MORRISTOWN — A classical pianist from New York who can no longer play at the high level he mastered after suffering an elbow injury in a 2011 crash was awarded $2.5 million in compensation, according to the Daily Record. A jury voted 6-1 earlier this month to award William J. Finizio, Jr., 47, of New York…
Kenneth A. Galley passed away
PARSIPPANY — Kenneth A. Galley, 54, Montville, passed away suddenly on February 22. Born in Englewood, Ken was raised in Pequannock. He married Eileen Wickham in 1987 and the couple lived in West Milford before settling in Montville 28 years ago. Ken was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts Troop 173 in Parsippany and enjoyed interacting with his gaming group, the “Devil Dogs.”
Ken is survived by his wife of 29 years, Eileen; his sons, Brian, Sean and Eric; his mother, Barb Galley; his sisters, Cindy Schott and her husband Steve, and Jenna Galley; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Arthur G. Galley and his sister, Debra Galley.
Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 25 at the M. John Scanlan Funeral Home, Pompton Plains. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Our Lady of the Magnificat RC Church, Kinnelon.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ken’s memory can be made by clicking here.
The Restoration of the Smith/Baldwin House will be discussed on Saturday
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Historical and Preservation Society will present a public event entitled “The Restoration of the Smith/Baldwin House – Part 1”. This historic home was purchased by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills in 2013 with $676,671.85 in township Open Space funds. The house and artifacts span 3 centuries in the Troy Historic District. In 2015 a $38,376 2015 grant from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust provided the funds to complete a Preservation Plan for this site.
Now that the plan is complete, the Parsippany Historical and Preservation Society will begin a series of public presentations to inform the citizens of Parsippany of the Restoration Plans and future use of this site.
THE RESTORATION OF THE SMITH/BALDWIN HOUSE: On Saturday, February 27 the Parsippany Historical and Preservation Society will present a public event entitled “The Restoration of the Smith/Baldwin House Part 1”. Come learn about Parsippany’s acquisition and phased restoration of this historic and architectural public treasure located at 460 South Beverwyck Road, Parsippany. A slide show and talk will be followed by a tour of the first floor. Doors will open at noon for the 12:30 p.m. presentation/tour with a 2:00 p.m. presentation/tour to follow. Attendance is by Registration Only due to space limitations. Please call (201) 519-4412 to reserve your seat. Snow date is March 5.
Update: Pedestrian struck on Route 46 and New Road identified
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls reporting a pedestrian that was struck by a motor vehicle at the intersection of Route 46 and New Road. Rockaway Neck First Aid Squad, Traffic Crash Investigator Patrol Officer Michael Sprung along with other officers responded to the scene.
Upon arrival of the officers they located the victim, Jose Dominguez, 23, Morristown, lying in the middle lane of traffic on Route 46 East unconscious and suffering from internal injuries.
Rockaway Neck Volunteer First Aid Squad along with Paramedics treated the patient and transported him to Morristown Medical Center for treatment, where he is still being evaluated.
Morris County Sheriff’s Department CID and Laser Team responded to the scene to assist in the investigation.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Esterina Herman, 58, West Caldwell, was driving east on Route 46 in a 2002 Nissan Altima. The Nissan Altima had the right of way and was traveling in the middle lane through the intersection of New Road under a green light. Dominguez proceeded to cross Route 46 East from the south side of the roadway at which time he was struck by the Nissan Altima. The driver did remain on scene and spoke to the investigating Officer.
The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed.
Parsippany Police Department Traffic Crash Investigator Patrol Officer Michael Sprung is investigating the crash and any witnesses are asked to contact (973) 263-4300.
Inglesino “stays” despite Council rejection, AGAIN!
