PARSIPPANY — The Indian-American Seniors Association of Morris County’s held its annual “Spring Cultural Program and Musical” on Friday evening, June 2 at Parsippany High School. The event drew a crowd of almost 650 people who had the opportunity to enjoy the music and songs. The group also was served dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the program started at 7:30 p.m. and ended at 11:00 p.m.
Indian-American Seniors Association Spring Concert
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Freeholder Thomas J. “Tom” Mastrangelo, Freeholder Candidate Dave Scarpichio, Council Candidate Casey Parihk, Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Vice President Robert Peluso, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce and Council Candidate Chris Martino
Casey Parikh and Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce
There were almost 650 attendees at Friday Night event sponsored by Indian-American Seniors Association of Morris County
Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce and Dr. Rita Parikh
The group also was served dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Emil Parikh with Dr. Rita Parikh
Attendees chatting in the hallway of Parsippany High School
Casey Parikh with his wife, Dr. Rita Parikh (File Photo)
Indian-American Seniors Association Spring Concert
The program was sponsored by Hitesh and Surbhi Kadakia of American royal mortgage.
Admission was free for all members and guest of the sponsors. Group of visually impaired men and women from India also performed dance, played music and sang.
Local musical orchestra Sruhadam Entertainment provided beautiful musical evenings by singing old and new indian songs.
Rajni Patel is the president of Indian-American Seniors Association of Morris County.
The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills School District consists of fourteen schools (ten are Elementary levels) and only two are covered by armed security. The current Mayor and School Board have not provided our children with suitable security measures.
As a concerned parent armed with common sense and a calculator, this level of protection is not only ineffective, but disgraceful. Our Mayor’s office and School board haven’t done what’s necessary to enact the protection all of our children deserve. I had enough of the political double talk and nonsensical justifications. There’s a simple, thoughtful plan that’s not only feasible within our budget, but also backed by Chris Christie’s task force that encourages and gives schools permission to hire armed SRO’s (Security Resource Officers) in all fourteen Parsippany Schools.
This plan isn’t my idea so I’m no innovator. This solution and the push for school-wide security coverage have been presented at nauseam by Robert Peluso, Parsippany Council Vice President. He continues to preach to the Mayor and School Board that we should hire Class III retired police officers to protect all of our children. This is not a political endorsement as I don’t know the man. I’ve watched him plead for our children to be protected and watched the current administration do nothing. My only goal is for all of our children to be safe in school.
Mayor Barberio, his Administration, and our School Board need to be held accountable for putting 75% of our kids at constant risk. Furthermore, whomever is elected this June, the primary focus should focus on prioritizing our children and our families. Honorable people with integrity should have found a way by now. Perhaps it’s in the works? No matter who is elected, let’s collectively be proactive rather than reactive.
PARSIPPANY — The primary election is almost here. The polls will be open on Tuesday, June 6 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. In Parsippany you can vote for: (1 seat) Mayor; (2 seats) Township Council; (1 Seat) Morris County Freeholder; (2 Seats) New Jersey Assembly; (1 Seat) New Jersey Governor; (1 Seat) State Senate; (1 Seat) State Committee (1 Male); and State Committee (1 Female).
In New Jersey during a primary election only the state’s two most populous political parties have a primary election, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. You can only vote for the political party that you declared. If you are a registered voter currently not affiliated with a political party you may declare the party affiliation up to and including Primary Election day.
Republican candidates for Parsippany Mayor are James Barberio and Robert Peluso. Candidates for Township Council are Brian Stanton; Christopher Martino and Casey Parikh (Peluso Team); and Louis Valori and Vincent Ferrara (Barberio Team).
Democrat candidates for Mayor are Michael Soriano and Thomas Fulco. Candidates for Township Council are Janice McCarthy and Emily Peterson (Soriano Team); and Katie (Katherine) Cassidy.
The primary will be held on Tuesday, June 6. To find your voting location, click here.
In all fairness, all candidates were emailed the same questions. We are publishing the responses to the questions that were prepared by our Editorial Staff in the order we received their response.
Katie Cassidy
Katie Cassidy – Candidate for Township Council – Democrat
Should the sewer and water department surpluses be transferred to the General Operating Fund, thus circumventing the 2% cap tax increase?
I think that the sewer and water surpluses should be used to help minimize the costs to the township. However, I think that using said surpluses to balance the budget misleads the average citizen on the integrity of the budget. If the budget were truly balanced, there would be no need to use the sewer and water surpluses. I think the surpluses provide for an excellent rainy day fund, or an option to pay down portions of debt service that can cost more in the long run. One of my concerns is that Parsippany is not thinking long term. Using a surplus to prevent a tax increase, as opposed to minimize costs over the longer term or for an emergency, is something I would not support.
2. Should the Township Council and Administration consider hiring an in-house attorney? The concern has been, for a while now, that Parsippany is spending too much money on attorneys fees. The fact we are getting sued so frequently should be a concern, but we should look into any option that may lower our legal costs. In addition to weighing the value of an in-house attorney, I think it may also be prudent to look into an in-house paralegal.
3. Should term limits be placed on all elected positions in Parsippany? I believe that term limits are ideal for every elected position from Parsippany to Washington. Politics can be a career, but if you stay in one place for too long it is far too easy to become complacent. I won’t speak to the length of the term limits for each position, because that is something that can be debated and at the end of the day I would like to hear what the people think about it. However, term limits are an excellent idea. If someone can only hold office for so long, they are likely to be more concerned over their long-term impact as opposed to simply getting to the next election. In addition, it is much more difficult for private interests to affect the course of a government, if the faces running that government only remain for so long.
4. Should the public portion of the Council meeting be reinstated to the five-minute rule, instead of the current reduced time of three minutes? Three minutes is not enough time to effectively get a point across, let alone more than one. I am in favor of increasing the speaking time. However, I do not think it is simply enough to give someone more time. The way Council President Valori currently enforces the time constraints on the Public Portion is a use it or lose it policy. There is no opportunity for a discussion with those on the dais, nor for follow up questions. I would hope that a change could be made that you have a total of five minutes with an option to use all five in one go, or to hold two minutes for follow up questions after the council and administration have an opportunity to speak. As someone who has had their words twisted after speaking, I believe the public should have an opportunity to respond to the answers they may receive.
5. Should the open space committee recommend all expenditures from the trust fund? Before we can evaluate the way a committee functions, we should first ensure that the committees are active. Presently, the committees are not filled; some do not even have a quorum. Keep in mind, committees are filled with individual members of the community. Requiring a committee to make a recommendation for every expenditure may be too time consuming. However, the Open Space Committee should have an opportunity to comment on every expenditure and should be able to recommend expenditures that they deem relevant. The committee system is valuable because it is the Mayor and Council’s direct line to members of the public who are well versed on various subjects. Parsippany is hampered by the fact that most of these committees are not filled, do not meet effectively and are not called on to offer their expert opinion. Empowering the OSC to make recommendations is an excellent step, but until and unless they meet, it won’t make a difference.
Republican Council Candidate Brian Stanton
Brian Stanton – Candidate for Township Council – Republican
1. Should the sewer and water department surpluses be transferred to the General Operating Fund, thus circumventing the 2% cap tax increase? In the past the township used surplus money to keep the taxes under the 2% tax which I did not have a problem with. I do have a problem with transferring over 3 million dollars from surplus to say that we had a 0% tax increase. We have been overpaying on our water and sewer bills for years, its time to lower the rates for the residents so they can see a real savings.
