MORRIS COUNTY —Morris County Clerk Ann F. Grossi, Esq. presents the 2021 Morris County Manual Cover Contest Award Ceremony. County Clerk Grossi states, “We would like to thank all of the students, teachers, and judges that participated in this year’s cover contest. We are happy to present our top three winners and look forward to hosting the 2022 Manual Cover Contest as well.”
• First Place, Conner Everett, Morris Catholic High School: $500 Scholarship
• Second Place, Ariana Eschrich, Morris Hills High School: $200 Scholarship
• Third Place, Alessandra Dotzman, Morris Catholic High School: $100 Scholarship
The Morris County Manual is published annually by the Office of the Morris County Clerk and is used extensively as a resource by government officials and county residents. Our earliest records indicate that the manual was established by the Morris County Clerk’s Office in 1906. Each year the Morris County Clerk’s Office hosts a competition where Morris County high school students can submit their artwork for judging.
This year we received hundreds of submissions from high schools throughout the county. The top winners’ pictures and artworks will also appear on the back cover of this year’s manual. These awards are offered to participants in order to encourage students to pursue their dreams. We hope the competition allows high school students to express themselves artistically and encourage a creative mindset.
Please be sure to follow our social media accounts in order to receive information on how to participate in next year’s cover contest.
PARSIPPANY — Today’s announcement comes after Parsippany-Troy Hills resident and business owner Dr. Louis Valori last week declared his intention to be the Republican nominee in the upcoming Township Mayoral election.
“Better days are in store for Parsippany, and I plan on doing my part to help all residents and businesses regain the pride they once felt in this town. I am thrilled to be on Lou Valori’s ticket since he is a proven leader and crusader for the taxpayer. The taxpayer needs champions more than ever given the current and anticipated fiscal and operational challenges at Town Hall,” said Musella. “Revitalizing Lake Hiawatha, cleaning up our township, and ensuring respect for and efficiency with every taxpayer dollar will be key.”
Justin Musella
“Justin and I share the same vision for restoring Parsippany to a great, safe, and affordable place to live, visit, and do business. Our once excellent township services and events are under assault, proposed over-development threatens our school district, crime is skyrocketing, and our middle-class families struggle to pay township tax and fee increases,” said Valori. “With Justin’s help, I know we can reverse the Soriano-spiral.”
Musella’s professional experience in the private sector and service on the township’s Economic Development Committee gives him a fresh, unique perspective to help the local businesses recover from the protracted impacts of the COVID pandemic and revitalize economic activity throughout the township. “Having worked in sales for small, medium, and large private companies, I understand what’s important to any business. Therefore, I am committed to ensuring that every taxpayer-funded service and township employee is working as lean and efficient as possible.”
Musella called for the need to outright end the tax-and-spend culture of the current Soriano administration –pointing to the first of several water and sewer fee increases amounting to a 40 percent hike. Parsippany residents have also seen regular property tax increases and decreases in township services and activities. “This past year took an unimaginable toll on our residents and businesses. Businesses have struggled to keep their lights on, and the general consensus I hear is that the administration is uncaring to their plight. If elected, I will advocate for the thousands of residents and businesses that feel left behind. I will focus on an optimistic and success-oriented campaign while holding the administration accountable for its failures and poor management. A Valori-Musella ticket is all about real ideas and solutions that will allow Parsippany to not only survive but thrive.”
The Parsippany First team will announce the third member of their slate in the coming weeks.
MORRIS COUNTY — Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey continues to expand its free virtual offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic, as two foundations support the nonprofit’s outreach efforts.
VLANJ’s winter 2021 session offers 13 weekly Beyond Sight wellness classes that run through April 9, plus several shorter skills training and enrichment opportunities for adults with vision loss.
“The pandemic only heightened feelings of isolation for people with vision loss, but our virtual classes give them access to information, wellness opportunities, and each other,” VLANJ Program Director Elsa Zavoda said.
The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation awarded VLANJ $15,000 to run the virtual programs on Zoom, the popular video conferencing service. The Grotta Fund for Senior Care, which funded VLANJ’s fall 2020 virtual programming, awarded VLANJ another nearly $10,000 to help keep it going in 2021.
“We’re so grateful to the foundations for helping us remove barriers so people with vision loss can access programs and interact with peers and our professional staff,” Zavoda said. The grants allow VLANJ to run online classes, support groups, and educational and enrichment programs at no charge to adults with vision loss.
Grotta Fund Executive Director Renie Cariol applauded VLANJ in the fall for serving “an at-risk population with opportunities for physical and mental wellness and social connectedness, and to learn technology.”
