“Musical Evening with Morris County’s Lakeland Youth Symphony”
MORRIS COUNTY — The young musicians of Morris County’s Lakeland Youth Symphony treated family and friends to a memorable evening of holiday tunes on Sunday, December 15. String players ranging from ages 5 to 18 delighted the audience during the Lakeland Youth Symphony’s Annual Holiday Concert at Parsippany Hills High School.
The beginners of the Prelude class, taught by Ms. Angel Liu, charmed the audience followed up by the Lakeland Strings Orchestra. Violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists ranging in age from 6 to 12 years old comprise this orchestra, which is conducted by Ms. Carol Meiseles.
The Youth Ensemble, conducted by Ms. Sue On, progressed to a more advanced level of play with other holiday selections. The audience was mesmerized by the 11 to 18 year olds of the Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Petko Dimitrov. The advanced level of play was demonstrated in sophisticated pieces of music by Ludwig Van Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A Major Season Finale Music, impressing the audience and creating some of the evening’s most memorable moments.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano participated/performed musical GPS with Youth Ensemble orchestra. He made this season’s musical event more memorable.
Lakeland Youth Symphony’s sparkling holiday gift of a musical evening was one to be thankful for during this season of giving.
Since the 1957-58 Season, the Lakeland Youth Symphony Orchestra has provided musical education and performance opportunities for young string musicians in Northern New Jersey for 61 years.
The Lakeland Youth Symphony is a not-for-profit organization. Most number of students come from Parsippany, Boonton, Whippany, Mountain Lakes, Rockaway, Livingston. A scholarship program exists to make this opportunity accessible to all. If you would like more information about their programs click here.
Image Contribution: Don Heinrich & Bobbi Patham
Article: Pappaparvathi ‘Bobbi’ Patham
RAINBOWS for All Children Grief Support Program Offered
MORRIS COUNTY — Rainbows for All Children is a peer support program for children who have experienced grief through a death or divorce in the family. Winter-Spring registration is now being accepted. Sessions begin February 4 and continue every Tuesday through April 7.
The meetings are held at Saint Francis Residential Community Center from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., 122 Diamond Spring Road, Denville.
Small groups are formed for children ages five years and up. There are no fees to parents. Call Diane Thormann at (973) 627-2134 or Wendy Spector (973) 625-3352 for registration information click here.
Aimee Osterman Named to Dean’s List at York College of Pennsylvania
PARSIPPANY — Aimee Osterman a junior Early Elementary Education major at York College of Pennsylvania, has been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2019 semester.
Aimee is a 2017 graduate of Parsippany Hills High School and was a Camp Counselor at Harbor Hills Day Camp.
To be eligible for this honor, a student must be registered for at least 12 academic credit hours and earn a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher.
Located in south central Pennsylvania, York College offers more than 70 baccalaureate majors in professional programs, the sciences, and humanities to its 4,100 undergraduate students. The College also offers master’s programs in business, education, and nursing, and a doctorate in nursing practice. A center of affordable academic excellence, York is dedicated to the intellectual, professional, and social growth of its students. The College helps them develop a concrete plan to attain academic growth and career success; encourages them to try in the “real world” what they learn in the classroom; and prepares them to be professionals in whatever career they pursue.
Morris special election convention set for February 1
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Republican Committee will hold a special election convention to fill a vacancy on the Board of Freeholders on Saturday, February 1. The convention is set for 9:00 a.m. at the County College of Morris in Randolph.
The election is to fill the seat of Heather Darling who resigned 11:59 p.m. December 31 to become the Morris County Surrogate.
Chatham Township Mayor Tayfun Selen, Pequannock Councilwoman Melissa Florance-Lynch, former Pompton Lakes Councilman Christian Barranco and former Morristown Councilwoman Alison Deeb, are in the race for the seat vacated by Heather Darling.
The race changed last month when Attorney General Gurbir Grewal charged former Freeholder John Cesaro, with accepting a bribe from a cooperating witness, attorney Matthew O’Donnell. As of now Cesaro did not drop out of the race to return to the freeholder board.