2. Should the Township Council and Administration consider hiring an in-house attorney?
I do not believe we should be hiring an in-house attorney. Do to the variety of cases we handle as a township we would have to keep outsourcing for attorneys. An in-house attorney would not be able to handle the workload for the township.
3. Should term limits be placed on all elected positions in Parsippany? I have no problem with term limits being place on elected officials.
4. Should the public portion of the Council meeting be reinstated to the five-minute rule, instead of the current reduced time of three minutes? I am in favor of reinstating the five-minute rule. The rule should of never been changed.
5. Should the open space committee recommend all expenditures from the trust fund? I do not believe the open space committee should have the power to recommend all the expenditures from the open space fund, I believe it should be a team effort between our elected officials and the committee on the recommendations.
Parsippany Council candidates Louis Valori and Vincent Ferrara stand by mayoral candidate, Mayor James Barberio
Team Barberio – James Barberio – Candidate for Mayor – Republican; Louis Valori – Candidate for Township Council – Republican; Vincent Ferrara – Candidate for Township Council – Republican.
1. Should the sewer and water department surpluses be transferred to the General Operating Fund, thus circumventing the 2% cap tax increase? Water and sewer surpluses. When Mayor Barberio took office, Parsippany didn’t have surpluses, we had near deficits. We created surpluses without raising rates by bringing new businesses to Parsippany, which increases the number of users. This in turn increases the amount of money in our water and sewer utilities, resulting in surpluses. Fortunately, we are now in a position to use some of those excess surpluses to provide tax relief for our residential taxpayers. My opponent wants lower sewer and water fees for corporations and increase property taxes for our homeowners. We disagree. We will continue to use excess surplus, generated from new corporate users, to provide tax relief for our residents. This does not circumvent the 2% cap. It’s keeps property taxes low! That is why we were able to introduce a 0% tax increase budget. I as Council President voted for Mayor Barberio’s no tax increase budget. Rob Peluso, voted against a no tax increase budget because Peluso and his team want to raise our taxes.
2. Should the Township Council and Administration consider hiring an in-house attorney? An in house attorney will significantly increase the cost of our legal budget. First of all, one attorney doesn’t do all the work for Parsippany. We are a large town that requires many lawyers and legal professionals of different disciplines to represent our town. So the issue you are raising is whether to create a legal department. That means hiring many lawyers, and staff. That means health benefits, pensions, creating additional space, computer upgrades and numerous other permanent costs. And if your in house lawyers make mistakes, there is no one to recover the losses from. Our model of utilizing private firms under the direction of our town attorney, who currently gets no pension, no health benefits, and no township overhead, is by far the most cost effective way to ensure that the legal needs of the Township are met at highest level of competence and at the least cost to our taxpayers. We note that Morris County utilizes the Parsippany model of lawyer structure and has saved the county money by doing so.
3. Should term limits be placed on all elected positions in Parsippany? Term limits should be imposed on elected officials by the people. Our residents should not be deprived of the representatives of their choosing because of an arbitrary term limit.
4. Should the public portion of the Council meeting be reinstated to the five-minute rule, instead of the current reduced time of three minutes? The Council President determines the amount of time each member of the public has to speak. Three minutes is ample time for members of the pubic to voice issues and concerns. While it is always helpful to hear from the public, there is a lot of business that the Council needs to conduct, and therefore, the three minute time limit seems appropriate. But, that can change if Council agendas become shorter.
5. Should the Open Space Committee recommend all expenditures from the trust fund? Currently, the Open Space Committee does make recommendations on the Township’s open space acquisitions. That is our practice and we plan to keep that practice going forward. We value the recommendations made by this committee very much and act on virtually all of their recommendations. Ultimately, it is, of course, the governing body who determines how the public’s money is expended.
Parsippany Council candidates Chris Martino and Casey Parikh stand by mayoral candidate, council vice president Robert Peluso
Team Peluso: Robert Peluso – Candidate for Mayor – Republican; Casey Parikh – Candidate for Township Council – Republican; Chris Martino – Candidate for Township Council – Republican.
1. Should the sewer and water department surpluses be transferred to the General Operating Fund, thus circumventing the 2% cap tax increase? No. If water and sewer are generating surpluses they should be applied to capital improvements of the water and sewer systems, or returned to tax payers. If there are consistently large surpluses the rates should be revisited and adjusted accordingly. The Mayor has used these fees as a slush fund to cover his tax increases and increased municipal spending.
2. Should the Township Council and Administration consider hiring an in-house attorney? Yes. The legal bills have skyrocketed. The current legal costs are nearly 300% of the amount spent when Mayor Barberio was first elected. He has refused to consider alternative legal representation or in-house counsel. The tax payers are being drained by his refusal to address this issue.
3. Should term limits be placed on all elected positions in Parsippany? The question should be placed before the voters in a referendum. If the public wants term limits, I would support it.
4. Should the public portion of the Council meeting be reinstated to the five-minute rule, instead of the current reduced time of three minutes? Yes. Citizens wait for hours for an opportunity to address their elected officials. The Mayor and his running mate, Lou Valori, unilaterally decided to limit public comments to three minutes. The public deserves an opportunity to be heard.
5. Should the open space committee recommend all expenditures from the trust fund? Yes. Otherwise, what reason would there be for the committee. Open space is a valuable asset that affects every aspect of our community. The committee’s role is to assist the Mayor and Council in preserving this irreplaceable resource.
These are team responses. We have pledged to work together to implement changes in Parsippany, such as the ones set forth.
Janice McCarthy, Michael Soriano and Emily Peterson
Team Soriano: Michael Soriano – Candidate for Mayor – Democrat; Janice McCarthy – Candidate for Township Council – Democrat; Emily Peterson – Candidate for Township Council – Democrat.
1. Should the sewer and water department surpluses be transferred to the General Operating Fund, thus circumventing the 2% cap tax increase?
An adequate reserve should be professionally determined to cover normal contingencies and an adjustment should be made to bring the reserve down to that level. Water and sewer rates should then be reduced to reflect a more realistic cost to homeowners for these services.
2. Should the Township Council and Administration consider hiring an in-house attorney?
The town should contract on an as needed basis with attorneys that have the necessary legal expertise to address various issues such as land use planning, labor relations, tax policy etc. not one attorney or legal firm to address all issues.
3. Should term limits be placed on all elected positions in Parsippany?
Yes, there should be reasonable term limits for elected offices.
4. Should the public portion of the Council meeting be reinstated to the five-minute rule, instead of the current reduced time of three minutes?
The 5 minute rule should be implemented at Town Council meetings as it was previous to Mr. Valori reducing it to 3 minutes. Additionally the Council needs to show respect for residents who take time to address concerns and issues with the Council. Currently there’s more focus on counting down the minutes than addressing the residents issues or concerns.
5. Should the open space committee recommend all expenditures from the trust fund?
The Open Space ordinance should be updated to require comment by the Open Space Committee prior to any expenditures from the Open Space Trust Fund.
PARISPPANY —It was raining early morning, but the weather cleared up to be a perfect day for the Lake Parsippany giant flea market and Open House, on Saturday, June 3.
