PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education President and Republican Candidate for Council responds to the previous press release. (Click here to read article)
I was disappointed to read the Mayor’s press release putting politics above our duty to Parsippany’s students.
Politics do not have a place in these SRO agreement negotiations.
I have always put our community first, having spent 15 years on the school board, five and a half years as Board President, 25 years as president of our Little League Program, over 20 years as chairman of the Recreation advisory committee, and I have served the Challenger League for special needs children. I am proud to have been named citizen of the year twice for my work with children.
Our students’ needs have always and will always take priority over my own.
Mayor Soriano refused, first a three-year SRO agreement, then a one-year SRO agreement and is now passing the buck onto the School Board.
Leaders lead, failed politicians point the finger.
The attorney for the Board of Education was told that “Mayor and Council” rejected both the traditional three-year deal as well as a proposed one-year deal which would allow the administration to “figure out” the “costs” associated with those officers. However, the cost of this program has already been built into the Board’s approved budget.
Because this mayor cannot manage a budget, and as noted by our Board Attorney, he is asking “the Board to renegotiate the terms of even a one-year agreement with only weeks left in the school year. We need to remember that these are all taxpayer dollars – it comes out of the same pocket.”
The Mayor can point the finger all he wants, but ultimately, we need a deal NOW to secure the SRO Program to protect our students.
MORRIS COUNTY — Unmask Montville Township is a group for parents who are disturbed that their children are being forced to wear masks all day at school. They are looking to end-mask mandates in our school system.
The group wants to “support parental choice and encouraging our district to speak up for our children.”
“The BOE will present a plan Tuesday that will be going to the state. We need our voices heard before that plan is sent. We have requested the board and superintendent to send a letter to the governor encouraging him to support parental choice with face coverings. When that was denied we asked them to conduct a survey to see if parental support was there for it and that was also denied. We conducted our own poll and the results were overwhelmingly in favor. We can no longer be ignored and need to make a statement In a positive way,” posted by the group.
Mask free school districts include Upper Saddle River, River Vale, West Milford, Aura, Delsea, Scotch Plains, Paramus (high school and elementary), Fairfield, Wayne, Point Pleasant Boro, Mantua, Pittsgrove Township, Gloucester Township, Jackson, West Milford, Vernon Township, Plumsted Township, Little Egg Harbor, Old Bridge, Toms River, Pleasant Valley, Brick Township, Deptford Township, South River Primary School, Central Regional/Bayville, Cherokee, Lower Alloways Creek, Sewell, Bollendorf, Ocean Gate, Franklin Lakes, Marlboro, Medford Lakes, Triton, RV, Memorial, Cape May County (Avalon, Stone Harbor, Wildwood Crest, Middle Township, Lower Township, Upper Township, Wildwood Catholic), Freehold, Howell, Manalapan, Middletown, Roxbury, Lacey, Clark, Wyckoff, Oakland, Southern Regional, Pine Hill, Berkeley, Lenape, Harrison Township, Stafford, New Egypt, Manasquan, Keansburg, Waterworks, Lumberton and Washington Township schools.
Assemblyman Jay Webber and Assembly Republican Candidate Christian Barranco, Phil Rizzo were among the attendees.
Approximately 100 parents showed up at a morning rally across the street from Lazar Middle School
Assemblyman Jay Webber and State Senator Joe Pennachio speaks to parents about unmasking their children
The following letter was mailed to the local Senators and members of the Assembly.
Dear Honorable Senator or Assemblyperson:
I write to express my opposition to proposed assembly bill A5777, which purports to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Unfortunately, the bill does not end the emergency. In fact, it continues the emergency and many of its measures, including the mask mandate on school children.
The bill grants Governor Murphy and all the administrative agencies in the Executive Branch unprecedented powers to dictate the minutia of New Jersey citizens. The bill keeps school children fully masked in school and opens the possibility that, in order to remove masks, school children will have no option but to be vaccinated with non-FDA-approved vaccine candidates with emergency use authorization substances over the will and consideration of their parents. This is coercive and unnecessary. There is no reason or scientific exigency that would require such extreme powers or measures as it is widely known and accepted that children bear the lowest risk and are virtually at 0 risks of hospitalization or death.
