PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Patrol Officer J. Garza observed a 2016 GMC Terrain on Route 46 West and Crown Point Road with an equipment violation and conducted a motor vehicle stop at 12:11 a.m. on Sunday, March 24. When the officer made contact with the driver, Mr. Edwin Gracial Jr., 30, Haledon, the odor of burnt marijuana was detected.
After a brief investigation Mr. Gracial was placed under arrest and transported to Parsippany Police Headquarters for processing. While there, he was charged with Possession of Less than five grams of Hashish, a Disorderly Persons Offense; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Disorderly Persons Offense; Failure to Observe Yield Sign, a Traffic Offense and Improper Display of License Plates/Fictitious Plates, a Traffic Offense.
He was released on his own recognizance pending a court date.
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 2019 American Cancer Society Relay for Life will take place on Saturday, May 18, at the Parsippany Hills High School, 20 Rita Drive, from 4:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Registration will begin at 3:00 p.m.
This year’s event is being dedicated to Sean Ries, Hannah Cerullo, and Emma Wyman. All three of these superheroes have battled a form of pediatric cancer and are our inspirations for this year’s Relay For Life event! A portion of proceeds from this year’s event is being directly fed into pediatric cancer research.
Anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers are encouraged to join the celebration. As the survivors walk, other participants touched by cancer in some way, will cheer them on in a demonstration of support and celebration. All survivors and their caregiver are invited to attend a very special dinner given in their honor at 5:30 p.m.
The Relay For Life is a community event where teams and individuals come together to honor, celebrate, and raise funds and awareness in an effort to free the world from the pain and suffering of cancer. There are three points to every Relay for Life Event, Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back. The celebration portion includes a special dinner for any cancer Survivor and their Caregiver. The remembrance portion includes a moving Luminaria Ceremony in which friends and loved-ones lost to cancer are remembered. The entire event is a way of fighting back against cancer by raising the much needed funds. 93% of the money raised will help the American Cancer Society provide free information and support for people facing the disease today, and fund continuous cancer research that will help protect future generations from all types of cancer.
We invite everyone to attend this Relay For Life event, the theme for this year’s Relay will be “Superheroes” There will be inspiring speakers that have been touched by cancer, special music, themed laps, a Frozen T-shirt contest, face-painting for children, games and other fun activities, entertainment throughout the course of the event, as well as food, beverages, goodies and so much more.
By supporting Relay For Life, you help the American Cancer Society save lives, and that helps us move closer to our ultimate goal of a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
Thanks to our sponsors: Garden State Elite Volleyball Club, Western Pest Services, South Street Yoga & Nutrition and Parsippany Applebee’s.
If you are a cancer survivor, caregiver or have been touch by cancer in some way and would like to be part of the Relay For Life event click here, please visit or call Cori Mastropolo at Cori.Mastropolo@cancer.org or call (973) 285-8043.
PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany installed two new members on Thursday, March 28.
President Karen DeChristopher introduced Laura Wohland and Julie Carifi who recently joined the club. Both new members were sponsored by Past-President Frank Cahill.
Karen DeChristopher said “We welcome Julie and Laura to this global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.”
“Kiwanis is something so good that each of us loves to share it. What better way to show our love for our club and our community than to welcome a new members into our club? Today we’re very pleased to welcome Julie and Laura to the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany,” said President Karen DeChristopher.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany supports ten K-Kids clubs, Lake Parsippany Elementary School, Eastlake Elementary School, Lake Intervale School, Mt. Tabor Elementary School, Littleton Elementary School, Lake Hiawatha Elementary School, Troy Hills Elementary School, Northvail Elementary School, Knollwood School and Rockaway Meadow Elementary School, two builders clubs, Central Middle School and Brooklawn Middle School; two Key Clubs, Parsippany Hills High School and Parsippany High School and one Aktion Club. In addition, Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany supports a Circle K Club at Seton Hall University.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany raises funds and donates to the Parsippany Food Pantry, Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library, Parsippany PAL Youth Center, Parsippany High School Scholarship Program, Parsippany Hills High School Scholarship Program, Parsippany Child Day Center, Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, Camp Nejeda, NJ Sharing Network, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Parsippany, Parsippany Project Graduation, Jersey Battered Women’s Services, Family Promise of Morris County, Parsippany Little League West, Parsippany Little League East to name a few.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany meets every Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46. For more information on Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany click here.
