Parsippany Police Explorers Tour Metlife Stadium

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Police Explorers were very fortunate to see what it is like to provide security for very large special events at Metlife Stadium.

The crew was greeted at the gate by Retired Chief of Detectives Morris County Prosecutor Office Joseph Devine and New Jersey State Police, Meadowlands Station Commander, Lieutenant Peter Velez.

After a very informative security briefing by Lt. Velez the Explorers they off to see the “good stuff” and explored behind the scenes of Metlife Stadium.

When you take a look at our pictures, you’ll see it’s quite evident we have more Giants fans. Sorry to the Jets and they definitely checked out their operation also. They finished the tour with a full-out charge onto the field. Enjoy the pics and if anyone wants to stop by and see the operation they will be having a holiday party and meeting on December 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at Parsippany Police Headquarters.

To be a member of the Post you have to be between 14 and 20 years old, pass a background check, and agree to strict paramilitary rules and regulations.

Members of Parsippany Police Explorers

For more information click here or email Lt. Keith Lefferts at klefferts@parpolice.com.

Exploring is a nationally recognized career education program chartered through Learning for Life and the Boy Scouts for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years old. The purpose of the Parsippany Police Explorer Program is to provide information and experiences to young men and women who are interested in a possible law enforcement career. To accomplish this, PTHPD Explorer Post #131 utilizes a hands on training approach while providing curriculum and experiences that help young people mature and learn lifelong leadership skills, while establishing an awareness of the challenges of law enforcement. Post meetings are held twice per month, where Explorers practice military drill, learn about law enforcement topics, develop teamwork through problem solving, and regularly participate in community service details. Membership within the program is contingent upon the Explorer adhering to the rules and regulations found within the Parsippany Police Explorer Manual and the paramilitary organizational style approach.

Explorers Learn About:

  • Police Ethics
  • Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS)
  • MV Stops / MV Crash Diagrams
  • Domestic Violence
  • Gangs
  • K-9
  • Crimes against the person
  • Crimes against property
  • White-collar and computer crime
  • Firearms Safety / Self Defense
  • Counter Terrorism
  • Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)
  • Title 39 Motor Vehicle Law
  • Radio Procedures
  • Search and Rescue
  • Fire Departments
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Office of Emergency Management

Keith J. Hawkins, Jr. honored at Eagle Court of Honor

PARSIPPANY — Today is another proud day in Parsippany as Keith J. Hawkins, Jr., received Eagle Scout during his Eagle Scout Court of Honor held at Celebrate the Children’s School in Denville.

The pathway to Eagle can be described as a steep trail leading up to three peaks, the highest being that of Eagle Scout. Officially, the trail starts with the Tenderfoot rank and continues through Second and First Class ranks. Then, the mountain climbing begins. The path is marked with merit badges, leadership responsibilities, service projects, and the practice of Scouting skills and ideals. The first peak reached is that of Star Scout, the second is Life Scout, and, finally, Eagle Scout.

The Eagle Scout Award is Scouting’s highest rank and among its most familiar icons. Men who have earned it count it among their most treasured possessions. Those who missed it by a whisker remember exactly which requirement they didn’t complete. Americans from all walks of life know that being an Eagle Scout is a great honor. The award is more than a badge. It’s a state of being. The Eagle Scout may have received the badge as a boy, but you earn it every day as a man. In the words of the Eagle Scout Promise, they do your best each day to make their training and example, their rank and their influence count strongly for better Scouting and for better citizenship in the troop, in their community, and in their contacts with other people. And to this they pledge their sacred honor.

Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men. Only 5% of the Boy Scouts actually earn this rank.

Troop 72 was founded in 1954, and has been serving the boys of the Parsippany area ever since. They have scouts from all parts of Parsippany and beyond. They are sponsored by St. Peter the Apostle Church and All Saints Academy.

Ms. Brenda Sonzogni, Troop 72 Advancement Committee Chair, certified to the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America that Keith J. Hawkins, Jr., met the requirements for the rank of Eagle.

