Morris Arts’ Ehlers and Coladarci Arts Scholarships Applications Due

Frank L. Cahill
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Morris Arts’ Ehlers and Coladarci Arts Scholarships Applications Due

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris Arts is pleased to offer two scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors who have exhibited artistic excellence in dance, drama, music, or visual arts and plan to pursue post-secondary studies at an accredited institution or acknowledged arts school or fine arts program. The Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship, in the amount of $5,000, and The Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship, in the amount of $1,500, were created to recognize artistic excellence, encourage the artists of the future, and to celebrate the value of the arts to the human experience.

Morris County high school seniors graduating in June 2020 who are currently attending public, private, or parochial school in New Jersey are eligible. Applicants must: (a) be Morris County residents, (b) plan to pursue post-secondary studies at an accredited institution or acknowledged arts school or fine arts program, and (c) have demonstrated artistic excellence in any one of four (4) arts disciplines: dance, drama, music, or visual arts.

The Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship was established in 2002 in memory of Elaine Ehlers (1953-2001), a health-care administrator by profession, who had a voracious appetite for all things artistic and musical.  She derived intellectual and emotional sustenance from the arts and supported programs at many museums and musical institutions.  By establishing this scholarship, an enduring legacy has been created to reward those who possess artistic talent and who plan to further their arts education. Former Ehlers winners include pianist Daniel Shleyenkov; pianist and flutist Joshua Min; harpist, Ashley Jackson; singer/composer/lyricist/pianist, arranger/community musical organizer Deborah Neigher; jazz guitarist Alex Wintz; singer/composer Tom Barth;  visual artist Marissa Rich;  pianist Yuqing (Damon) Meng; ballroom/Latin dancer Daniel Knapp; ballet-modern dancer/ choreographer Madelyn Eltringham; trumpeter Joseph Soriano; actor Rachel Moss, percussionist Neal McNulty,  percussionist Reed Puleo, composer Zachary Catron, oboist Ethan Whang, pianist John Nguyen, dancer Leah Suskind and, most recently, violinist Ryan Nguyen.

The Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship was first awarded in 1999 in memory of Eugenie R. Coladarci, who was Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations at Chase Manhattan Bank and an active member of Morris Arts for eleven years. She was completing her first term as Board Chair when she passed away in 1997.  As a statewide champion of the arts, Gene encouraged the development of young artists and believed in the value of the arts to the quality of life.  The idea of a scholarship to assist talented young people wishing to continue their study in the arts was very important to her. Past winners include violinist Rebecca Racusin; visual artist Robert Douglas Fritz III; dancer Lauren Muraski; actor Ethan Saks; operatic soprano Chelsea Friedlander; visual artist Emily Trenk; visual artist Kaitlyn DeBiasse;  dancer Edward Teddy” Tedholm; soprano Alessandra Altieri; visual artist Catalina Ouyang; industrial designer Miriam Buchwald, industrial designer Daniel Hounsell, soprano Katherine Merwin, ballet dancer Tori Hey, visual artist Tyler Harker, soprano Lila K. Dunn, actress Nicole Giordano, soprano Sophia Grace Donelan and, most recently, visual artist Emma Schaberg.

Application information has been sent to all Morris County high school guidance offices and arts administrators for distribution. Applications are available through high school guidance offices as well as online at the Morris Arts website by clicking here. For more information, please email Lsiebert@morrisarts.org.

Applications must be emailed to Lsiebert@morrisarts.org – with the subject line marked “Scholarship” – no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 22.  Applicants will be judged by a committee consisting of panelists representing each artistic discipline. All panelists are professionals with a high level of expertise in university arts education and/or professional experience in the arts. Selection will be based on artistic excellence as demonstrated by the quality of the work samples and on the basis of application materials submitted to the panel. Winners will be notified by the end of February 2021.

Morris Arts, located in Morristown is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1973 dedicated to building community through the arts. Using the arts to inspire, connect and engage, Morris Arts serves as a resource for Morris County with a special focus on arts programming in the community and in schools, creative placemaking, arts advocacy, and support of the Morris Area community of artists and arts organizations.

