PARSIPPANY — Shauna Lally, Mount Tabor, a 2018 graduate of Parsippany Hills High School, has been named to the Dean’s list at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Shauna’s major is in Sequential Art and Minor is in Business.
The Dean’s List honors are awarded to full time students who attain a 3.5 cumulative GPA during an academic quarter.
Savannah College of Art and Design prepares talented students for creative professions through engaged teaching and learning in a positively oriented university environment.
PARSIPPANY — Office vacancy rate studies do not include single tenanted or owner occupied office buildings. Therefore, office buildings occupied by ADP, Tiffany & Co., Wyndham Worldwide, Avis/Budget, T-Mobile, UPS, GAF, Zoitis, Iqvia Health Products, AFR / E-Lend, Envision Physician Services, Delta Dental, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance, DSM Nutritional Products, Evonik Industries and Day Pitney LLP which have a combined square footage of over 3,500,000 square feet are not included when Parsippany vacancy rates are calculated.
Buildings that owners are keeping vacant and are not being marketed because they intend to repurpose the use of these sites are included in these vacancy studies.
These buildings total over 750,000 square feet. When you include the above mentioned office buildings occupying 3,500,000 square feet, and exclude the buildings containing 750,000 that are going to be demolished so the site can be used for another purpose, these vacancy rate studies drop by 10 to 15 percentage points which makes the actual office vacancy rate for Parsippany between 12% to 15%.
Daniel S. Cassese, Parsippany’s Tax Assessor said “I estimate that there are 2,000,000 square feet of vacant office area in Parsippany divided by the total office area of 14,500,000 equals a 13.8% vacancy rate.”
With over 14,500,000 square feet of office area, 4,500,000 square feet of industrial/warehouse area, over 2,500,000 square feet of retail space, 17 hotels/motels containing 2,722 hotel rooms, over 8,000 apartments and over 14,000 residential homes; Parsippany-Troy Hills is what could be considered the Business Center of Morris County.
Within the 25 square mile area of the Township, major highways intersect throughout the municipality including Route 80, Route 287, Route 46, Route 10, Route 202 and Route 53.
The Township offers easy access to major highways for companies looking to move to Parsippany. Parsippany has a much diversified population. It also has numerous recreation amenities, including 29 parks, 12 lakes and two 18 – hole golf courses located at the Knoll East and Knoll West Country Club which are both owned by the Township.
Parsippany is turning into a live, work, play and stay amenity rich micro market. Millennials are beginning to move from areas close to mass transit, where apartment rents are high, to suburban locations that have diversity, amenities, easy highway access and where apartment rents are much more affordable.
Here is a list of a few of the office buildings located in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township that highlight what really is taking place in the office market of the Township.
300 Kimball Drive is a 400,127 square foot office building that was once owned and occupied by State Farm Insurance. They vacated 80% of the building in 2013 and only occupied one floor. As of today, State Farm no longer occupies office space in this building. Transwestern Investment Group transformed this single tenant user building into an amenity filled multi-tenant office building. Typical amenities include renovated café and tenant seating areas, fitness centers, training and meeting areas, atrium lobbies, and covered parking. These types of amenities attract Millennials. Companies are now looking to lease in buildings that offer these types of amenities. Transwestern was able to lease large blocks of tenant space to new tenants. The building sold on March 8, 2019 for $66,000,000 and at the time of the sale, it was 78% occupied. This is a good example that if the owner is willing to make an investment in an office building in Parsippany, they will be rewarded.
169 Lackawanna Drive contains 256,750 square feet of Class A office space
169 Lackawanna Avenue was once previously occupied by a single tenant, New York Life Insurance. The building sold as vacant to 169 Lackawanna LLC t/a RVI Insurance Company and is currently managed by Vision Properties. This 256,750 square foot office building has been transformed into a multi-tenant Class A building offering many of the amenities that are mentioned above including full emergency power back up. The site has been rebranded as The Offices at Fox Hill. The building is now 40% leased to three new tenants. 111 Littleton Road was a vacant 36,389 square foot office building for years. It is visible from the access Road from Route 287 South leading to Route 80 West. The owner, Commercial Realty Group, has just completed the renovation of this building and has recently leased office space to three new tenants.
