PARSIPPANY — Lake Hiawatha Fire Department District 4 responded to a report of a Commercial Structure Fire in an apartment building on Sunday, September 15 at 9:05 a.m. at 87 North Beverwyck Road.
Members form Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department District 5 was immediately dispatched to the scene as a backup to Lake Hiawatha Fire Department.
On arrival, Deputy 4 reported smoke showing from the building prompting Chief 4 to request the Boonton Fire Department to respond with the Rapid Intervention Crew.
Ladder 5 was tasked with setting the aerial up to the roof and performing ventilation.
Engine 54 was tasked with securing a water supply, setting up a feeder line to Engine 42, then performing a search of the apartment above. Ladder 5 was tasked with setting the aerial up to the roof and performing ventilation. The fire was quickly extinguished and overhaul was completed due to extension into the cabinets above the stove and oven.
Chief 5, Deputy 5, Ladder 5, and Engine 54 operated for just over an hour before being released by Chief 4. Other units operating on scene were the Parsippany’s Rockaway Neck Volunteer First Aid Squad, Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance Squad, Parsippany Emergency Medical Services and Parsippany Police Department.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders asks all county residents to take a few moments this week to recall the events that occurred on September 11, 2001, when terrorists attacked our nation.
The Morris County Remembers 9/11, 18th Anniversary Ceremony.
Representatives of fire and police departments from across the county joined families of 9/11 victims, elected officials, scouts, clergy, and county residents at the Morris County September 11th Memorial in Parsippany for a special ceremony that recalled that tragic day but also spoke of hope and love and recovery.
Alison Crowther and Honor Fagan, the mom and sister of Welles Crowther, who gave his life to save others at the World Trade Center, spoke at the event. Expedito C. Santillan, father of the late Maria Theresa Santillan of Morris Plains, who perished on 9/11, was the flag bearer at the ceremony.
The observance included an invocation by Pastor Sydney Williams of Bethel AME Church in Morristown, a lighting of candles, reading of the names of the Morris County victims, a 21-gun salute, Taps by Bugles Across America, and music by the Morris Choral Society, Bethel AME Church Ensemble, and Police Pipes and Drums of Morris County.
Said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana: “We gather here this evening to as a vivid reminder of the importance of occurred 18 years ago and to remember those who perished and their loved ones, and to let them know that WE WILL NEVER FORGET.’’
PARSIPPANY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders has issue a county resolution of congratulations on its 50th anniversary to Parsippany based Delta Dental.
The company was incorporated on July 8, 1969, and has been a valued member of the Morris County community for 40 years.
Delta Dental is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote oral health by providing accessible dental benefit programs of high quality, service and value
The company also has been a good community neighbor, creating the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation, Inc., which has provided $20 million in grants and support for oral health initiatives, education and services to under-served populations over the past 30 years
Accepting the resolution from the Freeholder Board at its Sept. 11 meeting that was held in Montville were Dennis Wilson, President and CEO; Paul DeMayo, Senior Vice President and General Counsel; and Randy Stoddard, Chief Marketing Officer.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County 4-H clubs are gearing up this month for another year of fun, friends and learning, with 4-H clubs across the county now reorganizing and enrolling new members.
Youth in Kindergarten through Grade 13 (one year out of high school) can join a 4-H club.
In 4-H, youths develop and practice valuable skills, such as decision-making, critical thinking, record keeping, cooperation, goal setting, problem solving, communication, public speaking, and leadership, according to a release issued by the county.
4-H in Morris County has created a new club focused on robotics this fall. The club will meet at the North Jersey STEM Enrichment Center located at One Romaine Road, Mountain Lakes. Click here for more information.
4-H provides real-life, positive youth development experiences. Members learn “life skills,’’ how to do tasks and make decisions similar to those in adult life.
“Using life skills, members learn how to manage their resources, work together in groups, develop critical thinking skills and communicate with others,” said Kelly Dziak, program associate of Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Morris County.
Families are an important part of the 4-H Youth Development Program. Parents, brothers, sisters and other members of the family can learn new skills and adopt new ideas by being a part of the 4-H program experiences and educational opportunities. 4-H is adaptable to each individual, each home and each community.
4-H clubs also get involved in service learning or community service activities designed to improve the circumstances in their community.
