PARSIPPANY — On Friday, September 6, Robert C. Knott, 61, of Newfoundland, was arrested for driving while intoxicated near Knoll Road and River Road. According to a police report from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 8:36 p.m. when Knott was stopped by officers for erratic driving.

Officers on the scene identified Knott as the driver of a blue 2021 Chevrolet pickup truck. Following the stop, it was determined that Knott was under the influence of alcohol. He was charged with violating the following New Jersey statutes:
•1429 E24 009598 39:4-50 — Driving while intoxicated
•1429 E24 009599 39:4-50.2 — Failure to Consent to take samples of breath
•1429 E24 009601 39:4-97 — Careless Driving
•1429 E24 009602 39:4-88 — Unsafe Lane Change

Knott’s vehicle was subsequently towed by Ron and Sons Towing after being declared a disabled motor vehicle at the scene.

The arresting officer, Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Officer Kenneth Hawthorne, initiated the traffic stop after observing Knott’s vehicle and called for backup from several units, including officers from Montville and other surrounding areas. Knott was processed, and no injuries or further incidents were reported.

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department is reminding drivers of the dangers and severe consequences of driving under the influence.

Editors Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

MORRISTOWN — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, in collaboration with local organizations and community leaders, is gearing up for a special event aimed at fostering unity and promoting inclusion. On Saturday, October 12th, the 4th Annual Morris County “National Coming Out” Day and 3rd Annual Community Unity Festival will take place at Pioneer Park Plaza, located at 3 Speedwell Avenue in Morristown, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This year’s theme is “Combat Bias, Hate & Violence,” and the event seeks to create a space for open dialogue, education, and celebration. Organizers are bringing together law enforcement officials, local government representatives, and community leaders to discuss key topics such as bias crimes, hate crime prevention, and violence reduction within Morris County. Additionally, the event aims to highlight the importance of trust and positive relationships with the LGBTQ+ community.

“This event is about more than just awareness—it’s about action,” said a spokesperson from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. “We want to equip our community with the tools to stand against hate and bias while celebrating the strength that comes from diversity.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in discussions on the impact of bias and violence in their communities. These sessions will help attendees better understand the law surrounding bias crimes and provide strategies for fostering a more inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, race, or identity.

In addition to the informative sessions, the event will feature free food provided by local favorites Colonial Grill and Rita’s Italian Ice, along with vendors and live music to create a festival-like atmosphere for all attendees.

Organizers are hoping the event will not only bring awareness to critical issues but also create a welcoming space where the LGBTQ+ community and allies can come together to celebrate National Coming Out Day, showing support for those on their journey to self-acceptance.

“This festival is about more than just combating bias and hate; it’s about coming together as a community, lifting each other up, and ensuring that everyone feels seen, heard, and respected,” said one of the event organizers.

The Community Unity Festival is free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to join in for a day of education, celebration, and unity in Morristown. Don’t miss the chance to learn, connect, and enjoy some great food and entertainment—all while supporting the fight against hate and violence.4o

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Focus has received information from an anonymous source that Parsippany’s CFO, Leonard Ho, has submitted his resignation.

Upon receiving this information, Parsippany Focus has confirmed a job posting on New Jersey’s League of Municipalities website entitled “DIRECTOR OF FINANCE / CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO) – PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS TOWNSHIP.” (Click here to read job posting). The job was posted on September 13.

“Len’s been an exceptional member of the team, and we are grateful for his contributions. We wish him the best.” Jamie Cryan, Business Administrator.

Parsippany Focus filed an OPRA (Open Public Records Act) requesting additional information.

Ho has a long professional history in government. He was a Certified Municipal Finance Officer and Certified Tax Collector in both the Township of Tewksbury from 2019 until he took the position in Parsippany.  Mayor James Barberio also served as Business Administrator in Tewksbury.

He also served as a Certified Municipal Finance Officer,  Certified Tax Collector, and Qualified Purchasing Agent in the Township of Long Hill from 2014 to 2018. He was also Assistant Treasurer in the Township of Harding from 2009 to 2014.

He holds a B.A. in Economics from the City University of New York – Queens College, graduating in 2002.

He served as an Enlisted Soldier in the United States Army from 1995 to 1998.

Leonard is a State of New Jersey Certified Tax Collector, and State of New Jersey Certified Municipal Finance Officer with strong analytical, accounting, and process implementation skills; He is very familiar with municipal finance, tax collection, and other related statutory requirements.

He currently resides in Bridgewater.

PARSIPPANY — Nick Ferro, a rising young actor from Parsippany, has been on a journey many aspiring actors can relate to. His passion for the stage began when he was just eight years old, attending classes at Barbizon, a renowned modeling and acting school. While his acting endeavors paused for a while, his passion never faded. After rediscovering his love for acting, Nick began to focus seriously on pursuing it as a career.

