PARSIPPANY — Some of the creative homes in Parsippany decorated for Halloween.
Random Houses Decorated for Halloween Around Parsippany
Parsippany Trunk or Treat 2021 ~ – Jersey Family Fun
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany’s Trunk or Treat featured a costume parade for kids, trunk decorating contests, and plenty of candy for all the trick-or-treaters who attended.
Parsippany’s Trunk-Or-Treat Extravaganza took place at the Onyx Equities Campus, 7 Sylvan Way, and 8 Campus Drive, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 31.
Cars lined the parking lot with festively decorated “car trunks” to provide a fun place for children to come to trick-or-treat safely. Festivities also included a costume parade for kids, trunk decorating contests, and plenty of candy for all trick-or-treaters.
“We’ve been looking forward to putting this event on for months, and we can’t wait to celebrate the holiday with all our trick-or-treaters,” said Mayor Michael Soriano. “Thanks to our continued partnership with Onyx and the support of our Municipal Alliance, we can put together an event that’s safe, spread out, and most importantly, exciting and fun for the whole family.”
Murphy Encounters an ‘Unmask our Kids’ Crowd
PARSIPPANY — New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy visited Parsippany on Friday, October 29 to remind voters to get out and vote early.
As the governor hosted a small rally in a pavilion at Veterans Memorial Park, he was confronted by about a dozen loud protesters standing just outside.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano, is also seeking re-election, said Democrats should respect differences of opinion. But he faulted the chanting and yelling protestors for not respecting the rights of others to speak.
It was obvious at the event, there were more Murphy Oliver signs, than there were attendees.
Murphy ended with a chant of “Four More Years, Four More Years.”
https://www.facebook.com/flcahill/videos/2983375948617094/
Early Voting Locations: Where to Find a Location Near You
MORRIS COUNTY — In March of 2021, legislation was passed in New Jersey enacting in-person Early Voting. Eligible voters will now have the opportunity to vote in person on a machine during the established period of time prior to an election.
All registered voters in Morris County are eligible to vote early.
Based on state guidelines, there are seven locations throughout Morris County for early voting. Eligible Morris County residents can vote at any of the seven locations.
Early voting for the 2021 General Election will take place on Saturday, October 23 through Sunday, October 31. Hours are Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Early Voting Locations are located at Central Park of Morris County: 2 Executive Drive, Morris Plains; Denville, 1 Saint Mary’s Place; Hanover, 15 North Jefferson Road, Whippany; Madison, 28 Walnut Street, Madison; Morristown, 200 South Street; Mount Arlington, 18 North Glen Avenue; Mount Olive, 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road.
Parsippany Man Arrested for DWI in Hanover Township
PARSIPPANY — Hanover Township Sgt. Rob Carpenter arrested Mr. Arthur Willis, 59, Parsippany, for DWI, on Sunday, September 12.
Sgt. Carpenter responded to the Quick Check for a reported male slumped over the steering wheel of his vehicle while sitting at the gas pumps.
Upon arrival, Sgt. Carpenter located the vehicle that was running and parked at the pumps. He approached the vehicle and spoke with the lone occupant, Mr. Willis, and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage.
Subsequent field sobriety tests resulted in Mr. Willis being arrested and being issued motor vehicle summonses for DWI and reckless driving. He was released to a family member pending his court date.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or the 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.
Public Works Department Seeks Full-Time Employees
PARSIPPANY — The Township’s Department of Public Works (DPW) has employment opportunities for permanent, full-time positions. DPW has union-represented, open positions in the following Divisions:
- Sanitation and Recycling.
- Street and Roads.
- Parks and Forestry.
“An opportunity like this doesn’t come around very often,” said Fred Carr, Business Administrator. “These positions are union-represented, include full health benefits, and are eligible for New Jersey’s PERS pension, helping take care of employees after they retire.”
Employees are also provided paid vacation, sick leave, personal time along with 14 holidays. Medical, Dental, Prescription, and Vision are some of the benefits provided by the Township.
