Morris County Prosecutor’s Office promotes six

Frank L. Cahill
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Morris County Prosecutor’s Office promotes six

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces the promotion of six individuals to fill currently open investigative supervisory positions.

Prosecutor Knapp said “Upon the retirement of Deputy Chief Denise Arseneault in February of this year, vacancies arose which necessitated several promotions.  I am extremely proud to announce the promotion of six outstanding members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office investigative staff.”

The promotions will be formally performed in ceremonies on Friday in Morristown.

Captain Stephen Wilson will be promoted to Deputy Chief.  A graduate of Rutgers University, Wilson joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 2000 as a detective and has served in all divisions of the MCPO, primarily the Major Crimes Unit.  Most recently Captain Wilson supervised the Special Operations Division.

Through his career, Wilson has received numerous commendations for his investigative work in regard to homicides,  police-involved shootings, sex crimes, violent crimes and also for his response and efforts at Ground Zero on 9/11.  Deputy Chief Wilson will command all investigative units and report directly to Chief of Investigations John R. Speirs.

Lieutenant Brian Keane will be promoted to Captain.  A graduate of Seton Hall University, Keane joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 1993 as a detective.

Through his career, Keane has conducted numerous surface and undercover narcotics operations, qualifying as a Superior Court expert in the field. He has taken part in hundreds of high-risk operations, including the seizure of 675 kilos of cocaine from a residence in Madison. Captain Keane will command the Special Operations Division, which is comprised of the Special Enforcement, Fugitive, Intelligence/Homeland Security and High Tech Crimes Units. 

Sergeant Christoph Kimker will be promoted to Lieutenant. A graduate of Seton Hall University, Kimker joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 2004 as a detective.

During his career, Kimker also has been a member of the Crisis Negotiation Team and has been a firearms instructor. Lieutenant Kimker will supervise the Professional Standards, Financial Crimes, Insurance Fraud, Bias and Arson/Environmental Crimes Units in the Specialized Crimes Division.

Detective Supervisor Anne-Marie Truppo  will be promoted to Sergeant.  Truppo, who graduated from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, began her career with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as a support staff member in 2003 and was promoted to detective in 2005, serving primarily in the Sex Crimes and Child Endangerment Unit.

In 2011, she received a Certificate of Recognition from the Morris County Detectives’ Association for her outstanding work in a case involving sexual assaults of multiple children by a stranger. The perpetrator was arrested and pleaded guilty. Sergeant Truppo will supervise the General Investigations Unit of the Courts and Administrative Division.

Detective Joseph Soulias will be promoted to Detective Supervisor. A former Lieutenant in the New Jersey State Police, Soulias joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 2015 after serving with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.

A graduate of Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey),  Soulias has worked in the Financial Crimes Unit and is a certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist. Detective Supervisor Soulias will assist in the supervision of the Financial Crimes, Insurance Fraud, Bias, Professional Standards and Arson/Environmental Crimes Units in the Specialized Crimes Division.

Detective Jazmin Munoz-Felder will be promoted to Detective Supervisor. Munoz-Felder was hired by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 2013.  She previously worked for the Middlesex County College Police Department and the Rutgers University Police Department, then known as the University of Medicine and Dentistry Police Department.  Detective Supervisor Munoz-Felder has been assigned to the Sex Crimes and Child Endangerment Unit where she has been highly commended for her work.

Munoz-Felder will continue to be assigned to the Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit of the Tactical Division and assist in its supervision.

Morris County OEM participates in Gotham Shield Exercise for Emergency Medical Services

Frank L. Cahill
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Morris County OEM participates in Gotham Shield Exercise for Emergency Medical Services

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Office of Emergency Management participated in the Gotham Shield Exercise for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) which is currently on-going at the MetLife Stadium in Rutherford.