Parsippany Township Council Holds Reorganization Meeting
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council held its Annual Reorganization Meeting on Tuesday, January 7.
Longtime Councilman Michael dePierro was named Council President and Loretta Gragnani was named Council Vice President.
dePierro has served six years on the Parsippany School Board and 36 years on the Parsippany Township Council, serving as President and Vice President at various times over the years. He served for 24 years on the Planning Board and have also served on the Open Space Committee, Traffic Committee, Municipal Alliance Committee, the Day Care Center, and many others.
Also at the reorganization meeting, The Township Council assigned Liaisons to the numerous committees and filled vacancies or re-appointed the following members:
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Council Liaison – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Loretta Gragnani
Member – 3 Year Term (12/31/22) John Beehler
Member – 3 Year Term (12/31/22) Steve Mandel
Member – 3 Year Term (12/31/22) Raviram Medapati
Member – 3 Year Term (12/31/22) Robert Peluso
Member – 3 Year Term (12/31/22) Thomas Williams
Member – 3 Year Term (12/31/22) Adam Kandil
Emergency Services Council Council
Council Liaison – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Paul Carifi
Environmental Advisory Committee
Council Liaison – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Janice McCarthy
Member – 3 Year Term 9 (12/31/22) Michele Gaynor
Member- 3 Year Term 9 (12/31/22) Susan Lynn Persson
Member- 3 Year Term 9 (12/31/22) Harshad Anjaria
Fire Prevention Bureau
Council Liaison – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Paul Carifi
Historic Preservation Advisory Committee
Council Liaison – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Emily Peterson
Member – 3 Year Term (12/31/22) Mary Purzycki
Member – 3 Year Unexpired Term (12/31/21) Barbara Seaman
Member – 3 Year Unexpired Term (12/31/21) Sharif Shamsudin
Knoll Country Club Golf Advisory Committee
Council Liaison – 3 Year Term (12/Lloyd 31/22) Mike dePierro
Library Board of Trustees
Council Liaison -1 Year Term (12/31/20) Emily Peterson
Morris County League of Municipalities
Representative – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Janice McCarthy
Municipal Alliance Committee
Representative – 2 Year Term (12/31/21) Loretta Gragnani
Municipal Government Transparency Committee
Council Liaison – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Emily Peterson
Member – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) John Beehler
Member – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) David Kaplan
Member – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Patricia Petaccia
Member – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Nancy Snyder
Member – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Chris Mazzarella
Open Space Committee – Chair – Mayor Michael Soriano
Council Member – 4 Year Term (12/31/23) Mike dePierro
Member- 3 Year Term (12/31/21) Unexpired Term Len Lipkins
Member – 3 Year Term (12/3122) Ruth Palmeri
Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce
Representative – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Paul Carifi
Parsippany Child Day Care Center
Council Liaison – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Loretta Gragnani
Planning Board
Class III Member – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Mike dePierro
Police Athletic League
Council Liaison – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Paul Carifi
Recreation Advisory Committee
Member – 3 Year Term (12/31/22) Paul Carifi
Traffic Advisory Committee
Council Liaison – 1 Year Term (12/31/20) Mike dePierro
Member – 3 Year Term (12/31/22) Nancy Snyder
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Regular Member – 4 Year Term (12/31/23) Dave Kaplan
Regular Member – 4 Year Term (12/31/23) Nancy Snyder
Surrogate’s Office Partners with Morris County Bar Association to Provide Reduced Fee Attorney Referrals
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County’s new Surrogate Heather J. Darling, Esq., has announced a partnership between the Surrogate’s Office and the Morris County Bar Association’s Reduced Fee Referral Program to match attorneys with residents who cannot afford legal services and do not qualify for free or pro bono legal services.
This new program is offered at no cost to the taxpayers of Morris County.
“As a practitioner in the Surrogate’s Court for many years, I am familiar with the difficulties people face in trying to navigate the guardianship or probate processes without legal counsel when necessary legal counsel is unaffordable for them. For this reason, I am pleased that we were able to work with Jennifer McAndrew Vuotto and the Morris County Bar Association to bring this program to the citizens of Morris County,” Darling said.
