PARSIPPANY — Transformare Bellezza, a local body sculpting clinic and medical spa will be donating 5% of all sales during the month of October to the Palma family. Owner, Danielle DeLuca will be personally matching the amount raised at the end of the month.
Danielle DeLuca
Transformare Bellezza is located at 739 Edwards Road, Suite A, Parsippany. For more information click here. For more information call (862) 283-8554.
On Sunday, September 19, 2021, Danny Palma, East Hanover, was in a horrific motorcycle accident on what should have been a beautiful day with his dad and fellow bikers. Dan was hit head-on by a truck and was airlifted to a Level 1 Trauma Center in New York where surgical teams worked on Dan for three grueling days.
Danny Palma of East Hanover is currently hospitalized at Westchester Medical Center after the crash and requires several surgeries, according to a GoFundMe launched by Susan Sodano Palma, who says Palma is a nephew. (Click here to donate to his GoFundMe page). At the time this article was published $32,615 has been raised.
“…Danny Palma was involved in a horrific, major motorcycle accident,” says Sodano. “For those of you that know Danny, he is one of the most hard-working, kindest, and funniest person you may know. Danny has always been so selfless and family-oriented so it’s hard to say, our family is heartbroken by this tragedy.”
Dan Palma is 25-years old, graduated from Montclair State University in 2018, and has lived in East Hanover his whole life. He owns and operates a successful business, P&D Auto Sales, located in Rockaway. In addition, Dan has worked alongside his dad at their family-owned business, Rockaway Service, which has been providing services to the community for 38 years. Dan has touched many lives with his generosity and kindness.
MORRIS COUNTY — Robert A. Zwigard is a life-long resident of New Jersey and currently resides in East Hanover was honored by JBWS during their Autumn Auction for Hope.
He is happily married to Dina Zwigard, who is a frontline responder, Respiratory Therapist at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston. Rob and Dina have two beautiful daughters Madison Anne, 16, and Morgan Celia, 13.
Rob is the son of Marlene and Robert Zwigard and the older brother to Bradley Zwigard. Rob attended East Hanover grammar schools and Seton Hall Preparatory High School in West Orange. Rob is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.
Professionally, Zwigard has a career in the financial services industry and is currently a member of Beacon Wealth Management Group LP.
In the financial service industry, he specializes in Investment Planning, Employee Benefit, and Estate Planning, and he is Board Certified in Estate Planning, BCE.
Charitable work and giving back have always been a common theme in Rob’s life. Rob has served with the Knights of Setonia, the Italian American Club, and has mentored and tutored underprivileged youth.
Rob currently serves on the Board of the Seton Hall Prep Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and the Board of the Seton Hall Prep Football Gridiron Club. Rob also stays busy coaching his daughters’ youth sports teams and is a member of the East Hanover Italian American Club.
Over the past 15 years, Rob has been involved in many political campaigns providing management, advisement, and fundraising. The campaigns he has worked on include Brett Schundler for Governor, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, the Senate and Assembly campaigns for Anthony Bucco Sr. and Anthony Bucco Jr., Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, and is currently involved with the Jack Ciattarelli for Governor campaign.
Rob was also proud to be involved with Sheriff Gannon and his successful statewide initiative, Hope One, which has spearheaded the fight against opioid and heroin abuse. During the height of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Rob, along with friends and Morris County residents, Christopher Mazzarella, Theodore Stanziale, Nicholas Kraus, and Justine Roche started the non-profit, Frontline Morris.
The group raised $100,000 in two months helping frontline responders and charitable organizations mostly throughout Morris County.
Rob reached out to JBWS in March of 2020 to see how Feeding the Frontline, through Frontline Morris might help survivors of domestic violence and their children. Through supporting local restaurants and helping small businesses keep their doors open through the pandemic, the restaurants provided meals for JBWS’ residential clients and staff.
During 2020, Rob provided Easter dinner, dessert, and Easter eggs, Mother’s Day dinner, flowers, and candy for JBWS’ residential families.
Rob was also the conduit for a donation of two Xbox gaming systems for JBWS’ residential children. Through Rob’s connections, Northpointe Bank provided financial support to JBWS to help with COVID-19 extraordinary expenses. Throughout 2021, Rob continues to provide meals for JBWS’ residential clients and staff through Feeding the Frontline.