Through activities like cleaning up neighborhoods or assisting with local food pantries, 4-H members learn civic engagement, citizenship, and leadership skills.
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
For more information about the Morris County 4-H Program call the 4-H office at (973) 285-8301 or visit the Morris County 4-H website by clicking here.
PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted this week to protect New Jersey’s 130 miles of coastline and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Coastal Marine Economics Protection Act (H.R. 1941) passed in the House last night with bipartisan support. It would establish a permanent moratorium on oil and gas leasing along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act (H.R. 1146) that passed today is a bipartisan proposal to repeal a provision of the 2017 tax bill that opened the coastal plain of ANWR to oil and gas leasing developments.
“New Jersey’s coastline is a precious resource that sustains our environment, fishing industry, and tourism economy,” said Representative Sherrill. “Offshore drilling puts all three of those things at risk. Congress needs to focus on growing our clean energy economy and following New Jersey’s lead by investing in a clean energy future.
“New Jersey residents recognize that opening up protected and delicate ecosystems to drilling presents serious concerns that extend beyond the Jersey shore. The first question I ever answered from a resident in our community was about ANWR. I will continue to work hard to safeguard our public lands.”
PARSIPPANY — Join the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills on Sunday, October 6 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to celebrate the Second Italian Cultural Festival!
Featuring local vendors, authentic foods, traditional Italian music, and more.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker and Florham Park Chief of Police Joseph Orlando announce the arrest of Hector Cardona, 49, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Theft related charges.
On March 3, 2017, the victim, Troy Corporation (“Troy Corp”), reported an alleged theft by its former Director of Travel Services, Mr. Hector Cardona.
Troy Corp. alleged that Mr. Cardona had misappropriated corporate funds by using his corporate credit card for personal expenses and receiving reimbursement payments for expenses that he did not incur in connection with his employment at Troy Corp.
The investigation revealed that, between June 1, 2014 and January 31, 2017, he received reimbursement payments from Troy Corp. totaling $325,165.95. As of November 20, 2017, this account was nearly depleted. Further investigation revealed that the majority of his bank account outgoing transactions appeared to be personal in nature and not related to any business with Troy Corp.
The defendant has been charged with Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a, a crime of the Third degree.
Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Specialized Crimes, Fraud Unit; the Florham Park Police Department and the New York City Department of Investigations whose efforts contributed to the investigation of this case.
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.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Sussex County Prosecutor Francis A. Koch announce the arrest of three individuals following a drug investigation that began earlier this summer and involved the distribution of cocaine in Boonton and Morristown. On September 12, a search warrant was executed in Boonton, which resulted in the arrest of two individuals, Elijah Downey and Myles Wilson, the seizure of cocaine and marijuana, and approximately $2,000 in drug distribution proceeds. The investigation in total yielded the seizure of cocaine in excess of two ounces and marijuana in excess of one ounce. As part of this investigation, a third individual, Kaire Pettiway, was arrested in Morristown.
The following individuals were arrested:
Myles Wilson, 22, of Boonton, was charged with the following:
1 count of Third-Degree Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
1 count of Fourth-Degree Possession of Marijuana
1 count of Disorderly Persons Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Wilson is currently in custody at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance
Elijah Downey, 23, of Boonton, was charged with the following:
2 counts of Second-Degree Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute
1 count of Second-Degree Distribution of Cocaine
2 counts of Third-Degree Possession of Cocaine
Downey is currently in custody at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance
Kaire Pettiway, 22, of Morristown, was charged with the following:
1 count of Second-Degree Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute
1 count of Second-Degree Distribution of Cocaine
1 count of Second-Degree Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Within 500’ of Public Property
1 Count of Second-Degree Distribution of CDS Within 500’ of Public Property
1 count of Third-Degree Possession of Cocaine
Pettiway is currently in custody at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance.
Prosecutor Knapp stated: “This investigation demonstrates the importance of collaborative law enforcement efforts working to thwart individuals committing crime in and around Morris County. Today, the Morris County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit, worked in conjunction with multiple law enforcement officers to successfully, safely, and without incident, bring about the arrests of these individuals.”
Prosecutor Koch said: “I would like to echo the statement of Prosecutor Knapp as to the importance of law enforcement collaboration and communication. It is through such joint efforts that we can make both counties and our state safer for all of its citizens. I would also like to express my gratitude to all of the involved agencies and look forward to working with them in the future.”
