Former Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano
PARSIPPANY — In a video on Former Mayor James Dodd’s Facebook Page, he states Former Mayor Michael Soriano was hired as the “Town Administrator in the Town of Dover.” Here is a copy of the video posted on Facebook.
Parsippany Focus reached out to Former Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano and he said “Believing in rumors and spreading them is harmful to everyone involved, including the person spreading them. It’s an interesting coincidence that this was posted on April 1st. I don’t know where Mayor Dodd got his misinformation from, but it looks like he fell for an April Fool’s Joke. Well, the joke is on him. I already have a job, and it is outside of Morris County. Dover is a great town, however, I am not now, nor will I ever work in Dover Townhall.”
The Godfather recently held their ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Parsippany location
PARSIPPANY — The Godfather recently held their ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Parsippany location. They are located in the Troy Hills Shopping Center, 1125 Route 46.
Frank Cahill, Chairman, Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Advisory Committee presented the owners with a plaque thanking them for choosing Parsippany
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio, Economic Development Advisory Committee Chairman Frank Cahill, and Vice-Chairman Dr. Bhagirath Maheta joined owners, James, Jason, and Jerry Forte.
Also joining in the celebration were Councilman Justin Musella, Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., and Councilman Frank Neglia, Morris County Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen, Commissioner Stephen Shaw, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso, Board Members Ildiko Peluso, and Nicolas Limanov.
The Godfather was originally founded in 1975 by Jerry Forte in East Hanover.
Jason Forte proudly displaying a fresh cheese pizza
He brought all of the “old world” values, traditions, and recipes over from Bisaccia, Italy with him.
Since then, The Godfather has been bringing all of Northern NJ’s authentic Italian food and pizza to the delight of the masses for over 47 years. They have since opened a second location in Morristown back in 2014, and now proudly present their third location here in lovely Parsippany.
They are thrilled to serve this community our restaurant-quality pasta, seafood, and pizza for takeout and delivery for years and years to come. We thank everyone for all the kind words, wishes, and support we’ve received through these rough post-pandemic times that sadly took a toll on the entire restaurant industry.
“We thank the town of Parsippany for welcoming us with open arms. Our sincerest gratitude to all of you,” said James Forte.
The Godfather has a wide selection of pizza
The Godfather Parsippany is located at 1125 Route 46. (973) 794-4200. Click here to view the website.
The Godfather East Hanover is located at 200 Route 10. (973) 887-4830. Click here to view the website.
The Godfather Morristown is located at 10 Lafayette Avenue. (862) 260-9500. Click here to view the website.
Roast Beef and American Cheese with the worksMediterranean Salad
MORRIS COUNTY — Spring brings more than April flowers and May Day, as the Morris County Chamber of Commerce is welcoming in the warmer weather with several signature events open to both members and the general public.
The chamber will host the 29th Annual Partners in Economic Development Awards Tuesday, April 19, at the Hyatt Regency Morristown. The theme of the event is ESG IMPACT: environmental, social, and governance. ESG criteria are an increasingly popular way for investors to evaluate companies and addressing ESG requires tremendous coordination to align on issues from climate change to human rights to transparent accounting. The chamber has invited corporate leaders who are succeeding in this space to share their best ideas when it comes to the environment, sustainability and governance. The keynote speaker will be Angela Ortiz, director of ESG & Sustainability at Public Service Enterprise Group, who leads the development and implementation of the sustainability, ESG, and climate strategies at a corporate level. The luncheon also will feature a panel discussion and the 2022 awards for the largest real estate transactions of 2020 and 2021. For more information or to register click here.
The chamber will host 16th Annual Not for Profit Conference on Thursday, April 28, at the Hilton Parsippany. The event, this year titled “Reconnecting and Rebuilding: Lessons Learned,” will feature keynote speaker Jonathan R. Pearson, director of corporate social responsibility and executive director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. There also will be a panel discussion with local nonprofit leaders and a 2022 Not For Profit Excellence Awards presentation. For more information or to register click here.
Then the chamber’s Annual Golf Classic will be held on Monday, June 6, at Spring Brook Country Club in Morristown, from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The day of networking and golf includes lunch, golf, a cocktail reception, a dinner buffet, the Business and Community Service Award ceremony, and a silent auction. Non-golfers are welcome to join just the evening festivities. For more information or to register click here.
Also planned are the Legislative Luncheon on April 29, with the presentation of the Alex DeCroce Public Service and Leadership Award to Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, and a Women in Business luncheon on May 18. To learn more about any of these events and/or to register, please visit the chamber’s website click here, and go to Events.
