PARSIPPANY — Multiple Officers responded to the Bank of America, 1072 Route 46 at North Beverwyck Road, for a suspicious vehicle, whose occupant may be tampering with the ATM.
Upon their arrival they found the vehicle, a 2017 Jeep Compass in the rear of the lot. After a brief investigation Emre Ozyemisci, 30, Parsippany, was placed under arrest by Patrol Officer Ryan Taylor for driving while intoxicated.
He was subsequently found to be in possession ten glassine folds of suspected heroin, two empty glassine folds, one cut straw commonly used to ingest CDS, one small plastic baggie with a crushed pill believed to be heart medication, and 7.5 pills of suspected suboxone.
Ozyemisci was transported to police headquarters for processing at which time he was charged with one count of Third Degree Possession of CDS (Heroin); one count of Third Degree Possession of CDS (Suboxone); one count of Third Degree Tampering; Failure to give CDS to Police, a Disorderly Persons Offense; Being under the Influence of CDS without a Prescription, a Disorderly Persons Offense; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and
Driving While Intoxicated.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Officers responded to a residence on Hawkins Avenue for a reported burglary. The victim advised that he returned home and found jewelry and cash missing from his residence totaling approximately $1250.00. He believed the burglary occurred between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 30.
This incident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Parsippany Police Department’s Investigative Division at (973) 263-4311.
PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany will be hosting a “Comedy Night” Fundraiser on Friday, December 8.
Jackie Byrne, will be hosting the event featuring Don Michaloski and Stephanie Holmes. The feature headliner is KC Arora. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and show starts at 8:00 p.m.
KC Arora is a New York-based comedian that should definitely be on your radar. His biting observational humor and sarcastic charm will have you doubled over with laughter. When KC isn’t performing across the U.S., you can find him hanging out in comedy clubs around New York City or Twitter (@KCGotIdeas).
KC made his first national, non-court related TV appearance on Laughs on FOX in 2015, and has been on the rise ever since. After making almost a dozen appearances on Laughs on Fox, he was seen on SeeSo’s New York’s Funniest. TruTV’s Late Night Snack and was a semi-finalist in NBC’s Standup for Diversity. KC made it to the final four of Caroline’s March Madness competition.
The cost of the tickets are $25.00 and are available through any Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany member or through Eventbrite by clicking here.
The event will be held at Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, 100 Centerton Road. Mature Audience only. BYOB. Tickets are limited so make your reservations now.
PARSIPPANY — The Morris County Freeholders presented Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals to nine veterans from across the county, honoring these men during Veterans’ Day week for their service to our country and their communities during and after their days in the military.
Veteran Andrew Lachawiec of Morristown and Freeholders Kathy DeFillippo, Tom Mastrangelo, John Cesaro and Christine Myers.
Honored at a special ceremony held during the county governing board meeting in Morristown were: James L. Festa, U.S. Navy, Parsippany; Pastor David G. Boone, U.S. Army, Parsippany; Andrew Lachawiec, U.S. Army, Morristown; Yucel Yilmaz, U.S. Army, Butler; Loretta T. Falconer, U.S. Army, Mt. Olive; Kenneth L. Diehl, U.S. Army, Dover; Joseph M. Takacs, U.S. Army, Washington Twp.; Joseph Bonanno, U.S. Air Force, Montville; and Morris County Veterans’ Services Officer, Kenneth Brenzel, U.S. Navy.
“We recognize that all veterans have given something of themselves to this nation, and some have given everything, laying down their lives to defend the freedoms we hold so dear,’’ said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “To all of our veterans, especially to you who are here this evening, we have a simple and heartfelt message: Thank you, all of you, for your service.’’
Also attending the veterans’ event were state Sen. and former Gov. Richard Codey, state Sens. Anthony R. Bucco and Joe Pennacchio, state Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco., and Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon.
Each of the ten veterans at the event received the Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medal from the board of freeholders. The unique medal was designed by a special committee of county veterans, with some variations in medals and ribbons for various conflicts and military eras.
The following is a snapshot of the military service of each recipient:
Pastor David G. Boone, Parsippany: Served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1993. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia, and served in the Gulf War, which included Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
He received the Kuwait Liberation Medal, Saudi Arabia Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southeast Asia Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and a Meritorious Service Medal for service to the Special Operations Command.
