MOUNTAIN LAKES — Celebrating more than 100 years in the community, the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA has announced the winners of their annual Educator of the Year Awards. In the K through 8 division, Eileen Ludwig, a counselor at the Briarcliff Middle School in Mountain Lakes is the winner.
Ahmed Kandil, Business Education teacher at Parsippany Hills High School has been chosen as the High School Educator of the Year.
Learn more about these very special individuals as well as other community service award winners from the Y’s service area when they will be honored at the Y’s Annual Dinner at The Mansion in Mountain Lakes on Wednesday, May 16. Tickets are $60.00 and everyone is welcome to attend.
For tickets, available through May 11, call Nancy Dunham at the Y at (973) 334-2820 or email: nancyd@lhymca.com
MOUNTAIN LAKES — The Lakeland Hills Family YMCA is pleased to announce the 2018 winners of the annual YMCA Citizen of the Year Awards from their service area towns: Patti Bujtas – Boonton; Kim Forte – Boonton Township; Don Kuser – Denville; Lt. Joseph Napoletano – Kinnelon/Butler; Christine Bakelaar – Lincoln Park; James Sandham Jr. – Montville; Janet Horst – Mountain Lakes; Frank Cahill – Parsippany and Rose Phalon – Pequannock.
These individuals have demonstrated outstanding community service and volunteerism. “The selflessness exhibited by these volunteers is consistent with social responsibility, which is one of the key underpinnings of our YMCA mission and we are looking forward to honoring them,”says Lakeland Hills YMCA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Viktor Joganow.
The winners will be recognized at the Y’s Annual Dinner that will take place on Wednesday, May 16 at The Mansion in Mountain Lakes. Tickets for the dinner (at $60.00 each) are available through May 11 and everyone is welcome to attend, so come out and meet the people who have made a difference in your community!
For tickets, call Nancy Dunham at the Y, (973) 334-2820, or email nancyd@lhymca.com.
PARSIPPANY — Delta Dental of New Jersey employees participated in their Earth Day volunteer project. In advance of Earth Day, employees from Parsippany-based Delta Dental of New Jersey volunteered on Friday, April 13, at Kitchell Pond in Morristown to help clear out sections and plant native, trees, shrubs, and wildflowers in their place.
RANDOLPH — County College of Morris (CCM) announced on Monday, April 16, that it has received an historic gift of $976,000 from the Estate of Dominic and Catherine Bencivenga, bringing the family’s total giving to the college to more than $1 million. This gift, given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Bencivenga’s children, Gary and Cathy Jo Bencivenga, is directed to providing scholarships to the college’s nursing students.
The more than $1 million in total giving represents the largest private gift ever given to the college. The CCM Foundation, under the direction of Katie Olsen, was notified of this extraordinary gift by the Trustee of the Bencivenga Estate, Beverly Brown.
Brown stated that “Gary and Cathy Jo attended CCM and Dominic and Catherine sought to provide a legacy in their children’s honor. Catherine was a registered nurse at Dover General Hospital and took great pride in how the nursing program has become one of the most sought after majors at CCM. Dominic and Catherine always viewed CCM as a philanthropic priority and in their planning for when they were no longer here; CCM was the place they knew their gift would have a lasting impact.”
Dr. Anthony Iacono, president of CCM, expressed his deep appreciation to the Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Bencivenga, saying, “It is with great gratitude that CCM recognizes Mr. and Mrs. Bencivenga for their commitment to the college and to our outstanding nursing program. The Gary and Cathy Jo Bencivenga Memorial Scholarship is vital to our students’ success in completing their nursing degrees. As a leader in health and allied sciences, CCM prepares students to go on to achieve extraordinary achievements in nursing at some of the finest medical institutions throughout the State of New Jersey and nationally. This gift, the largest private gift ever received at CCM, underwrites the futures of the students who seek to solidify their career in serving their communities.”
The CCM Foundation, established in 1987, is dedicated to raising funds for the college from its many constituents to support programs, scholarships, staff development and other projects that are not funded through tuition and public support.
William McElroy ’83, chair of the CCM Foundation Board of Directors, offered his thanks to the Bencivenga family, saying, “The CCM Foundation has been the cornerstone of philanthropic giving to the County College of Morris. Today, through this historic gift from the Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Bencivenga, we are positioned to begin our 50th Anniversary celebrations with strength and gratitude for all who have come before us and for all who will join our efforts in offering CCM the support it needs to fulfill its mission.”