Three Sylvan Way was previously owned by Dun & Bradstreet
3 Sylvan Way was previously owned and occupied by Dun & Bradstreet. It was sold on December 22, 2015 to 3 Sylvan Realty, LLC. The owner, Mack-Cali Realty, transformed this 158,011 square foot office building into a multi-tenant building offering many amenities for new tenants. Within the past year they have leased over 100,000 square feet to two new tenants.
5 Sylvan Way is a 151,383 square foot office building located in the Mack-Cali Business Campus. Mack-Cali is in the process of remodeling the lower level for a café, conference rooms and the renovation of the existing bathrooms. This building is now 94% occupied.
35 Waterview Boulevard is 94% occupied
35 Waterview Boulevard is a 172,500 square foot multi-tenanted office building located in the Waterview Corporate Center. It is one traffic light from Route 287, Route 80 and Route 46. It sold on February 15, 2018 for $28,150,000 and at the time of the sale it was 95% occupied.
4, 5, 6 Century Drive are three office buildings constructed in 1980. They contain a combined square footage of over 280,000 square feet. Bergman Realty, in partnership with Time Equities, purchased all three buildings in 2016. They are nearing completion of the transformation of these three buildings into what is now known as the Century Office Campus. Amenities include a time work area containing a media center, art room, game room and massage room. There will also be an open courtyard connecting these three buildings.
Latitude, located at 369-399 Interpace Parkway
369-399 Interpace Parkway owners, Vision Real Estate Partners, just received approvals from the Parsippany Planning Board to convert two mirror image office buildings, containing 700,000 square feet, into an office campus setting offering an open outdoor seating area and an amenity filled central glass atrium connection the two office buildings to be rebranded as Latitude East and Latitude West. Vision Real Estate Partners are also renovating the 226,000 square foot office building at 20 Waterview Boulevard into a fully amenitized building to be branded as Northpoint.
Renderings courtesy: Vision Real Estate Partners/NelsonAll renderings courtesy: Vision Real Estate Partners/Nelson
The above referenced office buildings are all located in Parsippany-Troy Hills and total 2,200,000 square feet of office area. As you can see, there are many highlights going on with the office market in Parsippany that are not mentioned in a vacancy rate.
“As a professional, I have over 45 years of experience in the field of tax assessment. (City of Newark 1974-1985 and Parsippany-Troy Hills 1986 to present),” said Daniel S. Cassese, CTA, SCGREA.
PARSIPPANY — Best Practices in Behavior Analysis (BPBA) announces the second year of their Kids Helping Kids social skills camp for children entering Kindergarten through eighth grade during the weeks of July 22, August 12, 19 and 26.
It is no secret that in today’s technology driven society, where so much communication happens on mobile phones via text and messaging, children are struggling to develop the interpersonal and social skills they need to lead fulfilling and successful lives.
This camp, called “Kids Helping Kids”, is designed to help children of all backgrounds and with a variety of needs or exceptionality to hone their social skills and build their self-confidence and ability to work well with others.
Kids Helping Kids camp will be held July 22-25 at The Nature Nest located at 220 Vreeland Avenue, Boonton. During the month of August, it will be based at Saint Christopher’s Church on Route 202 in Parsippany in the heart of Morris County New Jersey.
Kids Helping Kids is an inclusive social skills camp focused on developing face-to-face social, emotional, physical and academic skills. Campers engage in game play, physical activity, STEM projects, guided conversations, and practice their social skills. They learn from their peers and from the board-certified analysts who run the camp as well as the aspiring behaviorists who support the team.