Moreover, bill A5777 does nothing to end the State of Emergency declared under EO 103 pursuant to the Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act, NJSA App. A:9-30 et seq., which remains in full force and effect indefinitely. There is no rational justification for a continuing state of emergency other than for the Governor and his executive departments to hold the extraordinary power to send National Guard troops to enforce executive policies and directives. The present facts and circumstances do not support the necessity for A5777 or the continuation of its heavy-handed, draconian measures. The Governor and his executive departments do not need such immense power. Accordingly, I respectfully and strongly urge you to oppose the passage of bill A5777.
PARSIPPANY — Last week, the Parsippany Board of Education published a false statement claiming that the township is ending the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, a shared service that provides police officers for Parsippany schools. The Township put out a statement correcting this false claim (Click here to read the article). Mayor Soriano is a strong supporter of the SRO program and is looking forward to continuing the agreement for years to come.
The Board’s blatant lie about the township’s position serves a single purpose: to further the Council campaign of Board President Frank Neglia.
Neglia clearly believes that his campaign is well-served by lying about the SRO program. Parsippany has seen this type of deception tried before; it’s no coincidence that Neglia is running on a ticket with former Mayor James Barberio, and intends to return the Inglesino-Barberio administration to office. However, using the safety of our students as political pawns is a new low.
“To be clear: I fully support renewing the SRO program and Class III officers,” said Mayor Michael Soriano. “The SROs are more than just police officers. They are trained in understanding teenagers and have built trust with the youth in this community. The program needs to be fully funded. The only conversation happening is how it will be funded between the Board of Education and Township of Parsippany Troy-Hills.”
Mayor Soriano continued, “Negotiating through the press is a childish and dangerous practice. I am calling on Board President Frank Neglia to stop using our students as political footballs, and start treating our schools and children’s safety with the seriousness it deserves.”
That the Board’s statement invokes tragedies such as Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Parkland to further Neglia’s political agenda is perhaps the most disgusting tactic ever used in the tortured history of Parsippany politics.
If Frank Neglia is unable to balance his position as Board President with his Council campaign, then he does not deserve to hold either office. Parsippany voters deserve honesty and accountability from their elected officials, not Inglesino-style politics. By using education resources to publish politically motivated lies, Neglia is setting a rotten example for our children from the Board of Education dais.
Editors Note: This article was submitted by Parsippany NJ 2021 Campaign which consists of Soriano For Mayor and Herbig and Hernandez for Council.
PARSIPPANY — Betty Lagitch, Co-Chair for Membership, installed new member Kathy Reilly on Monday, January 27 at the General Meeting of the Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills.
Kathy joins an enthusiastic group of volunteers brought together in fellowship and service to promote projects that produce positive outcomes in the areas of education, culture, and civic betterment of the community
New members are always welcome to join the Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills, established in 1954. Our club is one of over 200 clubs that make up the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs of GFWC.
NJSFWC is the largest volunteer women’s service organization in the state, providing opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service. For more information call Marilyn at (973) 539-3703, e-mail the club at womansclubofpth@gmail.com, check us out on the web by clicking here or follow the club on FACEBOOK.
It was a truly fun and entertaining learning experience deciding on how long to cook and prepare our chosen items
PARSIPPANY — If you were a Mongolian horseman 800-900 years ago, under the tutelage of Genghis Khan, cold, and hungry, you probably used your ornate iron and leather hardened helmet as a vessel to simmer some broth over an open fire, then threw in some chunks of meat, probably mutton or horse, to get fortified so you were ready to attack your next village. The origins of Hot Pot can be traced back to those roots and have since subsequently spread throughout China. In fact, if you happen to be walking down a street in some cities in China, or throughout Asia, you may find Hot Pot eateries as popular as our own fast-food burger joints.
Key Lin, Patrick Minutillo and Car Sun Lin
In the summer of 2016, Parsippany became the home to just such an eatery, offering Asian fusion cuisine with the opening of the V-YAN Hot Pot & BBQ, located in the Arlington Plaza right off Route 46 Westbound. V-Yan translates to “a party” according to our server. Some may remember that location as the old Blockbuster store. Although Hot Pot has its origins in China, the BBQ this restaurant offers refers to the popular Korean cuisine method of grilling meats, fish, chicken, pork, etc. at the dining table itself. I would guess the Korean barbecue (gogi-gui) origin story goes back as far as Hot Pot’s and is assuredly just as interesting, but it really only became popular in its current style, complete with plenty of Western influences, since the 1980s. If you are unfamiliar with Korean BBQ, it is quite dissimilar from the low and slow style of American BBQ you may be used to. Instead of large cuts of meat, like brisket and ribs, which are slowly smoked, Korean BBQ is centered around pieces of various meats and chicken that are skewered and grilled.