The day was full of events including dragon boat, swimming, face painting, food, playing in the sand, live music and a flea market offering many items. Parsippany CERT, Parsippany Police Department and many organizations were present educating residents, and distributing literature. Boy Scout Troop 173 was assisting with the annual open house.
Lake Parsippany Open House
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There's always a drone flying around
Book Club
Kayak Club
Dragon Boat Club
Pelican Shops joined the Open House with a booth
Children playing in the sand on this beautiful day
Last day for discounted Memberships
The Koch Family: Joanne, Lonnie and Kiersten
There were plenty of items for sale at the flea market
Police Officer Remo D'Alessandro and Sergeant Allan Griffin
Ten year old Ria Patel turns into a police officer at Lake Parsippany Open House
Members of the Parsippany OEM
You can join the LPPOA Ladies Club for fun and community involvement. Interested individuals should contact Diane Low at (973) 887-1268. The fishing club meets once a month and holds fishing contests during the season.Thru their Trout Stocking Program, they host a “Stocking Day” event where the lake is stocked with trout one week before the season opens. Young anglers get the opportunity to learn about our program and release trout into the lake. Interested in joining the fishing club call Winnie Marone at (973) 887-3087.
Lake Parsippany is a private lake community quietly nestled in the center of Parsippany-Troy Hills, in Morris County. This 168 acre lake and grounds is fully funded and maintained by membership fees and member volunteers. We receive no State, County or Township funding. Our Community welcomes everyone to join our association, regardless of where you live and enjoy a piece of the lake.
The Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association members maintain and manage all operations of the lake throughout the year. The membership preserves this beautiful natural resource through its fees and through active volunteer participation in the community.
Membership is required to participate in its many activities that include fishing in a trout stocked lake, sailing, swimming, sunbathing, competitive sports, concerts, dances, family fun nights and much more.
Membership in the Association is not limited to Lake Parsippany Property Owners. Renters and residents from outside of the Lake Parsippany area are also welcome to join. The Association is a not for profit organization.
In addition to all of the activities available with membership, the Association also supports various Clubs and Committees.
Lake Parsippany is home of the New Jersey Dragon Boat Club. Dotting of the eye is an annual ritual of the New Jersey Dragon Boat Club during the open house day. 2017 marks the 17th year in which the NJ Dragon Boat Club has been at Lake Parsippany.
NJ’s 1st dragon boat club, started with a recreational crew, added a competitive crew and then a junior crew since their first visit to the Boat House.
This ancient Chinese Eye Dotting ceremony, “The Awakening of The Dragons,” features local and visiting dignitaries painting red dots on the eyes of the ceremonial dragon boat figure heads to officially “wake” them up.
Hoffman Beach opens up full time for the summer starting Friday, June 23. From now until then the beach is open Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information on Lake Parsippany, click here.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Patrol Units responded to a burglary at East Coast Salon Services and spoke to the manager at 8:17 a.m. on Saturday, May 27. It was determined that the burglary occurred between May 27 at 2:00 p.m. and the morning May 30.
It was further determined the unknown suspect(s) shattered a rear window to gain entry into the structure. The manager advised the Officers that cash was stolen from the premise. The Parsippany Detective Bureau along with the Morris County Criminal Investigative Section responded to the scene to assist in the investigation.
This incident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Parsippany Police Department’s Investigative Division at 973-263-4311.
Tuesday, June 6 is the primary. I urge all Republicans to get out and vote. I have been attending town council meetings for 13 years and I do have some concerns I would like to share with my fellow Parsippany residents.
Candidate Vincent Ferrara was a yes man to Mayor Barberio when he served on the council previously. Mr. Ferrara has stated on record that “anything the Mayor wants I will give him”. That kind of attitude is not needed on the council. What we need are people with fresh ideas and a mind of their own. From what I remember he rarely questioned anything but always voted yes. Mr. Ferrara also had an altercation with a township resident who was head of intramural soccer league who felt threaten, harassed and intimidated (See louietheliar.com for copy of letter).
Candidate Lou Valori in my opinion seems to have stabbed the taxpayers of Parsippany in the back.
He has flip-flopped on all the principles and promises he ran on back in 2013. Here are a few issues to consider:
1) Mr. Valori took it upon himself to change the amount of time each resident can speak at a council meeting from five minutes to three minutes. Residents have questioned him on this he gives no response.
2) Mr. Valori voted to have Mr. Inglesino removed as township attorney in 2014, 2015 and 2016 (fees were exorbitant). In 2017 he voted to keep Mr. Inglesino. Why???? What has changed? Mr. Inglesino’s 1099 for 2016 was $701,985.21.
3) Mr. Valori voted for 0% municipal tax increase this year (figures 0% during election year). Why can’t this be done during non election years? Remember we didn’t use 2% in 2017 so this gets carried over to 2018. That means in 2018 our taxes can increase up to 4%. Nice job Lou.
4) Mr. Valori was chosen to head the transparency committee in 2014. This committee met once in 2014 and has not met since. How transparent is Mr. Valori?
5) Mr. Valori promised taxpayers he would stay on top of police overtime and work with Chief Philipps to rein in overtime spending. Didn’t happen. Well over one million dollars was paid out in 2016.
6) Mr. Valori was elected to serve a four year term as a councilmen but ran for Freeholder in 2016 with the support of Mayor Barberio and Mr. Inglesino. Did not anybody else find this odd?
All in all, Mr. Valori in my opinion has been a big disappointment. How can he change his convictions so easily? Think about all the trash talk the last four years between Mr. Inglesino, Mayor Barberio and Mr. Valori. The disruption they caused the township. Mr. Valori made many comments against Mayor Barberio and Mr. Inglesino accusing them of and I quote “it’s time for the Mayor to stop wasting taxpayers dollars to pursue his personal vendetta against Mr. Carifi”. Valori also accused Mayor Barberio of bribing him and brought charges against him.
So, I ask the residents of Parsippany where is Mr. Valori’s integrity or for that matter Mayor Barberio’s also. For them to join forces leaves one’s mind to wonder Why? What strange bedfellows they make. I for one will be voting for Mr. Parikh and Mr. Martino.
Pat Petaccia Parsippany
Letters to the Editor: Do you have an opinion to express? Send letters to news@parsippanyfocus.com. Disclaimer: To be considered for publication, letters to the editor must include the writer’s full name, address and daytime phone number. Letters may be condensed, although care is taken to preserve the writer’s comments (maximum 200 words). Copyright in material submitted to Parsippany Focus and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Parsippany Focus may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. We are unable to acknowledge receipt of letters. All information contained in a letter to the editor, is the opinion of the writer and not the opinion of Parsippany Focus.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Officers responded to a theft of a motor vehicle that occurred at 12:10 a.m. on May 29 at the 7-11 on North Beverwyck Road.
Upon arrival of Patrol Officer Jaime Mendez made contact with the victim.
The victim advised him that their 2014 Lexus IS250 was left unlocked and running in the parking lot when they went inside the store. While inside the store, the victim observed the vehicle being driven away by an unknown suspect. The vehicle fled the area heading south on North Beverwyck Road.
On May 30 at 5:14 p.m. the Parsippany Police Department was notified that the vehicle was located unoccupied in Newark. The victim was advised on how to recover their vehicle.
This incident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Parsippany Police Department’s Investigative Division at (973) 263-4311.
