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Street Dedication in Honor of SPC 5 Robert Ernest Sipe

PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, September 25, 2021, the Township of Parsippany presented a street dedication at 48 Scott Place in Mount Tabor in honor of SPC 5 Robert Ernest Sipe, killed in action during the Vietnam War on September 23, 1967.

Street dedication at 48 Scott Place in Mount Tabor

Sipe was a Specialist 5th Class and medical specialist in the United States Army; Robert was wounded on June 1, 1967, when he was hit by shrapnel from an explosive device and was awarded the purple heart.

Four months later, Robert was killed by a sniper bullet in Vietnam on September 23, 1967, while transporting supplies in the Vinh Binh province. He was killed instantly without suffering. Robert’s body was carried back to the road, and picked up by helicopter, and returned to the United States.

He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery on October 6, 1967.

Mayor Soriano presented a proclamation to his family:

Red Roof Inn Recently Sold

PARSIPPANY — Newmark Associates CRE announced the recent sale of a 3.44-acre property comprised of a 108-room Red Roof Hotel and an approximate 5,600 square feet freestanding restaurant, Qin Dynasty Restaurant.

The property is located at 855-857 Route 46 East. The owner was an undisclosed Newmark client whom Deborah Myers, Managing Director, has represented for several years in selling certain family assets. This is the third sale transaction she has facilitated on behalf of the owner in the last 18 months.

Remarking upon the unique challenges of completing this transaction, Ms. Myers commented: “With both motel and restaurant businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, the sellers were concerned about the timing of marketing such a property. However, seeking out and working closely with the right professional – a hospitality broker – who not only knew the nuances of this industry but who was also very familiar with local buyers and sellers of motel properties, was critical to the success of this transaction.”

Other unique aspects of the sale included “marketing specifically to motel/hotel operators attracted not only to the locale but to the idea of having a motel where they could put their own flag as a franchisee and also have the value-added opportunity of additional income from the separate enterprise of an onsite restaurant,” she said. “Finding the right operator for the motel, that is, someone who could work with an additional tenant inside the timing of the sale was also critical in the completion of the sale.”

Newmark Associates is Certified as a woman-owned business (WBENC) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, Newmark Associates is registered as a Supplier Diversity provider with corporate members.

Newmark Associates can be reached at (973) 884-4444 or sales@newmarkrealestate.com.

Newmark Associates CRE, located in Cedar Knolls celebrates more than 30 years in the commercial real estate industry as one of the top brokerage companies in the state and is recognized repeatedly with awards by both NJBIZ magazine and the CoStar Commercial Real Estate organization. With expertise in all asset classes, from lease and sales transactions, Newmark Associates customers range from regional, entrepreneurial firms to Fortune 500 companies.

Spectacularly Spooky Halloween Trunk-Or-Treat

PARSIPPANY —  Get ready for a ghoulishly good time this Halloween as the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills’ Recreation Department and the Parsippany Municipal Alliance hosts the Trunk-Or-Treat Extravaganza at the Onyx Equities Campus located at 7 Sylvan Way/8 Campus Drive.

This free event will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 31–rain or shine–and will feature treats, prizes, spooky music, and festive fun for all ages.

Cars will line the parking lot with festively decorated “car trunks” to provide a fun place for children to come to trick-or-treat safely. The event will feature a costume parade for kids, trunk decorating contests, and plenty of candy for all the trick-or-treaters who attend.

Registration for decorating your vehicle and handing out treats is now open and can be accessed through the Recreation Department Website by clicking here.

Groups, businesses, and individuals that would like to participate by having either a trunk or table – typically decorated with a Halloween theme – are also encouraged to register and take part in the event. The deadline to register is October 25 at 5:00 p.m.

“We’ve been looking forward to putting this event on for months, and we can’t wait to celebrate the holiday with all our trick-or-treaters,” said Mayor Michael Soriano. “Thanks to our continued partnership with Onyx and the support of our Municipal Alliance, we can put together an event that’s safe, spread out, and most importantly, exciting and fun for the whole family.”

“We had such a great time celebrating Fourth of July, and we’re excited to invite residents to our campus and help celebrate the spooky season,” said Kristen Pappas, SVP Property Management & Construction at Onyx Equities. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this event, and I can’t wait to see all the fun costumes, kids, and parents enjoying the day.”

Thanks to the size of the Onyx campus, there will be plenty of space for guests to park, walk around, and take part in the festivities safely.

