PARSIPPANY — The Annual Central Middle School Flag Football game between the Seventh and Eighth Grade was played on Saturday, June 13 at Parsippany High School.
The Eight Graders finished in the lead 39-19.
CMS Seventh vs. Eighth Grade Flag Football Game
Students Receive Degrees from University of the Sciences
PARSIPPANY — University of the Sciences recognized graduates as part of the University’s 194th commencement celebration in Philadelphia, Pa., on Wednesday, May 20.
Daniel Fichter, graduated summa cum laude with a doctor of occupational therapy degree . He is a member of Alpha Chi, National College Honor Scholarship Society; Pi Theta Epsilon, National Honor Society for Occupational Therapists; and Alpha Eta Society, National Scholastic Honor Society for the Allied Health Professionals. He received the Warren Rosemarin Commencement Award given to the graduate who furthered the efforts of the Alumni Association through consistent volunteerism and hard work.
Sakhi Patel of Parsippany, graduated with a biology degree with a minor in humanities and social science.
Sapan Patel of Parsippany, graduated with a doctor of pharmacy degree.
University of the Sciences has prepared students to be leaders and practitioners in the healthcare and science fields for nearly 200 years.
Key to our distinctive education is a tradition of hands-on research and experiential learning that is evident in every graduate who has walked its campus.
Since its founding in 1821 as Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, the first college of pharmacy in North America, USciences has grown to more than 30 degree-granting programs from bachelor’s through doctoral degrees in the health sciences, bench sciences, and healthcare business and policy fields. Discover how USciences students are proven everywhere they go at usciences.edu.
Hofstra Congratulates Parsippany residents on Spring 2015 Dean’s List
PARSIPPANY — Hofstra University congratulates the students named to the Spring 2015 Dean’s List for their outstanding academic achievement. Students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 during the semester to make the Dean’s List.
Among the local students who earned a spot on the Dean’s List were Nitigna Bhatt, Lake Hiawatha and Stephen Campana, Parsippany.
Hofstra University is a nationally ranked private university just 25 miles from New York City and all its cultural, recreational and professional opportunities. We offer small classes and personal attention with the resources, technology, and facilities of a large university.
Students can chose from undergraduate and graduate offerings in liberal arts and sciences, business, engineering and applied science, communication, education, health sciences and human services, honors studies, the Maurice A. Deane School of Law and the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine.
Named to the 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, and one of only two schools chosen to host consecutive presidential debates, Hofstra University is a dynamic community of more than 11,000 students known for civic engagement and public service.
Board of Education presented Academic Decathlon Student Awards
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education presented “Student and Staff Awards” on Tuesday, June 9 at Parsippany High School.
The Board of Education congratulated and presented certificates or plaques to the students listed for their fine achievents.
Students being honored for Academic Decathlon were Amanda Chen, Will Chen, Anne Cheng, Miki Hansen, Spencer Huang, Rohan Khajuria, Nikita Kolotov, Xue Ting Lin, Shivan Patel, Henry Shen, Elizabeth Tu, Emily Weng, Joshua Wong, Samuel Wu, Katherine Yang and Ellie Xu.
Will Chen received recognition for Regional Competition: Bronze Medal-Art; Silver Medal-Math, Economics, Social Science; Gold Medal-Science, and Music; State Competition: Silver Medal-Economics; Bronze Medal-Music; Gold Medal-Science.
Amanda Chen received recognition for Regional Competition: Silver Medal-Math; Bronze Medal-Economics, and Science; State Competition: Gold Medal-Music.
Katherine Yang received recognition for Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Language and Literature; Silver Medal-Music.
Samuel Wu received recognition for Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Economics, Language and Literature, Essay;Silver Medal-Art; Bronze Medal-Social Science, Music; Honorable Mention-Math, Science; State Competition: Bronze Medal-Music; Honorable Mention-Language and Literature, Art, Social Science
Joshua Wong received recognition for Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Economics, Music, Language and Literature, Essay; Silver Medal-Math, Science; Bronze Medal-Art; Honorable Mention-Social Studies; State Competition: Gold Medal-Essay, Science, Social Science, Overall Decathlete, Music; Silver Medal-Economics, Art; Bronze Medal-Language and Literature.