Prosecutor’s Knapp and Koch thank the following agencies for their assistance and commitment to cooperative and collaborative law enforcement: Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Division, Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Town of Boonton Police Department, Morristown Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Mount Olive Police Department, Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, Rockaway Borough Police Department, Wharton Police, Department, Chatham Borough Police Department, Chatham Township Police Department, and the Morris Township Police Department.
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.
PARSIPPANY — You may be busy raising your family or serving as a caregiver for relatives and regret not having the time to help improve your community. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany has a solution to that dilemma. On Thursday, October 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., you can help improve the lives of others and have fun while doing so by attending the Kiwanis annual wine tasting at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover. This wine Tasting is the Kiwanis Club’s largest fundraising event with the goal of supporting programs that benefit children and youth.
The local programs funded by the Kiwanis Club include: sponsored youth programs in the Parsippany Troy Hills school district, such as Key Clubs in both high schools, Builders Clubs in the middle schools, and K-Kids Clubs in all of the elementary schools; Parsippany Day Care Center; Parsippany Library; the Stickley Farms family fun day and numerous other 501(c)3 organizations that serve children and families. In addition to this financial support of children’s leadership development and service initiatives, the club meets the basic needs of the less fortunate families in our community by providing food and food cards, toiletry items, and blankets through a partnership with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Community Center. The Club also supports state and national organizations that serve the needs of children and their families.
Joe Canal’s is a co-sponsor of the wine tasting event. The event includes silent and live auctions; delicious hot and cold buffet; wines and liquors; and an opportunity to help raise money and do good for others.
Tickets are only $65 each. Kiwanis is a 501(C)3 organization and your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
This year, Kiwanis Club is partnering with Sons of Italy #2561.
If you would like to purchase tickets, visit kiwaniswinetasting.com, or call Frank Cahill (862) 213-2200.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — The American Cancer Society Taste of Hope – NJ will be held on Tuesday, September 17, for a one-of-a-kind evening, featuring great food, dancing, a spectacular silent auction, and much more. The event will start at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Essex County Country CLub, 350 Mount Pleasant Avenue, West Orange.
With your support, the American Cancer Society saves lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer.
The American Cancer Society is working to finish the fight against every cancer in every community. We are the largest private, not-for-profit funder of cancer research in the United States, investing more than $4 billion since 1946. To purchase tickets click here.
For additional information, please contact Steve Cavanaugh at (973) 285-8025, or email Steve.Cavanaugh@cancer.org.
PARSIPPANY — Following a NJ Globe story where Democrat Mayor Michael Soriano attacked Councilman Mike dePierro and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani over a contractually obligated payout to former Police Captain James Carifi, the Republican Councilmembers released the following statement.
It is important to note that Democratic Council Vice-President Janice McCarthy – one of Soriano’s own Council allies – voted with dePierro and Gragnani in a bipartisan move.
“The motion pays Mr. Carifi the earned contractual obligated compensation when he retired in good standing. And I can’t speak to anyone’s motivation in this matter, but for me, after reviewing the information, in my opinion, it’s the right thing to do. I vote yes.” stated Council Vice President Janice McCarthy to the Parsippany Focus.
“Mayor Soriano is not being forthright, plain and simple,” said Councilman dePierro. “First, he promised to work with us to resolve the longstanding Carifi matter, but now he wants to prolong it. Second, and most importantly, this payout is contractually obligated and will have no impact on taxpayers. Prolonging it made zero sense, unless you care more about political games than our town’s well-being. The Mayor’s so blatantly misleading taxpayers speaks to his character, or lack thereof.”
“This was a bipartisan decision, as it took a Democratic vote to move forward,” said Councilwoman Gragnani. “The fact of the matter is that the only people Parsippany taxpayers have to fear these days is Mayor Soriano and the two tax hiking budgets he’s passed to pay for his wasteful unqualified patronage hires in town hall.”
Submitted by Michael dePierro and Loretta Gragnani
PARSIPPANY — With Scooter, it is guaranteed that he will ride his way into your heart! He is a two-year old Boston Terrier who is a fun-loving boy with a stellar personality.
Besides the hysterical snorts and snoring, Scooter will never fail to entertain you with his goofy antics. Whether it involves doing ‘zoomies’ in the backyard or being clumsy, he will bring a smile to your face every day.
