Get out and vote! Polls open until 8:00 p.m.

Frank L. Cahill
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Get out and vote! Polls open until 8:00 p.m.

PARSIPPANY — Polling locations open at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning and will remain open until 8:00 p.m. In Parsippany you can vote for Governor, State Senate, General Assembly (2), Freeholder, Mayor, Township Council (2), Board of Education (3). Also State Question 1: New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act and State Question 2: Constitutional Amendment Dedicating Moneys From State Environmental Contamination Cases. If you don’t know where to vote, click here.

Governor

  • Kim Guadagno (Republican)
  • Phil Murphy (Democrat)

26th District State Senate  (vote for one)

  • Joe Pennacchio (Republican)
  • Elliot Isibor (Democrat)

General Assembly 26th District (vote for two)

  • BettyLou DeCroce (Republican)
  • Jay Webber (Republican)
  • E. William Edge (Democrat)
  • Joseph R. Raich (Democrat)

Freeholders (vote for one)

  • Heather Darling (Republican)
  • Rozella G. Clyde (Democrat)

Mayor

  • James R. Barberio (Republican)
  • Michael Soriano (Democrat)

Township Council (vote for two)

  • Louis A. Valori (Republican)
  • Vincent Ferrara (Republican)
  • Janice McCarthy (Democrat)
  • Emily Peterson (Democrat)

School Board (vote for three)

  • Matthew Devitto
  • Timothy P. Berrios
  • George L. Blair
  • Andrew Choffo

Click here to download a sample ballot.

Parsippany Focus will have complete coverage of the unofficial election results starting on Tuesday evening.

Council to pass Emergency Appropriation of $401,943.27 for retired employees

Frank L. Cahill
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Council to pass Emergency Appropriation of $401,943.27 for retired employees

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council voted to approve on first reading Ordinance 2017:25 authorizing a special Emergency Appropriation of $401,943.27 for the purpose of paying contractually required severance liabilities resulting from the retirement of employees.

The Ordinance will have a second reading on Tuesday, November 14.

The employees covered under this emergency appropriations include:

Employee Name Department Amount* Retirement Date Title
Henry Radler Parks & Forestry $20,000.00 April 1, 2016 Supervisor Trees
Bernard Hattersley Police $80,000.00 March 1, 2016 Police Sergeant
Eugene Natoli Police $79.925.00 October 1, 2015 Police Sergeant
Joseph Chmura Police $95,587.79 May 1, 2017 Police Officer
Kevin Duffy Police $35,000.00 September 12, 2004 Police Sergeant
Sean Clark Police $57,003.33 November 1, 2014 Police Captain
Richard Herbst Police Civilians $34,427.25 June 1, 2016 Mechanic
Total $401,943.37

Upon retirement from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department in October 2015 Eugene Natoli accumulated $221,295.00 in unused sick and vacation time. Natoli was rehired by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills on December 19, 2016 at an annual salary of $50,000.00.

Former Police Captain Sean Clark accumulated $253,173 by his November 1, 2014 retirement.

Former Police Sergeant Kevin Duffy retired in September 2004 and had accumulated $192,155.

Former Police Sergeant Bernard Hattersley accumulated $272,052 by his March 1, 2016 retirement.

Richard Herbst, a mechanic in the police department, accumulated $68,854 in unused time by his March 1, 2016 retirement.

Data on Henry Radler and Joseph Chmura was not available at this time.

Parsippany has grappled with payouts to retired police officers for years, more so than with other ex-employees covered by less generous policies.

Prior to 1999, when Parsippany capped police sick day payouts at 200 and also limited vacation day rollovers, the township had no restrictions on how many days officers could accumulate and the change did not apply retroactively.

*Note: Amounts listed are the amounts to be paid in 2017 and do not include any previous amounts paid or any amounts that will be paid in future years (if any).