He served for 21 years with the Fair Lawn Police Dept., is Commander of VFW Post 281 in Fair Lawn, and has been a pastor for 33 years.
James L. Festa, Parsippany: Served in the U.S. Navy during the Cold War from 1956-60. He was stationed as an electrician on the USS Ranger CVA-61, based in California, and traveled extensively around the world.
He was on board in 1958 during the intense struggle between mainland China and Taiwan, and was part of the crew that assisted Taiwanese refugees with food, medicine, clothing, and other items. He is a member of the Taiwan Veterans Badge of Honor Association, or the 823 Badge of Honor Association USA.
He comes from a military family: His father, Louis Festa was a Merchant Marine in World War II; his step-daughter, Morris County Sheriff’s Officer Rosemary Brown, recently served in the U.S. Army in Iraq; and her husband, Jeremy Brown, also served in Iraq but did not make it home.
Andrew Lachawiec, Morristown: Joined the Army in July 2008, and served as an intelligence specialist. He served in Haiti on a humanitarian deployment after a catastrophic earthquake struck in 2010.
He subsequently deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011. He attained the rank of Sergeant (E-5) during his service and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 awards), the NATO Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars.
Yucel Yilmaz, Butler: Born and raised in Trabzon Turkey, he emigrated to the U.S. in 1999. He is a service-connected disabled Veteran who served as a combat engineer in the U.S. Army during the Operation Enduring Freedom period, from January 2008 to May 2009, when he was honorably discharged.
He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon
Loretta T. Falconer, Mount Olive: Enlisted in the N.J. Army National Guard at age 18. During 30 years in the military, she served in many capacities: Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Driver, Howitzer Gunner, Ammunition Section Chief, among others.
In 2004, she received Military Police training for deployment to Germany, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Her second deployment was to Baghdad in 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as NCO for the Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection in the International Zone.
Awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation, Achievement, Good Conduct, and Reserve Components Achievement Medals; Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star, Overseas Service Ribbons, and the Honorable Order of St. Barbara, to name a few.
Joseph M. Takacs, Washington Township: Served in the U.S. Army from June 1970 to January 1972 and in the Army National Guard from 1988-2003. He deployed to Vietnam in 1970-72, serving as an engineer in the Central Highlands with the 815th Engineering Construction Battalion.
He was a carpenter and masonry specialist, and also an M60A3 Gunner and an M-1 Abrams Gunner. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device, and the Good Conduct Medal.
Joseph Bonanno, Montville: Grew up in Belleville during the Great Depression with his parents, Rose and Frank. He joined the Air Force Reserves in the late 1940s, and when the Korean War began in 1950, his unit activated.
He served as a radar technician and electronics engineer, stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, until 1952 when he was honorably discharged. He soon started his own business, Air Spec, and has been an industrial developer for more than 50 years.
He is past commander, current treasurer and scholarship committee chair for the Columbian Foundation.
Kenneth Brenzel, Hardyston Township: Served in the U.S. Navy from 1979-1984 as machinist mate 2nd class, operating and maintaining all non-nuclear mechanical systems aboard a sturgeon-class, nuclear-powered attack submarine, the USS Whale. He received his submarine qualification insignia –the Silver Dolphins – in 1981.
In his post-military career, he was a police officer in Haworth, Bergen County, and then in Hardyston Township, Sussex County. He began working for Morris County in 2014 as a Fraud Investigator in the Office of Temporary Assistance, and transferred to the Office of Veterans Services in 2016.
Since becoming the Morris County Veterans’ Service Officer last year, he already has assisted more than 1,200 Veterans to obtain VA benefits, among numerous other duties.