The Gotham Shield is a FEMA functional exercise involving federal, state, county and local jurisdictions including New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. The exercise that we are participating in today involved an Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) detonation which occurred in the NJ/NY metropolitan area. The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate the entire response effort for an IND attack. Our challenge today, involved arriving at MetLife Stadium where thousands of people were assembled (notional) and in need of care. Our mission was to assess, treat, and evacuate casualties to hospitals and facilities away from the impact site.

The training exercise did not involve any “real” patients. However, we were challenged to exercise our plans, procedures, and equipment to simulate our actions throughout the expanded scenario.

The Morris County Office of Emergency Management along with our partners from the Morris County Park Police, responded to the MetLife stadium complex with our Mobile Ambulance Bus (MAB) which is capable of treating/transporting large numbers of  injured individuals or serving as part of a larger triage system to assess patients prior to being prioritized for transportation by other EMS assets to an appropriate medical facility.

Today’s large scale exercise focused on multiple emergency response agencies coming together from multiple states for the purpose of drilling logistics and equipment  resources, while working with each other within the framework of a large scale mass casualty event. In Morris County, they plan for the worst and hope for the best.

The Morris County Office of Emergency Management prides themselves on the capability to respond to the worst case scenario, and today’s exercise provided a framework for dealing with the type of event they hope they never experience.

Katherine Cascioli and Denis Mulroony named YMCA Educators of the Year

Frank L. Cahill
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Katherine Cascioli and Denis Mulroony named YMCA Educators of the Year

PARSIPPANY — Celebrating more than 100 years in the community, the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA has announced the winners of their annual Educator of the Year Awards.

In the K through 8 division, Katherine Cascioli, a third grade teacher from Troy-Hills School in Parsippany is the winner. Dr. Denis Mulroony, the principal at Parsippany High School has been chosen as the High School Educator of the Year.

Learn more about these very special individuals as well as other community service award winners from the Y’s service area when they will be honored at the Y’s Annual Dinner at the Knoll Country Club West on Wednesday, May 17.

Tickets are $50.00 and everyone is welcome to attend. For tickets, available through May 10, call Nancy Dunham at the Y at (973) 334-2820 or email: nancyd@lhymca.com

 

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Launches Two New Resources to Help Women Struggling with Infertility

Frank L. Cahill
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Ferring Pharmaceuticals Launches Two New Resources to Help Women Struggling with Infertility

PARSIPPANY — Infertility is no longer something that people feel they must discuss behind closed doors. Gone are the days of hushed voices and cover stories; now, hardly a day goes by without another celebrity couple sharing that they have frozen their eggs, are undergoing fertility treatment, or are struggling to conceive. Women who share their stories are celebrated for their openness and their bravery, and are praised for helping to raise awareness about a disease that touches so many lives each and every day. This broader awareness about infertility has in turn led to greater understanding, and shown women who are struggling to conceive that they are not struggling alone. Ferring Pharmaceuticals is located at 100 Interpace Parkway.

Despite these significant strides, the fact remains that one in eight couples still have trouble getting or staying pregnant, and many women who are facing infertility still find themselves feeling lost, overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn for help or support throughout their family building journey. The fertility journey is incredibly personal, and even with the support of family members and friends, it can be an isolating, lonely experience to endure.

Ferring has a longstanding commitment to the reproductive health community, and to providing women with the critical support and resources they need throughout their fertility journey. This National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), Ferring is proud to announce the launch of My Fertility Navigator and FertiCalm™, two new tools specifically designed to help women throughout the family building process. Whether they are just starting out, or have been actively trying, the challenges women face along the way are unique, and Ferring is committed to providing women with the resources they need every step of the way.

My Fertility Navigator is a unique, personalized tool designed to serve as a resource to individuals who are struggling to get pregnant. Through phone or email, Navigators provide guidance and support that tailors specifically to each user’s needs; providing the knowledge, resources and reassurance they need to advocate for their reproductive health. My Fertility Navigator aims to help women take charge of their fertility and be better prepared and educated about their fertility journey.