Just as much as he is a goofball, Scooter is also a total sweetheart. There is nothing like coming home from work and seeing Scooter’s entire body wiggle with joy. He then wants nothing more than to cover your face in kisses!
Looking to get in shape? Scooter will happily be your workout buddy! He would love to go hiking, jogging, or take long walks in the neighborhood!
He is housebroken and crate trained. Scooter wouldn’t mind living with other dogs as long as there is a proper introduction! He takes some time to get comfortable with their presence but once he does, he is more than happy to play and lounge with them. Scooter is working hard on his leash training and looks forward to working on it every day. Scooter would be fine living with kids above the age of 16.
Scooter needs a home that will provide him with proper structure and exercise which will allow him to thrive. He is a very loving dog but needs guidance to turn him into the perfect gentleman that we know he can become.
If you are interested in adopting Scooter, please fill out an application by clicking here.
Follow Wise Animal Rescue on Instagram by clicking here.
Follow Wise Animal Rescue on Facebook by clicking here.
PARSIPPANY – At the Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting of Tuesday, September 3, Councilmembers Michael dePierro and Loretta Gragnani voted for a $425,000 payout to former police Captain James Carifi.
“Let me be clear,” Parsippany Mayor Michael Soriano stated. “I would be in full support of this resolution if it carried no risk to Parsippany taxpayers. Unfortunately, this hasty action by the Council carries millions of dollars of risk. My position has been and remains that we must fully resolve this legal saga in its entirety in the shortest possible time frame.”
dePierro and Gragnani’s resolution does nothing to resolve the still-pending lawsuits between the township and Captain Carifi, and may in fact extend them into the coming years. Prior to Mayor Soriano’s inauguration, millions of dollars were spent litigating against Captain Carifi by the Barberio-Inglesino administration, coinciding with Paul Carifi’s run for Mayor against Barberio in 2013. This disgrace was supported by dePierro and Gragnani, and has cost Parsippany taxpayers millions in legal fees over several years, according to Soriano.
Mayor Soriano continued, “Our administration has always sought to do the right thing, regardless of politics. That is why I called for a special Council meeting on August 27th: to give the Council a chance to hear from our attorneys in person. This followed a memo to the Council regarding the legally appropriate ways to resolve these matters without damage to our taxpayers. Unfortunately, instead of stopping to consider the consequences of their reversal, dePierro and Gragnani were no-shows.”
“The people of Parsippany deserve to know the fiscal danger their Councilmembers have put them in with this vote. The Council should vote to release legal counsel’s memo to the public this Tuesday, as well as personally accept responsibility for putting Parsippany’s fiscal health in jeopardy.”
Despite the example set during the Barberio-Inglesino administration, taxpayers’ money should never be used to press politically-motivated lawsuits against rivals. Municipalities have attorneys in large part to advise elected officials on the legality of their actions. dePierro and Gragnani’s failure to heed legal advice could be their most expensive mistake yet, said Soriano.
Taxpayers should be in disbelief that this Council would risk leaving the township on the hook for millions more dollars, a direct result of dePierro and Gragnani’s years-long support of this wasteful litigation and their suspiciously-timed rejection of legal advice in voting for this payout. Apparently, this is the cost of “Unity” to Parsippany taxpayers.
Council Vice President Janice McCarthy also voted in favor of the payout, while Councilwoman Emily Peterson abstained.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker announce the arrest of Lynneann K. Groves (a/k/a Lynne K. Groves), 37, of Franklin, on Forgery and Perjury related charges.
On March 8, 2019, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part received documents, filed on behalf of the defendant, Lynne Groves.
The defendant provided these documents as an attached Exhibit to the Defendant’s Certification in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Modification Application and in Support of Cross-Application that her attorney was filing on behalf of the defendant in the pending Family Part matter.
The documents were allegedly medical invoices totaling $2,800.00 and were attached as Exhibits to the defendant’s submission to the Court.
The investigation revealed that the documents submitted by the defendant to the Court as Exhibits were fraudulent. The investigation also revealed several alterations to the original invoices and that the amounts claimed on several of the invoices were greater than actually billed by the medical provider. The Certification signed by the defendant certified that the foregoing statements made by her were true and accurate and she was aware if any statement was willfully false that she was subject to punishment.