Parsippany Advances Master Plan Goals through Highlands Plan Conformance

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Advances Master Plan Goals through Highlands Plan Conformance

PARSIPPANY  — At its most recent meeting, the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council approved a petition for Plan Conformance for the Morris County Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills. Approval of the Petition provides the municipality with access to funding and the expertise of the Highlands Council staff in support of efforts to implement priorities in the township’s recently revised Master Plan.

“Highlands Council staff have been working with township officials for some time discussing their needs primarily related to water availability,” said Maryjude Haddock-Weiler, Highlands Council Planning Manager. “Through these conversations, we came to better understand the township’s goals and how we could help advance them. The town is particularly eager to get to work on developing a Water Use and Conservation Management Plan (WUCMP) and Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP), and we’re very happy to be a part of that work.”

In 2018, Parsippany-Troy Hills launched an effort to create a new master plan for the community. After an extensive process of public outreach and planning analysis, the 2020 Master Plan was adopted. The Master Plan establishes a series of goals, strategies and recommendations for the Township’s future. The goals include preservation of community character, mitigation of transportation problems, enhancement of parks and open spaces, protection of environmental features, utilization of sustainable development practices, wise management of water and sewer services, protection of cultural and historic resources, and support for regional growth management planning.

“The Parsippany-Troy Hills 2020 Master Plan aligns very well with the Highlands Regional Master Plan,” explained Highlands Council Chairman Carl Richko. “Parsippany is the largest municipality in the Highlands Region by population. It’s also located entirely within the Planning Area of the Highlands, where conformance with the RMP is voluntary, so we’re very pleased that the town recognizes the benefits of conformance.”

“I’ve always believed that it was a mistake to withdraw from the Highlands Council several years ago, which is why my administration has worked from Day 1 to achieve Highlands Act conformance. The acceptance of our petition is a recognition of the township’s work towards water quality protection, sustainable land use, and environmental defense,” said Mayor Michael Soriano.

The Highlands Plan Conformance process provides a framework for municipalities and counties in the Region to integrate the land use and resource management requirements of the 2004 Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act into local planning and regulatory documents. Grant funding is available to support reasonable expenses associated with this work.

In addition to the WUCMP and SWMP, the Parsippany-Troy Hills Plan Conformance draft “Implementation Plan and Schedule” specifies funding for development of an Historic Preservation Plan and Open Space/Recreation Plan among other priorities. All funding is reimbursement based and contingent upon availability of funding and approved scopes of work.

Today’s approval by the Council brings the total number of approved municipal petitions for Plan Conformance to 50. Additional details about the Township’s Petition, including Highlands Council recommendations and specific funding allocations related to Plan Conformance implementation, are available in the “Final Consistency Review & Recommendations Report” and the “Highlands Implementation Plan and Schedule,” which can be found along with all other township Petition materials on the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township by clicking here.

Actions taken by the Council at this meeting will take effect following the Governor’s review and consideration of the meeting minutes, up to 10 business days from receipt of the minutes. Materials related to this meeting including resolutions, presentations, audio and minutes are posted by clicking here.

The Highlands Council is a regional planning agency, established in 2004 with the passage of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act and charged with implementation of the Act.

Additional information is available by clicking here.

Morris County Commissioners Pick New Leadership

Frank L. Cahill
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Morris County Commissioners Pick New Leadership

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County GOP Chairwoman Laura Marie Ali announced that the County Board of Commissioners named its leadership for 2021 by naming Stephen Shaw as Commission Director and Deborah Smith as Deputy Director.

“Stephen Shaw and Deborah Smith will be a dynamic, fiscally conservative leadership team for Morris County government over the next 12 months and represent the very best of our party,” said Chairwoman Ali. “Stephen and Deb will continue to hold the line on taxes, invest in infrastructure, and help our county navigate the ongoing pandemic in proactive way.”

Ali said that Morris County’s Republican leadership has been integral in making Morris the state’s number one county and the best place to live in all of New Jersey.

One-Third of New Jersey Businesses Shuttered

Frank L. Cahill
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One-Third of New Jersey Businesses Shuttered

MORRIS COUNTY — Recent news reports have spotlighted the destructiveness of Governor Phil Murphy’s emergency COVID-19 executive orders, with many blaming Murphy’s mandates for the closure of one-third of all of New Jersey’s small businesses.