“Last summer was our first year of this camp and we all learned so much. This camp started as a traditional social skills camp designed for children with special needs and what we quickly realized is that the kids without any sort of classification benefited just as much. They enjoyed the activities and by the end of the week everyone matured and began to improve critical social skills and start to demonstrate advanced responses such as empathy, collaboration, patience and consideration,” said Stasia Hansen, MA., BCBA-S, Founder of Best Practices in Behavior Analysis.
Kids Helping Kids Food Tasting
The goal of the Kids Helping Kids camp is to teach social repertoires to children with and without special education classification. This is done in a fun and nurturing environment where relationships can be made. The program is run by two Ivy League Board Certified Behavior Analysts with a combined total of 40 years’ experience.
Stasia Hansen, is a local mom of two from Parsippany and the founder and director of Best Practices in Behavior Analysis. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, BCBA, with more than 20 years’ experience in the field of behavior analysis. Stasia graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2003.
Lisa Searls is a BCBA and has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for 20 years. She received her master’s degree in ABA from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also has a MA in Special Education, is a NJ Certified General and Special Education teacher, and a certified aerobics instructor. She currently works as a behavior consultant for several public-school districts.
This camp is ideal for children entering Kindergarten through eighth grade. Children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and developmental delays are welcome and encouraged to attend as are children who are not classified with any special needs but who wish to gain leadership and/or social skills.
Data will be collected on the all the skills taught to the campers and progress will be tracked. In most instances and as appropriate, the campers will track their own data which acts as an academic lesson and furthers their accountability.
To find out more visit the BPBA website here or download the camp flyer here. You can also contact camp director Stasia Hansen at stasia.bestpractices@gmail.com.
PARSIPPANY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Chief of Investigations Stephen F. Wilson, Jr., and Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Andrew Miller announce the filing of an additional charge related to a death that occurred on March 15, 2019.
On March 25, Patrick Mirrione, 79, of Parsippany, was charged with Aiding Suicide, a crime of the second degree. Mirrione was previously charged with Obstructing Administration of Law or Other Governmental Function and Tampering with Physical Evidence in connection with this incident.
It is alleged that on Friday, March 15, at approximately 12:54 p.m., Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Officers responded to a 911 call report of a gunshot suicide at 10 Concord Way, Parsippany.
The caller, later identified as Patrick Mirrione, reported to police at the scene that he discovered his wife in the garage with an apparent gunshot wound. During the ensuing investigation, it is alleged that Mirrione gave statements to law enforcement revealing that he purposely aided his wife in the commission of her suicide. Mirrione was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending future court proceedings as a result of the Aiding Suicide charge.
This investigation remains ongoing and no additional information will be released at this time. If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200, or the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department at (973) 263-4300.
Members of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office – Crime Scene Investigations, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office all took part in this investigation.
Editors Note: The complaints against Mirrione are merely accusations. Despite these accusations, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
PARSIPPANY — Eastlake Elementary School held its annual “Family Fun Fair” on Saturday, March 23.
There were plenty of games for the children to try their skills and win prizes. 50/50 – Cotton Candy – Face Painting – Kona Ice – Games – Food- Prizes – Sand Art and more…
Ansh Patel and his sister Rajvee Patel. Rajvee was a volunteer during the Fun Fair. She is a student at Parsippany Hills High SchoolCHEESY SMILE? Ansh Patel taking a bag of Cheez-ItsOlivia Peterson, Meghan Lipscomb, Alyssa Palazzo, Amelia Palazzo and Christina Colon were testing their skills with the game at the Fun FairDenise Colon, Heather Lipscomb and Fran Palazzo were the money collectors at the snack tableHOT DOGS ANYONE? Custodians Jose Reyes and Virginia Rivera take a break to eat some delicious hot dogs. Casey Maass joined in to taste test the dogsCOKE OR PEPSI? Andrea Lipscomb and Christina Colon selling the competing productsLADDER BALL? Liz Parente, a National Honor Student volunteer from Parsippany Hills High SchoolSLAP SHOT ANYONE? Max Bard, National Honor Society Student from Parsippany Hills High School volunteering his time at the Fun FairMr. and Mrs. Resciniti, coordinators of the Fun FairBhavesh Patel, Vihaan Patel, Shiok Patel, Principal Mr. Powell and his daughter Alana PowellAman Gianchandani, Sujay Faldu, Parth Patel, Patrick Turo (back row) and Ben Ucab and Gabriel Ucab enjoying East Lake Fun FairGAMES GALORE – The children had a large assortment of games to test their skillsCOTTON CANDY ANYONE? Mark Turo is the expert in making cotton candy!Kiwanis K-KidsKona IceIt’s always a wonder day to see Papa Joe
PARSIPPANY — Lake Parsippany PTA held a Fun Fair and Tricky Tray on Saturday, March 23.
