PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano presented a proclamation to the family of the late Arthur W. Vespignani on Tuesday, October 5 at a council meeting.
Dr. Joseph Vespignani and his son SantinoThe plaque is hanging in Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Building
Vespignani began his 13-year service to the Township as an employee. He began his career in 1993 and was appointed as Director of Municipal Utilities in 1997 until his retirement in 2006.
He served his community as a member of the Township’s Board of Adjustment and having been elected to the Township Council, serving as President from 1980 – 1981.
Arthur was a dedicated public official, serving as an assistant counsel to the New Jersey General Assembly in the mid-70’s, and as President of the Parsippany Republican Club.
He was involved in community athletic programs for youth, serving for many years as a member of the Board of Directors for both the Parsippany Soccer Club and Par-Troy Little League East, and as coach and manager on all levels from minor league baseball to senior league all-stars, as well as travel team soccer.
Dr. Joseph Vespignani and Santino with Mayor Michael Soriano
MORRIS COUNTY — Longtime Morris County Republican leader and conservative small businessman Larry Casha has launched his campaign for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.
“It is time we stop accepting the unacceptable! I am tired of liberal politicians, like Mikie Sherrill and some weak Republicans propped up by special interests, that perpetuate a culture in Washington of accepting the unacceptable. Like everyone else, I have had enough of the riots in our streets, the lawlessness at our southern border, forced vaccinations, the cancel culture which attacks our Constitution, out-of-control spending, and the ever-growing federal debt.”
Casha continued, “I have been a leader amongst New Jersey conservatives for over twenty-five years. Mikie Sherrill and the radical California liberals who literally fund her campaigns so that they can put a nickel in her pocket every time they need a buck from New Jersey taxpayers are out of control. I am taking my activism to the next level and putting my name on the ballot to stop the madness. You can count on me to never back down.”
“If my lifelong neighbors in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District want a candidate who will run an aggressive campaign to win and a Congressman that will never forget where he came from, I am their guy,” said Casha.
New Jersey’s 11th congressional district is a suburban district in northern New Jersey. The district includes portions of Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Sussex Counties; it is centered in Morris County. It is one of the ten most affluent congressional districts in the United States.
MORRIS COUNTY — It was a beautiful fall night at the River River Barn to celebrate Columbus Day and the candidacy for the re-election of Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw, Deputy Director Deborah Smith, and Commissioner John Krickus.
Celebrating Columbus Day
The attendees included a guest list of Morris Counties Powerful Elected Officials and local voters showing their support for the candidates.
Jonathan Cohen, Esq.,; Jeffrey Paul, Director at Morris County Office of Emergency Management; Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi; and Boonton Ward 3 Council Member Joe BockMorris County Sheriff James Gannon and Senator Joe PennachioMorris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw, Commissioner John Krickus, Deputy Director Deborah Smith, Senator Anthony Bucco, Jonathan Sym, and Senator Joe PennachioFlorham Park Mayor Mark Taylor and Rockaway Borough Mayor Thomas MulliganJonathan Cohen, Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw, and CD11 Candidate Paul DeGrootLisa Chase LoBiondo; CD11 Candidate Paul DeGroot and Donald DinsmoreCristina Mirda with Morris County Commissioner Deborah SmithOlivia Cohen, Jonathan Cohen with Melissa Lynch
Deborah Smith joined the board on January 3, 2016, and she is now serving her second, three-year term. She served as Director last year and was elected by her peers on January 4, 2021, to lead the board as Commissioner Deputy Director for a new year.
She also is chair of the County Budget Committee and is a voting member of the Insurance Fund Commission, and is the liaison to the County Administration and Finance departments.
Previously, Commissioner Smith served on the Denville Council for 20 years, with two years as Council President and two years as the Council’s Planning Board Member. She also served on the Denville Zoning Board prior to her Council tenure.
Commissioner Smith has long served her community, volunteering for many community activities. She was the Township Council’s liaison to the Denville Public Library, senior citizens’ organizations, the local historical society, fire department, and many other groups.
While serving on the Denville Council she cast the key vote that prevented potential development and led to the eventual acquisition and preservation of 420 pristine acres of former Jersey City watershed land, a site now named Jonathan Woods.
A graduate of Long Island University in Brooklyn, N.Y. with a BS in Mathematics and a Masters in Counseling, she received a Certified Financial Planning degree from Adelphi University, completed a Certificate in Municipal Government from Rutgers, and participated in the CTW Excellence in Public Service Series.
Commissioner Smith had careers in market and media research with AC Nielsen and Simmons Market Research Bureau, worked in financial markets as a stockbroker and commodity broker, and was an advertising director for a New Jersey rehabilitation magazine, before starting a 25-year-career with Dun & Bradstreet as a Key Accounts Manager. In November 2014, Commissioner Smith retired from D&B.
Commissioner Smith resides in Denville with her husband Steven, a small business owner in Randolph.
Stephen H. Shaw is a lifelong resident of New Jersey and has lived in Morris County for more than five decades. He is serving his first term on the board and was elected by his peers on January 4, 2021, to be Commissioner Director for 2021.
