PARSIPPANY — J&J Jewelers recently held a ribbon cutting grand opening celebration at 36 Gibraltar Drive, Powder Mill East Plaza.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio, Council Vice President Robert Peluso, along with Council Members Michael dePierro and Loretta Gragnani welcomed community members to the new store. Owned by James Furfaro Jr., J&J Jewelers offers a wide selection of fine and fashion jewelry, and new and pre-owned watches. It also provides jewelry repair services and watch batteries.
Joey McCormick with owner Jimmy Furfaro, Jr.
J&J Jewelers is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.
PARSIPPANY — Rebecca Driscoll, Caldwell University and Devon Tam, The College of New Jersey were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.
These residents are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter.
Only the top ten percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top ten percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Its mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”
More About Phi Kappa Phi Since its founding, more than 1.25 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization’s more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $15 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, more than $1 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. For more information, click here.
PARSIPPANY — Do you want to have fun and do something great for your community. Here is your chance! On Tuesday, May 10, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany will be hosting their annual golf outing at the Knoll Country Club in Parsippany. Continental breakfast starts at 7:00 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m. Afterwards a full lunch will be served, including wine and beer. The discount price for the outing is $125.00.
Through this fundraiser, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany raises money to give to the children of this community. The club has sponsored library programs; raised funds for the Parsippany daycare center; given financial support to the K kids, builders club and Key Clubs in all of the Parsippany schools; provided food for Parsippany’s food pantry; donated back packs to needy children; supported Camp Nejeda, a camp for kids with Type 1 diabetes and through our state association provided funding to the pediatric trauma center of Robert Wood Johnson hospital.
By the way, the long range forecast for Tuesday, May 10 is sunny weather. It’s the perfect day to play golf and to help the kids.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact: Jayne Beline, Golf Committee at the Parsippany Library, (973) 887-5150, ext. 219
PARSIPPANY — NAI James E. Hanson, a leading New Jersey-based full-service independent commercial real estate firm, announced the sale of a 134,790-square-foot industrial building located at 701-705 Jefferson Road to Hudson News, the world’s largest operator of airport newsstands. NAI Hanson’s Scott Perkins represented the seller, Jofra Realty, in the transaction.
Prior to the acquisition, Hudson News, an operator of airport newsstands, was a full-building tenant of the property.
701-705 Jefferson Road sits on 8.3-acres and boasts 18 loading tailgates, six drive-ins, 122 parking spaces and 22-foot ceiling clear height allows for large companies to maximize their operations. The property offers direct access to Interstates 287 and 80, as well as convenient access to Routes 46 and 202.
“Since relocating in 2013 from North Bergen and spending two years in the location of sale, Hudson News considered the building perfect for long-term continuation of its impressive distribution center,” Perkins detailed. “As the largest distributor of magazines and books in the Northeast, Hudson News will be able to look at this investment as an opportunity to continue to grow in revenue and its prominent market position locally, nationally and globally.”
The building was formerly occupied by Coca-Cola Products.
PARSIPPANY — NAI Hanson brokered the sale of 119 Littleton Road from Hollywood Towne House to Commercial Realty Group.
“The property provided a unique opportunity for a tenant or an investor/developer to own a smaller office/professional building in the heart of Parsippany,” NAI Hanson’s Josh Levering said in a prepared statement. “We worked with the seller to price it aggressively. This enabled us to sell the property quickly to a qualified buyer.”
Levering and fellow NAI Hanson broker James Kenah represented the seller in the transaction.
The firm will now market and lease the 36,216-square-foot office building on behalf of the buyer.
“Upon acquisition, Commercial Realty Group announced plans to fully renovate and upgrade the property with occupancy slated for July/August 2016,” Levering said. “In addition, Commercial Realty Group will be occupying the building as its headquarters location.”
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The Commercial Realty Group is a full-service real estate operating company with a 40+ year history of providing high-quality office and industrial space in Morris, Essex, Somerset and Middlesex Counties in Northern New Jersey. CRG possesses the in-house capability to acquire, finance, construct and manage office and light industrial properties. It operates offices in Parsippany and Boca Raton, Florida.
PARSIPPANY — The State Forestry Services within the Department of Environmental Protection joined Parsippany-Troy Hills Township and the New Jersey Community Forestry Council to celebrate Arbor Day 2016 with two ceremonial tree plantings and an annual special awards recognition ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.
Carol Tiesi Third Grade Class from Littleton School
Darlene Worthington Third Grade Class from Intervale School
Freeholder Thomas Mastrangelo
PHHS Choir, under the direction of Kathleen Muka
Map of Smith Field
Parsippany Police Honor Guard
PHS Red Hawk Cheerleader
Joe Jannarone, Sr.
