Todd Smith of Todd Smith Consulting, who produces the Royce Report TV program.
PARSIPPANY — A workshop aimed at helping nonprofit organizations strengthen their operations, Nonprofit Power Day, will be held Thursday, October 8, at the Parsippany Police Athletic League.
The event, subtitled “Practical Strategies for Growth,” will focus on funding, leadership, cybersecurity and resilience. It will begin at 12:00 p.m. at the Police Athletic League, 33 Baldwin Road, and lunch will be provided.
Attendees will learn how to find and pursue grant funding, build a stronger and more sustainable organization, and protect their mission from cyber threats.
The event will feature Bob Michie of MetroMSP, a cybersecurity firm; Dennis Miller of Dennis C. Miller; and Todd Smith of Todd Smith Consulting, who produces the Royce Report TV program.
A special presentation will be given by the Ion Bank Foundation, which has awarded more than $14 million to community organizations since 1998.
Overall view of the Morris County 9/11 Memorial during the ceremony as keynote speaker Dennis Letts, a retired U.S. Secret Service agent who led evacuation efforts at Ground Zero, talks about his experience that day.
PARSIPPANY — Twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the families of victims joined first responders, public officials and neighbors on Sunday evening at the Morris County 9/11 Memorial in Parsippany-Troy Hills to remember the 64 county residents killed and reflect on the courage and compassion Americans displayed during one of the darkest days in the nation’s history.
“A quarter of a century has passed, but the pain of that day does not simply vanish. It lives quietly in the background of our lives,” said Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw, as he delivered a welcome address. “That is why we are here. It is our responsibility — our solemn duty — to ensure the next generation understands what happened, who was lost, and how Americans responded.”
Justin Musella, Parsippany resident Dennis Letts, a Secret Service Medal of Valor recipient, share his firsthand experience as the keynote speaker who was at the World Trade Center that day, and Joe Hathaway
The keynote was delivered by Dennis Letts, a retired United States Secret Service executive and Tunnel to Towers Foundation ambassador who was working at the World Trade Center when the attacks began. Letts helped evacuate thousands from the towers, later assisted Fire Department of New York (FDNY) paramedics at 7 World Trade Center and helped evacuate civilians from Lower Manhattan aboard a New York Waterway ferry after the towers collapsed. For his actions, he received the United States Secret Service Medal of Valor.
While Letts described the destruction and loss of life he witnessed, including the death of a Secret Service colleague, he said foremost in his memory is the way people responded to one another.
“In the midst of unimaginable chaos, I was witnessing extraordinary humanity,” Letts said, describing the thousands of people making their way down the World Trade Center stairwells.
“September 11 revealed the very worst of humanity. But it also revealed something even greater. The extraordinary capacity of ordinary people to do extraordinary things … The image of people coming down those stairs has stayed with me ever since,” Letts added. “They were frightened. Many were injured. Yet almost every person was helping someone else.”
Members of the audience, some too young to remember that day, hold candles as they listen to the names of the Morris County residents who died. Photo by Karen Mancinelli
Letts said that spirit extended beyond first responders to ordinary people.
“People simply saw a need and they acted. People like the first responders here tonight. In the midst of unimaginable tragedy, I witnessed extraordinary goodness,” said Letts. “This is the America I remember from September 11th.”
He also recalled the unity that followed the attacks, when Americans set aside many of the divisions that had separated them and came together to help one another. That spirit of service, he said, has always been one of America’s greatest strengths.
Retired Morris County Fire Marshal James Davidson strikes a bell after the name is read of each Morris County resident who died on September 11, 2001. The bronze plaque of the poem, “A Day Like No Other” by Mark Viglione, is behind him. Photo by Karen Mancinelli
“When everything else has been stripped away, what remains is character, courage, compassion and service to others,” said Letts. “Those were the qualities that carried America through one of the darkest days in its history.”
During the ceremony, Commissioner Tayfun Selen explained that the county unveiled a bronze plaque addition to the county’s 9/11 Memorial bearing a poem written by Mark Viglione about his uncle, FDNY Firefighter Thomas Sabella. He was a member of Ladder Company 13 and was killed while responding to the attacks. Sabella’s sister, Loretta Viglione, has participated in the county’s remembrance ceremonies for many years and read the poem during Sunday’s ceremony.
Commissioner Christine Myers connected the evening’s candle-lighting ceremony to a moving performance of “Danny Boy” by musicians Darren O’Neill, Patricia Lazzara and Merynda Adams. Myers noted that the traditional Irish ballad had been the subject of a public dispute when it was banned from a religious funeral in Rhode Island just two months before the attacks.
But the ballad took on a different meaning after September 11.
“It is a kerfuffle that disappeared in the smoke of the Twin Towers, the carnage at the Pentagon and wreckage in a Pennsylvania field — as did so many other issues that had been dividing our nation,” Myers said. “In the face of the attacks, we Americans came together to mourn our dead, to deliver justice and to promise that we will never forget.”