For the kids there was games, prizes, Airbrush Station, food and more. For the adults there was a Tricky Tray with about 150 baskets, 50/50 Raffle, and a Lottery Apron. An afternoon of fun for everyone!
Fifth grade helpers at Lake Parsippany Fun FairaChildren having fun at Lake Parsippany Fun Fair Children having fun at Lake Parsippany Fun FairChildren having fun at Lake Parsippany Fun FairChildren having fun at Lake Parsippany Fun Fair
MORRIS COUNTY — April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and for the second year, Deirdre’s House, the Center for Morris County’s child victims of abuse and or neglect, will be holding its Wine and Whiskey Tasting to raise funds to provide services to child victims of abuse and/or neglect and for children that have witnessed violence. The event will be held on Friday, April 5 at the Morristown Hyatt, 3 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown.
For the second year, Wine and Whiskey Country is the co-sponsor of the event, which will feature a wide variety Wine and Whiskies available for tasting, as well as a Wine and Spirit Pull, Silent Auction, and Buffet. Just some of the whiskies that will be available for tasting are Tommy Rotter Triple Barrel, Featherbone Bourbon, Slane Irish Whiskey, High West, Whistle Pig 12-Year-Old, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Four Roses Yellow Label, Old Forester 1870. There will also be a variety of gins and vodkas. Attendees will also have the chance to participate in the SHINE campaign, a national initiative with the goal of transforming the conversation around the issue of child sexual abuse. Event attendees will be able to have their photograph taken with special signs that feature encouraging messages for survivors of child sexual assault.
Sponsors, attendees, and silent auction donors are still needed to help raise funds to ensure that critical services provided by Deirdre’s House will continue to be available to child abuse victims and their families. In addition to Wine and Whiskey Country, lead sponsors already include Bressler, Amery and Ross, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Charles Schwab Morristown Office, and several private donors. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
Founded in 1994, Deirdre’s House, is the leading resource for children in Morris County who have suffered abuse, neglect or witnessed domestic violence. It is the only site in Morris County where a child victim can be interviewed and digitally recorded by law enforcement, medically examined and treated, and clinically counseled in English and Spanish, all free-of-charge and all under one roof.
Proceeds from the Wine and Whiskey event will be used to fund the Deirdre’s House Advocacy and Clinical Counseling Programs. Deirdre’s House Executive Director Maria Vinci Savettiere, Esq. explained, “By attending or sponsoring this event, members of our community can raise funds and awareness to ensure that though a child’s life may be altered by abuse, it does not have to be defined by that abuse.”
For more information on Deirdre’s House call (973) 631-5000, or click here.
PARSIPPANY — It’s back again, for the 17th consecutive year. The Ultimate Trivia Contest will be held on Friday, April 26. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., and Trivia starts at 7:00 p.m. Gather your friends, family, co-workers and come out for a night of fun. Each team can have up to eight people.
Bring your own food and BYOB. Soda, coffee, water, plates, cups, napkins, and utensils will be provided.
To play fair there are a few simple rules: The use of ANY electronic device whatsoever during competition will immediately disqualify the offending team. This includes but is not limited to I-Pod’s, PDA’s, ICBM’s, drones, etc. The use of printed material such as encyclopedias, almanacs, National Geographic, and the like, is strictly prohibited and of course no tweeting!