Matters within the Surrogate’s Office, which are currently included in this program, are wills, guardianship and probate issues.
Guardianship includes a declaration of incapacitation to handle one’s own affairs. It can be a complicated matter for people who had been caregivers without the need for a court intervention.
Probate is another difficult matter for family members once a loved one has passed and grieving survivors learn the difficulty in administering the decedent’s estate.
In New Jersey, Title 3B is the statute which addresses guardianship and probate. The statute can be complex and difficult to navigate without legal training and practice.
“Bottom line, this program will be a way to bridge the gap for those who have been legally left behind,” said Deputy Surrogate Chris Luongo, Esq.
To participate in the program, individuals must qualify financially by demonstrating they fall within certain financial criteria, with eligibility limits higher than those of most pro-bono services.
“When we started this program, we wanted to ensure that as many people as possible had access to counsel as they navigated the Court system. There are many litigants who do not qualify for assistance, yet still, have difficulty affording an attorney. Those are the litigants we set out to help and have succeeded in helping the most,” said Vuotto, who is co-chair of the Morris County Bar Association Reduced Fee Referral Program.
Attorneys who want to participate in the program can apply through the Morris County Bar Association. They must have a demonstrated knowledge of matters within the Surrogate’s Court and the ability to undertake said matters in a timely and productive fashion.
Freeholders, Sheriff, Prosecutor, Clergy To Hold Community Rally Against Hate
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County residents are invited to a special “Community Rally Against Hate’’ on Thursday, January 9, at 5:00 p.m. in Randolph, with a goal of standing united against hatred and bigotry that recently has targeted the Jewish community and other faiths in our state and nation.
The event, to be held at the Gottesman RTW Academy at 146 Dover Chester Road is sponsored by the Morris County Board of Freeholders, in coordination with Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon and Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, and clergy from across the county.
CCM Fine Art Professors Display Their Work at The Center for Contemporary Art
MORRIS COUNTY — The artwork of 14 fine art professors from County College of Morris (CCM) is being featured in an exhibition at The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster as one of its first exhibits of the new year.
Titled REPRESENTING: Artwork of the County College of Morris Fine Art Faculty, the exhibition takes place January 17 through February 27. An opening reception, featuring talks by several of the artists, takes place Friday, January 17, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Center for Contemporary Art is located at 2020 Burnt Mills Road, Bedminster, NJ 07921.
Fine Art Professor Keith Smith is curating the exhibition. Smith’s artwork has been exhibited at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio, the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton and the Morris Museum in Morristown.
REPRESENTING showcases the work of CCM professors who teach the foundational and intermediate art courses that lead to an Associate of Fine Arts degree. Each member of the CCM fine arts faculty is an exhibiting professional artist.
“Although the artwork in this exhibition spans a variety of media and styles, it is linked by exceptional craft and creative competence,” says Smith.
Full-time professors participating in the exhibition, along with Smith, are Clayton Allen and Todd Doney. Also participating are adjunct faculty members Marco Cutrone, Kathy DeFilippis, Patrick Gallagher, Andrea Kelly, Deborah Kelly, Charles Mulford, Barbara Neibart, John Reinking, Robert Ricciotti, Eileen Sackman and Leah Tomaino.
To learn more about the Fine Arts Program at CCM click here.
Representative Sherrill Introduces Legislation to Prevent Methane Leaks
PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-At Large) introduced H.R. 5542, the Mitigate Methane Now Act, legislation to encourage the replacement of old, home distribution pipelines which are a major source of methane leakage across the country and to help mitigate climate change immediately.
New Jersey is home to some of the oldest natural gas infrastructure in the country. These aging pipes that bring natural gas to New Jersey homes leak harmful gases like methane into our atmosphere. Methane is 100 times more potent than carbon dioxide – and though a relatively short living gas, it’s effect on warming the climate cannot be understated: the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports that methane is more than 80 times as effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, making it a prime culprit for our warming temperatures.
States through the Northeast have been working with their utility commissions to strategize on how to replace these old and leaking pipes. Typically, costs of essential pipeline repair and replacement are passed on to consumers. This bill will help ensure that lower- and fixed-income consumers are protected from increases in their monthly bill when these important repairs and modernization efforts occur. H.R. 5542 provides money to states to offset rate increases for low-income consumers.