PARSIPPANY — The Spring Semester has come to an end, but Vivian Rosenberg, of Lake Hiawatha, and Brian Seligson, of Parsippany, students at County College of Morris (CCM), have remained on campus to finish creating prosthetic hands for children around the world.
The hands are created on the 3D printers in the college’s engineering labs and carefully assembled by the students using heavy-duty fishing line and Velcro. The hands are being made for three different groups that help children who have lost or are missing part of their limbs.
“I joined an online community of prosthetic 3D print groups and they put me in contact with an organization called Limbs with Love,” explains Eric Pedersen, engineering lab assistant. That organization provides children in the United States and around the world with prosthetic limbs free of cost.
Next Pedersen heard about a church in Baltimore that provides prosthetic hands to children in India through one of its mission programs. Then engineering Professor Tom Roskop told him he was making a trip to Brazil and the nonprofit group Enabling the Future, which also provides prosthetic hands to children around the world, was interested in obtaining two to three hands for children there.
Prior to 3D printing, prosthetic limbs could be quite costly but now they can be printed and assembled for about $20.00 to $30.00 in materials, according to Pedersen.
“It’s work that is really beneficial and we’re getting to build a network and obtain real-life experience,” says Rosenberg.
“I thought it was cool, the first time I saw them,” adds Seligson.
The students have taken on the work as members of the college’s Women in STEM club. Before the summer gets into full swing, Pedersen and the students expect to complete and ship about a dozen hands. Pedersen’s hope is that the work will continue come the Fall Semester as an ongoing project of Women in STEM.
PARSIPPANY — James Madison University is pleased to announce three students from Parsippany made the dean’s list for the spring 2017 semester.
Erica Ruja, a Parsippany Hills High School Graduate of 2014, who is majoring in psychology and is scheduled to graduate in 2017.
Sarah Orthwein, a Parsippany High School Graduate of 2013, who is majoring in media arts and design and is scheduled to graduate in 2017.
Drew Dembek, a Seton Hall Preparatory School Graduate Class of 2013, who is majoring in hospitality management and is scheduled to graduate in 2017.
James Madison University offers each student a future of significance — not an education of mere prestige, but an extraordinary education of exceptional scholarship, inventive thinking, unparalleled attention to the world community, a university-wide enthusiasm for teaching, and a commitment to student success.
Kyle Bifano, Katie Walker, Alyssa Hockey and Raymond Lennie
Prom dates: Janivel Leo and Joshua Flood
Paul Scalchi and Fallon Fleitstra
Sean Callaghan, Cinthia Brown and Matthew Haeussler
Josh Levine, Eddie Morales, Amy Randazzo, Amanda Stover and Nicole Lepore
Shane Perkins and Victoria Dobkowski
Kiera Lewis, Shamshrita Pandey and Natalye Salazar
Nic Colello and Lexie Tymikiw
Jenna Cecere and Jeremy Wang
Stephen Lantigua and Michelle Ledezma
PJ Gohn and Megan Carlos
Khalid Alzubi and Cristina Fernandez
Jennifer Huang and Bener Uygun
Zachary Imp and Ally Schlosser
Vivian Kwong, Rohan Khajuria
Grace Santangelo and Thomas Kaiser
Alissa Afonso and Thomas Mercado
Melissa Langdan, Isaiah Hulse, Toni Moran and Brittany Diefenbach
Ravi Chothani, Zayn Wahab, Matt Marinas, Sammy Gao, Ryan Weiss and Sarang Amin
Michelle Starel, Joseph Ruggiero, Nicole Ruggiero, TJ Campbell, Brooke Jones, Mike Kastrunis, Carmen Fitzsimmons, Anthony Scannelli, Emily Carlos, Naseen Sawalhi, Carly Pasquale, Sean Golden, Grace Santangelo and Thomas Kaiser
Anthony Surach, Rosia Giordano, Sofia Santana and Brandon Risola
PARSIPPANY — Payless the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere, announced in April that it filed motions to help facilitate continued operations in the ordinary course of business while the Company operates under Chapter 11 protection were approved by Judge Kathy A. Surratt-States of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
As part of the Court’s approval of first day motions, Payless received authorization on an interim basis from the Court to provide employee wages, healthcare coverage, and other benefits without interruption, and pay certain vendors and suppliers for all authorized goods and services. All vendors and suppliers will be paid in the ordinary course for those goods and services provided on or after the date of the Chapter 11 filing.
The Court’s approvals also affirmed on an interim basis access to $245 million of the $305 million Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) financing facility provided by a lender group led by Wells Fargo.
As a result of the hearing, all Payless stores and Payless.com were able to continue offering without interruption the wide range of affordably priced family footwear for which they are relied on by families across America.
Payless is seeking to close the 3085 Route 46, in the Morris Hills Shopping Center.
Payless has asked a federal bankruptcy court for permission to close 112 stores, including the Route 46 location, and potentially another 296 if conditions don’t improve.
Click here for a complete listing of current stores under negotiation to close.
According to the company’s website “Closure is not a certainty yet, and a final decision depends on bankruptcy negotiations. “We remain hopeful that these negotiations will be successful and provide us with the ability to avoid additional closures.” A court hearing on the potential closures is set for June 8.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany High School will hold its annual Redstock on Saturday, June 10, inviting the public to participate in many sports activities and games behind the high school. The highlight of the festival will be the Powder Puff flag football game between the senior and junior girls.
This event focuses on bringing local families, students, school-based organizations and area businesses together for a FREE day of entertainment, music, games, food and fun! This year’s festival will feature a vendor area for local businesses to meet and interact with current and potential customers giving them the opportunity to directly distribute samples, promotional items and other marketing material, as well as sell.
The event starts at 12:00 Noon and ends at 3:00 p.m. offers food, live music, face painting, arts and crafts, bounce house, local businesses, dunk tank ($1.00), games and prizes and live entertainment. The PTSA will hold a Tricky Tray and Raffle.
The Central Middle School Flag Football game will start at 5:00 p.m.
The Hawkeye Community awards will begin at 6:00 p.m., and the Juniors vs. Seniors Powderpuff Football game will start at 6:30 p.m.
In addition, they will be collecting canned foods at the gate, so please donate.
MORRIS COUNTY —The spring rain is continuing – for now. However, once the sun comes back out, be ready to thoroughly check the outside your house, apartment, and condominium or wherever you live in Morris County and drain sources of standing water to eliminate areas where mosquitoes can breed.
If you’d like to help avoid a nasty plague of those pesky biting and disease carrying critters this spring and summer on and around your property, make sure to look for and eliminate all sources of standing water, such as such as planters, gutters, old tires or wheelbarrows.
“If everyone would take steps around their own homes to eliminate standing water, it could make a very big difference, reducing the number of mosquitos by many hundreds of thousands, if not millions, where you live,’’ said Mosquito Division Superintendent Kristian McMorland.
The Morris County Division of Mosquito Control has been active for months preparing for this year’s mosquito battle, but you can be the difference maker when it comes to mosquitos around where you live.
In recent few weeks, when weather has allowed, county mosquito teams have been spraying heavy mosquito breeding areas via trucks, ATVs and back-mounted sprayers. They have sprayed this week in Chatham, Florham Park, and Parsippany, and are set to do spray large areas of Lincoln Park and Montville on Thursday (Click here for the upcoming schedule)
“It’s important to remove or clean or repair anything that can collect rain or sprinkler water – such as clogged gutters, old car tires, wheelbarrows, planters, trash can covers, birdbaths, old tarps, or unused swimming or wading pools,’’ said McMorland. “Even just a bit of standing water can produce a huge number of mosquitoes that can have a negative impact on your quality of life.’’
