PARSIPPANY — Howard Brush Dean III, an American politician and author who served as the 79th Governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003 and Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009 was in Parsippany on Sunday, October 1, along with Tammy Murphy showing their support for Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayoral Candidate Michael Soriano, Township Council Candidates Emily Peterson and Janice McCarthy as well as other Morris County Democrats.

Howard Dean also came up with the 50 state strategy. In 2005, Democrats launched the 50-State Strategy—an ambitious effort to build the Democratic Party from the ground up in every single precinct, city, and state in the country. We know that we won’t be able to win everywhere until we are able to compete everywhere, and that means fielding candidates and providing resources to even the most traditionally “red” parts of the country. The DNC works in partnership with state Democratic parties to provide resources for electoral efforts, voter registration, candidate recruitment, volunteer recruitment, and training.

Howard Dean rallies N.J. Democrats

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Dean opened his remarks saying his first elected office was County Chairman.

“You have a lot going for you,” said Dean. “Not only is Phil Murphy on top of the ticket, which is going to be incredibly helpful, but you also have a lot of disgust among voters with Republicans in general, but specifically the governor and president.”  “When you knock on someones door, they are coming out and voting because you asked them to go vote. Ask them to get out and vote,” he said.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayoral Candidate Michael Soriano, who is running against incumbent Republican Parsippany Mayor James Barberio, was in attendance, with his two running mates, Township Council Candidates Emily Peterson and Janice McCarthy.

“It was a pleasure meeting so many supporters that are excited about the Mayoral and Council race in Parsippany, “ said Mayoral Candidate Michael Soriano.

In addition Morris County Freeholder candidate Rosella Clyde, Medical Dr. Lisa Bhimani, running for the Senate in Legislative District 25, was there with her running mate, Assembly candidate Tom Moran, who is an IT professional. Several candidates for other municipal offices were in attendance.

PARSIPPANY — Diamond Dance held a water and diaper drive to help Puerto Rico with the devastation from Hurricane Maria on Sunday, October 1. 

Diamond Dance Fundraiser for Puerto Rico

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Community members poured in from shared social media posts about the event. Diamond Dance competition team members came out to support their country and their Director Tiffany Slowinski who is of Puerto Rican dissent. The directors still has many family members who live in Puerto Rico and hosted this event to contribute to not only her nation but for her parents family members. “I see the devastation the hurricane has caused my parents, cousins, aunts, and grandmother and I felt I needed to do something. Anything,”  said Tiffany Slowinski.

It was a beautiful, successful, and emotional morning at the Diamond Dance help Puerto Rico Drive. Thank you to all of our neighbors, families, dancers, extended family members, dance moms, dance dad’s, and parsippany residents for your contribution to this wonderful cause! 

The donations included 40 cases of water (1,200 individual bottles), over 20 cases of diapers, 10 boxes of baby wipes, baby clothes, and multiple boxes and containers of baby food!

Diamond Dance is located at 981 Tabor Road.

PARSIPPANY — St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church annual blessing of Animals Liturgy celebrating the life of St. Francis who is remembered as having a deep appreciation for all of creation and a special bond with animals was held on Sunday, October 1.

All God’s creatures were welcome, however for safety concerns, participants were asked to bring their pets leashed or caged.  Following the liturgy, refreshments are provided as an opportunity for people and pets socialize.

Honey, a 15 week old Chocolate Brown Lab, rescued from Puerto Rico received a blessing from Rev. Sica.

Honey is now living in a foster home in Parsippany. Puerto Rico is beautiful, but life can be hard for dogs. So many dogs wonder the streets in search of food, water, shelter and affection. Thankfully someone was nice enough to take her to a shelter where the wonderful people at Save A Sato Foundation took care of her and gave her affection.

Save the Sato Foundation contacted Furever Home Dog Rescue and was flown to New Jersey to find their furever homes. Honey’s foster says…..”Honey is such a sweetheart! She is a happy puppy who loves to be with you! She follows us around and likes to cuddle. Honey spends her days playing with stuff toys, running around the yard and playing with my dog. She likes having fun! You can’t get any sweeter than Honey!!’  For information on adopting Honey email FHDR@att.net.

PARSIPPANY — Thanks to our readers, advertisers and supporters, October 1 marks Parsippany Focus 28th Birthday celebration.

Parsippany Focus was first released as a monthly printed newspaper on October 1, 1989 mailed to every resident of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.

At that time, Parsippany Focus was named the “Official newspaper of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC)”. Publisher Frank Cahill, was named on the Board of Directors of PACC in 1989, eventually elected Vice President, and then President-elect (but due to commitments with Focus did not continue as President, just remained on the Board of Directors.) He also created a Retail Committee to work with area businesses.