MORRIS COUNTY — In honor of Veterans Day, several years ago Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp began the annual tradition of recognizing U.S. Military Veterans who serve in the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutor Knapp and his command staff again celebrated Veterans Day with members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office who served in the United States Armed Forces before pursuing a career with the Prosecutor’s Office. Currently, there are (11) members who are U.S. Veterans. The following list identifies each member, and the respective military branch in which they served:
Chief of Staff Daniel Pfeiffer
U.S. Army
Captain Robert McNally
U.S. Marines
Lieutenant Harrison Dillard
U.S. Army
Detective Supervisor Michael Gomez
U.S. Army
Detective Jimmy Atoche
U.S. Army
Detective Joseph Ellis
U.S. Army
Detective Muhammad Thomas
U.S. Marines
Assistant Prosecutor Julian Hill
U.S. Army
Assistant Prosecutor Robert Preziosi
U.S. Army
Director Al Imperiale
U.S. Army
Agent John Jespersen
U.S. Marines
Appointed to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 2017, Detective Joseph Ellis and Detective Muhammad Thomas were also recognized as being the newest members to be added to the Veteran’s Honor Roll. The following information reflects their service accomplishments.
Detective Joseph Ellis
July 2008 – December 2008
Basic Training and Military Police Training
Fort Lenardwood, Missouri
December 2008 – February 2010
Reassigned to 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, NY. Served as a Patrol Officer and Crew
Serve Gunner February 2010 – March 2011
Deployed 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division.
Afghanistan. Served as a Gunner/ Driver
March 2011- May 2012
Redeployed to 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Fort Drum, NY
Served as a Patrol Officer and Crew Serve Gunner
May 2012- July 2013
Deployed to 719th Military Intelligence Battalion
Camp Humphreys, South Korea. Security Officer
Awards Received
Combat Action Badge
Drivers Badge
Four Army Commendation Medals
One Army Achievement Medal
NJ Distinguished Service Award
Detective Muhammad Thomas
January 1999 – April 1999
Marine Corps Recruit Training Battalion
Paris Island, South Carolina
May 1999 – June 1999
Marine Corps School of Infantry
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
June 1999 – June 2001
Third Battalion, First Marine Division.
Assigned to 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
October 2000 USS Cole Bombing Advance Security
June 2001 – January 2002
First Battalion, First Marine Division
Assigned to the 15 Marine Expeditionary Unit
Combat Missions in Afghanistan / Northern Pakistan
January 2002 – August 2003
Third Battalion, First Marine Division
October 2002
Operation Eager Mace Falylaka Island Attack
January 2003 – August 2003
Combat Operations in Iraq
Battle of Nasiriyah
“The members of the Prosecutor’s Office who selflessly sacrificed for our Nation by serving in our armed forces have fortunately selected a career path serving the citizens of Morris County. It gives me great honor to recognize each of them for their past and current service to our citizens”, said Prosecutor Knapp.
PARSIPPANY — An internal medicine doctor practicing in Staten Island, New York, was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for taking bribes in connection with a long-running and elaborate test referral scheme operated by Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services LLC (BLS), of Parsippany, its president and numerous associates, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Ahmed El Soury, 45, of Monmouth Junction, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to Count One of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Federal Travel Act, and the honest services wire fraud statute. Judge Chesler imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
El Soury admitted accepting cash bribes in return for referring patient blood specimens to BLS. From March 2011 through April 2013, El Soury received bribes totaling more than $66,000 from BLS employees and associates. El Soury’s referrals generated approximately $650,000 in lab business for BLS.
The investigation has thus far resulted in 51 convictions – 37 of them doctors – in connection with the bribery scheme, which its organizers have admitted involved millions of dollars in bribes and resulted in more than $100 million in payments to BLS from Medicare and various private insurance companies. It is believed to be the largest number of medical professionals ever prosecuted in a bribery case.
The investigation has to date recovered more than $13 million through forfeiture. On June 28, 2016, BLS, which is no longer operational, pleaded guilty and was required to forfeit all of its assets.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced El Soury to three years of supervised release and fined him $7,500.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin; IRS–Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert, with the ongoing investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph N. Minish, Danielle Alfonzo Walsman, and Jacob T. Elberg, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Health Care and Government Fraud Unit in Newark, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Ward, Acting Chief of the office’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Unit.
The New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office reorganized its health care fraud practice in 2010 and created a stand-alone Health Care and Government Fraud Unit to handle both criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud offenses. Since that time, the office has recovered more than $1.37 billion in health care fraud and government fraud settlements, judgments, fines, restitution and forfeiture under the False Claims Act, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and other statutes.