Two hundred people registered for at least one virtual offering, and most are taking two or more, Zavoda said. “We’re able to serve a lot more people than we ever had,” she said, noting former participants living in distant counties and out of state, homebound seniors, and people lacking transportation are able to participate. Enrollment in VLANJ programs has tripled since they went virtual.
“All these Zoom classes have helped keep me sane. They keep my body and my brain active,” said Delores ‘Dee’ Eliassen, who’d had to give up driving due to her deteriorating vision last February. The 76-year-old widow takes eight VLANJ virtual classes a week.
Healing Rhythms is a new evening class that incorporates elements of neuropsychology, music therapy, neurology, and other mental wellness interventions. Favorites like Now & Zen yoga, Fitness Fun with Joannie, and Inquiring Minds are all back. Click vlanj.org/program-schedule to see the winter schedule and a description of each class.
One new monthly program is STRIVE (Strength Through Relationships, Insights, Values, Education), designed to provide information and guidance to people with vision loss, as well as sighted people who are helping someone who has lost sight. STRIVE is held the second Wednesday of each month. The popular Tech Talks webinar series runs the fourth Wednesday of each month, addressing issues such as smart technology, shopping apps, and an introduction to screen reader technology.
Living Independently For Tomorrow (LIFT), which began Feb. 3, is a virtual version of VLANJ’s effective in-person Essential Low Vision course. LIFT provides basic training in daily life activities over four weeks. The 90-minute sessions cover kitchen safety and organization; orientation and mobility; optical aids, lighting, and contrast; and simple solutions for managing money, medications, and writing. LIFT will be offered every other month throughout the year, Zavoda said.
Also back is the Technology Learning Lab, which focuses on computer skills that can help participants gain employment. The five students currently enrolled receive four hours a week of one-on-one training in Microsoft Windows 10 operating system, using JAWS, a screen reader, or Fusion, a combination screen reader and text magnifier.
While VLANJ plans to resume in-person programs once the coronavirus is no longer a risk, virtual classes will continue as a means to serve people who cannot get to VLANJ, Zavoda said. Transportation has long been a challenge for people with vision loss, she noted. For more information about enrolling or supporting VLANJ, contact VLANJ Senior Program Manager Linda Groszew at lgroszew@vlanj.org or (973) 627-0055, ext.1312.
The National Eye Institute projects the number of people with visual impairment or blindness in the U.S. will double to more than 8 million by 2050. Started in 1943, VLANJ is one of the state’s longest-serving nonprofits for adults who are blind or visually impaired. The organization builds participants’ independence and confidence and creates a space for friendships to flourish. VLANJ also educates the wider community about the challenges of vision loss and how sighted people can serve as advocates. For more information click here.
PARSIPPANY — After a day or two of digging out from two feet of snow, courtesy of mother nature, it was time for another Parsippany culinary adventure. Decided to try out a little Latino restaurant on Parsippany Road, El Rincón Colombiano – Latino, brought to my attention by another local foodie on social media. I planned on meeting a few friends for dinner, but first, since El Rincón is a BYOB, I decided to pick up some Modelo, a popular South American Cerveza, to compliment that region’s delicious cuisine.
Upon entering El Rincón, you notice that their self-described ambiance was right on the money.
El Rincón (translates to the corner) describes itself as a casual eatery serving tacos, arepas, rotisserie chicken, and other Latin staples in small, homey digs, serving homemade, authentic Colombian and Mexican food. Sounded good to me! This is that place that you pass by a hundred times and never notice that it is there; I know I have. With a few off-road parking spaces in front, (additional parking in the rear), and a very nondescript façade, the restaurant, unfortunately, seems to get lost among the rows of other small stores and eateries that line Parsippany Road. To be honest, the exterior does not exactly entice you in but do not let that stop you, it just might be the right time to put this one on your local food destination list.
Hostess Araceli with Patrick Minutillo
Family owned and operated by Arnulfo Gomez and opened in 2002, this is a well-established eatery in our township. According to our hostess, all the dishes at El Rincón are traditional and prepared just as you would have them south of the border. One of our group members has spent considerable time in Colombia and confirmed that. Unfortunately, Mr. Gomez, the owner, was not available during my visit, but our genuinely nice hostess, Araceli, was open and accommodating, answering all my probably annoying inquiries despite somewhat of a language barrier. Mostly Spanish spoken here. But not to worry, all the menu items are English-friendly, and the food speaks for itself. I would be remiss if I did not mention that El Rincón Colombiano does offer a wide and impressive selection of both Colombian and Mexican fare on their menu.