Parsippany Focus converted to a weekly newspaper serving the residents of Parsippany-Troy Hills in June 1991. Eventually Parsippany Focus was named the legal newspaper of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills. This was the first weekly newspaper in many years appointed to serve the needs of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Due to competition of newspapers in the late 90s, and the change of advertising markets of major companies devoting their advertising dollars to major newspapers, the advertising revenues of Parsippany Focus decreased to a point where it was not profitable to publish. Focus ceased publication in 1996.

Since then we have received many requests that Parsippany needs a “hometown” newspaper, that covers Parsippany news and events.

Due to the technology of the internet, we have created this website for the people of Parsippany, to publicize the events that involve their everyday life. Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, business briefs, honor rolls, club news, community announcements, school happenings (the same basic information the print version of Parsippany Focus featured from 1989 through late 1990s). “All Local, All Parsippany.”

The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills proclaimed October 1, 2014 as “Parsippany Focus Day“

Parsippany Focus acknowledges Cathy Haddon, Editor, for the hard work she contributed to Focus during the days of publishing the printed version. Many thanks to Cathy.

Parsippany Focus published a printed 25th Anniversary Issue which was distributed throughout Parsippany, on October 1, 2014.

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Governor Candidate Phil Murphy spoke to a crowded room of Democrats during the Morris County Democratic Committee 2017 Fall Gala held on Tuesday, September 25 at Zeris Inn.

Morris County Democratic Committee 2017 Fall Gala

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Phil has also fought for opportunity, fairness, and justice through his involvement in the Democratic Party. He served as Finance Chair of the Democratic National Committee, helping to elect Barack Obama. He worked with Howard Dean on the fifty-state strategy that rebuilt the Democratic Party from the grassroots up.

Last August, the State Board of Education passed a resolution making passage of the nationalized PARCC tests a requirement for graduation. PARCC tests are considered by many educational experts to be outdated, expensive, and not helpful to students. They have also been criticized by teachers, parents, and school administrators alike for taking away too much classroom instruction time and for forcing curricula to align with test topics to ensure higher scores. New Jersey is an outlier in its reliance on PARCC: only a handful of states still use the test, and only one other state is using it as a graduation requirement.

Phil Murphy is committed to ending New Jersey’s reliance on PARCC tests and eliminating standardized testing as a requirement for graduation. If elected, he would direct the state Department of Education to work with educators to create an assessment that would meet the federal reporting requirements of ESSA. He also would eliminate passage of a standardized test as a graduation requirement.

Murphy said money from the tax increases will be prioritized for public-worker pensions, education and transportation. Murphy also hopes to institute new programs like universal pre-kindergarten and free community college tuition. The state’s wealthiest will pay more in income tax, corporations would see tax loop-holes closed, and marijuana smokers would see their drug of choice become legalized — and taxed.

Murphy leads Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno by double digits in all polls.

Governor Chris Christie has vetoed five Democratic attempts to institute a “millionaire’s tax.”

By: Bob Roberti

On Saturday morning, September 23, Mayor James Barberio addressed a small group of Sedgefield residents at the long awaited groundbreaking of Grafton Park.  The mayor was accompanied by Council Vice President Robert Peluso, Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani,  Councilmen Paul Carifi and Michael DePierro and Township Forester Jim Walsh. 

Mayor Barberio spoke about how the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy rendered Grafton Park unsafe and the township unable to provide the expertise and equipment to remove the fallen or leaning trees.  

The Mayor and council authorized a budget of $800,000.00 to transform the 4.3 acre passive wooded park into a neighbor park similar to other neighborhood parks in Parsippany. The township provided an architectural rendering of the proposed neighborhood park with two designated children play areas.  There were also two photographs of the similar play equipment used at other neighborhoods parks in Parsippany.  Mayor Barberio then called on Sedgefield past presidents Bob Roberti, George Kimmey and Maria Caivano to take a shovel and break ground for the new park. 

Sedgefield Civic Association, past president, Bob Roberti then addressed the group by first thanking the Mayor, Council and Town Forester for all their efforts to make this park a reality. Bob also thanked members of the SCA Beautification Committee present for their many hours of volunteer labor for the past 10 years in Grafton Park.  Bob also acknowledge that it was now impossible for the Beautification Committee to maintain the park any longer without the townships leadership.  He mentioned it has been 64 years since the land was originally deeded to the township for recreational development. 

Now is the time for the township to develop and maintain Grafton Park as a neighborhood park.

In addition to the local Sedgefield residents Democratic Mayoral Candidate Michael Soriano, and Democratic Council Candidates Emily Peterson and Janice McCarthy were present and after the ceremony took a tour of Grafton Park with Bob Roberti.

Grafton Park Groundbreaking

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