Rockaways, and Roxbury, Washington Township, plus Wayne in Passaic County.
The program was five days long and lasted eight hours each day. The cadets were exposed to an intensive program that featured a multi-faceted approach to public safety, including but not limited to law enforcement, emergency medical services, firefighting, and emergency management.
Students also get a taste each day of the public safety academy-style physical training
For a first-hand look at the 2015 Youth Academy, and to give potential 2016 applicants a look at what they might experience, view this comprehensive video:
“This program is like none other offered in this in the area. Cadets are exposed to all facets of the public safety profession,’’ said Scott DiGiralomo, Director of the Morris County Department of Law and Public Safety. “Our goal is to aid young adults in making a potentially life-changing professional commitment that could benefit themselves and their community.”
“The Youth Academy provides high school students with exposure to the field of public safety. At such an important time in a young adult’s life, when they are making decisions about their future, the academy affords them a hands-on opportunity to better understand and consider the field of public safety,” said Freeholder Doug Cabana, who is the county governing board’s liaison on law and public safety.
Most youth academies focus strictly on law enforcement. The Morris County program aspires to provide cadets with relevant and appropriate hands-on experience, allowing them to make an educated decision on their futures.
To achieve this goal, the cadets are exposed to police, fire, and EMS. By allowing them to participate in so many aspects of public safety, the cadets can realize an interest in a field previously unfamiliar to them.
The 2015 academy graduation occurred on August 7. The following is a list of graduates:
Roxbury: Michael Aemisegeo, Anthony Calabrese, Walter Chavarria, Michael Kovach, Jonathan Rheinhardt and Ben Smith;
Montville: Alexander Benno, Gregory Frieland, Joshua Lee, Samuel Rosensweig, and Jaden Vnencak;
Morris Plains: Christopher Brisson, Alyssa Chellaraj, Juhi Desai of Morris Plains;
Randolph: Stephen and Andrew Zenes, Danielle Buccelli, and Jordyn Bolan;
Mendham: Jenna Graff and John Herrlin III;
David Chen of Rockaway, Ryan Howard of Chester, Jonathan Johnson of Rockaway Township, Elizabeth Kaufman of Wharton, Sienna Madera of Mount Olive, Gianna Mitchell of Morristown, Kyle Mullaney of Boonton, Nina Tenten of Long Hill, Ryan Turse of Washington Township, and Christopher Paulison of Wayne.
RANDOLPH — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces the arrest of a Bloomfield public school teacher for possession and distribution of child pornography.
Nicholas K. Schumacher, Randolph, 29, was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child through distribution of child pornography, which is a second degree crime; and one count of endangering the welfare of a child through possession of child pornography, which is a third degree crime.
The investigation commenced when the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that child pornography was being uploaded by the defendant.
More specifically, the email addresses and internet protocol addresses being used to upload the material in question were located at the defendant’s Randolph residence and from his place of employment in Bloomfield, where the defendant is employed as a teacher with the Bloomfield Public School System.
Bail was set initially at $75,000, with no 10 percent option, by Randolph Municipal Court Judge Ira Cohen. Conditions of that bail also include that Schumacher have no contact with children under the age of 16, have no possession of firearms, and surrender his passport. At a subsequent emergent bail hearing before Superior Court Judge William McGovern, the defendant’s bail was reduced to $50,000 but all other bail conditions remained.
Prosecutor Knapp credited the following with participating in the investigation: Randolph Police Department, Bloomfield Police Department, New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Section, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective James Bruno of the Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200.
PARSIPPANY — Be on the lookout for a “virtual kidnapping” scam where con artists call people at random, claim to have kidnapped their relatives and demand a ransom payment, according to the Parsippany Police Department.
Callers, sometimes representing themselves as members of a drug cartel or corrupt law enforcement, will typically provide you with specific instructions to ensure safe “return” of the allegedly kidnapped individual. These instructions usually involve demands of a ransom payment. Most schemes use various techniques to instill a sense of fear, panic, and urgency in an effort to rush the victim into making a very hasty decision.
Instructions usually require the ransom payment be made immediately and typically by wire transfer. These schemes involve varying amounts of ransom demands, which often decrease at the first indication of resistance.
Callers will often go to great lengths to engage victims in ongoing conversations to prevent them from verifying the status and location of the “kidnapped” individuals. Callers will often make their victims believe they are being watched and were personally targeted. In reality, many of these callers are outside of the United States, simply making hundreds of calls, possibly using phone directories or other phone lists.