The fee is $20.00 per person. The event is held at Parsippany PAL Youth Center, 33 Baldwin Road. Click here to download a registration form.
Please bring an extra, non-perishable food item to be donated to our community food bank.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany chooses their own service projects that they feel need their attention. They are all local people that volunteer their time and talents to make our community a better place to live. The members, like you, are busy with making a living, church, family, and many other activities. The members, however, have found that Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany not only gives a chance to give back to the community in a meaningful way, but they enjoy the fellowship, networking, and fun aspects as well.
If you are interested in Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, visit the group every Thursday at 7:15 a.m., Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46. You can also find more information by clicking here.
PARSIPPANY — The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills (WCPTH) is hosting their 38th Annual Tee Off for Education Golf Classic & Luncheon Social on Tuesday, July 9 at the Knoll Country Club West. The event includes a Golf Classic, Game Social and Luncheon.
The fundraiser benefits WCPTH’S Scholarship and Education Fund. Contributions (for door prizes or Tricky Tray baskets) or sponsorships for the Fundraiser are greatly appreciated. All money raised goes back to Parsippany students (open to both male and female students) in educational programs such as Scholarships to graduating high school seniors, Citizenship Awards to graduating 8th graders, and 5th Grade Reading awards. If you would like to contribute or attend the event, please contact Marilyn Z. at (973) 539-3703 or WCPTH, Golf Outing, P.O. Box 98, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Click here for sponsorship form.
Items from 2018 Tricky Tray
The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills is a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs, which is the largest volunteer women’s service organization in the state, providing opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service. For more information call Marilyn at (973) 539-3703, e-mail the club at womansclubofpth@gmail.com or click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — After years and millions of taxpayerdollars spent on investigating the President and his campaign for collusion of the 2016 Presidential Campaign, the Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, found that neither the President, anyone in his campaign or any American, conspired with the Russians.
What is needed now is not a victory lap by President Trump, or continued and additional partisan investigations by Congress. Let us put our Country and it’s important pressing issues ahead of self serving political ones. Our greatness shines when we do so. Lincoln said as much when he said,” if destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be it’s author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide”. Key word,”we”.
PARSIPPANY — This morning, Cori Herbig, Rob Kaminski and Judy Hernandez announced their 2019 campaign for the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council. Herbig, Kaminski and Hernandez are running with the support of Mayor Michael Soriano, Morris County Democratic Committee Chair Chip Robinson and Parsippany Democratic Committee Chair Matt Clarkin.
Cori Herbig
“I am proud to support such a strong and dynamic slate of candidates in this year’s Council election,” stated Mayor Soriano. “Cori, Rob and Judy bring together a wealth of diverse professional experience and community volunteerism that will make our Council more representative of our township’s residents.”
All three candidates are making their first bids for public office.
Cori Herbig is a resident of Lake Hiawatha. Cori has dedicated her career to ensuring that elected leaders are held accountable to the will of the people. Currently, she works at Everytown for Gun Safety, which includes Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, where she works to pass lifesaving gun violence prevention policies and preserve public safety. Earlier in her career, she spent 13 years advocating for animal welfare at the ASPCA. Cori graduated from Rutgers College and Pace Law School. She grew up in Chester and moved to Lake Hiawatha in 2013, where she now lives with her husband and two children.
Rob Kaminski
Rob Kaminski has lived in Parsippany for most of his life, and is a graduate of Parsippany Hills High School. A career electrician, he is an executive board member of IBEW Local 102, headquartered on Parsippany Road.
He holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from the County College of Morris, and is a Delegate to the Northwest Jersey Central Labor Council, AFL/CIO. Rob has dedicated countless hours of volunteer service to the community. He volunteers his time to help build and maintain Parsippany’s athletic facilities through the Parsippany PAL, volunteers electrical services to support the construction of homes through Habit for Humanity, and has volunteered as a basketball and baseball coach. Rob resides with his wife, a Parsippany High School graduate.