The most common backyard species of mosquito travels only about thousand feet from where they are spawned. Mosquitoes spend their juvenile life stage in the aquatic environment and will go from egg to adult in about one week during the summer. So removing standing water near your home can have a dramatic impact on your mosquito population.
In addition to the nuisance of mosquitos, they also bring the possibility of mosquito borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.
“Our county team does a great job of working to battle mosquitos in some of the toughest breeding grounds in the county but they need your help when it comes to making a difference in your yard or neighborhood,’’ said Freeholder John Cesaro, liaison to the County Mosquito Control Division. “What steps you take, or don’t take, can affect families living all around you.’’
Steps you can take to reduce mosquito populations include:
At least once a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.
Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.
Recycle discarded tires, and remove other items that could collect water.
Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home.
Look very carefully around your property for anything that could hold water in which mosquitos can lay eggs. If you are starting to rebuild, make sure standing water is not collecting on tarps or in any receptacles.
Additional tips on how to limit mosquitoes on your property include:
Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have accumulated on your property;
Drill holes in the bottom and elevate recycling containers that are left outdoors;
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate;
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, including those that are not being used. A swimming pool that is left untended can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints.
Be aware mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on pool covers
It is also a good time now to check screens in windows and doors and make any necessary repairs to prevent mosquitos from entering your home.
PARSIPPANY — New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the full closure of the I-287 northbound ramp to I-80 westbound for three nights this week for electrical work in Parsippany-Troy Hills.
Beginning at 11:00 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, May 31 until 5:00 a.m. the next morning, and again overnight on Thursday, June 1, and Friday June 2, NJDOT’s contractor, Daidone Electric, Inc. will close the I-287 northbound ramp to I-80 westbound to perform electrical work. The following signed detour will be in place during construction.
I-287 northbound to I-80 westbound Detour:
·Motorists on I-287 northbound will be directed to take Exit 43 for Intervale Road/Mountain Lakes
·Make a left onto Intervale Road and cross over I-287
·Make a left onto Route 202 southbound/Parsippany Boulevard
·Make left onto I-287 southbound
·Take Exit 41B from I-287 southbound to I-80 westbound
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.
As a small business owner and taxpayer in Morris County, I face two issues that are near and dear to many others in our county: taxes and the business climate. I believe that these issues are directly related and it is only by bringing business back that we can prevent Morris County residents from being taxed out of their homes.
As a business owner, I am proud that I am able to help my employees to put a roof over their children’s heads and food on their tables but it is also a great responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. Here in Morris County, like anywhere else in the world, business climates change. In this county, where large and small businesses alike have been leaving since the late 1980’s, the swings in the income or workload of any small business can be very substantial as the disposable income of patrons fluctuates. Whether you are in business as a florist, mechanic, doctor, cleaner, carwash, dentist, lawyer or anything else, when things get slow you must make tough decisions. You can take away bonuses people count on, cut salaries or resort to layoffs so that you remain profitable or you, as the business owner, can take little or nothing for yourself in order to avoid negatively impacting employees and their families. Since opening my business in 2004, I have always chosen to tighten my own belt in order to protect others when business slows down. This means that I am either depleting my savings or paying my own obligations late to protect my employees.
As a Morris County taxpayer, I, like the rest of you, am faced with Average annual taxes per resident are $10,077, earning us a spot among only nine counties in the entire nation- that’s right, the nation with average annual property taxes over $10,000. With taxes being so high and the penalties for paying late being so low, many people, myself included, whether they own a business, have kids in college, are doing major home improvements, have serious medical problems and a host of other reasons will choose to pay taxes late which amounts to a form of low interest loan. Unfortunately, there are those who will find themselves unable to make up the shortfall, whether on a fixed income, faced with job loss or otherwise.
We must restore economic prosperity in Morris County. We must bring businesses back to Morris County. We will restore viable economic opportunities for our young people, restore jobs for those who have lost them or are currently working at jobs far beneath their skill level, and ease the tax burden on the residents of Morris County.
This can be done and I have a plan which I have touched upon many times in speeches over the last few months. Given the opportunity to begin implementation of this plan, I believe that within the next few years, together, we can begin to restore the prosperity that has eroded from Morris County over the last 25 years. I order to do this, I am asking for your vote on Tuesday, June 6.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Hills High School freshmen baseball team recently won the Morris County Tournament championship game against Delbarton 7-4 played at Patriot’s Stadium in Somerset County. The tournament honors Walt Stasiak, who coached freshmen baseball at Morris Knolls for 25 years.
Parsippany was the eleventh-seeded team and Delbarton was the top seeded team…which, by the way, was a very sweet victory! Sam D’Uva pitched the entire game, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits. He struck out two. Corey Katzenberger was 1 for 3 with a run and an RBI. JD Breslauer went 2 for 4 with a triple and a run. EJ Comerford was 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Nick Russo was 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
The freshmen coaches are Mr. Brennan and Mr. Mann.
MORRIS COUNTY — West Side Story, MPAC’s fifth spring production, takes the stage on Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4 for four performances. The production will feature a cast of over 40 young performers. Tickets are $20.00 to 25.00.
Since launching annual spring productions five years ago, MPAC Education Director and West Side Story Director Cathy Roy has selected shows that present bold challenges to her cast and crew. “We see so much youth talent at MPAC. They were definitely ready to take on the challenge of West Side Story,” she said.
While the show originally debuted on Broadway in 1957, its subject matter resonates today, another reason Roy was drawn to the material. “We are hoping by telling this powerful story that we can remind our audiences about the power of love in a time of divide and tension in our society,” Roy said.
“People want to believe that we as a country have moved beyond racial discrimination, but it’s still a real issue,” added Christian Harvey (Action), 17, of Randolph, who is appearing in his fifth MPAC production. “There are still people who are scared to show themselves and this show addresses that.”
For young performers, one of the main allures of MPAC’s spring productions is the ability to work with a professional director, choreographer, musical director, actors and backstage crew to truly get a taste of what it’s like to be part of a professional production.
“It’s incredible,” said Alessandra Le Pera (Maria), 19, of Florham Park, who attends Drew University. “It pushes me to work harder. I’m really finding that with that pushing and extra work, I am able to do things I didn’t think I could do before.”
In addition to its cast of over 40 youth performers, Roy cast two Equity guest artists in their mid-20s to portray Tony and Anita. The combination of the younger actors working with the slightly older professional performers gave everyone an opportunity to learn from and be inspired by each other.
“The cast is so energetic and full of love for theater,” said Scott McCreary (Tony), whose professional credits include the national tour of Dirty Dancing and NBC’s The Sing-Off. “It’s great to have this big group of people out on stage that has that type of energy.”
West Side Story’s Music Director Charles Santoro – a relative greybeard for this group at 25 years old – has observed that the younger performers have emulated how the professional actors prepare and rehearse. “When watching a professional performer at work, they pick up those small things that sometimes get overlooked,” he said.
“It really has been wonderful working alongside these young performers and being a role model for them,” adds Lauren Csete (Anita), who has also portrayed Anita in Paper Mill Playhouse’s production. “When I was their age I wish I would have had this experience because I would have learned so much. All of the young actors are professional, talented, sweet and great to work with!