PARSIPPANY — Township Council members voted 3-2 last week not to reappointment Township Attorney John Inglesino. Mayor James Barberio asked the Council to approve a professional services agreement for the year 2016. Council President Louis Valori, Council Vice President Robert Peluso and Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr, all voted against the reappointment of Inglesino, while Councilman Michael dePierro and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani voted in favor of his reappointment. (See Resolution 2016-18)
In 2014 and 2015 the Township Council failed to confirm the appointment of Inglesino as Township Attorney, and as a result Inglesino continued to serve as Township Attorney in holdover status, but Mayor James Barberio retained him on as a holdover. Parsippany Focus asked Mayor James Barberio for comment, but he refused to supply a comment.
Resident Pat Pettacia, a regular attendee at Council meetings said, “I hope when each member of the Council places their vote, they explain why they are voting for or against the reappointment.” Council Vice President Robert Peluso was the only one to respond to Pettacia’s request when voting. Mr. Peluso said “I think the costs are astronomical, more than the county actually pays for legal fees and I strongly believe the rate for legal fees should be fixed.”
Council President Louis Valori said “that while the vote against Inglesino was based solely on the law firm’s transparency on the question of the townships legal bills, he added the Council stand committed to working with Inglesino to resolve matters looking toward a regular appointment in 2017.
Valori who is running for the Republican nomination for Morris County Freeholder with Parsippany based Peter King, Esq. added that the Council’s goal is to build on better communications with the Mayor, concluding “If Mayor Barberio wants Mr. Inglesino on board in 2017, I would give him strong consideration.”
While being a holdover for Calendar Year 2015, Inglesino’s firm, Inglesino, Pearlman Wyciskaka and Taylor received $830,112.57, from Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills. The firm was issued two different 1099’s since the accounting system changed in Parsippany. (Click here to view 1099-1, and click here to view 1099-2).
Breaking news: Pedestrian struck on Route 46
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Department and Morris County Prosecutors Office are investigating an accident on New Road and Route 46, on Tuesday evening.
Initial reports indicate a pedestrian was rushed to Morristown Medical Center by Rockaway Neck Volunteer Ambulance Squad.
Parsippany Focus will update this article as details become available.
MOMS Club planning to host a free, fun event
PARSIPPANY — The MOMS Club of Parsippany will host an open house on Monday, February 29, at 9:30 a.m. at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Library meeting room A and B, 449 Halsey Road.
Circle Time Live will entertain.
Stay-at-home moms and their children, aged birth to 5, are encouraged to attend this free event.
RSVP online at the Parsippany Library’s website, parsippanylibrary.org.
Can’t make the open house but still want to learn about MOMS Club of Parsippany? Email [email protected].
Worker killed by falling generator at Hanover firehouse site was Montague man
HANOVER – One of two construction workers killed in an accident at the site of the new Whippany Fire Department firehouse Thursday has been identified as a Montague man. Joseph Donahue, 25, was a Newton native who graduated from High Point Regional High School in 2009, according to an obituary. An “avid outdoorsman” and former athlete,…
Resident assaulted by strangers in his backyard
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Dispatchers received a phone call from the victim of an assault, an Sunday, February 14 at 12:09 a.m.
Patrol Officer E. Ebanks and T. Armenti responded to the scene and spoke to the 29 year old male victim.
The victim stated he observed three males jump his fence in the rear of his property. When the victim attempted to find out why they were there, the three males began to assault him and then flee the area. The victim sustained minor cuts and bruises from the assault.
The three suspects were described as follows:
Suspect #1- 6’2 approximately 150 lbs wearing a long sleeved shirt and blue jeans.
Suspect #2- 5’10 150 lbs wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt black t- shirt, and blue jeans. Suspect #3- No description given.
This incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Investigative Division at (973) 263-4311.
Stolen Vehicle Recovered on Route 80
PARSIPPANY — A Kingston Road resident responded to Police Headquarters to report that his 2010 Toyota Matrix was stolen from his driveway at 8:18 a.m. on February 7.
Patrol Officer J. Lubeck spoke to the victim who stated his vehicle was stolen between February 6 at 8:00 p.m. and February at 7:45 a.m.