PARSIPPANY — Insurance options for New Jersey consumers remain limited and costly. Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce wants to allow residents to purchase policies from any other state in the country.
“Trenton tells us to shop around for the right coverage, but the choices are few and far between and policies can be unaffordable,” said DeCroce (R-Morris). “We should be able to travel out-of-state to save some money.”
Residents and employers under the bill (A5274) may purchase any insurance policy sold in another state, including health, auto, and worker’s comps provided they meet state requirements.
“More alternatives create competition within the marketplace. Buyers benefit from better coverage and cheaper premiums,” DeCroce said. “It’s a global economy today. People shop online, buying clothes, tools and shoes from anywhere in the country. Insurance shouldn’t be any different.
“A handful of powerful corporations control insurance in our state. That’s not the best situation for the little guys, the families, small business people, and retirees. This will give residents an opportunity to cut expenses on some of the most costly items in their annual budgets,” DeCroce concluded.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders approved a shared services agreement with Sussex County to house a minimum of five Sussex County female inmates per day at the Morris County Correctional Facility in Morris Township, at a cost of $105.00 per inmate per day.
The freeholders voted 7-0 in support of the three-year agreement that will go into effect on Monday, April 1. The pact will remain in effect until March 31, 2022, unless terminated earlier by mutual consent.
The contract requires Morris County to make a minimum of five beds available for female Sussex County inmates and pay a minimum annual amount of $191.625, even if Sussex County does not need five beds every day.
Sheriff James Gannon
“This is another example of smart business through shared services,” said Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, who negotiated the agreement with Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada through the oversight of respective county counsels for both counties.
“We have a sophisticated operation at our correctional facility and this gives us an opportunity to cut our operating costs with the additional revenue from Sussex County,” Sheriff Gannon said.
“This is exactly the type of smart government we should be fostering in our state, to provide needed programs and services in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible,’’ said Morris County Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “In this case, it makes great sense for Morris County to partner with Sussex County for the benefit the taxpayers in both counties.’’
Opened in May 2000, the Morris County Correctional Facility was built to house 524 inmates but now has an average daily population of about 200 inmates.
The population at the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in Newton, which opened in 1978, has been declining since statewide criminal justice reform, also known as bail reform, went into effect in 2017, with more arrestees released pretrial, under special conditions, rather than being held in custody.
In 2016, the average daily inmate population at the Sussex County jail was 146. Currently, the daily population is between 70 and 80. Sheriff Strada said the Sussex County jail is antiquated and needs a large infusion of money to bring it into compliance with building codes and the Americans With Disabilities Act.
“We absolutely can take all of Sussex County’s inmates,” said Morris County Correctional Facility Warden Christopher Klein. “It’s a great opportunity because of the shared services aspect.”
A key provision of the agreement calls for Sussex County Sheriff’s Officers to transport female inmates to Morris County and then to subsequently retrieve and transport them back to Sussex County upon discharge.
Another provision calls for Morris County to provide all routine, non-hospital, non-emergency medical services. However, Sussex County would be responsible for the costs of all off-site medical care, emergency care, hospital care, and extraordinary or non-routine medical care given to female Sussex County inmates housed by Morris County.
Sheriff Gannon, along with Warden Klein and Morris County Correctional Facility Undersheriff Alan J. Robinson, said the Morris County jail is uniquely suited to accommodate the Sussex County inmates because of its size, available space and multiple accreditations attesting to its professional operations.
The Morris County Correctional Facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association and the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare. The ACA recently gave the Morris County Correctional Facility perfect scores of 100 on all mandatory and non-mandatory standards. The facility also is inspected annually by the state Department of Corrections.