“Safety for this event is of utmost importance for us,” said Sam Yodice, director of the Parsippany Police Athletic League, who is co-hosting the event with the Recreation Department. “COVID has made us re-think how we celebrate these events in person, but with the help of our police department and emergency services, along with the large space Onyx is providing the Township, we’re confident we can keep our guests safe so they can focus on having a great time with family and friends.”

For more information on the Trunk-Or-Treat Extravaganza, contact the Parsippany Recreation Department at (973) 263-7257, or email recreation@parsippany.net.

Bat-apalooza and Parsippany Green Fair

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany’s Green Team would like to invite you to the upcoming Bat-apalooza and Parsippany Green Fair, a one-of-a-kind educational and interactive festival on Saturday, October 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Main Library located at 449 Halsey Road.

This event will educate residents about the important role that bats play in our ecosystem and how they can help them; as well as providing information from local organizations about the work they’re doing to protect our environment. This family-friendly free event will be held rain or shine.

Bat-apalooza and the Parsippany Green Fair will feature outdoor displays from local organizations, as well as indoor educational presentations, live storytelling, arts and crafts, games, and prizes.

This event will kick off National Bat Week from October 24 – 31, ending with Halloween.

To find out more information click here.
For more information e-mail lisajplevin@gmail.com or AJAShotwell@gmail.com.

Keith Perry Who Broke Into Dogwood Lane Home Indicted For Burglary Ring

PARSIPPANY — Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck announced the indictment of a man who is charged with leading a criminal ring responsible for numerous residential burglaries across much of New Jersey.

The Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau obtained a state grand jury indictment on Wednesday, September 29, charging Keith Perry, 38, of Teaneck, with the following offenses:

  • Promoting Organized Street Crime (1st Degree),
  • Conspiracy (2nd Degree),
  • Burglary with a Weapon (2nd Degree),
  • 16 Additional Counts of Burglary (3rd Degree),
  • Receiving Stolen Property (2nd Degree), and
  • Theft by Unlawful Taking (2nd Degree).

On January 16, 2021, Perry entered 39 Dogwood Lane, Parsippany, with the purpose to commit an offense therein.

Perry was arrested in April 2021 in a far-reaching investigation in which numerous law enforcement agencies collaborated to investigate 84 burglaries committed from October 2020 through March 2021 in nine counties in New Jersey—Morris, Bergen, Essex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Union, Passaic, Monmouth, and Middlesex—as well as lower New York State. Two ring members who were charged with Perry in April—Porsche Brown, 29, of Lodi and Kay Brown, 23, of Paterson, (no relation to each other)—pleaded guilty on July 13 to third-degree burglary and are awaiting sentencing.

As detailed in the statement of probable cause in the criminal complaints filed in April, the burglaries involved a similar modus operandi and it is suspected that the same burglary ring was involved in each. The perpetrators forced entry through a doorway, usually in the afternoon or early evening, and stole cash, jewelry, and other valuables from the master bedroom and/or other areas of the residence. Well over half a million dollars in cash, jewelry, and other valuables were stolen in total in the 84 burglaries.

Perry is charged specifically in connection with 17 burglaries that occurred in Morris, Bergen, Essex, Somerset, Hunterdon, and Union Counties. In connection with the charge of burglary with a weapon, it is alleged that, during a burglary in Englewood on December 23, 2020, the homeowner confronted Perry, who made a motion inside his sweatshirt as though he had a gun and said, “I’ll shoot you.”

The multi-agency investigation was led by the Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Police, Verona Police Department, New Milford Police Department, and Teaneck Police Department, assisted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, and the 40 additional municipal police departments listed below.

“Thanks to the collaborative work of dozens of law enforcement agencies, we stopped this prolific burglary ring and its alleged leader,” said Acting Attorney General Bruck. “Day in and day out, law enforcement in New Jersey demonstrates the power of working together cooperatively to solve crimes and keep our residents safe.”

“I commend all of the law enforcement agencies that partnered to stop this brazen burglary ring, which forced entry into homes in the afternoon and early evening, potentially putting residents in danger,” said Director Lyndsay V. Ruotolo of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Instead of local police investigating each burglary in isolation, we had more than 40 law enforcement agencies sharing intelligence and working as a team to eliminate this threat.”

“Every agency involved with this investigation understood that it was paramount that we identify and apprehend the members of this ring because their willingness to commit these crimes while homeowners were present demonstrated that they were prepared to engage in confrontation, which could easily have escalated into violence,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “This investigation is an example of how the New Jersey law enforcement community can quickly band together and coordinate across multiple jurisdictions to dismantle a dangerous burglary ring.”