Director Stephen Shaw welcomes attendees to Morris County’s 25th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. Photo by Karen Mancinelli
As candles were lit, Commissioners Doug Cabana and Tom Mastrangelo read the names of the 64 Morris County residents who died on September 11. Retired Morris County Fire Marshal James Davidson struck a bell following each name.
The ceremony began with a procession led by State Senator Anthony M. Bucco and Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon up Hanover Avenue, accompanied by local police, fire and emergency medical personnel and the United States Naval Cadet Sea Corps of Picatinny Arsenal. United States Representatives Tom Kean Jr. and Analilia Mejia carried bouquets of red, white and blue flowers which they placed at the memorial.
The Police Pipes and Drums of Morris County played as Morris Township Police Chief Robert Shearer handed a folded American flag to Letts for the presentation of colors. Sheriff Gannon then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The ceremony also included an invocation by the Reverend Herman Scott of Calvary Baptist Church; a benediction by Rabbi Moshe Rudin of Adath Shalom; musical tributes by the Morris Choral Society and O’Neill, Lazzara and Adams; a 21-gun salute by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard; and “Taps” by Larry Schillings, New Jersey state director of Bugles Across America.
Deputy Director John Krickus closed the ceremony by connecting remembrance with the county’s responsibility to prepare for future emergencies.
“The role of county government is critical during a crisis. While we cannot predict the future, we are as prepared, trained and equipped as any suburban county in the nation for an emergency response,” Krickus said. “I can’t think of a better way to honor those we lost, and those first responders we lost on 9/11, then to ensure the first responders in our county today have the training, equipment and support they need so when they go on call they come home to their families.”
As a generation without any memory of September 11 comes of age, Letts urged those young people to take responsibility for preserving the history and lessons of that day.
“Learn it. Remember it. Tell it. And carry its lessons forward,” Letts said.
The Morris County 9/11 Memorial was created in the aftermath of the attacks through the work of county officials, employees, volunteers and victims’ families and was dedicated in September 2003. It incorporates three pieces of steel recovered from the World Trade Center, remnants of Flight 93 and soil from the Pentagon. The names of all those killed on September 11 are engraved in the red paving stones surrounding the memorial, while the names of the 64 Morris County victims are identified on individual brass plates along the inner wall.
The memorial’s water, bridges, concrete blocks and flowers carry additional meanings of healing, connection, family, hope and peace. The site has hosted Morris County’s annual remembrance ceremony every year since its dedication, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 64 Morris County residents lost on September 11, 2001, were Donald Leroy Adams, Margaret L. Benson, John Paul Bocchi, Martin Boryczewski, Dennis Buckley, Cecile M. Caguicla, Liam Callahan, David G. Carlone, James Leslie Crawford Jr., Joseph DeLuca, Captain Robert Edward Dolan, Antoinette Duger, Gregg J. Froehner, Alayne F. Gentul, Debra Lynn Fischer Gibbon, Paul Stuart Gilbey, Gayle R. Greene, Eileen Marsha Greenstein, Gary Robert Haag, Timothy Robert Hughes, Anthony P. Infante Jr., Jason Kyle Jacobs, Joon Koo Kang, Lucille King, Angela R. Kyte, Robin Blair Larkey, Thomas V. Linehan Jr., Sean Patrick Lynch, Simon Maddison, Alfred Russell Maler, Christian Hartwell Maltby, Hilda Marcin, William J. Martin Jr., Philip W. Mastrandrea Jr., William A. Mathesen, Robert D. Mattson, Patrick J. McGuire, Martin Paul Michelstein, Seth Allan Morris, Peter C. Moutos, Alexander Napier Jr., Michael O’Brien, Michael John Pescherine, Thomas H. Polhemus, David Alan James Rathkey, Richard C. Rescorla, Antonio Augusto Tome Rocha, James Romito, Steven Harris Russin, Thomas Sabella (brother of Parsippany resident Loretta Viglione), Maria Theresa Santillan, Matthew Carmen Sellitto, Karen Lynn Seymour-Dietrich, Barbara A. Shaw, Francis Joseph Skidmore Jr., Michael C. Sorresse, Thomas S. Strada, Edward W. Straub, Kenneth J. Swenson, Dennis Gerard Taormina, William R. Tieste, Peter Guyder Wallace, Matthew David Yarnell, Mark Zangrilli, and Kenneth Albert Zelman.
A memorial grows for 24-year-old Daniel “DJ” Ortiz, a tow truck operator tragically killed while assisting a disabled vehicle on Route 287.
HARDING — A Morris County Grand Jury has indicted Pierre Innocent in connection with the crash that killed tow truck operator Daniel “DJ” Ortiz on Interstate 287 last July, according to Ortiz’s family and supporters.