At 3:54 p.m. Police Dispatch was contacted by the victim who stated he found his vehicle on the shoulder of Route 80 West at exit 47 while he was traveling on the highway.
Officers responded to the scene and the vehicle impounded pending further investigation. This incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Investigative Division at (973) 263-4311.
Frelinghuysen Speaks at Kiwanis Breakfast Meeting
PARSIPPANY — Representative Rodney F. Frelinghuysen spoke about national security and economic growth during the weekly Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany breakfast meeting.
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen is serving his eleventh term as the Representative for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. In the 114th Congress, Frelinghuysen serves as New Jersey’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and on three key appropriations subcommittees: Energy and Water Development, Homeland Security and Defense, where he serves as Chairman.
Frelinghuysen represents 54 municipalities in the 11th Congressional District, including Parsippany-Troy Hills and other communities in Morris, Sussex, Passaic, and Essex Counties.
Throughout his time in Congress, Frelinghuysen has worked to lower taxes and provide for a strong national defense. He has been a tireless advocate for New Jersey priorities earning the title “New Jersey’s ‘Go-to-Guy.’” from the New York Times. Frelinghuysen strongly advocates for New Jersey, focusing on the expansion of mass transit, improving homeland security, preserving open space, creating jobs and opportunities, and supporting our military personnel and our veterans.
Frelinghuysen graduated from Hobart College in 1969. After graduation, Frelinghuysen completed basic training at New Jersey’s Fort Dix and served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. He was a member of the 93rd Engineering Battalion (Construction) stationed in the Mekong Delta.
After returning home from Vietnam in 1971, Frelinghuysen began his work on behalf of the people of New Jersey when he became Morris County’s State and Federal Aid Coordinator and Administrative Assistant. From 1974 to 1983, Frelinghuysen served three-terms as a member of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, where he was chosen as its director in 1980.
Frelinghuysen went on to serve in the New Jersey General Assembly in 1983. He served as Chairman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee from 1988-89 and again from 1992 to 1994. In Trenton, our state capital, Frelinghuysen created a record as one of the most fiscally conservative members of the legislature.
He also quickly built a reputation for outstanding service to his constituents. Through countless events in communities across the 11th District, Rodney actively seeks out and listens to the opinions and advice of his constituents. He holds regular town hall meetings, visits dozens of schools, attends hundreds of community events, and personally responds to over 75,000 letters, emails, faxes and telephone calls each year.
In 1995, Frelinghuysen was sworn in as a member of the United States House of Representatives. He was immediately selected to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees all aspects of the federal budget, because of his Appropriations experience in Trenton.
Frelinghuysen serves as Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Through his work on this subcommittee, Frelinghuysen has become a well respected voice on foreign, military and intelligence affairs. He has made numerous trips to Afghanistan and the Middle East to see the situation through the lens of those New Jerseyans serving our nation.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany meets weekly on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46. For more information, click here.
Rainbow Lakes Fire Dept. Fish or Chicken and Chips Dinner
PARSIPPANY — The Rainbow Lakes Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual “Fish or Chicken and Chips Dinner” on Friday, February 19, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The event will be held at Rainbow Lakes Fire Department, One Rainbow Trail, Denville. The cost is $15.00 for adults, and children under 12 $12.00. Take-out also available.
For tickets call (973) 580-0607 after 5:00 p.m. or email [email protected].
Click here to download a flyer of the event.
Parsippany Rotary Distinguished Service Awards Banquet
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Rotary Club hosted their 52nd Annual Distinguished Service Awards Banquet on Saturday, February 13, held at Knoll County Club.
This year’s “Outstanding Citizen” award was presented to Joyce Garrow. Joyce is one of those people who have a spring loaded right hand. If you ask for volunteers she just can’t help herself and that hand goes up especially if it is for the children of Parsippany. Joyce is a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany and Parsippany-Troy Hills Woman’s Club. She was a member of the Board of the Parsippany Child Day Care Center and has been seen as the Cat in the Hat reading to children. “If you need something done to help people just ask Joyce”.