The defendant has been charged with the following offenses:
• One count of Forgery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1a(1), a crime of the Third degree;
• One count of Perjury, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:28-1a, a crime of the Third degree; and
• One count of Falsifying Records, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4a, a crime of the Fourth degree.
Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Specialized Crimes, Fraud Unit; the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part whose efforts contributed to the investigation of this case.
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.
ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker, and Chief Martin McParland, Jr. of the Rockaway Township Police Department announce that John P. Daley, 50, of Flanders, has been charged with one count of Invasion of Privacy, a crime of the third degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9b (1), and Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, a crime of the fourth degree, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3B (1).
The defendant was employed as a bartender in the Clubhouse Bar at the White Meadow Lake Clubhouse in Rockaway Township.
On September 8, Mr. Daley is alleged to have used a device to photograph or record a female patron who was utilizing the restroom at the Clubhouse and then destroying evidence relating to the act.
The defendant was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility upon his arrest and subsequently released in accordance with Criminal Justice Reform. He is pending a court date of October 15.
Anyone with information relating to this or any related incident is asked to call Detective Michael Rossi of the Rockaway Township Police Department at (973) 625-4000.
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.
PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills held “September 11th: A Day of Remembrance” to observe the 18th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the nation.
Seven Parsippany residents died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Many of them were husbands, wives and parents, but all of them were neighbors and friends in the Parsippany community.
Parsippany’s Chief of Staff, Matthew Clarkin, started with the welcoming remarks, followed by the National Anthem by Cantor Lois Kittner, Adath Shalom. The Pledge of Allegiance was performed by Township Clerk Khaled Madin.
Part of the steel from tht Twin Towers
Keynote Speaker was Brian Wheelock, EMT, First Responder to Ground Zero. Rev. Donald Bragg, Pastor, Parsippany Presbyterian Church offered benediction.
Mayor Michael Soriano read off the names of Parsippany residents.
Martin Boryczewski Boryczewski was remembered as a life-of-the-party type, who loved hanging out with friends as much as he loved his trading job. He grew up in Parsippany, and frequently came home to visit his family, whom he was close with. Read more here.
Antoinette Duger Duger was a devoted mother in a close knit Italian family, who she loved cooking for. She cared deeply for those around her; some of her last words were, “I don’t want them to worry,” her sister said. Read more here.
Michael John Pescherine Perscherine and his wife were expecting a baby at the time of his death, due in March 2002, something that cause him to “scream in delight.” He was remembered as an athlete who loved watching the Giants. Read more here.
Thomas H. Polhemus Thomas Polhemus was remember as loving golf nearly as much as he loved his wife and two sisters. He played through rain and snow three times a week, and would travel to Myrtle Beach to play with friends. Read more here.
Maria Theresa Santillan Maria Santillan was in the middle of planning her wedding to her high school sweetheart when she died. She had long dreamed of working in New York City, and often commuted with her father to the PATH station. Read more here.
Michael C. Sorresse Sorresse was deeply proud of working in the World Trade Center, something he’d tell people as they spotted the towers from the Turnpike. He was a family man who has just bought a home in Morris County. Read more here.
Jason Kyle Jacobs Jason Kyle Jacobs worked in the World Trade Center. He was a partner in Fiduciary Trust Co. and worked in Tower 2. Survivors originally listed: Wife, Jennifer; Daughter, Zoe; Father, Charles; Mother, Marilyn; and Brother, Seth. Read more here.
8:46 a.m. – American Airlines Flight #11 crashes into the World Trade Center
9:03 a.m. – United Airlines Flight #175 crashes into the World Trade Center South Tower
9:37 a.m. – American Airlines Flight #77 crashes into the U.S. Pentagon
10:03 a.m. – United Airlines Flight #93 crashes in Sharksville, PA
10:28 a.m. – World Trade Center North Tower Collapses
9-11 Memorial at Parsippany Town Hall
Brian Wheelock, EMT, First Responder to Ground Zero delivered the following speech:
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to hold this moment sacred, because part of what I wanted to talk about today was just how important it is to do this—to continue to hold this moment as a priority in our hearts and in our minds.
I’ll never forget that day, September 11th—the moment myself and another EMT from a squad down in Holmdel, my partner Chip Meyers, approached ground zero. It was a little bit later in the day, 7pm, starting to get dark. I remember as we approached—I remember the flashing lights of the ambulance, normally you see reflect off buildings, but they began to bounce back in our faces more and more because the cloud of dust and smoke in the air was beginning to fill in.