To avoid becoming a victim of this extortion scheme, look for the following possible indicators:
-Incoming calls made from an outside area code
-Multiple successive phone calls
-Calls do not come from the kidnapped victim’s phone
-Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone
-Callers prevent you from calling or locating the “kidnapped” victim
-Ransom money is only accepted via wire transfer service-
If you receive a phone call from someone who demands payment of a ransom for a kidnapped victim, the following should be considered:
-Stay calm
-Slow the situation down
-Avoid sharing information about you or your family during the call
-Listen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim
-Attempt to call or determine the location of the “kidnapped” victim
-Request to speak to the victim
-Ask questions only the victim would know<
-Request the kidnapped victim call back from his/her cell phone<
If you wish to file a complaint about a virtual kidnapping scam phone call, contact the FBI Newark Office Complaint Line: (973) 792-3000
PARSIPPANY — The bridge connecting Old Bloomfield Avenue (Parsippany side) to Bloomfield Avenue (Montville side) will be closed on Friday, August 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for road resurfacing by the Morris County Road Department.
Traffic is expected to be heavy during the closure.
New Road at Old Bloomfield Avenue will remain open.
Detours will be posted.
EAST HANOVER — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and East Hanover Police Chief Stanley Hansen announce today they are investigating a robbery that occurred at an East Hanover jewelry store this week.
On Monday, August 24, a robbery occurred at the Venicia Diamond Jewelry store located at 460 Ridgedale Ave, East Hanover.
The suspect entered the store between 11:45 a.m. and 12:19 p.m., and removed various items from the store. The suspect then fled in an unknown direction.
The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 30 years old, about 5-feet, 11-inches tall, with a medium build.
The suspect had short, dark brown or black hair; a mustache and a goatee. At the time of the incident, the suspect was wearing a black shirt, blue jeans, a baseball cap and dark sunglasses.
Law enforcement authorities have developed a sketch of the suspect.
Anyone with information about this incident, including the identity of the suspect, is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200, the East Hanover Police Department at (973) 887-0432 or CrimeStoppers at (973) COP-CALL (973-267-2255,www.copcall.org.
Any inquiries can be directed to Deputy Chief Denise H. Arseneault at (973) 285-6262 or darseneault@co.morris.nj.us.
Gordon Meth, the new governor of the New Jersey District Kiwanis International, was sworn in at the annual Kiwanis District convention held August 21 – 23 at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal Hotel.
Gordon lives in Parsippany and is a member and former officer of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany. Gordon has been the recipient of several honors recognizing his years of volunteer service to many Kiwanis projects dedicated to helping children and the community.
Gordon is a Civil Engineer and recognized as an expert in traffic related issues. An ardent hockey fan, he lives in the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany with his wife and two sons.
The balloon sculpture of Gordon was done by Rob Forman, a renowned balloon architect who has done work around the world. Rob is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Parsippany. He will be demonstrating his balloon skills at the upcoming Parsippany Fall Festival on Sunday, September 20 at the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany booth.
Gordon said “I am honored to have been elected to lead New Jersey District of Kiwanis for 2015-2016 administrative year. I look forward to working with my entire board – Immediate Past Governor Nancy Hart Esposito, District Secretary Gwen Walding, Governor Elect Anthony Affatati, Treasurer Jerry Adelsohn, Parliamentarian Joe O’Niell, Past Governors Jack Wilson and Barrie Werfel, Lieutenant Governors Michael Ridgway, Fritz Reynolds, Joe Schmeltz, Marshal Kern, Joey Giordano, Rosemary Oarsley, Bill Seeman, Steve McKinley, and Frank Swarts Jr, and Lieutenant Governor Elects Brian Campbell, Kristie Wilson, Michael Maloney, Anne Kraljic, Michael Ellithorpe, Michael Dixon, Howard Gordon, and Frank Cannistra.”
Gordon has been a member of Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany since 2005. He served as Club Vice President, 2006-2007, Club President-Elect, 2007-2008 and Club President, 2008-2009.
He also served as Club Immediate Past President, 2009-2010 and President of Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany Foundation, 2009-2010.
He was the Lt Governor Elect, Division 10, 2011; Lt Governor, Division 9, 2011-2014 and received the Distinguished Lt Governor, 2011-2012 service year.
He also received the Walter Zeller Fellow, Carrington Swain Fellow, George F. and Hixson Fellow. In 2014, Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany awarded Gordon with the Mr. Meth “Kiwanian of the Year” award.
He was also recognized by Parsippany Rotary Club as Outstanding Citizen in 2013.
In addition to all of his volunteering in the Kiwanis organization, Gordon was Youth Soccer Coach for past 9 years; Former T-Ball Coach/Team Manager; Institute of Transportation Engineers Section and District Boards for past 9 years, including serving as Metropolitan New York and New Jersey Section President in 2009 (while President of his Kiwanis Club).
