PARSIPPANY — On Friday, February 9 at 8:29 p.m. a resident of Dafrack Drive reported that he had just signed for a UPS delivery and took possession of a box which was supposed to contain his repaired Apple Watch.
Upon further inspection of the box, he saw that it was tampered with and his watch was not inside.
The watch was valued at approximately $400.00.
Dear Editor:
When the right to own a gun like an AR 15 not a hunting rifle becomes more important than Health Care and a Sustainable and clean world then American exceptionalism stands as a complete hoax and fraud.
We are a violent people our nation is not beautiful and we must stop all this god bless america. The Republic is dead there’s no civic virtue as the trash mounts and the waters run dirty.
Political correctness will not bring remedies. We don’t see the stars of heaven, honor our god, respect the dead, ignore the trash. We are a fallen people. War is economy; violence rather than compassion and understanding rein in our system, where the rich steal from the poor.
Why do I have to pay taxes to such a system that benefits me not, while those of corporate power and riches beyond need evade the system they benefit most from…That is the question and the answer. Nation of thieves.
Prayers? May God be on our side, no matter the side…The will of God prevails; by simply praying for the victims? Brings to mind Abraham Lincoln’s, Meditation on the Divine Will speech September 1862 in part below:
In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time..Abe Lincoln..
What could possibility be god’s purpose here; or the need for prayer emanating from congress? What side have they taken! The side of the gun, Not god or real human values, but the good-guy-with-the gun? where does that leave us?
The fight against socialism is the theft of all humanity and the keeper of debt and economic slavery. What is democracy if not justice, equality, and education producing citizens of discipline ,concern and caring?
WE ARE A FALLEN NATION. The evidence is before our eyes everyday. A nation that promotes safety & security, but not Health Care, Housing, Environment, Ecology, is a failure. Capitalism and its pursuit of profit undermines humanity’s potential everyday. it has outlived its purpose. Corporations are not people because they are against humanity and democracy…how long can we ignore the evidence? Law & Order does not come from a barrel of a gun…power does. Guns are instruments of dominance over nature, and other men. Guns are the problem our way of life have made them so. We have no respect for real life, and recognize only wealth and power over others. Take a look around America is full of trash, corporate trash and people who ignore it. America is not beautiful or exceptional only blind..Waste more want more. I am not my brothers keeper,aka Christian value nation; hoax. If its not good for everyone it’s not really good at all.
Nick Homyak
Lake Hiawatha
PARSIPPANY — Morris County PBA Local #298 Memorial Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, April 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Parsippany PAL Youth Center, 33 Baldwin Road.
The Beefsteak Dinner will be catered by Giresi’s Caterers. Price includes dinner, Comedy Show, DJ, Fun and prizes. The cost is $55.00 per person. The Comedy Show will be performed by Johnny D.
All proceeds go toward college funds for children of fallen officers of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Corrections.
There will also be a silent auction, Dollar-Mega Raffle, 50/50 and door prizes.
For tickets, mail a check payable to PBA Local 298, Post Office Box 510, Morristown, New Jersey 07960.
For additional information email pba298@gmail.com or call John Granto at (973) 885-4002; Zoes Pavelis at (973) 349-7733 or Jake Beg at (917) 559-9424.
Dear Editor:
We have had far too many moments of silence since Sandy Hook. Our children and community deserve real action to stop the epidemic of gun violence in our country. We’re not alone and we’re not helpless. There are many seemingly simple, yet powerful things we can do today!
More and more of our neighbors are uniting to bring the change we need. The phones in Congress are ringing off the hook with calls for commonsense gun reform, peaceful rallies are growing in numbers in cities across the country, and families and friends are gathering together in their own living rooms to talk about bringing violence prevention programs to their schools. The movement is growing and we must keep growing it.
There is reason to have hope that we can prevent gun violence before it happens through sensible gun safety laws and programs in our schools and communities that help us identify the signs and signals before a shooting happens and intervene.
To keep this hope alive and bring the change we need, I am asking everyone to take two simple actions today. First, call your member of Congress today and ask that he or she support gun violence prevention legislation to keep guns out of dangerous hands. Secondly, Make the Promise at www.sandyhookpromise.org and help bring Sandy Hook Promise’s no-cost, violence prevention programs to our schools and community.
Georgine La Serna – Maiella
PARSIPPANY — In a heated race for Lake Parsippany Fire District 3 Commissioners, Matt Topolewski and Jenn Sikora won. The incumbents, Commissioner John Butkus and Commissioner Clarence Ricker, serving Lake Parsippany for approximately 25 years finished third and fourth place, according to unofficial results. Jenn will be the first female commissioner in Lake Parsippany Fire District 3.
“The current board of commissioners have held office for over 20 years, and it is long past time for some new perspectives. The emergency services industry is quickly evolving and we need to have a more progressive governing body to allow the Lake Parsippany Fire Department to keep up with the ever changing hazards they may face,” said Jennifer Sikora.
