MORRIS COUNTY — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and Rockaway Township Police Chief Martin McParland announce Deris M. Avila-Ulloa, 13, from Rockaway Township has been found safe.
Avila-Ulloa made contact with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Missing Persons Unit. She responded to the Charlotte Police Department (North Carolina) on December 29, 2020. Her family has been notified. No further details are being provided at this time.
Prosecutor Carroll would like to thank the public for helping to get the word out about the missing teenager. He also thanks the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Missing Persons Unit, Rockaway Township Police Department, and our partner agencies for their role in this investigation.
PARSIPPANY — Councilmembers Janice McCarthy and Emily Peterson announced today that they will not be seeking re-election for the Parsippany Township Council in this upcoming election.
McCarthy and Peterson made the announcement today and thanked the residents of Parsippany for the opportunity to serve while ensuring that even as they will be stepping back from public life after the end of their term, they will not stop advocating for the positive change that Parsippany requires.
“After much deliberation with family and friends, I have decided against running for re-election to the Parsippany Township Council in order to pursue other opportunities. It has been my honor to represent the residents of Parsippany alongside my colleagues on the Council and am truly proud of the work that we as a council have accomplished during our tenure. Through our leadership on the Council, Parsippany was admitted to the Highlands Council, an action that will benefit residents for years to come. Another major accomplishment being the stark change in the divisive tone of politics that plagued our Council for years.” said McCarthy, adding “I sincerely hope that this model of bipartisan cooperation with respect and consideration for all involved will result in changes to the rest of our local government.”
“It has been an extremely difficult decision for me to make, but I will not be seeking re-election to the Parsippany Township Council. Thank you to all the residents who entrusted me with their representation, it has been the honor of a lifetime. I am proud to have been part of the first female-majority council in Parsippany history alongside Councilwomen Janice McCarthy and Loretta Gragnani and am gratified in all the support and encouragement that our Republican colleagues on the Council gave us. Despite our policy and ideological differences, we lead a productive, thoughtful, and most importantly, respectful, dialogue in solving some of the township’s most pressing issues.” Peterson said, adding that “We should all be proud in having acted correctly in our role as an independent branch of government and check on the executive branch as we are required to. We have made strides in reducing plastic waste, ensured that the administration begins to fix the dire financial problems that it faces, and brought back respect to the Council that our residents so desperately deserve. In addition to this, through Council leadership, residents can look forward to enjoying new and improved amenities throughout town, such as the Grill Room at the Knoll and the Reservoir Trail. While we as a Council have accomplished much to be proud of in “cleaning up Parsippany”, there is still much work left to do, but I am sure that even with Councilmember McCarthy and I leaving after this upcoming election, we will be left in good hands.”
McCarthy and Peterson both gave their best wishes to residents and colleagues in the upcoming year, stating “We wish our colleagues on the Council, residents, and all that have helped us make Parsippany a better place the very best in the upcoming year.”
PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany purchased 25 food boxes containing 35-40 pounds of food to distribute to families in need during the pandemic.
Kiwanis Member Justin Musella picked up the food boxes in Roxbury and dropped them off at Parsippany High School since they needed refrigeration. The needy residents then received the boxes at Parsippany High School.
Kiwanis member Justin Musella loading up his vehicle in Roxbury to transport the food for refrigeration
Kiwanis members dedicate more than 6 million volunteer hours and invest more than $100 million in service projects that strengthen communities and serve children every year. Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany ensures that all children have the opportunity to lead healthy, successful lives. They believe that by helping one child, you help the world.
If you are interested in learning about our club, we currently meet weekly on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. via Zoom by clicking here). For more information click here.
PARSIPPANY — Area residents can help those in need by donating warm winter clothing.
Mutual Morris and the Parsippany Clergy Council are currently hosting a Winter Clothing Drive to assist needy families during the cold winter months. Coats, jackets, gloves, and hats of any size for women, children, and men will be accepted and passed along to needy residents.
You can drop off winter items at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church at 480 South Beverwyck Road until December 31.
For more information, contact Lily Benavides at (908) 290-4158, or email by clicking here.
PARSIPPANY — In the early morning hours on Tuesday, December 29, Officers responded to an attempted vehicle burglary which was captured on CCTV by a resident on Prospect Road in Lake Parsippany.
