PARSIPPANY — The Friends of Lake Hiawatha held their annual “Snowflake Festival” on Friday, December 6 at the Gazebo on North Beverwyck Road.

Everyone was served hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes as Santa arrived by Firetruck.

Santa greeted all the children and parents were taking pictures of their children.

PARSIPPANY — At the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting, Mayor Michael Soriano announced that the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills will not be renewing the contract of Kemper Sports.

Previously Kemper Sports was the management company operating the Knoll Country Club.

Mayor Soriano said “Immediately we are starting a transition with Kemper Sports and we will assume local responsibility for the management of our courses. With that, we have offered Mr. Kevin Brancato.”

Mr. Brancato, is a member of the Knoll Country Club. He’s a member of the Knoll Country Club Advisory Committee and a successful businessman. We are giving him the opportunity to manage the transition and lead the Knoll utility as we move forward.

“Kevin, I welcome you and I look forward to working with you and the great things that you can do up there at the Knoll. I’m pleased at this decision was unanimously agreed upon by myself and the Township Council and the working group continues to plan for the future of the Knoll Country Club. This will include management, finances, facilities and the overall mission as to how we serve our members and guests,” said Soriano.

When questioning, Kemper Sports General Manager Osner Charles he said “I wasn’t aware of this change, and I will investigate.”

PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, December 7 the children at Parsippany Child Day Care Center enjoyed a breakfast and a visit from Santa sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany.

Kiwanis members Nicolas Limanov, Joe Jannarone, Jr., and Craig Eagleson volunteered and prepared the breakfast which consisted of scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, pancakes, bagels and muffins.

Kiwanis Club serves breakfast at Parsippany Child Care Day Center

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Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany invites Santa and cooks up a breakfast and supplies gifts for the children every year.

Kiwanis is a worldwide service organization in over 96 nations. The major emphasis is serving the children of the world.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany picks service projects that need attention. The Club is all local people that volunteer time and talents to make our community a better place to live. We, like you, are busy with making a living, church, family, and many other activities.

The children received wooden puzzles, coloring books and crayons from Santa as well as a goodie bag.

The Parsippany Child Day Care Center was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1968. They opened with 20 children and expanded to meet the growing need for quality child care in our community. In 1980, they moved into a new building specifically designed for child care and owned by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills. During the 1990s, the building was renovated with two additions to the building, which made room for infants and young toddlers. They are governed by a Board of Trustees, who are volunteers from our community.

The facility was designed specifically for the care of children, and was built with HUD funding. The center has a total of seven classrooms, a large multipurpose room, a full service kitchen, offices, adult and children’s lavatories.

The center is comprised of a diverse population of families and staff. They come from a variety of backgrounds and speak multiple languages from all over the globe.

A very unique relationship exists between the center and Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills. Parsippany built the original building and owns it. A self-renewing contract allows for joint responsibility for repairs and building upkeep. Primarily the center maintains the building and the town maintains the property. They also have strong ties with civic organizations within Parsippany, including but not limited to the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills and the Sons of Italy.

PARSIPPANY — Constituents are invited to drop off holiday cards for retired members of the New Jersey Fire Services at Representative Sherrill’s District Office in Parsippany, starting today through Monday, December 23. Holiday cards placed in envelopes should not be sealed closed. The cards will be distributed to residents of the New Jersey Firemen’s Home in Boonton, the state’s only licensed healthcare facility dedicated to taking care of the women and men of New Jersey’s Fire Services.

“Writing a hand-written note to our retired firefighters is a small way to say thank you to those who dedicated their lives to keeping our communities safe and to spread some holiday cheer,” said Representative Sherrill. “Visiting the Firemen’s Home was a highlight of my summer district work period. It is a wonderful part of our community, and I look forward to seeing the creativity and holiday spirit our residents bring to this program to honor our retired firefighters.”

Representative Sherrill’s District Office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 8 Wood Hollow Road, Suite 203, Parsippany.

Constituents can also deliver cards during at the Little Falls Mobile Office Hours on December 10 or the Wayne Mobile Office Hours on December 11.

PARSIPPANY — On Thursday, December 19, The Community Center will be closed as JCP&L crews work to install a permanent generator to the building.

Please plan you schedule accordingly.

The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Community Center is located at 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha

If you have questions please call the Mayor’s Action Center (973) 263-4262.

PARSIPPANY — Neighborhood Civic Associations leaders in Parsippany met on Thursday, December 5.

“SOAP” presently consists of five Parsippany neighborhood civic associations (Hills of Troy, Sedgefield, Glacier Hills, Puddingstone Heights, Brooklawn) that are represented by their current presidents.

These leaders have been meeting for the purpose of sharing ideas, learning from one another, and proposing ways to facilitate inter community events, such as softball games. “SOAP” is a nonpartisan group that, when appropriate, will serve as a conduit to the township authority.

Meetings are scheduled for once every three months. We welcome and encourage any other Parsippany neighborhood associations to join the group. If you are thinking about forming a civic association in your Parsippany community, “SOAP” members will gladly assist in an advisory capacity.

