PARSIPPANY — Mayor James Barberio joined owners Ashley Malan, Diego Costa, and Murtaza Khawaja recently to cut the ribbon cutting celebrating the Grand Opening of Malan Salon & MedSpa, located at 281 Littleton Road. They can be reached by calling (973) 585-4074 or visiting malansalon.com.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Advisory Committee Chairman Frank Cahill presented Ashley with a plaque welcoming Malan to Parsippany.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Advisory Committee Chairman Frank Cahill presented Ashley with a plaque welcoming Malan to Parsippany.
Also in attendance were Parsippany-Troy Hills Council President Michael dePierro, Councilman Justin Musella, and Frank Neglia; Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce Board Member Nicolas Limanov; Economic Development Vice-Chairman Dr. Bhagirath Maheta and Secretary Raj Dichpally.
Celebrating the grand opening of Malan Salon & MedSpa with Ashley (center) are Johanna DeMarco and Mary Mastroeni, long time customers of Ashley
Ashley Malan, a licensed cosmetologist, started at Hair Visions in the Parsippany Green Hill Plaza 26 years ago and worked there for six years. She then moved to Boonton and worked at ArmandRianna for 14 years. After years of garnering a loyal customer base and community, Ashley finally decided to open up her own salon, Malan Hair Salon, with her husband, Diego Costa, in Boonton.
Even though their business is in Boonton, most of their clientele is from Parsippany and surrounding areas. They support the Parsippany Hills High School Football team every year, giving haircuts and more. With over six years of success, Malan has been a staple and thriving small business.
With the support and vision to bring Malan to the next level, with their partners, Murtaza Khawaja, and Medical Director, Dr. Bulland Zaman, Ashley Malan & Diego Costa built Malan Salon & MedSpa, located at 281 Littleton Road in Parsippany.
Celebrating the grand opening of Malan Salon & MedSpaMany of the products available at Malan Salon & MedSpaMalan Salon & MedSpa is located at 281 Littleton Road
MORRIS COUNTY — RainbowWeddingNetwork.com, a national LGBTQ+ wedding resource, hosted a wedding expo at Hyatt Regency Morristown. The wedding expo featured dozens of gay-friendly wedding vendors including photographers, florists, caterers, jewelers, and DJs showcasing their services and products.
The event also showcased the wedding opportunities available at Hyatt Regency Morristown, which recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation.
About RainbowWeddingNetwork: In May 2004, Cindy Sproul addressed a crowd of three hundred fifty at the Sheraton Commander Hotel in Cambridge, MA, inviting them to mark the moment by raising a glass to toast the passage of the landmark Goodridge Decision. The crowd, gathered for the auspicious occasion at the first annual ‘Same Love, Same Rights’TM LGBTQ Wedding Expo that afternoon, was joyful, attentive and many clung to handkerchiefs: Dozens of couples and wedding professionals alike were teary-eyed and struck with disbelief that the day had finally arrived when same-gender couples would be legally permitted to marry in the Bay State.
Just four and a half years earlier, Sproul and her partner Marianne Puechl had co-founded RainbowWeddingNetwork.com, the first wedding gift registry ever specifically dedicated to the Gay and Lesbian community. The women, planning their own commitment ceremony, saw the need for a website dedicated to LGBTQ unions: having encountered awkwardness themselves as they approached wedding vendors, they decided it would be a wonderful & productive resource to screen vendors so that other LGBTQ couples would not have to experience discrimination.
PARSIPPANY — Central Middle School Students and Creative Writing Enthusiasts Prisha Suresh and Akshara Kumar recently conducted creative writing workshops for the GRO elementary students at the Parsippany Troy Hills School District. They raised $350, which was donated to the Parsippany Food Pantry, and taught fifty Parsippany students about poetry and journaling.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, students across Parsippany faced a decline in their education because of the lack of in-person classes. Suresh and Kumar wanted to help this growing problem, but also create a fun, interactive learning environment for young students. After hours of talking, planning, and practice meetings, in March 2021, they launched a creative writing club in coordination with the Parsippany Library, called Nifty Novelists.
Each month, members of the Nifty Novelists Club pick from a selection of one book and one short story, as well as two different “types” of writing. Types of writing include a prequel of the story, a review of the story, a poem analyzing aspects of the story, etc. Members will read their story of choice and write about it during the month. Their writing would be showcased on the Nifty Novelists website and peer-reviewed before being posted.