In addition Gordon joined the Board of Trustees for the Parsippany Child Day Care Center in 2005. He became the President of the Board of Trustees in 2010, and is still President. When he took over as President, the Day Care Center costs were exceeding revenue by approximately 10% per year. Since Gordon took over as President, the Day Care Center has operated with a 3-8% surplus. Since taking over, the Day Care Center is pursuing NAEYC accreditation, has replaced the roof and boiler, replaced the playgrounds, and has undertaken numerous other capital improvements.
He is also former member of the Board of Directors for Dover Little Theater, a community theatre in Dover.
He is a Member of New Jersey Planning Officials, for whom he has been giving training to new Planning Board/Board of Adjustment members for the past nine years.
RANDOLPH — County College of Morris President Edward J. Yaw and Drew University President MaryAnn Baenninger signed an agreement today that will provide top honors students at CCM with scholarships to Drew and a seamless transition to allow those students to earn their bachelor’s degrees at the Madison-based university.
Under the agreement, CCM students who successfully complete a minimum of four honors courses at the county college, earn a minimum 3.25 grade point average (GPA) and transfer to Drew will receive scholarships from the university to continue their studies.
Admitted students with a GPA of 3.75 will receive a $25,000 Honors Scholarship, those with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will receive a $20,000 Presidential Scholarship, and those who earn a 3.25 GPA or higher will receive a $15,000 Deans Scholarship.
The scholarships will be awarded annually as long as the students maintain the appropriate GPA. Students who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at CCM will receive an additional $2,500 annual scholarship.
Qualified honors students at CCM also will be able to take up to two courses at Drew at no cost while still enrolled at the community college. Students who are admitted to Drew will enter the university as juniors and will become part of the university’s honors cohort.
“We’re delighted that Drew has developed yet another pathway for CCM students to seamlessly transfer to the university and pursue a bachelor’s degree more affordably,” said Yaw. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for CCM students who earn their associate degree to also earn a bachelor’s degree from a highly respected liberal arts university.”
“We are so proud to be able to offer qualified students at County College of Morris the opportunity to attend Drew through this unique agreement,” said Baenninger. “Besides taking classes at Drew while still at CCM, this agreement will make college more affordable by offering a range of honors scholarships to these high-achieving students as they complete their baccalaureate degrees.”
By Glenn Mollette
WDBJ-TV Virginia television reporters Alison Parker and Adam Ward were executed while doing their jobs. They were good people who were successful at what they did and loved their work.
The insane ex-reporter who murdered them on live television killed himself. There are reports of some wacky manifesto and a faxed message to ABC about his state of mind. His state of mind was pure craziness. Obviously he needed psychiatric help. We can be thankful that a policeman did not have to kill him. However, it might have been best if a policeman could have killed this murderer before he gunned down Parker and Ward. I wonder what the newsfeed would be today if a policeman could have shot the idiot before he took two innocent lives?
The killer’s name is all over the news and all over the Internet. You know his name well already. He is now famous. He is famous for taking two innocent lives and destroying families and breaking the hearts of millions of people. There needs to be a media agreement that the names of such people are never mentioned on television or printed in the media. This evil murderer is now reaping what he had hoped for and that is all the fame and deranged glory he could never earn on the merits, hard work and skills that he did not possess.
We shouldn’t post video clips or show pictures of the horrific beheadings carried out by ISIS. When we do we are giving them what they so desperately crave – attention. The more attention ISIS receives the more they seem to be fueled.
I realize what I am suggesting isn’t going to happen. I affirm the first People want to know and I know that television, radio and print report the news and the news includes names. The bad people always make the news.
If we left the evil people out of the news then names like John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinckley Jr. or Charles Manson would not be so widely written about.
This is the day of social media and worldwide communication technology. A word, a post and horrific actions are seen around the world often moments after they happen. As in the murder of these two young journalists the murderer did everything he could to make sure he received as much attention as possible by even posting his own video clip online.
Identities of bad people will be reported. However, whenever we have the chance as reporters, editors or columnists we ought to find a way to not add more fame to the deranged individuals who sought it so horrifically.
Glenn Mollette is an American Syndicated Columnist and Author. He is the author of eleven books and read in all fifty states.
This column does not necessarily reflect the view of Parsippany Focus or any organization, institution or media source.
Click here to view his facebook page.
PARSIPPANY — Smith Road will be closed between East Halsey Road and Westminster Drive starting on Thursday, August 27 at 7:30 a.m.
The road will be closed until completion of the project.
There is a detour in place.
The roadway in that location is being regraded and paved.
Parsippany Focus is a digital news organization that provides news coverage of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey. The organization was founded in 1989 by Frank Cahill, who currently owns and operates the organization. Parsippany Focus covers local news, events, and community issues, and their content is primarily distributed through their website and social media channels. The organization has been serving as a trusted source of news and information for the Parsippany-Troy Hills community for over 30 years.
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