Keith earned 29 merit badges, 13 of these are required merit badges to earn Eagle. The required badges are:

  1. Camping
  2. Citizenship in the Community
  3. Citizenship in the Nation
  4. Citizenship in the World
  5. Communications
  6. Cooking
  7. Emergency Preparedness
  8. Environmental Science
  9. Family Life
  10. First Aid
  11. Personal Management
  12. Personal Fitness
  13. Swimming

Keith earned the following elective merit badges:

  1. Archery
  2. Chess
  3. Electricity
  4. Energy
  5. Fingerprinting
  6. Geology
  7. Home Repairs
  8. Indian Lore
  9. Leatherwork
  10. Metalwork
  11. Pioneering
  12. Railroading
  13. Rifle Shooting
  14. Robotics
  15. Shotgun Shooting
  16. Wood Carving

Keith also earned the following Recognitions or Trainings:
1. Den Chief Training
2. Den Chief Service Award
3. NRA Rifle Pro-Marksman
4. NRA Rifle Marksman
5. NRA Rifle Marksman First Class
6. NRA Rifle Sharpshooter
7. NRA Shotgun Pro-Marksman
8. NOA Camping Award
9. National Youth Leadership Training
10. Woodsman’s Thong

Keith had to serve actively in a troop position for a period of six months after becoming a Life Scout. He served as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster after earning Life Scout.

Keith had to plan, develop and carry out a service project worthy of an Eagle Scout. Keith took on the challenge of creating a Lego Therapy room for the Celebrate the Children School in Denville. The project started with painting the room and outside hallway arch. Keith organized a Lego collection effort by using communication skills learned as a scout, and by social media outreach. This led to donations by friends, neighbors and members of Troop 72. Keith also made a presentation of his project to Troop 8 in Chatham, garnering more donations. In conjunction with the sponsor, Keith helped design the room, and compiled a list of materials. These materials allowed for two large “building tables”, a set of portable tray “building tables”, and two large building areas on the wall. These are all covered with lego base plates. For storage, donated shelving was assembled, and storage cabinet refinished to a brighter color. While supervising the construction, Keith also provided direction to volunteers sorting, cleaning and drying the donated Legos. To make the room truly unique, Keith contacted an amateur artist to provide a Lego themed portrait on the back wall.

After completing this Eagle Scout Project he had to appear before a Board of Review of prominent persons and satisfy them that he had done his best to understand and live up to the Scout Oath and Law, and in all ways, qualify for the Eagle Scout Award.

Keith received special acknowledgements from Councilman Michael dePierro on behalf of the Township Council, Parsippany Rotary Club, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Assemblyman Jay Webber and Senator Joe Pennacchio; Frank Cahill, President and Karen DeChristopher, Vice President, Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany; Richard Kunz on behalf of Parsippany VFW Post 10184, Marilyn Marion from Parsippany Women’s Club, Lauren Blaszak, Executive Directors of Celebrate the Children School and Executive Board Member Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce Frank Cahill.

Keith is a 2017 alumni of Parsippany Hills High School and currently is attending Morris County Community College.

IN5PIRE Benefit Concert held at Parsippany High School

PARSIPPANY — IN5PIRE Benefit Concert was held at Parsippany High School on Sunday, November 19. The evening was filled with music, dance and learning.

IN5PIRE is a collaborative effort lead by girls from multiple high schools to support five different organizations: Think Sharp, Surgeons of Hope, Operation Smile, StepUP and FIRMC (Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children). All proceeds were donated to the organizations.

Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani, Councilman Michael DePierro, Sunisha Busarajan and Shreenidhi Katikaneni and Council President Louis Valori
Sunisha Busarajan and Shreenidhi Katikaneni were representing FIMRC

FIMRC is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of families in the developing world through the implementation of innovative and self-sustainable health improvement programs. Through its network of outpatient clinics and partnerships, FIMRC asserts a multidimensional strategy that includes clinical services, extensive community outreach efforts and health education programs.

FIMRC is a self-sustainable organization with project related funding provided from business operations – the Global Health Volunteer Program engages approximately 900 individuals annually who volunteer their time abroad and make a contribution in exchange for the experience FIMRC provides. Over 90% of FIMRC’s revenue is derived from our volunteer program, therefore funding our project sites across the globe.