George Smith was honored with the Outstanding Public Safety award. George grew up in Parsippany and joined the Mount Tabor Fire Department in February 1982. He was made a Lieutenant in 1985 and has served as Chief a total of 16 years starting in 1991 to 92, 1994, 1998-2001 and most recently 2007 to 2015. District #1 covers the area from Mt. Tabor out to Brooklawn Drive to Littleton Road and all the way up to Greystone. They have 49 active firefighters, 5 apparatus and three fire stations.
The “Outstanding Business Person” award was presented to Nick Marino and Tom Govelitz; The Music Shop. Nick and Tom have brought the gift of music to probably thousands of New Jersey school children by supplying band and orchestra instruments to schools throughout the state. What more needs to be said. “Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife”. Kahlil Gibran
The “Dean Gallo Memorial Vocational Award” has been awarded to Rocco Zicolello. The Gallo Vocational Award is given to someone who does his or her job in a manner above and beyond to make Parsippany a better place to live or work. Rocco is a security guard at Parsippany Hills High School where he is committed to the safety and security of not only the building but all students, faculty and guests who enter. He can always be counted on when a site supervisor or extra security is needed for co-curricular events. He shows courage, empathy and a good heart. Rocco exemplifies the meaning of this award.
This year’s Outstanding Rotarian award was presented to Bruce Downing. Bruce joined the Parsippany Rotary in March 1998 and has been one of our most active dependable members ever since. He never misses a club event and rarely even misses a meeting. If there is a job to be done we just have to call Bruce and he is there. Bruce is part of the backbone of our club (although he can never wear his Spiderman suit again).
Outstanding Educators Award were presented to three educators. Erin Andreatta is a Social Worker at Parsippany Hills High School where she has created programs for students that have cognitive emotional, social and learning disabilities that go beyond her duties as a School Social Worker. She has been involved in development of the Multiply Disabled program, development and management of the Peer Buddies program and assisting integration of special needs children in after-school programs such as athletics and drama.
Also receiving an Outstanding Educators Award was Gregory Dalakian. Gregory is the director of the Award Winning Parsippany High School Marching Band. They are the current USBands Group IV A New Jersey State and National Champions. The band performed at the December 27 halftime show for the Jets vs. New England football game at MetLife Stadium and on Prudential Center concourse before the January 21 Devils game. His success with the band and their accomplishments show that Marching Band is no longer the province of geeks (like when I was in High School).
And Lorraine Esposito was also honored with Outstanding Educators Award. Lorraine is the reading specialist at Northvail School where she has been for the last eight years. Her work is best summed up by Samantha Egger, grade 5. “If you say Ms. Esposito is not the best teacher ever you obviously have never had her. She is the best because she is always there to help you with learning to spell and read. She makes learning fun and enjoyable. She is the best teacher ever”.
Outstanding Law Enforcement was presented to Remo D’ Alessandro. Remo joined the Parsippany Police Department in 2004 after transferring from Paterson. His fellow officers recognized him as ”that guy” they all wanted to work with. Currently he is Community Relations Officer where he coordinates community outreach programs including headquarters tours for schools, workplace safety and crime prevention programs for residents and businesses in town. He is also quartermaster, outfitting the officers, equipping the department and coordinating thousands of hours of training. When not on duty he can sing classical music, breakdance, cook, paint and organize just about anything.
Samantha Gurth and Mariya Rutenberg was this year’s Outstanding High School Students. Samantha is a senior at Parsippany High School where she has been making a difference all four years. She possesses an impressive work ethic, dedication and genuine desire to make a difference. Samantha is President of the Rotary sponsored Interact Club and a leader for Peer Buddies and never misses the monthly Service Night or trips to the Community Food Bank of NJ. She authentically and regularly puts others above herself.
