Friends, relatives and dignitaries attended a Sunday brunch at Parsippany Hilton, honoring Michael dePierro.

Assemblywoman BettyLou deCroce (representing the 26th District) read through a long list of accomplishments of Mike to the attendees.  deCroce said to the crowd “I have to read from the list because it is so long, I would need three people with me to help me memorize the list.” The list detailed Mike’s history in Parsippany:

Mike moved to Parsippany in February, 1965 when he began his career with Bell Telephone Laboratories. He eventually transferred to New Jersey Bell Telephone Company, which later became Bell Atlantic and then Verizon. Mike was named “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” in 1979. This award is presented to one person per year out of 50,000 active and retired employees. Mike retired from the “Bell System” as a Systems Manager after 30 years of service. He then worked for the State of New Jersey as Manager of Telecommunications Billing in Trenton, retiring in 2001. Mike has an Electrical Engineering Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Mike and his wife Dee recently celebrated their 52nd Wedding Anniversary. They have three children and ten grandchildren. Since 1965, Mike has been dedicated to improving the quality of life in New Jersey by getting involved. As his three children moved through the school district, he was involved in PTA’s, Booster Associations, Soccer and Little leagues in support of youth activities. Mike also served as Committee Chairman of Boy Scout Troop 215 at Rockaway Meadow School.

Mike was elected to the Parsippany Board of Education for two three-year terms (1975-81). He chaired the Policy and Management Study Committees. He also served as Director and Vice-President of the Morris County School Boards Association.

Mike was elected to the Parsippany Township Council for four 4-year terms (1982-97). He returned to the Township Council in August, 2000 and is now completing his eighth 4-year term. He served as President and Vice President of the Township Council at various times during those 30 years. He has been a member of the Township Planning Board, Open Space Committee, and the Knoll County Club Advisory Committee and many others. He served as President of the Morris County League of Municipalities (1990-91) and as a Director (1985-97).

Mike is the only Parsippany official to be inducted into the New Jersey State League of Municipalities “Elected Officials Hall of Fame”.

Mike was the co-founder and first president of the Township Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council (1977-96). He is a Charter Member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mike is a two-time past president of the Parsippany Rotary Club and has been a member since 1974.  He was a charter member and Director of Parsippany UNICO (1978-93) and served as chairman of the scholarship committee.

Mike produced a weekly cable television show called “Parsippany Spot Light”. The objective of this CATV show was to highlight the positive and upbeat happenings in Parsippany like the Craftsman Farms Historical Landmark and the Mount Tabor Historical Area.

Mike supported the United States Olympic Committee by serving as a New Jersey State Committee Member (1980-92). As chairman of club services, Mike coordinated efforts to raise funds through service clubs such as Rotary and Kiwanis. He also supported the United Way of Morris County by serving as Parsippany fundraising coordinator (1981-87).

Mike is a Veteran from the Vietnam Era. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10184. He is also a life member of the American Legion, Post 249. He participates in “Americanism” activities and scholarship awards in those organizations.

Mike is also affiliated with several professional organizations. He is a member of the National Notary Association, the Association of Government Accountants (AGA), the Fairleigh Dickenson Alumni Association, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and Phi Beta Gamma (a National Executive Honor Society). Mike has been listed in Who’s Who in New Jersey and numerous listings in Who’s Who in Technology. He has received numerous awards and honors over the years.

dePierro will be named “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” by the Rotary Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills at the Knoll Country Club West on Saturday, March 16.

The Morris School District Community School program, Great Horizons has openings available for seats in the upcoming class, Speed Reading. Double your reading speed in just one class and improve your reading comprehension using the “Farrow” method. Beginning with an exercise to control your focus level, you will be amazed at how, with just a little training, your eyes can drift faster over the words with no loss of understanding.

The presentation will take place at the Morris Plains Community Center on Wednesday, March 30, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The course is open to the general public.

Online registration information is available at www.msdcommunityschool.org. For more information call the Community School at (973) 292-2063.

The Morris School District Community School program, Great Horizons has openings available for seats in the upcoming class, Chocolate Challenge. Make sweet treats for Passover, Easter, or just for the fun of it! Join cookbook author and web TV series host, Rosie Battista, as she demonstrates how to make sweet treats without refined sugar to increase your pleasure and not your waist!

The presentation will take place at the Morris Plains Community Center on Thursday, March 21, from 10:00a a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The course is open to the general public. Online registration information is available at www.msdcommunityschool.org. The cost is $28.00. For more information call the Community School at (973) 292-2063.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio officially kicks off his re-election campaign at the Parsippany Sheraton Hotel Thursday evening.

Former Mayor Joseph Weisberg opened the ceremonies with endorsements from 26th District state Senator Joseph Pennaccchio, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce and Assemblyman Jay Webber.

A crowd of Parsippany township employees, supporters and dignitaries lend their support as Barberio announced a campaign ticket which includes, Council Vice President Vincent Ferrara and Milin Shah.

“Our campaign theme is all about moving Parsippany forward,” said Barberio.