Bistec Encebollado
Upon entering El Rincón, you notice that their self-described ambiance was right on the money. Nothing flashy, small, casual, clean, light, and spacious, with a welcoming and comfortable vibe. The simple and no-frills décor, upfront counter with a colorful menu displays overhead, Colombian, and Mexican artifacts adorning the walls, and simple table settings, are basically what one would expect in this type of authentic, traditional, ethnic establishment, tables are aligned along the walls for those who choose to dine in, and all required pandemic rules are adhered to. Our group was warmly greeted upon our arrival by our, smiling, amiable, and attentive hostess, Araceli, who immediately made us feel at home.
Chicken Empanadas
Latino food is as complicated as it is interesting, it derives its complex flavors and cooking styles from various cultural influences, including Native American, African, European, and Asian. As it is in many other countries, the various dishes vary greatly from region to region. Fortunately, that leaves us with a wide range of delicious food selections to choose from, with new, exciting ingredients, and flavors with a South and Central American influence to entice your palate, which seems to be the focus of El Rincón. If luxurious, elegant, or romantic dining is what you are looking for, you might want to look elsewhere. This is not some Tex-Mex/South American chain-style restaurant either, this is real, traditional, home-made food. If it is tasty, healthy, hearty, and reasonably priced authentic Latino food you are after, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this might just be the place for you.
Bandeja Paisa
For Aperitivo’s we went with Chicken Empanadas for the group to share, which were delicious, fried to a nice crunchy, crispy, golden-brown crust, and filled with moist, juicy, shredded chicken, with a side of what I believe was a mildly spicy home-made Chimichurri sauce. Also, had the Chorizo con Arpita, a tasty, spicy, flavor-packed Spanish sausage with a nice smoky flavor, accompanied with a cornbread paddy (arepa); and Chicharrón; nicely seasoned, decadently delicious, crunchy, fried pork rinds, which offered a nice salty and succulent complement to the other dishes.
Arepas De Chicharron
For my entrée, I was anxious to try El Rincón’s signature dish, and probably the most popular and typical dish in Colombia, Bandeja Paisa (grilled steak, sausage, fried egg, fried pork, grinds, sweet plantain, avocado, rice & beans, with a salad). This nicely sized, perfectly prepared, proportioned, and the plated meal was delicious, packed with all sorts of great levels of flavor and texture. Everything from the properly seasoned and prepared, tender, savory marinated steak, the perfectly fried egg, the crunchy, salty Chicharrón, the sweetness of the plantain, creaminess of the avocado, to the rice and beans, it all came together perfectly to create a delicious, satisfying, and enjoyable dinner. By now, after the assortment of appetizers and this nice-sized entrée, I was done for the evening. Of course, I finished it all and enjoyed every bite.
Carne de Res A La Plancha
Others in my group ordered both the Bistec Encebollado (grilled steak with onions, rice, beans, sweet plantains, and salad), and Carne de Res A La Plancha (grilled steak, French fries, rice, plantain, and a salad). Everyone was equally pleased and impressed with their meals, overall comment was that the steaks were deliciously marinated, juicy, and tender. The Bistec Encebollado was covered with nice, caramelized onions and served with a portion of very fluffy white rice, served alongside a red bean gravy, which reportedly perfectly complemented the rest of the dish. Our group left satiated and happy at the end of the evening, promising to return soon.
I am glad to say that El Rincón Colombiano–Latino Restaurant seems to have hit the mark with its delicious, authentic food, generous portion sizes, its welcoming and hospitable service, pleasant and clean environment, and very reasonable prices. When you are up for a casual, satisfying, and filling breakfast, lunch, or dinner I would suggest stopping in and giving it a try. Buen Provecho!
Dine-In, Take Out, Delivery, BYOB, Parking Available (front and back), Catering.
Mondays to Saturday – 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Closed Sundays.
El Rincón Colombiano – Latino is located at 295 Parsippany Road, Parsippany.
PARSIPPANY — It is a question most of us have not even considered: What would you do if a shooter walked into the building where you are, right now, and started firing? In an effort to help inform building management professionals on this important topic, Planned Companies, the fast-growing real estate services provider operating in 11 states, conducted an online Active Shooter Protocol Webinar earlier this month.
Planned Companies is located at 150 Smith Road.
According to statistics, more than one active shooting episode takes place a day throughout the country. Some are covered extensively in media, while many more are a lot less known, such as a domestic violence episode that escalates into gunfire.