Synergy Chiropractic donates to Homeless Solutions

Frank L. Cahill
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Synergy Chiropractic donates to Homeless Solutions

MORRIS COUNTY — Dr. Patrick Selimo and Synergy Chiropractic was accepting donations for Homeless Solutions of Morristown until October 31. Shown above Dr. Selimo delivered the donations to Tamala Reynold at Homeless Solutions.

Homeless Solutions provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing to families and individuals. Each year the facility provides homes for 450 people, over 1/3 whom are children. In an effort to help support these families, Synergy Chiropractic is taking up a collection of the following goods which will then be distributed to the Homeless Solutions Facility.

Synergy Chiropractic is a chiropractic office located in the Town of Boonton that focuses on Structural Correction.  Their purpose is to provide a complete solution to resolving problems related to Structural Shifts in the spine, therefore allowing your body to work at its highest capacity.

For more information on Synergy Chiropractic visit their website by clicking here, or call for an appointment at (973) 917-8451. Their office is located at 115 Madison Street, Suite 1.

 

 

 

Parsippany RACES team volunteers at New York Marathon

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany RACES team volunteers at New York Marathon

PARSIPPANY — Several members of the Parsippany RACES team alongside other first responders at the 2017 TCS NYC Marathon stationed on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, mile marker 15. The Parsippany team assisted with emergency communications for security and medical and monitoring the post for suspicious activity. The New York Marathon is largest marathon in the world and was a huge success and very safe.

The volunteers included Nick Limanov, Mark Abudato, RACES officer Michael Hartmann and Alan Machbitz. RACES is part of Parsippany’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

Runners coming across the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge

The 2017 TCS New York City Marathon was broadcasted on ABC7, ESPN2 and was available globally in more than 616 million households across over 175 different countries and territories.

The broadcast, which has been produced by IMG since 1994, consisted of 33 cameras covering the 26.2-mile course, including a camera attached to the chair of professional wheelchair athletes and U.S. Paralympian Amanda McGrory and Brian Siemann. The production staff of 300 included 17 commentators, reporters, and analysts, with ESPN’s Sage Steele serving as the race-day host for the second consecutive year. Steele currently serves as ESPN’s lead host for SportsCenter on the Road and as the weekday anchor for SportsCenter:AM.

The first New York City Marathon, organized in 1970 by Fred Lebow and Vince Chiappetta, was held entirely in Central Park. Of 127 entrants, only 55 men finished; the sole female entrant dropped out due to illness. Winners were given inexpensive wristwatches and recycled baseball and bowling trophies. The entry fee was $1 and the total event budget was $1,000.

The 2016 TCS New York City Marathon on November 6, 2016, had a record number of finishers, 51,388, setting a new mark as the the largest marathon on the world. Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea became the youngest male winner in race history; Mary Keitany of Kenya won the women’s race for the third consecutive time. Wheelchair champions were Marcel Hug of Switzerland and Tatyana McFadden of the United States (winning the marathon grand slam for the fourth time). The 2017 TCS New York City Marathon took place Sunday, November 5.

Will Dieppa scored the most goals for any freshman

Frank L. Cahill
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Will Dieppa scored the most goals for any freshman
Will Dieppa

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Christian boys’ varsity soccer freshman forward Will Dieppa tallied 18 goals this season in 17 games, ranking first among all varsity freshmen in the State of New Jersey. 

Dieppa finished with 43 total points in garnering seven assist to go along with his 18 goals. 

Dieppa also had two hat tricks this season with the first one coming against Bergen County Christian Academy on September 26, where he had eight total game points, and then on October 23 against Madison Avenue Baptist Academy. 

Will Dieppa is a freshman on the Parsippany Christian boys varsity soccer team.

Parsippany Christian is located at 1179 Littleton Road.

Letter to the editor: Our mayor has used attack ads in every one of his campaigns

Letters to the Editor
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parsippany focusDear Editor:

I dislike political attack ads with a passion.  I find them demeaning and often filled with lies. As citizens, we deserve much better from our candidates.