For women who have been undergoing fertility treatment and are still struggling to conceive, daily scenarios and interactions can take a toll on their emotional health. FertiCalm, a newly-released app developed by reproductive psychologists Dr. Alice Domar and Dr. Elizabeth Grill, was designed specifically to help women address the many challenging, emotional life situations that arise while struggling to conceive. Using cognitive-behavioral and relaxation techniques, FertiCalm offers users more than 500 different coping options for over 50 specific situations that have the potential to cause distress during the family building journey. From scripted dialogues for tough conversations, to relaxation techniques, FertiCalm offers users solutions to help them preserve their emotional health, and feel empowered to take control of their lives again.

“The emotional toll infertility can take on women is truly unparalleled,” said Dr. Alice Domar, reproductive psychologist and co-founder of FertiCalm. “For women who are going through fertility treatment and still not getting pregnant, everyday scenarios and interactions become exponentially difficult. We see this constantly in our patients that we treat every day, and know that women everywhere are experiencing this same emotional distress. We also know that not everyone has access to a licensed therapist or a reproductive psychologist, and even if they do, they can’t be right by their side through every single experience. That’s why we created FertiCalm – to help women in the exact moment they feel distress, whenever and wherever they are, so they can reclaim control of their lives.”

FertiCalm is completely free to users, made possible through FertiCalm’s partnership with Ferring. By making this app free for everyone, Ferring hopes to be able to help women everywhere who are experiencing these challenges in day to day situations.

“The path to fertility is long, winding, and full of challenges and obstacles you never even realized existed,” said Bobbie Thomas, author, TODAY Show Style Editor, and fertility advocate, reflecting on her own experience with infertility. “I remember feeling lost, and overwhelmingly alone. As an ambassador for Ferring Reproductive Health, I’m able to help spread the word so that other women who are experiencing those same feelings understand that the help they need is out there. It means the world to me to be able to share important resources like My Fertility Navigator and FertiCalm with women everywhere, knowing that these tools can make a world of difference for them as they navigate their own fertility journey.”

Parsippany Students Outstanding Work on Display at Rockaway Townsquare Mall

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Students Outstanding Work on Display at Rockaway Townsquare Mall

PARSIPPANY — Morris County Council of Education Associations presents “Our Pride is Showing” the Annual County-wide Mall Project. The project is a week long celebration of excellence highlighting the outstanding work of public schools in Morris County.

Parsippany Students Outstanding Work is on Display at Rockaway Townsquare Mall from now to April 30.

Visit displays of student work, listen to vocal and instrumental performances and much more. There was an Opening Ceremony held on Monday, April 24 in the lower level in front of Macy’s.

Knollwood Elementary School, Eastlake Elementary School, Intervale School, Littleton Elementary School, Lake Parsippany Elementary School, Rockaway Meadow Elementary School and Mt. Tabor Elementary School all have tables set up on the upper level of the mall near JC Penny.

Mt. Tabor eight-year old students Logan and Tyler Forgatch Logan were in front of the Mt. Tabor School display looking at all the artwork that was submitted by students from that school.

The event is coordinated by Morris County Council of Education Associations.

Kiwanis Club Trivia is a night of success

Frank L. Cahill
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Kiwanis Club Trivia is a night of success

PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany recently held another very successful Trivia Night.

It was back again, for the 14th consecutive year. The Ultimate Trivia Contest was held on Saturday, April 22 at the Parsippany PAL Youth Center. Friends, family, co-workers gathered for a night of fun.

First Place Winners in Kiwanis Club Trivia Contest wereMichele Reutty, Joanne Roukens, Arlene Sahraie, Kelsey Young, Tim Dartucci, Sara Weissman, Cristian Maiullo and Steve Vega. President Greg Elbin in the back row.

Second Place Winners: John Smith, Dave Reagan, Eric Hubner, Lou Duer, Lonne Katz, Jeff Kirk and Joe Cistaro with Kiwanis President Greg Elbin.