Even as we arrived blocks and blocks away nothing could have ever mentally prepared me for what I was about to see. I was 26 at the time. I wasn’t married with kids like I am now. Sometimes I wonder if that call came in today would I still have run in there? Would I still have forged ahead? Part of me says no way, I have a wife and a family, but these first responders here will tell you something happens at that moment, and you just do it. You take over. You know there are people there in need and you have to go.
I remember I opened the ambulance door. We weren’t prepared. We didn’t have masks, we didn’t have special gear. And the wave of dust that came over me was overwhelming. In fact we were being flagged down by a police officer for somebody that was outside having difficulty breathing. So as I grabbed the oxygen and was trying to help this person breathe, I myself was having trouble.
As we made our way down to ground zero, parked the ambulance and let that person return to their home, as they were able to breathe on their own again, we parked the ambulance and began to walk through that scene we’ve all seen—the pile. And it was just something that will always stick in my mind. I remember looking down and seeing a woman’s high heeled shoe on the ground and saying ‘where’s the woman?’ I can’t even explain what we saw that day. But there were feet and feet that we had to go through to get there. I remember making our way around the pile to the lobby of a hotel that had been made into a hospital. And it was fully staffed. You had nurses, doctors, IVs ready, lights, you wouldn’t know except a few signs that you were in the lobby of a hotel. But the one thing that was notably missing was the patients. Everybody was ready, but the patients were not there. Because we know how difficult it was to find anybody at that time.
Finally the report came in that they were pulling people out on the other side of the rubble. They requested those with ambulances to follow a caravan to the other side of the pile. We jumped in our ambulance and tried to follow this caravan with several other ambulances in front of us. With the amount of dust that was kicking up you couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of you. So here we are in lower Manhattan with nothing recognizable, no street signs, nothing to tell you where you were. Being from New Jersey, our radio could not communicate with New York at that time. I sat there literally in this disaster scene saying to my partner, ‘we are not doing well here, breathing all of this stuff in, we have nothing we can’t even get where we’re trying to go. Maybe we should abort this mission and go back to New Jersey.’ We sat there for a moment and then said it’s time. We had been there for several hours by that time. But those 3 hours I spent there would literally change my life forever.
As of this day, I have 6 certified illnesses that they attribute to 9/11. 4 of them physical, 2 of them PTSD and things. More for me its worry about the future—what does the future hold for me and my family. That’s what I struggle with on a daily basis. Thankfully none of those illnesses are life threatening, and I thank God for that. It was disturbing to me to find out shortly after we came the ambulance we brought with us that day, the engine ceased and it could no longer be used, because of all that it inhaled. And I think to myself, we were there the same amount of time. You may have heard in the news around this time that the number of first responders that have passed away and others in lower Manhattan is approaching the number that died that day, and that’s a tough, tough thing to swallow.
But for those we’ve lost and those we continue to lose, we have an obligation to hold this moment sacred as we are all doing right now. You’ll all remember the phrase “Never Forget.” Never forget—that was everywhere. But I want to add something to that—“Always Remember.” Because there actually is a difference. Meriam Webster defines “forget” is to lose remembrance of or be able to think of or recall. The definition of “remember” is a little different. To cause something to come back into your mind. And as painful as this is, especially for family and those that are here who may have lost somebody, this is painful to do. But we need to do this together.
Here we are 18 years later. This September 11th, maybe not for us, but for a lot of people, is just starting to look like every other day. My wife and I have Back to School Night tonight. People I know have work meetings and things they had to be at this morning. You go back 5 to 7 years this day was still held more sacred. Things were not scheduled as they are now. Things are creeping in to sacred territory. We need to fight to keep this day a sacred part of the DNA of our country. Even one of my daughters had a science experiment going on at the middle school today, and we said, you know what, she needs to be there. 2 of my daughters are here in fact one of them has a dentist appointment, sorry, I think I warned her.
But we need to remember that 9/11 is, again, part of our country’s DNA. And if next year, we have to be somewhere and sometimes we may have to be somewhere, at 8:46 when the first plane hit, we may need to take a moment and pause, and say, you know what, raise our hand if we’re in a sales meeting [pause for bell ringing] ‘people, friends, coworkers, let’s take a moment, this is sacred moment, let’s take just 5 minutes out of what we’re doing and reflect for a moment. You’d be surprised how people might respond.