While on the scene, the Parsippany Police Department’s Communication Center received a call reporting a motor vehicle crash in the area of Marmora Road and Frontage Road. The caller further advised multiple people exited the vehicle and fled on foot, according to Sergeant Brian Conover.
Responding officers located the vehicle which was determined to be stolen. Due to the likelihood that both incidents were related, neighboring towns were requested to assist in setting up a perimeter.
During the incident, other residents called our Communication Center reporting unknown individuals running through their yards in the Lake Parsippany area.
During the course of the initial investigation, three individuals were located and detained by the responding Troopers and Officers.
A firearm was located in the area where one suspect was found.
Parsippany Officers also took multiple reports of vehicle burglaries as residents woke up and checked their vehicles.
If you believe your vehicle was broken into, please do not enter the vehicle and contact our non-emergency number (973) 263-4300.
Morris Plains Police Department, Hanover Police Department, Human Services Police Department, Morris County Park Police, Morris County Sheriff’s Office CSI and K-9 Units, and the New Jersey State Police, along with their Aviation Bureau assisted in the investigation.
These incidents remain under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Parsippany Police Department’s Investigative Division at (973) 263-4311.
PARSIPPANY — To help alleviate the growing shortage of food and donations at our area Food Banks, the Chinese Christian Church of New Jersey recently made two significant donations. On December 11, CCCNJ donated $3,000 to Table of Hope’s Mobile Food Pantry program. On November 6, CCCNJ had already donated $3,000 to Parsippany’s Food Pantry.
Mayor Michael Soriano was on hand to receive both check donations from Pastor Paul Shen of CCCNJ. Mayor Soriano thanked Pastor Paul for his team of six driver volunteers who deliver the Food every Friday from the Liquid Church distribution point to more than 30 home-bound families in the Parsippany and Lake Hiawatha area.
CCCNJ’s Food Delivery Drivers: Lenny Voo, Rev. Paul Shen, Mayor Soriano, Andrew Lie, Kai Hsieh.
Dawn King of Table of Hope was pleased that the recent $3,000 donation will help Table of Hope purchase fresh vegetables and fruits in addition to the non-perishable canned food that is distributed.
If you would like to volunteer at these Mobile Food Pantry sites, click here to apply.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Republican Committee announced a local version of Donald Trump’s famed “Voter Fraud Task Force”. Morris County voters should not be fooled. MCRC’s task force has nothing to do with voter confidence, and everything to do with internal MCRC confidence.
Republicans in Morris County have lost over 30 elected offices to Democrats in recent years. Towns such as Parsippany, Morris Township, the Chathams, Mendham, and Mountain Lakes, which had no Democrats elected to office a few years ago, have seen substantial Democratic gains. Morris County is changing, and Republican elected officials have refused to keep pace with the will of the voters.
Meanwhile, Morris County Democrats are organized, engaged, and listening to the concerns of our constituents. That’s why our party has won over the former GOP strongholds mentioned above. The year-to-year trends are clear, and Republican Mayors and councilmembers have lost confidence in MCRC’s ability to win elections.
Next year, MCRC will face divisive primaries for Governor, Legislative District 26, and Parsippany Mayor, to name a few. In the wake of these brewing contests, this task force is nothing more than a flailing attempt to maintain control of an antiquated and deteriorating organization.
While Morris Republicans are busy blaming election officials for the county’s changing political landscape, Democrats will be meeting with voters of all political affiliations to improve the quality of life for our residents. We look forward to many more years of progress in Morris County and thank our candidates and elected officials for always putting our residents first.
DENVILLE — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and Chief Frank Perna of the Denville Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance related to a fatal motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian. The crash occurred on Route 46 East between Schumacher Chevrolet and Elm Street in Denville.
At approximately 10:21 p.m. on Thursday, December 24, a 54-year-old male was fatally struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene.
The pedestrian was located on the shoulder of Route 46 East. He was critically injured in the incident and was pronounced deceased at Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital. The identity of this individual will not be released at this time.
Numerous law enforcement agencies are currently investigating this incident, including the Denville Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call the Denville Police Department at (973) 627-4900 or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (973) 829-8596. Anonymous calls can also be made to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Stoppers at (973) 267-2255.