Their meetings include fun writing activities and games, as well as creative writing workshops to help their club members while they write. Some examples are:
• A step-by-step presentation and printable guide on how to write creatively
• A critical thinking escape room that is educational but still fun!
• Multiple ELA resources, including online reading platforms and helpful writing checklists
Meetings are held during the first and fourth Saturday of each month. Participants will read their novel offline after the first meeting and complete a draft of their creative writing, all done before the second meeting. The second meeting of the month will be leveraged to edit, and peer reviews their writing.
They are welcoming members from Grades three to six to join the current Session 2 of Nifty Novelists by clicking the registration link.
After the development of their club, Suresh and Kumar decided to broaden their audience and eventually opened GRO Creative Writing Workshops for the Parsippany Troy-Hills School District. Kumar conducted poetry workshops for grades two and four while Suresh conducted journaling workshops for grades three and five. Each workshop consisted of detailed, in-depth presentations along with fun activities to accompany them.
The Parsippany Food Pantry received the proceeds of the workshops, a grand total of 350 dollars gone towards fighting hunger and poverty. The Parsippany Food Pantry collects donations of canned food, money, and goods, which go towards a customized package of food for people in need. The food pantry accommodates those with dietary restrictions as well, putting together packages for those who are vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, etc.
Many of the participants felt that the Nifty Novelists should conduct more creative writing seminars due to the success of the workshop.
“I had a lot of fun doing the activities and I learned a lot from the workshops. My favorite part was doing the escape room with my friends,” A participant of the Grade 3 session said.
The Nifty Novelists responded to this positive feedback with the creation of another workshop that was open to all students from grades 3-6. This poetry seminar was conducted at the Lake Hiawatha Library from 12-1 on Saturday, March 19.
PARSIPPANY — Loantaka Parsippanong Chapter of The Daughters Of The American Revolution will host a “Dine to Donate” at the Gourmet Cafe. This will help them Fund their Scholarship Fund for women returning to work. Join on April 4 all day, 10% of the gross profits will be added to our scholarship fund. No flyer is needed. Just show up, eat in or order out.
Gourmet Cafe is located at 136 Baldwin Road, Parsippany.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Board of Education is excited to embark on the continuation of their strategic planning process that will result in our next three-to-five-year plan to enhance student achievement and further enrich our schools.
Strategic planning is a thoughtful, reflective process that depends on participation by all stakeholders. Your thoughts and suggestions are critical if this process is to be successful and provide the District with a meaningful three-to-five year plan to enhance our high-performing district.
Students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members will be invited to participate in the process by responding to our electronic surveys. The information gathered during this process will be used to identify areas that are effective and areas of focus over the next several years.
Please watch for announcements about survey participation. They welcome feedback from the schools and township as they define the focus for the coming years.
PARSIPPANY — The ongoing quest for the next great Parsippany dining experience continued as my foodie friends and I ventured out to Shan Shan Noodles. I had been to Shan Shan Noodles before, and I loved it, but it has been closed for indoor dining for most of the last two years because of the pandemic, so when I found out that the restaurant had resumed indoor dining a couple of months ago, I was anxious for a return visit.
Lili Lu, Shan Lu, Chef Kegong Zhang, and Pat Minutillo
Shan Shan Noodles, which opened in 2014, is another one of those nondescript, unassuming, humble-looking little storefront eateries, located in the small Pacific Pavilion strip mall, right off Route 46 East and Edwards Road. I have learned long ago that these simple, unpretentious, little locations can truly reveal one of those “hidden gems” people talk about. Shan Shan Noodles is one of those gems.
Our hostess, Lili Lu
The moment we entered the restaurant we were immediately and warmly welcomed by our hostess, Lili Lu, mother of owner Shan Lu. The personable, enthusiastic, and genial persona of Ms. Lu immediately made one feel comfortable and at home. Our group was immediately seated, like menus, water, tea, and chopsticks arrived (and for a couple of our group, forks were requested). Shan Lu also made it a point to come over to welcome us to her restaurant; you knew we were in for a pleasant dining experience.
