Parsippany Rescue and Recovery and Rockaway Neck Ambulance Held Installation Dinner

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Rescue and Recovery with Rockaway Neck Volunteer Ambulance recently held its Installation Dinner at Hanover Manor. Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio administered the “Oath of Office” to all the members.

The 2023 officers are Paul Anderson, Chief; Andrew Ludwig, Deputy Chief; Jake Beg, Captain; Josh Levine, Lieutenant; Alexis Bota, Lieutenant; and John Bota, Dive Coordinator.

In addition, the Executive Board consists of Billy Sanford, President; John Walsh, Vice President; Rafael Ortiz, Secretary; Andrew Ludwig, Treasurer; and Nick Limanov, Sergeant At Arms.

Parsippany Rescue and Recovery is a 100% volunteer rescue department with an active membership roll of 25 fully trained first responders and heavy rescue. We operate out of two strategically placed stations in town, allowing for the quickest response time.

The Unit has been serving the town since 1960 and provides heavy rescue, vehicle extrication, dive rescue/recovery, confined space rescue, elevator entrapment, downed tree and limb removal, board ups, pump outs, emergency power generation, lighting, and special services to its residents.

They provide mutual aid to our town’s six fire departments, two ambulance squads, and one EMS. In addition, the Unit assists the fire departments and rescue squads of Denville, Mountain Lakes, Randolph, Morris Township, Morris Plains, Morristown, Hanover, East Hanover, Boonton, Montville, Fairfield, as well as any other requests from any other municipalities in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania area.

The squad had a confined space team, providing pump-outs and board-ups after fire or theft.

President Billy Sanford and his wife, Vasila.
Paul Anderson, Dan Morgan, and Josh Levine
Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Frank Neglia, Bill Sanford, Joe Jannarone, Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastraangelo with Mayor James Barberio.
Nicola and Louis Yuliano
Parsippany Rescue and Recovery
Mr. and Mrs. Limanov Nicolas, Former Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, and Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo.

For more information on Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, click here. If you would like to volunteer, click here for a membership application.

Letter to the Editor: Leaf-Blowers Are the Bad

Dear Editor:

The good is bad we don’t do. The rake needed no improvements; how has a leaf blower improved our lives?

As of the last few months, an attempt to bring the annoyance, pollution, and degradation of the quality of life and sense of community by leaf-blowers to the Council has been ignored. Councilman Musella stated to me “privately” he could never support such a Resolution to phase out leaf-blowers for better alternatives available. The better being battery-powered rather than 2-cycle black-carbon polluting and noise-making in excessive 90-100 decibels.

At the last Council meeting, Councilman Justin Musella had to have his own words back in his mouth; “He could never support such a resolution because it was government interfering with business.” It is ok for businesses to interfere with our health, well-being, privacy, and sense of community. He says he is for the community; what he means in his rhetoric is he cares and supports business over the community, no matter the impacts or outcome.

Sensible Human-beings are not perfectionists but Meliorists. They believe in trying or making things better by putting things right and improving them when they do not work well enough.

Some things have to be the best they can be; Medical procedures, airline journeys, and maintaining the security of bank accounts; because of what is at stake.

Here with the lawn industry, the stakes are Human Health and well-being, a sense of community violated, disturbing the peace, invasion of privacy through the noise and air pollution, and continuing anti-ecological industry that does more harm than good in quality of life and ecological sense. Why would a person or a Council be against such a Resolution supporting such proposed legislation as A6238 or S4273?

In close-quarter neighborhoods like Lake Hiawatha, and many suburban places, these blowers are especially offensive, other factors like acoustic properties of home locations. The randomness of one blower being used (after enduring mower noise) and then another, from another property, at another period leaves peace and quite near impossible for long, arbitrary on any given day. (During the recent past summer drought, when grass shuts-down it, growth landscapers were cutting the lawns as usual, despite the lack of ecological sense or need, for their fees).

Even in areas like Parks and Natural Areas, Pyramid Mountain, Wildcat Ridge, and others, the setting is disturbed by these noise creators and air pollution devices.