PARSIPPANY — Niche.com ranked Parsippany with an overall rating of A+. The 2018 Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities using data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources to compare cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the U.S.
Survey was based on 77 reviews of Parsippany-Troy Hills.
One reviewer stated “It is a very nice area with many parks, high ranking schools, and family activities. Also, we were ranked the 5th best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in September of 2016! A wonderful place to settle down and experience all four seasons to their fullest. Parents and kids alike will love the atmosphere and quiet that our beautiful town has to offer.”
Parsippany has 31 developed parks
Another reviewer stated “Parsippany is a great place to live, hence the nickname “The Place to Be”. It has a lot of community value, great public schools, a great library, many restaurants, some recreational places/athletic fields, etc. One thing I would like to see more of is places to go to on the weekend for kids, teenagers, and adults. Other than that, I wouldn’t change anything about it!” For a complete listing of reviews of Parsippany, click here.
Parsippany received an A+ Ranking for Schools; B for Housing; A+ for good families; B for Jobs; C for cost of living; A for outdoor activities; B+ for crime and safety; A- for nightlife; A for diversity; B- for weather; A+ for health and fitness and B+ for commute.
Parsippany Hills High School
Parsippany Hills High School is a highly rated, public school. It has 1,058 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. According to state test scores, 33% of students are at least proficient in math and 62% in reading. PHHS was rated A for academics, A for best teachers, A for clubs and activities, A for college prep, A- for diversity and A- for health and safety.
Parsippany High School
Parsippany High School was also a highly rated, public school. It has 936 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1. According to state test scores, 38% of students are at least proficient in math and 68% in reading. PHS was rated A for academics, A for best teachers, A- for clubs and activities, A for college prep, A- for diversity and A for health and safety.
According to Niche.com, Median Home Value in Parsippany is $416,800.00, while the National Home Value is $184,700.00; Median Rent is $1,223.00 a month; while the National Average is $949.00; 63% residents own their own home while 37% of residents are renters. Median household income is $90,604 while National is $55,322.
Best Suburbs for Millennials in New Jersey, Ranked 26 of 412; Best Places for Millennials in New Jersey, Ranked 27 of 573 and Best Suburbs to Live in New Jersey, Ranked 39 of 412.
Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.
For a complete list of ranking of each of Parsippany-Troy Hills public schools, click here.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany students had a big win this past weekend at Elite Dance Challenge competition. This is Diamond Dance’s Sixth competition season and has reached new heights! Ava DeAngelis (pictured right bottom corner) is a Brooklawn Middle School student and had an amazing weekend placing in the Top 10 solo division out of 45 other routines and her big win was receiving First Place with her Teen Duet with Brooke Liskiewicz of Long Valley (top left second in) who also placed Third with her solo out of 38 teen solos.
Riley Kells, a Parsippany Hills High School junior (top left third in) received Third Place in the solo senior division out of 15 and Allie Cimaglia of Whippany (top left corner) received Seventh in the top ten!
Alyssa Devore (top right second in), a Central Middle School student, placed Sixth in the Top Ten for her Tap Trio with Ava DeAngelis and Samantha Levenson (middle of photo) who also placed in the top 10 out of 45 solos.
Alyssa Devore also placed in the Top Ten with her Teen Hip Hop Duet with Abigail Bedrick (top right corner), a student at Morris County Tech who also Placed Second out of 38 other senior solos. Amy Roberts (bottom left second in), a Morris County Tech student who was given a Special Award for “Beautiful Emotion.”
Diamond Dance will be attending Elite Dance Challenge National Tour at Kalahari Resort is the Poconos this July. The competition awards students who they felt stood out to be invited to perform in their national opening number team. Diamond Dance had the honor of ALL of their students in their senior lyrical routine “Issues” invited to be on the team choreographed by the studios director Tiffany Slowinski. This was an incredible moment for the studio and Diamond Dance is ready to be apart of something so special.
Tryouts for the 2019 Diamond Dance competition team will be held at the studio Tuesday, July 19 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for ages 14 to 17 years old, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for ages 5 to 9 years old, and from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for ages 10-13 years. (Note: must wear all black and hair in a bun.) This is open to the public.