FIMRC was founded in 2002, is incorporated in Washington, DC and headquartered in Philadelphia, PA.  The FIMRC team includes over 3,000 dedicated staff and volunteers worldwide who provide the leadership and support necessary to achieve our mission of improving access to health care for children in underserved communities. For more information or to make a donation, click here.

Operation Smile was founded in 1982 when Dr. William (Bill) P. Magee, Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen (Kathy), a nurse and clinical social worker, traveled to the Philippines with a group of medical volunteers to repair children’s cleft lips and cleft palates.

What they found was overwhelming. “People pushed their babies at us.” recalls Kathy. “They tugged at our sleeves with tears in their eyes and begged us to help their children.” In Naga City, approximately 300 families arrived hoping their children would receive surgery, but the team could only treat 40 children. As they prepared to leave, the Magees made a promise they would return to help more children.

They began soliciting donations of surgical equipment and supplies from manufacturers, threw themselves into grassroots fundraising and assembled a volunteer team of 18 doctors, nurses and technicians for their own medical mission to the Philippines.  They helped approximately 100 more patients, but again, hundreds still waited. For more information or to make a donation, click here.

Thinksharp Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation started in 2011.

At Thinksharp Foundation, they believe that every child has a right for better education and that he/she should have opportunity to access what they deserve.

Thinksharp Foundation is running Project “StudyMall” – Read and Learn in various villages of Maharashtra.

Providing a progressive learning environment for the community fostering academic and non- academic talents in a dynamic competitive world.

Empower rural communities by providing infrastructure, resources and training to support and improve learning outcomes of students, professional development for teachers and school community and enhance the digital way of learning by establishing StudyMall in villages. For more information or to make a donation, click here.

The Surgeons of Hope Foundation (SoH), is a New York City, NY based nonprofit established in 2001. Our organization aims to provide every infant and child with a damaged heart an equal opportunity to receive life-saving surgery.

It is an unconscionable loss that a child dies anywhere in the world from a heart defect (congenital or acquired) due to lack of resources for proper care, when a child living in the most remote area of the U.S. or Europe with the same heart defect would be easily cured. Surgeons of Hope seeks to narrow that disparity by living up to its motto: ”It’s Not What We Bring. It’s What We Leave Behind”.

We approach the need on three key fronts by giving urgently needed care, cultivating skills in local medical teams, and constructing centers of care in developing countries. For more information or to make donations, click here.

Step Up propels girls living in or going to school in under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused, and ready to join the next generation of professional women. Step Up believes all girls should have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Step Up is a special place where we all propel the fulfillment of potential. We take pride in our core values from which we develop our culture, our brand, and our impact strategies. For more information or to make a donation, click here.

 

 

Parsippany Town Hall Council Regular Meeting, (11/9/2017)

This meeting was video taped in two parts. Here is part two.

Quick Police work catches shoplifter at Marshalls

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Officer Clarence DeLoatch was outside of Marshalls, 3101 Route 46, when he observed a male, identified as Gregory Calvo, 47, Union City, exit through the entrance of the store with a suitcase.

As Mr. Calvo exited the store, Officer DeLoatch observed what appeared to be an electronic security device attached to it, and also heard the audible alarm sounding inside the doorway of the store.

He then spoke to Mr. Calvo and after a brief investigation approximately $1466 worth of merchandise was found inside the suitcase. Mr. Calvo was placed under arrest and transported back to police headquarters. He was charged with one count of Third Degree Shoplifting.

He was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending his initial court appearance.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Cluck-U employee arrested for credit card fraud

PARSIPPANY — The victim responded to police headquarters to speak to officers regarding credit card fraud.

After a brief investigation it was determined that the victim gave his full credit card information when he ordered from Cluck-U in Morristown.

Shortly after he became suspicious and observed a charge for $450.00 at the Parsippany Inn and Suites.

After a brief investigation by Patrol Officers James Seeger and Edward Elston, they made contact with Jose Alvarez, 31, Morristown, who is employed by Cluck-U, inside his room at the Parsippany Inn and Suites.

He was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters where he was charged with one count of Third Degree Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card; one count of Fourth Degree Credit Card Theft; one count of Fourth Degree Forgery; one count of Fourth Degree Identity Theft.