“New Jersey’s aging infrastructure is an issue for our families and our environment,” said Representative Sherrill. “While there is interest in our communities to accelerate the replacement of worn distribution pipelines for safety, reliability, and environmental benefits, a variety of barriers exist, including cost. Our bill will help replace old pipelines, mitigate methane emissions, and have an immediate effect on our efforts to tackle climate change.”
“I am proud to introduce this legislation today with Rep. Sherrill. Repairing and replacing old, leak-prone infrastructure in the natural gas distribution system will protect our communities from potentially dangerous explosions, save consumers money, and reduce potent methane emissions that fuel climate change,” said Representative Blunt Rochester, a member of the House Energy & Commerce Energy Subcommittee. “This bill is good for the environment, good for our economy, and good for Delaware.”
DeCroce bill aiding victims of crime who seek compensation clears committee
PARSIPPANY — Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce and renowned crime victims’ lawyer and advocate Richard Pompelio testified before the Assembly Appropriations Committee in support of her bill (A3391/S498) that increases financial support for victims of crime. The bill was unanimously approved by the committee and awaits a vote by the full Assembly.
“Since 1989, since Rich’s son was murdered, I’ve been an advocate for victims of crime. I’ve worked closely with Rich and my late husband Alex to fight for the rights of victims in this state and I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished to date,” said DeCroce (R-Morris). “This bill is going to help more victims of crime and get them the compensation they deserve without affecting taxpayers.”
The compensation is funded by state criminal penalties and fines, prison commissary fees, payments under the Sexual Assault Treatment Fund, criminal restitution, and the Federal Victims of Crime Act.
“It’s probably one of the most important bills in the history of victims of crime in this state,” said Pompelio, who runs the New Jersey Crime Victims’ Law Center. “You have areas in the inner cities that have not been treated appropriately by the system. The Victims of Crime Compensation Office is a safety net for victims that have no other resources to help them pay for the costs of crime. With this bill, there are literally going to be thousands of people who will be able to receive free legal assistance and of course the compensation they need to help pay for things like funeral costs, bereavement assistance and child care.”
The state office of victim compensation has been under criticism for failing to achieve its objectives. Since, 2009 the denial rate for compensation has consistently exceeded 50 percent.
“We needed to reform the victim compensation system in New Jersey,” said DeCroce. “This bill will right many of the current wrongs and make sure victims of crime and their family members find fairness, respect and compassion.”
The bill increases the legal fees benefit from $3,000 to $10,000 so that more victims of crime may receive pro bono legal assistance. In addition, the bill updates the definition of a victim to match existing state law so that a person who suffers personal, physical, or psychological injury or death resulting from a crime may be awarded compensation. The bill also expands the list of crimes for which a victim can receive compensation to include simple assault, disorderly conduct and leaving the scene of an accident, and increases the time limit on filing a claim from three to five years.
The Senate version (S498) passed by a 38-0 vote in June.
Letter to the editor: Unfriendly Official Town Website Continues!
Dear Editor:
Despite several complaints at Council Meetings, phone calls and personal contact, Parsippany’s official website continues to be user unfriendly. Absolutely no former user friendly or positive aspects of the former webpage were incorporated. Why have not one Council member or the Mayor himself looked into this?
Having been brought to your attention, on several occasions. The website continues as before. How are “concerned citizens” suppose to find relevant times and places to organize, with problems or concerns which affect our lives?
Jack the webmaster seems apathetic; ignoring this situation. The fact that he had to offered classes how to use the site, says much. No one apparently attended these classes of inconvenient nature; most likely because no one could find them on the website.
If it was not for Frank Cahill/Parsippany Focus, no one would know anything. The fact is this “new website” format is not conducive to the public or local democratic involvement in municipal issues. It is a mistake to allow it to continue this way. The prior site had very visible and obvious presentation of meetings and agendas; their only flaw was at times, failure to provide agendas and minutes; especially for Planning, Zoning Boards.