Registration for Fall and 2019 classes will be held on Monday, June 25 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For additional information call (908) 659-8079 or click here.
PARSIPPANY — The fifth graders at Northvail Elementary School put on an excellent, energetic and entertaining musical rendition of “Giants in the Sky,” winner at the 2017 Children’s Musical Theatre Festival in New York City. It is a fun musical filled with entertaining songs.
The story explores the world of Giants who live above the clouds. Ever since they left Earth a long time ago, the Giants have made a life up above where their job is to keep the sky beautiful. They polish the stars, poke the clouds to let it rain and paint the sunsets. But there is one curious Giant who wonders what life is like on Earth, so she steals a key to the locked up “beanstalk” and has quite an adventure. The show focuses on the friendship between Hershey and Bert, and how great friends are something you shouldn’t take for granted. The song “While You Can” is a wonderful reminder for all of us to show appreciation to the special people in our lives.
The cast and crew gave a marvelous performance under the direction of Mrs. Serrao, Mrs. DeGeorge and Mrs. Webb, teachers at Northvail, who volunteered many hours of their time in helping to bring together this amazing production of “Giants in the Sky”.
MORRIS COUNTY —Morris County Freeholder Incumbent John Cesaro and Mendham Borough resident, Aura Dunn will run together for the Republican Primary on Tuesday, June 5.
Freeholder John Cesaro
Both candidates hold advanced degrees and have a combined 40 years in public service. Cesaro, with a law degree from Quinnipiac University and Dunn, a Master of Public Administration from the George Washington University with a NJ certificate in Mediation, complement each other and present a strong team for the citizens of Morris County. Morris County is changing and Cesaro-Dunn are the candidates to lead that change by upholding the ideals of fiscal responsibility, equal opportunity, and individual freedom.
Freeholder Candidate Aura Dunn
Cesaro-Dunn will advance a 3-Point Plan: Promote Economic Growth, Improve our Quality of Life, and Uphold Sound Fiscal Management.
As Freeholder Liaison to the Department of Public Works, Cesaro is responsible for ensuring that the County continues its policy of paving 25-30 miles of road per year. Further, that the County maintains its strong infrastructure. “Last year, the County paved 27.4 miles of road, performed work on 8 bridges and made improvements to intersections and railroads” states Cesaro. “Further, I am proud that year after year the rating agencies continue to maintain our AAA bond rating. These same agencies continue to praise Morris County as having a ‘history of conservative budgeting and balanced financial operations’, which, in the end, benefits our County residents,” states Cesaro.
With 23 years on the national policy stage, Dunn, currently NJ-11’s District Director is ready to bring her vast experience and knowledge to the Freeholder Board. Dunn offers the fresh perspective the Board needs. As U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Staff Member, Dunn oversaw the implementation of a $40 billion dollar education appropriation, and as staff member to Arlen Specter, earned a reputation as an honest, fair, and responsive negotiator. “My experience in effectively negotiating multi-billion dollar appropriations and consistently resolving constituent requests has given me the necessary tools to serve the diverse needs of our Morris County residents,” says Dunn.
Both candidates are active members of their communities. John, a Parishioner of St. Christopher’s, is raising his two small boys with his wife of 13 years. Aura and her husband of 21 years have two teenage daughters and an 11 year old son, and are active members of St. Joseph Parish.
PARSIPPANY — Delta Dental of New Jersey has appointed Jay H. Oyer to its Board of Trustees. Jay joins the Board after serving 37 years at PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a Certified Public Accountant until his retirement in 2017.
Jay H. Oyer
Oyer, has been an active member on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern New Jersey, and also serves on the Board of the Jewish Life at Duke University, his alma mater.
“We are pleased to share that Jay Oyer has joined our Board,” said Ronald Deblinger, D.M.D., Chairman of Delta Dental of New Jersey’s Board of Trustees. “His leadership and extensive experience with business operations, finance, and tax issues will be invaluable to the organization. We look forward to Jay being a valuable member of our Board of Trustees as we work with our Management Team to enhance our value to all of our stakeholders and further our mission.”
“I am honored to join the Delta Dental of New Jersey Board of Trustees, and I look forward to contributing to Delta Dental’s mission to improve oral health care across New Jersey and Connecticut,” said Oyer.
