PARSIPPANY — BettyLou DeCroce said she will oppose any legislation the Governor puts forth on his revised clean energy plan that he introduced Thursday, calling the plan a “fantasy.”
DeCroce, who served nine years in the assembly and is running this year to return to the state legislature, said the Governor’s Clean Energy II edict will saddle businesses and homeowners with enormous costs while providing little environmental benefit. The Governor said he will need legislation to enact some of the dictates of his plan.
“The governor’s Green Energy II plan is a “no energy plan,” said DeCroce. “It is the stuff that liberal dreams are made of. New Jersey needs a realistic energy plan – not one that the left is trying to push down the throats of hard-working people.”
DeCroce said if she returns to the Assembly, she will oppose most, if not all, of the governor’s proposed legislation that sets arbitrary goals, such as outlawing gasoline-powered cars by 2035 and forcing the retrofitting of heating and cooling systems for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.
“My job as a legislator is to do what is best for the people in District 26, not to help the governor polish his liberal credentials so he can run for president in 2024,” said DeCroce.
DeCroce said the governor’s “fantasy energy plan” has no cost projections. “What is the governor’s blueprint going cost residents? The governor isn’t saying. Where’s the BPU (Board of Public Utilities)? Where is their estimate of the financial burden the plan will force on homeowners, business owners, and car owners?” asked DeCroce. “The Governor is asking for a blind emotional buy-in to his plan. Where are the costs estimates; what is the real environmental benefit, and what are the risks associated with this plan?”
“I care about climate change as much as anyone. I want my grandchildren to inherit a healthy environment. But I also want them to live in a state with reliable, full-time energy for a reasonable cost. I want them to have heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. I want them to have transportation that works when they need it. The Governor’s plan will not provide them with any of those things,” added DeCroce.
PARSIPPANY — St. Gregory’s will hold an Ash Wednesday Service on Wednesday, February 22, at Noon and 7:00 p.m.
The noon service will be about a half hour, and the evening service will be full of hymns.
St Gregory’s Episcopal Church is located at 480 South Beverwyck Road.
Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent. Catholics observe it in the Roman Rite, Lutherans, Moravians, Anglicans, Methodists, and Nazarenes, as well as by some churches in the Reformed tradition.
Lent will be observed from February 22 to April 8 this year. It is a period of religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar, marking the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert, enduring temptation by Satan.
PARSIPPANY — Mr. Stephen Flynn, 67, Hackettstown, was traveling west on Route 46 near Baldwin Road on Sunday, February 5 at 8:57 p.m. behind a 2005 Minni, towed by the Mobile Home driven by Mr. Kenneth Sawyer, Vermont.
Flynn told Parsippany Police Officer Pasquale Parisi that his dog was sitting on his lap, and the dog began to move, causing him to look down at the dog. When the driver looked down at the dog, he crashed into the Minni, pushing the vehicle into the Mobile Home, which was stopped at the red traffic signal.
Flynn’s vehicle crashed into the Minni, which the Mobile Home was towing.Damage to the Mobile HomeDamage to the Mobile Home
After crashing into the 2005 Minni, Mr. Flynn’s 2020 Nissan Rogue vehicle lost control and flipped onto the driver’s side.
Mr. Flynn was charged with (39:4-97) Careless Driving.
The 2020 Nissan and the 2005 Minni were towed from the scene by C&L Towing.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Hills High School Academic Decathlon (AcDec) Team participated in the New Jersey Region III Competition on Saturday, January 28, at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Clifton.
The six team members who participated were Haroon Afzal, Ram Gupta, Nishanth Makkithaya, Chaitanya Matrubai, Ash Stone, and Danial Tanveer. Chaitanya Matrubai earned an individual Honorable Mention, and Ash Stone took ten medals and awards, including one for being the Highest Scoring Varsity competitor for the regional competition. As a result, Ash has been invited to compete at the state level as an individual on Saturday, March 4.
Academic Decathlon is a 10-event scholastic competition for high school students. The events include math, science, social science, literature, economics, art, music, speech, essay, and interview. This year’s theme is the American Revolution. Team coaches are Jaclyn Bevacqua, Italian teacher, and Jacqueline Forte, Spanish teacher.
PARSIPPANY — EnVogue Salon opened its door for the first time in July 1994. From the moment it opened, it made a reputation for itself as a salon that creates beautiful looks, confidence, peace, and a caring environment for all its clients. From the very start, the salon had a creative team who put their best foot forward and made the salon a place for everyone to enjoy themselves.
Ratnesh Khandelwal, Uncle Om Khandelwal, Aunt Madhu Khandelwal, Bharti Khandelwal. Photo by Keshav Khandelwal.