Graduating from the County College of Morris (CCM), Nick initially felt uncertain about his path. He spent time applying for different jobs and even considered opportunities in casting directing. However, acting remained his true calling. His decision to train at LaGuardia Acting School under Joshua Nelson marked a pivotal moment in his career. Through dedication and hard work, Nick gained the skills needed to transition from student to professional actor.

In November 2023, Nick landed his first role in the movie Focus. The film centers on a young man trying to break away from street life to pursue an acting career, and while Nick didn’t play the lead, he took on the supporting role of Matt, a drug dealer, showcasing his versatility as an actor. The experience of working on a professional film set was invaluable and deepened his commitment to the craft.

Despite facing setbacks with management earlier in his career, Nick’s persistence paid off when he signed with Brenda Fisher as his manager. Fisher has helped him secure new opportunities and continues to guide his career in the right direction. Nick is now fully focused on auditioning and booking more roles, with a bright future ahead in the entertainment industry.

To support his journey to the top, Nick is currently preparing for one of his most significant career opportunities to date: attending the prestigious International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) convention in Los Angeles in January 2025. The IMTA event is a renowned platform where emerging talents showcase their abilities in front of top agents, casting directors, and managers. It serves as a launching pad for actors, models, singers, and dancers, providing participants with unparalleled opportunities for representation and career advancement​​.

However, attending such a high-profile event requires financial support. To help cover his expenses, Nick is hosting a Flapjack Fundraiser breakfast at Applebee’s in Parsippany on Sunday, October 6, 2024. From 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., community members can enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes, sausage, eggs, and a beverage while supporting Nick’s IMTA journey. Tickets for the event are $20.00, and all proceeds will go toward helping Nick showcase his talent at IMTA​. Tickets can be bought by emailing iamnickferro@gmail.com or texting (201) 247-0841.

Nick’s story is a testament to perseverance and passion. From his early days at Barbizon to his upcoming appearance at IMTA, Nick Ferro is determined to make a name for himself in the acting world.

PARSIPPANY — High school is a whirlwind of emotions, achievements, and setbacks. For a student at Parsippany High School, every day is a study in conformity and teen drama. Let’s follow a student through an ordinary day at school and witness the mundane and the unexpected that shape the high school experience into a challenging but rewarding journey.

Morning Rush and First Period

An alarm sounds – usually at 6:30 AM – and a student jerks awake, hitting the snooze button a couple of times before dragging themselves out of bed. Breakfast might be a bagel or a bowl of cereal gobbled down in a hurry, and soon, our student throws themselves into the car or a bus as they rush to school. The school building is starting to buzz with activity, kids pouring in through the doors, meeting friends and teachers. The first period might be Math or English, setting the serious tone of the academic day. Some learners hastily finish up their essay assignments before their class arrives, while others needn’t worry about their papers due to the best online essay writing services they have hired well in advance. Of course, there are always those who were burning the midnight oil and are now ready for any school challenge.

Navigating the Academic Landscape

Later comes anatomy, where some students might cut open a frog or a class about how to mix chemicals for an experiment in a science lab. Then comes a history class that seems like a roller-coaster ride through the past. Students listen to lectures, talk, and work in groups, and then they move on to the next class. In the hallway, a keen observer can hear the sound of scuffling shoes and the whispers of students planning their weekends or discussing their next football game.

Lunchtime – Social Hour

Lunchtime is about much more than just eating – it’s a key social hour of the day. In the frantic atmosphere of the cafeteria, students can take a breather and grab a bite. They share pizzas and secrets, make friends, or discuss their feelings about the new Netflix series. Others might opt for a more solitary lunch, perhaps somewhere on the grounds, which gives them the space to catch up on schoolwork or read a favorite book.

Afternoon Sessions and Extracurriculars

At Parsippany High, lunch is followed by a range of courses and programs where students can learn about and hone their interests. These can be elective courses in art, music, or computer programming, providing an artistic or technical outlet. Fun courses are like a breath of fresh air, giving learners a nice break from the morning’s classes. Parsippany High students also partake in after-school activities. Various clubs and sports include drama, robotics, and athletics. 

These activities help students develop core character and social skills such as:

• Communication skills.
• Creativity.
• Leadership. 
• Cooperation.

This is the time of day when students are most likely to grow and experience a healthy balance between academic rigor and personal growth.

Homeward Bound and Beyond

The school day ends in the afternoon, but the day of a Parsippany High student might not end even then. When learners go home, they face the final challenge of the day: homework. They have some study time before indulging in leisure time filled with, possibly, online gaming or social media. Then comes dinner with the family and downtime.