Judy Hernandez
Judy Hernandez is a 19-year resident of Parsippany. As an engineer, she brings extensive experience in environmental consulting to the table. Judy volunteers her time with the Parsippany Planning Board, Environmental Committee and Glacier Hills Association. She holds a BECE from Manhattan College, and participated in the Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program. She resides in Glacier Hills with her husband and two children.
Herbig, Kaminski and Hernandez are running as a team in the June 4 Democratic primary election. The three stated jointly, “As people who have chosen to make this community our home, we are first and foremost a group of concerned residents looking to maintain our community’s status as a top place to live and raise a family. As we launch our campaign, we are making one simple pledge: We will always have the community’s best interest at heart. As members of the Council, we will welcome different ideas, encourage positive public discourse, and work toward our common goals of fiscal responsibility, integrity, and transparency in governing.”
PARSIPPANY — Casey (Kaushik) Parikh, Parsippany, was appointed to Morris County Open Space Trust Fund Committee for a term of two years, expiring on December 31, 2020.
The Morris County Open Space Committee reviews, prioritizes and makes recommendations to the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders on the funding or projects which fall into the municipal/qualified charitable conservancy category.
This fifteen (15) member Committee consists of one representative from each of the eight municipal regions in the county, plus representatives from the County Planning Board, County Agriculture Development Board, County Park Commission, County Municipal Utilities Authority, County Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board, and two members at-large. The Committee members are appointed by the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund.
All meetings are held at 30 Schuyler Place (2nd Floor Conference Room), Morristown.
He is an active volunteer and provides selfless service to the Parsippany community. He mentors the younger generation and works with seniors to improve their quality of life. He always looks for the opportunity to serve the community. Casey has been a resident of Parsippany for over 30 years. He lives with his wife Rita. His daughter Coral lives with her husband Krishna in New York. His son Emil, also in NY, is an IT professional.
Casey graduated as an Electrical Engineer from the University of Bombay, India. He earned his Masters and MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Casey worked at Kennedy Space Center, FL for NASA as a launch team member of the Space Shuttle. At Tyco International he served as Director and recently retired to dedicate his full attention to community service.
Casey served as chairman of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Planning Board for 24 years. He was a member of the Rotary Club and currently is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany.
Parikh is one of the founders of the Parsippany Indian Association. He has served on the Board of Education demographics committee; as board member of the Parsippany Child Day Care; and the Attorney Ethics Committee and as an advisor to Morris county seniors. He is always looking for opportunities to help others.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation has announced that the 2019 grant application for funding of open space projects under the Morris County Preservation Trust are now available online by clicking here.
Any of Morris County’s 39 municipalities and qualified charitable conservancies are eligible to apply for grant funding, said Barbara Murray, open space program coordinator. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 14.
Program rules recently were amended to include costs for demolition and restoration of a property (up to a maximum of 10 percent of the eligible land cost, or $50,000 whichever is less) as allowable costs under the program.
A workshop will be held on March 28from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Morris County Cultural Center to review program changes and answer questions regarding project eligibility.
Funding for the grants comes from the county’s Preservation Trust Fund, which generates revenues through a voter-approved special county tax.
The tax, set at 3/4 of a cent per $100 of tax assessment, should generate about $7.2 million this year. Of that money, the county allocates 1/4 of a cent to the Park Improvement Trust used by the Park Commission to restore facilities and 1/2 of a cent is allocated to the other Preservation Trust Programs.
In addition to open space projects, the county’s preservation fund also helps finance farmland and historic preservation, county parkland acquisition, recreational trails project, and the purchase of residential properties prone to flooding.
Freeholder Stephen Shaw
“The smart preservation of open space in Morris County is one of the keys to sustained economic development and the high quality of life that is enjoyed by residents in Morris County,’’ said Freeholder Stephen Shaw, who is the county governing board’s liaison to the Department of Planning and Preservation.