The unofficial results are:
| Matt Topolewski | 174 |
| Jennifer Sikora | 165 |
| Clarence Ricker | 150 |
| John Butkas | 136 |
Note: Write in votes are not included in the above results.
Matt said “Having been a member of the fire company for the past 13 years and seeing how the incumbent commissioners have used their influence to push their own agendas while delaying to provide basic safety equipment for our volunteer firefighters, I decided that it was time for a change.”
Former Mayor James Barberio supported the Butkus-Ricker team, by posting endorsements on his “Mayor James R. Barberio” Facebook page. Readers informed Parsippany Focus that the former Mayor also did robo calls to Lake Parsippany residents supporting the two.
When results are available in other districts Parsippany Focus will include the results.
The massacre at a Florida high school on Wednesday is hard for adults to wrap their head around, but it can be completely overwhelming for children who hear about it or see images of the carnage. Parents need to help guide their children through the fear, anger, upset and helplessness such a horrific attack can stir up in children.
“The first thing parents should do is assess their own reactions. If you tell your child ‘everything is OK and you are safe’ but your behavior expresses fear and powerlessness, your child will pick up on that,” said Mary Vineis, NewBridge Services Director of Community Response and Education and coordinator of the Morris County Traumatic Loss Coalition.
Vineis said parents need to process the events before speaking to their children, so they can role-model coping skills.
“When you’re ready, start the conversation by asking what they know and have heard,” Vineis said. “Encourage them to ask questions, listen for their fears and concerns, and gently correct any misinformation they have.”
Vineis said parents should express their empathy for the families affected and talk about the heroes, including first-responders, who helped save lives. “Let your children know you love them and will take care of them. Assure them that it is normal to feel upset about what happened,” she said.
Children should have limited, if any, exposure to news accounts of the shootings, Vineis said. She also recommended that families follow normal routines.
In the wake of tragedy, children may express irritability, have restless sleep and/or a change in appetite, but those responses should dissipate within a couple of weeks. Give your children extra patience, care and love, Vineis said.
If parents continue to have concerns about their children’s reactions, they should seek professional help. Call NewBridge at (973) 366-9333 or click here. For more information about helping your child cope with traumatic events, click on the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
NewBridge Services, a 501c(3) nonprofit, is a premier provider of counseling services, housing and educational programs in northern New Jersey serving nearly 8,000 adults and seniors last year alone. NewBridge treats mental illnesses and addictions; teaches skills for coping with stress, grief and challenging relationships; builds and manages affordable housing; offers school-based programs that teach children and adolescents resiliency skills for healthy emotional development; helps young adults succeed in their education and prepare for careers; and supports seniors so they can remain independent. Throughout its more than 50-year history, NewBridge has remained true to its mission of bringing balance to people’s lives by tracking shifts in communities’ needs and providing innovative, effective programs to meet them.
As the cold weather continues, financial assistance programs are available for Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) customers who need help with winter heating bills.
Assistance to qualifying JCP&L customers is available through the Lifeline, Universal Service Fund (USF), Weatherization, Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE) and New Jersey SHARES programs.
JCP&L residential customers also can manage their electric bills through the FirstEnergy Equal Payment Plan (EPP). With EPP, customers can make consistent monthly payments to avoid seasonal highs and lows in their electric bills. To apply or learn more about other JCP&L programs, click here or call 1-800-662-3115.
JCP&L is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers in the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company’s transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.
RANDOLPH — Lacey is about 8-9 months old, about 40 pounds and she is positively adorable!! This sweet pup is friendly and loves being with you. Lacey thinks she is a lap dog and likes sitting on your lap or next to you. And, she will give you puppy kisses. Lacey enjoys going for walks, playing with other dogs, playing with stuff toys and getting tummy rubs. She is a smart pup who loves to please…she already knows the commands “sit”, “paw” and “ no” And, Lacey is house trained and knows to ring the bells on the door when she wants to go out. She is so cute!! Her foster family calls her a “total love bug!”
FHDR rescued Lacey from a overpopulated, high kill shelter in NC and we place her in a foster home in NJ.
If you have a furever home for Lacey, best to get your application in quickly. You can e-mail us at FHDR@att.net and request an adoption application. To see more photos and a video of Lacey and to see our other rescue pups, or click here.
PARSIPPANY — Elections for Fire Commissioners will be held in Parsippany-Troy Hills on Saturday, February 17 from 2:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m. Two of the candidates on the slate for Lake Parsippany Fire Commissioners, Matt Topolewski and Jenn Sikora submit answers to the following questions.
Why did you decide to run for fire commissioner?
Matt: Having been a member of the fire company for the past 13 years and seeing how the incumbent commissioners have used their influence to push their own agendas while delaying to provide basic safety equipment for our volunteer firefighters, I decided that it was time for a change.