“No one likes to talk about things like this, because it is a very uncomfortable topic,” said retired police officer Dino Iuliano, now the Chief Revenue Officer at Planned Companies, who led the session with anti-terrorism experts and former NJ Transit Police Supervisor John Reichert. “No one ever expects a gunman to appear in their building lobby, but, in a year of increased levels of civil unrest, we have learned to expect the unexpected.”
“If your building’s crisis plan hasn’t been updated in a few years, you can’t afford to wait any longer,” Reichert said. “The more prepared you are, the better a chance you have of surviving an active shooter incident and protecting those around you.”
During the session, Iuliano and Reichert reviewed the three things people can do if an active shooting situation DOES occur: run, hide and fight. They shared examples from different well-known active shooting events and shared educational videos from sources, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“Having a plan is one thing – but you also need to practice it. That will ensure you are prepared if something were to occur,” said Iuliano. “People often overlook the different ways that people can just enter a building lobby. Can you reduce the ways for someone to enter a building? Are there doors that can be locked? If you can keep your building secure every day, it can help to prevent a bad situation.”
A video of the active shooting webinar is available on the Planned Companies YouTube page. For more information, please e-mail by clicking here.
About Planned Companies With more than 100 years and four generations of experience, Planned Companies has become one of the fastest-growing and most respected real estate service providers within the industry. Planned provides industry-leading janitorial, maintenance, concierge/front desk, and security services to a wide array of clients across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and the western region to over 1,000+ residential, corporate, commercial, and retail properties. For more information on Planned Companies, call 1-888-706-8600 or click here.
MORRIS COUNTY —Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 222. The Order extends the Public Health Emergency that was declared on March 9, 2020, through Executive Order No. 103, which was previously extended in 2020 on April 7, May 6, June 4, July 2, August 1, August 27, September 25, October 24, November 22, and December 21, and again in 2021 on January 19. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed.
“Extending the public health emergency allows the Department of Health to continue its vaccination efforts, including prioritizing high-risk individuals, promoting adequate staffing at vaccination sites, and overseeing second dose administration,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Today’s action gives us the ability to continue our ongoing COVID-19 mitigation efforts while also vaccinating New Jersey residents as quickly and safely as possible.”
Executive Order No. 222 extends all Executive Orders issued under the Governor’s authority under the Emergency Health Powers Act. It also extends all actions taken by any Executive Branch departments and agencies in response to the Public Health Emergency presented by the COVID-19 outbreak.
MORRIS COUNTY — Virtual Summer Camp Fair is NOW open to families for free registration. Held this Sunday, February 21, 2021, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Welcoming all families who looking for a safe and rewarding experience for their child.
Summer Camps are expected to re-open this summer whether it is an in-person, hybrid, or virtual camp. This day will be a FREE educational resource, guaranteed to give you LIVE face-to-face meetings with high-quality camps. You’ll find local New Jersey camps as well as camps from the surrounding Northeast region (PA, NY, CT) and travel camps beyond.
They will do the best to match you near you, as well as sleep-away camps, sports, adventure, travel, community service, academic, art, robotics, gymnastics, college prep, performing arts, language, nature, etc.
Upon registration, you will receive a ticket to enter the fair online on February 21. Expect to:
● meet LIVE with camp directors and staff
● see Camps In Action Videos
● read about, download information, and even apply for camp
● learn about Open Houses, camp promotions, early-bird discounts
● ask questions via LIVE CHAT
Our platform will be ready to connect you on February 21 at 10:00 a.m. Start planning for an amazing summer 2021!
For over 35 years, the NJ Camp Fairs and the ACA have been connecting kids to great camps. Please register by clicking here. Admission is free. For more information contact (973) 303-3027, or email info@njcampfairs.com.
MORRIS COUNTY — More than 100,000 vaccinations have been issued in Morris County to date, with nearly 30 percent being provided out of the Morris County Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center, where a greater supply of vaccine is expected to allow authorities to ramp up efforts to vaccinate 2,000 people per day later this week.
“This is certainly a significant milestone, as Morris County keeps on pace with much more populated counties in getting vaccines into the arms of residents. But there are many, many more people we need to reach, and the only way to do that is for New Jersey to get much more vaccine than it currently receives. Our ability to vaccinate people is directly linked to the vaccine supply,” said Morris County Commissioner Douglas Cabana, a liaison to county Law and Public Safety operations.
The Morris County Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center is one of six so-called “mega-sites” in the state sharing about 50 percent of New Jersey’s weekly supply of vaccines, which amounts to 135,000 to 150,000 vaccines per week. The Morris County Center, operating at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall, is now open seven days per week and delivering about 1,700 vaccines each day.