PARSIPPANY — Sunrise ShopRite, the family-owned company that operates the ShopRite of Parsippany and ShopRite of West Caldwell, announced that Dara Sblendorio, a fourth-generation grocer and executive vice president of Sunrise ShopRite, will take over as president of the business from her father, Ned Gladstein.
Ned Gladstein will remain as chief financial officer and adviser to Dara Sblendorio, who will oversee day-to-day operations and focus on creating top-notch shopping experiences at the family’s two ShopRite stores.
“I’m very excited to turn over the reins to my daughter, a next generation leader who will honor our past and move us into the future. Dara grew up in the business and is an expert in areas that are important to both her and the business, including fresh foods, health and wellness, and human resources. She is hardworking and passionate about growing the company not just for our family, but for our associates, customers, and community,” said Ned Gladstein.
Ned’s father and grandfather opened Sunrise Market in 1940 in Caldwell. The family joined the retailer-owned cooperative, Wakefern Food Corp., in 1951 and later opened their ShopRite stores. Ned Gladstein joined Sunrise ShopRite full-time in 1976 and was named president in 1982, but his connection to ShopRite began with childhood duties in the family stores.
Like her father, Dara Sblendorio also started working in her family’s ShopRite stores as a child. She recalls lunching with her grandfather at ShopRite and earning 25 cents an hour to help stock shelves in the Health and Beauty Department. She got her first part-time job working in the Pharmacy department at the ShopRite of West Caldwell when she was in high school.
“I learned a lot in that first job about helping and talking to people and servicing our customers,” said Sblendorio. “I’m honored now to have the opportunity to lead the business as president of the company. It’s an exciting time for the grocery industry and I believe our family’s 77-year commitment to North Jersey communities positions us well for the future.”
Sblendorio has worked alongside her father for more than a decade, spending time in the Human Resources, Produce and Perishables departments of the company. She also worked in conjunction with the company vice president of operations to oversee store operations, budgeting and merchandising, and more recently she’s tackled marketing and advertising for the company.
At Wakefern Food Corp., where Sunrise ShopRite is a member, Sblendorio also serves as chair of the Produce and Floral Division and vice chair of the Human Resources Division.
She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University; a master’s in education from Lesley University and a master’s of business administration from the Stern School of Business at New York University. She worked with developmentally disabled children before returning to her family’s company 11 years ago.
Sblendorio’s husband, Frank Sblendorio, also works with the company as manager of the ShopRite of Parsippany.
“It really is a family operation,” she added. “And we plan to focus over the next several years on building our strong work culture and bringing our family of associates together as a team to deliver the best possible shopping experiences at our stores.
Sblendorio lives in the Caldwells with her husband and four children.
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative based in Keasbey, and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States. With more than 270 ShopRite supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves more than six million customers each week. Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite is dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves. Since the program began in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $43 million to food banks that support more than 2,100 worthy charities. As a title sponsor of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, ShopRite has donated $30 million to local organizations, hospitals and community groups. For more information click here.
Ned Gladstein, Dara Sblendorio and Frank Sblendorio
PARSIPPANY — New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced the I-287 northbound ramp to I-80 eastbound will be closed and detoured Saturday night for resurfacing in Parsippany-Troy Hills.
Beginning at 10:00 p.m., Saturday, November 11 until 7:00 a.m. Sunday, November 12, NJDOT’s Contractor, Della Pello, is scheduled to close the I‑287 northbound ramp to I-80 eastbound for milling and paving. The ramp to Route 46 eastbound will remain open.
The following detour will be in place:
I-287 northbound ramp to I-80 eastbound detour:
Motorists will be directed to take Exit 41B to I-80 westbound
Take I-80 westbound to Exit 42A, Route 202/Morris Plains to I-80 east
Variable message signs are being utilized throughout the project limits to provide advance notification to motorists of all traffic pattern changes associated with the interchange improvement project. Throughout the project, NJDOT will provide information before any upcoming road or ramp closures.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.
PARSIPPANY — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, announced a record number of the nation’s major companies and law firms are advancing vital policies and practices to protect LGBTQ workers around the world, according to the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), an annual report assessing LGBTQ inclusion in major companies and law firms across the nation, including five located in Parsippany.
