MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County’s Board of County Commissioners presented a “Resolution of Honor” last night to the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce, recognizing and praising the organization’s more than 30 years of service to the community.

“The Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce began in 1989 as an idea. That idea became an organization that is now nationally and internationally known for its work promoting and advancing the interests of Hispanic-American small business owners, professionals, and organizations within Morris County and across the nation,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen as he presented the framed resolution during the board’s public meeting.

The resolution noted the Chamber has been repeatedly praised as one of the “Best Chambers in the Northeast,” including at last year’s Annual Convention of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“We are grateful for the recognition of the work of our Board of Directors, our corporate advisory council, and our advisors for all we do for our neighbors and our community,” said Ralph Tejeda, Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors, additionally thanking the Commissioners for the Morris County Small Business Grant Program launched last month.

Apply at No-Cost for Up To $15,000 in Small Businesses Grants. (Click here for more information)

“We represent the Hispanic population in Morris County, which is currently 14 percent, as well as support the 9,000 minority business owners in this county. We have a lot to do and we look forward to collaborating with the private sector and the government institutions to make progress for all,” Tejeda added.

Chamber leaders in attendance included Esperanza Field, who co-founded the organization and holds the title of President Emeritus.

Also participating were her daughters, Christina Field, who is Vice-Chair and Foundation President, and Hope Field, Chair of the Chamber’s Corporate Advisory Council and past president. Chamber Directors in attendance included Robert Medina, Oscar Vargas, Pablo Garita, and Madeline Que. Also participating was Karel Alvarez, Secretary to the Board and a U.S. Army Veteran.

Commissioner Douglas Cabana, the longest-serving member of the Board of Commissioners, recalled the emergence of the Chamber over the past three decades.

“I remember when Esperanza came before us with this idea, and now look. All your hard effort and work paid off with a very successful organization, and I am glad we were able to support you and we will continue to support you because the backbone of our economy here in Morris County and the U.S. is a small business,” Cabana said.

The resolution presented to the Chamber recognized and commended the organization for more than 30 years of outstanding service to the community, and wished “the very best in continuing its wonderful work for many years to come.”

PARSIPPANY — A few years ago, Lake Hiawatha resident Jacqueline Corvino noticed a bunch of trash all over the streets of her beloved neighborhood in the town that she loved.  She started picking up trash along her daily walks, bit by bit.  After she realized that wasn’t making enough of a difference, she started spending her Saturdays doing the same thing on a much larger scale.

Her trash clean-up effort started to get legs, attracting all kinds of residents who cared about cleaning up Parsippany.

On Saturday, Councilman Justin Musella spearheaded a day of trash clean up and over fifty volunteers showed up to help.

“I’ve never met anyone so selfless as Jackie.  She has no personal agenda.  She just wants Parsippany to be clean and restored to its natural beauty.”, said Musella

Mayor Barberio, who also attended, gave a Mayoral shout out to the Parsippany Green Team, SEWA USA volunteers, and Township residents, “Thank you for cleaning up the Park and Ride on Route 46 and helping to bring back the Pride in Parsippany”.

Two Mendham women, Sarah Niebert and Christine Myers also answered the call to help. They are running this June for Morris County Commissioner.

MORRIS COUNTY — Early voting for the 2022 Primary Election begins Friday, June 3. There will be early voting machines throughout Morris County. All registered voters in Morris County are eligible to vote early.

Starting on Friday, June 3 (from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.), Saturday, June 4 (from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and Sunday, June 5 (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.), Parsippany residents can go to any of the eight sites and vote on a voting machine. Voters may also mail in their ballots or use the drop boxes located in Morris County.

The locations in Morris County are:

• Morris Plains – Central Park of Morris County; 2 Executive Drive
• Boonton – The Boonton Township Municipal Building; 155 Powerville Road
• Denville – Denville Town Hall Community Room; 1 St. Mary’s Place
• Whippany – Hanover Community Center; 15 North Jefferson Road
• Madison – Madison Hartly Dodge Memorial; 50 Kings Road
• Morristown – Morristown Municipal Building; 200 South Street
• Mount Arlington – Mount Arlington Civic/Senior Center; 18 North Glen Avenue
• Mount Olive – Mount Olive Municipal Building; 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road, Budd Lake

Click here for detailed information.