“These signature events of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce are excellent opportunities for both members and guests to gather, network, and learn,” said Meghan Hunscher, chamber president. “They also give guests a wonderful feel for what the chamber has to offer businesses and nonprofits of all sizes. Please join us.”
The Morris County Chamber of Commerce has more than 700 member organizations that range from entrepreneurs and small businesses to large corporations and Fortune 500 companies. The chamber’s mission is to collaboratively advance the interests of its members to champion a thriving business and community environment. The chamber’s many events, meetings, and seminars provide a platform for its members to connect, collaborate, learn and succeed. The chamber is dedicated to the advancement of Morris County’s businesses and community by providing services, information, and advocacy to support the success of its member organizations. They are headquartered in Florham Park.
Director Tayfun Selen (center) presents the resolution to the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce: (r-l) Robert Medina, Madeline Que, Pablo Garita, Chairman Ralph Tejeda, Hope Field, Co-Founder Esperanza Field, Christina Field, Oscar Vargas and Karel Alvarez
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County’s Board of County Commissioners presented a “Resolution of Honor” last night to the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce, recognizing and praising the organization’s more than 30 years of service to the community.
“The Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce began in 1989 as an idea. That idea became an organization that is now nationally and internationally known for its work promoting and advancing the interests of Hispanic-American small business owners, professionals, and organizations within Morris County and across the nation,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen as he presented the framed resolution during the board’s public meeting.
The resolution noted the Chamber has been repeatedly praised as one of the “Best Chambers in the Northeast,” including at last year’s Annual Convention of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Chairman Ralph Tejeda thanked the Commissioners for the resolution of honor
“We are grateful for the recognition of the work of our Board of Directors, our corporate advisory council, and our advisors for all we do for our neighbors and our community,” said Ralph Tejeda, Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors, additionally thanking the Commissioners for the Morris County Small Business Grant Program launched last month.
Apply at No-Cost for Up To $15,000 in Small Businesses Grants. (Click here for more information)
“We represent the Hispanic population in Morris County, which is currently 14 percent, as well as support the 9,000 minority business owners in this county. We have a lot to do and we look forward to collaborating with the private sector and the government institutions to make progress for all,” Tejeda added.
Chamber leaders in attendance included Esperanza Field, who co-founded the organization and holds the title of President Emeritus.
Also participating were her daughters, Christina Field, who is Vice-Chair and Foundation President, and Hope Field, Chair of the Chamber’s Corporate Advisory Council and past president. Chamber Directors in attendance included Robert Medina, Oscar Vargas, Pablo Garita, and Madeline Que. Also participating was Karel Alvarez, Secretary to the Board and a U.S. Army Veteran.
Commissioner Douglas Cabana, the longest-serving member of the Board of Commissioners, recalled the emergence of the Chamber over the past three decades.
“I remember when Esperanza came before us with this idea, and now look. All your hard effort and work paid off with a very successful organization, and I am glad we were able to support you and we will continue to support you because the backbone of our economy here in Morris County and the U.S. is a small business,” Cabana said.
The resolution presented to the Chamber recognized and commended the organization for more than 30 years of outstanding service to the community, and wished “the very best in continuing its wonderful work for many years to come.”
MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio reacted to word that the Senate Democrats will launch a special legislative committee to review delays with legal marijuana sales in the state, reiterating calls for a Senate Select Committee investigation of nursing home deaths during the pandemic.
“The Legislature is going to get to the bottom of legal pot paralysis. While we’re at it, let’s get rolling with a bipartisan panel to examine the policies and decisions that may have contributed to 10,000 COVID-related nursing home deaths,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “Prioritizing an investigation into the shortcomings of legal marijuana in New Jersey is an insult to the souls lost in nursing homes and their loved ones. It makes no sense.
“It shouldn’t be ‘either/or.’ The horrible loss of life in senior care facilities across the state reflects the heart-breaking failure of a system intended to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” Pennacchio continued.
Since May 11, 2020, when he announced his resolution to form a bipartisan investigative Senate Select Oversight Committee, Pennacchio has pressed Democrats to consider the factors behind the nursing home carnage, including a directive from the Administration requiring facilities to admit patients with COVID and prohibiting them from testing residents for the virus.