Surpassing 100,000 doses included a mix of first doses and second doses. Authorities anticipate increased supplies eventually will enable the Center to reach its full capacity of 2,500 vaccinations per day.
“The development and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines are a testament to what can be achieved when we work together towards a common good,” said Kevin Lenahan, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Atlantic Health System. “The more than 17,000 team members, physicians, nurses, and other caregivers at Atlantic Health System are committed to ensuring that the opportunity to be vaccinated is available to everyone who wants it, and we look forward to a more robust supply of vaccine to make that happen.”
The Morris County Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center operates under a partnership between Morris County, Atlantic Health System, and the State of New Jersey. The rating agency Moodys Investor Services released a report explaining that vaccine partnerships, specifically the cooperative efforts in New Jersey to open six regional facilities are boosting economic outlooks.
The report highlighted how Morris and Gloucester counties effectively partnered with private-sector health care providers for successful vaccine rollouts.
“The mega-site initiative provides a pathway for New Jersey to lessen the economic, financial, and health effects from the pandemic,” the report stated. ”Fewer COVID-19 cases will help boost the economy at both the local and state level with the knock-on effect of helping hospital finances.”
“We are proud that Morris County has the second-highest vaccination rate in New Jersey thanks to the herculean efforts of Morris County staff, including the Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic Health System, the National Guard, and the state Department of Health,” said Morris County Commissioner John Krickus, who chairs the Morris County Recovery Task Force. “This brings us closer to the safe reopening called for by our businesses, non-profits, religious leaders in our community.”
To register for alerts on when appointments become available, go to the AHS website by clicking here.
MORRIS COUNTY — MPAC presents Hip-Hop Music: Culture and Legacy, a special Black History Month virtual lecture on the history of Hip-Hop music presented by Wes Jackson, Professor, and Director of Creative Business Enterprises at Emerson College, on Wednesday, February 24 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 ($10.00 for students).
Hip-Hop Music: Culture and Legacy takes the audience on a journey through Hip-Hop as a genre, business, and cultural movement. Wes Jackson, Professor, and Director of Creative Business Enterprises at Emerson College as well as Founder and Executive Director of The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival will discuss and examine how Hip-Hop has grown from a movement in the South Bronx to the billion-dollar business driving the streaming economy, fashion, sports, politics and more. This is the only lecture that takes you from Robert Moses to Kool Herc. From NWA and Public Enemy all the way to Cole, Uzi, and Cardi. Gain an appreciation and deeper understanding of the 4 Elements of the Culture (Graffiti, B-Boy/B-Girl, the DJ, and the MC).
For a full list of Black History Month events at MPAC click here.
Wes Jackson is currently the Director of the Business Creative Enterprises Program and Executive In Residence at Emerson College in Boston, MA. Wes has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and innovator in the music business. His career began producing concerts for Nas, The Roots, The Dave Matthews Band, The Fugees, and A Tribe Called Quest. He then went on to start his own promotions company, Seven Heads Entertainment and helped launch the careers of Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Talib Kweli, El-P (Run The Jewels), Common, and others.
Under Wes’s leadership, Seven Heads then expanded into a boutique independent record label and management company. Music from the Seven Heads Roster was included in HBO’s “The Wire”, the film “Brown Sugar” and scored the theme to “The Boondocks”.
In 2005 Wes founded the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival with the mission to create a world-class event to honor Hip-Hop music and culture. The Festival has hosted a range of amazing talent including Jay-Z, Kanye West, De La Soul, and Kendrick Lamar among others.
Wes has spoken at numerous colleges and universities on the history and power of Hip-Hop Culture as well as his life as an entrepreneur. He has taught at the City University of New York and consulted for Jazz At Lincoln Center, MTV, Grammy Camp, and VH1.
Wes earned his B.A. in English from the University of Virginia and his M.A. in Media Studies from The New School. Outside of his work as an educator and business leader, Wes is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and a proud father of three beautiful kids with his wife and business partner, Ebonie. Wes serves on the Board of the Brooklyn Public Library and is the co-founder and Chairman of the Board of the Brooklyn Crescents Lacrosse Club.
For a full list of Black History Month events at MPAC click here.
Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2020-2021 season is made possible, in part, by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. Mayo Performing Arts Center was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine.
The Morris County Manual is published annually by the Office of the Morris County Clerk and is used extensively as a resource by government officials and county residents. Our earliest records indicate that the manual was established by the Morris County Clerk’s Office in 1906. Each year the Morris County Clerk’s Office hosts a competition where Morris County high school students can submit their artwork for judging.