He also chairs the county’s Capital Budget and Facilities Review Committee and the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, which has been key to Morris County retaining its AAA financial rating throughout the pandemic. He is a voting member of the County College of Morris and Morris County School of Technology Boards of School Estimate, as well as liaison to the County Public Works.
Commissioner Shaw moved back to his hometown of Mountain Lakes 22 years ago and became active in public service, was elected to the borough council for 12 years, and was selected by his peers as mayor for three of those years.
He was a member of the Mountain Lakes Planning Board for seven years and was named “Mountain Lakes Police Citizen of the Year” in 2012. He also served his community as a leader of the Vestry of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Lakes.
Commissioner Shaw was a member and Vice-Chair of the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund Committee, assisting in the preservation of the Giralda Farms Preserve at Loantaka Brook Reservation in Chatham Township with a $10 million Morris County Open Space grant.
Professionally, Commissioner Shaw owns and operates a small family contracting business and has been president of his local and state builder’s trade association.
He is a graduate of New Jersey Institute of Technology; Newark College of Engineering, with a BS in Civil Engineering; and in 2006 was named their “Outstanding Alumnus.” In addition, he is a licensed New Jersey real estate agent, a licensed private pilot, is married, and has two adult children and one grandchild.
John has served six years on the Morris County Board of Commissioners, during which time he did not vote for a tax increase and served on the budget committee which created the first 0 tax increase budgets in twenty years.
While holding the line on taxes other accomplishments include eliminating health benefits for Commissioners, doubling the miles of county roads repaved each year, providing the first increase in county aid to the County College of Morris, and sponsoring a change in the open space program which allowed for existing funding to go for trail development.
Prior to his term as Commissioner, John served as a committeeman in Washington Township, three of those years as Mayor. Key accomplishments include the third lowest municipal tax burden in the county and preservation of over 4,000 acres of farmland and open space.
John was born and raised in Madison, is a Marine Corps veteran, received a BA in economics from Drew University and an MBA from Lehigh University, and is a CPA. John has over 30 years of business experience as a product manager.
John and his wife Carolyn reside in Long Valley with their two daughters Kelly and Casey. Carolyn, Kelly, and Casey all are volunteer EMTs, and Carolyn currently serves as a captain for the Long Valley First Aid squad.
MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Morris, Essex, Passaic) has submitted legislation in Trenton that would stabilize water and sewage fees for senior citizens and the disabled.
The bill would amend current law to allow any county and municipal sewerage authorities, as well as water purveyors, to reduce or stabilize fees to users of the water or sewerage systems 65 years or older.
DeCroce said the bill help offset increasing property taxes in New Jersey.
“There are so many ways that the state and local governments reach into the pockets of homeowners and renters in New Jersey besides property taxes,” said DeCroce. “All those added taxes and fees add up and make New Jersey unaffordable for many, especially for retired people. The state legislature must begin addressing the hidden taxes and fees that no one talks about.”
DeCroce said stabilizing sewer and water fees would protect seniors and the disabled from escalating fees that she predicts will go demonstrably higher in coming years. “The history of New Jersey is steadily increasing user fees; rarely do we see fees going down,” added DeCroce.
The assemblywoman noted that with Congress poised to pass a $1.5 billion infrastructure package – sewer and water utilities will begin undertaking needed improvements to their systems. She said she fears that the costs not covered by federal funds will be passed on to ratepayers.
“The state cannot burden senior citizens living on fixed incomes with higher fees for essential services,” added DeCroce.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce and VentureX recently hosted a “Wine and Cheese” Networking event for over fifty attendees.
The event was held at VentureX, 8 Campus Drive, Parsippany. Click here for more information.
Venture X Parsippany – 8 Campus Drive is a modern coworking space offering its members a community of like-minded business professionals. Our members include entrepreneurs, established businesses, startups, and small- to medium-sized businesses. With boutique hotel-style hospitality, you are going to love it here.
The modern designed space has high exposed ceilings with an industrial loft design and floor-to-ceiling windows. There is a large lounge area and café that is ideal for socially distanced collaboration and networking. The space is equipped with hi-tech meeting rooms, high-speed secure fiber internet, and more. Heating and AC units are fitted with UV light and Merv 13 filters for a safe supply of air.
Some of the unique features VentureX offers are:
CLEANING SERVICES. Keep yourself and your employees safe with our professional nightly cleaning services.
CAFÉ AND LOUNGE AREA. You’ll have access to our café and lounge area with snacks and drinks
24/7 KEYCARD ACCESS. Access your office or coworking space any time, any day.
FIBER INTERNET. High-speed wireless internet to serve you and your company.
“Our Parsippany – 8 Campus Drive Coworking Space is perfect for individuals who wish to work from a professional office space, and for companies that want an upgraded workspace. At Venture X, we pride ourselves on the atmosphere we’ve cultivated to empower professionals in our community. We can’t wait to meet you and be a part of your growth,” said Mahender Gorrai, Owner.
Mahender Gorrai, Owner. and Frank Cahill, Executive Board Member Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce
For more information on Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce contact Frank Cahill at (973) 402-6400.