Since Hot Pot, sometimes called Steamboat, is a social, communal, interactive feast that is best experienced with friends and family, I invited a couple of foodie friends to join me for my first visit to this kind of cuisine, and I was looking forward to this new dining experience. And, although hot pot, steaming cuisine is traditionally enjoyed during the coldest months of winter, we chose to time our visit while in the middle of a summer heatwave. As it turns out, it did not matter, the restaurant was comfortably air-conditioned and we had a great time.
The interior was impressive, laid out thoughtfully with black counter comfortably separated tables, bright calming colors throughout, clusters of bright overhead hanging lamps, and soft acoustic music playing in the background
When you arrive, you are met with a very architecturally appealing, glass-front building, standing apart in the Arlington Plaza, and on entering you encounter a surprisingly spacious, modern, bright, and upscale vibe. A cordial, Key Lin, who was working the front counter, was immediately welcoming and ensured our group was immediately led to our table.The interior was impressive, laid out thoughtfully with black counter comfortably separated tables, bright calming colors throughout, clusters of bright overhead hanging lamps, and soft acoustic music playing in the background. There are also dining sections set apart along the sides of the dining room that appeared to be a little more private and perfect for a more intimate get-together. The ambiance was very cool, relaxed, comfortable, and casual.
Jenny bringing out a cart with all of the food items ordered
The tables are set up with individual heaters, that can be set from low to surprisingly high, for each diner to boil their own chosen Hot Pot broth (there is a variety of broths to choose from) as they like, and in the center of the table is a grill for the group to cook the BBQ. After a very brief training session from our helpful, patient, friendly, and attentive server, Jenny, we had it down like experts. LOL. As advertised, it was a hugely enjoyable, social get-together, where everyone at the table participated in the preparation of the food that we shared which included a large array of meats, fish, and vegetables that were there for our choosing.
Pat wastes no time in preparing a delicious dish
You can order individually either the Hot Pot or the BBQ, or you can order a combination of both, which I did on my visit. The combo dinner is $32.99 per person, but in my opinion, was well worth it considering the variety and a large amount of food that you can order. Did I mention you can order an unlimited amount of food and it is also a BYOB?
I made sure to bring along some Lucky Buddha beer, while my friend found a traditional Korean wine. Make note, your table must match the option picked by everyone in your group, but you can individually choose from a variety of soup bases. As usual, I went with the hot and spicy. Since the food is brought out for the entire table to share this policy does make sense.
Assorted seafood selections
There are literally multiple pages of mouthwatering food options to choose from, some for your now boiling hot pot soup base and others for barbecuing. My group was not hesitant to choose an ample amount of premium beef, lamb, pork, pork belly, sliced chicken, shrimp, squid, calamari, fish fillet, clam, crab meat sticks, mussels, oysters, dumplings, lobster ball, and Fuzhou Fish Balls, just to start. And do not forget the Udon and assorted other noodles to thicken your personalized hot pot broth. Nope, we were not shy about ordering, and reordering and our attentive servers continued to bring it out as quickly as we ordered it. It was a truly fun and entertaining learning experience deciding on how long to cook and prepare our chosen items. You will find that this cooking interaction is a big part of what really enhances this lively dining experience. Note: the cooking time is very quick in both the hot pot and on the grill, but you will figure it out very quickly.
The cooking interaction is a big part of what really enhances this lively dining experience
I found this a great venue to visit, and certainly enjoyed the entire dining experience. I was previously unfamiliar with Hot Pot, but it only took minutes to get comfortable and feel right at home, and the servers are more than willing to help guide you along with any questions or cooking suggestions. All the assorted meats, fish, chicken, and veggies were fresh, tasty, and of high quality.