I should mention that Shan Shan Noodles is a family-owned and operated business that specializes in the authentic food of Northwestern China, specifically the Xinjiang Province, where Shan and her mother, Lili, were born. The food prepared and served at Shan Shan reflects that region of China and is unique due to the various cultural influences that together make Shan Shan’s food so special.
Shredded Pork with Hot Pepper over Hand-Pulled Noodle
Shan Shan is a comfortable, homey, exceptionally clean, and organized eatery. Though the dining room is small, with seven, four-person booths along both the sidewalls and five or six glass-covered, wood-grained tables thoughtfully placed around the room, one gets the feeling that it is more spacious. I did notice immediately that the interior had been renovated since 2019, and now offers diners a more modern, bright, and sleek appearance. The attractive Chinese-themed mural still covers one wall, and diners can still enjoy Chef Kegong Zhang (AKA John) pulling, stretching, and flapping freshly made noodles through a large window. That show alone is worth the visit, and you can see that the Chef enjoys what he is doing. Chef Zhang explained to me that he makes a variety of different shaped hand-pulled noodles that can vary in thickness to accommodate the variety of dishes served at the restaurant. The noodles range from “Skinny”, “Angel’s Hair”, “Regular”, “Second Skinny (Woodon)”, “Flat”, and “Belt” (AKA Biangbiang noodles); and each type of noodle marries perfectly with the accompanying dish.
The rest of the interior is simple, with a casual, relaxing vibe, with two wall TVs (on quiet), and soft mood music playing in the background. Reminds me of a Chinese restaurant I used to visit on Mott Street in New York City, and that is a compliment.
Shan Shan’s menu is not too extensive as Shan Lu prefers to concentrate on quality food, service, and keeping her customers happy. Though the menu might be considered limited by some, each dish seems more tempting than the next, and it was nice of both Shan and Lili Lu to walk us through the assorted items, and on our request offer some helpful recommendations. The menu does offer appetizers, Chef Specials, sauteed noodles and dishes, fried rice, cold plates, and hand-pulled noodle soup.
Scallion Pancake
After some fun conversation and bantering with our hosts, we finally decided to begin our meal with a selection of shared appetizers. We went with the Beef Pancake, Spicy Wonton, Scallion Pancake, and Pot Stickers. Both the beef and scallion pancakes were freshly and perfectly cooked to a golden brown; savory, light, chewy crepes that were nicely enhanced with the sauces that they were served with. Chinese pancakes are one of the quintessential popular snack foods found throughout China.
Beef Pancake
The Pot Stickers, basically Chinese dumplings; lightly browned, golden crispy, folded, and pleated bundles looked as good as they tasted. Wonderful taste sensation as they melted in your mouth. They came eight to a serving, which is a lot of stickers. Our final appetizer was the Spicy Wonton. Wonton’s, another type of dumpling, sits in an oil-based hot sauce, well rounded with the flavorings developed from a myriad of herbs and spices. A sophisticated, flavorful broth that I was not ashamed to slurp down to the last drop.
Black Bean Sauce Over Hand-Pulled Noodle
For an entrée I ordered the Shredded Pork with Hot Pepper over Hand-Pulled Noodle, others in the group chose the Black Bean Sauce over Hand-Pulled Noodle, (Ground pork, with black bean sauce), Cold Hand-Pulled Noodle with Hot and Spicy Chicken, Seafood with Fried Hand-Pulled Noodle, (Shrimp, fish ball, imitation crab meat), and the Pork with Fried Hand-Pulled Noodle. My dish of shredded spicy pork paired perfectly with the homemade hand-pulled noodles. A visually beautiful dish filled with tender pork, fresh ingredients and seasoned perfectly. This delectable dish had a nice mouthfeel to it, was not overly spicy hot, and the fusion of textures, spices, and flavors, along with the luscious, freshly made springy and satisfying noodles made for a memorable meal. A wonderful fusion of meat, noodles, and broth; I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Part of what makes eating this cuisine fun is that is comes with a pair of scissors so you can cut your very lengthy noodles to a manageable size. While I prefer to cut my own noodles while I devour my meal, others didn’t mind letting Lili Lu guide them on how to master this eating technique. There’s also chili oil and black vinegar on the table should you want to enhance the flavors of your meal. Personally, I didn’t need it. This dish also went well with my Beijing-based Yanjing beer, which I brought along as Shan Shan is BYOB.