Innocent, of Orange, faces the following charges:
Reckless Vehicular Homicide, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5
Violation of a Law Intended to Promote Public Safety, N.J.S.A. 2C:40-18
Both charges are being brought as second-degree offenses.
An indictment does not mean a person has been found guilty. It means a Grand Jury determined there was sufficient evidence for the criminal charges to formally move forward through the court system.
Under New Jersey law, a second-degree crime generally carries a potential sentence of five to ten years in state prison if there is a conviction. Reckless vehicular homicide is also subject to New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, which can require a person convicted of the offense to serve eighty-five percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for parole.
Ortiz, 24, was struck while assisting a motorist on the shoulder of the highway. He later died of his injuries.
For more than a year, Ortiz’s family, friends, coworkers and members of the towing community have pushed for accountability in the case. Supporters called the indictment an important step, though they noted the case is not over.
Ortiz’s supporters said they intend to continue advocating for stronger protections for tow operators, roadside workers, first responders, construction workers and other emergency personnel who work along highways, and are urging drivers to slow down and move over for vehicles stopped on the shoulder.
Councilmen Matthew Kavanugh, Paul Carfi, Jr., Matthew McGraft (standing), President Judy Hernandez and Vice President Diya Patel
PARSIPPANY — The Township Council is scheduled to take up a $55,225,000 bond anticipation note, a $2,000,000 appropriation for water tank improvements, and a series of new ordinances during its regular meeting Tuesday night, September 15. The meeting takes place at 7:00 p.m. at 1001 Parsippany Boulevard, in the Council Chambers.
Among the most significant items on the consent agenda is a bond anticipation note combining several notes into a single package totaling $55,225,000, made up of $4,100,000 for general improvements, $30,725,000 for the water utility, $18,600,000 for the sewer utility, and $1,800,000 for the golf utility.
The council will also decide whether to appropriate $2,000,000 from the township’s PFAS litigation fund to pay for the water tank improvements project.
Another consent agenda item authorizes the Planning Board to conduct a preliminary investigation of 5 Wood Hollow Road to determine whether the property qualifies as a non-condemnation redevelopment area.
The council is also expected to formally adopt a Vision Zero initiative and create a task force to draft an action plan aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries.
Additional consent agenda items include:
Release of performance guarantees for the Lexica development on Block 136, Lots 44 and 76
An agreement between the township and the Police Athletic League of Parsippany-Troy Hills for recreation services
An extension of Knoll Tennis Club, LLC’s contract to operate the indoor tennis facility at the Parsippany Community Center
Purchase of new public works equipment, including a Bobcat compact track loader, five Leach rearload packer bodies, and a street sweeper
The council will also hold a public hearing and vote on final passage of an ordinance amending the township’s rules on stopping and standing on certain streets, which passed first reading in August.
Six new ordinances are up for introduction on first reading, including measures amending the township’s dog licensing rules, fire prevention code, construction code fees for the plumbing and electrical subcodes, and Council rules of procedure.
In non-consent business, the council will consider a new limousine license for Mount Everest Limo Service, LLC.
The council is also expected to approve payment of the September 25 payroll, estimated at $1,650,000, and a bills list of $2,931,067.89.
Conceptual rendering of the approved Toll Brothers townhome development at 4 Gatehall Drive, showing the layout of the 25-building, 178-unit residential community planned for the redevelopment area.
PARSIPPANY — The Township Council is scheduled to consider a redevelopers agreement and a related sanitary sewer easement agreement with Toll NJ I, LLC for the property at 4 Gatehall Drive during its regular meeting Tuesday night, September 15.
The agreements cover Block 175, Lot 52, the site of a 178-unit townhome development the Planning Board approved in April. The project calls for 25 residential buildings containing a mix of 142 market-rate units and 36 affordable housing units, aligning with the township’s Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan.
Both items appear on the council’s consent agenda, along with several dozen other resolutions expected to be approved without separate discussion.
PARSIPPANY — District 15Fifteen will host a series of Sunday artisan markets this fall, featuring local makers, shopping, food and live music at the luxury community.
Brilliant Conventions is organizing four markets, held Sundays, September 20, October 4, October 11 and October 18, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at District 15Fifteen, 1515 Route 10 East in Parsippany.
The markets are free to attend, with free parking available, and are pet friendly.
Organizers said spaces are still available for local makers and food vendors interested in participating. Those interested can email [email protected] or visit linktr.ee/brilliantconventions for more information.
Volunteers plant native trees along Troy Brook in Troy Meadows, Parsippany-Troy Hills
Photo credit: Dave Blinde
PARSIPPANY — Wildlife Preserves Inc. will host a free neighborhood block party next weekend at the main entrance to its Troy Meadows Nature Preserve.
The Troy Meadows Neighborhood Block Party will take place Sunday, September 27, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 250 Troy Meadow Road in Parsippany.
