PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Library is inviting the community to unearth a story this summer, announcing the return of its annual Summer Reading Program, which runs through Saturday, August 15, 2026.

Readers of all ages are invited to participate in the community-wide reading challenge, which encourages children, teenagers, and adults to explore new books, discover new ideas, and celebrate the joy of reading throughout the summer. Participants can track their reading through Beanstack, earn raffle tickets and prizes, and enjoy incentives tailored to each age group, whether they are reading a favorite novel, listening to an audiobook, or discovering something new.

This year’s theme, Unearth a Story, celebrates the adventures that can be found through books, from mysteries and distant worlds to family histories, memorable characters, and nonfiction.

“Summer Reading is one of the Library’s most anticipated traditions,” said Rose Schulman, Head of Children’s Services at the Main Library and Branch Manager at Mount Tabor Branch Library. “Whether you’re reading your very first picture book, discovering your next favorite author, or revisiting a classic, every story has the power to inspire curiosity and bring people together. We invite everyone in our community to join us this summer and unearth a story.”

The program is open to readers of all ages and welcomes all reading formats, including print books, electronic books, and audiobooks.

Summer Reading offers age-appropriate reading challenges with prizes designed to encourage reading throughout the summer.

Children from birth through fifth grade will track the time they spend reading, earning raffle tickets and weekly prizes as they reach reading milestones. Teenagers in grades six through twelve will earn raffle tickets by logging books throughout the summer, increasing their chances of winning prizes.

Adults will earn raffle tickets by reading books and receive special rewards throughout the challenge. After reading three books, participants can pick up a complimentary copy of “The Maid” by Nita Prose, this year’s Community Read selection, while supplies last. Adults who complete six books in total will receive a commemorative Parsippany Library mini tote bag, while supplies last.

Raffle winners across all age groups will be selected after Summer Reading concludes and notified by email.

Community members can register by creating an account or logging in to Beanstack at parsippanylibrary.beanstack.org, or by downloading the Beanstack mobile application. Summer Reading is happening now and concludes on Saturday, August 15, which is also the final day to log reading and submit raffle tickets.

Programs, prizes, and reading activities will take place throughout the summer at the Main Library, Lake Hiawatha Branch Library, and Mount Tabor Branch Library.

Visit parsippanylibrary.org to learn more about Summer Reading, upcoming programs, and how to register through Beanstack. Summer Reading is free to participate in and open to all community members. For more information about Parsippany Library, visit www.parsippanylibrary.org or call (973) 887-5150.

The Parsippany Library serves a diverse community of more than 56,000 residents across three locations: Parsippany, Lake Hiawatha, and Mount Tabor. Through its membership in the Main Library Alliance, patrons also have borrowing access to materials from over 50 libraries across Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties.

PARSIPPANY — Dharmaraj Nagarajan of Parsippany recently took part in Union Township’s inaugural America 250 Anniversary Historical Ride, representing Agadia Systems.

The event brought together cyclists and community members in Union Township to mark the beginning of America’s 250th anniversary while honoring the nation’s history, freedom, and spirit of service.

Nagarajan said the ride promoted community engagement, healthy living, and patriotism, and credited organizers, volunteers, and public safety officers for the event’s success.

“Strong communities are built through volunteerism, collaboration, and shared purpose,” Nagarajan said.

PARSIPPANY — People always say a dream can only go so far, but a vision is the one that grows. That is the definition of Hopeful Hands. What started as a simple idea grew into a student-led initiative that supports NICU parents through handmade care packages.

I am Joanna Mathew, a high school student and the founder of Hopeful Hands, a handmade care package initiative that serves and shares love with NICU parents.

Hopeful Hands has been active for just over a year. Over that time, the initiative has distributed more than 50 care packages, connected with NICU parents, built a team, and grown an online following. We also partnered with the maternal ward at Saint Clare’s Denville, and we recently crossed 1,000 followers on Instagram.

All this success is great, but it makes me want to go back to my roots — the “why” of Hopeful Hands. Why NICU parents? Why care packages? Why care at such a young age? This is the story behind Hopeful Hands.