Self-serve sauce bar
There is also a self-serve sauce bar available in the rear of the restaurant complete with a large variety of sauces, marinades, and herbs that you can mix and match to enhance your meal as you like. I found the hot chili sauce, along with some scallions, an excellent dipping selection. And, for a perfect ending to this feast, do not forget to serve yourself some cool, smooth, and delicious ice cream for dessert. It is included in the price and there is a large selection of flavors to choose from, and you can have all you want. Personally, I liked the pistachio. That is if you can still eat any more at that point. One of my guests could not.
Pistachio Ice Cream
If you have not yet tried this type of cuisine, I would recommend getting together with a friend or two, a group, your family, and giving it a try. Do not be hesitant to try something new. I think you will suddenly become a fan and will want to add this cuisine to your future outings. The food is flavorful and delicious, it is reasonably priced, and it is a lot of fun preparing your dinner together. Great for a family get-together, the kids will love it. Do not know what took me so long to get here!
As always, please continue to support all our local businesses and restaurants. 火鍋 고기구이
Large Parking Lot, BYOB, Dine-In, No Delivery, Vegan Options; Reservations for Large Groups
V-Yan Hot Pot & BBQ, 796 Route 46, Parsippany; Located in Arlington Plaza; (973) 299-8666. www.vhotpot.com
PARSIPPANY — A new business opened up today in the Troy Hills Shopping Center in the same strip mall where Target and Michaels are located. It’s called Berry Bowls, “Smoothie, and Salad Bar.”
Berry Bowls is located in the Troy Hills Shopping CenterBerry Verry Pitaya Bowl: Contains Granola, Mango, Strawberry, Kiwi, and Honey
They serve Acai Bowls, Pitaya Bowls, Coconut Bowls, Fruit/Vegetable Smoothies (100% Natural Juice), Protein Shakes, Signature Salads, Paninis, and Avocado Toast on Ciabatta, and Wraps. In addition, they serve Fresh Pressed Juices, Health Shots, and Bubble Tea.
Every menu item is under $10.00.
Parsippany Economic Development Committee Vice-Chairman Frank Cahill, along with ember Justin Musella and Mayor Michael Soriano presented a plaque welcoming Berry Bowls to Parsippany
Berry Bowls is located at 1113 Roue 46, Parsippany. They also deliver by Doordash, Grubhub and Uber Eats.
To learn more click here. The temporary opening hours for the restaurant are 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.
They also own another location at 196 Mountain Avenue, Hackettstown.
Customers were waiting for the ribbon cutting of Berry BowlsThe staff eager to serve the customersParsippany Economic Development Committee Vice-Chairman Frank Cahill, along with ember Justin Musella and Mayor Michael Soriano presented a plaque welcoming Berry Bowls to Parsippany
NORTH JERSEY — A member of the Lucchese Crime Family was sentenced to 30 months in prison for planning and carrying out an aggravated assault on the husband of one of the former stars of the Bravo television show “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
John Perna, 44, of Cedar Grove, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to Count One of an indictment charging him with committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. Judge McNulty imposed the sentence by videoconference. The indictment also charges Thomas Manzo, 56, of Franklin Lakes.
According to documents filed in his case and his statements made in court:
In the spring of 2015, Manzo, one of the owners of the Brownstone Restaurant in Paterson, and the ex-husband of the Bravo star hired Perna to assault his ex-wife’s new boyfriend (now husband) in exchange for a deeply discounted wedding reception to be held at Manzo’s upscale Passaic County venue.
Perna, who is a member of the Lucchese Crime Family, planned and carried out the assault on July 18, 2015, with the help of a member of his crew. Perna was armed with a “slapjack” during the assault. In exchange for committing the assault, Perna held a lavish wedding reception at Manzo’s restaurant a month later for a fraction of the price he would otherwise have paid. The reception was attended by over 330 guests, many of whom were members of the Lucchese Crime Family.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McNulty sentenced Perna to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $17,816 in restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O’Malley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the indictment remaining against Manzo are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
PARSIPPANY — Avis Budget Group Inc. which includes its wholly-owned brands Avis Car Rental, Budget Car Rental, and Payless Car Rental, will pay $10.1 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by overcharging the United States in connection with rental vehicles, said Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig.
Avis Budget Worldwide Headquarters is located at 6 Sylvan Way.
