PARSIPPANY — Bernard Joseph Berkowitz, affectionately known as “Bernie” and as “Boppi” by his grandchildren, passed away Monday afternoon at Morristown Medical Center following an extended illness. He was 81.

Born in Newark and raised in Union, Bernie later lived in Boston before settling in Parsippany in 1973 — a community he would serve and love for the rest of his life.

He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University in 1967 and his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk Law School in 1970. It was in Boston, while working at a law firm, that he met his future wife, the former Barbara Jean Haddock. After a two-year courtship, the couple married on November 25, 1970 and shared 55 wonderful years of marriage.

Mr. Berkowitz began his private practice, Bernard J. Berkowitz, Attorney at Law, in Parsippany in 1977. He later partnered to form Berkowitz & Raiken in Montville Township, where he practiced for 15 years before retiring in 2013. Bernie loved the law, and was proud to have served as a Municipal Court Judge for the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, the Borough of Rockaway, and Netcong for 12 years.

A devoted father and community volunteer, Bernie coached Par-Troy Little League Baseball, Softball, and Soccer, and was an avid supporter and volunteer with the Parsippany High School Marching Band Association. He was a longtime member and former president of both the Parsippany Jaycees and Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, served several terms on the Parsippany Board of Education and Board of Adjustment, served as attorney for the Parsippany Planning Board, and volunteered at the Parsippany Public Library.

Bernie will be remembered most for his kind and generous spirit and his dedication to his family. He loved planning family vacations to National Parks and Historic Sites, relaxing on cruises, and his annual trip to Jensen Beach. He was a lifelong Yankees fan who loved dancing to Neil Diamond in his living room — as long as it was with his daughter or grandchildren. His life motto: “Life is too short to take too seriously.”

Survivors include his beloved wife of 55 years, Barbara Berkowitz; his children, Brian Berkowitz of Parsippany, Gail Egan and her husband John of Rockaway Township, and Mark Berkowitz of Parsippany; his sister, Mindy Harris and her husband Bruce of Georgia; and four cherished grandchildren, Benjamin, Samuel, Hannah, and Daniel Egan. He was preceded in death by his grandson Joshua Egan and his brothers Cary Berlant and Harley Berlant.

Visitation will be held Monday, July 6, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at S.J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service, 60 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha. A Funeral Service and Celebration of Life will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the funeral home, with interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the grandchildren’s education fund at givesendgo.com/berkowitz-grandchildren-education-fund.

DENVILLE — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally and Denville Chief of Police Scott Welsch announce the arrest of Joseph Rizos, 37, of Denville, following a homemade explosives (HME) investigation that yielded the seizure of a massive trove of explosives and explosive precursors.

On the morning of June 24, 2026, a team of investigators executed a search warrant at a residence on Avondale Road in Denville, led by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. Prior to the execution of the warrant, a motor vehicle stop was conducted and Rizos was detained.

At the residence, investigators uncovered a home laboratory along with a cache of explosive precursors commonly used to make HME. Also seized were blasting caps, cell phones, and various firearms and ammunition. A subsequent search warrant was executed for a shed also located on the property, resulting in the seizure of approximately 109 individual containers of suspected HME capable of massive destruction. A search did not locate a permit issued by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health required to store these explosive materials.

As a precaution, surrounding residences were temporarily evacuated.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Division is carrying out this investigation, which includes task force officers from the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Denville Police Department, Parsippany Police Department, Roxbury Police Department, and the Town of Boonton Police Department. Other agencies that assisted include the Morristown Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, New Jersey State Police Hazardous Material Response Unit, New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration Newark Division (DEA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Newark Office (FBI).

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office initiated this investigation in March 2026. It is alleged that Rizos ran a destructive device manufacturing operation during 2025 and 2026.

On June 24, Rizos was charged with the following:

• One count of Recklessly Risking Widespread Injury/Damage, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2C, a crime of the second degree.
• Four counts of Possession of Destructive Devices, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3A, a crime of the third degree.

The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be appropriate.

Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Rizos remains detained in the Morris County Jail pending a motion for pretrial detention.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said, “I want to recognize the hard work and persistence of our investigators in shutting down this potentially dangerous operation. I also wish to thank our local, state, and federal partners in providing timely assistance with this volatile situation. We recognize that matters of national significance are transpiring in Northern New Jersey right now, and that this arrest may prompt speculation and concern. Given the ongoing nature of the investigation, law enforcement cannot discuss additional details at this time, such as the defendant’s intent. More will be reported to the public at the appropriate time.”

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.