I remember 8 years ago today, September 11th, 2011, I happened to be flying home from a wedding in Ireland. I lived in Ireland years and years before that. I was on a flight that was landing in Newark airport at 11:25 in the morning on September 11th on the 10 year anniversary. Packed plane. 747 full of people. I got this overwhelming feeling that we have all these people together, its approaching 9:00, we need to honor this in some way. But here I am with strangers, people I don’t know from every walk, of life, every race, every religion was represented. There were a few hundred people there. Sometime you get that that nudge—I call it a nudge from above—you have to get out of your seat. Sometimes you don’t want to do that. I didn’t want to do it that day. But I felt a nudge to ask the flight attendant if I could say something over the loudspeaker. If we could hold this moment sacred. Pray. Something to acknowledge this moment that we had together. Of course I didn’t think they were going to go for this. Post 9/11 we know the rules. But I did it anyway. I explained that I was a first responder on 9/11 and how important this moment was to me and that I thought we should all share it together and acknowledge it in some way. She looked at me like I was crazy and she said I’m going to ask the pilot and see what he says. And she picked up that little phone and told him the situation and then turned to me and said “he said yes. Are you ready?” “Let me run to the bathroom,” I said “and gather my thoughts.” [as I did this morning, but TMI.] But it was an important moment to do that. And she walked me to the front of a 747 and she said ‘ladies and gentlemen, a passenger wants to address the plane.’ Now I have a feeling they were more concerned than they should have been at that moment. But I got on the loudspeaker and I explained that I was a 9/11 first responder and that we were approaching that exact moment 10 years later. And I said ‘I think this is an important moment. I know we have many walks of life here. I happen to be a Christian but we have people from every religion and faith here. We all need to take a moment of silence and if you don’t mind let’s bow our heads, I’ll pray for a safe landing and that we can heal from this tragedy. I couldn’t even believe the response. Everybody, no matter what color they were, or gender, they all bowed their heads and we shared that moment together. When I completed that everybody applauded. And I had just prayed for protection, and that God would give us the strength to heal. And remember that moment was sacred. And people kept coming up to me and thanking me for making the point of making the moment sacred.
The next 9/11 it may be your turn. Maybe you won’t be on a 747, maybe you’ll be somewhere else, a meeting, or at school. But we have to make the point of taking that sacred moment. Because I can tell you, the families who have lost people—they can’t do it alone. The first responders that were there that day that may be much more ill than me—they can’t do it alone. We need eachother to lean on. And we need to engage and learn eachothers stories in order to heal from this tragedy.
Always remember is to cause something to come back into your mind. And I think this country needs that right now. Remember what it was like after 9/11? Remember every other car had American flag on it? Remember the patriotism we felt that day? We need that again and each one of us can make a difference in bringing that back. I truly believe in sharing our past, and loving on one another like we are doing here today will bring great hope and healing to our future.
PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) participated in the Pentagon’s September 11th Observance and released the following statement on the 18th anniversary of the 2001 attacks:
“For eighteen years, we’ve celebrated and mourned the members of our community we lost in 2001, and the bravery of the first responders who ran towards the burning buildings in Lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and Shanksville — into immeasurable and unknown danger.
“I spoke with a firefighter yesterday in my community who went to the pile at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the attacks. It does not get any easier for the survivors and families, but with our passage of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund this summer, we can give them some peace of mind that they will receive the support they need.
“At today’s memorial at the Pentagon, I was surrounded by survivors, family members, and active duty personnel. It was a reminder of the sacrifice made by brave men and women, and I strongly felt the memory of those lost from Flight 77 and the Pentagon.
“There is now an entire generation of Americans born after September 11th. We owe them principled leadership, both at home and abroad. We must ensure that the lesson of September 11th is that we double down on our values in the face of attacks on our country, not run away from them.”
Representative Mikie Sherrill is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Norfolk at the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Headquarters during the September 11, 2001, attacks.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes new member, DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse).
DSW will be holding a ribbon cutting grand opening on September 27 in the Waterview Marketplace.