The Sussex County inmates housed in Morris County will have equal access to educational and substance abuse programs, as well as special programs started by Sheriff Gannon that include the Successful Transition and Re-Entry Program (STAR) that assists inmates in re-entering the community, and the Hope Wing, for inmates struggling to overcome substance abuse addictions.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders adopted county government’s 2019 budget, which slightly increases the average tax levy to pay for enhanced social services, public safety, education, modern technology, and a strong emphasis on maintaining the county’s vital road, bridge, and facilities infrastructure.
County homeowners will pay an average of just $11 more annually, or 0.94 cents per month, in county taxes this year to finance programs and services included in the county’s $315.3 million 2019 county budget.
“We carefully scrutinized county operations to make sure we run a modern, efficient and cost effective county government,’’ said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “This is fair and balanced budget, which incorporates all current critical needs of our residents while taking a far-reaching look at the county’s future.’’
The operating budget incorporate important public safety and social services initiatives, offered in many cases with nonprofit providers, and dealing with school safety, the opioid epidemic, childcare, emergency medical services, and other services for the county’s most vulnerable residents.
The budget positions the county to address emerging challenges and needs by partnering with its 39 municipalities, constitutional offices, nonprofits, and others entities on a variety of programs and projects.
It also addresses the need to maintain the county’s roads and bridges, and its technology, law enforcement, public safety, educational and recreational infrastructure that are key to the county’s high quality of life.
“This 2019 budget ensures that our county will remain the premier place in New Jersey in which to live, work, and raise a family,’’ said Freeholder Heather Darling, chair of the freeholders’ budget subcommittee. Other members are Freeholders Kathy DeFillippo and Deborah Smith.
“It was developed in coordination with the county’s strategic plan, adhering to guiding principles developed in that plan, in concert with the county’s municipal, school, business, healthcare, nonprofit and community leaders.’’
While maintaining a tight rein on spending, the 2019 budget invests in key programs and initiatives that maintain the high quality of life in the county:
Maintains and expands public safety initiatives;
Sustains all human services programs;
Enhances Stigma-Free tools to deal with opioids and mental health issues;
Addresses the needs of our military veterans.
Continues the preservation trust fund that finances open space, farmland and historic preservation, and funds recreational trails and flood mitigation projects.
The budget also supports countywide economic development, protects the top-ranked Triple A bond rating, and preserves a stable level of fund balance required for well-run county governments.
Some new and expanded programs, to be done through partnerships, include:
Expanding Morris County’s EMS Initiative, to offer two additional backup units for as-needed emergency response service to all 39 Morris County municipalities;
Rolling out “Navigating Hope,’’ which will deliver critical social services programs into the community, and will partner with the Sheriff’s Hope One opioid initiative;
Expanding investments in community based Human Services programs operated and managed by nonprofit agencies within the county;
Creating a Ballistics Laboratory in the Sheriff’s Office, to support law enforcement;
Supporting the Responsible School Violence Prevention Program for school districts;
Developing a new services-oriented county website, and new electronic online forms system for public interaction with county government;
Increased funding for the county park system;
Addressing the Emerald Ash Borer countywide tree infestation.
The 2019 budget strategically authorizes $33.5 million to responsibly deal with critical infrastructure needs, including county roads and bridges; public safety technology and security enhancements; parks, education and building maintenance needs.
This portion of the budget was reviewed by a subcommittee of the Freeholder Board that included Freeholders Tom Mastrangelo, John Krickus and Stephen Shaw.
$18.8 million is dedicated for public works initiatives and includes:
Resurfacing of 25.3 miles of county roads;
Construction of six bridges and design of nine bridges;
Morris View Healthcare, Historic Courthouse and other facilities maintenance projects.
The planned $7.8 million earmarked for bridge projects (combined with federal and state dollars) is the highest amount allocated for bridge repair and replacement in six years. Projects will target the county’s lowest rated bridges to ensure continued safety.
Some other major capital funding:
$6.7 million: County College of Morris campus upgrades, including construction of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center;
$6.6 million: 9-1-1 Communications Center technology upgrades;
$2.2 million: Information Technology equipment and upgrades;
$1.9 million: Park Commission improvements, including renovation of Lees Marina;
$1.6 million: Morris County School of Technology upgrades;
$1.2 million: Head Start Program expansion and renovation (loan to be repaid);
PARSIPPANY — European Wax Center (EWC) is a brand that empowers confident women every day. European Wax Center is located at 1121 Route 46, Troy Hills Shopping Center, Parsippany.