Henry Shen received recognition for Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Social Science, Art; Bronze Medal-Economics, Science, Music; Honorable Mention-Language and Literature; State Competition: Honorable Mention-Language and Literature, Economics, Music, Art, Science; Silver Medal-Social Science; National Competition: Gold Medal-Social Science; Bronze Medal-Economics.
Shivan Patel received recognition for Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Math, Science, Speech; Silver Medal-Language and Literature, Essay; Bronze Medal-Economics, Social Science; State Competition: Honorable Mention-Math.
Nikita Kolotov received recognition for Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Social Science, Art; Silver Medal-Music, Economics, Speech, Interview; Honorable Mention-Math, Science, Essay High Scorer; State Competition: Honorable Mention-Math; Silver Medal-Language and Literature; Honorable Mention-Economics; Silver Medal-Music, Art, Science, Social Science National Competition: MVP.
Rohan Khajuria received recognition for Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Math, Science, Speech, Essay; Silver Medal-Music; Bronze Medal-Economics; Honorable Mention-Language and Literature High Scorer State Competition: Silver Medal-Language and Literature, Music, Art, Social Science; Honorable Mention: Math, Economics, Science National Competition: Gold Medal-Math.
Spencer Haung received recognition for the Academic Decathlon team that Placed First in Regionals and First in States.
Board Members Mr. Andy Choffo and Mrs. Judy Mayer with Amanda Chen
Amanda Chen received recognition for Regional Competition: Silver Medal-Math; Bronze Medal-Economics, and Science State Competition: Gold Medal-Music.
Also the following students received recognition:
Anne Cheng: Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Economics; Silver Medal-Social Science, Language and Literature; Bronze Medal-Art, Music; Honorable Mention-Interview State Competition: Honorable Mention-Math, Music, Art, and Social Science.
Miki Hansen: Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Music; Silver Medal-Math, Economics, Science, Social Science; Bronze Medal-Art, Language and Literature; State Competition: Bronze Medal-Math; Silver Medal-Economics.
Elizabeth Tu: Regional Competition: Gold Medal -Social Science, Art, Music; Silver Medal – Economics, Science, Language & Literature; Honorable Mention-Speech, Essay, Math; State Competition: Gold Medal-Essay; Silver Medal-Social Science, Overall Decathlete, Third Place Overall Decathlete MVP; Bronze Medal-Language & Literature, Economics, Music, Art; Honorable Mention-Science.
Emily Weng: Regional Awards: Gold Medal-Math, Economics, Science, Language and Literature, Essay; Silver Medal-Art, Music; Honorable Mention-Social Science; State Competition: Honorable Mention-Math; Gold Medal-Art; Bronze Medal-Science, Social Science MVP; National Competition: Team’s Highest Scorer.
Ellie Xu: Regional Competition: Gold Medal-Social Science, Art; Bronze Medal-Music.
Letter to the editor: Parsippany’s Redevelopment Plan is Morris Corporate Economic Development’s Plan
Dear Editor:
Home Rule without Chutzpah is a farce and with Chutzpah is very expensive. That is just one simple reason why in 2015 regional Planning is superior wiser and beneficial to all. Elected officials have a responsibility to ensure and advocate when necessary for the best interest of their communities in all matters concerning land use be the property private or not. This “best interest” which is a public trust issue seems to be lacking in Parsippany, where we are surrounded by many corporate owned tracts of land brought cheaply and sold for high profits on the commercial market. We have seemed to have lost ourselves in property rights rather than community values. Parsippany has had more than its share of market driven speculation land development, the need for more is questionable. There also is a definite lack of transparency in our Planning Board, in its master plans constantly undermined and not advanced through knowledge available in examining various landscapes for possible other uses and natural resource value, which would make them possible candidates for protections and condemning in the best interest of Parsippany. Waterview the best example and perhaps others as the property known as Block 136 Lot 43 is being proposed for a new office complex by UPS with the support of MCEDC; Morris County Economic Development Corporation. This little known landscape gem off Hill Road contains quite an extensive wetlands complex. The immediate area contains an already empty office complex, as Morris County has more vacant office inventory than anywhere in the State and ranks high in the Nation along with NJ as having such wasted space of office; how can this new complex be justified and in such an environmentally valuable area of wetlands, wellhead protections, no present sewer or water systems for the allotted development, This property could be considered a community environmentally constrained sub-zone under higher standards.
It must be asked what is going to happen to the present UPS facility on Jefferson Road? In the immediate area of the proposed new UPS complex a large corporate office complex remains vacant on Interpace Parkway as do several other vacant offices on Interpace alone..