“Our parks and green open space, interconnected by a growing countywide trail system, offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities for our residents, making Morris County a special place to live, work and play,’’ he added.
The freeholders in 2018 approved funding for five preservation projects at a cost $1.93 million and totaling 47 acres in five Morris County towns. Included were projects in Boonton, Denville, Mendham Township, Morris Plains, and Roxbury.
They ranged from a 1.42-acre tract next to a new housing development in Morris Plains to a nearly 18-acre expansion of Lewis Morris County Park in Mendham Township.
About 14,400 acres of open space have been preserved with the assistance of grant funding from the county program since its inception in 1993, according to Murray.
The deadline for submitting 2019 open space applications and appraisals is Friday, June 14.
The Morris County Open Space Trust Fund Committee will visit proposed sites in September, with final presentations made in October, and recommendations made to the freeholder board in early November. You can obtain additional information by contacting the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation at (973) 829-8120.
For detailed information on the 2018 projects and grants click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD) held its Annual Training Conference in Atlantic City with more than four hundred law enforcement officials and educators came together from as far as Hawaii.
At the Conference Awards Luncheon Rockaway Township resident and LEAD Executive Board Member William Schievella was presented with the “LEAD Director of the Year” Award.
Schievella was selected for his leadership in the field of drug and violence prevention for children.
“By partnering law enforcement and teachers together we can make a difference n the fight against our children becoming addicted to drugs. It’s all about the kids! ” said Schievella a retired Chief of Detectives from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and former Morris County Undersheriff.
LEAD is the largest growing evidence based drug prevention program in the nation which places law enforcement and educators together with the community to stop children from using Drugs. LEAD is glad to work closely with the National Drug Control Policy Office within the White House to be in the forefront of the fight against drugs.
PARSIPPANY — Your Dream Home NJ is excited to be a sponsor for the Brooklawn Color Run on Friday, April 5. Bring the entire family to walk, run or just to eat and hang out in the field with the DJ, Bounce Houses, cotton candy and so much more.
Going to be a blast so hurry up and sign up! Volunteers needed too. All of Morris County and beyond is welcome!
Online registration closes at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26. The run starts at 6:00 p.m. Please plan to arrive between 5:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
Entry fee includes race participation, t-shirt, goody bag, inflatables, one packet of color.
Runners (or walkers!) will do up to three laps around the cross country course for a total of 1.5 miles.
1. Add a meal $5.00 — choose from Pizza, Sub or Burger. Includes chips and water.
2. Add sunglasses (to protect eyes from color) $2.00
3. Add a bandana (to protect eyes from color) $2.00
4. Let us know if you are registering more than two runners. If you are registering three or more runners the price is 20% less or $15.00 per runner plus whatever add-ons you choose.
The color that is thrown on the runners and provided for the runners to throw on each other is made of corn starch. If you have allergies or other concerns you can read more about the product here.
DENVILLE — “Dogs Gone Wild” swimming party will be held on Saturday, May 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Cooks Pond Denville Recreation, 19 Entrance Way, Denville.
Off leash swimming and playing for your dogs enjoyment, picnic area and playground for your enjoyment the entire facility is fenced in and safe for your dogs. Entry Fee is $20.00 for family and two dogs.
Yappy Hour for Small dogs begins at 10:00 a.m. feel free to stay and play all day or just enjoy an hour of play free from the big boys.
Off leash swimming and playing for your dogs enjoyment, picnic area and playground for your enjoyment the entire facility is fenced in and safe for your dogs. Fee for the event is $20 all money goes to support the Denville Dog Park and Animal Shelter
Third annual Pup Wet tshirt contest $5.00 per entry dress your pup up in a fun decorated t-shirt and then we will meet on the beach for the wet down! Fun prizes to be won. Starts at 1:00 p.m. on the beach.
Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Veggie Burgers and Drinks will be available for purchase.
Please no dogs in heat. All dogs must enter facility leashed and will be let off leash once inside. All dogs all shapes and sizes are invited.
