PARSIPPANY — Students from Parsippany, Randolph, Morristown, Kinnelon, Mendham, Boonton, New Vernon, and Roxbury were honored as Mayo Performing Arts Center’s Music Students of the Month – Outstanding Pianists — prior to the Thursday, February 1 performance of Piano Battle.

The students were recognized for their achievements on stage prior to the concert and had the opportunity to meet the performers.

Students were nominated by their teachers and were chosen by the Theatre’s Education Department based on their commitment to and excellence in the performing arts. The Theatre will honor a group of students every month throughout the season and invites area teachers to nominate students for this honor. Students will be invited to perform at a year-end recital in June.

The 2017-2018 Music Student of the Month program is supported by The Walter F. and Alice Gorham Foundation, Inc.

Music Students of the Month are:

Jonah Decaria
Grade 7, Brooklawn Middle School; Parsippany; Nominated by Joseph Stella Jonah has been selected by audition to be the pianist in our school’s jazz band for the past two years.  He is a great musician all around and also plays percussion in our 7th grade concert band.

Steven Alt
Grade 8, Randolph Middle School; Randolph; Nominated by Kristen Siebenhuhner Steven Alt began playing the piano in first grade and plays a variety of music genres.  He successfully auditioned annually on piano for the award-winning Randolph Middle School’s Select Jazz Ensemble for the past three years and composed a solo in 2017 for the song “Al blues” by Miles Davis.  He also accompanied the Randolph Middle School Orchestra on “Silent Night” at the 2016 Holiday Concert.  Steven is a member of the St. Matthews Choir as a piano and viola accompanist.  He regularly performs at The Piano Workshop’s recitals where he has been studying piano with Dorian Morales since 2010.  Steven also has attended summer music camps at The Piano Workshop, focusing on Garage Band and original piano compositions.  He has been a member of the Brookside Community Orchestra for the past three summers and attended the Randolph Schools Strings Summer Program.  

David Giambra
Grade 12, Jefferson Township High School; Oak Ridge; Nominated by James Wynne David began playing as a freshman in music technology class and took to the piano so well that he is now planning to major in music education in college.  He is just about to audition on piano for his college music department acceptance.  He is a dedicated musician and deserving of outstanding pianist.

Jasmine “Jazzy” Meyer
Grade 9, Mendham High School; Mendham; Nominated by Patricia Danner Jazzy is a freshman at Mendham High School and in a few short months has already had a major impact on our program in a positive way.  She participates in the band and chorus, and is a very skilled piano player.  In addition to singing in the choir and playing the flute in the band, Jazzy plays piano in our top Jazz Ensemble.  Jazzy is primarily a classical pianist, but has been attending workshops during lunch to learn more about the jazz style.  She is a student who truly loves to learn and enjoys a challenge.  Jazzy will also be accompanying the choir in our upcoming performance in February.  Jazzy is a talented young student with a positive attitude, and I am excited to see what she will accomplish over the next four years!

Stefan Nita
Grade 7, Pearl R. Miller Middle School; Kinnelon; Nominated by Lisa Wichman Stefan began studying piano and classical music at age five with Andrew Schwarz.  He life dream is to compose music for movies and video-games, write comic books and teach music.  Stefan has shared his musical talent at recitals and talent shows.   He has been a featured pianist at our PRM Middle School Choir concerts.  A gifted musician, Stefan has perfect pitch, reads music well and can play by ear.  Stefan’s favorite composers include: Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart and Schumann.   When I asked Stefan recently what he was currently working on, he shared this with me:  “I’m working on Chopin’s “Petit Chein.” Chopin was one of the greatest pianists of all time. His music impacts me greatly. I can feel all the emotion when I play; I can feel what he felt. It’s so amazing and I am honored to play his music.”

Adam Rack
Grade 12, Hanover Park High School, East Hanover; Nominated by Helen Britez Adam is the pianist for Jazz Ensemble and participates in almost every facet of our Music Department including: Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Men’s Choir, Atlantic City Crew (highly select a cappella group), Pit Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, and AP Music Theory, in addition to performances outside of school.  He is a consummate musician, thoughtful and caring soul, and diligent musician.  He plans to pursue Music Composition next year.

Charles Sagerer
Grade 6, John Hill School, Boonton; Nominated by Yvonne Manca Charles has been taking piano lessons for a few years.  He is an outstanding piano player and plays with precise rhythm and has amazing technical skills.  He has excelled in piano and has no problem reading difficult rhythms.  He enjoys music and has an extensive musical background for a student at such a young age.

Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2017-2018 season is made possible, in part, by a grant the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations and individuals. The Mayo Performing Arts Center has been designated a Major Presenting Organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Mayo Performing Arts Center was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres, and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine.

PARSIPPANY — Jeffery David Stolfi, 66, a longtime custodian at Brooklawn Middle School, passed away on Tuesday.

Stolfi was born in Glen Ridge, and was a longtime Parsippany resident. He worked at the middle school for over 30 years, and was a member of St. Christopher R.C. Church.

“Mr. Stolfi was a custodian at Brooklawn Middle School for over 30 years and a valued member of the Brooklawn staff. He was proud to serve the Brooklawn Knights community,” said Joan Benos, the chief of staff for Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Board of Education. “The information of his passing was shared with the Brooklawn Middle School students and as always, we have counselors available if any student needs to speak to them.”

Survivors include his brother, John and his wife, Terry; his sisters: Judith Cannon, Jane Nuckles, Jill Best and Janet Sbarro and her husband, Anthony; his niece and nephews: Angela, Jason, Joey, Peter and Jimmy; and his two great nieces and one great nephew. He is predeceased by his parents.

Visiting hours are on Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Par-Troy Funeral Home, 95 Parsippany Road. In Lieu of flowers, please make donations in his memory to Polycystic Kidney Disease. 1001 East 101st Terrace, Suite 220, Kansas City, MO 64131.

A funeral service will be held Friday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. Cremation: Private.

PARSIPPANY —  Cub Scout Pack 177 held its annual Pinewood Derby on Saturday, January 27 and Caleb Heindrich was named Champion of the Pack.  Five preliminary heats were held according to scout rank, and the winner of each heat competed in the finals. 

The heat winners were Sahil Indoria (Tigers), Anish Desai (Wolves 1), Caleb Heindrich (Wolves 2), Joey De Cicco (Bears) and Stavros Tserpes (Webelos).  The five car final resulted in a tie between Caleb and Anish, who continued on to a tiebreaker round.  Anish’s car performed excellently, but in the end it was Caleb by a hair.

Caleb’s name will be added to the Pack 177 Pinewood Derby trophy, and the trophy with his winning car added will be displayed at his school this year.  Heat winners and runners up will receive trophies and medals at the annual Blue and Gold dinner in the spring.

To prepare for the Pinewood Derby, each scout builds his own car according to the theme for the year.  This year’s theme was Emojis.  The scouts’ designs were creative and colorful as well as fast.  The cars are powered by gravity alone, so weight and aerodynamics are important.  Scouts learn a lot participating in the derby – and they also have a lot of fun.  The leaders put in a lot of work to help the scouts have a great event.

MORRIS COUNTY — Legislation lead by Senators Joe Pennacchio and Anthony Bucco will end the practice of “Pass the Trash,” stopping teachers who have abused children from continuing to teach, was approved by the State Senate unanimously.

“It is time to put the welfare of our students before union self-interest. The reckless behavior of underhandedly passing child abusers from school-to-school must end, ” said Pennacchio. “The Legislature and my Democratic colleges must see that continuing patterns of covering for a predator like Morris County teacher Jason Fennes, who confessed to sexually assaulting six young girls, snaked through school systems while teaching for five years after his first documented complaint must end. The structure for reporting and hiring teachers must be reformed!”

The legislation, S-414, targets the continuing problem of “passing the trash” in New Jersey school systems by mandating school districts, charter schools, and contract service providers to review all employment history of potential employees.

Schools fail to report abuse fearing the damage allegations may cause to their school’s reputation and the impact of a costly litigation that may accompany efforts to remove a teacher.

A recent NJ Advance Media investigation exposed Shawn Cier’s career of sexual misconduct while jumping from school to school. The report explained school systems were advised to give little information during reference checks, allowing Mr. Cier’s career to continue.

“It is reported that one in four young girls fall victim to abuse,” said Bucco. “Continuing to allow sexual predators to teach our students while schools fail to properly report an allegations is applauding. Schools must request all information when hiring new staff, not just dates employed, salaries, and position held. Providing a safe environment for children comes first and foremost.”

Pennacchio criticized the inaction of “Pass the Trash” legislation in the Assembly along with the introduction of A-2531, a bill which strips the important protections for students and aids to the continued problem of child abusers being passed from school-to-school.

“It is appalling that actions are being taken to strip protections for our young students who are at risk of child abuse,” said Pennacchio. “I call on the Democrats in the Assembly to put aside the self-interests of others and place the interest of our children first.”