The Township encourages education and advancement and will assist employees with obtaining a CDL.
“This work is vitally important to the community,” said Jim Walsh, Director of DPW. “Residents and businesses in Parsippany rely on our services each and every day, and it’s our responsibility to meet their needs. Our employees are dedicated Civil Servants that work hard during all kinds of weather and certainly make a difference in our community.”
Interested applicants can contact the Township of Parsippany’s Department of Public Works or call Marge Woelk at (973) 263-7273, or email mwoelk@parsippany.net.
Click here for more details.
The Township of Parsippany is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Letter to the Editor: Does the “Big Lie” Matter in Your Hometown
Dear Editor:
Sometime in 2005, I was attending a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser at St. Christopher’s church. Since it was a well-attended event it was not surprising to see politicians campaigning casually among the attendees given it was also an election year. Among them was Mike Luther, the Democratic candidate, and eventual mayor. Also, there was Rosemary Agostini who was competing with Luther to take over for Mimi Letts who was not running for re-election.
I remember striking up a conversation with Mrs. Agostini who – like a good politician – asked me if I would consider voting for her. While I was very new to politics and unfortunately hadn’t paid much attention to local issues at the time, I did realize what was important to me in regard to political ideals and good government. But more so than anything I noted to her “I really don’t think I could vote for the party of George W. Bush”. This was about two years after the invasion of Iraq, a military action I supported because at the outset even though I was somewhat skeptical, I could not conceive of the US Government lying about weapons of mass destruction. I trusted the likes of Colin Powell. I supported the current President who I didn’t vote for, and I believed it all the way to the point when our forces made it to the Northern Iraqi city of Tikrit. Then my blinders quickly came off. It was all a Big Lie.
I wonder these days if there are any former supporters of our previous President that have come to the same realization. All politicians on both sides stretch the truth. But rarely has there been such an onslaught of the falsehood of the likes that came from our previous President. And the worst lie of all is the one that’s still being perpetuated to this day – the one that has become the loyalty test of leadership in this political party: that the election of 2020 was stolen and fraudulent.
In a recent poll, 78% of Republican voters think the election was stolen. Trump associates attempted to challenge results and were basically laughed out of court about 60 times. Trump-appointed justices shot down their claims – even at the Supreme Court twice. Lawyers who brought the challenges screamed about corruption in public while offering no proof of their claims when in the presence of a judge. As a result, nine lawyers associated with the challenges are now on the defensive against ethics complaints in Michigan while they bizarrely disavow court filings with their own names on them. News outlets that gave these claims any credence are scrambling to disavow the same claims as they are being subjected to lawsuits by companies whose names were raked through the mud because of their technical support of the election. Rudy Giuliani who once fought off organized crime and headed up the country’s largest city at its most dire hour, earning the nickname “America’s Mayor”, who then became the chief architect of Trump’s Big Lie, has had his law license suspended in NY state. The former President was caught on tape begging GOP election officials in Georgia who refused to “find” 11,000+ votes to tip the election his way. He is now under investigation by Georgia authorities for trying to influence the election. The Arizona “audit” has also come up basically empty in the dogged search for fraud. And yet the lie still persists like Big Foot or the Loch Ness Monster.
Do things like this matter at the local level where we spend most of our time thinking of how our schools are run, whether the garbage is picked up on time, and whether someone is using our tax dollars wastefully?
I think so. I really do.
And that’s why I said as much to Mrs. Agostini. She felt that you vote for the person – not the party. But if the party itself is perpetuating such a heinous “Big Lie” how do you take seriously those who would run under that banner? Would they disavow dangerous lies that threaten our democracy and incite an insurrection, or pretend that national politics is all just a big harmless show? Do they think what happened at the Capitol on January 6th was all just a big harmless show?