He has also coordinated many in-kind donations of clothes, toys, and bikes for JBWS’ children’s program. He also ensured that Easter dinner was, once again, provided to JBWS’ residents. Rob, thank you for all you have done to serve JBWS clients!
MONTCLAIR — Vice President Kamala Harris came to New Jersey for a discussion on child care workers, and families on the Build Back Better Agenda’s bold investments in child care. By investing in child care, this plan will uplift working families, create jobs, and strengthen our future.
Her first public appearance of the day took place at the Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Sons of Italy Chapter 2561 was on hand with Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael A Soriano in raising the Italian Flag at the Township of Parsippany Municipal Building in commemoration of Italian Heritage Month and Columbus Day.
I was taken-aback and shocked to read an article being circulated engaging in ad campaign attacks against council candidate Justin Musella. I have known Justin for more than a year and he has endeared himself to every person in our community. Justin has been a staple of events hosted by the Indian American Community and has always been friendly and welcoming to the people he meets. I have had the pleasure of hosting him a couple of times this year, especially the event for July 4th where he joined our celebrations with his fiancée.
do not think that the article represents his beliefs accurately and hope that the readers will know the malafide intentions of the article in attacking him politically as they fear that he will easily win the elections due to his popularity and hard work. This type of desperation coming out of his opponent’s campaign is bright as daylight and should not be welcomed in our community. While I was considering a vote for one of the Democratic candidates, this is no longer the case. I request you to kindly publish this letter so that people will know that Justin Musella is a good man and will be an asset to Parsippany in the council.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany’s own Justin Musella has been named to Insider NJ’s Power List of Top 100 Millennials.
Musella was named #11 out of 100 prominent mover and shakers from all political parties.
According to the list, Musella is a rising star and a young Republican to watch.
Musella is running for one of the open seats on Parsippany’s Town Council. The November 2 election will decide a Mayor and two Council seats for the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.
The young Parsippany Republican , a rising star, was the lone victor on his slate in the June primary, and has been barnstorming the battleground town as his council candidacy impresse insiders and observers. He has attracted attention from GOP heavyweights such as NJGOP Chairman Hugin and Assembly Minority Leader Bramnick, who have headlined fundraisers for the young candidate. A rising star, Musella is a young Republican to watch.
PARSIPPANY — Residents seeking an opportunity to help during the 2021 general election can apply to become poll workers this year.
By staffing a polling location, you can earn $14.29 per hour on in-person early voting days and $200.00 on Election Day. Poll workers can earn an additional $30.00 when you attend required training.
Requirements to become a Poll Worker are:
Must be a U.S. citizen and resident of New Jersey
Must be at least 16 years of age
Must not be running as a candidate in this election
Poll workers will work from October 23 through October 31 which is the in-person voting period and Tuesday November 2. Hours and dates may vary
I was disappointed to begin my day with the latest letter to the editor in support of the Soriano campaign and the far-reaching accusations against one of their opponents that were included. Without rehashing what was said, I feel it’s necessary to give residents my perspective on Justin Musella, and how supportive he has been of my community and why it is important he be elected on November 2.
Justin Musella has been the most vocal candidate on the campaign trail in his support of the Indian community and has a well-earned reputation for his dedication and friendship to our cause. He is the only candidate that has consistently shown up to events when asked, the only candidate who has made it clear he will fight to represent our interests regardless of who will be Mayor, and most importantly, is the only candidate who has brought attention to the Indian community consistently through his online outreach. He has also committed to pressuring the Mayor on finally coming through with a regulation cricket field, a promise that Soriano repeated time and time again in the last election with nothing to show for it in four years.
Musella’s campaign has also kept issues local, with a focus on areas that affect residents in their day-to-day lives while his opponent focuses on national issues to distract residents. When you hear Musella talk at events, it’s evident that he wants to make the town work for residents and lift some of the burdens of the past raises in utility and tax rates. Let’s be honest, taxes have spiraled out of control with proposed increases of 4-6% every year until this year (an election year). We’ve all seen our water bills increase by 50%. These are issues that affect us daily, and with Musella we know he is dedicated to ending these practices.