Mariya is a senior at Parsippany Hills High School where she has been active in the Interact the whole time and is the publicist this year. She is also active in Peer Leaders, The American Red Cross Club and the fall drama. Masha is an extremely mature high school student who possesses an adult understanding of her need for an education and community service.
The Rotary Club is a worldwide organization of businessmen and women dedicated to peace through humanitarian efforts and programs. Although most of the honorees are not Rotarians, the club says they demonstrate the epitome Rotary’s Motto: “Service above Self.”
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m, at Il Villaggio Restaurant, 22 Gibraltar Drive, Morris Plains, with the exception of the first week, they have a breakfast meeting at The Daily Joe, 56 Fanny Road. New members are always welcome to join.
This year’s President is Peggy Mader; President Elect is Bruce Downing; Secretary is Maurie Mader and Treasurer is Ylka Padilla.
Lake Parsippany students making blankets for Children’s Hospital
PARSIPPANY — Third graders in both Mrs. Weber’s and Ms. Walsh’s class at Lake Parsippany School showed their love for others by making blankets to donate to the cardiac intensive care unit at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), on Friday, February 12.
The students worked together to join pieces of fleece by tying knots in order to create the blankets.
Fourteen blankets of various sizes were completed. The students also made cards that will be distributed to the patients at CHOP.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is the nation’s first hospital devoted exclusively to the care of children.
Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty To Theft
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that Frank LaRocca, 40, pled guilty to an Accusation charging him with one count of second degree Theft by Unlawful Taking in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-3(a).
Defendant was a bookkeeper who was hired by the victim to pay his bills and manage his bank account. In pleading guilty, the defendant admitted to unlawfully taking funds belonging to the victim, in the amount of $170,805.61. During his plea, the defendant admitted that he unlawfully took funds from the victim’s account to pay for his own personal expenses knowing that he was not authorized to do so.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to sign a consent judgement and pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $170,805.61. The State will recommend that the defendant be sentenced to a three year prison term.
Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Francine S. Ehrenberg represented the State in this matter.
The Honorable James M. DeMarzo, J.S.C., presided over the plea. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced May 13, 2016.
The defendant’s wife, Jennifer LaRocca, 40, Hackettstown, pled guilty on February 10, 2016 to one count of third degree Theft in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-3(a).
Under the terms of Mrs. LaRocca’s plea agreement, she signed a consent judgement and will pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $170,805.61, for which both defendants are jointly and individually responsible.
Mrs. LaRocca is scheduled to be sentenced on April 1, 2016.
Prosecutor Knapp thanks the Financial Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office who assisted in the investigation and the resolution of this matter.
Judge Edward V. Gannon dies after fall
BOONTON — Judge Edward V. Gannon died Tuesday evening at Morristown Medical Center after suffering a head injury from a fall last week outside a deli in Boonton, the Daily Record is reporting. He was life support at Morristown Medical Center.
Gannon, 63, was appointed to the Morris-Sussex Vicinage in 1991 and has handled civil, criminal and family division matters during his tenure on the bench.
James Gannon, the judge’s younger brother is a current candidate for Morris County sheriff.
It was reported that Judge Gannon was on a set of steps outside a delicatessen in Boonton on Friday and fell backward on a step, striking his head.
The judge was on a ventilator at Morristown Medical Center since Friday and was removed from all life support Tuesday, and died.
Judge Gannon has two sons, Rory and Mike.
“The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders offer their deepest sympathy to the family of Superior Court Judge Edward V. Gannon, who regrettably passed away, at age 63, on Tuesday.
Judge Gannon served with honor and distinction on the bench in Morris, Sussex and Passaic counties over three decades, handling criminal, civil, and family cases. He took a strong interest in juvenile matters, particularly in trying to prevent troubled youths from moving to lives of crime.
Judge Gannon, who grew up in Boonton Township, had long-standing personal and professional ties to Morris County, where he served as municipal prosecutor in Chester and Parsippany before being appointed to the state Superior Court, serving initially on the bench in Morristown.