West Side Story is a complicated production, and Roy is using the original Jerome Robbins choreography (adapted by Jayme Wappel) that accompanies the music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
“Vocally, the performers need to stay with their natural sound while feeling comfortable with their meaning behind the music,” Santoro said. “If they don’t understand what they are singing about, then they cannot connect and be one with their character.”
Fortunately, much of the cast has honed those skills through classes at the MPAC Performing Arts School (PAS). Started in 2005, the MPAC PAS is a training ground for students of all abilities ages 5-18 in musical theatre, acting and voice in a nurturing and supportive environment. The PAS has over 25 afterschool and weekend classes per semester, as well as summer camps. Most recently, the school has added classes that use the concepts developed by the L.A.-based Miracle Project which use theater techniques to help children on the autism spectrum to find their voice through the performing arts.
“I feel like all of my hard work and dedication and commitment is finally paying off,” said Christian Harvey, who has taken PAS classes for several years and now also serves as a PAS teaching assistant and Miracle Project peer volunteer. “In every production, Cathy Roy always reminds every single member of the cast, from the smallest part to the leading role, to be true to your character. She has a way of making the actors with the smallest roles feel crucial to the story that is being told. And she’s right!”
The cast has been working hard since February and is excited as the show readies its debut on June 2. “We have done a really great show here,” Csete says. “It’s incredibly riveting.”
The cast and crew hope that people will enjoy what promises to be a performance full of power and passion. “It’s incredible that there are students in high school involved in a show at a theater that is so amazing. Professionals and students coming together to make art. It is art!” La Pera said.
Adds McCreary, “West Side Story is my favorite show. The story is so beautifully written and Tony as a character does everything I’ve wanted to do on stage. I get to fall in love, I get to get married and I get to die all in one day!”
West Side Story will be performed at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown on Friday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 3 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 4 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 or $25.00. Order tickets online at MayoArts.Org or by calling the box office at (973) 539-8008.
To learn more about the MPAC Performing Arts School click here.
PARSIPPANY — The Lakeland Hills Family YMCA held its annual 2017 Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation on Wednesday, May 17 at the Knoll West Country Club.
The Parsippany High School Small Jazz Combo performed during the cocktail hour. The “Citizen of the Year” is presented to individuals in the YMCA service area who have provided outstanding volunteer service and leadership to improve the quality of life in each of their communities.
YMCA Citizens of the Year
1 of 13
Rosemary Linder Day
Vik Joganow, CEO at Lakeland Hills Family YMCA
Rosemary Linder Day and Karen DeChristopher at the 2017 YMCA Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation
Randy Smith and Karen DeChristopher
Members of Parsippany High School Small Jazz Combo
Members of Parsippany High School Small Jazz Combo
Members of Parsippany High School Small Jazz Combo
Karen DeChristopher with Isabella Cacciottolo, a member of Parsippany High School Small Jazz Combo
The Kiwanis Family: Joyce Garrow, Karen DeChristopher, Debbie Young, Karen Gajewski, Jayne Beline, Davey Willans, Bob Young, Carol Tiesi and Frank Cahill
Karen DeChristopher and Frank Cahill
Karen and Ralph DeChristopher
Nicolas Limanov and Carol Tiesi
Bob and Debbie Young
Parsippany resident Karen DeChristopher was named “Parsippany Citizen of the Year.”
Inspired by her life experiences, Karen has a long history of giving back. Her award nominator shared this, “Karen continuously offers her talents, knowledge, financial and emotional support to help make a difference in the lives of others.” Karen’s list of volunteer activities is seemingly endless:
A volunteer since 2006 with the Parsippany Office of Emergency Management, she is also a former graduate and presenter at the Parsippany Citizens Police Academy.
Karen spent countless hours helping victims and first responders after Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy.
She also educates the Parsippany Boy Scouts on emergency and disaster preparedness.
She is extensively involved with Family Promise of Morris County, and actively mentors mothers and children on how to cope with life’s difficulties.
As a three-time cancer survivor, Karen is a tireless advocate for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and serves on the Event Leadership Committee as the Event Lead, Co-Chair.
As a member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, and currently serves as Vice President and is the Co-Director and the Chair of Young Children Priority One service projects, as well as being on numerous other club committees in many roles.
Karen is a member of the Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills, in addition to supporting and advocating for Prevent Child Abuse-NJ, Jersey Battered Women’s Services, Parsippany Food Pantry, and the Center for Hope Hospice.
Rosemary Linder Day, Sergeant Greg Bogert and Randy Smith
The 2017 Citizen of the Year for Riverdale is Sergeant Greg Bogert. In December 2010, Greg responded to a call at a Riverdale home with the report of an infant who wasn’t breathing. He successfully helped resuscitate the baby and received, at that time, a life-saving award and recognition. Fast forward to April 2016: Greg responded to a call regarding a possibly homicidal young man on the Route 287 bridge near Exit 53 in Riverdale. Greg knew the man was in distress, but also knew he had to take control of the situation. The man ran to the edge of the bridge as Greg approached him, but Greg was able to grab him before he leapt off the bridge. Thankful to save the individual, Greg was also thankful no motorist was struck. Since the incident, he has raised thousands of dollars for teen suicide awareness. An almost 20-year veteran of the Riverdale Police Department, Sergeant Greg Bogert has been widely praised for his heroics and providing us with service “above and beyond.” Those accolades are well deserved.
Sergeant Greg Bogert and Nicolas LimanovRosemary Linder Day, Sergeant Greg Bogert and Randy Smith
Other Citizens of the Year include:
Boonton: Carolyn Micheletti Dobies – Carolyn’s professional career spanned many decades in education in the Secaucus school system. Her love of children and passion for the arts has taken her down many paths. Our local community has benefitted from her extra time, because her passion has been channeled to the Boonton Area Cultural Arts, St.
Clare’s Harvest Festival, St. Catherine of Siena RC. Church, and the town of Boonton. Carolyn has done everything from transcribe children’s books into Braille, was an assistant at the Lake Drive School for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, and still heads a parental program called Hugs and Hopes for terminally ill children. Carolyn has received a national Teacher of the Year award; now she can add the title of Boonton Citizen of the Year!
Boonton Township: Ron Quade – Ron has been involved with Boy Scouts for over a dozen years, and is an active Scout Leader for Troop 69. His goal is to educate and guide boys to become well-rounded individuals with great respect for others and their communities. Ron is a resident of Boonton Township where he is committed to serving its residents. He is a past member of the Boonton Township Environmental Committee and currently serves as vice chair of the Boonton Township Planning Board. Ron’s nominator for this award wrote, “Ron represents an eagerness to serve his community as a volunteer and his position within the Scouts has enabled him to serve as a role model for future generations.”
Denville: Thomas Dean -The consummate Denville volunteer, Tom is known to almost everyone in Denville. To quote Denville Mayor Tom Andes, “Tommy is involved with anything good and wholesome in Denville. He is one of the most generous guys in town.” Many know Tom as owner of Norman Dean Funeral Home, which he took over from his father. Many also know that Tom, a lifelong Denville resident, rarely says no. He is on the Denville P.R.I.D.E. Committee and annually organizes its National Day of Prayer. Tom is currently serving, or has been a member of Denville Lions Club, Denville Chamber of Commerce, St. Francis Residential Board of Directors, St. Francis Fall Festival, the Morris County Juvenile Council, Rockaway River cabinet, and Denville Rivers & Streams. The list continues: Denville Centennial Committee, PAL Olympics, Denville United Methodist Church. He is actively involved with Boy Scouts, and has helped create the newly-formed Denville Business Improvement District (BID).
