MOUNTAIN LAKES — The Lakeland Hills Family YMCA is happy to announce the success of their annual GIVE A KID THE Y campaign. More than $220,000 was raised for financial aid scholarships that provide funds for membership, childcare, camp and more to those experiencing financial hardship. Adding a thank-you banner to the campaign thermometer, shown here, staff and board wish to thank everyone who supported this year’s campaign
The Learning Center at the Morris County School of Technology Accepting Preschool Applications
DENVILLE — Morris County School of Technology’s learning center, located in Denville, will be accepting applications for the Fall 2018 preschool program.
The Learning Center is an on-site preschool program taught by students in the Academy for Education and Learning and supervised by two certified teachers. Lesson plans are developed using the New Jersey Department of Education’s Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards and address a plethora of topics, which infuse mathematics, literacy, language, social studies, and science concepts. Fine and gross motor skills are developed through a variety of daily activities.
The program runs Mondays through Thursdays for two sessions each day from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. School is in session from the end of September to the middle of June.
Children must be three years old by October 1, 2018 and residents of Morris County. Enrollment is on a first come, first served basis. Tuition for the year is $1400, which is broken into four equal payments. The first ¼ payment is non-refundable and due at the time of enrollment to secure a spot.
For more information on how to enroll a child in The Learning Center click here and visit under the Programs tab (The Learning Center).
Fireman from District 2 accompanied Santa to St. Elizabeth
PARSIPPANY — Fireman from Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire District 2 accompanied Santa to St. Elizabeth Nursery and Montessori School on December 22.
Every year the Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire District 2 firefighters bring Santa to St. Elizabeth and the children perform songs and dance for Santa and the firefighters.
Santa visits IHOP on Christmas Eve
PARSIPPANY — Santa was giving out candy canes and children had the opportunity to tell Santa what they would like for Christmas on Christmas Eve at IHOP, 792 Route 46.
Rainbow Lakes Fire Department Santa Tour
PARSIPPANY — A Christmas eve tradition, Rainbow Lakes Volunteer Fire Department District 2 tours the neighborhoods of Parsippany and hands out toys to the children before he starts his nightly tour across America.
The Rainbow Lakes Volunteer Fire Department District 2 serves fire protection to the Rainbow Lakes, Interpace Commercial Zone, Lower End of Park Road and the Parsippany Hills High School Area.
Breaking news: Working house fire at 29 Southwood Drive
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department District 6, Lake Parsippany Volunteer Fire Department District 3, Rainbow Lakes Volunteer Fire Department District 2, Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department District 1 and Cedar Knolls Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) were called to a working house fire at 29 Southwood Drive on Monday evening, December 25.
Lake Hiawatha Volunteer Fire Department District 4 Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) team was also dispatched as well as Parsippany Rescue and Recovery.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department Arson Officer, Morris County Prosecutors Office, Morris County Sheriff Department is currently investigating the scene.
In addition Rockaway Neck Volunteer Fire Department, Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance Squad and Par-Troy Emergency Medical Services were also at the scene.
Mayor-elect Michael Soriano was at the scene and speaking to the residents of the home, and they are safe and were not home at the time of the fire. He said they will be staying with relatives.
Additional details to follow.
Par-Troy Wrestling Club held Holiday Tournament
PARSIPPANY — The Par-Troy Wrestling Club is a township program for kids K-8 to learn the sport of wrestling. The program is a direct feeder program for both Parsippany Hills and Parsippany High wrestling teams. They have close to 100 children in the program currently and compete in various leagues across northern New Jersey. This past weekend, they held our annual Holiday tournament at the Parsippany PAL building.
The Par-Troy Wrestling Club held two separate tournaments, one a K-6th grade duals and the other a K-8th grade duals tournament.
The K-6 team went 4-0 on the day and took home first place for the first time in over four years. The children competed extremely tough and made Parsippany proud!
The K-8 team wrestled well in the afternoon session and looks to compete for a year end title in the Grade School league. The team competes though the winter season culminating with the state tournament!
Wrestling is the world’s oldest sport and a great way for kids to learn self-motivation, hard work, exercise, and most of all have fun and make new friends from all over this great town.
If you are interested in learning more about the program, would like to register, donate, etc. click here , or contact Head Coach Albert Fornini atAlbert.Fornini@wyn.com.