Jay H. Oyer is a Certified Public Accountant who served 37 years at PriceWaterhouseCoopers until his retirement in 2017. Mr. Oyer graduated with an A.B. in Accounting from Duke University in 1978 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1981. Mr. Oyer has been active in both professional and charitable organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern New Jersey and until recently served for more than a decade on the Board of the Jewish Life at Duke University, as well as served as a past Board Member of Temple B’Nai Or where he chaired a capital campaign.
Delta Dental of New Jersey is New Jersey’s leading dental benefits company, providing or administering coverage to more than 1.7 million people through contracts with groups in New Jersey and Connecticut. In Connecticut, Delta Dental of Connecticut, Inc. is a newly licensed insurer that writes dental coverage on an insured basis, and Delta Dental of New Jersey administers self-funded dental benefit programs. For more information click here.
PARSIPPANY — National PTA and the Bayer USA Foundation have awarded New Jersey PTA with a $4,000 grant to engage families in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. New Jersey PTA is one of only seven PTAs nationwide selected to receive a Bayer Science Grant through the STEM + Families initiative. The grant recognizes New Jersey PTA’s leadership and commitment to increasing access to STEM experiences for New Jersey children and families.
The STEM + Families initiative will launch on Wednesday, April 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a science-focused STEM Event at Central Middle School, 1620 Route 46 West.
“Research shows the critical role families play in children’s success and achievement—regardless of their socioeconomic background. Research also demonstrates that parents and guardians are the most influential in guiding a child’s educational and career decisions,” said James Accomando, president of National PTA. “Family engagement is essential to strengthen STEM education, bridge the STEM gap and help all children realize their fullest potential. We’re thrilled to empower New Jersey PTA with resources to engage families in STEM education.”
STEM + Families is a national effort to engage entire families in STEM experiences at school, at home, in the community, and with digital learning environments to support their students’ success in STEM. The goal of the initiative is to fill a critical gap in STEM education, increase access to STEM experiences for all students and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. National PTA launched STEM + Families with the founding support of the Bayer USA Foundation. Through the effort, 100,000 STEM experiences will be delivered to families nationwide.
“At Bayer, we believe that innovation and increasing science literacy in the classroom and at home through education and hands-on learning can help improve the lives of every student across the U.S.,” said Raymond F. Kerins Jr., senior vice president of Corporate Affairs for Bayer. “We want to instill the love of science and all its possibilities in today’s students to help inspire them to be the next generation of STEM leaders.”
With the grant from National PTA and Bayer, New Jersey PTA will:
Examine how families are currently engaged in STEM education and develop a plan to educate and engage them in STEM through schools and community settings
Educate families about STEM literacy, STEM careers, and STEM education pathways and empower them to support children’s success in STEM
Engage families using hands-on learning opportunities and science experiences in collaboration with Bayer’s Making Science Make Sense initiative and employee volunteers
Connect families and students to STEM enrichment and professional mentors
The STEM + Families initiative will launch Wednesday, April 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a science-focused STEM Event at Central Middle School. “New Jersey PTA is proud to be introducing STEM + Families in New Jersey with the support made possible through the Bayer USA Foundation,” said Rose Acerra, President, New Jersey PTA. “Our team is dedicated to connecting students and their families to the opportunities provided by a STEM education as well as laying the foundation for future careers in STEM. We hope this program is one of many we can sponsor throughout New Jersey.”
For more information about the initiative, click here. PTA® comprises of families, students, teachers, administrators and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of healthcare and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2017, the Group employed around 99,800 people and had sales of EUR 35.0 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.4 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.5 billion. For more information, click here.
PARSIPPANY — Mayor Michael Soriano presented a “Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Proclamation” to Woman’s Club of Parsippany Troy-Hills proclaiming April 2018 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The proclamation read:
Whereas, we all have a responsibility as individuals, neighbors, community members and citizens of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills to help create, healthy, nurturing and safe experiences for children; and
Whereas, healthy and safe childhoods help produce confident and successful adults; and
Whereas, child abuse and neglect often occur when people find themselves in stressful situations, without community resources, and don’t know how to cope; and
Whereas, incidences of child abuse and neglect can be reduced by making sure all families have the support they need and deserve to raise their children in a healthy environment; and
Whereas, it is recognized that no person can do everything but that everyone can do something, and together we can create change for the better; and
Whereas, effective prevention programs succeed because of partnerships among nonprofit organizations, government agencies, volunteer organizations, schools, service clubs, houses of worship, law enforcement agencies, and the business community; and
Whereas, display a pinwheel or planting a pinwheel garden in April will serve as a positive reminder that all children deserve Great Childhoods – happy, healthy and safe.