“This case highlighted the exceptional partnership shared among law enforcement agencies in New Jersey,” said Chief Christopher Kiernan of the Verona Police Department. “I must applaud Verona Detective TJ Conroy and Detective Lieutenant Timothy Banta who stayed with this case from the day of the Verona burglary in early December 2020, researching an enormous number of cases throughout the state, identifying similarities to Verona’s burglary, and breaking many leads. Their efforts and the teamwork of all of the participating agencies ultimately led to the arrests of individuals responsible for numerous burglaries throughout the state.”

To download the Perry indictment click here.

Perry was arrested on April 30, 2021, in North Carolina by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force on a warrant obtained by the Division of Criminal Justice. He was extradited to New Jersey and is being detained pending trial in the Morris County Correctional Facility.

Deputy Attorney General Matthew Lafargue is prosecuting the case for the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Specialized Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Jacqueline Smith, Bureau Chief Erik Daab, and DCJ Deputy Director Annmarie Taggart. Detectives Scott Caponi and Sang Han investigated for the Division of Criminal Justice, under the supervision of Deputy Chief of Detectives Robert Stemmer and Chief of Detectives Weldon Powell. DCJ Detective Shawn Gorlin, who is a member of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, led the fugitive investigation.

Detective Sgt. Brian Kearns, Investigator Erica Benedetti, and Investigator Jessica Butt investigated for the New Jersey State Police.

Detective Thomas J. Conroy III was the lead detective on the case for the Verona Police Department, under the supervision of Lt. Tim Banta.

The investigation by the New Milford Police Department Detective Bureau was supervised and conducted by Lt. Kevin VanSanders, Detective Sgt. Nelson Perez, Detective Derek Mattessich, Detective Brian Carlino, and Officer Adam Conboy.

Detective Gabriel Santiago was the lead detective for the Teaneck Detective Bureau.

Acting Attorney General Bruck thanked the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and all of the participating law enforcement agencies for their invaluable assistance.

In addition to the law enforcement agencies listed above, the following police departments participated in the collaborative investigation: Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, Bedminster Police Department, Berkeley Heights Police Department, Bernardsville Police Department, Boonton Police Department, Bridgewater Police Department, Cedar Grove Police Department, Clarkstown (N.Y.) Police Department, Clinton Township Police Department, Englewood Police Department, Fairview Police Department, Glen Rock Police Department, Hackensack Police Department, Haledon Police Department, Harrington Park Police Department, Holmdel Police Department, Little Falls Police Department, Livingston Police Department, Madison Police Department, Manalapan Police Department, Marlboro Police Department, Milburn Police Department, Monroe Police Department, Montclair Police Department, Montville Police Department, North Caldwell Police Department, North Haledon Police Department, Northvale Police Department, Paramus Police Department, Pearl River (N.Y.) Police Department, Randolph Police Department, Tenafly Police Department, Totowa Police Department, Warren Township Police Department, Washington Township Police Department (Bergen County), Watchung Police Department, Wayne Police Department, West Orange Police Department, Woodcliff Lake Police Department, and Wyckoff Police Department.

First-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation.  Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Flu Shots Now Available at Stop & Shop Pharmacies

MORRIS COUNTY — With the CDC urging everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccination by the end of October, Stop & Shop announced that flu shots are now available at its pharmacy locations across New Jersey. Per the State of New Jersey, Stop & Shop’s trained and trusted pharmacists are authorized to immunize patients 10 and older without documentation from their physician, and those 7 to 9 years of age with a patient-specific prescription and parental or custodial consent.

Customers in need of a COVID-19 vaccine or Pfizer COVID-19 boosters can receive both the flu and COVID-19 vaccine at once as the CDC has indicated that these vaccines may be administered alongside one another with no need for a waiting period. Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are available to patients 12 and older, and boosters to eligible individuals, all depending on individual store supply.

Stop & Shop is taking extensive health and safety precautions at its pharmacies and has secured additional stock of the flu vaccine, anticipating higher demand because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Stop & Shop has enhanced its health and safety protocols for vaccinations at all its pharmacies. To receive the flu, COVID-19, or other vaccine, customers will be required to wear face coverings, and pharmacists will be equipped with face coverings and gloves. The immunization area will have strict disinfecting and sanitization measures in place between each patient.