Our mayor has used attack ads in every one of his campaigns. They have ranged from silly to vicious. Recently, a group called “Stronger Foundations, Inc.,” a super PAC, circulated an ad that focused on Michael Soriano’s supposed inexperience.  Perhaps our mayor has forgotten his own inexperience of eight years ago.
An attack ad speaks badly of its originator. It tells you just how low that person is willing to stoop in their desperation to get elected. This is not the kind of person that belongs in an elected office. 

When I receive an attack ad, I most often automatically vote for a different candidate. 

If this wasn’t such serious business, it would be funny: the attack ad reads, in part, “Michael Soriano’s inexperience COULD have cost taxpayers for political gain.” So, the ad’s basis is literally what Michael Soriano MIGHT have done if he were mayor. This effort to invent an issue is absurd, childish and insulting to voters.

It’s important to note that the lawsuit in question was filed with respect to actions taken by the administration. Ironically, this lawsuit would not exist if Soriano were in charge. This appears to be a lame attempt to take what appears as wrongdoing and actually benefit from it. 

The ad also used what I think of as “obvious deviousness.” It had a disclaimer at the bottom saying that no entity influenced the foundation’s creation of the ad. If the Barberio team didn’t want or support this ad, they would have taken actions to distance themselves from it. But they did not.

Worse, the Stronger Foundation is a rather mysterious, shadowy organization, one that has spent a great deal of money in New Jersey in an attempt to influence political races.  Several authors have written about them [1], [2] and [3].  This foundation appears to fund Republicans who are for larger government, requiring higher taxes.  It’s clear that this organization has an agenda and that they are very well funded…but by whom?

 Jack Puglis

Letters to the Editor: Do you have an opinion to express? Send letters to news@parsippanyfocus.com. Disclaimer: To be considered for publication, letters to the editor must include the writer’s full name, address and daytime phone number. Letters may be condensed, although care is taken to preserve the writer’s comments (maximum 200 words). Copyright in material submitted to Parsippany Focus and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Parsippany Focus may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. We are unable to acknowledge receipt of letters.

 

Cory Booker and Phil Murphy rally in Parsippany for Team Soriano

Frank L. Cahill
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Cory Booker and Phil Murphy rally in Parsippany for Team Soriano

PARSIPPANY — The crowd was so large for the “Get-out-the-vote rally” for Democratic Candidate Michael Soriano, and his two running mates Emily Peterson and Janice McCarthy, at the Murphy Campaign Headquarters on Gibraltar Drive, that it had to be moved outside in the fifty degree weather.  As the time approached the arrival of Cory Booker and Phil Murphy the crowd kept getting larger and larger. It was estimated over 300 Morris County Democrats, Independents and Republicans came out to support Parsippany Mayoral Candidate Michael Soriano and New Jersey Governor Candidate Phil Murphy.

Unite States Senator Cory Booker and New Jersey Governor Candidate Phil Murphy arrived and was greeted by the hundred or so supporters waiting to hear what the duo had to say.

Morris County Democrat Chairman Chip Robinson opened the rally and introduced Senator Richard Codey. Before introducing Soriano, Codey talked about walking through Parsippany campaigning, and stopping to shoot some basketball hoops.

Soriano, introduced by Sen. Richard Codey, repeated his campaign vow to “clean up Parsippany” and said “There are some who think we are in very dark times right now, and I can understand that. But I don’t think we are going to get through these dark times thinking in dark ways and acting in dark ways.” He praised the great job the township employees are doing, and expressed by Cleaning Up Parsippany he means clean up the government. On my first day, John Inglesino will be the first to go.

He continued “Keep in mind that in this crowd, I have supporters that are Republican and unaffiliated voters. And I appreciate what you’ve done, and your support here in Parsippany.”