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Pulkit Desai and Council Vice President Diya Patel recognized three outstanding Girl Scout Gold Award recipients at the Township Council meeting of Tuesday, June 23, celebrating the remarkable community service projects each young woman completed to earn scouting’s highest honor.

Shrujana Praveen — Road Safety Awareness

Shrujana Praveen, a senior at Parsippany High School, earned her Gold Award by creating a road safety curriculum aimed at elementary school students across Parsippany. Her project was inspired by two powerful experiences — the death of an 8-year-old boy in town struck by a speeding car, and a patient she befriended while volunteering at a hospital who had been paralyzed in a speeding accident.

Praveen developed a kid-friendly educational video, a student reflection survey, and launched a petition to lower the speed limit on Littleton Road — a high-risk area for students and families. The petition gathered more than 800 signatures, and school districts across the area have committed to continuing to use her resources even after her graduation.

Residents can view her road safety awareness video at youtu.be/CJfhzflNo5A, complete the student survey at forms.gle/MmARD79qa6MpcoJY9, and sign her Littleton Road speed limit petition at change.org/MakeOurStreetsSafe.

Sanjana Medapati — Honoring Parsippany Veterans

Sanjana Medapati began her Girl Scout journey in 3rd grade and went on to earn her Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Now 18 and a 2025 graduate of The Academy for Mathematics, Science & Engineering, she currently attends Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida, where she is a sophomore majoring in Biology as part of the BS/MD Dual Admission Program.

Inspired by her brother, a recent graduate of the United States Military Academy and commissioned officer, Medapati set out to honor Parsippany’s veterans and inspire younger generations to appreciate those who have served. With the guidance of her mentor, Frank Cahill, she helped create a program that displays banners honoring local veterans throughout the community.

Currently there are 49 Veterans banners on display along North Beverwyck Road. For more information click here.

Lithra Sankari — TheHealthyQuest

Lithra Sankari founded TheHealthyQuest at age 16 with a mission to promote healthy habits among children through accessible health education. She developed and delivered workshops at local elementary schools, where she read from a children’s book she authored and engaged students with interactive activities and educational worksheets.

Sankari promoted the book through a dedicated website and donated more than 250 copies to healthcare facilities, libraries, and classrooms throughout the community. A 2025 graduate of Parsippany High School, she is currently a student at Rutgers University–New Brunswick Honors College, pursuing studies in Cell Biology & Neuroscience and Public Health.

Parsippany Focus previously covered Sankari’s project in 2025. She has also been recognized through the NJ Governor’s STEM Scholars Program and the Zonta Morristown Awards & Scholarships.

Parsippany Focus congratulates Shrujana Praveen, Sanjana Medapati, and Lithra Sankari on earning the Girl Scout Gold Award — the highest achievement in Girl Scouting — and thanks them for their extraordinary contributions to the Parsippany community.

PARSIPPANY — Wildlife Preserves Inc. began construction on its long-anticipated Troy Meadows Environmental Education Center with a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday, June 26, and the nonprofit land preservation organization is asking nature lovers for input on the programs and amenities they would most like to see.

“Our top priority will always be the welfare of our resident flora and fauna at Troy Meadows, but it is important for Wildlife Preserves to create a space that is welcoming to our neighbors and Preserve visitors. A great experience with the outdoors can really shift a person’s view of the world around them, and help them become better stewards of this natural treasure so close to home,” said Trustee Anita Shotwell.

The small ceremonial groundbreaking was attended by representatives of Parsippany-Troy Hills and local organizations that have supported Wildlife Preserves in the community. Township Council President Judy Hernandez, a frequent participant in cleanups and educational programs, called the future resource “a dream for us.” Leaders of the township’s Environmental Advisory Committee and Wildlife Preserves trustees also attended.

Wildlife Preserves, Inc. is a private, nonprofit land preservation organization based in New Jersey focused on the Troy Meadows Preserve, a 2,600-acre sanctuary in Parsippany and East Hanover in Morris County. The organization also owns and manages sanctuary properties at Goose Pond and the Delaware Bay Shore Preserve, as well as Great Piece Meadows along the Passaic River. Its properties are open to the public for passive recreational use and are maintained at no cost to taxpayers.

The new Environmental Education Center will feature 28 parking spaces, public restrooms, a large classroom, exhibit space and a wood-burning fireplace, along with staff offices and a garage for land-maintenance vehicles. The building will serve as Wildlife Preserves’ office and headquarters, as well as a trailhead for visitors accessing four miles of hiking trails at Troy Meadows.