This year, a record-breaking 609 businesses earned the CEI’s top score of 100, up from 517 last year — a single-year increase of 18 percent. This record sets a new high water mark for corporate leadership over the 15-year history of the CEI.
In total, 947 companies and law firms were officially rated in the new CEI, up from 887 in last year’s. The report also unofficially rated 137 Fortune 500 companies, which have yet to respond to an invitation to participate in the CEI survey assessing their LGBTQ policies and practices. The average score for companies and law firms based in New Jersey is 87 percent. Of the 40 companies ranked, 23 earned 100 points, three earned 90 points and above, and four earned 80 points and above.
“At a time when the rights of LGBTQ people are under attack by the Trump-Pence Administration and state legislatures across the country, hundreds of top American companies are driving progress toward equality in the workplace,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The top-scoring companies on this year’s CEI are not only establishing policies that affirm and include employees here in the United States, they are applying these policies to their operations around the globe and impacting millions of people beyond our shores. In addition, many of these companies have also become vocal advocates for equality in the public square, including the dozens that have signed on to amicus briefs in vital Supreme Court cases and the 106 corporate supporters of the Equality Act. We are proud to have developed so many strong partnerships with corporate allies who see LGBTQ equality as a crucial issue for our country and for their businesses.”
PARSIPPANY — Hi there! My name is Maggie. I am a ten-year-old female Pomeranian and as sweet as can be! I love being the center of attention and receiving lots of pats. I do well with other dogs, cats, and kids above the age of six.
I am laid back and have a calm disposition. As you can see, I am a petite girl which makes me the perfect lap dog. Nothing makes me happier than a spot reserved for me right on my foster mom’s lap.
I am house broken and wee-wee pad trained. WIll you be my forever home?
If you are interested in adopting Maggie, please fill out an application on our website by clicking here.
Wise Animal Rescue (W.A.R.) goal is to find the perfect family dynamic and place our dogs in a loving, safe and permanent home. All of our dogs available for adoption are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on shots and microchipped.
Our adoption process starts with filling an application, home visit, meet and greet and then finalizing with an adoption contract and fee.
Adoption fees range from about $200-$500. These fees help defray costs of veterinary and foster care and are tax deductible.
PARSIPPANY — A tip received by Clifton police led to the arrests of eight people and the seizure of 66 pounds of cocaine – worth $1.5 million – along with $872,000 cash and nine vehicles, authorities said Wednesday, November 8.
Members of the distribution ring who were charged with a host of drug and money-laundering offenses, authorities said, were:
Victor Pimentel, 42, of Parsippany:
Narcisco Ramirez, 44, of Passaic;
Kiuny A. Perez, 40, of Rockaway.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said her office would ask a judge to hold all three without bail.
Clifton police got the tip in March, which launched a joint eight-month investigation involving their department, the prosecutor’s office and the New Jersey office of the DEA, leading to the trio’s arrests on Monday, Valdes said.
Clifton police also busted five accused buyers on Wednesday, the prosecutor said:
William J. Marchioni, 48, of Clifton;
Gino A. Delcollo Sr., 46, of North Bergen;
Susan P. Stier, 48, and Jerome Driscoll, 56, both of Secaucus;
Donovan M. McCreary, 46, of West Windsor.
All five were released pending hearings, she said.
Participating police departments included Parsippany, Wanaque, Wayne, Ringwood, Totowa, Bloomingdale and Elmwood Park, along with the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
PARSIPPANY — The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany is hosting a fundraiser at Gourmet Cafe on Monday, November 27.
A portion of sales from the day including lunch and dinner, eat in and take-out, as well as gift certificates go to the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany Foundation.
Gourmet Cafe is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The restaurant is located at the corner of Route 46 and Baldwin Road, 136 Baldwin Road. To make a reservation call (973) 316-0088.
For more information on Parsippany Kiwanis click here.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Board of Education election results are as follows: There were three positions available.
Matthew DeVitto
4,701
24.35%
Timothy P. Berrios
5,544
28.71%
George L. Blair
4,761
24.66%
Andrew Choffo
4,229
21.90%
Write-In
72
0.37%
There were three positions available.
The three members with a term expiring of December 31, 2017 were Timothy P. Berrios, George L. Blair and Andrew Choffo.