Jenn: The current board of commissioners have held office for over 20 years, and it is long past time for some new perspectives. The emergency services industry is quickly evolving and we need to have a more progressive governing body to allow the Lake Parsippany Fire Department to keep up with the ever changing hazards they may face.
What is the biggest issue you want to tackle?
Matt: The unnecessary spending. Last May, the board spent over $600,000 of tax payer money on a rescue truck that cannot be used to put out a fire since it carries no water. They spent this money to replace a small utility truck that was only used 14 times the last full year it was in service. Since the new truck was delivered it has only been used 3 times and has too little rescue equipment to be functional. This type of spending cannot be allowed to continue.
Jenn: The safety of our volunteers. I have been on many fire scenes in town and the thing that keeps standing out in my mind is how much less adequate the safety equipment is that the Lake Parsippany firefighters have compared to the other departments in town. One such piece of equipment is bail out harnesses, these would allow trapped firefighters on upper floors of buildings to escape out a window, even without a ladder. I have spoken to several members, both past and present, and past chiefs who have told me that they have repeatedly requested this equipment for years and have been either denied or outright ignored.
In speaking to several past members, I was shocked to learn that there have been multiple able-bodied firefighters who have quit the department over the lack of safety equipment. This is unacceptable, we can not compromise the safety of our residents or our firefighters because of outdated and self-interested attitudes.What do the residents of Lake Parsippany need to know?
Matt: The residents need to know that this election directly affects the safety of the firefighters as well as the families who call Lake Parsippany home. This is the one time each year that the residents of Lake Parsippany can have a direct impact on the fire department.
Jenn: People need to realize how important this position is. The fire commissioners set tax rates and provide for the safety of all our residents. The current board has been in office far too long, it is time for a change.
What will you do if elected?
Matt: I will focus on spending and recruitment. We need to provide our firefighters with the proper equipment while not overspending on equipment that doesn’t get used.
Jenn: I will work to improve the communication between the commissioners, the firefighters, and the residents. I will also advocate to obtain the best equipment to keep them safe in all conditions while serving our community.
Tell us something we don’t yet know about you?
Matt: I was an Exxon dealer for 18 years starting back in the 70’s. I also owned a towing company that served South Orange & the surrounding communities.
Jenn: I worked with Lake Parsippany Deputy Chief Prokop and several other firefighters in town to develop a training program to allow for CPR to be performed on a firefighter while wearing their full safety equipment, which I then taught to fire departments in town.
Location: Lake Parsippany Firehouse
Address: 255 Halsey Road
Date: February 17, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
MORRIS TOWNSHIP — Homeless Solutions welcomed federal, state, and local officials to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of their newest property on Walnut Street in Morris Township. This development will provide permanent homes for two homeless families.
The property was financed in part by the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency’s (NJHMFA) Special Needs Housing Trust Fund. Funding was also provided by the Morris Township Housing Trust Fund, Morris County HOME Program, TD Charitable Foundation, the Hyde and Watson Foundation and HSI’s capital campaign donors. Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, who also serves as Chairperson of the NJHMFA Board, sent her well wishes, “Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this special home to fruition.”
The new two-story home sits on a formerly vacant lot and each apartment includes two bedrooms, living and dining rooms, a kitchen, laundry room and a full ADA compliant bathroom. The home also has front and rear porches. This is the first of three infill developments that HSI is bringing to the Second Ward/Collinsville neighborhoods of Morristown and Morris Township.
Shannon Muti, Family & Women’s Services Manager, shared background on one of the families who will be moving into the home. While in HSI’s Transitional Housing Program (THP), the mom suffered an injury at work and became permanently disabled. Time was running out for the family and THP staff was working diligently to find them a place to stay. “I finally got to say the words she’s been waiting 4½ years to hear, I have a home for you!”
Homeless Solutions is a private, non-profit organization with 35 years of experience in meeting the needs of those affected by homelessness in Morris County. Their mission is to offer shelter, services, and supportive housing to homeless and low-income people. HSI runs four shelter programs and a transitional housing program to help guests develop the skills to successfully return to independent living. As well as, the Mt. Kemble Home for senior women of limited means and our affordable housing properties. For more information click here.
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) is dedicated to increasing the availability of and accessibility to safe, decent and affordable housing to families in New Jersey. In some cases this may mean working with traditional affordable housing developments, serving New Jersey’s most needy families. For more information on NJHMFA programs, click here.
Parsippany Focus is a digital news organization that provides news coverage of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey. The organization was founded in 1989 by Frank Cahill, who currently owns and operates the organization. Parsippany Focus covers local news, events, and community issues, and their content is primarily distributed through their website and social media channels. The organization has been serving as a trusted source of news and information for the Parsippany-Troy Hills community for over 30 years.
Contact us: news@parsippanyfocus.com
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