Do GOP voters in Morris County think our elections are conducted fairly? I mean Ann Grossi is a Republican but so was Brad Raffensperger, the Secretary of the State of Georgia who Trump alternatively begged and threatened to turn the election for him.
What are we to think of people running for elected office like Senator Pennachio, Trump’s NJ campaign chair who fervently embraced the former President’s misinformation about COVID-19. Does he also think the 2020 election was stolen? Can we trust someone so untethered from reality to represent us in Trenton? The same question could be asked of Jay Webber and Christian Baranco if they dared to buck party orthodoxy to stand up for basic reality like Liz Cheney or Adam Kinzinger. Are they completely at peace with the nonsense that’s peddled? Can we trust people who would turn a blind eye to a Big Lie like this? Locally in Parsippany, we have the likes of Justin Musella running for council who himself spoke at a Trump rally last year saying “A future where the Democrats win has never been scarier and if they win it will not be ‘mostly peaceful.’ “ Was this a prediction about January 6th? If so – it was very prescient of this young man.
We now live in a world where we will either defend democracy and the system that preserves it (the same system that allowed Trump to take his grievances to court and still turned him away for lack of evidence) or decide to toss the whole idea of self-rule in the trash because we just don’t like the result. As an American – I’ll stick with the principles we fought so hard for centuries to preserve rather than worship a wannabe egotistical autocrat who wants to destroy it. And I’ll be voting for those that adhere to what’s real – and have the courage to call out lies.
Tom Wyka
Plastic Straws To Be Provided Upon Request
MORRIS COUNTY — A provision of New Jersey’s commitment to reduce plastics pollution statewide will take effect on Thursday, November 4 when food-service businesses may provide single-use plastic straws to a customer only upon request, the Department of Environmental Protection and NJ Business Action Center announced.
Food-service businesses include all restaurants, convenience stores, and fast-food businesses, each of which must also educate their employees and customers about the restriction.
Consumers will still be able to purchase packages of straws and beverages prepackaged with a straw, such as juice boxes, after November 4. The restriction on single-use plastic straws is part of a broader state law enacted in 2020 banning the sale or provision of single-use plastic carryout bags from stores and food-service businesses; single-use paper carryout bags from grocery stores larger than or equal to 2,500 square feet; and use of polystyrene foam food-service products.
These additional provisions of the law take effect on May 4, 2022, and will supersede any established local laws at that time. “When we move beyond single-use plastics, we can reduce our reliance on the fossil fuels that create plastic, remove a source of litter from our communities, and protect wild and marine life from the harm of ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic products,” DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said.
The DEP, NJ Business Action Center, and the NJ Clean Communities Council are working together to help businesses and communities understand and comply with the law.
A new website is available by clicking here, includes helpful information for regulated entities, including a Frequently Asked Questions page, a list of establishments and how the law impacts them, a copy of the law, and more. “The ban was designed to address the problem of plastic pollution with solutions to protect the environment for future generations,” said Melanie Willoughby, executive director of the New Jersey Business Action Center.
“To assist businesses with compliance, the NJ Business Action Center (NJBAC) has rolled out resources on our website and encourages businesses to keep track of important timelines.” Additionally, the NJ Business Action Center has created a clearinghouse by clicking here to aid businesses in identifying vendors and manufacturers who sell the reusable carryout bags permitted by the new law.
To learn more about the Clean Communities Council’s Bag Up NJ campaign click here.
Two New Trustees Join the County College
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners announced the appointment of two new members to the County College of Morris (CCM) Board of Trustees and the reappointment of a trustee to the ten-member board.
The new members include Devanshu L. Modi of Harding Township, who will begin his four-year term this month, and Cathleen Paugh of Randolph, who will serve out the two years remaining in s seat left vacant by the passing in April of Trustee Thomas Pepe.
The Commissioners reappointed George J. Milonas of Wharton to a four-year term. His initial appointment was in 2018.