The consensus of the group was that everyone thoroughly enjoyed their individual meals and that Shan Shan Noodles was definitely a standout, and a location to add to our “must return” list.
Asian desserts
We ended this culinary feast with a variety of Asian desserts from Shan Shan Noodles’ own bakery, Sweet Sensations, which is a separate store located just a few doors down from the restaurant and which specializes in cakes, desserts, bubble teas, and more. The desserts we tried were very light, fluffy, not overly sweet, and very fresh. I found out that this style of Asian dessert, from the Xinjiang Province in Northwestern China, only uses fresh whipped cream (no buttercream) and is very health-conscious, diabetic-friendly, and unlike the heavy sweetness that is usually found in desserts here in America.
Sweet Shansations by Shan Lu
Naturally, this led to a tour of Sweet Shansations by Shan Lu. Sparkling clean, attractive bakery with an interesting selection of tantalizing Asian baked goods. All those in my group enjoyed the education they received on the unfamiliar items and based on how delicious our desserts were everyone walked out with a bag full of tasty treats to take home with them. They also offer a choice of special occasion cakes if that is your interest. If you have not yet tried authentic Asian desserts, I would strongly suggest giving Sweet Shansations a try.
Sweet Shansations by Shan Lu
Shan Shan Noodles is a true culinary treasure right here in Parsippany. Delicious cuisine, very reasonable prices, generous portions, wonderful family atmosphere, professional service, and a family that truly cares about their customers. Shan Shan Noodles is not one of your familiar run-of-the-mill Chinese eateries. Next time you are seeking out a different type of Chinese restaurant, do yourself a favor and give Shan Shan a try, and while you are at it, stop in at Sweet Shansations for dessert.
Shan Shan Noodles is located at 333 Route 46 East, Parsippany. (973) 287-7399. Click here for the website. BYOB – No Reservations. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Closed Mondays. Parking Lot.
PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany was among a number of North Jersey Kiwanis Clubs participating in distributing over 40,000 pounds to those in need on Saturday, March 19. Over 1,500 families with 2,900 children in six towns received food containing fresh garden vegetables and other non-perishable items. The retail value of the food distributed was over $100,000. Kiwanis members seek donations from local residents and businesses to keep this initiative going. To make a donation, click here.
Connie Keller, President Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany said “Since the beginning of the pandemic, Kiwanis Clubs have donated over 475,000 pounds of food, feeding 12,000 families, over 23,000 children with a retail value of over $800,000. I am proud of all our members, especially the Key Clubs at Parsippany High School and Parsippany Hills High School for their efforts in the ‘Feeding Our Neighbors’ program.”
Vritika Kilaru loading a box of food in a vehicle
“The USDA estimates that in 2018, about 774,860 people, including 219,760 children, in New Jersey were food insecure. That means one in 11 individuals (8.7%) and one in nine children (11.3%) live in homes without consistent access to adequate food for everyone to live healthy, active lives,” said Frank Cahill, Lt. Governor Kiwanis Division 9.
“The economic damage wrought by mass layoffs and business closures is expected to persist long after vaccines become widely available and that means demand for food assistance will remain at the current high level for months or years to come,” said Gordon Meth, Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany member, and former Kiwanis NJ District Governor.
To find out information on the next Kiwanis Food Distribution click here.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Passed a resolution on Tuesday, March 15 “Authorizing the Expenditure od Municipal Funds for the Abatement of the Nuisances, Defects or Conditions” located at 108 Longview Avenue, Lake Hiawatha.
debris, garbage, tree logs, tree stumps, hazardous oils, and overgrown vegetation
The property was determined to have “debris, garbage, tree logs, tree stumps, hazardous oils, and overgrown vegetation.” In addition, the Township requires that the exterior walls, roofs, window frames, doors, door frame foundation, siding, and other parts of a structure located on the premise shall be so maintained as to keep water from entering the structure and to prevent excessive drafts.
The Township requires that the exterior walls, roofs, window frames, doors, door frame foundation, siding, and other parts of a structure located on the premise shall be so maintained
The owner of the premises was served with a “Notice of Violation and Order to Correct” on May 6, 2019. The owner was then served with a “Notice of Hearing” on February 10, 2022, and the date of hearing with scheduled for March 1, 2022. The owner failed to appear for the scheduled hearing.