Third Place Winners with President Greg Elbin: Suzanne Meth, Emily Russoniello, Kyle Meth, Gordon Meth, Tim O’Sullivan, Chris Russoniello and Eileen O’Sullivan.

The event was a bring your own food and BYOB. Soda, coffee, water, plates, cups, napkins, and utensils were provided. Specialty cupcakes were available for purchase.

There are a few simple rules: The use of ANY electronic device whatsoever during competition will immediately disqualify the offending team. This includes but is not limited to I-Pad’s, PDA’s, ICBM’s, drones, etc. The use of printed material such as encyclopedias, almanacs, National Geographic, and the like, is strictly prohibited and of course no tweeting!

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany chooses their own service projects that they feel need their attention. They are all local people that volunteer our time and talents to make our community a better place to live. The members, like you, are busy with making a living, church, family, and many other activities. The members, however, have found that Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany not gives a chance to give back to the community in a meaningful way, but they enjoy the fellowship, networking, and fun aspects as well.

If you are interested in Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, visit the group Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46. You can also find more information by clicking here.

Sons of Italy donates to Valerie Fund; New members sworn in

Frank L. Cahill
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Sons of Italy donates to Valerie Fund; New members sworn in

PARSIPPANY — Sons of Italy, Lodge 2561 recently donated to The Valerie Fund. Accepting a check from Sons of Italy President Joseph Jannarone is Bella Rocco, Parsippany. The Sons of Italy has been supporting The Valerie Fund for a number of year.

The Valerie Fund’s mission is to provide support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders.

The Valerie Fund is a not-for-profit organization established in 1976 in memory of nine-year-old Valerie Goldstein by her parents, Ed and Sue.

Families turn to The Valerie Fund because of the unique combination of medical care, counseling, and other services it provides. The Valerie Fund Children’s Centers comprise the largest network of healthcare facilities for children with cancer and blood disorders in New Jersey, and one of the largest in the nation. They host over 25,000 patient visits each year.

The Valerie Fund Walk and JAG Physical Therapy 5K will be held on Saturday, June 10 starting at 8:00 a.m. at Verona Park, corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Lakeside Avenue, Verona.

You can join Bella Rocco at the 5K by clicking here. Bella thankfully is doing well and has been tumor free for five years now.

The MRIs and doctors visits continue but thank god they have remained uneventful, just the way we like it. Her support for The Valerie Fund continues and has become a welcomed tradition with many friends and families that join us year after year.

2017 will be the 9th year that Bella’s Bunch attends this yearly event and hopefully, with your support, Bella’s Bunch will show up with big numbers both in people and in donations. Although the team is named after Bella, and they will never forget all she has gone through, we consider ourselves lucky that it wasn’t worse and we attend every year to pay it forward to all the kids that are currently going through pediatric cancer or a blood disorder.

The walk and run every year for every one of their parents that have had their world turned upside down, knowing that The Valerie Fund will help them with all they have to deal with. Hope you can join Bella’s Bunch on June 10 in support of the kids and families of the Valerie Fund.

Bella has set a goal to raise $7,500 this year for The Valerie Fund.

In addition, at its regular monthly meeting, three new members: Patsy F. Casamassa, lll., John Carmen Gammero, and Richard Fiorentino were sworn in by President Joseph Jannarone, Jr.

Club officers are President is Joe Jannarone Jr.; First Vice President is Louis Amato;
Second Vice President is John Lonero; Treasurer is Bob Iracane; Recording Secretary is Adam Gragnani and Sergeant at Arms is Sean Clark.

The Morris County of the Order of Sons of Italy Lodge 2561 is an affiliated member of the Order of the Sons of Italy In America Association.

The Lodge was founded as a non-profit organization which contributes thousands of dollars to worthwhile local charities and families and awards many scholarships to outstanding men and women. In addition to Valerie Fund, the group supports Parsippany Food Pantry, other local food pantries, Jersey Battered Women’s Service, day care centers and more.