Presenting the Chamber Membership Plaque to DSW’s store manager, Carrie Montoya and District Manager Jason Kish was Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso. Also joining Peluso was Board Members Frank Cahill, Nicolas Limanov, Ildiko Peluso and Alan Golub. In addition Committee Chairperson Barbara Freda joined in the celebration.
Designer Shoe Warehouse was founded in 1991, their flagship retail brand DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse is a leading branded footwear and accessories retailer offering a wide selection of dress, casual and athletic footwear and accessories for women, men and kids. DSW operates nearly 550 stores in the U.S. and Canada and offers shoppers an award-winning omnichannel shopping experience.
The first store opened in 1991 in Dublin, Ohio. Today, DSW operates more than 500 stores in 44 states.
PARSIPPANY — Rep. Mikie Sherrill was recently honored as an AbilityOne® Congressional Champion of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. On Thursday, September 5, Rep. Sherrill visited Employment Horizons, a not-for-profit based in Morris County that assists individuals with barriers to employment. Also visiting the agency was SourceAmerica®, an organization that provides employment choices for individuals with disabilities through the AbilityOne nonprofit agency community. After a tour, the Congresswoman was recognized in a joint presentation hosted by these two organizations. Rep. Sherrill is now the newest member of the 160 certified Congressional Champions from 43 states and the District of Columbia, and the only current legislator in New Jersey to achieve such distinction.
After being presented with the award, Rep. Sherrill noted that, “Employment Horizons and the AbilityOne Program serve individuals with disabilities and other barriers through innovative programs and employment opportunities in the greater Morris County area. I am so honored to have received the AbilityOne Congressional Champion Award and am committed to making sure our constituents living with disabilities have access to employment opportunities.”
In order to become an AbilityOne Congressional Champion, the individual must demonstrate commitment to employment opportunities for individual with disabilities and publicly show their support. Earlier this year, Rep. Sherrill met with advocates of the AbilityOne Program from Employment Horizons in her D.C. office during SourceAmerica’s Grassroots Conference. She has also visited Picatinny Arsenal military base, an AbilityOne contract site. In addition, her office utilizes products that are manufactured as part of the program.
“Employment Horizons is honored to be a long-time partner with SourceAmerica and the AbilityOne program in ensuring employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Congresswoman Sherrill has been committed to services for individuals with disabilities since before taking office, and we were pleased to have her tour our programs and to present her with an AbilityOne Congressional Champion award in recognition of her support,” said Matthew Putts, CEO of Employment Horizons.
“As the congressional founders of the AbilityOne Program, Senator Robert Wagner and Representative Caroline O’Day, are no longer with us, support from current Members of Congress like Congresswoman Sherrill is critically important,” said John Kelly, Vice President of
Government Affairs for SourceAmerica. “We are happy to recognize her as an AbilityOne Congressional Champion today.”
The AbilityOne Congressional Champions Program was established in 2002 to honor representatives and senators who have demonstrated a commitment to constituents with disabilities and the AbilityOne Program. More information about the AbilityOne Congressional Champion Program is available online.
Established in 1974, SourceAmerica creates employment opportunities for a skilled and dedicated workforce of people with disabilities. SourceAmerica is the vital link between the federal government and private sector organizations that procure the products and services provided by this exceptional workforce via a network of more than 750 community-based nonprofits. Headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, SourceAmerica provides its nonprofit agency network with business development, contract management, legislative and regulatory assistance, communications and public relations materials, information technology support, engineering and technical assistance, and extensive professional training needed for successful nonprofit management. Visit SourceAmerica.org to learn more, or follow them on Facebook (@SourceAmerica), Twitter (@SourceAmericaUS) and LinkedIn (@SourceAmerica).
Founded in 1957, Employment Horizons, Inc. is the premier not-for-profit agency in Morris County that provides high-quality competitively priced services to the business community through its commercial operations. Simultaneously, the mission, to help people with disabilities reach their career objectives, is fulfilled. To learn more, please visit www.ehorizons.org.
The AbilityOne Program is one of the largest sources of employment in the United States for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. Approximately 45,000 people who are blind or have significant disabilities, including approximately 3,000 veterans, are employed at approximately 500 nonprofit agencies nationwide, across 15 time zones, from Maine to Guam. AbilityOne provided more than $3.3 billion in products and services to the federal government in fiscal year 2018. The Program operates at more than 1,000 locations, representing 40 government agencies, including more than 150 Base Supply Centers at military and government installations.