“We are pleased Dev and Cathy are willing to serve as trustees, and we are thankful to have George willing to take on another term. Their background and knowledge will help ensure CCM continues to lead the state in the salaries graduates can expect to earn as they launch their careers,” said Commissioner John Krickus, a board liaison to CCM.
“Cathleen and Dev will bring fresh ideas and vision to this board, which has always had an esteemed membership and served Morris County well over the decades. It also is comforting to know that George is willing to dedicate another term of service to the County College of Morris and to Morris County. I want to thank them all for taking on the role of trustee,” said Deputy Commissioner Deborah Smith, who also is a CCM liaison.
Mr. Modi is a founding member of the Florham Park law firm of Lyon, Glassman, Leites & Modi, L.L.C., and a former Deputy Attorney General in New Jersey. He served on the Harding Township Board of Education and, subsequently, on the Harding Township Committee until his term expired last December.
Ms. Paugh is a CCM graduate, who credits the college with putting her on a path to success 34 years ago and getting her MBA at Columbia University. She retired last year from Prudential Financial as head of Global Reinsurance Strategy and had prior roles in the company as Chief Financial Officer of its group insurance, Assistant Treasurer, and VP of Corporate Finance.
Mr. Milonas also is a CCM graduate, as well as a former detective with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
He is now an enterprise-risk and compliance expert who helps multi-national corporations identify and prevent financial crimes. His resume includes being Vice-President and Head of Anti-Financial Crime Compliance at MetLife, Director of Corporate Security and Investigations for Avis Budget Group, and Vice President with JP Morgan Chase’s global anti-money laundering compliance department.
“I will continue my unwavering commitment to helping enable the dreams for all persons who come to CCM for their educational aspirations and help ensure that CCM is best positioned to support all students, employees and the community for the long-term through responsible and careful governance,” Mr. Milonas wrote in a letter to the Commissioners thanking them for his re-appointment.
Senate Candidate Christine Clarke Endorsed by Garden State Equality
MORRIS COUNTY — 26th Legislative District State Senate candidate Christine Clarke was among the bipartisan candidates who received the endorsement of Garden State Equality in the 2021 race to the Legislature.
Garden State Equality is the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in New Jersey, with over 150,000 members. They engage in advocacy, policy work, training, and support, advancing causes like creating safe environments for youth, improvement of health services that meet LGBTQ+ community needs, and respectful treatment of seniors. All of their work is informed by racial, economic, and disability justice concerns.
Clarke, as someone who initiated Pride flag raisings in two of the thirteen District 26 towns and proudly organizes Jefferson Township’s Pride ceremony in a bipartisan manner, will support LGBTQ+ rights as a legislator. She posted a video drawing contrast between herself and her opponent on LGBTQ rights as part of the Contrast series she created in response to her opponent turning down an invitation to debate.
Clarke’s opponent, incumbent LD26 State Senator Joe Pennacchio, voted against marriage equality for LGBTQ+ people three times. He also opposed banning conversion therapy and advocated for conversion therapy to be part of the national GOP platform three years after it was banned as a form of torture in New Jersey. He also opposed allowing official documents like birth certificates to be updated to reflect someone’s preferred gender, and he opposed banning transgender bullying in schools.
“I am so grateful to Garden State Equality for the important work they do, and for the honor of the endorsement,” said Clarke. “The difference in this election could not be more clear. As with a number of other important issues, Joe Pennacchio’s extreme positions opposing LGBTQ+ rights are a threat to public safety and wellness,” said Clarke. “The political moment we are all in demonstrates that we can not take our rights for granted, and must elect people who will uphold and protect them.”
Clarke is also endorsed by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee LGBTQ Caucus, the Morris County Democratic LGBTQA+ Caucus, and a number of other unions, environmental organizations, grassroots groups, and more. View the list and what leaders are saying about her by clicking here.
The 26th District includes 13 communities in Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties: Butler, Fairfield, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Montville, Morris Plains, North Caldwell, Parsippany, Rockaway Township, Verona, West Caldwell, and West Milford.