MORRIS COUNTY — The community is invited to attend the Center for Workforce Development at County College of Morris (WFD-CCM) Virtual Open House on January 7, 9, and 11. Learn about spring courses and professional certificate programs scheduled from January through June. Listen in as the instructors describe their classes, get some great ideas about how to boost your resume, and ask any questions you might have. The WFD-CCM provides programming to help individuals get a job, get a better job, or get better at the job they’re in.
The Virtual Open Houses are:
Thursday, January 7 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Saturday, January 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Monday, January 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
You will receive an email invitation to connect by Zoom a day or two before the Open House session.
Learn about our exciting Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship programs held in our brand new Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering building.
Start on a career path to becoming an IT professional with CompTIA A+.
Earn certification in Tableau through our Data Analytics and Data visualization certificate courses.
Get more comfortable and proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite of Applications, and even earn certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS).
Learn about our English Language program for speakers of other languages.
Find out how to become a teacher if you have a Bachelor’s Degree.
Learn about a multitude of career paths in the Healthcare industry.
Find out about certifications in ASQ Six Sigma, Supply Chain, Project Management, HR, Nonprofit Leadership, and more!
To learn more about the Center for Workforce Development at CCM click here.
PARSIPPANY — Cindy Stavrou, PTSA President, presented Tommy Wall, Wall Landscaping with a plaque showing the appreciation and thanks on behalf of Parsippany Hills High School Administration for the work on the beautification project recently completed at the school.
The PHHS PTSA with the help of principal Dr. Matt Thompson and administrators, PTSA decided to put its efforts outside with Phase 1 of the beautification project.
Through difficult times, they were able to meet with Tommy Wall of Wall Landscaping, a former student of PHHS, who found it in his heart to donate his services to the beautification project. Tom and Tyler of Cerbos Garden Center worked out all the details and planning. They came up with a plan including over 100 plantings, including yuccas, boxwoods, castle spine holly, various grasses, junipers, barberry, and over five yards of river bed stone. The mulch was donated from the board of education.
Cerbos matched the PTSA donation with donating extra plantings. The majority of the landscaping costs were made possible by Paul Miller Porsche of Parsippany and Wegmans of Hanover donations. An extrasolar lighting unit was also donated by the PTSA to help aluminate the front entrance sign on Rita Drive.
Paul Miller Porsche of Parsippany has been an ongoing supporter of Parsippany Hills High School. They have sponsored several teacher appreciation luncheons, contributed to the project graduation events, and this year they were our largest sponsor for the beautification project.
Wegmans also donated to the project to help absorb some of the cost of the landscaping planting.
Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, December 2020. Click here to read.
Recently you provided an update regarding the guidelines which readers need to use when submitting a Letter to The Editor and those guidelines were helpful and timely.
With that in mind, could you please provide us with the guidelines Parsippany Focus uses when deciding whether or not to include a comments section on a particular news story that provides your readers with the opportunity to share their thoughts and exchange ideas with other readers?
Over the past number of weeks, there appear to be far fewer news stories that offer the opportunity for readers to provide their comments which seems to suggest a change in Focus’s interest in hearing from its readers.
Bob Crawford
Editors Note: Due to recent “Bots” spamming our site with bogus offers, we were forced to turn off comments on our website, although we left comments open on our FaceBook feeds. (The Facebook feeds were not being spammed). We will continually monitor the spam bogus offers and make a decision regarding commenting in the near future. Sorry for the inconvenience.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council approved the 2021 meeting schedule at its December 15 meeting.
Annual Organization Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 6:30 p.m.
Agenda Meetings will commence at 7:00 p.m., except that the Agenda Meeting scheduled for January 5, 2021, will commence immediately following the Annual Organization Meeting.
Regular Township Council Meetings will commence at 7:00 p.m.
All meetings will be held on TUESDAY EVENINGS unless otherwise noted.
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.
AGENDA MEETINGSREGULAR MEETINGS
January
5
January
19
February
2
February
16
March
2
March
16
April
6
April
20
May
4
May
18
June
1
June
15
July
6
July
20
August
3
August
17
September
7
September
21
October
5
October
19
November
9
November
23
December
7
December
21
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.
Click here to download a copy of Resolution R2020-225.