By contrast, his opponent Cori Herbig has made it crystal clear she would be a political pawn of Mayor Soriano in raising taxes further and causing more stress for residents. With Janice McCarthy and Emily Peterson declining to run again, it’s important we have elected officials who will buck the party line if it’s in the best interest of the town. It also seems that the only issue that she has really made any comment on is that of gun-safety, an area that Parsippany has no impactful issue in.
With all this in mind, it’s important we don’t repeat the mistakes of the last four years. Electing Soriano and Herbig would mean higher taxes for residents, more negative headlines, and a mess that will take years to clean up. I strongly urge all residents to vote for Justin Musella for Township Council this November.
Noodle Wong: Dim Sum Seafood Restaurant is located at 770 Route 46 West (Arlington Plaza)
PARSIPPANY — Always on the lookout for a new and interesting Parsippany dining adventure I found myself at the Noodle Wong Dim Sum Seafood Restaurant, located in the Arlington Plaza among a row of storefronts on the East side of the Plaza, a couple of doors away from Home Depot. I have never really sat down to a full Dim Sum and my research indicated that Noodle Wong was as authentic and traditional as they come. We stopped in shortly afternoon on a weekend. Not normally my style to eat so heavy this early in the day but traditional Dim Sum is served as a brunch type meal, late morning to lunchtime, served with ceremonial tea, which is considered just as important as the food and is normally done as a communal or social gathering of friends and/or family while sharing a diverse assortment of small dishes of Cantonese bite-sized foods over a long period of time. Dim sum dishes include an assortment of seafood, meat, and vegetable dishes that are prepared in various ways: steamed, fried, or baked. Noodle Wong offers 54 different Dim Sum dishes to choose from. True to tradition, Noodle Wong only serves Dim Sum from early morning up to 3 pm. Of course, in addition to Dim Sum, Noodle Wong has an extensive menu you can order from, including your classic soups, seafood, Congee, Fried Rice, Chow Mein, Pork, Chicken, Beef, Family Meals and House Specials. But, for this review, my focus was on the Dim Sum so the rest of the menu will have until another day.
Noodle Wong: Dim Sum Seafood Restaurant is located at 770 Route 46 West (Arlington Shopping Plaza), Parsippany. (973) 299-6518
Now, if Dim Sum sounds familiar, you would be right, it is the Chinese version of Spanish Tapas. Only, and I apologize to my Spanish friends, Dim Sum has been around a lot longer. In fact, Dim Sum has a rich history and tradition that dates back thousands of years. Originating in southern China, specifically Guangzhou, Dim Sum, literally translates to ‘touch the heart’, and according to the myth that it was created by chefs of the Royal Court many centuries ago, to ‘touch the heart’ of Chinese emperors. You might also hear Dim Sum referred to by someone from China as “Yum Cha” which means “Drink Tea” and this dining is extremely popular in Hong Kong.
The interior is spacious
Noodle Wong, formerly Noodle Chu, changed ownership in 2016, renovating the dining area at that time, providing an updated and more stylish appearance. The ambiance and décor are simple but cozy, casual, comfortable, clean, and airy. The open and spacious main dining area is complete with attractive lighting overhead and simple wall décor, creating an Asian vibe throughout. Noodle Wong, to me, is reminiscent of one of those Chinese eateries you will find on Mott Street in NYC. The main dining area has plenty of seating available and all the tables are comfortably spaced. Noodle Wong also has another large, nicely decorated party room, complete with gold fabric seat coverings and white linen tablecloths, adjacent to the main dining room, with a smaller private room in the rear, either of which would provide a nice venue for a party or event.
Turnip Cake
As we arrived, we were greeted by a very friendly Manager, Simon, who immediately offered me a nice-sized table along the wall. A waiter promptly arrived with a pot of black tea, cups, and chopsticks. We thanked him as we looked over the extensive list of Dim Sum choices. The Dim Sum checklist is in both Chinese and English, so it is easy to understand. TIP: I visited the restaurant and picked up the Dim Sum menu the day before and familiarized myself with some of the dishes. I was then able to check off the dishes I wanted prior to my arrival, and when I handed that list to the waiter those dishes quickly arrived at our table. This seems to be a full Chinese wait staff so communication may be a slight issue, but since you order Dim Sum by pointing at the items of your choice while metal serving carts continuously work the room it works out fine. The rolling food carts, loaded with dumplings and plates of fried foods, also adds to the authenticity of this experience, but take note, they are only utilized on weekends. As you receive an item from the cart your bill is stamped, and you pay for the items you choose at the end of the meal. As for me and my guest, we ordered 10 different Dim Sum dishes and it turned out to be more than adequate for both of us. Of course, order as much as you like, but I would recommend that you try not to get carried away and over-order.