EWC first launched its #AxThePinkTax campaign in 2018 to raise awareness surrounding the often-overlooked Pink Tax: the extra amount of money women are charged for everyday products and services throughout their lives.
The “tax” is present everywhere from baby bottles and personal care products to clothes, canes, and more. As the Clio award-winning campaign enters its second year this April, EWC will take the campaign to the next level by not only continuing to raise awareness through education but also by providing people with tools to take action and ignite a movement. The Pink Tax is absurd, and EWC is taking action.
“As multiple studies have confirmed, The Pink Tax is real. It affects not only the millions of women who come to our centers, those who work at EWC locations, but all women, everywhere,” says Sherry Baker, President of Marketing and Product Development for European Wax Center. “Due to The Pink Tax, the average woman is charged an extra $1,351 each year for basic goods and services, which is money women will never get a say in how to spend and money that will never get invested, donated, or used to fund a passion project or business. We know that women know their worth, and we are going to help them claim it.”
In addition to the 2015 landmark New York study: From Cradle to Cane: The Cost of Being a Female Consumer*, a new 2018 study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office** on gender-related price differences revealed that while they acknowledge that the Pink Tax exists, not enough people speak up about it because the price differences are difficult for consumers to identify and therefore, many of them continue to be unaware that it exists. As a result, the government has assumed a status quo stance with no plans to take action. With this insight, EWC will amplify its efforts to raise awareness about this unfair pricing practice to help create a consumer outcry to inspire change.
European Wax Center (EWC), a leading beauty lifestyle brand franchise founded in 2004 by the Coba brothers, offers guests a full suite of waxing services, as well as a proprietary line of beauty products in the skincare, body, and brow categories. EWC provides guests with a modern environment for a comfortable and luxurious experiences, which is focused on EWC’s vision of Revealing Beautiful Skin™, through exceptional services by professionally trained and certified waxing experts. So confident in the EWC experience, the first wax is always complimentary (brows, underarms, bikini line for women, and nose, ears, and brows for men). The company operates a unique franchise business model, and its network now includes over 700 centers across the U.S.
For more information about EWC or to inquire about a franchise click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office will be holding a recognition and remembrance ceremony in observance of the 2019 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week which is observed from April 7-13. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has been celebrated every April since 1981. It is a time of national remembrance and is dedicated to advancing the policies and programs instituted to help victims of crime.
The Keynote Speaker for the program is NBC New York Award Winning Journalist and New Jersey Correspondent, Brian Thompson. Following Brian’s presentation, the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders will present a proclamation to Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp on behalf of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in honor and recognition of 2019 Crime Victim’s Rights Week. Reverend Doctor David Smazik of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown will also provide opening and closing prayers.
The ceremony will be held in the Freeholder Public Meeting Room on the 5th Floor of the Administration & Records Building in Morristown. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. This event is open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP to Morrisvw@co.morris.nj.us or (973) 285-6210.
PARSIPPANY — Legislation capping out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs earned Assembly approval yesterday. Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce sponsors the bill (A2431) limiting a patient’s share to $150, or $250 a month depending on the health benefit plan level.
“Many people with high-cost-sharing plans don’t take vital medications prescribed by their doctors because they can’t afford their prescription co-pays,” said DeCroce. “The result is poor health outcomes and increased long-term costs for chronically ill patients. Capping out-of-pocket payments will reduce health care costs in the long run.”
A study commissioned by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society found a connection between high-deductible plans and lower medication utilization and adherence, leading to poor outcomes and an increase in the cost of care.
Similar measures have passed in Delaware, Maryland, Louisiana, California and the District of Columbia. Maine and Vermont have limits on the annual out-of-pocket costs to consumers, and Virginia and five other states require insurance companies to provide notice to consumers of cost-sharing tiers and all changes to the plans.