According to data from the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, 28 percent closed by October, following the series of Murphy’s forced shutdowns since March. The Hill weighed in with higher numbers, calculating a 31 percent closure up to November 9, per estimates from TrackTheRecovery.org.

Some businesses have floundered under Murphy’s partial reopening plans, the Governor having recently cracked down again on restaurant and bars, mandating 10:00 p.m. indoor closures and authorizing counties and municipalities to double down with further restrictions. The Governor even limited the number of people allowed in residents’ own homes, to a maximum of 10.

Rescue New Jersey, a not-for-profit and non-partisan group formed to assist New Jersey residents and businesses, has facilitated a lawsuit advocating not only for the plaintiff, but all businesses harmed by Murphy’s violations of the Disaster Control Act.

As part of his edicts, Murphy was mandated – but failed – to establish compensation boards in each county, where businesses and individuals could petition for “reasonable compensation,” in return for the governor’s control over their property in his back-to-back states of emergency. The case against the governor, filed in the Superior Court in September, which originally sought a declaratory judgment compelling him to establish these boards, is currently in the Appellate Division.

The Governor, however, has asked the Appellate Division to deny counsels’ request to expedite the case, to obtain financial relief for the plaintiff’s owner, who already had to close her business in October, because of Murphy’s draconian restrictions.

CKO Franklin

“This ongoing and escalating tragedy underscores the urgency of the lawsuit we’ve brought on behalf of JWC Fitness, LLC and its owner, Darlene Pallay, to obtain the reasonable compensation due by law to businesses injured by the Governor’s decrees,” said Robert W. Ferguson, Esq.

Ferguson, of the of the law firm of Stern, Kilcullen and Rufolo, LLC of Florham Park and Catherine M. Brown, Esq., of Denville, filed the suit for Pallay, a Sussex County business owner who operated CKO Kickboxing Franklin, under her LLC.

“Our claims are straightforward: the emergency powers exercised by the Governor to order business shutdowns and other restrictions require the state to compensate those individuals and businesses whose property has been impaired by those orders,” Ferguson continued. “But despite the state’s clear and unambiguous obligation to compensate affected property owners, the Governor’s lawyers, sadly but not unexpectedly, have opposed requests to expedite our case so that those who have complied with the Governor’s orders may obtain some redress for the disproportionate costs they’ve borne on behalf of the public.”

“I am proud of the role that Rescue New Jersey has taken in advocating for those who have been left behind, such as Mrs. Pallay, in the Governor’s haphazard response effort to COVID,” said Donald Dinsmore, Esq., Rescue New Jersey’s chairman.

Court briefs have described Pallay as “a law-abiding, taxpaying citizen of this State,” who helped to support her family over the last decade with her business,” including her three young children. Pallay received Congressional recognition for “COVID-related activities that benefitted her community,” according to court documents.

“The defendant [Murphy] called upon all of us to comply with his executive orders for the good of the greater, general welfare,” the Appellate brief stated. “Plaintiff’s owner Mrs. Pallay did as she was ordered. But defendant asked her to give much more to the general welfare than most, her livelihood from a business she has built up over 10 years, and ultimately, the business itself.”

The brief further outlined Pallay’s debts to her commercial landlord and other creditors, which accrued as a result of her inability to operate under the restrictions.

For more information about Rescue New Jersey and this case click here.

Smith, Krickus & Shaw Announce Re-Election Bids; Roll Out Sweeping Endorsement List in Morris County

Frank L. Cahill
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Smith, Krickus & Shaw Announce Re-Election Bids; Roll Out Sweeping Endorsement List in Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY — Republicans Deborah Smith, John Krickus and Stephen Shaw announced their plans to seek re-election as Morris County Commissioners in 2021 and rolled out an impressive list of GOP endorsers supporting their ticket.

Smith, Krickus and Shaw pointed to their decisive and proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the county and their commitment to investing in county roads and bridges, while keeping county property taxes flat.

Freeholder Director Deborah Smith

“We are honored to have earned the endorsement of Republican leaders at the state and county level, and in nearly every single town in Morris County,” said Smith, of Denville.  “This year, in spite of challenges at every turn, voters rewarded Morris County Republicans for our commitment to honest government that focuses on what matters most to our residents.  We are proud to have played a key role in creating and strengthening the Morris County Republican brand, and we look forward to keeping Morris the number one county in the state.”