The Parsippany Housing Department has obtained an estimate in the amount of $3,395.68 from Fox Hollow Landscaping and Design for the abatement of the nuisances, defects, and conditions located on the premises.
In accordance with Township Coe 213-44, the Township Council has the authority to expended municipal funds to abate nuisances, conditions, and defects and have the costs incurred assessed to the property tax bills as a lien.
PARSIPPANY — Lake Hiawatha resident Sylene Whittle is a State Finalist in Miss New Jersey Teen USA | Miss New Jersey Teen USA pageant!
Sylene Whittle
Sylene is a freshman at Parsippany High School where she is in Concert Band, African American Culture Club, French Club, Asian American Club, and on the Girls Lacrosse Team.
She resides in Lake Hiawatha with her mother, Patricia Beecher, and her brother Peyton Whittle. Her father, Silas Whittle, lives in Newark. She attended Knollwood Elementary School and Central Middle School.
She does competition cheerleading at Star Athletics in Boonton.
She wants to own her own cheerleading and gymnastics gym one day. Her hope is to inspire and bring gymnastics and cheerleading to underprivileged children. She has been working on her business plan since she was in fourth grade.
Class of 2022 People’s Choice Award voting starts now!! Miss New Jersey USA & Miss New Jersey Teen USA will be collecting friends, families, and the public votes for their favorite contestant for the People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award Winners are guaranteed a spot in the Semifinals! $1 = 1 vote.
The People’s Choice Award Winner in each division will be presented with a beautiful crystal trophy and is guaranteed a spot as a top Semifinalist!
Voting will take place online up until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. Be sure to cast your votes before the deadline in order for your votes to count! Click here to vote.
Anyone in the world can vote; spread the word! Please Share!
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Focus has learned that Panda Wok will be reopening about a half-mile from their previous location in Green Hill Plaza.
Panda Wok was destroyed during a multi-alarm fire on Tuesday, January 4, in the Green Hill Plaza, Parsippany Road. They have been closed since the fire. (Click here for full story)
Panda Wok will be reopening at 219 Littleton Road, in the Littleton Plaza, across from Troy Gardens.
The location will consist of 1,260 square feet in the on story building, that also houses Domino’s Pizzeria, and Tino’s BBQ and Grill.
Panda Wok will be reopening at 219 Littleton Road, in the Littleton Plaza, across from Troy Gardens. Currently, the new location is vacant.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council passed a resolution (R2022-058) supporting Ukraine and its people against Putin’s Russian Invasion on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
Council President Michael dePierro presented the resolution to Reverand Stephan Bilyk, Pastor, St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church.
In addition, Senator Joe Pennacchio and Assemblyman Brian Bergen presented a resolution on behalf of the State Legislators.
Mayor James Barberio and the Township Council will raise the Ukrainian flag at Town Hall on Saturday, April 2 at 10:00 a.m.
Senator Joe Pennacchio presented the resolution to Reverand Stephan BilykAssemblyman Brian Bergen presented the resolution to Reverand Stephan BilykMembers of the Township Council, Mayor Barberio with members of the Ukraine community
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County was born 283 years ago – or was it before that?
It’s not that the centuries have made us forgetful. It’s a matter of which calendar you use and in what part of the world you live.
It was 1752 when England and its colonies, including New Jersey, switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, moving our official birthday to March 15, 1739, from 1738.
Regardless, history records that Morris County was created by an act of the State Legislature on March 15, 1738/39, separating it from Hunterdon County, one of the state’s largest counties of the period. Named after Colonel Lewis Morris, then Governor of the Province of New Jersey, it originally included what are now the counties of Morris, Sussex, and Warren.
We invite you to learn more about our history:
Check out online exhibits from the Morris County Heritage Commission about exceptional women in Morris County history, and our courthouse, homes, and cultural center by clicking here.
Visit historic sites across the county by clicking here.
Read about the history of our veterans, miners, and railroaders by clicking here.
The Caring For Life Adult Day Care located at 120 East Halsey Road, Parsippany, NJ
07054 invites the submission of sealed bids in food service for lunch and dinner as
described in the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food
Program Invitation for Bid and Standard Contract. These meals are to be served to
250/shift participant, ages 18+, five days per week. Meals must meet the requirements
mandated by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food
Program and begin April 1, 2022. Bid specifications are available at 120 East Halsey
Rd, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Sealed bids will be opened and read aloud, March 29, 2022
at 10:00 AM. Written proposals received after March 29,2022 shall not be considered.