The new website is a detriment to public communications. It is challenging to find meetings and data on meeting dates, has been incorrect.
No one on the town council or in the administration seems to care. This is another attempt at corrective criticism. Does “we the people” mean anything anymore on any level of governance anywhere in this nation?
Nick Homyak
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Re-Organization Meeting Planned
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Reorganization Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 7. The Annual Organization Meeting will start at 6:30 p.m.
The regular agenda meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m.
Any individual who is a qualified disabled person under the American with Disabilities Act may request auxiliary aids such as a sign interpreter or a tape recorder to be used for a meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to make a request for an auxiliary aid.
156 Dwelling Units Planned for land behind St. Christopher’s Church
PARSIPPANY — GTP Acquisitions, LLC, has applied to the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills for a “Senior Living Facility” on a parcel to be subdivided from the property currently occupied by St. Christopher’s Church.
The property known is as 1050 Littleton Road, Block 166, Lot 96. The application is comprised of 156 dwelling units with a mix of assisted/memory care and independent living units. Amenities include a central social court, fitness center, café, open workspace, outdoor recreation areas, hardscape and softscape landscaping, and a promenade walking area.
Access to the property will be from Rita Drive and circulation and parking will be independent of the church. GTP Acquisitions, LLC will also purchase the property located at 21 Rita Drive, (Lot 84, Block 166).
This application is now on the Zoning Board’s agenda and a public hearing has been ordered for Wednesday, January 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard.
According to corporate documents filed with the State of New Jersey, the registered agent of GTP Acquisitions, LLC, is David J. Weiner, 171 Fifth Avenue, Paterson. Pike Construction Company is also located at the same address. David Weiner is a managing member and principal of Pike Construction Co., LLC and has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of the general contracting and real estate development business. Upon graduating from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Economics, David began his career at Pike in the field as an assistant superintendent, then project superintendent.
Two five-story, 56,363-square foot apartment buildings planned for Cherry Hill Road
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board will be hearing an application for Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan Approval filed by Morris Corporate Center VI, L.L.C.
The application is seeking to construct two five-story, 56,363-square foot apartment buildings. The buildings would hold a combined total of 325 dwelling units, with 162 dwelling units in one building and 163 in the other building. Twenty percent of the total units (or 65 units) would serve as affordable housing.
The Applicant also proposes to install 608 parking spaces (with an additional 31 spaces to be banked). Of those 608 parking spaces, 268 would be indoors, on the first floor of the two buildings, and the remaining 340 spaces would be uncovered, surface parking.
The property is located at 100 and 120 Cherry Hill Road and designated as Block 136, Lots 44 and 76 on the Tax Map of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.
The Property is located in the Affordable Housing District 7 zone.
Additionally proposed are ancillary site improvements, including but not limited to driveways connecting to Upper Pond Road, sidewalks, signs, landscaping, fences, and a retaining wall. Construction would also require minor demolition, including the removal of existing pavement, curbs, light poles, trees, parking lot islands, sidewalks, sanitary pipes, inlets, and manholes.
Any person interested in this application will have the opportunity to address the Planning Board at the public hearing on Monday, January 6 at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard, Parsippany, NJ 07054 beginning at 7:30 p.m.
A search of tax records indicate the land value is $8,904,000 with a 2019 property tax of $237,113.
Sheriff Gannon takes oath of office for second term
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon was sworn into office by Superior Court Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz on Friday, January 3 at the Board of Freeholders’ 2020 Annual Meeting, held in Morristown. Sheriff sworn in while holding his grandson Luca as his daughter Kate, holding her newborn Ella, and her husband Matt surround him.
Sheriff Gannon was administered the oath of office during the annual reorganization of the Morris County Board of Freeholders. Also sworn in were Freeholder Doug Cabana to an eighth term, Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo to a third term, Freeholder Thomas Mastrangelo to a fourth term, and former Freeholder Heather Darling to her first, five-year term as Morris County Surrogate.