Organizers said the event gives neighbors a chance to mingle, learn about the preserve and its upcoming Environmental Education Center, offer feedback, and share what kinds of events they would like to see in the future. Free sandwiches from Gene’s Deli in Lake Hiawatha, non-alcoholic drinks and games will be available, along with a guided nature walk at 4:00 p.m.
Residents are welcome to stay for the whole afternoon or stop by briefly to pick up a trail map and plan a future visit. Walk-ins are welcome, though organizers are requesting RSVPs by September 20 for an accurate head count.
File Photo. Photo for illustration purposes only. The actual incident may not reflect the photo.
FAIRFIELD — A 24-year-old Morristown woman was arrested on charges of hindering apprehension after police said she gave officers a false name during a traffic stop on Route 46 West.
The Fairfield Police Department said Officer Matthew Iatesta was patrolling Route 46 West near Plymouth Street at approximately 10:22 p.m. Sunday, September 13, when he observed a gray Honda Civic traveling with an inoperable rear brake light and conducted a motor vehicle stop.
After stopping the vehicle, Officer Iatesta approached the driver, later identified as Candie House, 24, of Morristown. Police said House told the officer she did not have her driver’s license with her and provided a name for him to look up in an attempt to confirm her identity.
Further investigation revealed House did not possess a valid driver’s license and had allegedly provided officers with a false name in an attempt to hinder their efforts to determine her true identity, police said. She was subsequently placed under arrest.
House was issued the following summonses:
Driving Without a License (N.J.S.A. 39:3-10)
Maintenance of Lamps (N.J.S.A. 39:3-66)
Hindering Apprehension (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3)
The hindering charge was placed on a summons with a mandatory court date at Fairfield Municipal Court on November 5.
The case was handled by Corporal David Lagan, the department’s public information officer, under the authorization of Chief Anthony Manna.
Editor’s Note: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Destinn McKnight, 31, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — A man formerly of Parsippany-Troy Hills has been sentenced to 16 years in New Jersey State Prison for his role in a fatal two-vehicle crash on Route 80, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll and Acting Chief of Detectives Mark Castellano.
The Honorable Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C. handed down the sentence on Friday, September 11, for Victor Peters, 46. The sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act, meaning Peters must serve 85 percent of the term before becoming eligible for parole.
A jury convicted Peters on Wednesday, July 22, following a five-day trial, finding him guilty of first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4) and second-degree Vehicular Homicide (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5).
The crash occurred at approximately 2:33 a.m. on Sunday, February 2, when law enforcement responded to a two-vehicle collision on Route 80 West in Rockaway Township. Investigators determined that a Mercedes SUV driven by Peters had been traveling east in the westbound lanes and struck a 2024 Ford pickup truck traveling west.
The driver of the pickup truck, Destinn McKnight, 31, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, died at the scene. McKnight was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Peters, the sole occupant of the Mercedes, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Morristown Medical Center for treatment. He exhibited signs of impairment at the scene, which led to the charges against him.
Prosecutor Carroll credited the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the New Jersey State Police for their work on the investigation. Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa DiSturco and Assistant Prosecutor Alexander Bennett tried the case in court.
MORRIS COUNTY — Joe Hathaway, the Republican nominee for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, will host a series of four town halls this fall to discuss the issues facing district families, highlight what his campaign describes as Democratic Congresswoman Analilia Mejia’s socialist positions and record in Congress, present his own platform for working New Jersey families, and answer questions directly from the community.
The town halls are scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, September 23, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Madison Community House, 25 Cook Avenue, Madison
Tuesday, September 29, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Randolph Senior Center, 36 Calais Road, Randolph
Tuesday, October 6, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Roseland VFW, 52 Eisenhower Parkway, Roseland
Wednesday, October 21, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Rockaway Township Senior Center, 19 Mount Hope Road, Rockaway Township
PARSIPPANY — Cheshire Home, a Florham Park-based nonprofit that provides residential rehabilitation for young adults with spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions, will host a Bingo Night fundraiser on Thursday, November 12, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Parsippany Police Athletic League, 33 Baldwin Road.
A happy hour will run beforehand from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with guests welcome to bring their own beverages.
Tickets cost $40 and include ten games of bingo, with four boards per game. The evening will also feature prizes and a 50/50 cash raffle.
Proceeds from the event will support the programs and services Cheshire Home offers to residents with spinal cord injuries as they continue their journey toward independence.
Registration is available online at www.cheshirehome.org/bingo.
When preparing to sell a property, many homeowners ask the same initial question: Do I really need to hire a listing agent?
Of course, a “For Sale by Owner” transaction is appealing for its own reasons, and bypassing a real estate agent means avoiding commission fees. However, For the vast majority of sellers, working with a professional yields a higher final offer and a significantly faster sale.
Here’s why.
What a Listing Agent Does
The public perception of a real estate agent’s job often stops at placing a sign on the lawn and hosting an open house. However, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, from accessing existing buyer networks to producing professional marketing materials.
