PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board – February 22, 2021.
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Election Information Regarding Petitions
PARSIPPANY — This year we have a gubernatorial election as well as Mayoral, Council, and County Committee elections for Democratic and Republican parties in the Township of Parsippany- Troy Hills. With the upcoming election around the corner, I want to share some information that may be helpful for individuals intending on running for office in the Township of Parsippany- Troy Hills.
All potential candidates will be required to file a petition which must be properly completed and signed by the applicant. To qualify, each petition will require a specific number of signatures in support of the candidate based on the position sought. Mayor or Council candidates require 50 signatures. The number of signatures required for County Committee candidates’ will vary depending on the District you will be running in. To find the number of required signatures, you can visit the County Clerk’s Office website by clicking here, or you can contact the Municipal Clerk’s office.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, petitions may be circulated electronically or in-person. To obtain information on how to circulate and file a petition electronically by clicking here. Mayoral or Council Candidates running together may submit one petition with the required 50 signatures for all the candidates; it is not necessary for each candidate to submit a separate petition. It is important to note that individuals cannot sign more than one petition in support of a candidate that is running for office and doing so will invalidate that signature.
Finally, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:23-14, all petitions must be filed with the Municipal Clerk no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 5, 2021.
Interview with Parsippany Football Club Player: Jonathan Aguirre
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Football Club Profiles: This week’s spotlight is on another Parsippany Local and Parsippany Hills Alumni: Jonathan Aguirre.
1. What High School did you attend?
A. I attended Parsippany Hills High School and graduated with the Class of 2019
2. What College did you play for?
A. I played at the County College of Morris (CCM)
3. For what youth clubs did you play for?
A. I played for the Parsippany Soccer Club pretty much my whole childhood life and all throughout high school.
4. What adult/pro clubs have you played for?
A. The Parsippany Football Club!
5. Most memorable moment as a player?
A. My Senior night against our cross-town rival Parsippany High School, we won 1-0!
6. Your favorite player(s) growing up?
A. Íker Casillas and Guillermo Ochoa.
7. What do you consider your hometown?
A. Parsippany, New Jersey.
8. What National team would you play for if/when given the opportunity?
A. The Mexican National Team
9. One thing you would tell your younger self?
A. Keep on Working Hard, and do NOT worry about what other people think of you, ever.
10. Your favorite team to follow?
A. FC Barcelona
11. Position and favorite number?
A. Goalkeeper and #31 because of my favorite player Ederson Moraes
Jonathan came on board as one of the youngest players on this entire team and has always done what was needed to get the job done. Humble, respectful, and most importantly hard working. We saw a reflection of that during our game vs NJFC with 2/3 key saves which helped us maintain the 2-2 score until the final whistle. We look forward to his contribution for the second half of the season alongside his co-Goalkeepers.
The Parsippany Football Club, and Parsippany Soccer – one of America’s most impactful soccer communities. Established in 2020 during one of the most devastating times in world history, PFC was born out of hope to bring back the spirit of ‘The Beautiful Game’ to the community and its people that dates all the way back to the 1970s. This is more than a Club, more than a Game. To find out more about PFC visit our website www.parsippanyfootballclub.com …and as always and forever, Keep on Kicking.
Dunn Bill Designating March 9 as COVID-19 Heroes Day Goes to The Governor
MORRIS COUNTY — In recognition of New Jersey’s essential employees who have provided necessary services during the worst public health crisis in modern history, the Assembly approved Assemblywoman Aura Dunn’s resolution designating March 9 as Covid-19 Heroes Day.
“We couldn’t have survived this past year if it weren’t for the selflessness of health care workers, postal employees, first responders, bus drivers, grocery store clerks, and so many more essential employees,” said Dunn (R-Morris). “They risked their own lives and safety to ensure that all New Jersey residents had their needs met during the Covid-19 pandemic. This day will give us all a moment to pause and reflect on what ‘essential’ really means and thank these heroes who put the needs of others above their own during this time in our state’s history.”
March 9 is the day Gov. Phil Murphy first declared a state of emergency in response to the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus. In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, businesses shut down and people abided by stay-at-home orders, while essential employees were called upon to keep the citizens of New Jersey safe and healthy.
“Frontline workers helped us navigate these uncertain times while making sure our children were cared for, our loved ones received medical care, our prescriptions were filled, our pantries were full and we had someone to call in the event of an emergency,” said Dunn. “We owe them a debt of gratitude. This day will help us all remember the courage of our fellow New Jerseyans.”