“We need to understand what was going on inside the nursing homes, and how directives from the Administration impacted the level of patient care and the spread of the virus inside locked-down, isolated facilities. There’s no reason the Senate can’t scrutinize both issues,” said Pennacchio.
“The families who lost loved ones during the pandemic are desperate for answers. With bipartisan support, we can address their questions and take steps to prevent similar tragedies in the future,” the Senator concluded.
Sarah Niebert, Nicolas Limanov, Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Justin Musella and Christine Myers
On Saturday, Councilman Justin Musella spearheaded a day of trash clean up and over fifty volunteers showed up to help
PARSIPPANY — A few years ago, Lake Hiawatha resident Jacqueline Corvino noticed a bunch of trash all over the streets of her beloved neighborhood in the town that she loved. She started picking up trash along her daily walks, bit by bit. After she realized that wasn’t making enough of a difference, she started spending her Saturdays doing the same thing on a much larger scale.
Her trash clean-up effort started to get legs, attracting all kinds of residents who cared about cleaning up Parsippany.
On Saturday, Councilman Justin Musella spearheaded a day of trash clean up and over fifty volunteers showed up to help.
“I’ve never met anyone so selfless as Jackie. She has no personal agenda. She just wants Parsippany to be clean and restored to its natural beauty.”, said Musella
Mayor Barberio, who also attended, gave a Mayoral shout out to the Parsippany Green Team, SEWA USA volunteers, and Township residents, “Thank you for cleaning up the Park and Ride on Route 46 and helping to bring back the Pride in Parsippany”.
Two Mendham women, Sarah Niebert and Christine Myers also answered the call to help. They are running this June for Morris County Commissioner.
Trash Clean-Up Attracts Over 50 Volunteers to Help
Councilman Frank Neglia and Mayor James Bsrberio visit the Easter Bunny
PARSIPPANY — The bunny will visit Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Building from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2 for photos and handing out treats to children.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Building is located at 1001 Parsippany Boulevard.
MORRIS COUNTY — Early voting for the 2022 Primary Election begins Friday, June 3. There will be early voting machines throughout Morris County. All registered voters in Morris County are eligible to vote early.
Starting on Friday, June 3 (from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.), Saturday, June 4 (from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and Sunday, June 5 (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.), Parsippany residents can go to any of the eight sites and vote on a voting machine. Voters may also mail in their ballots or use the drop boxes located in Morris County.
The locations in Morris County are:
Morris Plains – Central Park of Morris County; 2 Executive Drive
Boonton – The Boonton Township Municipal Building; 155 Powerville Road
Denville – Denville Town Hall Community Room; 1 St. Mary’s Place
Whippany – Hanover Community Center; 15 North Jefferson Road
Madison – Madison Hartly Dodge Memorial; 50 Kings Road
Morristown – Morristown Municipal Building; 200 South Street
Mount Arlington – Mount Arlington Civic/Senior Center; 18 North Glen Avenue
Mount Olive – Mount Olive Municipal Building; 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road, Budd Lake
Apply for a vote-by-mail ballot and return it one of the following ways:
1. Mail: It must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 7 and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before Monday, June 13.
2. Secure Ballot Drop Box: Place it in one of the county’s secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.
3. Board of Elections Office: Deliver it in person to the county’s Board of Elections Office by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.
Or, vote in person at your polling place, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, June 7. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities.
Party Change Deadline- April 13, 2022
Voter Registration Deadline – Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Election Day – Tuesday, June 7, 2022
NOTE: Vote-by-mail ballots CAN NOT be returned to your polling place for this election.
In-Person Polling Locations in Parsippany on Tuesday, June 7 are from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
To find your current polling location, check your sample ballot for your ward and district as shown in the example above.
Election Official: Khaled Madin, Municipal Clerk
Phone: (973) 263-4357 Fax: (973) 263-2051
Polling Locations in Parsippany Troy-Hills Township:
District
Location
1, 4, 11, 13, 39
Brooklawn Middle School
Girls Aux Gym Room
250 Beachwood Rd
Parsippany, NJ 07054
MORRIS COUNTY — Food banks and community pantries could continue using single-use plastic and paper bags for an additional six months under a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Aura Dunn and passed by the Assembly and Senate on Thursday.
New Jersey’s strictest-in-the-nation single-use bag ban goes into effect on May 4. Stores and food service businesses will be prohibited from selling or providing single-use plastic or paper carryout bags to customers. Dunn’s bill (A2065) gives food banks until November to come into compliance with the law.