Can I still choose other voting options?

Yes. You may select, instead, to:

• Apply for a vote-by-mail ballot and return it one of the following ways:
  1. Mail: It must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 7 and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before Monday, June 13.
  2. Secure Ballot Drop Box: Place it in one of the county’s secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.
  3. Board of Elections Office: Deliver it in person to the county’s Board of Elections Office by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.

• Or, vote in person at your polling place, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, June 7. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities.
• Party Change Deadline- April 13, 2022
• Voter Registration Deadline – Tuesday, May 17, 2022
• Election Day – Tuesday, June 7, 2022

NOTE: Vote-by-mail ballots CAN NOT be returned to your polling place for this election.

In-Person Polling Locations in Parsippany on Tuesday, June 7 are from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

To find your current polling location, check your sample ballot for your ward and district as shown in the example above.

Election Official: Khaled Madin, Municipal Clerk

Phone: (973) 263-4357     Fax: (973) 263-2051

Polling Locations in Parsippany Troy-Hills Township:

PARSIPPANY — There was not an empty seat in the trattoria at the March monthly meeting of the Sons of Italy as members came out in force to celebrate the swearing-in of Lodge 2561’s new slate of Officers for 2022-2024. The Lodge was honored to have in attendance the National Financial Secretary and Past State President, Lou Santoro, and N.J. State Trustee, Joe Saetta, who together administered the Oath of Office to all the newly elected Lodge Officials.

Assuming the reins of Office from Immediate Past President, John Lonero, was long time Lodge member and Parsippany resident, Robert Adamo. President Lonero, who was credited with a highly productive term of office commented, “It’s been an honor to serve as Sons of Italy President for the past two years.  COVID 19 presented challenges, but I’m proud of how our Lodge stepped up and raised funds for the charities we support.”

The slate of new Officers include:
Robert Adamo – President
Joseph Jannarone, Jr. – First Vice President
Michael Fazzio – Second Vice President
Michael Zambito – Treasurer
Nicholas Jannarone – Recording Secretary
Sean Clark – Sargent at Arms
Philip Parziale – Orator

Trustees: James Torsiello, John Gangone, Frank Campisano, Robert Wilhalme, and Edgard Mercado.

Committee Chairs include Michael dePierro, Scholarships; Louis Amato, Food/Special Events;  Joseph Jannarone, Jr., Fundraising/Philanthropic; James Torsiello, Golf Outing; and Patrick Minutillo, social media.

On a local level, Lodge 2561 is an affiliated member of the Supreme Lodge of the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, the largest and longest established Italian American organization in the United States, founded in 1905 in Little Italy, NYC as a support system to assist Italian immigrants assimilating into their new Country. Today the organization has over 600,000 current members and supporters throughout the Country.

Morris County’s Lodge, one of 29 Lodges in N.J., is a non-profit organization that proudly contributes thousands of dollars to worthwhile local charities and families in need. Among the causes that Lodge 2561 supports are; The Parsippany Food Pantry, St. Peter’s Church, St. Ann’s Church, Battered Woman’s Shelter of Morris County, High School Scholarships, The Valerie Fund, Parsippany Day Care Center, Cooley’s Anemia, and St. Jude’s, among others. The Lodge regularly purchases and dispenses gift cards from locations such as Shop Rite and Walmart to assist families in need.  The group, with some great Italian Chefs, is also known to generously prepare several delicious Italian-style dinners each year to assist local causes.

Lodge 2561 currently boasts approximately 100 community-minded members and meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at a local restaurant, where lodge business and upcoming charitable endeavors and needs of the community are addressed.

The organization’s National Headquarters is located near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., with a mission to preserve Italian culture in the United States, while identifying solutions to the problems and issues facing Italian Americans today. The charitable arm of the organization has invested more than $164 million in scholarships, medical research, cultural preservation, disaster relief, and other causes.

To learn more about Lodge 2561 and their upcoming events, visit their website by clicking here or “Like” their Facebook page at Order Sons of Italy in America ~ Lodge 2561.