Free Tax Assistance by AARP-IRS Tax Aides available

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Seniors, low-income and disabled persons are eligible for Tax Filing Assistance.

Free tax assistance will be available to Parsippany senior citizens, low-income, or disabled persons by experienced and trained AARP-IRS Tax Aides, at Parsippany Community Center and the Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library.

At the Parsippany Community Center sessions will begin Tuesday, February 2 and will continue every Tuesday through April 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

At the Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library sessions will begin on Friday, February 5 and will continue through April 15. The tax assistance is available every Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. German language is available on Friday, and Hindi is available on Saturday.

People who wish to use this service should bring the following documents:

  1. Social Security Card for taxpayer, spouse and dependents
  2. Picture ID (such as a valid driver’s license)
  3. Documents related to Affordable Care Act.
  4. Cost Basis information for securities sold in 2015
    5. Last year’s tax return(s)
  5. Copies of their completed 2014 Federal and State income tax returns
    7. SSA-1099 form showing the total Social Security benefits paid to you for the year, or Form RRB-1099, Tier 1 Railroad Retirement benefits
  6. 1099 forms reporting interest (1099-INT), dividends (1099-DIV), proceeds from sales (1099-B), as well as documentation showing the original purchase price of your sold assets
  7. 1099-R form if you received a pension, annuity, or IRA distribution.
  8. 1099-Misc forms.
  9. Charitable contributions.
  10. Tenants should know the amount of rent paid in 2015.
  11. If you receive the Property Tax Reimbursement booklet (PTR 1 or 2) from the state, bring the Homeowners Verification form to Town Hall Tax Department to be filled out and stamped, then bring the booklet and form for your tax appointment.

For an appointment at Parsippany Community Center call Gloria at (973) 263-7351.

For an appointment at the Parsippany Library call (973) 887-5150 ext. 209.

For additional locations and times, click here.

What a ‘state of emergency’ declaration really means

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie has just declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the blizzard due to blanket the state beginning Friday night. As ominous as it sounds, a state of emergency means more for the police, fire and other public safety officials responding to the event than it does for the average person.…

How cold is ‘too cold’ to leave your dog outside?

TRENTON — In response to the death of two New Jersey dogs who froze to death this past week, state lawmakers will introduce legislation on Monday requiring and defining proper shelter for dogs left outside in the cold. State Sen. Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Gregory McGuckin and David Wolfe (all R- Ocean) will introduce a bill…

Fourth Annual Morris County Public Safety Youth Academy Enrollment Now Taking Place

MORRIS COUNTY — It’s only January, but enrollment for this summer’s highly competitive 2016 Morris County Public Safety Youth Academy is beginning now, with limited space available for the intensive week-long course for young Morris County women and men in grades  9-12.

The fourth annual academy, which is run by the Morris County Department of Law & Public Safety and Office of Emergency Management, and funded by the Morris County Board of Freeholders, will be held during the week of August 15-19. Classes are held at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy in Parsippany.

The Academy offers a five-day program that is open to all Morris County students who are enrolled in grades 9-12 in the fall of 2016.

It is completely free of charge to the cadets and their families.

The Academy is a uniquely designed program which provide high school students exposure to and a better understanding of the various facets within the field of public safety. This program has been designed to target Morris County’s young adults at a time when they are making decisions about their future education and careers.

“They are is the process of making educational and life commitments that could potentially impact their careers, their character, and their communities,’ said County OEM Director Jeff Paul. “We want to give them a chance to see if public safety might be a way for them to go.’’

“The Youth Academy is a unique program that exposes cadets to all facets of the public safety profession.“This is an investment in the youth of our county, and a chance to interest some of the brightest young people who live in Morris County to consider being future leaders in our vitally important public safety team,’’ said Freeholder Doug Cabana, who is the county governing board’s liaison on law and public safety issues.

This intensive program will provide cadets with specially designed training and hands-on experience in the fields of police, fire, EMS, emergency management, and more.

Class size is limited and the summer 2016 class is expected to quickly fill to capacity.

To find out more information about this exciting program, or to apply for enrollment, click here.

CCM Holds Fourth Annual Photo Contest for High School Students

2015 winner by Lindsay Morrison of the Morris County School of Technology
2015 winner by Lindsay Morrison of the Morris County School of Technology

RANDOLPH — New Jersey high school students with a passion for photography and a talent for taking good photos have until April 16 to enter the County College of Morris Fourth Annual Photo Contest for the chance to win prizes and recognition.

The contest is conducted by the Photo Club at CCM. Again this year, the competition’s sponsor, Unique Photo Superstore in Fairfield, will provide first-, second- and third-prize gift certificates.

High-school-age photographers are being asked to submit photos on the theme of “Borderlands.”

Professor Hrvoje Slovenc, who teaches photography at CCM, explains, “By definition a borderland is an area of overlap between two things. We’re looking for images that visually define a line between two geographic locations, states of minds, emotions or between history and myth, or whatever else our photographers envision.”