Kutztown University’s Meghan Wald Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
PARSIPPANY — Kutztown University inducted 36 students into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at the induction ceremony held Tuesday, February 23, 2021, including Meghan Wald. Meghan is a 2017 graduate of Parsippany Hills High School.
Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established in 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to the area of study.
About Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Founded in 1866, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education located on 289 acres nestled in the beautiful East Penn Valley in Berks County, between Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania. KU is just two hours from New York City; 90 minutes from Philadelphia.
As the region’s center for excellence in academics, culture, and public engagement, KU’s programs and reputation for quality offer students the opportunity to discover lifelong avenues of learning and discovery. KU students select from more than 100 areas of study within four colleges in a diverse liberal arts academic environment. To complement their studies, KU’s NCAA Division II athletics program with 21 varsity sports joins more than 160 student clubs and organizations providing students with a variety of activities for learning and discovery.
For more information click here.
Applebee’s Donates $12,075 to Toys for Tots
MORRIS COUNTY — Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar representatives present a check for $12,075.31 to David Fox, sergeant, United States Marine Corps Reserve, and Nick D’Andrea, chief warrant officer 4, Toys for Tots Coordinator, on Wednesday, February 24.
The funds were raised during Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar’s 22nd annual fundraising campaign in support of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, which distributes new toys to as many underprivileged children as possible to provide a tangible sign of hope during the Christmas season.
This year, Applebee’s also introduced its own “Tots for Tots” program, offering guests an additional way to donate by adding tater tots to any order for just $3, with each sale going directly to the organization. Since its inception, Applebee’s locations owned and operated by Doherty Enterprises have raised $4.9 million through its Toys for Tots fundraising campaign to benefit local communities in Florida, Georgia, Long Island, and New Jersey. In just 2020 alone, Toys for Tots distributed 20.2 million toys to 7.4 million children.
Woman’s Club of Parsippany Troy Hills Celebrates Read Across America Day
PARSIPPANY — Members of the Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills joined the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) to participate in “Read Across America Day’ this week.
Due to COVID-19, restrictions our club members were unable to read to the children this year. Betty Lagitch, Club Education Chairman, and her committee worked with the Parsippany Library, Morris County Head Start, and the Parsippany Child Day Care Center to come up with another way for the children to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ Birthday this year. A donation was made to each organization to purchase a craft for the children to enjoy making. Although our members will miss reading to the children this year we hope they will have fun until we can visit again – hopefully, next year!
The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) and the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC), which are the largest volunteer women’s service organizations in the country/state, providing opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service. Due to COVID-19, General Meetings are being held via Zoom the fourth Monday of each month September through April at 7:00 p.m. until further notice. If you would like to attend our next General Meeting call Marilyn at (973) 539-3703 or e-mail the club at womansclubofpth@gmail.com. Check us out on the web by clicking here or follow the club on FACEBOOK.
Update on Investigation into Discovery of Two Bodies in Boonton Pond
BOONTON — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, Town of Boonton Captain Stephen Jones, and Town of Boonton Public Safety Director Daniel DeGroot announce the following update on an investigation into the discovery of two bodies in a pond on February 23, 2021.
On February 23, 2021, the following individuals were located deceased in a pond in the Upper Pond section of Grace Lord Park in Boonton – Warda Syed, female, 35; and Uzair Ahmed, male, 11.
The Morris County Medical Examiner has determined the manner of death for both individuals to be accidental. There is no cause to believe there was any criminal activity involved in either individual’s death. Out of respect and consideration for the family of the deceased, there will be no further comment on the circumstances of the incident.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit investigated this incident jointly with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Boonton Police Department Detective Bureau, and with the assistance of the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Letter to the Editor: Overall Congestion will Exponentially Worsen Due to the Overdevelopment
Dear Editor:
There is something seriously wrong taking place in the Township of Parsippany, and our current local “leaders” are allowing it to happen. Parsippany is seeing a flood of development that will adversely impact the qualities of our community for which many of its residents were attracted to move here, and why many others have grown up and chosen to remain in the town they have loved for many decades.
The Township’s residents have chosen to make Parsippany their home because of its core values of family, community, and taking care of one another, as well as the beauty and serenity of the area. It’s those values and the peacefulness of Parsippany that once made it one of the best places to live in the United States.
During pre-COVID, traffic was already bad, and post-COVID, it could get even worse. Do you think Route 202 already resembled a slow-moving parade or that Route 10 has virtually become a parking lot during the morning and afternoon rush hours? How about just getting to your local stores? And if you think the supermarkets are already crowded enough unless you’re shopping sometime around 11:00 p.m., get ready for a lot more late-night shopping.
