PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department is searching for several suspects who conducted a robbery in the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings, Route 46, Thursday night.

Responding officers made contact with the caller, who advised them that he was just robbed. During the initial investigation, it was determined that a group of five juvenile males exited Buffalo Wild Wings and met another group of approximately five males in the parking lot.

One juvenile was then robbed of a small amount of cash and other items. Officers also determined after speaking to the victim and witnesses that one male possessed what was believed to be a firearm, while a second male possessed a knife during the robbery. After the robbery, the suspects fled the area in a vehicle.

Police are looking for a 2011 Hyundai Tuscon occupied by five males that sped away from the scene towards Morristown immediately after the robbery.

There were no physical injuries reported.

Editors Note: Initial reports indicated the armed robbery was inside the restaurant, but the incident occurred outside.

PARSIPPANY — Why not begin your Lenten Journey and have it end with the joy of our Lord’s resurrection. Our Lenten Mission this year will be sponsored by St. Peter the Apostle Parish and St. Ann’s Parish of Parsippany, 179 Baldwin Road.

A Journey to Joy is a gift you can give to yourself during this Lenten Season. Join us for a three-day Lenten Mission, presented by Daytime Emmy-Nominated TV Actor, Frank Runyeon (All My Children, The Young and the Restless, Santa Barbara, Falon Crest, LA Law and Melrose Place!

Monday, March 9; Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11
St. Peter the Apostle Parish

Monday – 7:30 p.m. – Signs: The Gospel of John. All the drama and power of this beloved Gospel are brought to life in a spellbinding performance.

Tuesday – 7:30 p.m. – Sermon on the Mount: Bringing to life the famous Sermon on the Mount as well as the Lords Prayer, the Golden Rule.

Wednesday -7:30 p.m. – Hollywood vs. Faith: The struggle to live as a Christian in the age of Media Values.

This will be a mission that you have never experienced before. For 25 years, Frank has helped audiences of all ages rediscover the power of Scripture Stories through one-man plays. Join us and let Frank deepen your lenten journey with scriptures, drama and humor!

If you would like more information about Frank Runyeon, visit www.frankrunyeon.com

Bring a friend, a neighbor, a family member, your children, grandchildren and plan on being entertained!! Please email any questions you might have to Lentenmission2020@gmail.com.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program at County College of Morris (CCM) has received the Silver Award of Excellence from NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education for its record of success in serving first-generation students.

The national award recognizes programs, policies, procedures, best practices and services that support students who are the first in their families to earn a college degree.

Sponsored and supported by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, EOF provides underserved, low-income and predominately first-generation students with academic and financial support to assist them in completing a college education. EOF students receive a state grant to help defray the cost of their education. At CCM, the program also offers them comprehensive, customized and holistic support services, including a summer orientation on college readiness, academic counseling, tutoring, mentoring, workshops on study and time management skills, and opportunities to develop leadership skills.

At CCM, EOF also collaborates with other campus departments, such as Counseling, Career Services, Campus Life and The Academic Success Center, to ensure the success of its students.

Students who participate in the CCM EOF program have high success rates, both in terms of graduating with an associate degree and transferring to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. On average, nearly 45 percent of CCM’s EOF students graduate within three years of enrolling at CCM, compared to the 22 percent three-year rate for community colleges nationwide.

“Ultimately, EOF at CCM meets students where they are regardless of their background, academic aptitude, social challenges or needs,” says Dr. Pam Marcenaro, dean of Learning Support and Opportunity Services, who oversees the EOF program. “Our philosophy is to personalize and customize support for students to help them fulfill their academic and professional goals and increase their overall chance of college success.”

“The EOF staff at CCM does an outstanding job of assisting first-generation students so they can improve their lives and positively impact their communities,” notes Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, president of CCM. “We’re delighted that their work and the success of the students they serve have been recognized with this national award from NASPA. Our EOF students are invaluable members of the CCM community and are leaders in the making. Every one of these students has a dream, ability and the need for a great education. They are our future.”

NASPA serves as a leading voice for student affairs whose mission is to drive innovation and evidence-based student-centered practices throughout higher education nationally and globally.

PARSIPPANY — Members of the Parsippany Police Department recently visited IHOP, 792 Route 46 to host another “Coffee With a Cop.”