The three will face the opposing team, Parsippany’s Future, during the June 4 primary election. Parsippany’s Future team includes Mayoral candidate Paul Carifi, Jr., and Council candidates Robert Peluso and Lou Valori.

Milin Shah, who ran as democrat in the 2007 council race, against Barberio, said “his move from the Democratic to the Republican party, where he said his values align, and how he has been a Barberio supporter since 2009.”

Ferrara earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Language Studies and a Master’s Degree in Education from Seton Hall University. He taught Italian at Seton Hall Preparatory School and later began his professional career in the hospitality industry, owning and managing full-service restaurants. Vincent currently works in sales and marketing.

Ferrara lives in Parsippany with his wife, Ann Marie and two children. They are members of St. Peter the Apostle Church. A former Planning Board member, Vincent volunteers as a coach for the Parsippany Soccer Club, is a proud member of the Sons of Italy and serves on the Republican Municipal Committee. He is also a member of the Parsippany Republican Club and Rockaway Meadow PTA, and volunteers his time to many Parsippany-based organizations and fundraisers.

Shah, 25, stated on a Facebook post, “I’ve grown and matured quite a bit since my last campaign in 2007 for Council. Currently, I am pursuing my Juris Doctorate as a night student at Seton Hall University’s School of Law, where I have maintained a top-10 class rank.”

His campaign is about bringing a fresh perspective to the Township Council. He wants to be a voice for all the Parsippany residents. As an outsider, I have the opportunity to challenge the status quo. I can stand up and say, “The way it’s always been done is not good enough anymore.”

If elected, his immediate priorities will be to 1) increase revenues for the Township, 2) cut unnecessary costs and expenses, 3) be accessible and available to listen to feedback from as many members of our community as possible, 4) generate small business growth in the Township, and 5) always put Parsippany and the residents first.

Professionally, he works in Manhattan for Earthbound LLC – a leading direct-to-retail and intellectual property licensing company. He heads Earthbound’s licensing division and leverage his client’s intellectual property rights to generate new streams of revenue.

Barberio’s seat for Mayor is up for election, and Council Members Ferrara and Jonathan Nelson are also up for election in the November General Election. Nelson, a democrat, was elected this past November to fill the seat vacated by John Cesaro, now a Morris County Freeholder. Ferrara was appointed, in January 2011, to fill the seat vacated by Ann Grossi, also now a Morris County Freeholder, and then he was elected in November 2011 to permanently fill the unexpired term.

The primary will be held on June 4. Filing deadline for candidates is 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 1.

Every year, 11th Hour Rescue spays and neuters over 2,000 cats and dogs.

Please join for a fun-filled family night out to spread awareness and raise funds to prevent pet overpopulation at our spray-ghetti dinner on Saturday, March 23.  Pre-sale $15.00 adults, $10.00 children.

First seating 4:30 to 6:30, Second seating 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Each ticket includes salad, bread, spaghetti and meatballs and non alcoholic beverage. Additional meatballs and non alcoholic beverages as well as bake sale items.

This event will be held at Boonton Elks Lodge, 125 Cornelia Street, Boonton, Win a cruise, 50/50, bake sale and tricky tray.

For additional information please call Amanda at (973) 664-0865 or email [email protected].

The Friends of the Parsippany Library will hold a Bag of Books sale at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library, 449 Halsey Road, on Friday, March 1 until Sunday, March 31.

The hours will be the same as the library’s hours of operation.

Price for each bag of books purchased is $2.00. Plastic bags will be provided.

Featuring ALIF LAILA (Sitar) with Suryaksha Deshpande (disciple of Pt Arvind Mulgaonkar) on Tabla
Concert will begin with students short performance by Ken Einhorn (Sitar) and Tabla ensemble group on Saturday, February 16 starting at 4:00 p.m. at Sanatan Mandir, 16 Jean Terrace.

The concert is free however donations appreciated. To RSVP email [email protected] or call (862) 222-0105 or visit www.taalsadhana.com.

 “Keeping Parsippany clean and educating the public on pedestrian safety is the easy part.  It’s not so easy to get the call when a pedestrian has been struck by a motorist and is severely or fatally injured,” stated Mayor Barberio.    Approximately four years ago, at a request of former Parsippany Mayor Michael Luther, the New Jersey Department of Transportation erected a fence, on the island between the East and West bound lanes of Route 46, beginning approximately at the Parsippany Shop Rite Plaza and extending to the Dunkin Donuts, following several motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians, including one fatality.

Most recently, the Route 46 fence has generated some discussion regarding its poor condition in some areas and the litter and debris trapped by the fence.  Mayor Barberio contacted Sheriff Ed Rochford to request that the unsightly island be cleaned up by the Sherriff Labor Assistance Program (SLAP) workers.

Sheriff Rochford agreed to schedule SLAP workers to clean up the area in the near future.  Mayor Barberio will also be requesting that the NJDOT repair the fence and implement a plan to better manage the debris in the area.