Daily Record endorsed Michael Soriano. The Daily Record said “But in many ways this election isn’t as much about Barberio as it is about Township Attorney John Inglesino, Barberio’s influential and controversial right-hand man. Critics, including Soriano, say Inglesino serves as the de facto mayor who owes his outsized influence to a chummy relationship with Gov. Chris Christie. Inglesino does indeed dominate public discussions at council meetings in ways rarely seen from a municipal lawyer, all while raking in hefty fees Soriano says go far beyond reasonable legal expenses. Soriano doesn’t pull his punches, promising that his Day One act as mayor would be to dump Inglesino. An electrician by trade, Soriano has been involved with the local Democratic party but never before ran for public office. He said he targeted the mayor’s seat primarily it would give him authority to replace Inglesino.”

Soriano introduced US Senator Corey Booker to the crowd.

Booker said “People keep coming up to me and saying, ‘You’re running for mayor of Parsippany?’ No, I’m not.”

“To have him literally say this is not a partisan rally, that this is a rally for this great town that I look to represent, that’s what we should be looking for in our elected officials,” Booker said.

Booker introduced Phil Murphy as “My friend, the honorable, the great, the next Governor of the State of New Jersey, Phil Murphy.”

Phil Murphy opened his speech with “Holy Mackerel we have three days to go. Three days to go. We are Brendan, Tammy and I have 538 days into this, with three to go, not that we are counting.” He continued by saying “Equal pay for equal work.”

Murphy introduced Soriano’s running council running mates, Janice McCarthy and Emily Peterson, and shouted out several Morris County towns where he hopes to see Democratic win on election day.

Murphy urged the crowd to keep campaigning over the next three days.

Ending his speech he said “Morris County, we are going to rock this on Tuesday. God Bless all.”

The Bergen Record endorsed Phil Murphy. The Bergen Record said “We see Murphy as more authentic. We believe he is better capable of forging alliances not only with Democrats, but with Republicans in the Legislature. And given the climate in Washington, D.C., he is more likely to push back against federal policies and congressional actions that will negatively impact New Jersey.”

 

Football playoffs start this Friday for the Vikings

Frank L. Cahill
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Football playoffs start this Friday for the Vikings

PARSIPPANY —  Parsippany Hills Vikings Senior Nick Verducci’s dream of returning to MetLife Stadium for the third time in four years starts this Friday Night as the Vikings play against Cranford Cougars, the No. 7 seed in North 2 Group III.

The game will be played at Parsippany Hills and starts at 7:00 p.m. Parsippany Hills High School is located at 20 Rita Drive, Morris Plains.

The winning team will play against the winning team between Vorhees and Nutley.

Parsippany Hills Vikings

2017 Record
Overall 8-1
Conference Division 5-1

 

Parsippany Hills Vikings 2017 Season

Date Opponent Location Result Score
09-08 at West Morris Wolf Pack West Morris HS W 31 – 27
09-15 Chatham Cougars Parsippany Hills HS W 41 – 12
09-22 @ Roxbury Gaels Roxbury HS W 28 – 14
09-28 @ Barringer Blue Bears Newark Schools Stadium W 43 – 20
10-06 Jefferson Falcons Parsippany Hills HS W 35 – 7
10-13 West Essex Knights Parsippany Hills HS L 24 – 21
10-21 @ Orange Tornados Bell Stadium W 34 – 28
10-28 Nutley Maroon Raiders Parsippany Hills HS W 42 – 14
11-02 @ Ferris Bulldogs Caven Point W 42 – 7


Cranford Cougars

2017 Record
Overall 6-3
Conference Division 3-2

 

Cranford Cougars 2017 Season

Date Opponent Location/Directions Result Score
09-08 @ Somerville Somerville HS L 36 – 16
09-15 @ Voorhees Voorhees HS L 35 – 0
09-22 Rahway Memorial Field W 24 – 14
09-28 @ North Plainfield North Plainfield HS W 28 – 6
10-07 @ Scotch Plains Scotch Plains HS W 43 – 42 (OT)
10-13 Summit Memorial Field L 31 – 13
10-20 @ Gov. Livingston Governor Livingston HS W 38 – 0
10-27 Hillside Memorial Field W 34 – 21
11-03 Delaware Valley Memorial Field W 28 – 18

 

North 2 Group III includes No. 1 – West Essex; No. 2 – Parsippany Hills; No. 3 – Voorhees; No. 4 – Summit; No. 5 – Rahway; No. 6 – Nutley; No. 7 – Cranford and No. 8 – Ridgefield Park.