One of its creative team is Bharti Khandelwal. Bharti is an immigrant who first came to the USA in 2003, dreaming of making a better living for herself, her husband, and her future family. She enrolled in an Artistic academy to gain her cosmetology license in 2004.
From 9-5 every day, she studied as a student at the academy and worked a retail job at night. Her hard work and passion paid off in 2005 when she received her cosmetology license and got her first job at EnVogue Salon.
There she worked as an assistant for six months, gaining and learning more and more, and finally became an official hairstylist. Thus, she worked as a hairstylist for 11 years at EnVogue, creating beautiful results and even more beautiful smiles.
For 11 years, she put forward hard work, dedication, and commitment, showing only her best to the world and, more importantly, her clients.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Committee Chairman Frank Cahill presents Bharti Khandelwal with a plaque congratulating her on the new location of EnVogue and thanking her for her continued support in Parsippany.
In 2017, all her hard work paid off, and she got the opportunity to take over the salon as its new boss and purchased the salon.
Once she took over the salon, she worked even harder, creating social media accounts, new clientele, and a new name and identity for the salon.
She was soon joined by Paul, a stylist who has supported her through thick and thin and is still with her in the salon today! While EnVogue was already an amazing salon, she took it to a new level by not only sticking with traditional hairstyles but also letting her creativity and passion for colors and arts flow through the beautiful hair of her clients.
Longtime and satisfied customer Carol Tiesi with Bharti Khandelwal
On some days, it’s a rainbow hair dying; on another, it’s a bride’s special day that she had the opportunity to make even more special. From haircuts, colors, blowouts, and makeup, she created a name for herself and her salon with high standards and established herself as one of the best and most professional salons in the area.
In 2022, it was time for her salon to move locations; thus, she geared herself for an entirely new journey and shift to a new location. It was a daunting task, but she was up to it and purchased a location that was originally a salon that was opened more than 30 years ago, the Vincent Ghetto salon.
The interior of EnVogue Salon
The Vincent Ghetto Salon has a history of its own, passed down from generation to generation, but it had fallen into disrepair. Bharti, seeing the beauty of the location, purchased it and started the journey to build a new salon, one that was a reflection of both the history of the original Ghetto salon, but also the EnVogue Salon that she spent years making a name for.
For months the salon was worked on and had its own issues. But the salon and hope for happy clients surpassed all problems, and the salon was built and ready in January of 2023.
On her birthday, Bharti resumed her work. The salon’s story, her story, and its ups and downs make her and this salon so beautiful.
Passion, inspiration, love, and care were and still are the foundations of this salon, no matter the location. And thus, the salon lives on as a testament to the dedication and commitment of the salon and its creative team to its clients.
The beauty of the story of EnVogue is only surpassed by the beauty of the smiles of the clients who walk out of the salon at the end of their appointment. The salon lives on, not based on how it looks or where it is, but on the hair and stories of its stunning clients. Join us in making a new story for this new salon, and visit EnVogue today to add to this beautiful legacy!
On Saturday, February 18, Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio; Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Chairman Frank Cahill; Council President Loretta Gragnani and Councilmen Frank Neglia and Justin Musella; Robert Peluso, President Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, Nicolas Limanov and Ildiko Peluso, Board Members; as well as Nick Rafanello and Scott Donnelly, Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development; and Morris County Commissioner Director John Krickus, Commissioner Stephen Shaw; and longtime customer Carol Tiesi joined in the ribbon cutting celebration of EnVogue’s new location. The new location is located at 54 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha. Hours at Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please call to schedule your complimentary consultation at (973) 402-5454 or visit their website by clicking here.
The Khandelwal family: Ratnesh, Bharti, Keshav and KashviParsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Committee presented EnVogue with a plaque.
PARSIPPANY — The Spring Green Fair will be held at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Main Library on Saturday, March 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will take place indoors on the first and second floors.
The Parsippany Green Fair will feature live presentations and discussions, local organizations’ informational tables, and much more. Presentations will feature the Parsippany Green Team, Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee, Good Bottle Refill Shop, Parsippany Climate Action, Parsippany Bat Protection Project/Rutgers Wildlife Management and Conservation Program, Friends of the Drew University Forest, and Parsippany Robotics Club.
Table vendors include Passaic River Coalition, Wildlife Preserves, Morris County 4-H, and the Association of NJ Environmental Commissions.
“This event will educate and create awareness for residents about what they can do and what they can do better regarding local environmental initiatives,” states Lisa Plevin, Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee. “We have an excellent slate of speakers and informational tables.”
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Main Library is located at 449 Halsey Road, Parsippany. The Parsippany Green Team and the Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee present the Spring Green Fair.