State Troopers Arrest Parsippany Man for DWI and Seize 551 Bags of Heroin

Frank L. Cahill
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State Troopers Arrest Parsippany Man for DWI and Seize 551 Bags of Heroin

PARSIPPANY — The New Jersey State Police have arrested Sean Deckert, 29, Parsippany, and Joseph Ginexi, 26, Lincoln Park, and seized $2,200 worth of heroin during a motor vehicle stop.

On Wednesday, April 5, at 7:57 p.m., Trooper Gerald Dellagicoma stopped Deckert for a traffic violation on westbound Interstate 80 at milepost 56 in Woodland Park. During the stop, Trooper Dellagicoma arrested Deckert for DWI. After further investigation, Trooper Dellagicoma discovered that Deckert and Ginexi were in possession of 551 bags of heroin, hypodermic needles, and drug paraphernalia.

Sean Deckert and Joseph Ginexi were charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of hypodermic needles, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Deckert was also charged with criminal under the influence and DWI. Both were released pending a court appearance.

Troopers are getting drugs off of our streets daily, whether it’s from long-term invests to “routine” traffic stops.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Burger King to close this week

Frank L. Cahill
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Burger King to close this week

PARSIPPANY — As reported in Parsippany Focus on January 13, 2016, Burger King at 1429 Route 46, corner of Baldwin Road will be closing to make room for Starbucks. Soon you will be able to order your Iced Carmel Macchiato or Caffè Americano closer to home. (click here for article).

This will be the second Starbucks coming to Parsippany.  Parisppany Focus published news about the first Starbucks being built on Route 10, a 2,000 square foot cafe with a drive through (click here for article).

Sources at Burger King, told Parsippany Focus that Burger King will be closing by the end of this week to make room for Starbucks. When asked how long it will take to transform into Starbucks, the employee was unsure of the timeline.

 

Cesaro Says It’s Time For Real Bail Reform

Frank L. Cahill
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Cesaro Says It’s Time For Real Bail Reform

PARSIPPANY — Morris County Deputy Freeholder Director John Cesaro, a Republican candidate for Assembly, says it’s time for real bail reform. He intends to use his experience as a freeholder, municipal prosecutor and municipal public defender to bring common sense to the issue.

“Unfortunately, Trenton sold the voters a bill of goods to get them to vote for bail reform in 2014 when they lead folks to believe the new law would be tough on crime,” John Cesaro said. “My own personal experience proves this to be untrue. Earlier this year, my parents were in a hit and run accident. The police caught the driver who was charged with two counts of assault with a vehicle resulting in bodily injury, driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.”

“In the past this man would have been taken to the county jail and held on bail,” Cesaro explained. “Not any more, instead he never saw the inside of a jail cell, paid no bail and sat in a police station until his father picked him up, took him home and tucked him into bed while my father laid in a hospital bed for ten days.”

“More recently, in Clifton the police arrested one man four times in 30 hours.” Cesaro described, “According to published news accounts the charges included possession of marijuana in the first arrest, the second arrest was for possession of synthetic marijuana, the third was possession of synthetic cannabinoid and the final arrest in 30 hours was driving while under the influence. Every time this individual was released with a summons.”

“In that Clifton situation, common sense dictated he should have been held after the second arrest, but not under the new bail reform laws,” Cesaro said. “This man was obviously a menace to society and would not have been allowed to leave with a summons in the past. Well intentioned ‘reforms’ should never be allowed to supersede commonsense.”

“Not only does the new bail reform law endanger the public but it is an unnecessary burden to the law-abiding taxpayers,” Cesaro said. “Here in Morris County bail reform has added $750,000 to the county budget, essentially making this law an unfunded mandate that endangers the general public. I will go to Trenton and fight to bring common sense improvements to this ill-conceived bail reform law.”

 

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