Many towns and places have finally come to the limits of tolerance in realizing the obvious negative impacts of this unhealthy intrusive industry. The Green here is the money, not any sense or science of ecology. To reject a resolution to improve an industry through available new and better tools is merely a slap in the face of the community and environmental health in favor of business or the common good.

 I am pro-free market which has, for the better part of human history, always improved the lives of all people. Competition makes us better. Justin Musella.

Nothing can be further from the truth. Competition wastes energy and resources and has not been the catalyst for better human cooperation, or we would never have gotten this far.  Progress is another word for pollution and has improved the lives of some, not most. At present, our economy exists outside the laws of nature. It is unsustainable and promotes endless growth, an impossibility. The competition also leads to a monopoly as one puts the other out of business. Free Market is also an illusion and a deception.

Never in the history of democratic societies has the populace been more removed from the decision-making process than it is today. Our Collective Global future is being made behind closed doors by trade representatives-appointed officials with the blessing of amorphous, transnational corporations. Our Constitution has been hijacked and keeps proving it’s a flawed document; “we the people matter little,” as does science or ecological sustainability. Above all, corporations’ rights and profits are responsible for the present demise of the Republic and any hope of democracy or equitable justice.

Lawn culture is a self-centered anti-community annoyance we are made to suffer, as it encourages life in a vacuum as if no one else exists at the time, and that the impacts of air pollution, noise pollution, and injury to mother earth are sanctioned somehow by private property and individual rights, which puts private property opposed to community and environment itself!

No economic interest should ever be placed above the reverence for life, but that is what we have in a free market. The recent train wreck resulted in free market deregulation, as its cargo of Vinyl chloride is used to make even more plastics, not less has spread harm and sickness; as we see the plastics about us everywhere, that citizens is the free market, making our lives better? Not only is vinyl chloride used in plastic production, it also requires mercury. Cancer, one would suppose, is spread by free-market products made with vinyl chloride and mercury.

The opposite side of progress is pollution from man-made chemicals that don’t exist in nature. The pollution outcome of progress has long ago brought an unsustainable scale of waste, which costs and affects us, not the corporate efficient cause that produces it; they pass off the negative to others, which is another free-market downside. Plastics are the most obvious example of free market delusions of the outcome.

Free Markets are the opposite of free people, and the sanction of corporations are people or better and above people. Free Market is the economy not serving people, but people the economy, a return to the plantation model of the master-slave paradigm.

It appears our present town council is a Chamber of Commerce on steroids. If you are not in business or a Fortune 500, you don’t count. The council has no checks or balances against this. Not supporting this resolution concerning progress in better lawn equipment, specifically leaf-blowers, is shameful.

Nicholas Homyak
Lake Hiawatha

Thor Needs Your Help!

PARSIPPANY — Thor is a 4-year-old German Shepherd therapy dog raised by Lisa and Steven Klink since birth. Lisa is a special education teacher at Schuyler Colfax Middle School in Wayne. Thor was trained to be a Seeing Eye dog, but that was not his true destiny. Thor was just too social and not quite a match for the Seeing Eye, so the Klinks decided to adopt him. Lisa helped Thor to obtain his therapy dog certificate through Bright and Beautiful, where he passed with flying colors.

Since then, he has spent his Fridays with his family at Schuyler Colfax.

Becoming a Certified Therapy Dog was Thor’s destiny. His gentle and patient demeanor makes everyone fall in love with him. He is always happy to be at school, with his tail-wagging, making sure he visits all his friends (and, of course, getting lots of treats!). He loves getting brushed, having the students read to him, playing ball in the gym, and listening to classroom lessons while his mommy teaches. Thor makes everyone happy and relieves stress for both the students and staff.

Thor has helped many people over the years and needs our help. He was recently diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease and is experiencing partial paralysis that needs to be evaluated by a veterinary neurologist. He will need intensive care, treatment, and surgery. Thor is an incredibly special dog who needs our love and support to help him and his family in their time of need. Please consider helping our sweet Thorkins so he can continue to bring love, joy, and happiness to all that know him.