“Stop & Shop is ready to take care of its communities across New Jersey this flu season,” shares Jim Dinicola, Manager of Stop & Shop Pharmacies in New Jersey. “We are well-stocked and offer same-day immunizations without appointments. While prices associated with vaccinations are dependent upon customers’ insurance plans, most flu shots end up being low or no-cost. Stop & Shop aims to make it easy for everyone to get the care they need this fall.”

Stop & Shop offers several types of flu vaccines, and its licensed, trained, and trusted pharmacists can help each patient select the type that is best for them to address any concerns about allergies, preservatives, or potential adverse effects. Stop & Shop pharmacies also have an ample supply of COVID-19 vaccines, Pfizer COVID-19 boosters, shingles, pneumonia, and tetanus vaccines available, and customers should consult their local Stop & Shop pharmacist on all other immunizations that may be available and valuable to them and their families.

To find a Stop & Shop Pharmacy near you, to view which vaccine is available in your local Stop & Shop Pharmacy, or to schedule, a vaccination appointment click here.

Rise in Morris County Suicides, Hope One provides Resources

MORRIS COUNTY — September is National Suicide Prevention Month.  Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, and President of the Morris County Police Chiefs Association, Mount Olive Police Chief Stephen Beecher report an increase in suicide rates this year in Morris County and remind residents that resources are available.

Suicide rates have continued to rise in the last three years. In 2019, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Section and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to 27 suicides.  The statistic rose to 30 suicides in 2020 and the county has already responded to 36 suicides year to date this year.

Sheriff James M. Gannon said, “Suicides are up drastically in comparison to previous years. There’s a lot going on in the world.  COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, isolation and hopelessness are affecting people. We have available services to Morris County residents through Hope One.  No one should feel alone.”

Hope One travels four times a week to locations throughout Morris County, bringing services to persons in need. A Sheriff’s Officer, licensed mental health professional, and a certified peer recovery specialist staff the vehicle. They offer mental health services and help people access services and Narcan training.  The stigma-free environment offers conversation and critical support through the Mental Health Association of Essex & Morris.  Hope One has provided 61 mental health services this year and 236 to date from April 3, 2017.

To find Hope One locations and times click here.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:  1-800-273-8255 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741

Driver In Suspicious Vehicle Will Not Be Charged

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Police Department announced “A man involved in a “suspicious” incident at a Parsippany school bus stop will not be charged. Authorities determined that no criminal offense occurred.

The driver, a male in his 60’s,  traveled by a girl who was standing alone at her school bus stop in the Intervale area Tuesday morning. He turned around, stopped near her, called her “pretty” and then left, authorities said. (Click here to read the complete story)

Parsippany Police located the vehicle and the driver Wednesday morning. After questioning the man about the incident and his intent, authorities determined that no crime took place.

Crunch Fitness Holds Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting

PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, September 18, Mayor Michael Soriano, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso, Executive Board Member Frank Cahill was on hand to cut the ribbon celebrating the grand opening of Crunch Fitness.

Crunch Fitness is located at 790 Route 46, Arlington Shopping Center.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Committee presents Jennifer Vardaro, Manager, with a plaque welcoming Crunch to Parsippany

ShopRite Well Fitness was demonstrating products during the Grand Opening
Tabitha Gessling, George Suppa, and Bonnie Gessling from Lake Hiawatha Swim Club
Crunch Fitness is located at 790 Route 46, Arlington Shopping Center
Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Committee presented Crunch Fitness with a plaque welcoming them to Parsippany

At Crunch, there are no judgments. No “too much” or “not enough.” No glares of disapproval. Here, we keep open minds. Here, we’re nurturers, seeking only to encourage and empower. We know that when it comes to fitness, there’s no one type, no one reason, and no one way. We’re a diverse community working together to create a culture of fun where there’s room for everyone. We’re here because we’re excited to help you reach your goals, and we know that in our clean, open space complete with real weights, tons of cardio, group fitness classes, world-class personal trainers, and more, you’ll have no trouble doing just that.

For more information click here. To receive a free trial click here.

Ciattarelli to Speak at Town Hall Event

PARSIPPANY — Republican Candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli will appear at a Town Hall Event on Sunday, October 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, 100 Centertown Drive.

The event is free to attend, but RSVP is required. Text PARSIPPANY to 21776.

For questions or concerns, please contact Seven Szemple at (732) 259-8975 or email sszemple@jack4nj.com

 

Mt. Tabor Fire Department Building Dedication and Open House

PARSIPPANY — The Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department held a building dedication and “wet down” on Saturday, September 25 at its Tarn Drive and Route 53 location.