I grew up hearing the same story over and over again. Every child has a birth story. Mine was a little different. Most birth stories sound something like, “You looked just like your mom the moment I laid eyes on you.” Mine was far from that. Mine goes more like this: “You used to wear your father’s wedding ring as a bangle,” and “the nurses and doctors weren’t sure you would survive.”

Looking back, I truly believe a miracle happened. I was born at about 24 weeks’ gestation. I spent almost four months in the NICU and had multiple health complications, including bronchitis. I relied on oxygen support for most of my time there, and it was my parents’ endless prayers and the amazing doctors, practitioners, and nurses who supported us that got me through.

Hopeful Hands is my way of giving back. The NICU is one of the scariest places for both a child and their parents — waking up every day just hoping and praying that your child will live, seeing a tiny, premature baby struggle. My parents experienced this firsthand, and it was the most emotionally difficult experience of their lives.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this essay, it all started as a dream. It was just an idea. I remember thinking, “It would be so impactful to start something like this.” For a while, it just stayed an idea, until I worked for it, and my dream became a reality. It was no longer a dream, but a working vision.

If this story resonated with you, I invite you to support Hopeful Hands as we continue to serve NICU families, whether through donations or by simply sharing our mission with the world. To learn more, follow us on Instagram or reach out to us by email at [email protected].

PARSIPPANY — Mayor Pulkit Desai issued a statement Monday thanking utility workers, first responders, and state officials for their response to storm damage across the township, while acknowledging that recovery work is ongoing.

In the statement, Desai recognized utility workers and first responders who have been working around the clock since Friday to respond to the storm and keep residents safe.

Desai also thanked Governor Mikie Sherrill for staying on top of the storm and visiting Morris County to see the impact firsthand, as well as New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Priya Jain for staying in constant communication and providing assistance where requested.

The mayor explained that where roads are blocked by trees alone, Parks and Forestry crews are clearing them as quickly as possible, but where power lines are involved, Jersey Central Power and Light must first make the area safe before crews can move in. He said the township and the utility are coordinating every step of the process.

“I’ll be transparent with you; we’re in good shape, but not great shape,” Desai said. “There’s still work to do, but every hour we’re making progress.”

Desai said the township is in constant communication with Jersey Central Power and Light and is working to move restoration efforts along as quickly and safely as possible.

Following the completion of cleanup and restoration efforts, Desai said he plans to meet with Jersey Central Power and Light, the Police Department, Fire Districts, the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Public Works, and Parks and Forestry to evaluate the response and identify improvements for future storms.

“Every storm is an opportunity to improve our coordination, strengthen our response, and be better prepared for whatever comes next,” Desai said.

The mayor added that Parsippany fared better than many neighboring towns and thanked residents for their patience, cooperation, and for checking in on their neighbors.

“As I always say, in Parsippany, we take care of each other,” Desai said.

MORRIS PLAINS — Author Lisa Napolitan will sign copies of her book, “The Ones We Love,” on Saturday, July 11, at 1:00 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 1940 Route 10 West.

The illustrated picture book is intended for readers of any age confronting grief, from small children to adults. T

old through hand-painted watercolor illustrations and few words, the story follows a child who finds comfort in nature, accompanied by a bunny, while navigating the loss of a loved one.

Napolitan is a writer and artist whose stories and essays have appeared in numerous literary journals.

She is a doctoral candidate in literary studies and writing at Drew University, where she also teaches public speaking to international students.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in semiotics from Brown University and a master’s degree in creative writing from Hofstra University. “The Ones We Love” is her first picture book.

MORRIS COUNTY — History fans can experience one of the most compelling chapters of the American Revolution on Tuesday, July 14, at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road.

The museum will host a special screening of “Drive By History: The Worst Winter of the Revolution: 1779-80,” a PBS episode that explores the Continental Army’s encampment at Jockey Hollow and Morris County’s pivotal role in America’s fight for independence.

The evening begins with a VIP cocktail reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for $30.00, followed by a free screening and live question-and-answer session from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. with creator and host Ken Magos.

Attendees will hear firsthand how the story was brought to life and gain new insight into one of the most significant Revolutionary War sites in the nation.

Registration is required by clicking here.

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council is scheduled to hold its Agenda Meeting on Tuesday, July 7, at 7:00 p.m. Click here to download the agenda.