While it is natural to want to save costs in the current housing market, attempting a do-it-yourself sale frequently results in the property sitting stagnant.
For one, homeowners often see their homes through a sentimental lens, which can lead to flubs in pricing strategy. If a home is priced too high, it can sit for months. If it’s priced too low, the seller risks losing equity.
A listing agent can help sellers avoid pricing mistakes by providing objective analysis based on comparable homes. This can lead to an exact listing price that’s low enough to spark interest but high enough to maintain equity.
Marketing and Market Reach
The starkest difference between selling solo and hiring a professional is market exposure. A homeowner might list their house on a few public websites and share it on social media. This relies entirely on passive discovery. In other words, waiting for a buyer to stumble across your listing.
Top-tier real estate teams operate differently, functioning more like specialized marketing agencies. Rather than hoping buyers find a home, they actively match the property with individuals who are currently looking. This can help net hundreds, if not thousands, more than a seller would otherwise get.
According to Rob Dekanski, founder of real estate brokerage The Robert Dekanski Team, a typical independent agent will spend around $250 a month in marketing. Larger real estate firms, on the other hand, will invest heavily in drone shots, professional staging, virtual tours, and direct mail to ensure that a listing gets noticed.
For homeowners seeking a clear strategy, consulting resources published by a premierNJ real estate agent provides a critical roadmap to understanding how presentation drives final value.
Competition and Negotiation
Without significant market reach, an independently listed home usually receives fewer showings and fewer offers. This lack of competition gives the buyer all the leverage.
According to Dekanski, sellers who don’t access high-quality marketing and negotiation services can inadvertently leave between $25,000 and $70,000 on the table during a transaction. Competition among buyers puts the ball back in the seller’s court, and allows them to exert a bit more control over pricing and terms than they otherwise would be able to.
Beyond that, negotiations are often complex and tricky things to navigate. In many cases, a homebuyer will be operating through their own real estate agent. If a homeowner is selling their property themselves, then this means they’ll be negotiating with a seasoned professional who is advocating for the buyer’s terms.
An experienced real estate agent can help navigate these tricky waters by protecting the seller’s interests, especially during the back-and-forth negotiation process.
The Verdict
Technically, a homeowner looking to sell their property does not need to work through a real estate agent. However, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to, from better pricing to hands-on support during the negotiation phase.
It’s obviously a tradeoff. Although real estate agents take a commission and charge fees, the alternative is an often lower final selling price and a more prolonged negotiation and selling process.
Whether or not these tradeoffs are worth it to you depends largely on your circumstances and needs. But in the current New Jersey housing market, which remains seller-friendly, a real estate agent might just be able to help you make the most out of the current market conditions.
Sheriff James Gannon, Jamie Serittella, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EASRCC); Commissioner Doug Cabana; Paul Fiore, Business Representative, IBEW Local 102; Commissioner Deb Smith; ?; Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw; Mike LaBella, Morris Sussex County Building & Construction Trades Council; David Critchley, President, Morris Sussex County Building & Construction Trades Council and Secretary Treasurer, New Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council; Kermit Hartman, Business Agent, Plumbers Local 24; Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus; Bob Hopkins, EASRCC; Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo; Tom Iveson, EASRCC; Commissioner Christine Myers; Commissioner Tayfun Selen and Domenic Recine, EASRCC.
PARSIPPANY — Morris County dedicated its new Public Safety Complex Expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that also honored Labor Day, as the Board of County Commissioners joined members of the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council to celebrate the workers who built the 65,540-square-foot facility.
The ceremony took place outside the new building on West Hanover Avenue and included Morris County Department of Law and Public Safety staff, along with more than a dozen trades workers and union leaders. The project began last year and was designed to strengthen public safety and health response capabilities in the county.
County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw said Labor Day continues to remind residents that the strength of communities rests on the skill and craftsmanship of workers, adding that the message carries new weight as artificial intelligence reshapes industries nationwide.
Shaw said skilled trades remain essential to construction, noting that artificial intelligence cannot pour concrete, set steel, run electrical systems, or install heating and cooling equipment.
Morris County OEM Director Jeff Paul; Morris County Law & Public Safety Assistant Director Lauren Burd; Law & Public Safety Director Scott DiGiralomo; Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen, Deputy Director John Krickus; Commissioner Christine Myers; Commissioner Doug Cabana; Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo; Director Stephen Shaw; Commissioner Deb Smith; Morris County Public Works Director and County Engineer Chris Vitz; and Morris County Division of Public Health Director Carlos Perez, Jr.
Shaw presented a framed Resolution of Honor to David Critchley, president of the Morris, Sussex and Vicinity Building and Construction Trades Council and secretary-treasurer of the State Building and Construction Trades Council. The resolution recognized trades workers for their contributions to the Public Safety Complex Expansion and other Morris County projects, including facilities at the County College of Morris and the ongoing county criminal court expansion.