The restaurant was fairly filled, and most customers were Chinese, which is a Chinese restaurant is always a good sign to me. The Chinese menu, the unique style of service, the never-ending tea, all added to the experience. The dining room was buzzing, filled with people casually sharing food, enjoying themselves, and having lively conversations in a Chinese dialect (not sure which one) was fun to see. TIP: When you run out of tea just open the lid and put it aside. The waiter will quickly bring you a refill. When you want to say thank you, tap your index finger and your middle finger together on the table twice. That represents a bow.
Our selections included Siu Mai (Pork with Shrimp Dumpling), Baby Spareribs with Black Bean Sauce, Beef Noodle, Spring Roll, Beef Short Ribs, Sticky Rice Siu Mai, Turnip Cake, Steamed Pork Bun, and Steamed Custard Bun (Sweet).
Baby Spare Ribs with Black Bean Sauce
Despite several trips to Hong Kong in my much younger days, I, unfortunately, am a novice at this style of dining, so it was difficult to choose from all the available selections, so I stuck with some of the most popular types of Dim Sum staples, which included steamed dumplings, buns, wraps, and noodle rolls; many filled with mixtures of fresh seafood, meat, and vegetables, as well as puffs, tarts, and puddings. They ended up being excellent choices as we totally enjoyed every dish that arrived from the Siu Mai (thin round cup-shaped wrappers filled with shrimp and pork), Har Gow (shrimp dumplings encased in a translucent wrapper), Xiaolong Bao (delicate soup dumplings), Charsiu Bao (pork buns), Cheong Fun (noodle rolls), or the Dan Tat (egg tart), a delicious, sweet, rich, custard-filled flaky pastry (very similar to a Portuguese custard pastry) that we ended our meal with. The Dim Sum was full of various textures and tastes and encompassed a collection of sweet, smooth, silky, and savory tastes depending on the individual dish. There is no rhyme or reason as to how to eat or mix your Dim Sum, just pick up your chopsticks and enjoy the experience.
Pat Minutillo
So, if you are looking for a different, fun-filled, dining experience you can share with friends, family, or even alone for a satisfying brunch, this would be a good choice. Very friendly, helpful, and attentive staff in a casual and vibrant atmosphere, with moderate prices (depending on what and how much you order), along with a wide selection of great food. Like I always say, if you do not have the inclination or opportunity to travel to a foreign land, visiting some of Parsippany’s many diverse ethnic restaurants provides us with a great opportunity to truly experience a different culture through its cuisine.
“The Chinese say it’s better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one.”
Thanks for supporting local businesses.
Dine In – Take Out – Curbside Pickup – No Delivery; Open 7 Days a Week – No Liquor – Ample Parking. Comfort Food – Quick Bite – Vegetarian Options – Small Plates.
I moved to Parsippany with my son and husband in 2016. In the five years that we have lived here, I have come to deeply value the rich diversity of this community more each day. As the wife of a Black man and the mother of a biracial son, it is critically important to me to raise my family in a place that protects and celebrates diversity. That is why I am supporting Cori Herbig for Town Council this election.
I first met Cori in 2017 at a birthday party when our sons were in first grade. Since then, our sons have become friends and I’ve gotten to know Cori as both a friend and a candidate. I can confidently say that she stands for the values that are important to me and my family. I have watched over the years as Cori has actively and consistently shown up to make sure that everyone feels welcome in Parsippany. She marched in the Black Lives Matter rally that happened in Parsippany in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. She attends community events like Morris County Pride and the celebration of Indian Independence Day. She’s also always willing to help whenever our family experiences racism, which we sometimes do, even here in Parsippany.
In contrast, one of her opponents for Town Council, Justin Musella, has demonstrated that he stands with white supremacy. In 2020, after living in Parsippany for just a few months, Justin not only attended but was the opening speaker at a rally supporting President Trump. In his remarks, Mr. Musella stated that “A future where the Democrats win has never been scarier, and if they win it will not be ‘mostly peaceful.’” That type of dog-whistle, fearmongering language promotes the racist stereotypes that put my family in danger.