Please Note: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the meetings will be held via a web conferencing program named WebEx. This program will allow the public to listen in to the meeting and to participate during the public portion session only. This program uses a “raise hand” button in the software to address those who wish to speak during the public portion.
Please be advised that in order for a member of the public to speak during the public portion, they will need to provide their first name, last name, email address, address, and city accurately. Anyone not using their real name and address will not be allowed to speak during the public portion.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Young Republicans held their first-ever Zoom Christmas Party. The event was very successful as over fifty young professionals and Elected officials attended the event and joined the organization for the year 2021.
The Morris County Republican Committee served as Event Sponsor. Donations were provided from several local businesses, including Xclusive Cuts, Art and Creations Pottery Studio, Depasquale Salon, Steph Strip Hair; and i2i Italian Indian Fusion Restaurant of Boonton.
Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-25), served as the keynote speaker and provided a powerful message, reminding Young Republicans that it is their duty to do what they can to help serve their communities.
The 2021 Executive Board consists of:
Chairman – Justin Musella (Parsippany)
Vice-Chair – Julie Lapatka (Boonton Township)
Secretary – Joseph Bock (Boonton Town)
State Committeeman – Christopher Paz (Roxbury)
State Committeewoman – Ashley Felice (Chatham Township)
Vice-Chair – Julie Lapatka (Boonton Township) and Secretary – Joseph Bock (Boonton Town) were both sworn in during the meeting via Zoom.
Joseph Bock, Esq.
Joseph Bock is Chairman of the Town of Boonton Republican Committee and began his first term on the Town of Boonton Board of Aldermen in 2019. This fall, Ashley Felice was elected to the Chatham Township Committee and will begin her first term in January 2021.
The Morris County Young Republicans, a branch of the New Jersey Young Republican Foundation, is a group of students and young professionals between the ages of 18 and 40 that are involved in supporting the Republican Party on a local, state, and national level and work to preserve the strength of the party in the future.
Past Presidents of the Morris County Young Republican include Freeholder Doug Cabana; Former Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll; Former Morris Township Mayor and Current Chief of Staff to Senator Tony M. Bucco, Bruce Sisler, and Legislative Aide to Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Sydney Ugalde.
Over the past three years, the Morris County Young Republicans have helped several of its members win State and local races; including Assemblyman Brian Bergen; Boonton Aldermen Joseph Bock and Ed Robillard; Chester Borough Councilman Kyle Holman; Chester Township Councilmen Michael Inganamort and Tim Drag; Florham Park Councilwoman Kristen Santoro; Kinnelon Councilman James Lorkowski; and Mendham Township Mayor Sarah Neibart. Young Republican County Committee Municipal Chairs include Jade Kohut (Jefferson); Sydney Ugalde (Randolph) and Joseph Bock (Boonton Town).
For club voting rights, members must be registered Republicans between ages 18-40 and live in Morris County. However, any supporters outside of those requirements are welcome to join as Associate Members and participate in all events.
For more information or to join the club, please visit the Morris County Young Republicans website by clicking here.
The Morris County Young Republicans held their first-ever Zoom Christmas Party. The event was very successful as over fifty young professionals and Elected officials attended the event and joined the organization for the year 2021.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany High School Key Club members have been hard at work spreading holiday cheer to the elderly in our community. Members made over 250 Christmas and holiday cards that were distributed to St. Catherine’s Health Care Center in Caldwell, Marian Manor Senior Residence in Caldwell, and CareOne at Morris Assisted Living in Parsippany.
PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement:
“From the minute I entered Congress, I’ve taken every possible opportunity to push our government to address the threat posed by Russia’s malign activities. I’ve formed a bipartisan working group, I’ve worked with my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, and I’ve taken my case to the White House Situation Room, all with the goal of confronting Russian aggression. Time and again, I’ve been met with political stonewalling from this administration. We have asked for answers, begged for action, and plainly told administration officials that Russia was trying to infiltrate our government.
“When I was in the Navy, I worked with the Commander of Naval Forces in Europe to address Russia’s threats. I’ve partnered with our allies in Europe and liaised with the Russian military. One thing is extremely clear to me: this administration has not taken this threat seriously, with disastrous results. This most recent cyberattack by hackers with alleged ties to the Russian government shows that while the Trump administration is busy courting Putin’s approval, the Russian intelligence community is busy attacking our most sensitive networks. Put simply — this President’s permissiveness and willful lack of action are serious national security threats that have left us vulnerable to one of the most pervasive cyber attacks in our country’s history.”