Representatives from the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada Local 24 also attended.
Critchley accepted the resolution on behalf of the building trades and thanked county officials for highlighting the trades and giving younger workers a chance to learn about training and career paths.
Critchley said that for every five workers retiring from the trades, only two are entering to replace them, and he encouraged young people to consider the field, citing well-paying jobs and skills gained through apprenticeship programs.
The expansion gives the Morris County Division of Public Health a new location directly next to the county’s emergency operations functions, and includes storage for personal protective equipment and garage space for emergency response vehicles and equipment.
The project developed out of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Board of County Commissioners formed a Strategic Planning Advisory Committee to evaluate the county’s emergency preparedness and response. The committee met 64 times to examine the county’s capabilities and identify needed improvements.
While the county’s Office of Emergency Management response was cited as a model for the state, the committee concluded that the Division of Public Health needed to be located closer to the emergency operations team.
The expansion also creates additional space for the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division in Public Health’s former location on West Hanover Avenue. Shaw said the project addresses two needs at once, moving Public Health into the new facility while freeing up space better suited for the Sheriff’s Patrol Division.
The project was designed by The Musial Group Architects, with Dobco Group serving as general contractor and Legacy Construction Management Inc. as construction manager. It was recognized earlier this year by the New Jersey Alliance for Action as one of the state’s leading capital construction projects for excellence in planning, design, and construction.
The Public Safety Complex Expansion is one of several major projects planned or underway in Morris County. Renderings displayed at the ceremony showed upcoming projects, including a new criminal courthouse and a replacement K-9 facility. The three projects have been supported by $99.7 million in total funding approved by the County Commissioners, with 82.2 percent from the county and 17.8 percent from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Morris County’s partnership with the building trades also extends to educational facilities on the County College of Morris campus. Projects include the Center for Health Professions, scheduled to open next year; the Center for Culinary Science and Entrepreneurship, which opened earlier this year; and the Morris County Vocational School District’s career training center, which opened on the college campus to hundreds of high school students last year.
Following the ribbon cutting, guests toured the new facility and viewed renderings of upcoming county projects.
File Photo. Photo for illustration purposes only. The actual incident may not reflect the photo.
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — A Hopatcong woman died and two other people were injured following a head-on crash on Route 206 in Andover Township Saturday, September 5, according to the Andover Township Police Department.
The crash happened at approximately 2:15 p.m. near the Andover Borough line by D&E Service Center, police said.
A 2015 Ford Fusion driven by Katherine Tevis, 60, of Lake Hiawatha, was traveling north on Route 206 when it veered into the southbound lane and struck a 2018 Nissan Murano head-on, police said. The Murano was driven by Patricia Consentino, 58, of Andover Township, who was traveling south at the time.
Consentino was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center. Tevis was taken to Morristown Medical Center by Atlantic EMS.
Nancy Tevis, 83, of Hopatcong, a passenger in the Ford Fusion, was transported to Newton Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead, police said.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Andover Township Police Department and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. No charges have been announced.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release from the Andover Township Police Department. The investigating officer and towing company were not named in the release. No charges have been filed at this time.
Former Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Justin Musella with Joe Hathaway at the Independence Day celebration, jointly honoring 80 years of India's independence and 250 years of American independence.
PARSIPPANY — Republican congressional candidate Joe Hathaway will hold a meet-and-greet event in Parsippany later this month, according to his campaign.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, at 6:00 p.m. at Venture X Parsippany, located at 8 Campus Drive, South Arbor Circle South.
Hathaway, the former mayor of Randolph Township and current councilman, is the Republican nominee in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, which includes Parsippany-Troy Hills.
He is seeking a rematch against Democratic U.S. Representative Analilia Mejia, who defeated him in a special general election held in April to fill the seat vacated when Mikie Sherrill resigned from Congress after being elected governor. The general election rematch will take place on November 3.
Before launching his congressional campaign, Hathaway served on the Randolph Township Council before being elected mayor. According to his campaign, his priorities include lowering healthcare costs, easing the path to home ownership for first-time buyers, and investing in transportation infrastructure, including the Gateway Tunnel project between New Jersey and New York.
Editor’s Note: This article covers a publicly announced campaign event. Parsippany Focus provides neutral coverage of candidates from all parties; candidates interested in similar coverage may contact the newsroom.
Dr. Joseph Murphy of Suburban Chiropractic Center in Chatham will present “How to Prevent Back Pain in Your Daily Work, Leisure and Life” on Wednesday, October 28, at the Library of the Chathams.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Kiwanis Club of the Chathams and Madison will present a three-part Community Talks series at the Library of the Chathams this fall and winter, featuring free presentations on local history, health and public policy.
All three programs will be held at the library, 214 Main Street, beginning at 6:30 p.m., and will include audience questions, discussion and refreshments. The talks are free and open to the public, though registration is requested.