“People who cannot afford food also can’t afford to pay for a bag to carry the donations they rely on to feed their families. As costs rise due to inflation, people are making sacrifices, but feeding your family shouldn’t be one of those,” Dunn (R-Morris) said.
Under the bill, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is required to proportionally distribute 500,000 reusable bags to food banks and pantries like soup kitchens throughout the state.
“This bill prevents the plastic and paper bag ban from having unintended, but negative impacts on those who are struggling. Examining the real-world consequences of our laws is imperative to find a solution that supports these nonprofits and the communities they serve,” Dunn added.
Joe Nametko, the mayor of Netcong, says the town’s community food bank provides meals and supplies to 150 to 175 people on average each week since the second week of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kiwanis Clubs in Northern New Jersey, including Parsippany, Roxbury, and Rockaway have been supplying food since COVID-19 and have distributed 478,400 pounds of food serving 11,980 families, 23,121 children with a retail value of over $800,000.
“During weeks leading up to holidays, the number of meals we provide in the way of pre-bagged food items goes much higher,” Nametko said. “Currently, residents who can afford to purchase their own food are kind enough to bring their used plastic bags to our foodbank where they are inspected and eventually re-used. As a member of the Morris County Solid Waste Advisory, I do my best to ensure packaging that finds its way to our foodbank is recycled, reused, or repurposed. This measure gives us the gift of time to adopt new ways to ensure our operations are not only meeting the law, but our community needs.”
The slate of new Officers include Robert Adamo – President; Joseph Jannarone, Jr. - First Vice President; Michael Fazzio - Second Vice President; Michael Zambito – Treasurer, Nicholas Jannarone - Recording Secretary, Sean Clark - Sargent at Arms and Philip Parziale – Orator.
PARSIPPANY — There was not an empty seat in the trattoria at the March monthly meeting of the Sons of Italy as members came out in force to celebrate the swearing-in of Lodge 2561’s new slate of Officers for 2022-2024. The Lodge was honored to have in attendance the National Financial Secretary and Past State President, Lou Santoro, and N.J. State Trustee, Joe Saetta, who together administered the Oath of Office to all the newly elected Lodge Officials.
Assuming the reins of Office from Immediate Past President, John Lonero, was long time Lodge member and Parsippany resident, Robert Adamo. President Lonero, who was credited with a highly productive term of office commented, “It’s been an honor to serve as Sons of Italy President for the past two years. COVID 19 presented challenges, but I’m proud of how our Lodge stepped up and raised funds for the charities we support.”
The slate of new Officers include:
Robert Adamo – President
Joseph Jannarone, Jr. – First Vice President
Michael Fazzio – Second Vice President
Michael Zambito – Treasurer
Nicholas Jannarone – Recording Secretary
Sean Clark – Sargent at Arms
Philip Parziale – Orator
Trustees: James Torsiello, John Gangone, Frank Campisano, Robert Wilhalme, and Edgard Mercado.
Trustees: James Torsiello, John Gangone, Frank Campisano, Robert Wilhalme, and Edgard Mercado.
Committee Chairs include Michael dePierro, Scholarships; Louis Amato, Food/Special Events; Joseph Jannarone, Jr., Fundraising/Philanthropic; James Torsiello, Golf Outing; and Patrick Minutillo, social media.
On a local level, Lodge 2561 is an affiliated member of the Supreme Lodge of the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, the largest and longest established Italian American organization in the United States, founded in 1905 in Little Italy, NYC as a support system to assist Italian immigrants assimilating into their new Country. Today the organization has over 600,000 current members and supporters throughout the Country.
Morris County’s Lodge, one of 29 Lodges in N.J., is a non-profit organization that proudly contributes thousands of dollars to worthwhile local charities and families in need. Among the causes that Lodge 2561 supports are; The Parsippany Food Pantry, St. Peter’s Church, St. Ann’s Church, Battered Woman’s Shelter of Morris County, High School Scholarships, The Valerie Fund, Parsippany Day Care Center, Cooley’s Anemia, and St. Jude’s, among others. The Lodge regularly purchases and dispenses gift cards from locations such as Shop Rite and Walmart to assist families in need. The group, with some great Italian Chefs, is also known to generously prepare several delicious Italian-style dinners each year to assist local causes.
Lodge 2561 currently boasts approximately 100 community-minded members and meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at a local restaurant, where lodge business and upcoming charitable endeavors and needs of the community are addressed.