“Republican leadership of county government has helped to make Morris County an affordable, safe place to live, work, raise a family, and retire,” said Krickus, of Long Valley. “We are proof that common sense conservative polices work and can attract not only Republican voters, but Democrats and independent voters, as well. This year we plan to work closely with our candidates from the municipal level on up to Governor to win in November.”

“When Morris County Republicans are united and focused on the issues that our residents care about most, we are successful. Simply put, good policy makes good politics.,” said Shaw, of Mountain Lakes. “Together with Deb and John, I plan to continue advancing our pro-taxpayer agenda that has held the line on taxes and reduced debt, while prioritizing county spending on improving the quality of life for all residents and most importantly protecting public health.”

Current List of Endorsements

Sheriff James Gannon
County Clerk Ann Grossi
Freeholder Doug Cabana
Freeholder Tayfun Selen
NJ Republican Chair Doug Steinhardt
Morris County State Committeewoman Christina Ramirez
Morris County State Committeeman Larry Casha
MCRC Chair Laura Ali
Young Republican Chair Justin Musella
Gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli
Former MCRC Chair John Sette
Morris Victory PAC Chair Rob Zwigard
Boonton Town – Alderman Joe Bock and Alderman (former Mayor) Cy Wekilsky
Boonton Township – Mayor Councilman Tom Danadio
Butler- Councilmen Robert Fox and Doug Travers
Chatham Township – Committeewoman Karen Swartz
Chester Borough – Mayor Janet Hoven
Chester Township – Mayor Marcia Asdal, Councilmen Mike Inganamort and Tim Drag
Denville – Mayor Tom Andes
Florham Park – Mayor Mark Taylor
Hanover Township – Committeeman (former Mayor) Ron Francioli
Harding – Mayor Chris Yates
Jefferson – Mayor Eric Wilsusen
Kinnelon – Councilmembers Randall Charles, Glenn Sisco, Robert Roy, Vincent Russo, William Yago, James Lorkowski
Long Hill – Mayor Brendan Rae, Committeeman Guy Piserchia
Madison – Former Councilman Pat Rowe
Mendham Borough – Mayor Christine Serrano-Glassner
Mendham Township – Mayor Sarah Neibart
Mine Hill – Mayor Sam Morris
Montville – Mayor Frank Cooney
Morris Plains – Former Freeholder/Mayor Frank Druetzler, Councilmembers Sal Cortese, Cathie Kelly
Morris Township – Committeeman Peter Mancuso
Morristown – Former Councilwoman Allison Deeb
Mount Arlington – Mayor Mike Stanzilis
Mount Olive – Mayor Rob Greenbaum, Councilman Alex Roman
Mountain Lakes – Former Mayor/Current Councilman Dan Happer, Councilwoman Audrey Lane

Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board Meeting – November 23, 2020

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board Meeting – November 23, 2020

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board Meeting – November 23, 2020.

Click here to download the agenda.

Mayor Announces $4 Million in Investments for Lake Hiawatha

Frank L. Cahill
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Mayor Announces $4 Million in Investments for Lake Hiawatha

PARSIPPANY – Mayor Michael Soriano announced $4 million in major grant funding for the Township at a press conference on North Beverwyck Road on Tuesday morning, December 1.

This landmark infusion of capital includes a new Library in Lake Hiawatha, Phase 1 of North Beverwyck Road streetscaping, and the completion of what will be the largest contiguous tract of open space in Parsippany. These grant funds were secured to improve the walkability and aesthetics of North Beverwyck Road, to benefit small businesses, to modernize Lake Hiawatha’s Library branch, and to work toward the creation of Henry N. Luther Park. These projects will benefit Parsippany’s economy and improve the quality of life in the most densely populated area in the Township.

“Our refurbishment of North Beverwyck Road began with the installation of signs bearing its original name: Washington’s Trail,” said Mayor Soriano. “It continued with a major walkability study conducted in partnership with The College of New Jersey, and plans for streetscaping improvements to make this downtown a more walkable destination.”