Parsippany’s Planning Board has called this “redevelopment”, even though it did not follow any real redevelopment principles. Let us use the American Planning Board’s own criteria to access this unnecessary land destruction.
- Conserve land resources by attracting new development to infill and brownfield sites rather than converting raw agricultural or undeveloped acreage;
- Take advantage of existing infrastructure rather than requiring the construction of expensive new infrastructure
- Reuse existing resources;
- Recycle materials and structures;
- Conserve energy and other non-renewable resources;
- Adapt historic or culturally significant existing buildings to new uses;
- Improve or restore natural systems such as streambeds, drainage courses, wetlands, rivers, ports, ambient air quality, and other ecological features;
- Embrace the principles of sustainable community planning enunciated in the APAPolicy Guide on Planning for Sustainability;
- Are designed to promote long-term economic sustainability.
- Address potential oversupply of land for development.
Parsippany having itself surrounded by corporate property owners and being under home-rule leaves itself vulnerable to have its best interest undermined and exchanged for poor land use promoted as economic stimulus and jobs. Parsippany’s first and foremost responsibility is to its residence in their quality of life here through proper land use and natural resource protections. Parsippany lacks many of the elements needed for this for example: we do not have a natural resource inventory of properties, nor do we have an accurate detailed report showing Prime Ground Water Recharge Areas. This is also lacking in our Stormwater Management Plan.
We start to see that our Planning Board is not somehow working in our best interest, for the outside corporate developers to undermine our natural assets keeping them off the screen. This is breach of the public trust, in that with public trust, the State cites the doctrine to support State action that protects trust resources from private actions; the resources here our landscapes, water, air and bio-diversity, trees being the best example. In a nutshell tax payers are not being served but used to aid developer’s first community second. In a relationship of power, status and responsibility it is understood that power is not equal, however the responsibility of trust must remain within any such structure. The problem is the relationship has become one of power alone, the private over the public. Home rule fearing lawsuits from corporate power throws in the towel and tells the tax-payers they are saving them money, while their community’s quality of life runs out slowly but surely. When State and Local sources do not limit, but relinquishes or overly compromises trust resources we have no longer a local community, but an open market not concerned with local traditions, history, and ecology, only their investments in a pool of wealth that benefits few and takes away from many.
The only remedy available is regional planning. Only the realization that a strong state can overcome this lack of public trust and will benefit and advance the commonwealth can see us through. Are we a United States on any level or has the private interest destroyed our democracy? Let us unite ourselves unto the regional master plan, which will bring more, trust, transparency and public participation. Pride in Parsippany cannot presently exist under home-rule. Wake Up People. Political centralization strengthens rather than weakens local government and the health of local communities. Just ask the depression generation. FDR we need you, and George Washington too.
Nick Homyak
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034
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Letter to the editor: Memorial Day
Dear Editor,
Parsippany’s 2015 Memorial Day remembrance service on Monday, May 25, at Veterans Park, Parsippany was what a remembrance service should be. It covered history, past and present, and it left you with tears in your eyes to remind us of the sacrifice our Armed Forces and their families have made for this country.
I received a phone call a few days prior to Memorial Day that Parsippany’s remembrance service format has changed. This years service acknowledged all that have served. I am forever touched by this year’s program. Thank you, Michele Sylvin for your thoughtful remembrance program.
If you could not attend watch the service on Video-on-the-Go, by clicking here.
May God watch over our veterans and Armed Forces
Forever thankful,
Roy Messmer
Parsippany Police participates in 32nd Annual Torch Run
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department participated in the 32nd Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for the New Jersey Special Olympics on Friday, June 12.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey is a statewide campaign coordinated and managed by all divisions of Law Enforcement officers and officials from throughout the state. Through their efforts, events are conducted year round by the Law Enforcement Community to raise funds for the Special Olympics Movement, serving the athletes of New Jersey. In addition to fundraising, Law Enforcement volunteer at athlete events year round while serving as ambassadors in local communities.
In 1982, the late Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Officer Steven Vitale was asked to take photos at a local Special Olympics competition in New Jersey. He was so moved by the determination exhibited by the athletes that he asked other police officers to volunteer at the Summer Games.