PARSIPPANY – The Morris County Republican Committee (MCRC) held an Executive Committee meeting this week to hear an appeal from the Toby Anderson campaign that alleged procedural deficiencies in last week’s Republican County Committee convention were the reason for his 5-vote loss.
The Morris County Executive Committee consists of the MCRC Executive Board, the Municipal Chairs from 38 municipalities (Victory Gardens is vacant), the two-state committee representatives, the Chair of the Morris County Young Republicans, the Chair of the Morris County Teenage Republicans, and the President of the Women’s Republican Club.
After the Anderson Campaign failed to prove one point of their allegations, the Executive Committee voted unanimously to reject their appeal. There was one abstention – Scott Russell acting Chair in Montville. One witness was called from the Anderson campaign, at the suggestion of Russell, to give testimony that there were people registering after 7:30 p.m., which would have been against the Convention rules. Under oath, she stated that she did not see that. In fact, she only could say that she herself registered before 7:30 p.m. and there were no county committee members being registered after 7:30 p.m.
Other allegations that were presented by the campaign included that county committee members were permitted to vote that were not on the certified list as of February 25. That was unable to be proven because it was false and not true.
Other allegations included opposition to procedures that were documented in the Rules of the Convention. These Rules of the Convention were presented to each of the candidates at a February 23, 2022 meeting where candidates were asked to provide input on them. At the end of the meeting, all Candidates agreed to the rules. The Rules of the Convention supersede Roberts Rules in party Conventions and as mentioned above were agreed to by all the candidates.
“It’s unfortunate that some losing campaigns attribute their loss to election wrongdoings. I should have been clearer about the most important rule of all regarding the Convention: that not everyone will win. And just because you lose, it doesn’t make it ok to scream from the rooftops and on social media that there was voter fraud. Our convention was run with the help of nearly 50 volunteer Morris County Republicans who operate with the highest level of integrity, at all times throughout the convention,” Chairwoman Laura Marie Ali had to say.
“The sight from the podium, looking out at the sea of engaged spirited Republicans was something I’ll never forget! It’s a great time to be a Morris County Republican!,” she added.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County’s Board of County Commissioners last night joined members of the local Ukrainian community in a moment of silence and sang the Ukraine national anthem as the board presented a formal resolution declaring solidarity with the Ukrainian people against the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine in Eastern Europe.
The Ukrainian community, an estimated 12,000 people living in and around Morris County, have been an active part of the region for over 100 years, and a dozen of them joined community leader Myron Bytz in accepting the framed, signed, and sealed resolution during the Commissioners’ public meeting in Morristown.
“Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of all Ukrainians, thank you for your support,” said Bytz, who was accompanied by his wife, Christina, and grandson, Atlas.
“As President Zelensky stated, we Ukrainians are a peaceful nation, but if we remain silent today, we will be gone tomorrow. I say, thank you world for speaking out on our behalf, and for your support. We will not be gone tomorrow or ever. Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the heroes,” he added.
The group sang the Ukraine national anthem with their hands held over their hearts, and held two moments of silence with the Commissioners in an emotional gathering.
Lyuba Berezny and her daughter, Sofia, 6, of Whippany brought “No War” signs to the Commissioner meeting
“The situation on the ground is one of horror. Neighborhoods have been destroyed. Civilians have been deliberately targeted for attacks and hundreds have been killed. Two million people who once lived peaceful, hardworking lives in Ukraine have been forced to flee their beloved nation,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen. “Tonight, my fellow Commissioners and I are declaring our solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people against the truly evil onslaught brought down on their homeland by Vladimir Putin.”
Bytz also presented the Commissioners with a Ukrainian flag, which was hung from the meeting room dais.
Everyone interested in donating funds and goods – with medical supplies being a top priority – was urged by Bytz to connect with the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey by clicking here.