PARSIPPANY — Payless ShoeSource expects the Parsippany store, located at 3085 Route 46, Morris Hills Shopping Center, to close by the end of the month.
Payless ShoeSource confirmed that it will close its 2,100 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and is in the process of liquidation in all locations. The company also shuttered its e-commerce operations.
The closings mark the biggest by a single chain this year and nearly doubles the number of retail stores set to close in 2019.
PARSIPPANY — The Friends of Parsippany Library is holding a “Spring Cleaning Bag Sale” at the Book Nook, located in the lower level of the Parsippany Community Center, 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha. The Spring Cleaning Bag Sale will be held on Sunday, March 24 and Sunday, March 31 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fill the provided bag for just $5.00. This is Parsippany’s best kept secret for book lovers!
Make checks payable to Friends of the Parsippany Library. Cash also accepted. All proceeds go to the Friends of the Parsippany Library, a non-profit organization supporting our library system.
PARSIPPANY — State Farm Insurance has sold 300 Kimball Drive, a class A trophy office asset of approximately 400,000 square feet. Holliday Fenoglio Fowler marketed the property on behalf of State Farm, which was advised by Transwestern Investment Group. HFF also procured the private buyer.
300 Kimball Drive occupies 9.29 acres site at the intersection of Interstates 80 and 287, within a four-building, 850,000-square-foot office park called The Center of Morris County.
Originally built in 2001, State Farm acquired the property in 2012, and occupied it entirely until it started to phase out in 2013 and did a full renovation to accommodate multiple tenancy. State Farm relocated from it’s Wayne Corporate headquarters to Parsippany in 2012.
The five-story office building is LEED Silver certified, a recipient of BOMA Building of the Year and offers tenants an outstanding amenity package, including a fitness center with locker rooms, full-service cafeteria, conference center, atrium lobby, walking trail, outdoor patio and covered parking.
The 78%-leased property is home to notable tenants, including FM Global, Fiserv, Langan Engineering and Western World Insurance.
MORRIS COUNTY — The royal family of the guitar, The Romeros, perform at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, April 19, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $29-$59.
Over half a century after walking onto the world stage as the first classical guitar quartet, The Romeros continue to be a veritable institution in the world of classical music, dazzling countless audiences and winning the raves of reviewers worldwide.
Known to millions as “The Royal Family of the Guitar,” the Romeros were founded by the legendary Celedonio Romero with his sons Celin, Pepe and Angel in 1958. The Quartet went through natural transformations, and today consists of the second (Celin & Pepe) and third generations (Lito & Celino). To have so many virtuosi of the same instrument in one family is unique in the world of musical performance, and in the realm of the classical guitar it is absolutely without precedent. The New York Times has said: “Collectively, they are the only classical guitar quartet of real stature in the world today; in fact, they virtually invented the format.”
In 1957, the family left Spain and immigrated to the United States, where three years later, “The Romeros” became the first guitar quartet while the boys were still in their teens. The Romero tradition of family and love for the guitar provided the fertile ground for the next generation of guitar virtuosos as Celino and Lito joined the quartet.
The Romeros have performed on multiple occasions at the White House and many other venerable institutions worldwide. In 1983, they appeared at the Vatican in a special concert for John Paul II, and in 1986, they gave a command performance for his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. In 2000, His Royal Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain knighted Celin, Pepe and Angel into the Order of “Isabel la Católica”.
Perhaps The Romero’s most lasting legacy is the creation of an entirely new repertoire for guitar quartet, both as a chamber ensemble and as a concerto soloist. For 55 years, The Romeros have inspired distinguished composers to either write new works or arrange existing ones, including Joaquín Rodrigo, Federico Moreno Torroba, Morton Gould, Francisco de Madina and Lorenzo Palomo. As Rodrigo has said, “The Romeros have developed the technique of the guitar by making what is difficult to be easy. They are, without a doubt, the grand masters of the guitar.”