As a member of the school board team, they are expected to cooperate with administrators, educators and the community in order to fulfill certain basic responsibilities:
Providing responsible citizen leadership in determining community goals for public education.
Developing a philosophy of education that will become the basis for sound educational decisions on a wide range of issues.
Developing written operation policies to serve as guidelines for action and decision making.
Developing a community understanding of educational issues and school policies through the maintenance of effective communications systems.
Providing adequate financing for the present needs and future plans of the district.
Establishing conditions of the recruitment and evaluation of an excellent professional staff.
Evaluating the educational program of the schools in order to better meet the needs of the students.
Ensuring a quality education for all students by providing adequate facilities and equipment.
Providing the student services necessary for all the pupils of the district.
Engaging in self-improvement and inservice training programs for the purpose of providing intelligent, well-informed leadership.
They should also:
Understand that the responsibility is not to administer the schools, but to work with the board to see that the schools are well run.
Understand that education today is extremely complex.
Listen to opposing views and be able to defend the board’s philosophy and goals.
Be willing to invest the many hours necessary to meet the responsibilities.
Serve out of a sincere desire to benefit the community rather than for personal glory or to carry out personal objectives.
Bear in mind that, as a state official, they have a responsibility to all the children in the state, not solely to those in the local district.
PARSIPPANY — Team Soriano campaign slogan is “Clean up Parsippany,” and the voters in Parsippany made a clean sweep and ousted Mayor James Barberio and Council President Louis Valori in Tuesday’s election.
Republican Mayor James Barberio and Council President Louis Valori and their running mate Vincent Ferrara all lost the election, and will be replaced by Mayor-elect Michael Soriano, Councilwoman-elect Emily Peterson and Councilwoman-elect Janice McCarthy.
For the first time in over thirty years Parsippany will have a Democratic Mayor and two Democratic members on the Township Council.
“This is a historic victory! Thanks especially to the voters and the dedication of our campaign staff. I know Michael, as mayor, will bring the same determination and work ethic he brought to the campaign to positively impact Parsippany. I’m looking forward to bringing my personal and professional experiences to work with him and the Council for a government that serves all Parsippany our residents,” stated Councilwoman-elect Janice McCarthy.
Unofficial Results are:
REP – James R. Barberio
6,565
47.04%
DEM – Michael Soriano
7,378
52.87%
REP – Louis A. Valori
6,186
23.37%
REP – Vincent Ferrara
6,099
23.05%
DEM – Janice McCarthy
7,134
26.96%
DEM – Emily Peterson
7,036
26.59%
Write-In
10
0.04%
In addressing a crowded room of supporters, Soriano said “This campaign was fueled by the labor of everyone from high school volunteers to experienced professionals, and it was your labor that made this possible.”
He continued “To the hard-working employees of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, I encourage you to rest easy tonight. If you are good at your job and perform it with passion, and respect the residents whom we serve, you have nothing to fear from me. Regardless of your party affiliation or whose lawn sign you put in front of your house, I will treat you with nothing but fairness and ask that you join me in my mission to clean up Parsippany.”
“I want to personally thank every voter for the opportunity to bring my years of executive chef experience to town hall and I am so honored that Parsippany is part of a national swell of pride, inclusivity and community,” said Emily Peterson, Councilwoman-elect.
In the endorsement Editorial by Daily Record they said “But in many ways this election isn’t as much about Barberio as it is about Township Attorney John Inglesino, Barberio’s influential and controversial right-hand man. Critics, including Soriano, say Inglesino serves as the de facto mayor who owes his outsized influence to a chummy relationship with Gov. Chris Christie. Inglesino does indeed dominate public discussions at council meetings in ways rarely seen from a municipal lawyer, all while raking in hefty fees Soriano says go far beyond reasonable legal expenses. Soriano doesn’t pull his punches, promising that his Day One act as mayor would be to dump Inglesino. An electrician by trade, Soriano has been involved with the local Democratic party but never before ran for public office. He said he targeted the mayor’s seat primarily it would give him authority to replace Inglesino.”
Soriano echoed many times the first item on his agenda will be to replace Township Attorney John Inglesino.