The declaration of solidarity presented to the local Ukrainian community
The full wording of the Morris County resolution is below:
Whereas, the unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine by Russia under the direction of its ruthless President, Vladimir Putin, has been condemned by the entire world, including the people of Morris County and this Morris County Board of County Commissioners; and
Whereas, the people of Ukraine have bravely resisted the relentless assaults, bombings, and crimes against peace waged by Putin and his brutal military, despite overwhelming military odds and the continuing onslaught of modern Russian military strikes against innocent, unarmed civilian populations; and
Whereas, Morris County has maintained a unique kinship with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people dating back more than a century since Ukrainian immigrants first arrived in the Whippany and Malapardis sections of Hanover Township in 1908 to find hope for a new life and employment in the many mills that once drove the regional economy; and
Whereas, it was in Whippany where those immigrants built St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church with their own hands, establishing a community where their direct descendants continue to thrive today, significantly contributing to our wonderful way of life in Morris County and throughout the United States; and
Whereas, because of those deep community bonds, all of the people in Morris County feel the brutal Russian onslaught is being waged on our own homes and families as we watch media images of dead children, devastated neighborhoods, and thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the carnage wrought upon their homeland by foreign aggressors.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, by the Board of County Commissioners, Morris County, New Jersey, that we declare solidarity with the people of Ukraine and our Ukrainian brothers and sisters here in the United States, and we demand Putin immediately withdraw his military from Ukraine, renounce his expansionist claims and rejoin the world of nations to restore war-torn Ukraine.
PARSIPPANY — A rookie Lego robotics team from Parsippany named HuBotics (Human Robotics), is headed to the World Festival/Championships for FIRSTLego League Explore.
The FIRSTLego League (FLL), which started in 1998, is an international program that introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to children 4-16. FIRST is an acronym for For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology
The HuBotics team is made up of second-grade students – Raayan Bodade, William Bonfanti, Clairelouise Rivera, and Rishith Bhoopathi from Troy Hills Elementary, Parsippany, and Arjun Jadhav from Apple Montessori Elementary, Wayne. In addition, Aarjun Bodade, a freshman from Parsippany High School, is acting as team mentor. Nilesh and Meghana Bodade are the team coaches.
They will be representing New Jersey at the FIRSTLego League “Explore” World Festival/Championships. This is an amazing event inspiring celebration of ingenuity, problem-solving and gracious professionalism. We are very excited to receive this great opportunity for the young and aspiring scientists and engineers.
These young engineers were tasked with creating solutions around a common theme of Cargo. The HuBotics team was one of the youngest to compete against other teams from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They received the “Best Team Model” award and a chance to participate at the FIRSTLego League Explore World Festival/Championships. Tens of thousands of youths from around the world will compete from around the world at this championship for different age categories. This event will be held in Houston, TX from April 20-23, 2022.
Quotes from the Coaches-
“This is an exemplary opportunity and an honor to be the FIRSTLego League Explore team to represent New Jersey at the World Festival Championship at this young age.”
“This year’s theme is cargo connect where kids learn about the different types of transportation of cargo and understand gaps in the supply chain. Kids explored real-world problems in their community and proposed a solution to reduce pollution and make the neighborhood safe due to the increase of online deliveries in recent years. Kids created Lego models to showcase their solution for the community using the Lego WeDo/BOOST and Scratch program.”
“We are so proud to see them progress in building their Lego models, researching different types of cargo transportation, learning, and working on scratch programming, helping their teammates in making their designs for their models and the confidence they have gained in their presentation skills.”
“Team Hubotics has been invited to Parsippany Troy Hills Elementary school on April 14 and at Apple Montessori, Wayne, to present their project and share their learning with other students.”
“Team Hubotics also presented their project with the FTC team, RedBots in Parsippany High school. They were received with great enthusiasm by these high schoolers. Team RedBots gave genuine guidance and suggestions to these young kids to improve on their robot models. We are so grateful to Mrs. Effner (Team Coach) and team RedBots for giving us the time and encouragement !!!”
“Team Hubotics is also planning to present their project to Mayor James Barberio later this month.”
Please consider donating to this young group of aspiring scientists and engineers. Donations can be made to the GoFundMe account by clicking here.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Chapter of the Hindu Service Society celebrates Black History Month on February 27 at the Viraj Dham Temple. Gordon Drewery Jr. Minster of the Gospel First Baptist Church and Nora Drewery Licensed Social Worker and Storyteller presented a unique and interactive introduction to the History of the Black community and their journey to the US. They also covered the many contributions of black leaders, inventors, writers, scientists. They emphasized the essence of every human and how important it is to be proud of who we are. It was a rewarding experience for all the families that attended the event.
