PARSIPPANY — 2019 marks the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany fifth year participating in “CLICK for Babies: Period of PURPLE Crying Caps campaign” lead by Karen DeChristopher, Director and Co-Chair Dr. Julie Scarano-Debrossy and Nicolas Limanov of their “Young Children Priority One (YCPO)” service projects program.

Kiwanis members and friends knitted over 520 purple colored hats for infants, which were delivered in October to Prevent Child Abuse NJ, New Brunswick, where they are sent out to be washed, sterilized and prepared in airtight bags then distributed to new parents at participating hospitals across New Jersey during November and December to help educate new parents about both normal infant crying “Period of Purple Crying” and the dangers of shaking the infant “Shaken Baby Syndrome”.

PURPLE stands for an exhausting and frustrating period of increased crying that some infants experience in the first few weeks and months after birth. Although it is hard on babies, it is even harder on parents and caregivers.  This crying, which is normal, is so overwhelming to parents and caregivers that sometimes they shake the baby, causing permanent harm.

It is the No. 1 trigger for the shaking and abuse of infants.  Shaken baby syndrome has been found to be the most common and most dangerous form of abuse in children under one.  Roughly 80% of all infants who are shaken suffer significant brain injuries, and more than 30% die as a result of their injuries.  These purple hats can help prevent this, because the campaign aims to raise awareness about normal infant crying and the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma.

DeChristopher explained that, “Increased stress and frustration raises the risk of someone losing control for a split-second and seriously injuring the infant.  Parents must be educated on this extremely important issue, as well as the need to have a plan and to share that plan with anyone who may be caring for their infant.”

Prevent Child Abuse – New Jersey is one in a network of chapters in all 50 states.  Prevent Child Abuse-NJ is the only statewide non-profit dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect in all forms, for all New Jersey children.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany supports ten K-Kids clubs, Lake Parsippany Elementary School, Eastlake Elementary School, Intervale School, Mt. Tabor Elementary School, Littleton Elementary School, Lake Hiawatha Elementary School, Troy Hills Elementary School, Northvail Elementary School, Knollwood School and Rockaway Meadow Elementary School, two builders clubs, Central Middle School and Brooklawn Middle School; two Key Clubs, Parsippany Hills High School and Parsippany High School and one Aktion Club.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany meets every Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46. For more information on Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany click here.

PARSIPPANY —  Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano was at the starting line to greet the walkers at Sunday’s “Making Strides Parsippany” event held in the Century Office Campus.

At the time this article was published the Making Strides Parsippany raised $492,283. You can still make a donation by clicking here.

Making Strides Parsippany

1 of 18

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events raise awareness and money to save lives from breast cancer. The money you raise and the donations made are helping the American Cancer Society fund innovative breast cancer research, 24/7 information and support, prevention and early detection initiatives, and so much more.

Top companies were Atlantic Health System raising $31,200; Toyota Motor North America raising $19,199; GAF raising $15,779; Immunomedics, Inc raising $13,659 Wyndham Hotels and Resorts raising $12,557 and T-Mobile raising $9,636.

Top teams were Rising to the Challenge $18,337; Hakuna Ma-Tatas = No $16,201; GAF $15,779; The Pink Striders $15,596 and Team Tilcon $14,513.

Top participants were Joan Van Soest raising $18,337; Sylvia Samaniego raising $15,108; Frank Saliter raising $9,659 and Mary Rehus raising $9,155.

Apart from skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women. In fact, in 2019, 271,270 new cases if invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed. 62,930 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed in women (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer: The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass, but other symptoms are also possible. It’s important to have any breast change checked by a healthcare provider.

For more information about American Cancer Society and all of its programs, click here.

PARSIPPANY — The final ascent on the Eagle trail is the longest and the hardest.  It is not unusual for this rank to take several years, and many Scouts never make it, but for Timothy William Metcalf and Colin Georges Aguesseau that was different. They worked hard and long and achieved the rank of Eagle. On Sunday, October 20 Troop 173 B.S.A. held an Eagle Court of Honor in which Timothy William Metcalf and Colin Georges Aguesseau were honored with their Eagle Badge.

Scoutmaster Michael Catapano was the Master of Ceremonies. Invocation was by Father Joseph G. Buffardi, Saint Christopher R.C. Church. Tyler Catapano, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader performed the Flag Salute and recited the Scout Oath and Law.

Advancement Chair Chris Modin read the certification of the Eagle candidate. Eagle Badge Presentation was presented by Daniel V. Metcalf (for Timothy Metcalf) and Christine Aguesseau (for Colin Aguesseau). Eagle Charge was read by Past Scoutmaster John Worthington and the Benediction was by Father Michal A. Falgowski from Saint Christopher R.C. Church.

The Eagle Scout Award is Scouting’s highest rank and among its most familiar icons. Men who have earned it count it among their most treasured possessions. Those who missed it by a whisker remember exactly which requirement they didn’t complete. Americans from all walks of life know that being an Eagle Scout is a great honor. The award is more than a badge. It’s a state of being. The Eagle Scout may have received the badge as a boy, but you earn it every day as a man. In the words of the Eagle Scout Promise, they do their best each day to make their training and example, their rank and their influence count strongly for better Scouting and for better citizenship in the troop, in their community, and in their contacts with other people. And to this they pledge their sacred honor.

Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men. An average of only 4% of the Boy Scouts actually earn this rank.

The requirements for the Eagle Scout rank are as follows:

1. 1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least six months as a Life Scout.
   2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Law in your everyday life.
   3. Earn 21 merit badges, including the 12 that are required-First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving, Environmental Science, Personal Management, Swimming or Hiking or Cycling, Camping, and Family Life.
   4. Serve actively in an approved position of responsibility for a period of six months after becoming a Life Scout.
   5. Plan, develop, and lead others in carrying out a service project worthy of an Eagle Scout.
   6. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference
   7. Appear before a board of review of prominent persons, and satisfy them that you have done your best to understand and live up to the Scout Oath and Law and, in all ways, qualify for the Eagle Scout Award.

COLIN GEORGES AGUESSEAU

Colin began his Scouting career as a Tiger Scout in Cub Scout Pack 5, earning his Arrow of Light and crossing over to Boy Scout Troop 173 in March 2011.

As Colin progressed through Scouts, he held the role of Patrol Leader four times as well as Scribe. Colin attended BSA National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) in the summer of 2013.

Many of Colin’s best summer memories were made at BSA Camps: Camp Wheeler, which he attended every summer as a Cub Scout and later worked as a Camp Counselor for five years – and Camp Winnebago, which he enjoyed attending with Troop 173 each summer. Among the many highlights there were winning the mile swim in 2016 and the earning “greasy watermelon” for his Troop two years in a row. With his Troop, Colin completed a total of 102 nights of camping, and 31 in a cabin, including on Big Trips to Lake George, Boston and Washington DC.

While in Troop 173, Colin participated in 95 community service hours. Colin has continued this tradition of service in his community: joining Explorers Post 131 of the Parsippany Police Dept when they relaunched in the summer of 2016 (promoted to the rank of Sergeant in Jan 2019) and the Rainbow Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, District 2, Parsippany-Troy Hills, in 2018.

Colin completed his Eagle Scout project in the fall of 2017, constructing and installing platforms at the Mt. Tabor Pond, providing residents of his community a place to fish.

On February 13, 2018, Colin became the 74th Scout in Troop’s 173’s 60+ year history to earn the rank of Eagle.

Colin graduated from Parsippany Hills High School in June 2018, but even as he began his college career in Business Administration at the County College of Morris, he continued his Scouting career by joining Troop 173’s Venture Crew, culminating in the once-in-a-lifetime experience of attending Philmont – the BSA’s largest National High Adventure Base – in the summer of 2019, an unforgettable adventure.

Colin earned 24 merit badges: Camping, Chemistry, Citizenship in the Community,
Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Collections Communications, Cooking, Environmental Science, Family Life, Fingerprinting, First Aid, Fishing, Geocaching, Geology, Kayaking, Lifesaving, Metalwork, Nature, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Pottery, Small Boat Sailing and Swimming.

TIMOTHY WILLIAM METCALF

Timothy began his Scouting experience in Cub Scout Pack 175. When he was eligible to join Boy Scouts to continue his Scouting experience he became a member of Troop 173.

Timothy quickly started making new  friends  while  rising through  the  ranks of Scouting under Scoutmasters Ken Galley, John  Worthington,  and  Les Wu; he was very active in the Troop by attending most campouts  and Troop meetings. He also attended National Youth Leadership Training and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. He has a total number of 169 camping nights and has earned a total of 32 merit badges. With his extra  merit badges, he also earned a bronze and gold Palm. He has a total of 221 service hours with the Troop. During his time with the Troop he held many positions of responsibility including being Troop Guide Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader. While in the Troop he earned the Scout Scholar Athlete Award and the Pope Pius XII award. He joined Venture Crew 173 associated with the Troop and with that group he attended Philmont in the Summer of 2019.

For his Eagle Project, Timothy renovated an upstairs storage room in the Smith Baldwin Historical House in Parsippany. His crew cleaned out the room, and painted walls in the room. Tim designed and the crew built two wood storage units for the room. He received guidance and encouragement from his Eagle Coach, Ginny Grabinsky, his family, all the adult leaders in his Troop, and Randy Tortorello, his Project Beneficiary. He also received help from his friends and embers of Troop 173. Timothy is thankful for all the support he received with his Project.

Timothy  graduated  from Seton Hall Preparatory School. While he continued to be active in Scouting; he also played sports, was involved  with  clubs, performed  community service and worked on installing landscaping lights with his dad. He played on the school bowling team and ultimately became Captain. Tim was the President of the Pirates Against Cancer Club and the Vice President of the Service Club. At St. Christopher’s Church, he was an Altar Server, volunteered at Vacation Bible School, and even dressed as the Easter Bunny for the children at Easter time. He is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Timothy’s favorite parts of Scouting were camping, hiking, and white-water rafting. He also gained many different skills and knowledge throughout Scouting that will help him throughout the rest of his life.

Timothy earned 32 merit badges: Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in Nation, Citizenship in World, Collections, Communication, Cooking, Environmental Science, Family Life, Fingerprinting,  First Aid, Geology, Kayaking, Leatherwork, Lifesaving, Metalwork, Nature,  Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Pioneering, Reptile/Amphibian, Small Boat Sailing, Soil and Water, Space Exploration, Sports, Swimming, Weather, Wilderness Survival and Wood Carving.

Eagle Court of Honor

1 of 36