Recently, an MRI showed Thor’s issue was a ruptured disc, so he went into emergency surgery that night! This was great news because the surgery success rate for this procedure was very high, but it required a longer hospitalization for Thor. The Klinks brought our Thor home today, and he already can put 50% weight on the back legs, but apparently, he wants FOOD to do the work. His paws are in the right place to walk, and he even started wagging his tail again! Unfortunately, the final bill was over the original estimate, which doesn’t even include his medicines, aqua therapy, or PT. He will need to learn to walk again. Please continue to show your love and support by donating.

A very special shoutout to Thor’s vet, Dr. Elizabeth Boggier, at Mountain View Vet in Rockaway, and Dr. Katherine Crook at Eclipse Pet Care in Whippany, who performed the surgery.

Click here to see updates about Thor and to make a donation.

Easter Bunny Made a Surprise Visit in Parsippany

PARSIPPANY — The Easter Bunny arrived in Parsippany on Saturday, March 25.

He visited Town Hall, and children of all ages came to say “hi,” give a high five or hug the Easter Bunny.

The recreation staff takes a break from handing out candy to the children

Recreation staff helped the Easter Bunny hand out chocolate bunnies, coloring books, and treats.

Mayor Barberio enjoyed seeing how happy the children were to meet the Easter Bunny and said, “We know spring can’t be far off when the Easter Bunny arrives!”

Easter is celebrated on Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Councilman Frank Neglia and Mayor James Barberio visit the Easter Bunny

Carter, 8, and Liam, 2, Malson visit the Easter Bunny

Two Students Arrested Following Incident at Morris Knolls High School

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Denville Police Chief Frank Perna confirmed the arrest of two students following an incident at Morris Knolls High School on Thursday, March 23.

On Thursday, Denville Police Department responded to Morris Knolls High School after receiving a report that school staff discovered two students possessing a gun. The department’s School Resource Officer and other responding officers arrived quickly.  The involved students were already identified and secured by school staff, as was the weapon, by the time officers arrived.  The two juveniles involved were arrested and charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon and related charges. Since this matter involves juveniles, no further information will be released.

There was no active threat to the school, staff, or students, and the matter remains under investigation.

“This afternoon, the Morris Knolls Administration discovered a weapon on campus. The weapon and those responsible were immediately secured, and there was never an active threat to students or staff. Our onsite School Resource Officer and other officers from the Denville Police Department immediately responded and took custody of the weapon and the involved parties. We assure you that this matter was dealt with swiftly and that the students and staff were not in danger. As this is an active police investigation, we cannot provide further details. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We will continue to work closely with the Denville Police Department to ensure a safe learning environment for our school community,” said Ryan MacNaughton, Principal of Morris Knolls High School

All Denville schools’ safety and security are paramount to the Denville Police Department.  There is no ongoing activity or suspected threat to the school, staff, or students related to this incident.  However, the Denville Police will have an increased presence at the school over the next few days to help alleviate any fears or concerns.

Prosecutor Robert Carroll thanks the Morris Knolls administration and staff for their actions and cooperation in identifying and quickly resolving this incident.

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

Parsippany Police is Attempting to Locate Driver of Vehicle

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Police Department is attempting to locate the driver of the above-pictured vehicle.

Earlier this morning, a silver, four-door sedan with window tint and black rims, driven by a black male with a beard, approached a juvenile on River Road.

The juvenile was asked if he needed a ride and was told to get into the vehicle.

The juvenile stated no, and the vehicle quickly left the area and headed towards Hoffman Avenue. If anyone can identify the owner or operator of the vehicle, don’t hesitate to contact (973) 263-4300 extension 0.

Sydney Strumolo Named “Mayor for the Day”

PARSIPPANY — Mayor James Barberio executed the Oath of Office to Mayor Sydney Strumolo, a 7th grader at Central Middle School, as “Mayor for the Day” on Thursday, March 23.