According to the contentions of the United States contained in the settlement agreement:
Avis Budget made false claims in connection with obtaining payments under an agreement with the United States managed by the Department of Defense Travel Management Office. From January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2019, Avis Budget submitted false claims and received payment from the United States for unallowable supplemental charges to car rentals, including collision damage waiver/loss damage waiver insurance; supplemental liability coverage/additional liability insurance; personal accident insurance; personal effects coverage/personal effects protection; and late turn-in fees. In addition to being unallowable, some of the fees Avis Budget charged were already included in the government rental rate.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty; Regional Agent in Charge for the New Jersey Resident Agency, Richard Monticello; Regional Agent in Charge for the St. Louis Resident Agency, Mitch Berry, and personnel of the Department of Defense, Defense Travel Management Office, under the direction of Director William R. Mansell Jr., with the investigation leading to the settlement.
The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark C. Orlowski of the U.S. Attorney’s Government Fraud Unit in Newark.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, June 6, the Parsippany Lacrosse Phoenix Boys 7/8 team won the 2021 North Jersey Junior Lacrosse League (NJJLL) Tier A Championship.
The program is only 8 years old and it is the fastest any program has been able to produce an NJJLL champion. They’re only the second Parsippany team to have qualified for the playoff tournament. They are the first Parsippany team to host and win a playoff game, let-alone win 3 to win the championship.
Parsippany Lacrosse Phoenix worked so hard and we would love for them to be recognized for this amazing achievement.
PARSIPPANY — During the Parsippany Board of Education meeting, held on Tuesday, June 10, the Board took aim at the Township’s move to end the shared services that provide for School Resource Officers and a Director of Security at Parsippany’s schools.
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Barbara Sargent read the following statement at the Board of Education meeting:
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District has enjoyed a positive relationship with the local Police Department for many years. Initially developed years ago through a shared services agreement with the Township, this arrangement provides School Resource Officers at the district’s two middle schools and two high schools and a Director of Security to oversee security measures throughout the district and liaise between the district and the police department.
These officers have become a part of the fabric of our school community. They engage with students on a daily basis, they are partners with our school administrators and teachers and represent community policing at its very best. Detectives Lenahan, Ortiz, Curving, and McCarthy are exceptional officers who care deeply about our students and staff and have partnered with our school principals to keep children safe. There have been many, many incidents addressed at an unofficial school level that were resolved before escalating to more official police channels. We are grateful for the work of these officers and proud of their involvement in our schools. From a fiscal perspective, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District has always shared in the cost of the salaries for the School Resource Officers and the district has honored that commitment, even when closed for several months due to COVID-19. Under recent “Handle With Care” mandates, our police department partners with our schools to ensure students who experience conflict in their home settings are treated with empathy and sensitivity. The district values its relationship with the Police Department and sincerely appreciates these officers’ service to our community.
Earlier this spring, the Township communicated that they would renew this agreement for a singular year. Last week, however, the Township communicated through their attorney that they would no longer continue this long-standing partnership past June. Whatever the Township’s financial status, the issue of student safety and school community policing should not be a political football to be bounced back and forth. It is inappropriate for the Township to so abruptly vacillate on this issue right before the close of schools, particularly when the agreement calls for discussions to begin no later than April 30th. The Township previously offered to extend for one year and it should honor that commitment.
Amidst the recent pandemic, this community should not forget tragedies such as Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Parkland. With recent news focusing on students’ social and emotional needs and planning for a safe return to school for all students in September, the Township’s decision to pull these officers is frustrating, to say the least. The Parsippany-Troy Hills School District is one of the few districts in the state to have opened on time, remained consistently open, and successfully transitioned to a full-day schedule. The Township’s decision to end the shared services agreement and remove School Resource Officers from our middle and high schools – with little notice – conflicts with our past positive relationship with the Township as well as the district’s commitment to keeping children safe and supporting their return to school in September.
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District is committed to doing what’s best for our students and their families. We urge the Township to reconsider this decision and approve the shared services agreement that places School Resource Officers in our middle and high schools – and connects them with our students and staff for a safe and positive school year. We look forward to meeting with the Township attorney and officials to discuss this matter face to face and reinstate the School Resource Officers for the 2021-22 school year.
Click here to read ” The Township Responds to Board of Education’s False Statement”
The following letter was mailed to the local Senators and members of the Assembly.