“This election said a lot about Parsippany; that the people expect their elected officials to work for them, listen to their concerns, preserve the character of their Town, and properly plan for the future. Our newly elected Mayor and Councilwomen (nice to have some more women!!) demonstrated their commitment to working for us and listening to us by the energetic and well planned campaign they ran. I am confident that they will continue to work for us and bring about renewed confidence and trust in our local government,” stated former Mayor Mimi Letts.
“Mayor James Barberio called the Soriano headquarters and offered his congratulations. He promised a smooth transition and I thanked him,” said Soriano.
The team of workers and volunteers celebrating the clean sweep
Soriano told his volunteers and supporters “Tonight is our night to celebrate and tomorrow the work of cleaning up Parsippany begins. Our team promised the people of Parsippany that we would be responsive to their concerns, that we would bring back businesses to reduce the residential tax burden, end wasteful spending, and we promised we would work together to make sure Parsippany taxpayers receive value for every tax dollar spent. Countless people gave of themselves for this victory.”
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 14 has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 9. The meeting will be held at Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard, and will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The public is invited to attend all meetings. A portion of each meeting will be set aside for public comment. Formal action may or may not be taken at all scheduled meetings.
Any individual who is a qualified disabled person under the American with Disabilities Act may request auxiliary aids such as a sign interpreter or a tape recorder to be used for a meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Please call (973) 263-4357 to make a request for an auxiliary aid.
Also the meeting for Tuesday, November 28 meeting has been cancelled.
PARSIPPANY — Early reports indicate that Michael Soriano won the election by hundreds of votes. Results will be published as they become available. Council candidates Janice McCarthy and Emily Peterson also won.
Michael Soriano
6851
James Barberio
6059
Lou Valori
5777
Vincent Ferrara
5701
Janice McCarthy
6532
Emily Peterson
6469
Unofficial results with 97% reporting
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayoral Candidate Michael Soriano
PARSIPPANY — Dr. Barbara Sargent, Parsippany-Troy Hills Superintendent of Schools, visited the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany (KGCP) during the breakfast meeting of Thursday, November 2.
Dr. Sargent shared her previous experience with the members as well as her outlook for the school district.
Also joining the meeting was former Board of Education member Vi Schickle. Vi was a member of the Board of Education for over twenty years. In addition to Vi, Angela Calabria, wife of the late Dr. Frank Calabria, who was a board member for over 43 years, serving as President for eleven of those years, joined our morning breakfast meeting. Kiwanis member Dr. Joseph Weisberg was also in attendance.
President Frank Cahill said, “It was a pleasure meeting Dr. Sargent. Learning about her experience and the love for education makes her the perfect candidate for the Superintendent position. Since Kiwanis is all about children, it will be a pleasure to work with her in the future.”
“It was such a pleasure to meet with the Kiwanis membership and to learn about the marvelous service projects they lead. They are one more reason why Parsippany-Troy Hills is such an amazing community,” said Dr. Barbara Sargent.
Cahill opened up the meeting talking about Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs. “While other groups offer a service or leadership program for one age group, Kiwanis offers programs for all ages. K-Kids Club members are the leaders of tomorrow. They’re the energetic, dedicated elementary school students who are passionate about making a difference in their school community and world. KCGP sponsors over 235 students in nine of the ten Parsippany Elementary schools. In addition, while Builders Club members are discovering their heart to serve, answering their call to lead and igniting the courage it takes to build real relationships. Caring is their way of life. KCGP sponsors over sixty students in both of the Junior High Schools.”
“Key Club members are learning to lead with compassion. The dedication and enthusiasm of these students has been felt in communities across the globe since the program began in 1925. This student-led organization encourages leadership development through service to others. KCGP sponsors over 200 students in both high schools,” he continued.
“It such a proud feeling to know KCGP sponsors almost 300 students utilizing some of the money our volunteers in this room raise with the club’s fundraising efforts,” said Cahill.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany was chartered on December 5, 1991, and currently has 51 active members. Kiwanis is a worldwide service organization in over 96 nations. The major emphasis is serving one child, one community at a time.