Joe Jannarone, Sr. showing one of the trees packaged by the Boy Scouts
Freeholder Thomas Mastrangelo
Mastrangelo presenting a proclamation to Parsippany
PHS Cheerleaders
Richard Boornazian, NJDEP Asst. Commissioner
Jannarone was presented with the “Joyce Kilmer Award”
Parsippany received a 40-year award
Placing the shovels getting ready for the Ceremonial Tree Planting
Mayor James Barberio throws the first shovel of soil
Students, Mayor and Smokey gather around the ceremonial tree planted
The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills was selected to host New Jersey’s Arbor Day event, in honor of their 40th year as a Tree City USA and to help celebrate the community’s accomplishments in working to develop a sustainable urban forest canopy. “On Arbor Day, let’s take a moment to look around and marvel at the trees that clean our water and air, cool our cities, and make our state more beautiful,” DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said. “Working with great partners such as Parsippany-Troy Hills Township and other communities across the state helps to foster growth of healthy trees, which improves the quality of life for all New Jerseyans now and for generations to come.” Parsippany-Troy Hills Township and Paramus were inaugural participants in the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program at its inception in 1976. Today, New Jersey has 156 communities active in the Tree City USA program, which is a national effort to help communities manage and increase its number of trees, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. Paramus hosted the State’s Arbor Day celebration in honor of their 30th anniversary as a Tree City USA in April 2006.
To commemorate Arbor Day, one eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, whose origins are from seeds flown on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 and provided by the NJ State Forest Nursery in Jackson, and one American elm, Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’, were planted in the park to honor Parsippany-Troy Hills Township’s accomplishment and New Jersey’s rich forest heritage.
“Arbor Day provides every New Jerseyan with a fresh opportunity to reflect on the beauty of New Jersey’s protected open spaces and the trees which provide shelter, shade and enjoyment for residents and visitors,” said Richard Boomazian, Assistant Commissioner of Natural and Historic Resources. “As these new trees grow and thrive, we will continue to strive to protect and care for these precious resources so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated for many generations to come.” In 1949, the New Jersey State Legislature officially designated the last Friday in April as Arbor Day to honor trees and the people who take care of them. New Jersey has a great diversity of tree species which has helped grow the state’s forestry inventory as well as add to the lush landscapes throughout the Garden State. “Many people would be surprised to learn that New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the Union, is 42 percent forested,” said State Forest Services Director John Sacco. “Trees have been and remain a remarkable resource in this state and our country, which residents and visitors enjoy every day.” During today’s ceremony, the DEP presented the prestigious Joyce Kilmer Award for outstanding contributions to community forests to Joseph Jannarone, who was Parsippany-Troy Hills Township’s forester and began the Township’s participation in the Tree City USA program.
In addition, awards were presented to 16 municipalities and one County for their participation in the 2015 Tree City USA program. First-time award recipient communities: Little Falls and Woodbury.
10-year award recipients: Hamilton Township (Mercer), Linden, Millstone Township, Red Bank, Woodcliff Lake and Monmouth County.
20-year award-recipienls: Belvidere; Bridgewarer, Lawrence Township, Princeton and Wenonah.
30-year award recipients: Piscataway and Toms River Township.
40-year award recipients: Paramus and Parsippany-Troy Hills Township.
In addition to Arbor Day activities to celebrate New Jersey’s trees, an ongoing tree seedlings distribution campaign continues statewide through May 15.
The New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign, a partnership between the DEP’s State Forest Service and the non-profit Arbor Day Foundation, is distributing some 102,000 free tree seedlings to New Jersey residents at 148 locations across the state.
The event educated children and the public about the importance of trees and the benefits they provide. Seedlings were made available to each person in attendance. Additional seedlings are available at the Park & Forestry’s Department, located at 1 Knoll Drive, Lake Hiawatha, which is directly across from 1130 Knoll Road. Seedlings are available from May 9 to May 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For additional questions please call (973) 263-7254.
“The Tree City USA Program is set up to encourage planting and care of trees and shrubs,” stated Mayor Barberio. “Participation in this program represents a strong commitment for us in our community. Parsippany is fortunate to have so many citizens, businesses, community groups and civic leaders who take pride in Parsippany’s natural beauty. We are a community that cares about our environment and will continue to launch many future greening initiatives as a reminder of the relevance of trees.
MORRISTOWN — Vanessa Brown, who was acquitted on all criminal charges in the 2012 crash that killed East Hanover community activist Ralph Politi, Jr., will lose her driver’s license for two years, the Daily Record reported. Brown, 35, of Parsippany, was found not guilty this past March of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and second-degree vehicle homicide charges…
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District made the decision to have the water tested in all of the fourteen schools.
As part of the testing procedures, all drinking fountains, food preparation, and Home Economics classrooms were tested. Results for five schools were released on Monday, April 18.
Parsippany High School returned one positive test which came from the boiler room, which has a valve not used by students or teachers, and is only for use by the custodian and maintenance personnel. That test showed a 220 ppb.
It was the same at Central Middle School, where the water pump room – only accessed by maintenance personnel – had a 66 ppb.
The same occurred at Parsippany Hills High School, where the boiler room utility valve returned a test of 100 ppb.