The series begins Wednesday, September 30, with “The History of the Revolutionary War in Chatham and Madison,” presented by Scott Spelker, Madison’s town historian and a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. The talk will cover local encampments, military movements, notable residents and the strategic importance of the area during the American Revolution, when Madison was known as Bottle Hill. Registration is requested by Monday, September 28.
The second program, “How to Prevent Back Pain in Your Daily Work, Leisure and Life,” will be held Wednesday, October 28, and presented by Dr. Joseph Murphy of Suburban Chiropractic Center in Chatham. Murphy will offer practical tips to help prevent back injury and pain during sports, leisure activities, daily work and household chores. Registration is requested by Monday, October 26.
The final talk, “Affordable Housing in New Jersey,” will be held Wednesday, December 9, and presented by Justin Strickland, an Army combat veteran, former Pentagon federal official and Chatham Borough Councilman. The presentation will address questions about affordable housing in New Jersey.
Residents may attend one, two or all three programs. Late registrations will be accepted as space permits. Registration is available at tinyurl.com/KiwanisCommunityTalks, or by emailing [email protected] with questions.
In a recent letter to the editor a Parsippany resident gave his view on the so called benefits of placing data centers in Parsippany. Clearly his opinion is in the minority both in Parsippany and on a nationwide basis. Polls have registered a negative view of data centers ranging from minus 63 percent to minus 71 percent, in recently taken polls.
The so called logic behind the resident’s positive view of data centers is based on three locations he has cherry picked from across the country. According to the author of the letter, the locations he mentioned have benefited from property taxes incurred by the data centers. The locations stated in his letter are in states that have one tenth the population density of New Jersey.
Having recently traveled to Michigan, I can tell you first hand the droning sound from a data center that is over one quarter of a mile from my nephew’s home is extremely unpleasant. It is especially noticeable in the evening and night hours. Where there was once the sound of crickets and birds, the background sound is now a constant unnerving humming that simply never ends. I should add the data center near my nephew’s home is not that large of an installation and it is still well beyond annoying.
Beside the issues of providing water and power to data centers in Parsippany, New Jersey and the nation as a whole, the noise and lost property values that come to the surrounding areas simply do not equate to a standard of living the vast majority of people from around the nation are in favor of.
If this opinion from the writer is a sample of the policies he would want to implement should he win a seat on the Parsippany School Board, I will be sure to cast my ballot for someone else. Someone who is more in line with the mainstream of the populace.
Judge Rules Lease Barberio Signed on His Way Out of Office Is Invalid
PARSIPPANY — A Superior Court judge has ruled that a lease former Mayor James Barberio executed on behalf of the township during his final days in office is void and unenforceable, finding that he lacked the legal authority to sign it without Township Council approval.
The ruling, issued September 11 by the Honorable Noah Franzblau, P.J. Cv. (Acting), in Morris County Superior Court, resolves the central claim in a lawsuit filed by Nicholas Neglia against the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills over a lease for a township-owned property known as Watnong Gardens.
According to court documents, Barberio, the sitting mayor at the time, lost his re-election bid to Mayor Pulkit Desai in the November 2025 general election. Barberio challenged the election result, and that challenge was dismissed in December.. Despite the election loss, on December 30, 2025, while still mayor, Barberio executed a lease permitting Neglia to reside at Watnong Gardens, a roughly two-acre township-owned property with a street address of 2387 Watnong Terrace, in exchange for property maintenance services rather than rent. Barberio’s term ended December 31, 2025.
After Barberio left office, the township notified Neglia that it considered the lease invalid and would not allow him to move in. Neglia sued in May, asking the court to either declare the lease valid because Barberio had the authority to sign it, or, alternatively, to find the township equitably estopped from terminating it.
Neglia’s attorneys argued that a 2020 Township Council resolution authorizing a caretaker agreement for Watnong Gardens and Craftsman Farm gave the sitting mayor ongoing authority to execute such leases. The township countered that the resolution was not a valid basis for the lease and that it violated the state’s Optional Municipal Charter Law, commonly known as the Faulkner Act, because any lease of township property required Township Council approval that Barberio never sought.
In his written opinion, Judge Franzblau agreed with the township on both points. He found that the 2020 resolution improperly attempted to grant the mayor open-ended, permanent leasing authority, a power that should have been established through an ordinance rather than a resolution. He also found that, separate from that issue, Parsippany’s mayor-council form of government under the Faulkner Act required Barberio to present the lease to the Township Council for approval, which he did not do. As a result, the judge ruled that Barberio acted without authority, or ultra vires, in signing the lease, rendering it void from the outset.
The ruling leaves open Neglia’s alternative argument that the township should be equitably estopped from terminating the lease. The judge vacated an earlier August 3 order that would have allowed that claim to move forward as a summary action, finding that the issue instead requires formal discovery. The case will now proceed on that narrower claim.