Join us for breakfast on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46. Please email Frank Cahill for additional details.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Historical & Preservation Society hel “Holly-Day Fair” on Saturday, November 4 and Sunday, November 5. There were handmade by Local Artisans. Jewelry, Chocolates, Candles, Holiday Decor, Infused Olive Oils, Vintage Ornaments, Knitwear, Unique Gifts, Woodcrafts and Parsippany Authors.
The event took place at the Smith/Baldwin House, 460 South Beverwyck Road.
PARSIPPANY — Political signs are everywhere. As the popular song from the seventies goes
“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?
In Parsippany and surrounding communities campaign workers were out in the middle of the night placing political signs on almost every street corner, to convince voters to vote today for their candidates. In some locations there are more than candidate signs, but signs bashing political parties.
In our local election, the Mayor and two Township Council seats are up for grabs, and from the look of the signs scattered around Parsippany it’s obviously who is running to fill those seats.
Polling locations will remain open until 8:00 p.m. In addition to Mayor and Council, residents need to cast their vote for Governor, State Senate, General Assembly (2), Freeholder and Board of Education (3).
You will need to cast a vote for two important questions:
Question 1: New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act and State Question
Question 2: Constitutional Amendment Dedicating Moneys From State Environmental Contamination Cases.
Our hearts go out to the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The First Baptist Church of this town and the entire community was ambushed in what resulted as the worst mass shooting in Texas history. Twenty-six people are dead and many others are currently fighting for their lives in intensive care. This is heart crushing for this Texas community and all of America as we must conclude no place is safe in America anymore.
My hometown church in Inez, Kentucky kept the backdoor of the church unlocked during most of my high school years. The church was a place where anyone could enter and pray, and seek refuge from the problems of the world.
A little Catholic church around the corner from where I once lived in Louisa, Kentucky kept the front door unlocked the entire time I lived there. My sons and I went in there a couple of times to just be quiet, think and pray.
While growing up as a kid my family attended different churches and there was never a thought of anything being unsafe about our worship.
Times have changed. Sutherland Springs, Texas again reminds us that evil is everywhere and no place is perfectly safe. Worshippers in this quiet Texas town gathered to sing, pray and hear a good sermon Sunday. They never dreamed their lives would end in church at the hands of sick and evil gunman. We don’t know his motive for sure but it seems to me based on various reports that Devin Patrick Kelley was there to his kill in-laws.
Kelley’s past was filled with troubles that included domestic abuse and a dishonourable discharge from the military. Unfortunately Kelley needed mental help that might have saved 26 lives and carnage that this Texas community will never overcome.
Too bad a good deacon in the foyer or vestibule area of the church did not shoot Patrick Kelley dead. I know my good moderate Christian friends frown on me for this line of thinking. However, maybe several lives could have been saved if the church had a game plan for reacting to terrorism. This has been a hard concept for my religious friends to embrace. Many have ignored the times of this world and simply sloughed it off. Some have said, “God will take care of us.” Others want to brush off today’s crisis with, “Something like that would never happen here.”
Wake up reader. Bad stuff happens everywhere. This is our world. Walkers on a bike path in New York City are not safe. Concertgoers in Las Vegas are not safe. People shopping in Colorado are not safe. Moviegoers and schoolchildren are not safe. Quaint café wine drinkers on sidewalks in peaceful neighborhoods in Paris, France are not safe. Busy people trying to earn a living in prestigious skyscrapers are not safe.
We are all vulnerable. If we do not take a position of defense we are more vulnerable. People sitting in churches, concerts, movies and many other places are in danger of being attacked by surprise. It’s very difficult to survive an ambush. This is why there must be a defense plan in place for all churches, civic groups, businesses, factory work places, offices and families.
When I was child I remember when my mother started locking the front door. We had not always locked the front door but my mother had heard about people walking our road late at night and decided it was time to do so. We also had shotguns.
Today, of course, people with common sense lock their doors.
America has changed. We still have a great country. I love America. America mostly has good and decent people. Sadly, there are Devin Patrick Kelley’s scattered throughout our country. There may be one in your state or even your community. You have to be ready to confront him or them.
By the way, Kelley was denied a gun permit. He still managed to obtain guns. Evil people will find ways to rent trucks, obtain guns, knives or make bombs. Please think about this and live and sadly now worship defensively. Even church is not safe anymore.