North 2 Group III 2017 Season Results

Team Win Loss Tie Power Points*
West Essex Knights 7 1 0 140.0
Parsippany Hills Vikings 7 1 0 136.0
Voorhees Vikings 7 1 0 119.0
Summit Hilltoppers 6 2 0 107.0
Rahway Indians 5 3 0 95.0
Nutley Raiders 4 4 0 93.0
Cranford Cougars 5 3 0 90.0
Ridgefield Park Scarlets 4 4 0 87.0
Newark West Side Roughriders 5 3 0 81.0
Snyder Tigers 4 4 0 59.0
Cliffside Park Red Raiders 3 5 0 56.0
Chatham Cougars 1 7 0 46.0
Governor Livingston Highlanders 1 7 0 40.0
North Plainfield Canucks 0 8 0 34.0
Palisades Park Tigers 0 8 0 31.0

Please note: as per the NJSIAA’s official power points formula, “The power ranking system will be the sum total of the best seven of their eight completed games played up to and including the cut-off date.”

Letters to the editor: Barberio’s back room deals

Letters to the Editor
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parsippany focusDear Editor, 

Jamie Barberio’s election funding report shows that in 2017 Jamie Barberio accepted a whopping $104,000 from Parsippany Developers and Building Trades.  Not only that, throughout his eight years in office he received nearly $800,000 from these same donors.

In a Parsippany Focus story it was revealed that the taxpayers of Parsippany paid $3.5 million for a total of 10.63 acres of land, while the developer RD Realty, retained the remainder of the property or 16.01 acres for $4.0 million. So Parsippany paid approximately $320,910 per acre for the buffer zone, while RD Realty paid $250,000 per acre for the prime portion of the property, facing Route 46 and Waterview Boulevard. (Editors Note: Click here for complete story)

It doesn’t take eight years of government experience to know that this is bad math.  It looks like developers support Barberio so he can stay in office and he “helps” them acquire property far below its value – at the taxpayers expense. 

In addition to the Waterview development, projects like Forge Pond, Smith Glaxo Kline and 700 Mountain Way, have moved forward under the Barberio administration, making it obvious that the mayor never met a development deal he didn’t like all while claiming to be pro Open Space. 

Once again Barberio is talking out of both sides of his mouth telling anyone and everyone what they want to hear in public, all the while giving away Parsippany piece by piece in “off the record” back room deals!

If you want to keep to stop your tax dollars from disappearing down the development donation hole and if you want to keep Parsippany from becoming a concrete jungle, it’s time to end Barberio’s development dynasty.

Pat Simon
Parsippany

Letters to the Editor: Do you have an opinion to express? Send letters to news@parsippanyfocus.com. Disclaimer: To be considered for publication, letters to the editor must include the writer’s full name, address and daytime phone number. Letters may be condensed, although care is taken to preserve the writer’s comments (maximum 200 words). Copyright in material submitted to Parsippany Focus and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Parsippany Focus may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. We are unable to acknowledge receipt of letters.

Teens Exploring Careers in Theater and Performing Arts

Frank L. Cahill
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Teens Exploring Careers in Theater and Performing Arts

PARSIPPANY — Young men and women, ages 14-20, who want to explore careers in theater and performing arts are invited to an open house for our new Explorer Post, chartered to Soul Search Records. Open house is Sunday, November 5, at 5:00 p.m., at Patriots’ Path Council, 1 Saddle Road in Cedar Knolls.

Exploring is the career education program of Learning for Life.

For more information, please call (973) 876-1225 or email carol.dadaian@scouting.org.

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