The provisions of DeCroce’s bill apply to the state’s individual and small employer plans, the state health benefits program and the school employees’ health benefits program.
District 26 – (Essex, Morris and Passaic) Butler, Fairfield, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Montville, Morris Plains, North Caldwell, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Rockaway Township, Verona, West Caldwell, West Milford
PARSIPPANY — Cinépolis USA, a leading world-class cinema exhibitor known for its enhanced movie-going concepts, today announced multi-million dollar renovations to enhance its existing New Jersey theater locations in Parsippany and Mansfield.
Following completion, both cinemas will offer guests an enhanced movie-going experience with fully-reclining leather seats, cutting-edge sound, high-definition projection technology, and an upscale lounge-style lobby to anchor the entry space. Additionally, both cinemas will offer in-seat food delivery when ordering hot food items from the new gourmet menu at the concession stand, or when ordered in advance through the Cinépolis USA mobile app.
Cinépolis Parsippany will remain open through renovations with construction planned in stages and around peak business hours to minimize disruption of the guest experience. Following its completion in Fall 2019, the 38,865-square-foot project will encompass 12 film screens and 719 seats.
Cinépolis Mansfield recently closed on March 6 to accommodate the extensive refresh to the exhibitor’s upscale movie-going concept. Once complete in Summer 2019, the forthcoming 35,000-square-foot project will feature 13 film screens and 615 seats.
Cinépolis USA’s cinemas in Parsippany and Mansfield will also offer the opportunity for employment with the anticipated hiring of 75 individuals at each theater location. For more information and to apply, click here or contact jobs@cinepolis.com.
Cinépolis USA is a leading world-class cinema exhibitor that offers guests enhanced movie-going experiences through its “Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas” and “Cinépolis” theater concepts, and 4DX and kid-approved Cinépolis Junior auditoriums. The Dallas-based theater chain opened its first theater in Del Mar, CA in July 2011 and has some of the top performing theaters in the country, currently operating a total of 21 luxury and premium theaters with a presence in Southern California, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas and Ohio. Additional theaters across the U.S. are planned to open in the next few years. Its México-based parent company, Cinépolis, is the fourth largest movie theater exhibitor in the world. For more information about Cinépolis USA, click here, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CinepolisUSA, Instagram at @CinepolisUSA or Twitter atwww.twitter.com/CinepolisUSA.
Cinépolis was founded in Mexico in the city of Morelia, Michoacán in 1971. Today it has positioned itself as the world’s fourth largest movie theater circuit in the world, operating 712 cinema complexes, 5,771 screens and over 1,013,935 seats across 14 countries worldwide. It was the first cinema exhibitor in the world to pioneer the concept of luxury movie theaters, establishing the first luxury theater experience in 1999 in Mexico City. Cinépolis aspires to provide its guests with the best overall experience in film entertainment and employs a global workforce of more than 39,030 people to support its mission. Cinépolis plans to continue to revolutionize the industry for years to come.
MORRIS COUNTY — All boys and girls in grades K-5 are invited to the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Championship for Fishawack District (eastern Morris county). The Championship will be held on Saturday, April 6, between 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Alfred Vail School, 125 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains.
You will see the fastest cars that our Cub Scouts have built during the past year as they race for the right to move on to the World Pinewood Derby Championship.
Each boy or girl spectator will be able to purchase a pre-carved Pinewood Derby car and customize it on the spot with markers and stickers. Spectator’s cars will be raced just for fun and will not be eligible for the championship.
For information about the Pinewood Derby, or other Cub Scout fun year-round, contact Senior District Executive Al Thomas, Patriots’ Path Council, BSA, al.thomas@scouting.org; (973) 765-9322 ext. 229.
PARSIPPANY — ABC Channel 7 News has been running a #BEKind campaign and Jennifer Pellecchia and her annual PlanksGiving fundraising event was featured in a segment last Friday.
Pellecchia started PlanksGiving in 2012 to do a small part in this world to try to make a difference. She is a fitness professional, so planking is something that she used with her clients as a core exercise, but for Jennifer, it’s always been so much more.