None of those valves are tied to drinking water in any of the buildings. Brooklawn Middle School returned no high results.
The Rockaway Meadow Elementary School returned a 23.2 ppb, or parts per billion, level of lead in its drinking fountain water. The test came from classroom 25, which is used for autistic students. The maximum allowable limit is 15 ppb.
There was an error on the part of the consultant and not all the rooms were tested. The remaining classrooms will be tested, and the results will be reported when available.
The fountain was turned off and bottled water is being provided to students and staff in that classroom. More test results from that school are expected.
All other samples in the school were below the threshold. Please understand that the information we have received is preliminary and not the complete report. The steps taken at this point are precautionary. When additional notifications for the remaining schools and complete testing results for all our schools, information will be posted on the District website, by clicking here.
Click here for NJDEP website on lead in drinking water.
The Township website has the most recent State mandated water quality testing program. To review the water quality testing report, click here.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Mr. David Corso, Assistant Superintendent of Schools/Chief Financial Officer at dfcorso@pthsd.net.
RANDOLPH — Local cancer survivors and their caregivers will take the celebratory first lap at the annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Central Morris at the County College of Morris on June 4 starting at 2:00 p.m. Anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer may participate.
The Opening Ceremony, starting at 4:00 p.m., brings everyone together for a high-energy event kickoff that celebrates the lives of those who have battled cancer and reminds us all that while we are winning this battle, fighting cancer is a year-round priority. Survivors will take the 1st lap followed by caregivers and then an exciting competitive (poster contest) team parade. See below for more information about the survivor and caregiver laps.
As the survivors walk, other participants will cheer them on in a demonstration of support and celebration. The five-year survival rate for all cancers has risen to 68 percent, and there are an estimated 14.5 million survivors in America. Following the survivors’ lap, caregivers will be honored.
The Relay For Life is a community event where teams and individuals set up campsites at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Last year, four million people participated in more than 6,000 events worldwide. The money raised supports groundbreaking cancer research, education and risk reduction efforts, and free information and critical services for people with cancer who need them.
The Closing Ceremony at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 5, celebrates what we all just accomplished together. It’s also a time to remember the lives of those lost, and to commit to continuing the fight against this disease over the next year.
If you are a cancer survivor or caregiver and would like to be part of Relay For Life, or if you would like to join or register a team, visit relayforlife.org or call
Lizzy Givan at 360-201-9037. You can also email her by clicking here.
County College of Morris 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph.
PARSIPPANY — E. Drew Britcher of Leone in Glen Rock has been named one of the top 10 attorneys in New Jersey for 2016 by New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine, making him the only medical malpractice attorney named among the Top 10 for the last five consecutive years. Britcher is also only one of two attorneys specializing in personal injury law that have been named to the list of the Top 10 for each of the last five years. Britcher is a resident of Parsippany.
2016 marks the twelfth consecutive year that Britcher has been included in New Jersey Super Lawyers and the eleventh consecutive year he has been named among the Top 100 in the state by New Jersey Super Lawyers. No more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to the general list, but less than 1/1000th are named to the Top 10.
Attorney E. Drew Britcher
As head of Britcher Leone’s trial practice, Drew has successfully prosecuted or resolved hundreds of complex medical, negligence, liability and other personal injury claims. Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Civil Trial Attorney, he has served as either counsel of record or amicus counsel in more than 30 reported decisions of the United State Supreme Court, the New Jersey Supreme Court and New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division.
Britcher has also been named one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America by Lawdragon Magazine and among “Bergen’s Best” by 201 Magazine. In addition, he has received numerous awards for his service to the American Association for Justice, as well as its New Jersey Chapter. In 2015, he was honored with a Professional Lawyer of the Year Award by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law.
He is a past-president of the New Jersey Association for Justice and has served as the chairperson of its Amicus and Medical Malpractice Committees for over a decade. Britcher is also a member of the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice.
Britcher was a founding member of the Board of Trial Lawyers Care, an organization that provided pro bono legal representation to victims and families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. He also helped shape the language of New Jersey’s Patients’ First and Patient Safety Acts and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School, where he teaches courses in medical malpractice law and litigation.
He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York, as well as before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
He earned a J.D. from New York Law School and a B.A. from Rutgers College, where he has been inducted as a Loyal Son.
PARSIPPANY — 
PARSIPPANY — NAI James E. Hanson, a leading New Jersey-based full-service independent commercial real estate firm, announced the sale of a 134,790-square-foot industrial building located at 701-705 Jefferson Road to Hudson News, the world’s largest operator of airport newsstands. NAI Hanson’s Scott Perkins represented the seller, Jofra Realty, in the transaction.
PARSIPPANY — E. Drew Britcher of Leone in Glen Rock has been named one of the top 10 attorneys in New Jersey for 2016 by New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine, making him the only medical malpractice attorney named among the Top 10 for the last five consecutive years. Britcher is also only one of two attorneys specializing in personal injury law that have been named to the list of the Top 10 for each of the last five years. Britcher is a resident of Parsippany.