PARSIPPANY — Transformare Bellezza, a local body sculpting clinic and medical spa will be donating 5% of all sales during the month of October to the Palma family. Owner, Danielle DeLuca will be personally matching the amount raised at the end of the month.
Danielle DeLuca
Transformare Bellezza is located at 739 Edwards Road, Suite A, Parsippany. For more information click here. For more information call (862) 283-8554.
On Sunday, September 19, 2021, Danny Palma, East Hanover, was in a horrific motorcycle accident on what should have been a beautiful day with his dad and fellow bikers. Dan was hit head-on by a truck and was airlifted to a Level 1 Trauma Center in New York where surgical teams worked on Dan for three grueling days.
Danny Palma of East Hanover is currently hospitalized at Westchester Medical Center after the crash and requires several surgeries, according to a GoFundMe launched by Susan Sodano Palma, who says Palma is a nephew. (Click here to donate to his GoFundMe page). At the time this article was published $32,615 has been raised.
“…Danny Palma was involved in a horrific, major motorcycle accident,” says Sodano. “For those of you that know Danny, he is one of the most hard-working, kindest, and funniest person you may know. Danny has always been so selfless and family-oriented so it’s hard to say, our family is heartbroken by this tragedy.”
Dan Palma is 25-years old, graduated from Montclair State University in 2018, and has lived in East Hanover his whole life. He owns and operates a successful business, P&D Auto Sales, located in Rockaway. In addition, Dan has worked alongside his dad at their family-owned business, Rockaway Service, which has been providing services to the community for 38 years. Dan has touched many lives with his generosity and kindness.
MORRIS COUNTY — Robert A. Zwigard is a life-long resident of New Jersey and currently resides in East Hanover was honored by JBWS during their Autumn Auction for Hope.
He is happily married to Dina Zwigard, who is a frontline responder, Respiratory Therapist at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston. Rob and Dina have two beautiful daughters Madison Anne, 16, and Morgan Celia, 13.
Rob is the son of Marlene and Robert Zwigard and the older brother to Bradley Zwigard. Rob attended East Hanover grammar schools and Seton Hall Preparatory High School in West Orange. Rob is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.
Professionally, Zwigard has a career in the financial services industry and is currently a member of Beacon Wealth Management Group LP.
In the financial service industry, he specializes in Investment Planning, Employee Benefit, and Estate Planning, and he is Board Certified in Estate Planning, BCE.
Charitable work and giving back have always been a common theme in Rob’s life. Rob has served with the Knights of Setonia, the Italian American Club, and has mentored and tutored underprivileged youth.
Rob currently serves on the Board of the Seton Hall Prep Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and the Board of the Seton Hall Prep Football Gridiron Club. Rob also stays busy coaching his daughters’ youth sports teams and is a member of the East Hanover Italian American Club.
Over the past 15 years, Rob has been involved in many political campaigns providing management, advisement, and fundraising. The campaigns he has worked on include Brett Schundler for Governor, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, the Senate and Assembly campaigns for Anthony Bucco Sr. and Anthony Bucco Jr., Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, and is currently involved with the Jack Ciattarelli for Governor campaign.
Rob was also proud to be involved with Sheriff Gannon and his successful statewide initiative, Hope One, which has spearheaded the fight against opioid and heroin abuse. During the height of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Rob, along with friends and Morris County residents, Christopher Mazzarella, Theodore Stanziale, Nicholas Kraus, and Justine Roche started the non-profit, Frontline Morris.
The group raised $100,000 in two months helping frontline responders and charitable organizations mostly throughout Morris County.
Rob reached out to JBWS in March of 2020 to see how Feeding the Frontline, through Frontline Morris might help survivors of domestic violence and their children. Through supporting local restaurants and helping small businesses keep their doors open through the pandemic, the restaurants provided meals for JBWS’ residential clients and staff.
During 2020, Rob provided Easter dinner, dessert, and Easter eggs, Mother’s Day dinner, flowers, and candy for JBWS’ residential families.
Rob was also the conduit for a donation of two Xbox gaming systems for JBWS’ residential children. Through Rob’s connections, Northpointe Bank provided financial support to JBWS to help with COVID-19 extraordinary expenses. Throughout 2021, Rob continues to provide meals for JBWS’ residential clients and staff through Feeding the Frontline.
He has also coordinated many in-kind donations of clothes, toys, and bikes for JBWS’ children’s program. He also ensured that Easter dinner was, once again, provided to JBWS’ residents. Rob, thank you for all you have done to serve JBWS clients!
MONTCLAIR — Vice President Kamala Harris came to New Jersey for a discussion on child care workers, and families on the Build Back Better Agenda’s bold investments in child care. By investing in child care, this plan will uplift working families, create jobs, and strengthen our future.
Her first public appearance of the day took place at the Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University.
He is happily married to Dina Zwigard, who is a frontline responder, Respiratory Therapist at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston. Rob and Dina have two beautiful daughters Madison Anne, 16, and Morgan Celia, 13.