In 1984, the first New Jersey Torch Run was conceived to raise funds and public awareness for the Special Olympics New Jersey program. The course ran from Liberty State Park in Jersey City to Rutgers Stadium in New Brunswick through eight towns covering 43 miles and raising $7,000. In each succeeding year, the dollar amount became greater and the number of volunteers increased substantially.
Over $2 million is raised annually by more than 3,000 officers through local and statewide events including the Law Enforcement Torch Run as part of the annual Summer Games in June.
Special Olympics New Jersey is a not-for-profit organization that provides sports training and athletic competition to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Our 25,000 athletes enjoy camaraderie and gain a sense of pride and accomplishment through participating in our events.
Parsippany Hills High School Prom Class of 2015
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Hills High School Class of 2015 celebrated its “Senior Prom” at The Atrium, West Orange, on Thursday, June 11.
Seniors will graduate on Thursday, June 25 at County College of Morris, at 2:00 p.m.
“Race to the Finish” Challenger Games held at PAL
PARSIPPANY — “Race to the Finish” was developed for students in Kindergarten through eighth grade who have special needs enrolled in a self-contained classroom in the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District.
Approximately 110 students in grades K-8 participated this year.
Another 100 students from the two high schools, Parsippany High School and Parsippany Hills High Schoo,l were selected to help guide the students through the games and obstacle courses.
The groups were divided into teams, such as Kit Kat, Snickers, Twix, M & M and Gummy Bears.
The goal is not for the students to “win,” but rather for them to finish what they started. The day is split up into two groups, K-3 and 4-8, with different activities based on age appropriateness. Students are encouraged to try their best, to socialize with peers, and to simply, have fun. The games were played inside the PAL Building and the outside field with two blow up obstacle course.
This is run in conjunction with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education.
The entire day is funded by a grant through the PAL and Barbara Miller. Jennifer is in charge of “Peer Buddies” at Parsippany High School and organizes student volunteers to staff the challenger games every year. They work closely with Tony Bonavitacola, Parsippany PAL to ensure the day runs as smooth as possible!
Join Bella’s Bunch in the 2015 Valerie Fund Walk on Saturday
PARSIPPANY —The 2015 Valerie Fund Walk will be held on Saturday, June 13 in Essex County’s Verona Park.
The walk will mark the tenth time supporters have come together to celebrate the courage and hope of children battling cancer and blood disorders.
Bella Rocco, Parsippany, a 13 year-old former patient has been attending the Walk since 2009 and each year her team, Bella’s Bunch has the distinction of fielding the most participants. As of today, Bella’s Bunch raised over $6,400.00 for this year’s walk.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., Opening ceremony 9:30 a.m. and Walk begins 10:00 a.m.; Awards begin at 11:00 a.m.
To join Bella’s Bunch or make a donation, please click here.
More than one million dollars has been raised in each of the last three years and nearly 5,000 people are expected to attend. In addition to the 5K Run and mile walk around the park, participants will receive a t-shirt, be entertained with live music and children’s activities. A variety of free food will be available.
Nearly 40 years ago, Sue and Ed Goldsteinbegan The Valerie Fund to honor the memory of their nine-year old daughter. During the six years of her treatment, Valerie and her parents would often travel several hundred miles a week to a hospital in NYC and they wanted to spare other families with critically ill children the additional suffering of traveling to and from the city for treatment. Their dream was to help children receive high-quality care in a nurturing environment close to their homes.
Today, there are seven Valerie Fund Children’s Centers located in top pediatric hospitals in New York, New Jersey and metro Philadelphia and more than 4,000 patients are treated annually—one of the largest networks of healthcare facilities for children with cancer and blood disorders in the country.
For more information about The Valerie Fund & JAG Physical Therapy 5K Run, please visitTheValerieFund.org/walk.
Thirty-eight employees retire from Parsippany School District
PARSIPPANY— The Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education announced the following employees are retiring:
Robin Antoshkiw, Raymond Bajor, Dorothy Barron, Michelle Bodtmann, Lynn Burck, Joanne Caponegro, Anne-Marie Carey, June Caron, Keki Dadachanji, Esther Davila, Jean Delardo, Kathleen Finch, Joanne Fisher, Ann Marie Fitzgerald, Grace Fulgraff, James Groome, Emily Hannan and Angela Jovino.