The organization’s National Headquarters is located near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., with a mission to preserve Italian culture in the United States, while identifying solutions to the problems and issues facing Italian Americans today. The charitable arm of the organization has invested more than $164 million in scholarships, medical research, cultural preservation, disaster relief, and other causes.
To learn more about Lodge 2561 and their upcoming events, visit their website by clicking here or “Like” their Facebook page at Order Sons of Italy in America ~ Lodge 2561.
Councilman Frank Neglia and Councilman Justin Musella and Mayor James Barberio congratulate incoming President Robert AdamoIncoming President Robert Adamo presented Lou Amato and Joe Jannarone, Jr., with a plaque thanking them for their service as President
PARSIPPANY — Enrollment for the 9th Annual Morris County Public Safety Youth Academy has opened, with limited space available for the intensive week-long course for young Morris County women and men entering grades 9-12.
The deadline to apply is April 18, 2022. Click here for the application.
The academy will be held from July 25 to July 29 at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, Parsippany.
The program, run by the Morris County Department of Law & Public Safety/Office of Emergency Management, in partnership with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and Morris County Park Police, and funded by the Morris County Board of Commissioners, is a five-day program that is open to all Morris County students who are enrolled in Grades 9-12 in the fall of 2022.
The program is free of charge to the cadets and their families.
The Academy is a uniquely designed program that provides high school students exposure to and a better understanding of the various facets within the field of public safety. This program has been designed to target Morris County’s young adults at a time when they are making decisions regarding their future education and careers.
Commissioner Thomas J. Mastrangelo
“They are in the process of making educational and life commitments that could potentially impact their careers, their character, and their communities,” said Morris County Commissioner Doug Cabana. “We want to give them a chance to see if public safety might be a way for them to go.”
“This is an investment in the youth of our county, and a chance to interest some of the brightest young people who live in Morris County to consider being future leaders in our vitally important public safety team,”’ said Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo, who is the county governing board’s co-liaison to the Department of Law and Public Safety.
PARSIPPANY — Over 300 pounds of holiday string lights, that would have ended up in a landfill, have been recycled for scrap by the Parsippany Green Team.
In cooperation with Parsippany Town Hall, the holiday string light collection began last December and was set to last just a few months. The response from residents was very positive and the recycling endeavor will continue indefinitely.
Parsippany residents can drop off old (screw-in bulb lights) and new (LED type) lights that work or don’t work at designated collection bins at two locations: Parsippany Recycling Center, 1 Pump House Road, and Parsippany P.A.L., 33 Baldwin Road.
“Residents use holiday lights year-round, not only for popular holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween but for birthdays, anniversaries, and interiors, but they seem to have a short life span,” states Matt Kavanaugh, Parsippany Green Team Leader. “Recycling holiday lights keeps them out of landfills and repurposes them for future use.
The Parsippany Green Team, comprised of volunteer residents, helped the town achieve bronze status for Sustainable Jersey. The string light collection will be submitted as an action for Sustainable Jersey initiatives for 2022. For more information click here.
Christopher "Chris" Peter Stephen Findley died suddenly on Sunday, February 27
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany’s native and beloved dad Christopher “Chris” Peter Stephen Findley died suddenly on Sunday, February 27. He was 38.
Born at Hackettstown Memorial Hospital, Findley grew up in Morristown and attended Parsippany Hills and Morristown High Schools.
Findley then went on to study business administration at the County College of Morris in Randolph before moving to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 2013, his memorial says.
Findley worked for a roofing company and later studied Humanities with a concentration in Global Interest at Northern State University in Aberdeen.
Findley’s life path then took him to Tampa, Florida, where he launched a business called All-in-1 Repair Pros, LLC, and received a Top Gun Award.
In addition to his daughter, Findley leaves behind his loving mother, Patricia; his father, Tommy; his brothers and sisters, Trischan Findley, Nikita-Symone Arianna Findley, BrittenieBowen, Michael Pastucci, Jose Avila, Amy Avila, Travell Robinson, and Felicia Robinson; as well as numerous extended family members and close friends.
Findley’s funeral was held at Bethel A.M.E. Church on Spring Street in Morristown on Saturday, March 19.
Celebrating the grand opening of Malan Salon & MedSpa
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.
Nifty Novelists Founders Prisha Suresh and Akshara Kumar with Michele Picone, Director of Health and Human Services Parsippany-Troy Hills
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.
Gourmet Café (Italian Restaurant) is located at 136 Baldwin, Parsippany. For reservations call (973) 316-0088.
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.