Mayor Sydney Strumolo

A Police salute greeted Sydney, and then Mayor Barberio administered the “Oath of Office” to Sydney in the Council Chambers. Mayor Strumolo then presided over the staff meeting.

Mayor Strumolo then presided over the staff meeting

Mayor Strumolo ran the meeting efficiently and commanded the respect of the department heads as she listened to their reports. “Mayor Strumolo is a very smart young lady, and we loved having her at Town Hall today,” the Mayor said.

Mayor Strumolo then presided over the staff meeting

The Strumolo family: Peter, Tami, Devin, Sydney, and Mayor James Barberio.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Zoning Board Meeting – March 22, 2023

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Zoning Board Meeting – March 22, 2023.

Click here to download the agenda.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Zoning Board of Adjustment
2023 Members and Term Dates

  • Robert Iracane    Chairman    12/31/25
  • Dave Kaplan    Vice-Chair       12/31/23
  • Bernard Berkowitz    Member      12/31/24
  • Scot Joskowitz    Member        12/31/25
  • Nancy Snyder    Member        12/31/23
  • Sridath Reddy    Member        12/31/25
  • Davey Willans    Member        12/31/24
  • Casey Parikh    Alt. No. 1        12/31/23
  • Chris Mazzarella    Alt. No. 2        12/31/23
  • John Chadwick, Planner, John T. Chadwick IV P.P.
  • Chas Holloway, Engineer, Keller & Kirkpatrick
  • Peter King, Attorney, King Moench Hirniak & Collins, LLP
  • Nora O. Jolie, Board Secretary

Agenda subject to change without notice
Although the information on this site is believed to be reliable, online postings of meeting agendas are not considered official copies.

 

Demolition of Colony Plaza: Making Room for Chick-fil-A

The Colony Plaza building is being demolished by TriCore Construction to make room for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant.

The Colony Plaza building is being demolished by TriCore Construction to make room for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant.

The Colony Plaza building is being demolished by TriCore Construction to make room for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant.

The Colony Plaza building is being demolished by TriCore Construction to make room for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant.

PARSIPPANY — Those motorists driving on Route 46 this morning saw the excavators as they began tearing down the Colony Plaza building. TriCore Construction crew was out bright and early on Thursday, March 23, with heavy machinery to make room for the new Chick-fil-A, which will be constructed on the site.

Colony Plaza along Route 46 East was sold in 2020. The buyer purchased four more commercial properties across the highway in 2021, for which Top Golf received preliminary approval from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Zoning Board of Adjustment.

TriCore Construction Group was contracted to complete the demolition of the Colony Plaza property.  Earlier this month TriCore also demolished the Inn Crowd on Route 46 to make room for Taco Bell.

Colony Plaza was the home of Parsippany Focus in the early 1990s and the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.

Drawing of proposed Chick-fil-A

The new building will be 5,338 square feet with 62 interior seats and 18 exterior seating. 81 total parking spaces and eight electric charging stations. In addition, the drive-through will consist of two lanes with enough room to stack about 60 cars.

Colony Plaza was slowly dying and required a new life. The property had only 30% occupancy, and in the last three years, there were about six robberies, and there was evidence of people using this site at night time to abuse drugs.  The property is an eyesore.

The property could have been developed with a 24-7 365 days Wawa or QuickChek. However, the landlord chose Chick-fil-A since it wasn’t a 24-7, 365-day business and closed on Sundays. The property could also have been used by a Bolla, Supermarket, Auto Repair Shop, Pub, section 8 residential, and many other uses.

Chick-fil-A will employ approximately 80 residents, with residents having the first opportunity.

 

Morris County Commissioners Adopt 2023 Budget

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a 2023 Budget, with no increase in the tax rate, as funding expanded for public safety, infrastructure, human services, education and training, and economic development.

“We are proud to adopt a 2023 Budget that continues to encourage the high quality of life consistent with Morris County while also being sensitive to the financial strain placed on taxpayers amid historical inflation rates.