Kinnelon: Scott Akin – Scott is one of our Citizens to establish a nonprofit organization to benefit a group of individuals in need of outreach services and support. The primary mission of Shelter our Soldiers is to build permanent housing for disabled veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Scott recruits numerous individuals from all walks of life to advance this cause. He also works with the Kinnelon High School student outreach club to provide holiday gifts to almost 100 veterans who live in transitional housing on the grounds of the Lyons VA Hospital. Scott is also involved with the Do Good Student Support Group, which is dedicated to giving scholarships to deserving students who are in need of financial assistance. Its motto is, “Helping America’s Future, One Student at a Time.” Scott is on the front lines of creating change, for the benefit of all of us.
Lincoln Park: Lauren Curiotto – Lauren is the youngest of our 2017 class of Citizens, but her volunteer accomplishments are as extensive. She has been a mentor for the New York University Catherine B. Reynolds Program for Social Entrepreneurship “Changemaker Challenge” since 2012, and an instructor at the Entrepreneur School for Girls. The idea of”change the world” has inspired Lauren in many ways, making her the perfect candidate to create the nonprofit organization Finding the Fabulous right here in Lincoln Park. Its vision is to advance the next generation of strong female leaders and role models. Lauren has led the charge for girls aged 5-18 to choose confidence, compassion, and creativity in their journeys to overcome life’s challenges such as fear of failure and lack of purpose or self-esteem. As if Executive Director of Finding the Fabulous wasn’t enough, Lauren volunteers in several capacities at Lincoln Park Abundant Worship Center.
Montville: Mark and Anna Landgrebe – Everybody needs help sometimes. Those simple words turned into something much bigger than Mark and Anna ever thought possible. Spurred into action way back in 1992, M ark and Anna delivered food to the homeless in NYC during the holidays after learning about a similar program. Those holiday visits turned into regular Saturday night rituals, trying to help as many individuals as possible. On Saturday evenings, the Homeless Bus (yes, there really is a bus) leaves Montville and heads to NYC. On board are volunteers who have dedicated themselves to providing food such as sandwiches, Cup of Noodles soups, hot chocolate, water, fresh fruit, and baked goods; travel-size toiletries and clothing are offered as well. With the networking among the homeless population, Mark and Anna have become familiar faces, and have forged close relationships. Mark and Anna have poured their heart and soul into helping the homeless, and the world is a better place for it.
Mountain Lakes: Thomas ”Mac” McEldujf- When “Mac” was nominated for this award, many reasons were given on why he is so deserving. However, the best reason was priceless: ‘We believe the selection of Mac would be met with great local enthusiasm. But there is one more reason why he would be a great choice: Because he would hate it!” There aren’t many “Lakers” who have volunteered for so long, for so many, in so many capacities. From coaching girl’s recreation lacrosse and soccer, to teaching Sunday school at Mountain Lakes Community Church, from volunteering with the Medical Needs Foundation to being a volunteer firefighter, Mac has proudly, but humbly, served his community. From Santa each Christmas at the tree lighting, to a Project Graduation coordinator, to substitute teacher, Mac has been there to help through it all; for young and old, through storms and hurricanes, his selflessness is unmatched, and for perhaps this once, he’ll let the spotlight shine down upon him so that we may honor him.
Pequannock: Russell Hall – Russ should be more accurately called the Morris County Citizen of the Year. His work on behalf of those less fortunate lead one colleague to state, “Russ is doing great things on behalf of all county residents.” His body of service includes trustee, Morris County Affordable Housing; member, Morris County Assistance Services; executive committee member, Morris County Continuum of Care; member, Morris County Fair Housing Committee. Russ continues to serve our community through Interfaith Food Pantry, Housing Alliance of Morris County, and the Housing Authority of Morris County. As with many individuals who humbly decline to accept awards, Russ had to be coerced by many to agree to be honored this evening. Most assuredly, by his long list of accomplishments and by helping so many, especially in finding the basic of services, shelter and food, Russ is a most deserving individual.
PARSIPPANY — The Lakeland Hills YMCA honored three members of the Parsippany-Troy Hills School System at its Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation. Mrs. Joni Benos, Chief of Staff/Public Information Officer, called it the “Parsippany Education Trifecta.” This is the first time in the Y history both Educators of the Year and the William Kogen scholarship recipient are from Parsippany.
The first Parsippany honoree was Parsippany High School Senior Matthew Marinas. He was presented with the William Kogen Community Service Award.
Brad Kogen with Matthew Marinas
Matthew is an active member of the Parsippany Rockaway Neck Volunteer First Aid Squad who plans to earn his EMT certification. Matthew has worked alongside healthcare providers and members of law enforcement, which has influenced his career choice of working in criminal justice. As a responder, Matthew has witnessed crime and drug abuse, and has cared for those ill and injured. He enjoys serving the public and is always ready to help those in need.
As a St. Barnabas Medical Center volunteer, he has had the opportunity to assist patients and staff in the Same Day Surgery Unit and the Emergency Department. One of his school volunteer activities are Peer Buddies, helping mentally challenged individuals feel accepted as they learn life skills and mainstream into society. Matthew has volunteered for food drives, service nights, and community outreach events. He is active with the youth ministry of St. Ann Church in Parsippany, including fundraisers, hospitality service, and as a confirmation retreat leader.
Matthew is also a math tutor and roller hockey coach, and his mantra is to always lead by example and serve as a positive influence to others. He feels these experiences have given him the ability to cope under stressful situations, increased his confidence, and taught him the value of teamwork. Matthew states, “I believe at this time more than ever, our society continues to be challenged with issues that threaten the public. It is my ambition to direct my passion toward improving and protecting the lives of others.
Matthew Marinas with his parents John and Marcella Marinas
Educator of the Year was presented to Ms. Katherine Casciol
Katherine has been teaching elementary school at Troy Hills School in Parsippany for twenty-one years. She was inspired to become an educator through the wisdom, support, guidance, encouragement, and unconditional love she herself received when a student all those years ago at Troy Hills School. It was Katherine’s childhood dream to teach at the same school she attended. It’s that same passion to become a teacher that Katherine imparts to her students. She not only understands her students but is respectful of them as well.
Vinnie Aniello, Ms. Katherine Cascioli, Ella Cistaro, Christina Cistaro, and Joe Cistaro
Katherine is ending her term as First Vice President of the Board of Directors of the ARC of Morris County. ARC is a nonprofit agency dedicated to the care, support, and advancement of people with intellectual and related developmental disabilities and their families. She will become President of the ARC of Morris County this month. This in itself makes Katherine a wonderful and compassionate educator. But what transpired last year changed her life and the lives of many. I could relate the story to you, but it is much more meaningful if I share the words from Katherine’s nominators for this award, Joe and Christina Cistaro.