Lake Hiawatha will benefit from the “Library Construction Bond Act” – from which the Township was awarded $2,999,530 – specifically for the construction of a brand new library branch in Lake Hiawatha. The new construction will also include critical technology upgrades to better serve and be more accessible to Township residents. (Click here for related article)

Lake Hiawatha will also benefit from a Morris County Open Space Grant – an award of $659,000 – to acquire a 5.4-acre tract of land along Knoll Road. This will complete the Township’s acquisition of 30 acres of contiguous open space, to create Henry N. Luther Park, which will be Parsippany’s largest municipal park and the Township’s 32nd public park. In addition to passive and active recreation opportunities, the park will have direct access to the proposed Boonton Reservoir Trails Project. This acquisition will be the culmination of an over 30-year investment to preserve the open space in Lake Hiawatha. (Click here for related article)

North Beverwyck Road will soon benefit from the “Municipal Aid Grant” – an award of $351,700 – specifically for Phase 1 streetscaping. This program will widen sidewalks, improve traffic management, install new infrastructure, and advance other aspects to the benefit of North Beverwyck Road’s mobility, aesthetics, and economic activity.

In total, the three grants comprise $4,010,230 in direct economic investment into Lake Hiawatha and the surrounding community. This infusion of funds is unprecedented in the Township. These grants are a major step in the Soriano administration’s efforts to assist local businesses, improve the quality of life for residents, and make North Beverwyck Road a downtown destination.

“Grant funds do not automatically appear,” Mayor Soriano said. “Our receipt of this capital is the culmination of months and years of hard work and dedication by our Township staff and professionals.”

Parsippany Economic Development Committee Chairman Robert Peluso said “Well informed and engaged citizens will undoubtedly bring positive returns for Lake Hiawatha and our entire community. Our investment in Lake Hiawatha will create a vibrant downtown, but our community needs to design what it is really going to look like while preserving our past and creating a long future. Over the years, our Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce recommended streetscape solutions and upgrades for Lake Hiawatha’s downtown area that included vehicle parking. Through major grant funding, the investment in our library system and recreational facilities will ensure that our Township is taking a stronger role in providing services and recreational opportunities without raising taxes for our residents and businesses. We look forward to continuing to support forward progress in our community.”

“I am pleased to see the long-standing advocacy by past and present Township officials and staff are finally getting the deserved attention and funding grants. Our businesses sorely, and immediately, need improved aesthetics in this district to draw more customers and clients to our region. These projects must be completed in a timely fashion to help business owners and residents recover from the lost business and uncertainty caused by COVID,” said former Council President Louis Valori.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Buildings Will Close Starting December 7

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Buildings Will Close Starting December 7

PARSIPPANY — All Parsippany Municipal Buildings will close starting Monday, December 7 to public access, due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.

Residents and businesses requiring township services will be required to set an appointment with the appropriate department. Below is a listing of all department telephone numbers.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting – November 10, 2020

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting – November 10, 2020

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting – November 10, 2020.

Click here to view the agenda.

Prosecutor’s Office Engage with Faculty and Student Athletes from High Schools

Frank L. Cahill
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Prosecutor’s Office Engage with Faculty and Student Athletes from High Schools

PARSIPPANY — On November 30, Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Detective Supervisor Patrick LaGuerre met virtually with the Superintendent of Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Schools, Principals, Assistant Principals, and Football Team Coaches and Athletes from both township high schools.

Detective Supervisor Patrick LaGuerre

The meeting was an opportunity for Acting Prosecutor Carroll to introduce himself and freely interact with participants, as well as offer an inspirational message to the athletes based on his personal experience. Recalling his years as a college athlete at Wake Forest University, Acting Prosecutor Carroll discussed how playing football taught him life lessons including self-discipline and the ability to accept constructive criticism, all attributes that had a positive influence on his life, even until the present.

Detective Supervisor LaGuerre discussed his role with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, emphasized the importance of building a bridge with all of our community partners, and how making good decisions is essential for a successful future.

Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said “It was an honor to meet with these members from our community and I want to thank Parsippany-Troy Hills School Superintendent Barbara Sargent for ensuring that it occurred. Anytime that we as established adults have a moment to share experiences with our youth and younger generations that may have a positive impact on them, we must seize that opportunity and follow through.”

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