Letter to the editor: DePierro, Gragnani and Valori need to listen to the people of Parsippany
Dear Editor:
During the months just prior to their re-election or election to office, dePierro, Gragnani and Valori will attend every event that they can and pretend to listen to the people who speak with them. Then when they are elected to office, they turn their heads to the people who voted for them and don’t even have the time to talk to them when seen out in public during non-election times.
To make matters worse, when they are acting in their official capacity as Council people they limit the amount of time Parsippany residents can speak during the open public portion at Council meetings. It used to be 5 minutes and now because of DePierro, Gragnani and Valori, Parsippany residents can only speak for 3 minutes.
I hope that the Parsippany residents will remember that DePierro, Gragnani and Valori don’t have time to hear or listen to what Parsippany residents have to say when it comes time to vote during the next election.
With that said, I would encourage every resident who cares about Parsippany to contact these elected members and voice their concerns.
They have no problem talking to the residents when they are running for office. So, why would now be any different.
Lou Valori, 36 Gatheringhill Court, Morris Plains 973-889-0065
Michael DePierro, 5 Fernwood Place, Parsippany 973-263-3333
Loretta Gragnani, 11 Rhoda Terrace, Parsippany 973-335-8796
All of this information about these elected people is available online.
Varshaben Patel
Parsippany
Editors Note: We updated this letter to delete the organization. The writer is a member, but the letter was written as an individual and not as a representative of the organization.
Ylka Padilla named Business Development Advocate of the Year
PARSIPPANY — Ylka Padilla was named Business Development Advocate of the Year by The Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce and its annual Awards Holiday Banque on December 13.
Ylka studied Accounting at Pedo Henriquez Urena University in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She presently is Vice-President, Market Manager at Provident Bank where she has worked for 22 years managing the Morris Plains and Parsippany branches.
She previously worked for Baco de Reservas, Dominican Republic for four years, following her immigration to USA at the age of twenty, she started working for Dover NJ Spanish American Federal Credit Union. As a bilingual banker she has helped the Hispanic community achieve the American Dream through guidance and education. She takes pride and honors where she works with this great community and provide advice on how to grow their business.
Mrs. Padilla volunteers for several non-profit organizations such as Housing Partnership for Morris County as a trustee, Parsippany Soccer Club as a soccer coach for several seasons, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, where she has provided financial education for several troops. She is also a member of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Rotary Club. She resides in Lake Parsippany with her husband and children.
Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce is the embodiment of an idea that arose in the summer of 1989. Little did the founding members realize what the future and importance of this Chamber would become, not only to the Hispanic-owned small business community, but to all of Morris County and New Jersey.
Two of the three founding members remain active in our Chamber; they are former Chamber Presidents Esperanza Porras-Field and John Sanchez. Neyla Porras de Moreno, the third founding member, moved away from Morris County, but still remains active in another Hispanic Chamber.
MCHACC has grown from an idea to a local, county, state, national and internationally renowned Chamber. At the past National USHCC Convention, we signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that provides for mutual membership in each others respective Chamber.
Letter to the editor: Thwarting the will of the People
Dear Editor:
Council President Louis Valori introduced Resolution No. 2017:187 at the final regular Council meeting held on Tuesday, December 19 to thwart the will of the people who voted him out of office (and the Mayor too).
The People of Parsippany voted for new leadership and to rid the town of the Township Attorney John Inglesino who was appointed by Mayor James Barberio. This move to prevent the new Mayor from starting with a clean slate is an attempt by the losers of the election to handicap the new administration.
John Inglesino is a partisan who will do anything to undercut the new Mayor and the will of the People. As Town Attorney he is an employee, yet at Town Council meetings he berates residents who speak up against motions or actions he is in fovor of and benefits from. No employee should be allowed to verbally attack any resident for speaking their mind. Anyone who attends Council meetings knows that he speaks more than anyone on the Council with the exception of Lou Valori. His actions make it clear he cannot serve on the council or the people in Parsippany. He interests are his paycheck and undercutting the will of the People of Parsippany.
The resolution was approved 3-0 with two members abstaining. Council President Louis Valori, Councilman Michael dePierro and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani voted to approve the resolution, while Council Vice President Robert Peluso and Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., abstained.
The People of Parsippany removed the Mayor and Council President and John Inglesino was one of the primary reasons they had to go. This attempt by the Council to leave in place an employee who has put his agenda ahead of the People of Parsippany is an affront. Councilman Michael dePierro and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani need to be replaced for putting Party before the People. I will remember this at the next election and I hope others do as well.
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
Brian Tappan