PARSIPPANY — Senior Laila Tatis was selected to represent Parsippany Hills High School for the NJSIAA and National Girls and Women in Sports Day for all her accomplishments on and off the field.
PARSIPPANY — Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella confirmed the arrest of Juan P. Bonilla-Correa, 44, of Rutherford, on charges of distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. The arrest results from an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love. Bonilla-Correa is a fire inspector in Parsippany-Troy Hills.
On Thursday, February 16, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit members executed a search warrant at the residence of Juan P. Bonilla-Correa during an Internet child pornography investigation. The investigation revealed that Bonilla-Correa used the Internet to view, download, possess, and distribute files depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent children.
As a result of the investigation, Bonilla-Correa was arrested on Thursday, February 16, in Paramus and charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography, N.J.S.A 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(i); and third-degree possession of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)(iii). He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Prosecutor Musella thanks the Rutherford Police Department for their assistance and the Lyndhurst Police Department, which participates in the Bergen County Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
PARSIPPANY — Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, and her Parsippany office collected and delivered 6,000 Valentine’s Day cards to District 11 seniors written by residents of the 11th District.
To kick off Valentine’s Day, the Congresswoman delivered cards and spoke with residents from the Crane’s Mill retirement community in West Caldwell.
“The outpouring of support for our seniors so heartens me. Valentine’s Day is a great time to support each other, and I know that these cards have brightened so many seniors’ day,” said Rep. Sherrill.
“Special thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s Valentines for Seniors program. Everyone got in the spirit from schools to public libraries to local businesses, and we spread Valentine’s Day love to thousands of seniors throughout North Jersey.”
This program is part of a series of community appreciation initiatives by Congresswoman Sherrill and her team, such as “Thanksgiving Thank-Yous for Veterans,” which resulted in over 6,800 thank-you notes delivered to veterans in the community last year, and “2022 Heroes,” celebrating the everyday heroes in the district that inspire.
PARSIPPANY — Flood waters from the Whippany and Passaic Rivers and their tributaries have caused humanitarian and economic losses to the thousands of inhabitants who live or operate businesses in Hanover, East Hanover, Parsippany, Florham Park, Morris Plains, and Morristown. Stormwater runoff from countless storms, including a lack of maintenance in keeping the river channels free and clear of debris, reached a critical point last year when Hanover Township Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher, Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor, and East Hanover Township Mayor Joseph Pannullo decided that it was time to join forces and take action.
On February 18, 2022, the Mayors and their professional engineers met with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill to enlist her support in developing a plan, including the need for federal funds.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Jamie Barberio
The outgrowth of the meeting was the creation of the Whippany and Passaic Rivers Flood Mitigation Task Force. Working with the staff of Congresswoman Sherrill, the Task Force submitted a $1.5 million dollar Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project grant under the sponsorship of Ms. Sherrill. In December 2022, the Task Force was informed that the funding application was included in the Federal Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill approved by the United States Congress.
The allocation of these funds will be used for the first phase of a multi-year, multi-phase project in the de-snagging of the Whippany River with the removal of dangerous obstructions and debris. Stabilizing streambanks, sediment removal, and re-establishing and replanting vegetation along the streambanks to minimize erosion and improve stormwater flow will require significant additional grant funds in the coming years.
At a meeting on January 25, the Mayors of the Townships of Hanover, East Hanover, and Parsippany and the Boroughs of Florham Park and Morris Plains agreed to enter into a Shared Services Agreement to move the project further without delay. The Township of Hanover will serve as the Lead Agency.
The Town of Morristown will soon join this collaborative undertaking. In addition, the County of Morris is also working with the Task Force, with County Commissioner Stephen Shaw attending meetings and serving as a liaison.
On February 15, 2023, the Task Force again met with Congresswoman. Sherrill to thank her for “shepherding” the grant and to strategize in moving the project forward. Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher noted that….” while we are in a good place to take the first step, we have a lot of hard work ahead of us in the coming years.” Mayor Gallagher pointed out that the Task Force is a regional partnership looking to remediate a long-standing problem that seriously jeopardizes the health, safety, and welfare of those towns along the Whippany and Passaic Rivers. “Government has to be about collaborating and solving problems together to improve the quality of life for our residents.
In summing up the meeting, Gallagher asserted that….”In cooperation with Congresswoman Sherrill’s office, we are working extremely hard to mitigate flooding in our area. This approach can serve as a good model or template for municipalities to follow in resolving other common, regional issues.”
After the meeting, Congresswoman Sherrill and all the participating Mayors posed for a photograph with an imitation poster board check in the amount of $1.5 million dollars representing the actual award.