Also retiring are Barbara Labonia, George Lambe, Louis Maccarella, Ruth Madpak, Jacqueline Materek, Thomas McNeel,y Vita Morales, Ethel Obernauer, Robert Petrozza, Ann Phillips, Fred Piotrowsky, Huan-Chu Pohlman, Catherine Posselt, Susan Raymond, Mary Ellen Romano, John San Giovanni, Marty Siegel, Michelle Tobia,s Diane Vaglio and Margaret VanDyke.
The retirees range from teachers, principals, maintenance workers, transportation and district workers.
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education is proud to honor the careers of the staff members.
Coach Albano honored for his achievements
The first award presented was the team award. The announcement of the team award from the Daily Record:
Matt Joyce turned and threw his arms straight up into the air. Angelo Gallego ran up to Ryan Shaw and lifted Shaw high off the MetLife Stadium turf. Coaches hugged. Players high-fived. Fans stood up and screamed. Before long, the stadium’s field was a sea of black, white, and blue. The Vikings concluded the 2014 season in a way that they never have before: with a state championship. Parsippany Hills held on for a pulsating 20-13 victory over Cranford in NJSIAA North 2 Group 3 for the first sectional football title in school history.
Albano also receive the following awards:
The first is the USA Today All USA NJ Football Coach of the Year.
Mugs Media Coach of the Year Award – Mugs Media is a full service video production company based out of Sparta, New Jersey. Mugs Media is the premier video production company in the area. Mugs Media offers athletic recruitment videos for your Son or Daughter to assist them in getting noticed in the college selection process.
Morris Sussex Football name Dave Coach of the Year. Morris Sussex Football wrote the following: Dave Albano took a freshman quarterback, an undersized running back, a bunch of scrappy tough kids from the streets of Parsippany and then physically kicked the crap of everyone they faced until they won the ultimate prize. Albano has been ranked as the preseason favorite to win states quite a few times but was never able to bring it home. This year the Vikings were rated as a solid team but nobody picked them to win states. But Albano had his team believing that nothing could get in their way. All season, the Vikes pounded, pushed and clawed their way until they ended up beating Cranford at MetLife Stadium to win Albano his first state championship.
New Jersey Football Coaches Association awarded Dave with their Coach of the Year Award – Their Mission Statement reads: The purpose of the New Jersey Football Coaches Association is to maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the profession of coaching football; to promote the highest level of interscholastic competition and to honor the young men who play this great game. In addition, the goal of the association is to have a strong voice in legislation that affects football programs across the state.
Boy Scouts Attend Council Meeting to earn badges
PARSIPPANY — Two members of Parsippany Boy Scout Troop 72 attended the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council meeting on Tuesday, June 9 to earn a “Citizenship in the Community” badge.
Joshua Knowle and Matthew Sonzogni attended Tuesday’s meeting to earn their badges.
Requirements to earn the badge include:
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- A) Attend a city or town council or school board meeting, or a municipal; county, or state court session.
- B) Choose one of the issues discussed at the meeting where a difference of opinions was expressed, and the Scout must explain to their counselor why they agree with one opinion more than you do another one.
There were other optional requirements, but both scouts choose to attend the township council meeting.
At the end of the meeting they had the opportunity to speak to Council Vice President Robert Peluso.
Student Awards for Excellence in Wrestling
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education presented “Student and Staff Awards” on Tuesday, June 9 at Parsippany High School.
The Board of Education congratulated and presented certificates or plaques to the students listed for their fine achievents.
Students receiving awards for Wrestling included Michael IIic, Aarin Feliz, Andrew Massefski, Ganesh Persaud, Philip Gohn, Kevin Jones, Brandon Leibfred, Brandon Jones, Nigel Feliz, Carlos Huaman and Christopher Gentile.
Announcing the honors was Coordinating Principal for Athletics K-12, Physical Education & Health (Parsippany High School and Central Middle School) Norman Francis, Jr., Ed.D.
Aarin Feliz was honored for his performance in First Team – All Conference; Second Place in the Hopatcong Tournament Parsippany Tournament and Morris County Tournament; Third place in District 9 and in Region 3.
Andrew Massefski was honored for his performance in First Team -All Conference; First place in the Hopatcong Tournament, Parsippany Tournament, Morris County Tournament, in District 9, and Region 3; Fifth place in the NJSIAA Tournament and received the Outstanding Wrestler Award.