Council is also expected to approve minutes from the June 9 Agenda Meeting and the June 23 Regular Meeting, and hear reports from the mayor, township council, township attorney, business administrator, and township clerk.

Chief Financial Officer Angelica Sabatini is recommending authorization for regular and miscellaneous payroll payments on July 1 and July 17, each estimated at $1,650,000, along with payment of bills from the July 7 voucher list totaling $967,604.21.

The next Township Council meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, at 7:00 p.m. for a Regular Meeting, and Tuesday, August 4, at 7:00 p.m. for an Agenda Meeting.

• Mayor Pulkit Desai – (D) Term ends December 31, 2029
  * Council President Judy Hernandez (D) Term ends December 31, 2027
  * Council Vice President Diya Patel – (D) Term ends December 31, 2029
  * Councilman Matthew Kavanagh – (D) Term ends December 31, 2029
  * Councilman Matt McGrath – (R) Term ends December 31, 2027
  * Councilman Paul Carifi Jr. (R) Term ends December 31, 2027

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County will join communities across the nation on Wednesday, July 8, for a synchronized public reading of the Declaration of Independence, marking the 250th anniversary of the document’s first public reading and closing out the county’s weeklong “Light to Unite” celebration of America’s semiquincentennial.

The public is invited to gather on the front lawn of the historic Morris County Courthouse, 56 Washington St., beginning at 5:45 p.m., with the reading starting promptly at 6:00 p.m. The timing coincides with communities in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. territories, which will take part in the nationwide “Sharing the Spirit of America” initiative at the same moment.

The reading will also be livestreamed on the Morris County Facebook page. County officials are encouraging municipalities, civic organizations, veterans halls and other local groups to organize their own synchronized readings throughout Morris County at exactly 6:00 p.m. on July 8.

The ceremony will feature members of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners along with county constitutional officers Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Sheriff James M. Gannon, County Clerk Ann F. Grossi and Surrogate Heather J. Darling, as well as Superior Court Morris/Sussex Vicinage Assignment Judge Stuart A. Minkowitz, each reading an assigned portion of the Declaration of Independence.

“This event offers our community a unique opportunity to stand together and commemorate one of the defining moments in our nation’s history,” said Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw. “By joining Americans across the country in reading the Declaration of Independence at the exact same moment, we honor the principles of liberty and self-government that continue to unite us 250 years later.”

The date commemorates July 8, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was first read publicly in the yard of what is now Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The document was also read publicly in Trenton later that same day.

The Morristown ceremony will open with music from the Colonial Musketeers Senior Ancient Fife and Drum Corps of Hackettstown. Just before 6:00 p.m., the historic courthouse bell will ring 13 times before the reading begins.

Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to enjoy complimentary Bomb Pop frozen treats, view the Morris County 250th Traveling Mural, and explore a special 250th anniversary exhibit inside the courthouse. The exhibit traces the evolution of Morris County’s courthouses, highlights landmark trials, and features historic artifacts, photographs and interactive displays illustrating the county’s legal history. Visitors can also view exhibits on the history of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and pick up a complimentary pocket Constitution, courtesy of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move to the historic courtroom on the second floor of the Morris County Courthouse.

The July 8 reading also caps off Morris County’s “Light to Unite” campaign, which began July 2 and encouraged residents, businesses, schools, houses of worship and local governments to light homes, buildings and landmarks in red, white and blue in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

PARSIPPANY — Wise Animal Rescue (WISE), a foster-based, all-volunteer nonprofit headquartered in Lake Hiawatha, is looking for a forever home for Striker, a 7-week-old Yorkshire Terrier-Chihuahua mix puppy.

Striker is female and small in size. According to WISE, she is “the total puppy package” — playful, happy and full of life, with days balanced between eating, playing and napping. The rescue describes her as outgoing and eager to make new friends, both human and canine, and says she is already making progress with wee-wee pad training.

Striker is good with kids, dogs and cats, WISE said. She is still working on house training, crate training and basic puppy manners, and the rescue recommends a patient home with time to continue her training, socialization and confidence-building as she grows.