He was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending his first appearance.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

 

Northvail Elementary announced 2017 PTA Reflections winners

PARSIPPANY — Northvail Elementary announced their 2017 PTA Reflections winners whose submissions will be moving up to the County level for judging.

Reflections is a National PTA Reflections program developed in 1969 to encourage students in 12 to explore their talents and express themselves artistically based on a common theme. Each year, students in Grades Pre-K through 12 are recognized for bringing that theme to life through dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. This year the theme was “Within Reach”.

The winners of this program at the school level include the following: Mahima Bandi (Film Production), Vaibhavi Rai (Dance Choreography), Sahisnu Santhosh (Photography), Clay Fitzgerald (Music Composition), Prisha Suresh (Visual Arts), Allison Skupienski (Literature), Risha Dinesh (Visual Arts), Sejal Butala (Visual Arts), and Skylar Skupienski (Music Composition).”

Donate children’s socks, underwear and winter hats to children of domestic violence

PARSIPPANY — Karen DeChristopher, Co-Director Young Children Priority One announced a fundraiser for Jersey Battered Women’s Service (JBWS).

Between now and December 13 Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany is seeking donations of children’s socks, underwear and winter hats for ages three to sixteen, both male and female.

IHOP, 792 Route 46, Arlington Shopping Center, and Boiling Springs Savings Bank, 66 North Beverwyck Road are drop-off locations or bring it to our breakfast meeting at 7:!5 a.m. on Thursdays, at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46.

Domestic violence or abuse is when one person controls or coerces the other in an intimate relationship. It is about power and control. Abusers choose to use physical violence or emotional battering to express anger and gain control. They are not provoked to use violence; they alone are responsible for their inappropriate and unacceptable behavior. Domestic violence is a crime and can result in the abuser being removed or restrained from the home and/or jailed.

Jersey Battered Women’s Service in Morris County is a full-service domestic violence and domestic abuse prevention agency with volunteer opportunities. The services include a 24-hour hotline; counseling; safe house; transitional living; children’s services; life skills education; vocational counseling; batterers’ intervention; legal assistance; teen dating violence services; and professional training, education and youth prevention programs.

In 1976, a small group of women in Morris County began a helpline to aid victims of domestic violence. When two of these callers were murdered by their husbands, the need for a confidential shelter became urgent.

From its grass-roots beginnings, Jersey Battered Women’s Service opened its shelter doors to the community in late December 1978. Now, JBWS is a full-service, private, nonprofit domestic violence agency.

The mission of JBWS is the prevention of domestic violence through the protection and empowerment of the victim, the rehabilitation of family members, the advocacy of social reform to prevent partner violence, and the education of the public about domestic violence and its consequences.

Their vision is to create a community-wide culture that refuses to tolerate the presence of any form of family or partner violence.

Jersey Battered Women’s Service Administrative number is (973) 267-7520 or contact their 24-Hour Helpline at (973) 267-4763.

Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Our members, Kiwanians, are service-minded men and women who are united in their commitment and compassion for others.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany raises funds and donates to the Parsippany Food Pantry, Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library, Parsippany PAL Youth Center, Parsippany High School Scholarship Program, Parsippany Hills High School Scholarship Program, Parsippany Child Day Center, Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, Camp Nejeda, NJ Sharing Network, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Parsippany, Parsippany Project Graduation, Jersey Battered Women’s Services, Family Promise of Morris County, Parsippany Little League West, Parsippany Little League East to name a few.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany meets Thursday mornings at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46.   We are always looking for new volunteers.  Join us for breakfast and find out about our organization. For more information, click here.

PHHS Vikings defeated by Voorhees Vikings, 24-19

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Hills High School Vikings were defeated by the Voorhees Vikings 24 – 19 on Friday, November 17.

This game was part of the 2017 New Jersey High School Football Playoff Brackets: NJSIAA – North 2 Group 3 tournament.

Voorhees will play West Essex in the finals.