The Black Lives Matter rally in Parsippany was not, as Mr. Musella would have you believe, an angry Black mob. It was a diverse group of residents from in and around Parsippany peacefully standing up to let the Black community here know that they are welcome and safe. The peace of mind that this message sends to me and my family cannot be overstated. Knowing, and more importantly showing, my 11-year-old son that there is a village of people standing up for equity and justice for all is what makes me proud to call Parsippany my home. I grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, a majority-minority community. Never once did I feel anything less than welcome by my friends and neighbors, despite the fact that I looked different than most of them. As a parent, it’s my job to ensure that I’m giving my son the same sense of safety and acceptance here in Parsippany.
It’s so important that we show up for each other. Cori Herbig has always shown up for others, and that’s why I’m showing up for her on November 2, Election Day. I hope you will too!
Remo D'Alessandro, Community Relations Officer: Parsippany Troy Hills Police Department
PARSIPPANY — On Wednesday, October 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon, the Parsippany Police Department will hold another “Coffee with a Cop” event.
This semi-regular get-together event offers local residents an opportunity to chat with the local police force over a multitude of important issues affecting residents and their neighborhoods. It also offers a glimpse into the day-to-day operations of running the police department.
The location for Wednesday’s event is as follows:
Front Patio of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library, 449 Halsey Road.
MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Department of Labor’s “Return and Earn” takes advantage of New Jersey’s existing On-the-Job Training infrastructure to provide wage reimbursement support to New Jersey employers that hire eligible applicants with identifiable skills gaps. Employers will then be reimbursed for 50% of the wages paid for regular hours worked during the contracted employer-provided training period.
Employers can receive the wage subsidy for up to six months, up to the cap of $10,000 per Return and Earn an employee, and are limited to a total Return and Earn subsidy across all employees of $40,000.
This $500 Return and Earn incentive and On-the-Job Training subsidy will be funded by $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Additional related supportive services will be funded by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds.
Senators Joe Pennacchio and Anthony M. Bucco are fighting to ensure the long-standing Columbus Day legacy is continued and sponsor a resolution supporting the preservation of the annual federal and state holiday
MORRIS COUNTY — Columbus Day is a federal and state holiday marked on October 11 this year and an annual celebration of Italian American heritage.
Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Anthony M. Bucco are dedicated to ensuring the long-standing legacy is continued and sponsor a resolution supporting the preservation of Columbus Day as a federal and state holiday. (Click here to read resolution SR-50)
“We’re talking about a holiday that Italian-Americans value very much, and it is important to preserve it for future generations,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “There are extremists who seek to revise history, to tear up the past and rewrite it to fit a new narrative. The fact is that the second Christopher Columbus stepped onto our shores, it was an existential moment in human history. It marked the end of the old world and the beginning of the new.
“Our resolution would defend Columbus Day from future attempts to bleach it out of the nation’s fabric,” said Pennacchio. “This bill was first introduced in 2017. My colleagues march in Columbus Day parades, they pursue the Italian American vote, but they have been unwilling to defend this holiday. I don’t see any reason why this resolution has not received enthusiastic support from the Legislature.”
Recently, dozens of Columbus statues have been removed in cities across the nation, including Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, and Chester, Pa. Only a judge’s decision prevented the planned razing of a Christopher Columbus likeness that has stood for 144 years in a park in Philadelphia.
“As a proud Italian-American, I know how cherished Columbus Day is by those of us who have family roots back to Italy,” said Bucco (R-25). “The Columbus holiday and the granite busts are as much or more tributes to the contribution of Italian immigrants to American society as to Christopher Columbus the man. When Italians emigrated here, they faced a gauntlet of challenges. They were forced to endure prejudice and hatred, and to work twice as hard to prove themselves in the workplace and the community.”
Earlier this year, Bucco spearheaded a successful effort to prevent a local school district from replacing Columbus Day on the school calendar with Indigenous People’s Day. The Randolph Township board of education voted to approve the change in May, joining a half-dozen states and many municipalities.
The Senator, who represents Randolph, spoke at the board meeting in June as the school board voted to remove all holiday names from the calendar in response to an onslaught of complaints from the public. After a boisterous meeting that lasted almost four hours, the panel adopted a motion to restore the calendar to the way it was, reinstating Columbus Day.