These are their words: “Our family has had a very special relationship with Katherine since she taught our oldest daughter Ella, during the 2013-14 school year. Ella and Katherine connected early on, and formed a special friendship that continues today.” In August 2015, our youngest daughter Ashley was lucky enough to be placed in Katherine’s third-grade class. From the day Ashley found out who her teacher was going to be, she conceived her plan to infiltrate Katherine’s heart. Ashley knew about Katherine’s love of owls and pugs from her sister, so we spent many hours that summer canvassing stores for owl lunch boxes and pajamas, pug posters and cards. When the first day of school rolled around, Katherine and Ashley shared an instant connection. Beyond their shared love of owls and pugs, there was a deeper connection. Katherine understood Ashley as very few did. They both have such amazing hearts with so much love and acceptance to offer others. When we think about the purity and innocence of our sweet Ashley, we will always think of Katherine.
Ashley struggled in school, both academically and socially. Katherine went above and beyond each and every day to make her feel comfortable, while still accomplishing the task at hand. Whether it was standing in front of the class with Ashley to calm her nerves, strategically pairing her with partners who worked best with Ashley’s unique style, or holding Ashley’s hand so tight to calm her anxiety on a field trip. Katherine was always able to give our Ashley the love and support she needed to feel safe and comfortable at school.
March 2016 brought tragedy to our family when we lost Ashley extremely unexpectedly. Katherine’s support for our family after Ashley’s passing, continuing even now, has been unwavering. She has honored Ashley’s sparkly spirit and has continued to spread the love that Ashely had in her heart, but is no longer able to do so herself. We know firsthand what a wonderful teacher, mentor, and human being Katherine is. We can never repay the many teachers that have touched the lives of our children, and frankly, we feel inadequate by trying. We’re hoping that sharing what an amazing, life-changing teacher Katherine is, will be a step in the right direction.
Katherine shared her feelings with us, “When my precious hot pink and owl loving Ashely passed away, I promised myself that I would try each and every day to live in her likeness and teach the messages of the spirit she embodied. Everyone felt good when they were with Ashley because she accepted all people unconditionally. Learning wasn’t always easy for Ash, but she never gave up. Her message was clear: Even if you can’t find the words, let your actions speak the messages in your heart. I think all of us who teach love and acceptance, and practice love and acceptance, are teachers of the most important part of all of life’s lessons. I am honored and will forever cherish the opportunity to spread a lesson of love with all of you tonight…please pass it on.”
Dr. Denis Mulroony was also honored Educator of the Year
Dr. Mulroony is home grown in Parsippany. When Denis is not cheering on sports teams from Parsippany High School, participating in service nights at PHS, organizing trips to the Community Food Bank of NJ, or planning new and innovative events to promote school spirit, he is in the hallways and classrooms, interacting with students and personally getting to know them. The PHS Director of Guidance stated that Denis is the epitome of what everyone wishes their high school principal to be. The PHS Student Council President said that Denis brings a joy to PHS that inspires students and teachers to take a larger part in the community, especially with service events and outreach. She said, “He is always open to new ideas. This year a member of the student council had an idea to host a cross-town competition with high schools on both sides of town. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to make this event happen. On April 21, the very first Hills vs. High volleyball tournament was held, with donations to the charity Bianca’s Kids. It’s his determination, dedication, and will to help, support, and encourage the students that makes PHS so special.”
Vincent Aniello with Dr. Denis Mulroony
A member of the educational administration staff said, “I believe Dr. Mulroony is one of the finest people I have ever met in education. He is not just an excellent principal, he is a quality person, who shows an interest in all students.” Denis is passionate about making students feel good about school and giving them a voice. He believes educators should be role models to demonstrate enthusiasm, kindness, compassion, and devotion on a daily basis. And no, Denis, that is not a corny thing to say, because we know you really mean it!
Denis chose to be a teacher to pursue his love of reading, writing, and athletics and to work with teenagers, and we know how hard that is! From teaching, coaching, mentoring, and advising, from a teacher to assistant principal to principal, Denis has always maintained his passion for education and his compassion for his students. He is all about instilling learning and leadership, about celebrating successes as well as differences, and about helping teens become the best versions of themselves. We are proud tonight to celebrate Dr. Denis Mulroony and all he has done for his students, his school, and his community.
Dr. Robert Sutter, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Office of Human Resources, Board President Frank Neglia, Mrs. Joni Benos, Chief of Staff/Public Information Officer, Board Member Judy Mayer, Timothy Berrios and Joseph Cistaro
The Lakeland Hills YMCA also presented “Citizens of the Year Awards.” For complete story click here.
PARSIPPANY — Prism Capital Partners has sold 339 Jefferson Road to Mane USA. A worldwide leader in the fragrance and flavor industry, the French company will relocate its U.S. headquarters to the Class A office property. The company currently is located at 60 Demarest Drive, Wayne.
Prism’s in-house construction team currently is fitting out Mane USA’s 70,000-square-foot space. The full-service commercial real estate owner/operator will continue as property manager for the fully occupied, 102,000-square-foot property, which also serves as home to Hollister Construction and Ascend Laboratories.
The sale brings Prism’s investment in 339 Jefferson full circle. The company purchased the asset, then known as Kingsbridge Corporate Center IV, in 2013 in a joint venture with a Boston investment firm. The partnership completed extensive capital improvements to reintroduce the former corporate headquarters property to the market as a multi-tenant opportunity in 2015.
The repositioning responded to changing tenant requirements within the Northern New Jersey office market. “The drive to do more in less space has resulted in a growing number of single-tenant properties being repurposing to accommodate multiple users with smaller requirements,” noted Edwin Cohen, a principal partner with Prism Capital Partners. “We recognized the potential for this type of repositioning at 339 Jefferson, and we focused on branding the property as a modern, amenity-rich Class A environment.”
The project included a complete overhaul of the building’s soaring, three-story atrium lobby and upgraded finishes throughout. Prism also incorporated enhanced building services including a fitness center and grab-and-go café. Situated on five acres, the granite-clad building offers underground parking in addition to surface lots. It is strategically located near the junction of I-80 and I-287, just minutes from the Parsippany Sheraton and Hyatt House hotels.
“We created a workplace environment that provides a lifestyle and location to help organizations compete for talent,” Cohen noted. “Mane USA’s investment in 339 Jefferson, and the additional tenants that have leased there since the rebranding, speak to our success in doing just that. We look forward to continuing our involvement as property manager for the new ownership.”
Prism maintains a long-time presence in the local market; 339 Jefferson sits adjacent to the company’s 399 Jefferson Road, which is fully occupied by Zimmer-Biometand Pinnacle Foods. The Bloomfield based organization creates value through select real estate investments and developments. Geographically focused in the tri-state region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, Prism specializes in identifying, acquiring and creating value-added opportunities in the office, retail, industrial and residential sectors.
Dear Editor:
The Morris County Division of Mosquito Control has been active for months preparing for this year’s mosquito battle, but you can be the difference maker when it comes to mosquitos around where you live.
“Our county team does a great job of working to battle mosquitos in some of the toughest breeding grounds in the county but they need your help when it comes to making a difference in your yard or neighborhood,’’ said Freeholder John Cesaro, liaison to the County Mosquito Control Division. “What steps you take, or don’t take, can affect families living all around you.’’
PARSIPPANY — 
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Hills High School freshmen baseball team recently won the Morris County Tournament championship game against Delbarton 7-4 played at Patriot’s Stadium in Somerset County. The tournament honors Walt Stasiak, who coached freshmen baseball at Morris Knolls for 25 years.
PARSIPPANY —