Parsippany Hills Vikings
2017 Record: (9-2-0)
Head Coach: David Albano
League: North Jersey Super Football Conference
Division: Patriot White
Section: North 2, Group 3
Power Points: 136
Power Points Calculation

Date Opponent Location Result Score
09-08 at West Morris West Morris HS W 31 – 27
09-15 Chatham Parsippany Hills HS W 41 – 12
09-22 at Roxbury Roxbury HS W 28 – 14
09-28 at Barringer Newark Schools Stadium W 43 – 18
10-06 Jefferson Parsippany Hills HS W 35 – 7
10-13 West Essex Parsippany Hills HS L 24 – 21
10-21 at Orange Bell Stadium W 34 – 28
10-28 Nutley Parsippany Hills HS W 42 – 14
11-02 at Ferris Caven Point W 42 – 7
11-10 Cranford Parsippany Hills HS W 48 – 21
11-17 Voorhees Parsippany Hills HS L 24 – 19

Volunteers prepare sandwiches for the homeless

PARSIPPANY — Respect My Life Founder Jabari Jackson organized a group of individuals to prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be delivered to the homeless.

Jackson is a 2010 graduate of Parsippany High School.

Members of Parsippany Police Explorers, residents, members of Respect My Life and elected officials gathered at Parsippany PAL Youth Center and prepared over 1300 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be delivered to three homeless centers: Saint John’s Soup Kitchen, Newark; Toni’s Soup Kitchen, Montclair and Eva’s Kitchen Village in Paterson.

The bread, peanut butter and jelly was all donated by members of the Parsippany Police Explorers, Respect My Life and ShopRite of Parsippany.

Toni’s Kitchen is a food ministry of St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair. They envision a community where everyone has reliable access to healthy food. Their mission is to provide food to neighbors in need in ways that improve health and independence. Their door is open and all are welcome.

Toni’s Kitchen was started in 1982 by parishioners at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church with the simple mission to “serve our neighbors in need.” Following the lead of a soup kitchen in nearby Paterson, people arriving for a hot meal were treated as guests and served restaurant style. The parishioners felt that this approach offered more dignity and respect than the traditional “stand in line” soup kitchen model. Toni’s Kitchen is located at 73 South Fullerton Avenue.

Saint John’s Soup Kitchen is famous not so much as an historic site as it is for its good works: over 6,000,000 breakfasts and dinners have been served to hungry people, free exhibits are held for struggling artists and the city’s school children, and thousands of toys and books are distributed to other churches and charitable institutions at Christmas.

St. John’s is supported by free-will donations. They do not receive government funds of any kind.

They are open Tuesday through Saturday for Breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Women and Children’s Center serving breakfast from 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. St. John’s Soup Kitchen is located at 22 Mulberry Street.

Eva’s Kitchen was founded in 1982 to help feed the hungry. It is a safe and welcoming place closed off from the busy streets of Paterson. Eva’s Kitchen was founded in 1982 to help feed the hungry. To begin the feeding ministry, the first meal of hot dogs and beans was served in the basement of St. John’s Cathedral to 30 individuals. In the early 1990’s an expanded kitchen was built on Main Street with capacity for 240 people. To help feed the growing number of homeless and working poor, an expansion in 2011 increased the capacity to 400.

The Kitchen now serves a nutritious breakfast and lunch for up to 400 individuals, and is open 365 days a year. In addition to the meals served to guests in our Kitchen, daily meals are prepared for the 350 men, women and mothers with children who reside in our recovery and sheltering programs, amounting to 1,300 meals each day. Breakfast served from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., weekdays
and lunch at 12:00 p.m., seven days a week. Eva’s Kitchen is located 393 Main Street.

Jabari Jackson serves as a role model to what you believe in. Jackson said “Unnderstand I have consciously made the effort to understand that your life serves much meaning to this world. Our country is built on the value of justice regardless of race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, religion, or occupation. We must subconsciously enlighten our neighbors and young people with the premise of respect. By generating a culture, it will allow people to bridge the gap. Understanding the power of voice, its essential to speak out against violence so that your life will not be cut short due to the act of senseless and selfish violence. The vision is to utilize the resources we have within our own communities to come together regardless of race and ethnicity and empower those less fortunate. We must come together to listen and be heard. You too have the power to be heard.”

For more information on Respect My Life, click here.