“Their attempt to address diversity backfired, and instead created division,” said Bucco. “By trying to make everything vanilla, you lose that sense of diversity. Nobody benefits by destroying a legacy. Progress is made only when we all advance together.
“I am humbled to continue the work of my father, the late Senator Bucco, who sponsored the bill designating every October as Italian-American Heritage Month and fought to fund Italian American heritage cultural and educations programs for the state’s schoolchildren,” Bucco continued.
Pennacchio cited the history behind the holiday day, noting that the first Columbus Day was declared by President Benjamin Harrison in 1892, the year after a mob of thousands lynched 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans and on the 400th anniversary of the explorer’s voyage in search of a direct route from Europe to Asia.
“We all need to realize there are prejudices in our society – prejudices against everybody,” said Pennacchio. “We have to be cautious not to polarize our nation by targeting one group to elevate another.
“Instead of trying to erase and re-write history, we should focus on challenging ourselves to create a better history for ourselves and our future generations,” Pennacchio emphasized.
Town Council Candidate Judy Hernandez cast her Vote-by-Mail ballot in the General Election by returning it to the Morris County Ballot Drop Box in front of Parsippany Town Hall
PARSIPPANY — Town Council Candidate Judy Hernandez cast her Vote-by-Mail ballot in the General Election by returning it to the Morris County Ballot Drop Box in front of Parsippany Town Hall, on Tuesday, October 5. “I just submitted my Vote-by-Mail ballot in this secure drop box in front of Parsippany Town Hall. Thank you Morris County Board of Elections for a safe, secure, and enjoyable way to vote,” said Judy Hernandez.
Judy Hernandez shows her mail-in ballot before placing it in the DropBox
Judy Hernandez is one of over 5,000 Parsippany voters that requested a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the 2021 General Election. Less than 1,000 Vote-by-Mail ballots have been returned. Hernandez encouraged everyone who still has their Vote-by-Mail Ballot to fill it out and either place it in the mail or bring it to a secure Morris County Board of Elections DropBox. (Click here for a list of DropBoxes)
Judy Hernandez is running for Parsippany Town Council with Cori Herbig for the two open Town Council seats. They are running as a slate with Mayor Michael Soriano who is seeking his second term as Mayor of Parsippany.
Early Voting starts on Saturday, October 23, and runs through Sunday, October 31. Election Day is Tuesday, November 2.
Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani, Council President Michael dePierro, Councilwoman Emily Peterson, Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., Councilwoman Janice McCarthy
PARSIPPANY — Township Council of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills has a Regular Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 5.
Regular Township Council Meetings will commence at 7:00 p.m. All meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings. All meetings will be held in the Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard, Parsippany. Formal action may or may not be taken at all scheduled meetings.
Any individual who is a qualified disabled person under the American with Disabilities Act may request auxiliary aids such as a sign interpreter or a tape recorder to be used for a meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to make a request for an auxiliary aid.
MORRIS COUNTY — It is with great pride and anticipation that Harmonium Choral Society opens its 42nd season on Saturday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Church in Madison and Sunday, October 24 at 3:00 p.m. at Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church in Maplewood. This is the first of four subscription concerts and the first Harmonium live performance since March of 2020. The highly acclaimed 25-member Chamber Singers will perform Choral Cosmos, a charmingly eclectic program that includes Russian works from Taneyev, jazz, modern composers Mari Esabel Valverde, Melissa Dunphy and Tarik O’Regan, and Renaissance works from Palestrina to Francesca Caccini.
Come and enjoy the concert; we are sure you will return for the rest of the season with the full 100-member ensemble. Both season subscriptions and tickets to Choral Cosmos may be purchased by clicking here. Click here for more information or to make a donation. Harmonium is committed to making its subscription concerts accessible and safe for all concertgoers; accessibility information for each venue is available on the ticketing website.
All of our singers are vaccinated and we will be following the science for safety protocols all year. Please make sure to check our website harmonium.org for changing requirements of each venue.
Funding has been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Harmonium Choral Society, based in Morris County, is one of New Jersey’s leading choral arts organizations. The 100-voice choral society has been recognized for its musical excellence and innovative programming and has commissioned and premiered works by Amanda Harberg, Matthew Harris, Elliot Z. Levine, Harmonium’s composers-in-residence Mark Miller, and Martin Sedek, and others.