For no good reason, our local government officials, along with the Planning and Zoning boards, are allowing developers to exploit Parsippany and its residents. Thanks to those officials, the overall congestion will exponentially worsen due to the overdevelopment that is already in place, and both our home values and our quality of life are going to suffer. Proposed projects, including those on Cherry Hill Road, Route 10, and behind Saint Christopher’s Church, will markedly alter Parsippany from the community its residents have loved for many years.
In addition, the town has welcomed outside developers who, in various locations, want to knock down a single-family home and build five or six multi-family units within existing single-family neighborhoods.
I have attended zoning board hearings in which a majority of the board dismiss environmental impact claims, ignore issues like traffic impact and water runoff, and instead ask questions about the bedroom size of a rental unit and the storage capacity of a utility closet, seemingly more interested in looking out for some unknown, future renter than the existing township residents they supposedly represent.
What can we do? We need to attend these hearings, make our voices heard, and make clear to our leaders and board members that this overdevelopment is unacceptable. Neither our local government nor the Planning and Zoning boards are looking out for our interests, the residents of this township, so we need to take action and put a halt to the proposed developments that will clog up our roads, overwhelm our schools, increase overall congestion, and transform the Parsippany we all love into an urban district while also decreasing our home values.
This is our town and our government leaders need to be held accountable for their decisions. They need to start making decisions that are aligned with residents’ values and best interests. If we don’t start making our voices heard, demanding that they take us seriously, and start addressing our needs, we might as well start looking for someplace else to live, because the Parsippany as we know it will never be the same.
Name Withheld By Request
Parsippany
Letter to the Editor: Soriano, Herbig, Hernandez: Public Trust In Community Not Party
Dear Editor:
On a local level, we must choose the community invested in the party and candidates that truly have the community in mind. Michael Soriano’s administration has clearly demonstrated this for example; Parsippany is now in the process of Regional Conformance under the NJ Highlands Water Protection and Land Use Act. The Mayor has brought out from the community a Green Team of highly qualified and talented citizens of Parsippany to assist and guide us into an environmentally improved, sustainable, responsible, and cost-effective future. These two main hopeful accomplishments show a sense of community where it’s possible for an economy to serve the people and curtail over-development.
Parsippany has been a victim of republican political fiascos from Forge Pond to Waterview that betrayed community, destroyed or degraded sensitive landscapes, injuring our aquifer water sources, and neighborhood character, and a sense of home in favor of unneeded, unwanted corporate developments. Public Housing was also used as a threat to aid these proposals. Council members during these times performed no due diligence in these matters; ones that did were ignored. Developers were given carte blanche by our former attorney; a developer’s lawyer.
The Waterview promise of open space betrayed after promising Hundreds of citizens that no rezoning was to be after a hard-fought grassroots effort should never be forgotten. A Certain other quid pro quo involving Forge Pond a promised 130-acre wetland, protected by the 1987 Wetlands Protection Act; was used as an exchange for 700 Mountain Way, another sensitive landscape, of steep slopes, trees, adjacent wetlands, and a known groundwater recharge area, allowed to be developed with a few affordable units as a ploy. All during this time, the COAH housing issue was suspended; no need to develop anything, until this responsibility was known, should have been the position of the town.
One official stands out during that time that ran for council opposing Waterview only to change his position when elected; this trashing of the public trust, saying one thing and doing another now wishes to be Mayor?
Parsippany Focus Oct. 2015: During the simultaneous Waterview/Forge Pond fiascos. “I thought the town was in the process of acquiring this land for open space. This tract of land was a bonus for the town, to prevent over-development, which puts a strain on the Township, this issue has to be discussed in great detail, at the next council meeting”.
One must ask what happened to cause such a sudden change of mind? Mr. Valori ran for council on his promise or premise of supporting the citizens against the Waterview rezone, only to change and become hand in glove with the developer, under the guiding light of the then John Inglesino. This betrayal costs Parsippany taxpayers over $7M dollars for a buffer zone called open space, which should have been zoned as a ‘non-structural stormwater component to the project. The Rutgers Troy Brook Stormwater study was already in place but ignored in favor of the RD developers at the determent of the community, and possible ethical or criminal acts, not looked into under the then Christie Administration and his close friend at the time Attorney Inglesino.(How much money did Inglesino make off Parsippany?)
Finally, with Highlands Experts in land-use science and a Green Team, we will not be rudderless and abused by those who do not hold the public trust, but self-serving opportunity in the interest of their partisan political paymasters. A vote for Soriano, Hernandez, and Herbig is a vote in the best interest of all.
Nick Homyak
Lake Hiawatha