Now Therefore, I, Michael A. Soriano, Mayor of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills do hereby proclaim April 2018 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills and I urge all citizens to engage in activities that strengthen families and communities to provide the optimal environment for children to learn, grow and thrive so that all children have the benefit of happy, healthy and safe childhoods. Dated this 3rd day of April 2018.
Members receiving the Proclamation from Mayor Michael Soriano
National Child Abuse Prevention Month, also known as Child Abuse Prevention Month in America, is an annual observance in the United States dedicated to raising awareness and preventing child abuse. April has been designated Child Abuse Prevention Month in the United States since 1983.
In addition, New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) acknowledges the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. DCF promotes the health, well-being, and personal safety of children and families by working together with parents, caregivers, organizations and communities to ensure an effective network of proven supports services, public education and community advocacy to prevent maltreatment.
Parents, schools, and community organizations can be a change agent to prevent child maltreatment in New Jersey. DCF asks that you make a personal “Pledge of Prevention” to support our children and help them grow up healthy, happy, strong, and successful.
MORRIS COUNTY — Niraj Chhabra, Certified Financial Advisor, MBA, CRPC®, CLTC & Christopher J. Gillan, CRPC® with Ameriprise Financial have become an Ameriprise Platinum Financial Services® advisors based on the success of their financial services practice. Chhabra & Gillan, with an office in Cedar Knolls are among the 12 percent of approximately 10,000 Ameriprise financial advisors to achieve this status.
Ameriprise Platinum Financial Services advisors provide personalized client service and are dedicated to meeting the complex and unique financial needs of their clients. This status was achieved through exceptional performance, and attainment of advanced industry qualifications.
As an Ameriprise Platinum Financial Services advisor, they provide financial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations, and provided in one-on-one relationships with their clients. For more information, please contact Niraj and Chris at (973) 705-6031.
At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future for more than 120 years. With a network of 10,000 financial advisors and outstanding asset management, advisory and insurance capabilities, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of consumer financial needs. For more information, visit ameriprise.com, ameripriseadvisors.com/niraj.x.chhabra or ameripriseadvisors.com/christopher.j.gillan.
PARSIPPANY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders has announced the 2018 list of county road paving projects that will target more than 30 miles across 24 municipalities at a total cost of $9 million, in a continuation of the board’s continuing policy of maintaining and improving the county’s high quality road network.
Freeholder John Cesaro
Portions of county roads scheduled for paving in 2018 are located in Parsippany, Butler, Chatham Borough, Dover, Florham Park, Hanover, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, and Madison.
Work also is set for roads in Mendham Township, Mine Hill, Montville, Morris Township, Morristown, Netcong, Pequannock, Randolph, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, Roxbury, Washington Township, and Wharton.
Some of the more extensive work in Parsippanywill include portions of:
Route 202
Littleton Road
1.7 miles
From Route 10 to Crestview Drive
Route 630
Littleton Road
1/2 mile
Parsippany Boulevard to Smith Road
For 2018, the freeholders have allocated $1.1 million in the county’s capital budget for paving, combined with nearly $7.9 million in anticipated state funding to finance paving projects.
“It is extremely important to properly maintain our county road network in a first-rate county like Morris County,” said Freeholder John Cesaro, the county governing board’s liaison on public works and roads.
“Maintaining our infrastructure is vital to our residents, visitors, medical and educational institutions, and businesses, and is a key factor in our high quality of life.”
To see the complete list of currently scheduled 2018 county paving projects click here.
The Freeholders over the past five years have made the maintenance of the county’s 287-mile road network a priority issue.To expedite projects, the freeholders over the past few years have approved short-term financing to allow the county to bid projects early in the season and move full-speed-ahead during the spring and summer on a full slate of road repaving.
MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Assembly voted to strengthen New Jersey’s economy and New Jersey’s families by guaranteeing pay equity for women. In New Jersey women make 80 cents to every a dollar their male counterparts make. For women of color the pay gap is an incredible 58 cents to every dollar for African-American women and 43 cents to every dollar for Latina women. In response to today’s vote Mikie Sherrill, Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District issued the following statement:
“In 2018 it is hard to believe that any legislator would vote against ensuring women get equal pay for equal work. I am deeply disappointed that Assemblyman Jay Webber chose to vote, yet again, against legislation that would give the women of New Jersey a well-deserved raise. As one of just two members to vote against this bill, he is out of step with the people of New Jersey and not the type of leader we want in Trenton or deserve in Washington.”
Assemblyman Webber was one of two votes against the equal pay bill which passed the New Jersey Assembly 74 to 2 and 35 to 0 in the New Jersey Senate. Assemblyman Webber is running for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.
PARSIPPANY — Several Parsippany teachers participated in the Damon Runyon 5k for Cancer Research at Yankee Stadium. The event held on Sunday, April 15, was the ninth year that Team Rhino, organized by Eastlake teacher, Tracy Carroll, has participated in the event. This year, Team Rhino was the largest team participating in the run with 65 members. Throughout their years of participation, the team has raised over $23,000 for the foundation.
Carroll’s family members during post-run celebration
The event raises money for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation to fund the research being performed by scientists in how to best prevent, diagnose, and treat all forms of cancer. Carroll became involved in the event in 2010 shortly after losing her dad to esophageal cancer. “As the first Father’s Day approached after losing my dad, I knew I needed to find a way to channel my sadness and anger into something positive, something that would make a difference. As I read more about the Runyon 5k, I was thrilled to see that 100% of the money raised went directly to the research being done rather than to overhead or administrative costs. That seems to be very rare in an event of this type,” Carroll explains.
Team Rhino honoring Mastrangelo’s mother
Vicki Mastrangelo, a teacher at Eastlake School, said, “I have participated in the Damon Runyon Yankee Stadium 5k since 2010, and it is an event I truly look forward to every year! After losing my mother to cancer this past year, I’m even more grateful to be part of such an amazing team that helps turn an unfortunate experience into such a special day!”
Along with other friends and family members, Carroll and Mastrangelo were joined by Eastlake colleagues Kelli Costa, Heather Craner, Lucia Innocent, Michele Mizerek, Mary Ellen Iradi, Maureen Odenwelder, Toni Farneski, and Kathleen Attenasio, as well as Littleton School’s Melanie Ellis and Lake Parsippany’s Meghan Proto.
Team Rhino’s tribute slide on Yankee Stadium’s Jumbotron
So far this year’s event has raised a total of $318,175 for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. Donations are still being accepted until Tuesday, May 15, by clicking here.
PARSIPPANY — If you live in the Lower Lake Hiawatha area, join Mayor Soriano’s the fourth of a series of neighborhood Town Halls to speak with your public officials. Mayor Soriano would like to hear your comments, questions and concerns on how to improve your quality of life in Lower Lake Hiawatha area.
This meeting will be held on April 24 at 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Rockaway Meadow Elementary School, 160 Edwards Road.
Please be advised this meeting is not a meeting that is open to the governing body nor will it be held with the intent to discuss or act upon specific public business. A quorum will not be present and no formal action will be taken.
PARSIPPANY — The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities held a public hearing on Thursday, April 12 at Parsippany Town Hall regarding the Matter of the Board’s Review of Major Storm Events of March 2018. This hearing is the second hearing on the subject matter. The first of five hearings was held on Thursday, April 5, Byram Intermediate School.
The purpose of this hearing was to solicit public comments regarding the state of preparedness and responsiveness of the electric distribution companies prior to, during, and after the March 2018 winter storms.
“BPU has officially begun its thorough investigation into the recent power outages, as ordered by Governor Murphy,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “We applaud Governor Murphy for making power restoration improvements a priority and BPU will do everything we can to ensure New Jersey residents experience significant improvements during future storms.”
The storms walloped the area on March 2 and March 7. The March 2 storm brought more than a foot of heavy snow and wind gusts of more than 60 miles per hour. The storm knocked out power to thousands of people, more than 14,000 homes in Parsippany.