Gordon Drewery Jr. is a teacher, writer, poet and coach, and mentor. He is dedicated to helping others with love. Nora Drewery is a Licensed Social Worker, she is a former teacher who taught in Morris School District for 26 years. She is also a Bible study instructor for First Baptist Church.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Hills High School Academic Decathlon (AcDec) Team competed in the virtual New Jersey Academic Decathlon State Competition on Saturday, February 26, and earned over 20 awards and honors. The team consisted of nine competitors and five alternates. The competing members were: Katharine Arthur, Ram Gupta, Lindsey Lee, Adrina Livingston, Catherine Peng, Hrishikesh Reddy, Andrew Song, Ash Stone, and Danial Tanveer. Alternate team members who participated were: Waleed Alim, Kenneth Cheng, Dylan Chiu, Nishanth Makkithaya, and Chaitanya Matrubai.
Academic Decathlon is a ten-event scholastic competition for high school students. The events include math, science, social science, literature, economics, art, music, speech, essay, and interview. This year’s theme is Water: A Most Essential Resource.
Team coaches are Jaclyn Bevacqua, an Italian teacher, and Jacqueline Forte, a Spanish teacher.
MORRIS COUNTY — Republican CD-11 Congressional Candidate Paul DeGroot has announced he is moving past the disjointed Morris County GOP convention and pointing his campaign toward the June Primary Election.
“Because of the confusing nature of the MCRC convention, I don’t think there is much anyone can take from the results of the event,” said DeGroot.
“I’m moving on to the Primary, which will give me three months to address thousands of Republican voters in Morris, Essex, and Passaic counties,” added DeGroot, who has been awarded the Republican Party line in Passaic County.
A former county prosecutor and the father of two small children, DeGroot says he has the skills and perspective to appeal to Republican voters who want to win back the CD-11 seat that was lost in 2018.
“I battled crime and criminals for 25 years and worked with government officials on the local, county, state, and federal levels. No one else in the GOP field has that kind of experience,” said DeGroot. “I oppose the revolving door justice that local and national Democrats have saddled us with that is emboldening criminals to prey on law-abiding, middle-class people.”
DeGroot and his wife Sharon have two young children and he says that gives him a perspective other candidates do not have.
“Like many parents in the district, we are deeply concerned about what our children are learning in school. I support the parents’ right to have a significant say in what is being taught in the classroom and I will carry that message to Washington,” added DeGroot.
Finally said DeGroot; “I actually live in the district that I am running in. I think that matters. We have candidates that don’t live in the district or know its intricacies and needs. That puts them in the same ballpark as Rep Mikie Sherrill, who never made the commitment to move to the district.”
The New CD-11 Includes the following Municipalities from Morris, Essex, and Passaic Counties: Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair (part), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, South Orange, and West Caldwell in Essex County; Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham, Chatham Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Twp (part), Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Rockaway Township and Victory Gardens in Morris County; Little Falls, Totowa, Wayne (part) and Woodland Park in Passaic County.
MORRIS COUNTY — International a cappella phenomenon Straight No Chaser returns to the MPAC stage as part of 2022 Back in the High Life Tour, Tuesday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.00 to $79.00.
If the phrase “male a cappella group” conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses… think again. Straight No Chaser (SNC) are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch. They have emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fan base and a long list of accomplishments including 2 RIAA Gold Certified albums, over 1.5 million concert tickets sold, over one billion streams on Pandora, and over 2 million albums sold worldwide.
Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense… and with a sense of humor. They immediately bring audiences to their feet with nothing more than microphones in hand, grins ear-to-ear, witty banter on point, and an uncanny ability to belt out R&B, smooth jams, and stadium anthems carried by style, swagger, and spirit.
“Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of all Ukrainians, thank you for your support,” said Bytz, who was accompanied by his wife, Christina, and grandson, Atlas.
The HuBotics team is made up of second-grade students – Raayan Bodade, William Bonfanti, Clairelouise Rivera, and Rishith Bhoopathi from Troy Hills Elementary, Parsippany, and Arjun Jadhav from Apple Montessori Elementary, Wayne. In addition, Aarjun Bodade, a freshman from Parsippany High School, is acting as team mentor. Nilesh and Meghana Bodade are the team coaches.