The freeholders deeply regret the passing of Judge Gannon and offer condolences to his family.’’
Funeral arrangement will be handled by the Codey-Mackey Funeral Home in Boonton.
Panel Approves Property Tax Relief Bill Sponsored by Jay Webber
PARSIPPANY — Legislation sponsored by Assembly Republican Jay Webber to provide direct relief to property taxpayers cleared the State and Local Government Committee today. Webber’s bill (A-302) increases money to municipalities from the energy tax receipts program, and requires towns to subtract the additional aid from its adjusted tax levy to benefit property taxpayers.
“It’s time to use the energy tax receipts to provide its intended relief for property taxpayers,” said Webber, R – Morris, Essex and Passaic. “The money was a promise of relief for property taxpayers, and using it for anything else is unacceptable. Restoring funding can keep that promise and begin lowering property tax bills.”
The bill increases the distribution from the energy tax receipts aid. Phased in over a five-year period, the increase restores approximately $331 million in reductions to consolidated municipal property tax relief aid and energy tax receipts.
A-302 IMPLEMENTATION
Year 1: $67,425,727 -(20%)
Year 2: $134,851,453 -(40%)
Year 3: $202,277,180 -(60%)
Year 4: $269,702,906 -(80%)
Year 5: $337,128,633 -(100%)
Data specific for Parsippany-Troy Hills in Legislative District 26:
| FY17 +20% | FY18 +40% | FY19 +60% | FY20 +80% | FY21 +100% |
| $270,981 | $541,781 | $812,672 | $1,083,562 | $1,354,453 |
Assemblyman Webber’s extended comments about the bill, appearing in a weekend opinion piece, are here:
Here is a simple principle: something named a “Property Tax Relief Fund” should do what it says and actually bring relief to property taxpayers. Too often, however, funds collected by our state government for “property tax relief” really just fuel more spending at the local level and bring no real relief for beleaguered taxpayers.
We have seen this with the New Jersey Income Tax, where billions of dollars annually are put into the “Property Tax Relief Fund” and then transferred to local governments, where the money is spent rather than sent to property owners for tax relief. The cruel result of that chicanery is that New Jerseyans are left with both high income and high property taxes.
Another example is the state government’s Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund, which contains the collected fees paid by utilities for usage of public right-of-ways for sewer, water, gas, and electricity lines. As its label suggests, that fund is supposed to provide property tax relief to our residents. But it doesn’t. Instead, for years state government has diverted those energy receipts into its general fund to spend at the state level.
Many municipal officials object to that practice, claiming that those energy receipts should go to their local budgets, ostensibly to reduce the local property tax burden. But that’s not what will happen. If the money is given to municipalities without restriction, the vast majority of it will just be spent, like so much of the income tax dollars that go back to school boards, and property taxpayers will be left out in the cold again.
Local elected officials face many challenges, and no one should minimize the difficulty of their jobs or the significance of their efforts to balance their budgets. It’s understandable that public officials on the local level would be tempted to seek state subsidies to ease their budgetary pressures. But the “it’s-our-money” mindset is wrong and is one of the reasons New Jersey has the nation’s highest property taxes.
There is a better approach. Scheduled for consideration in Trenton next week is a bipartisan bill that I sponsor that would send the energy receipts back to municipalities, but with a crucial mandate: the funds must go to a direct reduction in property taxes. This initiative dictates direct relief for taxpayers, and gives local officials no option to spend the money. It puts taxpayers first, where they belong.
The bill would mean a real cut in the state’s property taxes, not a reduction in their growth. It would provide more than $325 million annually in direct property tax relief from just this one fund — $2.6 million in annual tax relief for Freehold taxpayers; $1.35 million in annual tax relief for Parsippany residents, and $2.3 million annual tax relief for Bridgewater residents, to cite just a few examples.