Matthew Memoli graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science
PARSIPPANY — Matthew Memoli graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences from James Madison University during commencement exercises in August.
Memoli was among 610 students who received undergraduate and graduate degrees.
A 2022 graduate of Parsippany Hills High School, Memoli worked as an event operations assistant at James Madison University’s student union building, where he helped set up events for students and faculty, assisted visitors at the front desk and provided information about campus services and procedures.
Memoli previously spent four years as a summer camp counselor with Parsippany Recreation, and earlier worked as a swim instructor at the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA in Mountain Lakes, teaching children basic swim skills.
Founded in 1908, James Madison University is a public university located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
Matthew Marinello, manager of Government and Public Affairs for Atlantic Health; Commissioner Tayfun Selen; Lydia Nadeau, executive director of Cancer Care and Atlantic Health's Oncology Service Line; Dr. Daniel Tobias, director of Gynecologic Oncology and the Women's Cancer Center at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center and Director Stephen Shaw.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month during its public meeting this week, welcoming health care professionals from Atlantic Health for a presentation on the disease and the importance of public awareness, research and continued advances in detection and treatment.
Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw presented the proclamation to representatives of Atlantic Health following a presentation led by Dr. Daniel Tobias, director of Gynecologic Oncology and the Women’s Cancer Center at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center. Lydia Nadeau, executive director of Cancer Care at Atlantic Health, and Matthew Marinello, manager of Government and Public Affairs for Atlantic Health, also took part in the presentation.
“Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to learn more about this disease and the importance of awareness and education,” said Director Shaw. “We appreciate Dr. Tobias and Ms. Nadeau for joining us and sharing information that can help residents better understand ovarian cancer and the importance of speaking with their health care providers when something does not seem right.”
Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the United States and causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 21,010 women nationwide will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, and 12,450 will die from the disease, including an estimated 650 new cases and 340 deaths in New Jersey.
One of the greatest challenges is that there is no reliable routine screening test for ovarian cancer, and many women are diagnosed after the disease has reached a more advanced stage. Early-stage ovarian cancer has a significantly higher survival rate, making awareness and recognition of potential warning signs particularly important.
“Recognizing the warning signs is the key, and that’s part of the purpose of this month, to just raise awareness, so people are aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and finding it in its early stages,” said Dr. Tobias.
Dr. Daniel Tobias, director of Gynecologic Oncology and the Women’s Cancer Center at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center.
The presentation identified symptoms that may warrant medical attention when they are new, persistent or frequent, including abdominal bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary urgency or frequency. Because these symptoms can also be associated with other conditions, residents were encouraged to discuss persistent changes with their health care providers.
Dr. Tobias also discussed advances in treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapies and clinical trials that continue to provide patients with access to new and innovative treatments.
“Chemotherapy is generally very effective,” Dr. Tobias said. “We’re able to extend their life significantly. When we say significantly, we’re talking about five-year, 10-year survival even after they’ve been diagnosed.”
Atlantic Health currently has approximately 170 clinical trials open across its system, including ovarian cancer research and a screening study examining whether blood testing and complementary biomarkers can help identify the disease at an earlier stage.
The long-running screening trial, conducted in collaboration with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, is enrolling eligible women ages 50 to 74 and is intended to help researchers determine whether a combination of testing methods can improve early detection. Atlantic Health continues to enroll participants in the study.
Nadeau also highlighted the depth of cancer care and research available through Atlantic Health, including the role of multidisciplinary teams and clinical trials in providing patients with access to emerging treatments.
“Our goal is to provide access to new and novel treatments. One of the ways we accomplish this is through our clinical trials program,” Nadeau said.
For Dr. Tobias, the value of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month extends beyond education and recognition.
Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo; Matthew Marinello; Commissioner Tayfun Selen; Lydia Nadeau; Dr. Daniel Tobias; Director Stephen Shaw; Commissioners Christine Myers, Doug Cabana and Deb Smith; and Deputy Director John Krickus.
“September’s really about raising awareness, which then leads to people being more active, and helping to raise more funding to support research in finding a reliable screening test,” Dr. Tobias said. “Ovarian cancer doesn’t always get as much press as breast cancer and some of the other cancers.”
The county proclamation encourages residents to promote awareness efforts by wearing teal, the official color of ovarian cancer awareness, to learn about the disease and its symptoms, and to support families affected by ovarian cancer.
The county’s recognition also provided an opportunity to remember former Morris County Freeholder Patricia J. Maynard, who died in 2017 following a nine-year battle with ovarian cancer. Maynard, who served two terms on the board from 1978 through 1984, continued her public service afterward, serving for 12 years as Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Legislative Liaison until 1996. She was also involved with many other organizations, including the Morris County September 11 Memorial Committee and Morris County Library Foundation, and served as a trustee of the Morris Museum, Ralston Cider Mill, County College of Morris Foundation and New Jersey United States Olympic Committee.