Planking helps Jennifer “feel” at times when she feels numb and lost inside my illness. When she planks, it’s like a kind of meditation. It makes her feel strong physically and has taught her strong mentally too.
In the past six years, she have raised over $25,000 for various causes through PlanksGiving, other physical challenges and by selling my artwork. Pellecchia is very blessed to have been shown a great deal of support from amazing friends along the way.
Jennifer Pellecchia is a wife, mother and fitness professional from Parsippany. Jennifer was recently featured on ABC News
She holds “Planksgiving” and other fitness events to raise money for mental health awareness.
Pellecchia said she’s already raised tens of thousands of dollars.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Hills High School Academic Decathlon (AcDec) Team participated in the New Jersey Region III Competition on Saturday, February 2 at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Clifton and, as a result, earned several achievements at the State level. The team consisted of seven members and six alternates. Team members who participated were: Cavin Anbuselvam, Tyler Gurth, Amy Liu, Matthieu Granvil, Brandon Ng, Dhruv Patel, and Shoumik Vaddi. Alternate team members who participated were: Schenia Alvarez, Shantel Alvarez, Hyun-Jung Kim, Mann Pandya, Aarnav Patel, and Victor Wang. Overall, the Parsippany Hills High School team took home 13 individual awards and honors at the State level.
Academic Decathlon is a 10-event scholastic competition for high school students. The events include math, science, social science, literature, economics, art, music, speech, essay and interview. This year’s theme is the 1960’s. Team coaches are Jaclyn Bevacqua, Italian teacher, and Jacqueline Forte, Spanish teacher.
PARSIPPANY — Recently the PHHS Future Business Leaders of America chapter competed at the State Competition in Atlantic City. Congratulations to the Chapter on their all-around success! Ten members have qualified for the National Competition in San Antonio, TX this summer!
Both the campaign teams of Harvey Wang and Amy Yang did an excellent job! All members who competed did a fine job of representing PHHS. Harvey will be representing PHHS and the State of New Jersey as the State President, while Amy will be doing the same as the State Community Service Vice President. Both of them ran in the most heavily contested races and ran phenomenal campaigns. Congratulations to them and their campaign teams
Mr. Ahmed Kandil was selected as the NJ State Most Outstanding Advisor of the year and he will be representing the State of New Jersey on the National stage in San Antonio Texas.
Congratulations to the following:
1st, Emerging Business Issues: Nick Kuo, Nick Levytsky and Harvey Wang (National Qualifier)
1st, Marketing: Aryam Padhiar and Tirth Patel (National Qualifier)
4th, Parliamentary Procedures: Diana DeMottie, Mattieu Granvil, Amy Staudinger and Amy Yang (National Qualifier)
4th, Website Design: Jasmine Cheng (National Qualifier)
5th, Healthcare Administration: Sarah Manning
PARSIPPANY — In response to the horrific attack on innocent worshipers at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Center in Christchurch, New Zealand last week, we, a group of clergy and faith leaders of Parsippany houses of worship have come together to stand in solidarity with the victims of terrorism and to affirm the right of all people to live and to worship in freedom. We renew our determination to nurture Parsippany as a community that celebrates the individuality and diversity of all who live here. We reject all bigotry, prejudice and intolerance and in love invite all members and leaders of houses of worship to come together in solidarity, peace and compassion.
Reverend Donald A. Bragg
Pastor, Parsippany Presbyterian Church
Rev. Thomas M. Hart
Minister, Parsippany Christian Church
Reverend Jeff Edwards
Pastor, Parsippany United Methodist Church
Reverend Amanda Hemenetz
Pastor, The United Methodist Church at Mount Tabor
Reverend Fred Lentz
Pastor, St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Reverend David J. Pickens
Pastor, St. Ann Roman Catholic Church
Rabbi Moshe Rudin
Adath Shalom Congregation
Reverend Susan Saucedo Sica
Vicar, St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church
Rabbi Andrew R. Sklarz, MSW
Temple Beth Am
Reverend Dr. Stacie Turk
Pastor, First Baptist Community Church
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