MORRIS COUNTY — The Mental Health Association of Essex & Morris has scheduled a Zoom meeting next week to inform parents of school-age children of the warning signs of suicide, after launching a school-based prevention program that sparked wide community interest.
Morris County SealThe Zoom meeting, set for 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 30, follows a collaborative effort by the Morris County Board of Freeholders and the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris to introduce a universal, school-based suicide prevention program for middle and high school-aged students who may be feeling stress and isolation during the current COVID-19 restrictions. News of school districts being invited to learn more about the school-based program earlier this month prompted many residents to request that parents also be provided information on understanding signs of suicide.
To join the Zoom meeting, “Suicide Prevention: Presentation for Parents of School-Age Children,” parents are being asked to RSVP by email to tklingener@mhaessexmorris.org.
The session follows a series of presentations made to the school Logo for Mental Health Association of Essex and Morrispersonnel earlier this month. Freeholder Kathryn DeFillippo, the board liaison to Human Services agencies and programs, sent a letter to school superintendents throughout Morris County inviting them to assign three key school district personnel, ranging from counselors and teachers to administrative staff, to learn more about the program through virtual presentations that began on December 1.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic began in New Jersey, stay at home orders, self-quarantines, social distancing, and virtual learning were implemented to combat the virus. While these practices helped reduce the spread of COVID-19, they also induced anxiety, depression, fear, and loneliness among members of the community including school-aged young adults,” DeFillippo wrote in the letter.
Following a June 2020 survey of 5,412 people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in August that one in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 said they had considered suicide because of the pandemic. The survey indicated a general spike in anxiety and substance abuse among the respondents, with more than 40 percent saying they experienced a mental or behavioral health condition connected to the COVID-19 emergency.
PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted today for a bipartisan COVID relief and appropriations package to send urgently needed relief to North Jersey residents and fund the federal government through the Fiscal Year 2021.
“Americans have had a difficult nine months, and now face an incredibly tough winter. This legislation will deliver urgently needed relief over the next few months,” said Rep. Sherrill. “It ensures that families can stay in their homes and unemployed workers will continue to receive additional support. It also provides a second round of PPP, funding for vaccine distribution, and direct cash payments.
“Congress must continue its efforts once this legislation is signed into law — there is so much left to do. We will need to extend relief measures again and send direct aid to state and local governments that are facing revenue shortages resulting in layoffs and budget cuts while working on the ground to provide food assistance, testing sites, and small businesses grants. I will keep working to provide support to North Jersey residents so we can get to the other side of this crisis.”
H.R. 133, the Omnibus Appropriations and Emergency Coronavirus Relief package, includes the following key provisions:
Support for Families:
Provides direct payments of $600 for individuals making up to $75,000, $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000, and $600 for each dependent child.
Extends Unemployment Insurance benefits through March 14, 2021, with an additional $300 per week.
Extends the CDC eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021.
Creates the first-ever emergency federal rental assistance program to be distributed by state and local governments.
$13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits.
Support for Small Businesses:
$284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans.
$20 billion in new EIDL grants for businesses in low-income communities.
$15 billion in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions.
Expands PPP eligibility for 501(c)(6) nonprofits.
Extends and improves the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help keep workers in their jobs and provides a tax credit to support employers offering paid sick leave.
Support to Address the Public Health Crisis:
$20 billion for vaccine procurement and therapeutics.
$9 billion to the CDC and states for vaccine distribution.
$22 billion to states for testing, tracing, and mitigation programs.
$3 billion for the Strategic National Stockpile.
Ends surprise medical billing for emergency and scheduled care, establishing a fair process for health care providers and health plans to sort out the out-of-network costs between themselves, without the patient stuck in the middle.
Support for Communities:
$82 billion in funding for colleges and schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms.
$10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open.
$45 billion for transit, including $1 billion for Amtrak.
$7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families, and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic.
Extends the eligibility of state and local expenses under the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund until December 31, 2021, so state and local governments can continue to provide services to residents during the pandemic with the funding they received from the CARES Act.