The organization chose the site because it sits on the footprint of a previously demolished home and barns with vehicle access from a Morris County road. The new building will replicate the exterior of the historic farmhouse that once stood there, with parking hidden behind the building to blend with the character of the neighborhood. The use is permitted under the 2020 Parsippany Master Plan to improve public access to Troy Meadows.

Wildlife Preserves plans to disturb just under an acre of its Troy Meadows land holdings for the project. All 48 live trees removed for construction will be replaced with species that provide greater habitat diversity, and the site will include a 4,500-square-foot pollinator and rain garden visible from the center’s interior and porch. The organization is working with LEED-certified architects on the building.

After the center opens in 2027, Wildlife Preserves plans to expand its seasonal events and educational programming, building on offerings such as Bat Walks and Firefly Nights with new winter and inclement-weather programs, along with hybrid offerings like wildlife photography exhibits and Owl Prowls that combine indoor education with outdoor field experiences.

Trustee and Senior Land Manager Len Fariello, who has worked with Wildlife Preserves for more than 50 years, became a naturalist through decades on the land working directly with the organization’s late founder, Robert L. Perkins Jr. Fariello, who was hired as a ranger in 1973, later learned deed restrictions, conservation easements and contract negotiation working on Perkins’ behalf — experience that, along with his time as councilman and mayor of Hanover Township, has made him an effective advocate for the land and its wildlife. His son, Preserve Manager Luca Fariello, has built on that knowledge to create visitor experiences, including a second-grade class trip from a Parsippany elementary school last week.

The Environmental Education Center building itself is fully funded, but Wildlife Preserves is launching initiatives this summer to fund equipment and program expansion for students, seniors and families. Next month, the 501(c)(3) will launch a sponsorship program for engraved bricks — the symbolic and literal “first step” for visitors entering the property — expected to cost $125 for individuals and $250 for businesses or clubs, with 1,300 available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parsippany families and businesses will also be able to sponsor outdoor seating, seminars and landscape plantings on site, including nearly 1,000 perennials, 57 shrubs and trees such as river birch, red cedar, dogwood and a specimen-quality witch hazel. Proceeds from the tax-exempt donations will support future programs and operations at the center, which is set to open to the public next year.

Members of the public with suggestions for future programs at the Environmental Education Center can reach out to Wildlife Preserves through the contact form at WildlifePreserves.org. To receive updates on the center’s progress and Wildlife Preserves events, residents can sign up for the Friends of Troy Meadows email list at WildlifePreserves.org or follow Wildlife Preserves on Instagram and Facebook.

PARSIPPANY — The Morris County 9/11 Memorial, located at 460 West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany-Troy Hills, will be temporarily closed to the public from Tuesday, July 7, through Friday, July 10, for work necessary to replace a section of sidewalk leading from the parking lot to the top of the memorial circle.

The improvements are intended to enhance safety and accessibility for visitors. The memorial is expected to reopen by the end of the day Friday, July 10, weather permitting and provided construction is completed as scheduled.

During construction, the memorial will be closed to foot traffic, and access to the parking lot will be limited. Visitors are encouraged to plan accordingly during the temporary closure.

Morris County appreciates the public’s patience as these necessary improvements are completed.

MORRIS COUNTY — As the nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, Morris County Surrogate Heather J. Darling is joining in celebrating a milestone with deep roots in the community. Morristown served as George Washington’s military headquarters during two critical winters of the Revolutionary War, and Morris County’s history is woven into the story of the nation’s founding.

“Two hundred fifty years ago, the men and women of this region helped carry a fragile idea through its hardest test,” Darling said. “As stewards of the county’s oldest court, established to protect families and preserve the rule of law, we take particular pride in celebrating this milestone here in Morris County, where that history was made.”

The Surrogate’s Court, New Jersey’s oldest constitutional office, has served Morris County families through the probate of wills, the administration of estates and the appointment of guardians since the earliest days of the state. The office reflects a tradition of public service that traces directly back to the founding era being commemorated this Independence Day.

Darling extended her warmest wishes to every resident of Morris County for a safe and happy Fourth of July, and encouraged residents to take part in local semiquincentennial commemorations throughout the coming year honoring both the nation’s founding and the community’s own role in that history.

For more information, visit morrissurrogate.com.

MORRIS COUNTY — Comic fans, artists, collectors, and aspiring creators, be sure to mark your calendars now! KubieCon returns this summer, on Saturday, July 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at its new location at County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey!