Mount Tabor Fire Commissioner Jeff Berry

They welcomed their new Engine 13, a 2021 E-One Typhoon Pumper.

Dunk Tank

The festivities began with the building dedication ceremony, hosted by the Board of Fire Commissioners, followed by Live Music with DJ Josh Christie, delicious food by Chef’s Catering, beer and soda from High-Grade Beverage, 50/50, plastic mugs, ceramic mugs, and limited edition Wet down T-Shirts!

Saturday’s celebration brought out fun for all ages

The fire department moved May 5 into its new facility, which features more than twice the square footage of the former firehouse, a place to keep Parsippany-Troy Hill Emergency Ambulance, and several amenities.

Saturday’s celebration brought out fun for all ages.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Member Paul Carifi, Jr., Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, and Council President Michael dePierro

Dunn Slams Murphy for Stranding Children, Failing to Address School Bus Driver Shortage

MORRIS COUNTY — There have been statewide business shutdowns, statewide Covid mandates, but no statewide solution to the school bus driver shortage that is affecting children’s constitutional right to access education, says Assemblywoman Aura Dunn.
Reports show school districts have been largely left to figure out the problem on their own, with some altering routes and schedules to accommodate the shortage or even offering parents as much as $1,000 to drive their kids to school. Other students have had to rely on public transportation, Uber and Lyft, or endure hours-long delays on school buses that are running.
“It’s appalling that parents and individual school districts are being forced to cobble together fixes for the school bus shortage while the Murphy administration barely acknowledges that there is even an issue. Other states have governors who have stepped up and figured it out and our children deserve the same,” Dunn (R-Morris) said.
In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker activated the National Guard to drive school buses, while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan are working on streamlining the process to secure a commercial driver’s license and schedule an appointment at the motor vehicle agency.
“There was plenty of time to plan for this, but we know from prior experience that the Motor Vehicle Commission doesn’t think ahead,” Dunn said.
Following the months-long government-mandated shutdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus, drivers were met with long lines and excessive wait times at reopened MVC agencies.
“This is a safety and accessibility issue that needs to be immediately addressed,” Dunn added. “Children in Paterson and Camden are being forced out of the classrooms and back into remote learning because they can’t get to school. It’s unacceptable. I am asking the governor, the Department of Education, and the MVC to put a plan into action to remedy the situation.”
Aside from saying “all options are on the table” at his weekly coronavirus briefing, Murphy has avoided stating specific measures to address the school bus driver shortage.

Kiwanis Donates to Children Fund

PARSIPPANY — On behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, Lt. Governor Frank Cahill presented New Jersey District Kiwanis International Governor Joseph “Joey G” Giordano with a donation to New Jersey District Foundation Children’s Fund.

For more information on Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, click here.

Parsippany Honors the Late William C. Taylor, Jr.

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano presented a proclamation to the family of the late William C. Taylor, Jr., on Tuesday, September 21 at a council meeting.

Taylor served as a councilman from 1981 to 1983. He was President and Liaison on the Township Planning Board; he was the President of the Par-Troy Little League West and took great pride in building all the baseball fields located there; he was a proud small business owner of the Texaco Station in Parsippany from 1975 to 1985, from which he donated the chain-link fence that surrounds Parsippany Hills High School.

William also served on the Republican Committee for his district for a number of years; he was the Director of Government Affairs at Trammell-Crow, where he designed the Mazdabrook Development on Smith Road; he also owned his own construction company from which he proudly built over 200 homes in Parsippany.

Patty Taylor with Mayor Michael Soriano
The Taylor Family

Talyor was a decorated Marksman/Sniper in the United States Marine Corps, where he also served as Military Police onboard the USS Springfield from 1962 to 1966; he was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal.

 

BettyLou DeCroce Sworn In as President of Parsippany Rotary

PARSIPPANY — BettyLou DeCroce was sworn in as President of Parsippany Rotary on Tuesday, September 21.

In addition, Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi was installed as Vice President.

Rotary District Officers installed all the new officers and presented a plaque to our outgoing president Venkat Bijala.

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts live at both the local and international levels.

Parsippany Rotary Club meets the first and third Tuesday at 7:47 a.m., at Parsippany IHOP, 792 Route 46.

For more information on Parsippany Rotary Club, click here.

 

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany Adds Two New Members

PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany added two new members on Thursday, September 23 at its breakfast meeting held at First Watch.