Ganesh Persaud was honored for his performance in First Team – All Conference; First place in the Hopatcong Tournament, and Parsippany Tournament; Third place in the Morris County Tournament; Second place in District 9 and fourth place in Region 3.
Kevin Jones was honored for his performance in Second Team – Alt Conference; First place in the Hopatcong Tournament; Second place in the Parsippany Tournament, Morris County Tournament, in District 9, and Region 3.
Also honored was Michael Ilic for his performance in First Team – All Conference; Second place in the Hopatcong Tournament and Parsippany Tournament; Third place in the Morris County Tournament and Second place in District 9.
Philip Gohn was honored for his performance in Second Team – All Conference; First place in the Hopatcong Tournament; Second place in the Parsippany Tournament and Third place in District 9, and in Region 3.
Brandon Leibfred was honored for his performance in Second Team – All Conference; and Second place in the Hopatcong Tournament.
Brandon Jones was honored for his performance in Second Team – Alt Conference; Second place in District 9; Third place in the Hopatcong Tournament and Morris County Tournament and Fourth place in the Parsippany Tournament.
Also honored was Nigel Feliz for his performance in Second Team – Alt Conference; Third place in the Parsi ppany Tournament; Second place in the Morris County Tournament; and Third place in District 9.
Carlos Huaman was honored for his performance in Second Team – Alt Conference; Second place in the Hopatcong Tournament; Third place in District 9 and Fourth place in the Parsippany Tournament.
Christopher Gentile received a Honorable Mention – All Conference; and First place in the Parsippany Tournament.
Ty Sallie was selected to play on the 11u NorthEast All-American Team
PARSIPPANY — After winning first place at Yankee Stadium in the Pitch, Hit and Run contest in 2013, Ty Sallie, 12, of Mount Tabor has made two more amazing major strides in his baseball career:
On Tuesday, June 9, it was announced on www.usssa.com live stream that Ty Sallie was selected to play on the 11u NorthEast All-American Team for the USSSA All-American Games.
The Northeast region consists of New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware.
Each of the eight regions throughout the country have local tryouts for ages 9-14. Ty was also selected as one of the top performers of the Northeast Try-out in North Branford, CT. The All-American Games are scheduled for August 2 to August 7 at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.
Ty was also selected as one of top 100 12u players to participate in the 2015 National Open for 12u Team USA. Each state throughout the country has one local tryout and current Major League scouts and former professional players evaluate each player. The 2015 National Open will be held July 13 to July 15 at the MLB Youth Academy in California. From there, 24 players from the National Open will be selected to participate in the Team Trials July 16 to July 18. The last stage will be 12 players selected from the Team Trials to represent their country at the 12U World Cup in Tainan, Taiwan from July 21 to August 3.
Ty has been playing Par-Troy West Little League since he was five years old. He currently is a sixth grader at Brooklawn Middle School and resides in Mount Tabor.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with expenses of the trip. Click here for more information.
“Pedals For Progress’’ Used Bikes Collection
RANDOLPH — The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, in concert with non-profit Pedals for Progress, will collect used bicycles in reasonably good condition, plus used sewing machines in working order at a collection event set for Saturday, June 13. The event will run from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. at the County College of Morris, Parking Lot #1, at 214 Center Grove Road.
Pedals for Progress collects thousands of bicycles and sewing machines annually and sends them to needy people in developing countries. Over the past 25 years, the group has collected more than 144,000 bikes, and collected more than 3,000 sewing machines in recent years.
The bikes are reconditioned by partner agencies and distributed at low cost to poor working adults, providing them with reliable transportation for commuting to work and school, transporting produce to markets, accessing health care and other essential services.
A $10.00 fee per bicycle is required to help defray the more than $30.00 in costs for shipping, reconditioning and distributing each bike. Bikes with bent or very rusty frames, disassembled bikes, bike parts and tricycles will not be accepted.
Bike helmets will be collected free of charge as will small hand tools such as wrenches for the overseas shops.
Working sewing machines, both electric and non-electric, also will be collected. There is a $10.00 fee for the sewing machines to help defray the cost of shipping them to qualified nonprofit partners to set up small cooperative clothing businesses around the world.
All cash and material donations are tax deductible, and a receipt will be available at the collection site.
For more information or directions, please call the MCMUA at (973) 285-8393, or click here.
Additional information about Pedals for Progress and its various overseas projects is available on its website, www.p4p.org.