Presented by the Joe Kubert School, Pug Productions and County College of Morris, this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever! Attendees will be able to explore an exciting show floor with comic vendors, comic artists, and celebrate all things comics and pop culture!

In addition to KubieCon, the Joe Kubert School will be hosting a special Portfolio Day on-site throughout the event. Prospective students will have the opportunity to have their portfolios reviewed and apply for the upcoming 50th school year, which will kick off this fall. All application fees will be waived during the event.

For more information on the Joe Kubert School, or to apply for the 50th year, please visit www.kubertschool.edu.

KubieCon will take place in the Davidson Rooms located in the Student Community Center at County College of Morris, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph. Parking is available in Lot 6. Admission is $5 each, with a portion of all proceeds going to a special scholarship for a student attending the Joe Kubert School for the 2026/27 school year. 

Whether you’re a lifelong comic fan, a collector searching for original art, or an aspiring artist, KubieCon 2026 is an event you won’t want to miss!

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany resident and Parsippany High School graduate Karley Berrios has been named Director of Arch Performances at The Berrie Center for the Arts at Ramapo College of New Jersey, marking a milestone in a career dedicated to the performing arts, education and community engagement.

A member of the Parsippany High School Class of 2011, Berrios has built a career spanning artistic passion and leadership, from a local student with a love of theater to a recognized arts administrator leading one of northern New Jersey’s performing arts programs.

Berrios earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater with a concentration in Directing and Stage Management from Ramapo College in 2015, and later returned to complete a Master of Business Administration there in 2023. She has worked at Ramapo College in a professional capacity since 2020, supporting the Berrie Center in programming, operations, audience engagement and arts administration.

From 2021 to 2023, Berrios also served as Play Director at Parsippany High School, helping students develop theatrical skills and an appreciation for the performing arts.

She was recently selected as one of 30 arts professionals nationwide for the 2026 APAP Emerging Leadership Institute, a program that identifies and develops rising leaders in the performing arts industry. She also serves as president of the Ramapo Staff Association and teaches a First Year Seminar course at the college.

As Director of Arch Performances, Berrios will oversee programming and help shape the artistic vision for a series that brings musicians, dancers, actors and cultural performers to the Ramapo College campus and surrounding community.

“As a lifelong arts enthusiast, I am honored to lead Arch Performances and continue creating opportunities for audiences to connect through live performance. I believe that live performance has the power to create, engage, and inspire. I hope people will not only come to see the artists they already know and love, but also take a chance on something new,” said Karley Berrios.

For more information about Arch Performances, visit ramapo.edu/berriecenter/arch-performances.

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Historical and Preservation Society and the Parsippany Historic Preservation Advisory Committee have partnered with Parsippany Presbyterian Church to host a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, part of a nationwide commemoration of its first public reading 250 years ago.

Parsippany Presbyterian Church sits in what was once the Village of Parsippany during the American Revolution. The adjacent Vail Cemetery and Parsippany Presbyterian Burial Ground, site of the original church, is the final resting place of Parsippany’s Revolutionary War veterans.

The free event will be held rain or shine on July 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Parsippany Presbyterian Church, 1675 U.S. Route 46 East in Parsippany . Parking is available at the church, accessible from Route 46 east.

MORRIS COUNY — The New Jersey Senate has advanced a bill from Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris, Passaic) that would allow valid EMT and paramedic certification cards to count toward the identification points required to obtain a driver’s license or ID from the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

Under New Jersey’s six-point identification system, individuals must present six points of ID verification to obtain an examination permit and certain vehicle licenses. Pennacchio’s bill, S-1312, would expand the list of acceptable documents to include Department of Health-issued cards for EMTs and paramedics, which would count for two of the six required points.

“EMTs and paramedics complete rigorous training, pass certification exams, and carry state-issued credentials to serve our communities. It makes sense to recognize these credentials as valid documentation for the purposes of obtaining a driver’s license or ID under New Jersey’s six-point system,” said en. Joe Pennacchio.

The bill passed the Senate on June 30.

RANDOLPH – Today, Joe Hathaway, the Republican nominee in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District released “A New Jersey Declaration,” a statement marking the nation’s 250th anniversary that calls for a return to common-sense leadership, public service, and a government that puts people ahead of politics.

In the declaration, Hathaway rejects partisan extremism, professional activists, excessive government control, and blind loyalty to political parties, while reaffirming his commitment to practical leadership focused on lowering costs, supporting public safety, strengthening small businesses, and delivering results for New Jersey families.