Aisha Mahmood was sponsored by Justin Musella and Eddie Astone was sponsored by Karen DeChristopher.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany Laura Wohland said “Kiwanis is something so good that each of us loves to share it. What better way to show our love for our club and our community than to welcome two new members to our club? Today we’re very pleased to welcome Aisha and Eddie to our club. We welcome Aisha and Eddie to our global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.”

Eddie Astone and Karen DeChristopher
Aisha Mahmood and Justin Musella
Karen DeChristopher pins Eddie Astone

The New Jersey District of Kiwanis International currently has 79 active Kiwanis Clubs, with a total of 1463 members. Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany has a total of 79 active members as of Thursday, September 22.

During the pandemic, Kiwanis Operation Feeding Morris County has distributed over 200,000 pounds of food, to 5,255 families, over 8,000 children with a retail value of over $525,000.

“Kiwanis Operation Feeding Morris County” was started in December by Kiwanis Club of Greater Roxbury President Cain Pope and has spread to many Morris County Kiwanis Club and other clubs in New Jersey as far away as Asbury Park, South Orange, Maplewood, Clifton, and Bridgewater.

For more information on Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany click here.

Morris County National Coming Out Day to be Held

MORRIS COUNTY — The public is invited to attend the first annual Morris County National Coming Out Day on Saturday, October 9, from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m. Light refreshments, food, and music.

The event is a collaboration with LGBTQ+ liaisons from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris Township Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and Morristown Police Department, and is intended to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the LGBTQ+ community in providing a safe environment. Health and wellness resources will be provided for education and awareness.

Annually observed on October 11, National Coming Out Day is intended to support LGBTQ+ individuals and sometimes individuals outside the LGBTQ+ community to “come out.”

This event will be held at 10 Court Street (between Morris County Superior Court and Morris County Administration Building.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Regular Meeting – September 21, 2021

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Regular Meeting – September 21, 2021.

Click here to view the agenda.

Recycling Center Will Remain Open on Weekends

PARSIPPANY — During Tuesday’s Township Council meeting, Mayor Michael Soriano announced that the Township Recycling Center will continue to operate on its normal schedule, which includes 8 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Saturdays.

The center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on weekdays.

The recycling center is located on Pump House Road, near the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department and the U.S. Postal Service.

“There was concern that keeping the Recycling Center open on Saturdays could result in deeper financial consequences, based on early budget speculations,” said Mayor Michael Soriano. “Finance has now assured us that this won’t be the case.”

Pennacchio Blasts Murphy’s Mask Mandate for 2-Year-Olds

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy’s latest COVID directive requiring children two years and older to wear masks in childcare centers drew the ire of Senator Joe Pennacchio, who called the order “useless and unworkable.”

“Every parent who has ever tried to get a photo of their two-year-old in a Halloween mask knows this rule is futile,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “When you put any covering on a 2-year-olds’ face, they instinctively grab it and pull it off.

“The Governor knows this. He knows his mandate is impossible to accomplish and impossible to enforce.”

The mask requirement was included in an executive order signed by Murphy on Monday giving workers at daycare centers five weeks to be fully vaccinated for COVID or face weekly testing for the virus.

“This is the latest of a long list of edicts that haven’t made any sense,” Pennacchio said. “Masks were required for outdoor visitors to the beaches and state parks, and restaurants were forced to close at 10:00 p.m. as if the virus became more contagious later in the night. Prisons were opened up while orders sealed the virus among the elderly and frail in nursing homes with devastating effects. And now two-year-olds crawling around behind masks. None of this ever made any sense.

“Daycare workers are going to spend all day changing dirty diapers and masks and chasing after kids who lost their masks,” Pennacchio said.

The Senator again questioned where is the science and data to support this type of edict.

Initial COVID studies last year showed that COVID had a minimal effect on young children. A Yale University study of more than 57,000 childcare centers in the U.S. determined that keeping facilities open does not contribute to the transmission of COVID.

A research review of 11 studies measuring virus transmission in child care and preschool settings determined “evidence suggests that early learning programs are not associated with increased risk of contracting COVID-19 when health and safety precautions are in place.”

Pennacchio noted that more recent studies continue to indicate that “young children are at low risk for developing COVID-19 but also don’t play a significant role in the spread” of the virus.

“Trying to force a room full of two- and three-year-olds to keep their masks on for the duration of the workday is a foolish waste of time,” said Pennacchio. “It’s just more nonsense from the front office in Trenton.”

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