Sheriff Gannon told the crowd of several hundred well-wishers gathered in the Public Meeting room of the county Administration and Records Building that he owed successes to the support of the public, the Freeholders, and his administration, including Bureau of Law Enforcement Undersheriff Mark Spitzer, Bureau of Corrections Undersheriff Alan J. Robinson, Chief Kelley Zienowicz and Chief Warrant Officer Richard Rose.
“Morris County truly puts the unity in community,” Sheriff Gannon said.
He gave the crowd an overview of programs the Agency has honed, particularly Hope One, the mobile substance abuse resource and recovery program that achieved the milestone of making 10,000 contacts with individuals on New Year’s Eve.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Hope One, started on April 3, 2017, has led to the launch of similar programs in Newark, Burlington, Cape May, Monmouth and Atlantic Counties, and the city of Boston now is interested, the Sheriff said.
Sheriff’s Officers have signed up to serve as Big Brothers and Big Sisters to young people in need of role models. The Agency has designated liaisons to build bridges with the LGBTQ community and, the Sheriff said, protection of all 318 houses of worship in Morris County will continue to be a priority.He noted the creation of the RSVP-3 program that focuses on eliminating threats to school safety and the use of a mobile app so that students, or anyone, can anonymous report potential dangers to the school environment.
“This is all done within budget, while returning millions of dollars from our Legal Section and our shared services agreement to the county of Morris,” he said, referring to a pact the Morris County Sheriff’s Office struck to house inmates from the Sussex County jail at Morris’s Correctional Facility.
“The year 2020 will be a great year for the Sheriff’s Office as we continue our focus on counter-terrorism, addiction and mental health services, partnerships with the faith-based community, enhanced re-entry programs, even greater partnerships with our public safety and private sector communities, and other shared service opportunities,” the Sheriff said.
Heather Darling Takes Oath of Office for Morris County Surrogate
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling was sworn into office by Superior Court Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz on Friday, January 3 at the Board of Freeholders’ 2020 Annual Meeting, held in Morristown.
The incumbent, John Pecoraro retired after 25 years in office. Darling, a Roxbury resident and attorney, ran for freeholder in 2017 when Hank Lyon gave up his seat to seek the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 26th district.
Darling says that Pecoraro’s retirement “offers an opportunity for me to bring new ideas and make significant changes for the benefit of seniors and special needs citizens in Morris County.”
A surrogate is a judicial officer, elected by the people, having jurisdiction over the probate of wills, the administration of estates, and more.
Surrogate Heather Darling was first elected to serve the residents of Morris County in 2019. Each term of office is five years. The full title of the office is “Judge of the Surrogate Court.”
The function of the Judge of the Morris County Surrogate Court includes:
- administering wills, estates, guardianships, and trusts for Morris County residents
- serving as clerk of the Superior Court
- assisting activities ranging from adoptions to incompetency matters
- managing the Minors’ Intermingled Trust Fund and holding, as custodian, approximately $25 million in that fund for Morris County minors
Morris County Surrogate Court is located at 10 Court Street, Fifth Floor, Morristown. For more information call (973) 285-6500.
Deborah Smith Chosen as Morris County Freeholder Director
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Freeholders Doug Cabana of Boonton Township, Kathy DeFillippo of Roxbury, and Tom Mastrangelo of Montville, and Sheriff James M. Gannon and new County Surrogate Heather Darling were sworn into office on Friday, January 3 at the Board of Freeholders’ 2020 Annual Meeting, held in Morristown.
Also at the ceremonial event, Freeholders Deborah Smith of Denville and Stephen Shaw of Mountain Lakes were elected as director and deputy director, each for the first time.
Smith succeeds Freeholder Doug Cabana as director.
“My goals this year are to make decisions that benefit all residents of Morris County, to keep close watch on spending while delivering critical public safety and quality of life services that make Morris County the number one county in New Jersey, by far,’’ said Freeholder Smith.
“I look forward to working with and supporting my freeholder colleagues and the county administration in my role as Deputy Director. It is an honor and privilege to serve the residents of Morris County,” said Freeholder Shaw.
Showing support for those who took the oaths tonight were a host of political dignitaries, including Rep. Mikie Sherrill, state Sens. Joe Pennacchio, Anthony Bucco, and Tom Kean Jr.; Assembly Members BettyLou DeCroce, Aura Dunn, and Christopher DePhillips.