Strong ratable growth and prudent financial planning made this budget possible. Morris County’s wise planning on healthcare benefits enabled us to have a much lower impact on increasing costs than other counties experienced with the state health plan. This enables us to provide and increase services such as public safety while maintaining a flat (tax) rate,” said Commissioner Deborah Smith, Chair of the Board’s Budget Committee.

Morris County Commissioner Director John Krickus

The $343.5 million 2023 Budget includes a $124.3 million Capital Spending Plan for the calendar year, of which $10.3 million is covered in grants and $85 million will apply towards the new Courthouse project. With those factors accounted for, the net 2023 Capital Spending Plan for traditional projects is approximately $29 million. This year’s fund balance also grew by $2.8 million, bringing it to $60.7 million, to safeguard against unforeseeable economic changes and help ensure Morris County maintains the AAA Bond rating held for 47 years.

“Our AAA standing saves everyone money in both the short and long term because it enables our towns and school districts, as well as the county, to borrow funds for important infrastructure projects at the best possible finance rates,” said Commissioner Director John Krickus.

The 2023 spending plan dedicates an estimated $74.6 million to public safety, including full dispatch services to 23 municipalities and continuing daily backup services to local Basic Life Support and Emergency Medical Service units for all 39 Morris County towns. Morris County’s Basic Life Support Emergency Medical Service Unit responded to over 3,866 Emergency calls in 2022.

Commissioner Deputy Director Christine Myers

“The county government is involved in carrying out the mission-driven allocation of financial investments that help target a myriad of programs meeting our community’s diverse needs and challenges. Initiatives like our Navigating Hope program and the Sheriff’s Office Hope One are combatting issues like substance use while raising awareness about county resources and available support,” Commissioner Deputy Director Christine Myers, a member of the Budget Committee.

Critical Community Investments

The Preservation Trust Fund Tax, which has protected and enhanced Morris County for over 30 years, will stay level for 2023 at 5/8 cent per $100 of total county equalized property valuation. The tax pays for improvements to our county parks and grant programs like Farmland Preservation, Open Space Preservation, Historic Preservation, Flood Mitigation, and Trail Design and Construction.

Among the educational, cultural, and economic development incentives included in the 2023 Budget is:

• $8.9 million to support the Morris County Park Commission, stewards of the largest county park system in New Jersey (20,455 acres of parkland)
• More than $12 million to support the County College of Morris, an increase over 2022
• Almost $6.4 million to the Morris County Vocational School District, also an increase over 2022
• More than $800,000 for Economic Development and Tourism

Critical Infrastructure Investments

Overall, the county’s 2023 Capital Spending Plan designates approximately $25.5 million toward enhancing road resurfacing, improving intersections along the 287 miles of county roadways, and replacing bridges and culverts this year. Nearly $8 million in grants will offset county costs.

Road Resurfacing Projects Include:
• 3.3 miles of Mendham Road (CR 510) from Indian Head Road to Cold Hill Road in both Mendham and Morris Townships
• 2.2 miles of Main Road (US 202) from Fulton Street to Route 287 Northbound Ramps in Montville Township
• 4.1 miles of Ridgedale Avenue (CR 632) from Littell Road (Route 10) to Route 80 in both Parsippany and East Hanover Townships
• 3.8 miles of Tempe Wick Road/Glen Alpin Road (CR 646) from Leddell Road to Blue Mill Road in both Mendham and Harding Townships
• 1.8 miles of Newark Pompton Turnpike (CR 660) from Jacksonville Road to Route 23 in Pequannock Township

Intersection Improvements Include:
• Ridgedale Avenue and Greenwood Avenue, Florham Park
• Center Grove Road and Quaker Church Road, Randolph
• Guide Rail Upgrades and Installations throughout the County Bridge and Culvert Projects Include:
• Dickson’s Mill Road Bridge in Harding Township
• Parsippany Boulevard Bridge in Parsippany
• Beach Street Bridge in Rockaway Borough
• Morris Street Bridge in Denville

Click here to download the 2023 operating and capital budgets PowerPoint presentation.