Sending money directly back to taxpayers (or, better, letting them keep more of it in the first place) is the path to real property tax relief. Sending money from the state to a lower level of government and hoping property taxes decline is not working — and never has. If there is one thing we have learned, it is that when government gets its hands on our money — at any level — it spends it.
Of course, this energy-receipts initiative alone is not a magic-bullet fix for the property tax crisis, and we should not be satisfied with stopping at this one proposal. Nevertheless, this new policy is the first of its kind to dictate that state aid to municipalities translate directly to tax relief for property taxpayers. Also, importantly, the initiative demands a mindset change among public officials who chronically spend taxpayer money and call it “property tax relief.” And with that, the bill holds the hope of even more substantial property tax relief going forward.
For more than a decade, New Jerseyans rightly have cited crushing property taxes as their number one concern. Let’s take the opportunity to lower property taxes now, before even more of our families and neighbors read this sort of opinion piece online from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Florida.
Letter to the editor: Washington’s Birthday Not Presidents Day
Dear Editor:
How many can remember when attending school two holidays; Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays? This changing of our first Presidents birthday to Presidents day is a form of tampering with past for private concerns; let me explain. The idea of a holiday is to have an extra day to spend with family or one’s own liberty with time. Washington’s day of birth February 11, 1731 this time period had the Julian calendar in effect. In 1752 the Georgian Calendar replaced the Julian thereby changing Washington’s birth to February 22, 1732. Skipping the exact reason here of why the inaccuracy of days occurred between the two measures of year or our accurate days in complete rotation around the sun then about 10-days, we still have Washington’s Birth; however because of the Ninetieth Congress in 1968; determined to create a uniform system of federal Monday holidays, Congress voted to shift three existing holidays to Mondays and expanded the number further by creating one new Monday holiday.
Washington’s Birthday was uprooted from its fixed February 22 date and transplanted to the third Monday in February, followed by Memorial Day being relocated from the last day in May to the last Monday in May. One newly created holiday—Columbus Day—was positioned on the second Monday in October, as Veterans Day—ousted from its November 11 foxhole—was reassigned to the fourth Monday in October (although rebellion by veterans’ organizations and state governments forced the 1980 return of Veterans Day to its historic Armistice date of November 11). That Washington’s birth date—February 22—would never fall on the third Monday in February was considered of minimum importance. After all, who could ever forget all that George Washington meant to this country?
In fact, Nixon issued an executive order on February 11, 1971, proclaiming the third Monday of February a holiday. That order, however, referred to the holiday as nothing other than Washington’s Birthday. Claims that Nixon had changed the holiday to the more generic Presidents Day apparently stemmed from an inaccurate newspaper account.
Nonetheless, in the final decades of the 20th century, an increasing number of people embraced the term “Presidents Day.” Some states have even adopted Presidents Day as a state holiday in lieu of Washington’s Birthday. Still, the federal holiday on the third Monday of February legally remains “Washington’s Birthday” to this day.
In conclusion, we have the father our country being thrown into a batch of other men called presidents because of the office held. One other seeming observation is one of the Monday Holidays added to the calendar Columbus Day, calls this man by name, and alleges his discovery of the new world, despite the fact that people were here already. Columbus himself never in his five voyages set foot in North or South America, and spelt the beginning of the genocide of native peoples and the theft of their lands or habitats.
So a foreigner Columbus in name is proclaimed above that of our first President, Commander and Chief of the American Continental Army, the very “iron core of the republic”. Columbus day should then be Native American Day.
The underlying reason for this is a private not only newspaper media hype taken hold, but the idea of a consumers holiday of shopping; so we go from Washington birthdays sales to the sensational Presidents day sales; indoctrinating us into a transition from citizen to consumer and misleading us into our own history as somehow the office of president is no different in time and space from Washington time, as democracy itself without considering of actual changes marches on in some order and exceptional way, after all it takes is to be American.