Coffee With A Cop is a national program which has been widely successful. The program is a very informal one, the hope is to bridge the gap between police and community in an open forum to talk about anything.

MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce recently said “I was disappointed in Gov. Murphy’s budget address today because I don’t believe increasing spending by another $2 billion and raising taxes and fees is going to help the hard-working, middle class families of this state; nor will his proposals create jobs or stem the flight of individuals and business from New Jersey.”

The governor’s fiscal blueprint would give our state a $41 billion budget for FY 2021, which is $6.2 billion higher than when he came to office less than three years ago. That represents spending growth of 18 percent per year.  Governor Murphy is driving the state’s financial bus in the wrong direction. In a state screaming for tax relief, there was not one sentence in his address that called for cutting spending on anything. Sadly, his progressive agenda of more spending is simply unsustainable no matter how many rich people you tax.

The governor mentioned the middle class many times in his speech but I cannot find one thing in his remarks that will lift the tax burden on middle class, working families, who are reaching their financial breaking point.

It is ironic that the governor, who says one of his top priorities is to attract business to the state is promoting policies that add another tax on corporations – the corporate responsibility tax — and again lobbying for a tax on top earners who own businesses and create jobs. Increasing corporate taxes will not help New Jersey attract business investment.

New Jersey needs real, sustainable property tax relief and to get that, we will have to reform the way that government operates. We will have to reform our pension and benefits programs and begin the task of cutting spending, or before long, New Jersey will go bankrupt.

MORRIS COUNTY — Bray is about 1½ years old and about sixty pounds.  This is what is foster family has to say about him…”Bray is awesome!  He is a happy, super friendly fellow who loves, loves, loves people!! And he loves comfort…he on our bed and is always on a bed or a couch snuggled up with someone if possible. Bray enjoys running in the yard, playing with toys and going for walks.

He loves his squeaky toys and wants to play tug of war with you. When you him, he will give you lots of kisses!! Bray always wants to be around us!  With his easy going mellow personality he is ready for anything!  Do you want to go for a walk, Bray will go with you. If you want to hang out, Bray will hang out with you!  He is a go with the flow type of dog! This smart dog loves to please and he knows the commands sit, no and he is house trained and good with other dogs. He’s a good watchdog, barks when he hears other dogs or when someone comes to the house, but is not aggressive at all. We Love Bray!”

Someone found Bray and his brother, Billy and took then into into an over-popular shelter in NC. After no one came in to claim the dogs, the shelter reached out to FHDR.  When we heard about their wonderful, easy going personalities, we transport them to live in foster homes in NJ. Bray is looking forward to meeting you!
Please email FHDR@att.net if you are interested in adopting Bray.  You can see more photos and our other adopted pups at FHDR.petfinder.com

PARSIPPANY — Tuesday, February 18, the Township Council rejected the Development Accountability Ordinance. As I proposed last month, this ordinance would have allowed any resident of Parsippany to appeal a major use variance approval of the Zoning Board to the Council, leaving the ultimate say on development projects involving a zone change with elected officials, not the Council majority-appointed Zoning Board.

For too long the Zoning Board has approved use variance after use variance, which do not agree with the approved zoning of the Township. These are applications asking for relief from our approved zoning rules and Master Plan.

Even more distressing is that the Council would not even allow this ordinance to be introduced, robbing the public of any opportunity to be heard before the ordinance was rejected.

That allows applications like the proposed 7-Eleven, the St. Christopher’s site, and others to potentially be approved with no checks and balances, and no accountability to the concerned residents of Parsippany.

I am incredibly disappointed that the Council chose to not even consider such a pro-citizen proposal. We’re not talking about sheds and fences here; we’re talking about major and controversial projects, which under current law will be fully decided upon by the unelected Zoning Board.

PARSIPPANY — The Friends of the Library will hold a Children’s Book Bag Sale at the Main Branch of Parsippany Library, 449 Halsey Road, now through February 27.

The bag sale is open during library hours. Bags will be provided, and customers can fill one for $5.00.

For the first time, this bag sale will include only children’s and junior books, and hundreds are available. Please e-mail questions to parsippanylibraryfriends@gmail.com.