Winning photographs, honorable mentions and finalists will be featured in an exhibition also including work by CCM photography students. The exhibit will take place in May in the CCM Art Gallery at the school’s Randolph campus. Winners will be required to submit high-resolution files for the exhibition and may need to show proof of ID and authorship.

Photo contest participants are encouraged to join the “CCM Photo Club Competition” Facebook page (http://tinyurl.com/ludm5al) to receive news, announcements and vote for the photo that will receive the “Popularity Award” for obtaining the most likes. Voting for the Popularity Award begins at midnight on April 30 and the winner will be announced at the opening of the exhibition.

Last year, the CCM Photo Club received more than 600 submissions from high school students. In the previous competitions, winners have come from Morris County School of Technology, Morris Knolls, Columbia, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sparta and Mount Olive high schools, as well as Blair Academy.

Photos can be submitted now through midnight April 16. To enter online, click here.

To enter by mail, send prints or digital files to County College of Morris, Photography Department, DH 201, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ 07869-2086 with contact information included. There is no limit to the number of entries and finalists will be notified on April 30.

For additional information, contact ngruneiro@ccm.edu or hslovenc@ccm.edu.

Town Council votes out Engineering Firm tied to Democratic Super-PAC

PARSIPPANY — During the January 19, 2016 Parsippany-Troy Hills Town Council meeting, mixed between routine resolutions, was the confirmation for Mayor Barberio’s re-appointment of engineering firm Adams, Rehmann & Heggan Associates (ARH).  While most members of the public in attendance paid little attention to the vote, ARH was ousted by the Council by a vote of 2-2 with one abstention.

ARH came to prominence during the 2015 Republican Primary after Parsippany Focus uncovered that the firm had donated tens of thousands of dollars to the Super-PAC America’s Future First.  It was later learned that America’s Future First was created in order to try to oust Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., from office by spending nearly $200,000 on the June 2015 primary supporting Mike dePierro, Loretta Gragnani, and Vincent Ferrara.

Paul Carifi, Jr., came in first place in the race and Vincent Ferrara lost the primary.

Parsippany Focus made several unsuccessful attempts to contact ARH for comment.

Chuck F. Lee, manager for North Jersey Operations for ARH with Governor Chris Christie in Parsippany.
Chuck F. Lee, manager for North Jersey Operations for ARH with Governor Chris Christie in Parsippany.

Aarin Feliz Named to Springfield College Dean’s List

PARSIPPANY —  Springfield College has named Aarin Feliz of Lake Hiawatha to the dean’s list for academic excellence for the fall 2015 term. Feliz is studying Movement and Sport Studies. Aarin is a graduate of Parsippany High School Class of 2015.

Criteria for selection to the dean’s list are as follows: The student must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded coursework for the semester, exclusive of “P” grades; the student must not have any incompletes, missing grades or “CPs” in the designated semester; the student must have a minimum semester grade point average of 3.500 for the semester; and the student must not have been barred from the dean’s list due to a disciplinary action.

Founded in 1885, Springfield College is known worldwide for the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophyeducating students in spirit, mind and body for leadership in service to others. With its foundation of academic excellence and rich athletic heritage, Springfield College prepares students with real-world leadership skills for careers that transform lives and communities.

The college offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of health sciences, human and social services, sport management and movement studies, education, business, and the arts and sciences. It also offers doctoral programs in physical education, physical therapy, and counseling psychology.

The college is ranked in the 2016 edition of Best Colleges in the top tier of Best Regional Universities North Region by U.S.News & World Report, and is designated as a premier Leadership Development Center by the YMCA of the USA. More than 5,000 traditional, nontraditional and international students study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at regional campuses throughout the country.

“Beetle” flips over on Route 10

PARSIPPANY — Mr. John Radassich, 54, Long Valley was stopped at the intersection of Powder Mill Road and Route 10 East at the traffic signal.   When the light turned green he proceeded to drive east on Route 10, when he was struck by a 2008 Red Volkswagen Beetle.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 17-year old Parsippany Hills High School student, was driving north on South Powder Mill Road when she turned right on Route 10 on a red traffic signal.  When she entered onto Route 10 east she was unable to see due to the sun glare and struck Mr. Radassich’s 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee.   Then rolled the vehicle over when she lost control.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene by C & L Towing.

The driver and the passenger in the 2008 Volkswagen both escaped injuries.

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The 2008 Volkswagen Beetle landed on the roof of the vehicle
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A Parsippany police officer getting the girls books from the vehicle.
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An officer investigates the damage to the Jeep

Mexican Restaurant celebrates grand opening

PARSIPPANY — Las Leyendas De Mexico recently celebrated a ribbon cutting grand opening.

The new restaurant is located at 71 New Road, New Road Plaza.

They are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

For more information call (973) 287-6070

 

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