WISE said some of the dogs it takes in come from large-scale breeding programs that are unable to place them due to medical needs, birth defects, appearance differences, or simply a lack of demand. The rescue partners with groups working to give those dogs a second chance, and says it is committed to caring for dogs of all kinds — healthy, medically fragile, senior or with special needs.

WISE is entirely volunteer-run, and donations go directly back to the animals in its care. The organization asks prospective adopters to support its program with a minimum donation of $850, which may not be applied directly to the dog being adopted but goes toward supporting all of the dogs in the rescue’s care.

Those interested in adopting Striker can fill out an application at WiseAnimalRescue.org.

Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, July 2026. Click here to read more.

PARSIPPANY — Mayor Pulkit Desai and the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills will present the annual Fireworks Display & Concert on Saturday, July 4th, at Parsippany Hills High School. The rain date is Sunday, July 5th.

Gates will open at 5:00 p.m., with fireworks scheduled at dark, approximately 9:30 p.m.

Beginning at 5:00 p.m., attendees can enjoy live music, food trucks, games, inflatables, and activities for all ages before the evening concludes with the fireworks display.

New this year, a dunk tank will be on site, giving attendees a chance to take their shot at dunking Mayor Desai between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Everyone in attendance will proceed through a police checkpoint prior to entry. Intoxicated persons will be denied entry, and all bags and containers are subject to inspection; attendees are encouraged to use clear bags for quicker entry.

The following items are prohibited at the event:

• Glass containers
• Alcoholic beverages
• Pets
• Personal fireworks, including legal fireworks
• Drones

Residents who are not attending the event are advised to plan alternate travel routes, as traffic delays are expected in the area of Route 53, Park Road, Brooklawn Drive and Route 202 during the event.

Parking for people with disabilities will be limited and accessible via Rita Drive; proper placards must be displayed. Golf carts will be available for those needing assistance with transportation on the hill.

Volunteer members of the Parsippany Office of Emergency Management, wearing hi-visibility lime and green shirts, will be available throughout the event to provide directions and guidance.

MORRIS COUNTY — Republican congressional candidate Joe Hathaway is calling on U.S. Rep. Analilia Mejia to explain why she has not joined a group of Democratic lawmakers who recently signed a pledge distancing their party from socialism, according to a campaign statement released July 3.

The statement points to a “Promise to America” pledge, which several Democratic members of Congress and candidates unveiled declaring “We are capitalist, not socialist,” alongside statements of support for secure borders, safe communities, fiscal responsibility and effective government. Signers cited by the Hathaway campaign include U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York. Mejia’s name is not among them.

“The interesting story isn’t that Republicans disagree with Analilia Mejia,” Hathaway said in the statement. “It’s that even Democrats are now saying their party has gone too far. They’ve put their names on a pledge rejecting socialism, supporting safe communities, secure borders, and common-sense government. Congresswoman Mejia had the same opportunity to stand with our district, and she didn’t.”

Hathaway, a Randolph Township councilman and the borough’s immediate past mayor, said voters in Morris, Essex and Passaic counties are focused on cost of living, public safety and housing affordability rather than ideological labels.

“People are exhausted by politics that rewards the loudest activists instead of the families trying to make ends meet,” Hathaway said. “This election is about choosing practical leadership over political movements. That’s the kind of representative I intend to be.”

Mejia, a Glen Ridge Democrat, won the 11th District seat in an April special election to succeed Gov. Mikie Sherrill, defeating Hathaway by a wide margin. She has been backed during her political career by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and previously led the New Jersey Working Families Alliance. Both candidates are running again this November for a full term. Mejia’s campaign did not immediately respond to the Hathaway statement.

Hathaway has served on the Randolph Township Council since 2022. He lives in Randolph with his wife, Whitney, and their three children.

PARSIPPANY — Township officials are congratulating the talented students who participated in this year’s America 250 Art, Essay, and Poetry Contest, celebrating the creativity and patriotism on display from Parsippany’s young residents.

Through their artwork, writing, and poetry, students reflected on the nation’s history, the meaning of freedom, and the future they hope to build as the country marks its 250th anniversary.

The public is invited to view all submitted artwork, essays, and poems on Friday, July 3, at 7:00 p.m. at Veterans Park, where the work will be proudly displayed as part of Parsippany’s America 250 celebration.