For further information, please contact Warren Singer, Hills of Troy Neighborhood Association (HOTNA), [email protected]; or Carlos Guzman, Sedgefield Civic Association, [email protected]

PARSIPPANY — The holiday season can be difficult for military families. For the second year, Cerbo’s Greenhouse and Garden Center, participated in “Trees for Troops.”

Local Parsippany Girl Scouts helped tag the trees and volunteers then loaded the trees onto a FedEx truck, which will be transported to military bases in the South for distribution.

Joining the group of volunteers was Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano, Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi and Representative Mikie Sherrill.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano said “Volunteerism and support for our troops has always been a tradition in Parsippany  and I am grateful to the Cerbo‘s Family, Fire District 6,  and the Girl Scouts and all of the volunteers who came out today to support Trees for Troops.”

“The Cerbo family is graciously supporting the “Trees for Troops” effort again this year, and I’m delighted to be joining them as volunteers prepare freshly cut Christmas trees for delivery to a base in Texas this year,” Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce said.

Cerbo’s Parsippany Greenhouses, a family-owned business since 1913, also operates Cerbo’s Christmas Tree Farm in Branchville and Cerbo’s Hampton Nursery in Newton.

“Last year we had our first year of involvement with “Trees for Troops.” The organization helps facilitate the donation of Christmas trees to military service members across the country in partnership with businesses like ours. We receive donations for trees from people or businesses and then prepare them from our farm to be sent out of our garden center in Parsippany. Last year, we were able to donate over 110 trees, This year we are shipping out over 300” said Tyler Cerbo, who manages sales and marketing for the family business.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany President Frank Cahill said “We made an announcement at our Thursday morning breakfast meeting seeking volunteers, and I was proud to see a number of our members showed up to volunteer. Our members alway volunteer to promote goodness or to improve human quality of life.”

Cerbo’s Greenhouse sending over 300 Christmas trees to military families

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This year, the  trees are destined for Fort Sam Houston, which is part of the Joint Base San Antonio in Texas and under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force, 502nd Air Base Wing, Air Education and Training Command.

The trees were harvested this past week by the Cerbo family and employees, as well as some veterans and volunteers with the Paterson-based Harvest Outreach Ministry International, a non-denominational and multicultural ministry serving Northern New Jersey area and beyond.

By December 13, Trees for Troops will deliver thousands of trees to more than 74 US bases in all branches of the military. It has already sent about 200 trees overseas.

Trees for Troops began in 2005 and has delivered more than 225,000 Christmas trees to military families in the US and to troops stationed overseas. The act may seem small, but for those serving, it can mean everything.

Tree farms in about 20 states have donated trees to brighten a military family’s holidays. Many individuals have donated to Trees for Troops as well, getting the organization to its grand total of 225,319 free trees over the past 15 years. All those trees are then delivered to the bases with the help of in-kind work from FedEx, whose volunteers coordinate all deliveries.

Cerbo’s Greenhouse and Garden Center is Parsippany’s oldest business – even older than the town itself! The original deed was completed on a piece of parchment paper and consisted of 26 acres much of which is now under Route 80.

PARSIPPANY — The Little Book Nook used book store at the Parsippany Main Library, 449 Halsey Road, is ready for the holiday season.

A large selection of seasonal books are displayed, and include children’s and adult holiday fiction, seasonal mysteries, cook books and craft books.

All CDs – great for Stocking Stuffers – will be sold at the reduced price of three for $2.00 in December.  Used books are a green gift choice, and at $1.00 for hardcovers and $.50 for paperbacks, they are also a perfect choice for every budget!

All proceeds go to the Friends of the Parsippany Library, who pass on the funds to the library to go toward programs and materials.

To learn more about how you can contribute to the growth of Parsippany’s libraries, visit the Friends of the Parsippany Library website at www.parsippanyfriends.com

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Giving Tree is back just in time for the Holiday Season! To help our residents in need, we ask you to stop by Parsippany-Troy Hills Town Hall, please take a tag from the tree, and return the gift unwrapped, with the tag attached to the Community Center by December 14.

The tag will tell you information about the individual and what they would like for the Holiday Season. Thank you for all of your help, the Parsippany Community Center is located at 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha.

If you have any questions please reach out to the Mayor’s Action Center (973) 263-4262.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris Museum once again is hosting the Portfolio Class Exhibit featuring design and fine art pieces created by students at County College of Morris (CCM). This is the seventh year in a row that the museum is hosting the work of CCM students.

The exhibition, consisting of works created by students taking Portfolio classes through CCM’s Department of Art and Design, runs through December 12. A reception will be held the evening of the closing, December 12, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown.

“Portfolio courses at CCM help students to critique, improve and select their best work; create effective presentations; write documents for marketing their creative work to galleries, museums and prospective clients; and develop portfolios to gain entrance to four-year colleges and universities,” notes Todd L. W. Doney, CCM professor of visual arts. “Having their work on exhibit at the Morris Museum also is a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their work.”

The exhibition represents the summation of all of a student’s work from his or her creative studies at CCM. For information on the Department of Art and Design at CCM, click here.