Directed by Dr. Anne J. Matlack of Madison, Harmonium’s season consists of four subscription concerts normally held in December, March, April, and June, as well as numerous special events and partnerships. Harmonium, known for its eclectic programming, choral excellence, and community spirit, sponsors commissions and musicianship workshops, as well as an outreach chorus that performs in schools, nursing homes, and other venues. Harmonium sponsors an annual High School Student Choral Composition Contest, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season. This innovative program won the prestigious Chorus America Education and Outreach Award. Harmonium has toured internationally to England and Wales, Eastern Europe, Northern Italy, Spain and Portugal, Greece and Turkey, and most recently the Baltics in the summer of 2016. A tour of the Balkans is planned for the summer of 2022.
Sheriff James M. Gannon with Sergeant Ed Zienowicz
MORRIS COUNTY — Sheriff James M. Gannon announces the promotions of two Sergeants for the Morris County Sheriff’s Office. Corporal Frank Benevento and Detective Edward Zienowicz were promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Both officers will be assigned to the Court Services Division. The officers were promoted in a ceremony held on September 24, 2021, in the Historic Courtroom of the Morris County Courthouse with family and colleagues present.
Sheriff James M. Gannon began the ceremony by saying, “These promotions are the result of hard work, dedication, loyalty, and most of all, leadership that both of these individuals have demonstrated. Leadership is a combination of honorable character and selfless service to the public and our agency.”
Sergeant Frank Benevento with Sheriff James M. Gannon
Sergeant Frank Benevento Jr. graduated from West Orange High School. He comes from a law enforcement family with his father, Frank Benevento, retiring as a Captain from the Orange Police Department, and his uncle, Anthony Benevento retired as the Chief of Orange Police Department and later retiring as Police Director of Wallington Police Department. Additionally, his brother-in-law, John Rolli, is a Lieutenant with the West Orange PD, and his cousin, Anthony Benevento, is a Morris County Correctional Police Officer.
Sergeant Benevento began his career serving the public with the United States Postal Service and later became a Correctional Police Officer working at the Morris County Correctional
Sergeant Benevento began his Bureau of Law Enforcement career in the Protective Services Division, assigned to the Access Control Section. Then in February 2006 he was assigned to the Process Section of the Court Services Division and was provided the title of corporal in April 2014. Throughout his career with the Bureau of Law Enforcement, he has been closely involved with PBA Local 151 and proudly served as NJSPBA State Delegate for PBA Local 151 from September 2015-November 2018.
In addition to his work life, Frank is a loving father of four children: Frank, Jessica, Nick, and Vincent; and enjoys watching his son’s sporting events and playing softball.
Sergeant John Rospond is a decorated law enforcement officer and veteran. He began his career in law enforcement with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office in 1997 working in the Protective Services Division. In 2005, Sergeant Rospond was transferred to the Emergency Services Section as a K9 Handler. In 2007, Sergeant Rospond returned back to the Protective Services Division and was assigned as a Corporal in 2014. His current duties include supervising Access Control of the Morris County Administration and Records Building, as well as being a Division Training Officer, an active shooter instructor, and a Master of Arts in Justice Studies in 2016.
After being hired by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office in 2005 he successfully completed the Basic Police Recruit Class #66, at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy. After the academy, he was assigned to the Protective Services Division for approximately nine years, where he worked in a uniform capacity primarily conducted security within the Courthouse and protected the Superior Court Judges and staff, as well as assisting other police agencies within Morris County with various law enforcement operations. Additionally, he was a member of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT), New Jersey State Police Marine Unit, and Morris County Sheriff’s Officer Honor Guard.
After his assignment in the Protective Services Division, Sergeant Zienowicz was placed on loan with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Enforcement Unit, and later assigned to the New Jersey State Police Opioid Taskforce Trafficking North Unit. In 2020, Sergeant Zienowicz was recalled from his taskforce assignment and reassigned to the Warrants Section. Recently in 2021, he was again placed on loan with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Enforcement Unit.
In his free time, Sergeant Zienowicz enjoys spending time with his wife and their four children, along with hunting and fishing.
Sheriff James M. Gannon commented, “Sergeant Zienowicz is a good man and a good leader. He has been involved in some dangerous situations. He has also represented us well and he will bring the Officers up and show them the way.”