New Jersey Being one of the first colonies and the third State to ratify the Federal Constitution should go back to calling it, Washington’s Birthday, not Presidents day. It is a fact Washington spent most of the War Years 1775-1783 right here in New Jersey. The Holiday is Federal Not State and thereby must not be altered by private economic motives, a mere shopping sale day. No State of the Union formed in 1789 or any after should have the prerogative to change the name of this Day, be it the change to the third Monday be sufficient.
Lincolns Birth February 12 was a State Holiday, many states of the old south did not recognize it, and were allowed to do so, because of the subversion of the 13th & 14th Amendments and the establishment of Jim Crow in the old confederacy. During my grammar school days, we did recognize both men on their day. Being 10-11 years old in 1961 we were made to “celebrate” be somewhat educated and made aware of 100 years since the civil war, plays, songs, hats both Yankee and rebel, civil war cards, battles but little of slavery; even less were we taught about Washington and the dynamic of his rise to power and his problems with human nature at the time; or how American Indians played such a large part in our Nations beginnings.
In the final decades of the 20th century, an increasing number of people embraced the term “Presidents Day.” Some states have even adopted Presidents Day as a state holiday in lieu of Washington’s Birthday. Still, the federal holiday on the third Monday of February legally remains “Washington’s Birthday” to this day. In our age of the demise of good government through vested interest, like SuperPacs and elected officials who work to degrade rather enforce civil and common concerns, we need Washington’s Birthday to be restored as such, as he still is for his time and position of birth a great example of a leader, always giving not taking, risking his life and returning the power of the Army to civilian control. It is we who have failed him and our nation for selfish reasons. In the year 2016 the American experiment in my opinion is a failure, as private economic concerns have replaced our quest for good government in the establishment of a democracy; of which we are not. The Great man himself experienced the short-coming of human nature, we fail to honesty examine ourselves, what are we really all about? Don’t believe anyone really knows anymore as our souls, and spirits have been contaminated by corporate power and the influence of money, which is not the value of life itself.
When one President is not unlike any other we only prolong our own problems and fail to see into ourselves, progress without evolution has allowed people to serve technology rather than technology serving the people. 2016 looks like Washington made a big mistake; he however is none the less for it as his example can still inspire those who wish to call themselves American. Ideas of Liberty and actual needs shall not be replaced with motives of overly exceeding profits
Nick Homyak
Lake Hiawatha
Parsippany Food Pantry needs your help
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Food Pantry needs your help. They are seeking non-perishable food items. Donations from caring individuals help our most needy residents and families here in Parsippany. Individuals and groups such as schools, church groups, clubs, and scouts are welcome to donate. The most needed items are:
Canned goods: fruit, fruit juices, evaporated milk, vegetables, meat, sardines, tuna, salmon, chicken, turkey, soups & stews.
Dry goods: beans, cereal, pasta, rice, dried potatoes Miscellaneous items: peanut butter, jelly, prepared tomato sauce, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, powdered milk, juice boxes and condiments such as salad dressing, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and spice.
Household items are also appreciated such as: toilet tissue, laundry detergent, bath soap etc.
Supermarket gift cards are also readily accepted.
The Parsippany Emergency Food Pantry is located at the Parsippany Community Center, 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha. The Food Pantry is open Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information, please call (973) 263-7163.
Sgt. Allan Griffin honored for the contributions to the community
PARSIPPANY — The College of Saint Elizabeth Police Studies Institute held its Second Annual Black History Month Awards Celebration on campus. Undersheriff William Schievella was proud to honor five outstanding law enforcement officers for their outstanding contributions to our profession. Chief Norma Hardy, Port Authority NY/NJ Police Department; Supv CBP Officer Eboni Phillips, US Customs & Border Protection; Sgt. Allan Griffin, Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department; Detective Greg Brooks, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and Police Officer Jamal Poyner, Millburn Police Department.
Yvonne Ballard of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives was presented with Excellence in Justice Awards from the College.