Also attending were County Clerk Ann Grossi, County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and First Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Zelante, and recently retired County Surrogate John Pecoraro, and former freeholders Frank Druetzler, Gene Feyl, John Inglesino, and John Sette.
Freeholder Smith highlighted some of Morris County’s top rankings and high quality of life during her address to overflow audience in the County Administration and Records Building. She touted the following about Morris County:
- It has the number one county park system in New Jersey;
- It is a statewide leader in open space and farmland preservation;
- It is the number one healthiest county in New Jersey;
- It is a statewide leader in recycling;
- It has the top-ranked Triple A bond rating;
- It is ranked in the top 25 counties to live in the U.S.;
- County College of Morris and the Morris County Vocational School are ranked among the best in the nation.
“The Freeholder Board is intent in 2020 to maintain those top rankings,’’ Smith told the crowd. “We know we have a lot of work ahead of us and look forward to your participation and collaboration.’’
Smith joined the Freeholder Board on January 3, 2016, and is now serving her second three-year term. She has served on the Budget Committee, chaired the Insurance Commission, and has been liaison to the Morris County Park Commission and Finance Department.
Previously, she was on the Denville Council for 20 years, including two years as council president and two years as the council’s Planning Board member. She also served on the Denville Zoning Board.
Freeholder Smith has long served her community, volunteering for many community activities. She was the Township Council liaison to the Denville Public Library, senior citizens’ organizations, the local historical society, fire department and many other groups.
She resides in Denville with her husband Steven, a small business owner in Randolph.
Parsippany Can’t Afford to Lose More Forest
PARSIPPANY — Green space is important for mental health, air quality, and property values. According to the Smithsonian Institute, “tree cover is one of the most visible indicators of neighborhood income, and vegetation density is directly tied to health outcomes, especially for vulnerable group[s], such as kids, the elderly and people living below the poverty line. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that trees save 850 lives and deflect 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms each year,” and a study in Portland, OR found that over 14% of air pollutants are improved by neighborhood trees.
And yet, Parsippany is threatening to take away more of the town’s dwindling green space. The administration is moving forward on a proposal to sell the land to a developer, who plans to construct a 155 unit senior living center. This plan will line the pockets of developers while burdening our town with the negative externalities, none of which they will pay for.
This project would increase the impervious surface cover and artificial landscaping, which means more flooding and higher chances of algal blooms like the one that devastated Lake Hopatcong last summer from fertilizers and runoff. These are issues that will only become more frequent and more intense because of climate change, especially in the event of hurricanes as intense as Irma and Sandy.
In addition, clear-cutting this land would have devastating impacts on our wildlife. We have already taken away so much of their land that soon they will have nowhere to go. Further decreasing their habitat will mean more deer-auto collisions and more bears, racoons and skunks in our backyards/trash. Projects like these further threaten the 52 endangered species and 33 threatened species in NJ, including bobcats, Indiana bats, and several hawk, owl, sparrow, salamander, bat, and insect species who depend on forests like this one.
Trees and forest floors are carbon sinks, and clear-cutting them releases that carbon. All of these “little” projects around the world add up—this is one of the reasons why we are experiencing climate change. Even when forests are replanted, it can take hundreds of years for them to restore their original richness, biodiversity, and carbon absorption.
We already lost a huge area of tree cover from Waterview Marketplace—we can’t afford to take more trees away. Many countries including China, Ireland, and Ethiopia and cities like New York and Toronto have declared or already met tree-planting targets. We are in a climate crisis, and Parsippany should operate accordingly. New Jersey has already seen a higher temperature increase than other parts of the nation, and that will only continue if we stay on this path of overdevelopment.
We don’t want Parsippany to be built-out. I urge you to call on our town zoning board officials to deny permits for the senior center development project by calling, emailing, and attending the zoning board meeting on Wednesday, January 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Town Hall, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard. Not only should Parsippany deny this proposal, the town should take steps to preserve the land through a land trust, conservation easement, or other measure.
This article was prepared by Allie Molinaro