PARSIPPANY — Integrated Marketing Consultant, Lynda Starr, DTM, of Parsippany is the newly elected Program Quality Director for District 83 Toastmasters, serving members in metropolitan New Jersey, Rockland County, and Staten Island, New York.  Starr is a member of Dining to Speak Toastmasters.

As Program Quality Director, Starr oversees all aspects of education and training with the district. The program quality director is the second ranking member of the district executive committee and presides when the district director is not available.

“I am honored to be called upon by members of the district to help then to achieve their educational goals and to assure the quality of the Toastmasters program within the clubs,” notes Starr. “This year, we are asking all members to challenge themselves by trying something new, be it to take on a new role or to build a new speaking talent. The goal of Toastmasters is learning in moments of enjoyment to develop leadership skills.”

“Lynda Starr, DTM is a dynamic and effective leader that knows wholeheartedly what it takes to win,” notes said Manny Reyes, District Director.  “She is assertive and always operates with a sense of urgency, is always ready to help anyone who needs to put the final touch on an almost finished project. I look forward to working with her this year to promote the individual and collective achievement of members and to expand and strengthen the district.”

Lynda Starr, DTM, has been a member of Toastmasters International since October 2006. She has achieved Toastmasters International’s highest honor, Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM).   Currently, she serves as Vice-President, Education for Dining to Speak Toastmasters, Fairfield, NJ and is a member of Northern Stars Advanced in Basking Ridge, NJ. She has previously served as district public relations officer, conference chair, and newsletter editor in addition to other club officer roles. An enthusiast of the written word, she has a Master’s Degree in Communication from University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in Communication and Marketing from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

District 83 includes 150 clubs (4,000 members), in Metropolitan New Jersey, Staten Island, and Rockland County, New York. For more information click here.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 270,000 members in 13,000 clubs in 116 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs click here.

PARSIPPANY — Meet Julie! This three-year-old Pit mix is just a little peanut at under 50 pounds!

Rescued from the Newark Shelter, it’s obvious that Julie has been through a lot in her life, but she is as sweet as pie! Julie’s favorite activities include snuggling, being held, and cuddling in bed. She won’t leave her foster dad’s side! Julie also loves to roll on her back for belly rubs.

Julie is great with other dogs and can also live with children six and up. She knows basic commands and is housebroken!
We are so excited for this little sweetheart to find her forever home. If you’re looking for a little moo like Julie, please fill out an application by clicking here.

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PARSIPPANY — Construction crews are beginning to work on the final phases of the new main access road for Central Park of Morris County, with the possibility of a late summer opening of the new Governor Chris Christie Drive.

This new Central Park access road will run from West Hanover Avenue at a signalized intersection on the Parsippany and Morris Township border to Central Avenue, which is the main road through the county park, near the Morris Plains border.

The new signals have been installed and are ready for the new road opening.

Work crews have put in base stones for new road that could lead to paving next month and then final landscaping and other project requirements. The project was scheduled for November 2018 completion.

“We are moving quickly to complete this much needed access road to Central Park of Morris County,” said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “Once it opens, we expect that it will take much of the traffic burden off local neighborhoods that have borne the brunt of the success of the county park. We look forward to the road’s opening.”

Morris County built Central Park on the former Greystone Park State Psychiatric Hospital campus tract that was acquired from the state in 2001.

In addition, last year, in cooperation with the Christie Administration, the Morris County Park Commission worked out a long-term management agreement with the state for 106 undeveloped acres of state land on the former Greystone Hospital campus to add to the Central Park venue.

The new park has developed into a very popular and heavily used recreational venue, which has resulted in sometimes-heavy vehicular traffic through local neighborhoods.

The new access road, to be called Governor Chris Christie Drive, should divert much of the park traffic for activities, such as soccer and lacrosse matches, cross-country races, inline skating, softball and a busy dog park, from residential roads in Morris Plains.

In addition to installing new road signs directing park traffic to the new entrance, the county will seek to update GPS data providers to have motorists directed to the new entrance.

The road design, done by Boswell Engineering of South Hackensack, includes a new signaled intersection on heavily traveled West Hanover Avenue. The new signals recently were completed and will be ready for use when the road is completed.

The county in 2015 allocated funds for the design and construction of the new road and the new intersection, which will cost about $1.5 million. However, before the county could move on the locally anticipated project, the Freeholder Board had to get a 14-acre right of easement and other approvals from the state to give the county access to the state-owned property needed for the new park entrance.

That easement required approval of both the State House Commission and the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority. The approvals were received last year, with the support of the Christie Administration. The final design subsequently was completed and construction began in the late fall.

For more information on Central Park of Morris County click here.

PARSIPPANY — Sons of Italy President Lou Amato stated “I would like to thank all of the lodge members who contributed to this successful day. A very special thank you to Golf Committee Chairman, Jim Torsiello as well as Bob Wilhalme and Joe Jannarone for their significant contributions. Without them, the event could not have taken place.”

PARSIPPANY — The rain garden clean up at Parsippany Town Hall was sponsored by the
Whippany River Watershed Action Committee. Boy Scout Troop 72, along with
their leaders and parents, from Parsippany provided the crew along with a
few Morris County residents, including Ingrid Whitty our rain garden expert,
and Don Covart from Fox Hollow Landscaping who donated 2 tons of river rock.

Any Parsippany or Morris County residents who are interested in volunteering
for a future rain garden clean-up can contact Len Cipkins at 973-229-8740 or
[email protected].

PARSIPPANY — Joining the members of Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany last week for breakfast were Yanelly Pavon and Eduardo Martinez from Hialeh, Florida.

Eduardo was in New Jersey to visit the college which he will be attending this fall, Montclair State University. Yanelly joined Eduardo on his journey to New Jersey.

Eduardo has been very active in Youth Coop Key Club, Mater Academy Key Club, City of Hialeah Ed Key Club, Latin Builders Academy Key Club and Lieutenant Governor Division 25A. Eduardo also recently attended the Florida Key Club District Convention.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany President Frank Cahill welcomed both guests to our club and they were able to see how we do things, then they had the opportunity to tell Parsippany members all of their exciting events happening in Hialeh.

Yanelly is an active member of Kiwanis Club of Hialeh, Florida.