“There were many residents who didn’t have heat and electricity for days, we must do whatever we can to significantly reduce the chance of this happening in the future. Reduce the change, wish I could say eliminate it, but we can’t. To this end, we have launched this investigation which this hearing is a part of, to see as I said, if there was an adherence to those protocols and to see what we could do better as “A” grade majority. We will be looking at the preparedness, mutual assistance agreements, vegetation management, communication, and the potential for underground lines among many other items. Information you provide tonight is an integral part of our investigation and be part of the public record. As I indicated,” said BPU President Joseph Fiordaliso.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano
Mayor Michael Soriano said “Welcome to Parsippany, the crossroads of northern New Jersey. This is a very smart and strategic move on your part to make sure that we were all able to get here in a very easy fashion because we are the crossroads. We have so many roads and we made everyone’s commute easy, especially mine. These storms were like none other than we’re going to hear about that over and over again. I prepared some statements. Parsippany was amongst the hardest hit communities in the state between March 2 Nor’easter and winter storm Quinn; more than half of Parsippany residents were about 53%, representing over 14,000 customers at its peak. Amongst the victims of the storm where people with disabilities and serious health issues; who do not have the option of being without power for three, six or in some cases nine days. I know from personal experience that the men and women of JCP&L spent 16 hour shifts restoring power. They deserve a great deal of praise working in winter conditions is far from easy and I believe I speak for all of Parsippany residences in thanking them for providing a service that is, frankly, life threatening. The field managers at worked closely with me to restore Parsippany outages. We probably need to look towards in the future that when we import Labor into Morris County for JCP&L, from other states, also bringing their Field Managers as well, that would probably help as well with efficiency and just in supervision in general to make sure that the electricians are where they need to be when they need to be.”
He continued “Now again, I thank JCP&L’s leadership and their people for helping us, however, the Board of Directors and Stockholders have made virtually no progress in upgrading the power infrastructure or building resources from major disasters since the devastation of hurricane Irene and Sandy. This lack of vision and planning is what put all of us all in jeopardy. However, JCP&L and is not the only one that failed. I failed. As a leader of this community. As a mayor. I failed. And so did everyone in this room who was a leader of their communities. So did BPU. We all fail. As citizens, we failed. We failed to keep people like me and politicians accountable. We got comfortable. We let Sandy and Irene by us and we said, OK, sunny days, everything will be sunshine and rainbows. That’s not reality there is going to be another storm sooner or later.”
“The fact that we’re still using the same type of utility holes dating to the Morse code lines of the 1840’s. Despite the widespread availability of 21st century technologies, telecommunication companies such as Verizon and Optimum also share the blame in this antiquated state of our electrical and communications infrastructure. It can’t just be on JCP&L. The electrical, telephone and cable and utilities must begin to coordinate the recovery efforts and start squabbling over jurisdictional issues while residents languish in the dark end of the cold. The reality of the situation is this: another storm of this magnitude or even larger will come; it maybe this year or the year after, but it is coming. Major storms, hurricanes, and other disasters are a fact of life. Something that our state has extensive experience and something that we must be more prepared for it. We thought that was going to happen after Hurricane Sandy. It did not. I know I now stand with other communities in our state and saying this to the public utilities and to all of us, we must not let this happen again and we’re here to help you. Again. I want to thank you for coming here. I want to thank you for being proactive and saying, yes, we’re going to investigate this and we’re going to make this better, but as the leader of this community, I don’t just want to come here and point blame and complaint. I want to be part of the solution. I want to help. Thank you,” said Soriano.
When Resolution No. R2018-45, “Endorsing Governor Murphy’s Directive to The Board of Public Utilities to investigate and hold hearings on how Jersey Central Power & Light responded to the recent Winter storms leaving thousands of Township Residents without power,” Councilman Michael dePierro and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani opposed such resolution to hold such hearings. (Click here to read related article)
Councilman Michael dePierro was the only Parsippany Council member to address the commission. In addition to the Mayor and dePierro, Eric Hubner, Coordinator of Parsippany Office of Emergency Management also addressed the BPU.
dePierro said a problem after every bad storm is that the township is littered with downed trees, power lines, telephone and cable wires. Acknowledging the magnitude of the job, dePierro suggested that JCP&L train two workers in the Parks and Forestry Department to handle such seemingly easy tasks like remove a downed pole blocking a road. This is not a new request. dePierro has made this requested to JCP&L over the years.