“As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, I believe it’s time to declare our independence from the broken politics that have forgotten the people they’re supposed to serve,” Hathaway said. “I’ve never believed leadership is about serving a political party or advancing an ideological agenda. It’s about solving problems, doing what’s right for the people you represent, and remembering that public office is a privilege, not an entitlement.”

Hathaway said his experience serving as Mayor of Randolph shaped the philosophy behind the declaration.

“When you’re fixing roads, supporting your police department, or balancing a budget, nobody asks whether the solution is Republican or Democrat—they just want it to work,” Hathaway continued. “That’s the mindset I’ll bring to Congress. If an idea is good for New Jersey, I’ll support it. If it isn’t, I won’t.”

The declaration concludes with a call for a new generation of leadership grounded in hard work, personal responsibility, strong families, safe communities, and the belief that America’s best days remain ahead.

Full text:

Today, I declare my independence. Not from America, but from the broken politics that have forgotten the people they’re supposed to serve.

I declare independence from professional activists who run for office just to advance an ideological agenda.

I declare independence from the belief that the government always knows best.

I declare independence from the idea that every problem can be solved with another tax, another mandate, or another federal program.

I declare independence from the politics of division, where we’re told to fear our fellow Americans instead of working together.

I declare independence from extremism, no matter which party it’s wearing.

And I declare independence from anyone who expects blind loyalty to a political party instead of loyalty to the people.

I’ve never believed that’s how the government is supposed to work.

As Mayor of Randolph, nobody asked whether the pothole was Republican or Democrat. Nobody cared whether a police officer, firefighter, or EMT belonged to one political party or another.

People wanted their streets safe. Their taxes spent responsibly. Their government to work.

That’s what leadership looks like.

If an idea is good for New Jersey, I’ll support it.

If it lowers costs for families, strengthens public safety, helps small businesses, or makes our communities stronger, I’ll fight for it.

If it doesn’t, I won’t. It’s really that simple.

Washington doesn’t need more politicians trying to become celebrities, it needs more public servants willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

To the parents trying to stretch every paycheck, to the small business owners carrying the weight of rising costs and endless regulations, to our law enforcement officers, firefighters, first responders, and veterans who quietly serve every day, to seniors who deserve security after a lifetime of hard work, to young families wondering if they’ll ever be able to afford a home in New Jersey: You deserve representatives who listen more than they lecture.

A representative who solves problems instead of creating them. A representative who cares more about results than rhetoric.

Nearly 250 years ago, Americans declared that the government exists because its power comes from the people, not the other way around.

That idea changed the world. It still matters today.

Because freedom isn’t just something we celebrate every Fourth of July.

It’s something we protect every day by defending common sense, rewarding hard work, respecting the Constitution, supporting our communities, and remembering that public office is a privilege, not an entitlement.

America doesn’t need another generation of politicians who tell us why nothing can be fixed.

We need a generation of leaders willing to fix what’s broken.

That’s why I’m running for Congress. Not to become part of Washington, but to help change it.

As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, let’s reject the politics that divide us. Let’s choose common sense over chaos. Results over rhetoric. Service over self-interest.

Let’s return to the values that built this country: hard work, personal responsibility, safe communities, strong families, and the belief that tomorrow can be better than today.

The American Dream isn’t gone, it just needs leaders willing to fight for it again.

Today, I renew my commitment: Independent in thought. Grounded in common sense. Focused on results.

Always fighting for the people of New Jersey’s 11th District.

Joe Hathaway is the Republican nominee for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th District. Hathaway has served on the Randolph Township Council since 2022, and is the immediate past Mayor. He lives in Randolph with his wife Whitney, and their three young children.

PARSIPPANY — Summer nights and live music are back in Parsippany. Mayor Pulkit Desai and the Township of Parsippany have announced the lineup for this year’s Summer Concert Series at Veterans Memorial Park.

The free, family-friendly events will feature live music, food trucks, games and amusements throughout July and August.

Each event begins at 6:00 p.m., with bands taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. The 2026 lineup is as follows:

• July 16 – Philadelphia Funk Authority
• July 20 – Suit & Mai Tai
• July 30 – Five Wheel Drive
• Aug. 6 – Sky City Social
• Aug. 13 – Super 70’s Rock Show (featuring Super Trans Am)
• Aug. 20 – Embers The Band
• Aug. 27 – Band of Make Believe

Organizers ask that attendees leave pets at home. In the event of bad weather, the township will announce an alternate location or date.

The Township of Parsippany thanked Provident Bank, the series’ sponsor, for helping make the concerts possible.

Residents are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to Veterans Memorial Park for the free shows.