In addition to hearings, the Board will closely review the more than 100 utility storm protocols it implemented following Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene to assess whether these protocols were followed during the recent storms and where improvements should be made. In particular, the BPU will be reviewing mutual aid assistance protocols to ensure New Jersey utilities make restoring power in New Jersey their first priority.
If you weren’t able to attend the hearings, you can mail comments to the Board Secretary at aida.camacho@bpu.snj.gov. The comments, maybe also submitted in writing to the Board Secretary, Aida Camacho, 44 South Clinton Avenue, Third Floor, Post Office Box 350, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0350. You must submit all comments by May 30.
Those filing written comments should reference March 2018 Winter Storm Events comments Docket Number EO18030255 in the subject field for emails and in the heading of any written correspondence.
The third hearing will take place on Monday April 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Township of Mahwah Municipal Offices, Bergen County at 475 Corporate Drive. The fourth will occur on Monday April 23, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Winslow Township Municipal Building in Camden County. The fifth and final hearing will take place on Friday May 4, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sergeantsville Firehouse, 761 Sergeantsville Roadd.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department is taking back unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, April 28 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Morris Hills Shopping Center in front of the Harmon Face Values store located at 3189 Route 46.
They cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only patches or pills.
This drop off is ONLY for individual citizens. Businesses that deal with pharmaceuticals, doctors, health care providers, and pharmacies are prohibited from disposing of pharmaceuticals at the collection site under FDA/DEA guidelines.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
MORRIS COUNTY — More than $80,000 was raised as four amazing New Jersey women were honored yesterday at the Sixth Annual Tri-County Scholarship Fund Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club.
More than 250 were in attendance at the fundraiser, which was co-chaired by Ann Marie Manahan and Joseph Gonnella, the Chief Development Officer for the Boy Scouts of America Patriots’ Path Council.
The luncheon directly benefits TCSF’s Freedom Scholars program –a partnership between TCSF, schools, and families which assists financially disadvantaged high school students so they are able to afford values-centered, high-performing private schools and also helps them from their Freshman through their Senior year with mentoring, tutoring, college prep courses and more.
PARSIPPANY — E. Drew Britcher of Britcher Leone, LLC, with offices in Parsippany and Glen Rock has been named one of the top 100 attorneys for 2018 by New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine.
This marks the 14th consecutive year that Britcher has been recognized by New Jersey Super Lawyers and the 13th consecutive year he has been named among the Top 100 in the state. Britcher was listed among the Top 10 every year from 2012 to 2016.
Attorney E. Drew Britcher
As head of Britcher Leone’s trial practice, Britcher has successfully prosecuted or resolved hundreds of complex medical negligence, products liability and other personal injury claims. Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Civil Trial Attorney, he has served as either counsel of record or amicus counsel in more than 35 reported decisions of the United States Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of New Jersey and New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division.
AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, Britcher was previously named one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America by Lawdragon Magazine and among the “Best of Bergen” by 201 Magazine. In addition, he has received numerous awards for his service to the American Association for Justice, as well as its New Jersey Chapter. In 2015, he was honored with a “Professional Lawyer of the Year” Award by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law.
An at-large national governor of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), he has also served as Past-President of the New Jersey Association for Justice, where he currently chairs its Amicus and Medical Malpractice Committees and has done so for over a decade. Britcher was a founding member of the Board of Trial Lawyers Care, an organization that provided pro bono legal representation to victims and families of victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. He also helped draft the language of New Jersey’s Patients First and Patient Safety Acts and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School, where he teaches courses in medical malpractice law and litigation.
He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York, as well as before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
He earned a J.D. from New York Law School and a B.A. from Rutgers College, where he has been inducted as a member of the Order of the Barristers and a Loyal Son, respectively. He is a resident of Parsippany.
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual patented selections process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
Britcher Leone is a law firm specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice, with offices in Parsippany and Glen Rock. The firm is also focused on such matters as serious/catastrophic injury, birth injury, vehicular accidents, product liability, nursing home negligence, wrongful death, and defective drugs and medical devices. For more information click here.
PARSIPPANY — Niche.com ranked Parsippany with an overall rating of A+. The 2018 Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities using data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources to compare cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the U.S.