The Balancing Act

One of the greatest challenges of adolescence is balancing academic responsibilities with personal interests. Students at Parsippany High must learn to manage the demands of coursework with extracurriculars and social lives, and so they do via the conducive atmosphere of this educational institution. The skills they pick up along the way will serve them well long after high school. 

More Than Just Books and Bells

Being a high schooler at Parsippany High goes far beyond the confines of books and bells. It means growing up, entering a new phase of life, becoming more of an adult, learning to take on more responsibility, and learning to navigate the wider world. Day by day, students of Parsippany High become more autonomous. A mosaic of everyday experiences is shaping their academic career, character, and worldview. From tumultuous morning chaos to the tranquility of a quiet evening, each moment at Parsippany High School is just one brick in the decades-long construction project that will be their lives. The students here aren’t just preparing for college or for a career; they’re getting ready and mastering the tools for a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life.

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills in Morris County, is a bustling area boasting ample opportunities for students seeking internships. It should not be surprising that a short distance from New York City and its surrounding areas, not to mention New Jersey’s capital, Trenton, Parsippany-Troy Hills, attracts a steady stream of companies opening satellite offices. Home to pharmaceutical giants, including Johnson & Johnson and Wyeth Ayerst Laboratories, technology and marketing companies, Dole Food Company Inc., and Panasonic, students in Parsippany-Troy Hills have ample options. The following guide offers insight into the plethora of internship opportunities offered in the area.

Exploring Local Industries

The township of Parsippany-Troy Hills is a crucial business center home to a high concentration of pharmaceutical and technology firms. Many established and up-and-coming companies integral to these industries are represented here. Two primary healthcare and pharmaceutical companies – Allergan and Teva Pharmaceuticals – have significant operations within the township, as does the technology firm ADP. Another critical technology company in the area is Dialogic.

An enterprise internship is a meaningful way for students to build an enterprise-based professional network and keep their resumes competitive compared to peers. To improve their competitiveness, students can seek help from the best dissertation writing services. These platforms can help learners improve their resumes, write wonderful cover letters, and even check complicated reports or projects for their internships.

How to Find Internships

There is no better way to secure the internship than to go local; some great sources include:

• Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library: Career resources, career fairs, job listings, and internship leads at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library. It is where you find out about what’s happening in your community. 
• College Career Services Office: Another great resource is your university’s career office. Like the on-campus university relations office, the career office often has a list of local internships and can partner with local businesses to place students with them.
• Local Business Events: There are often networking seminars, business workshops, or similar events held locally. Places you could go to meet people who work in a field you’d like to get into. 
• Online Job Portals: Websites like Indeed.com and LinkedIn are essential for finding good internship listings.

Mastering these tools can significantly improve your chances of acquiring a valuable internship, a potential first step on your career path.

Networking in the Community

Networking is not just a good policy in this kind of diverse and competitive environment found in Parsippany-Troy Hills – it’s the foundation for starting a career. Local networking events, seminars, and workshops are essential to attend. The Morris County Chamber of Commerce holds regular events local business owners attend. At these events, you can meet people directly, making the personal connection that leads to an internship and, sometimes, to a job. Being part of the local business network puts you on the inside, getting you closer to prospective employers who might remember your initiative when they need someone and who could be the people to hire you.

Making the Most of Your Internship

Making the most of an internship involves more than just showing up, performing assigned tasks, and punching the clock. Interns should arrive eager to absorb as much information as possible and be willing to pitch in with various tasks. It broadens the range of practical knowledge that will define the intern’s position while conveying a willingness to be flexible. As the expectations of what constitutes a successful internship shift, savvy interns will not be afraid to request more challenging assignments that challenge them and expand their repertoire of skills. 

Also, regularly ask for feedback from your supervisors and other colleagues. It demonstrates your restless efforts to improve your performance and style and conveys your seriousness about personal development and growth. In turn, you’ll come across as a self-conscious, responsible individual aware of your impact on others and the signs of burnout. This kind of initiative is personally and professionally rewarding and will help ensure you are evaluated favorably compared to your peers.

Stepping Stones to Success

Internships play a big part in your professional career and are one step into the real world of work. In this competitive job market, you must understand your local industry, understand the resources to find jobs, and network within the community. Your internship is more than just a temporary job; it’s where you can become a professional, make lifelong friends, and possibly find future employment.

Dear Editor:

Open Letter to Councilman McGrath

Cannot understand your justification for voting for the 30-year PILOT deals for the warehouses, using PFOS chemical water pollution of our wells. You promote the notion that local taxpayers will be made responsible somehow for industrial polluters and that Parsippany citizens have to face this possible reality.

How exactly does this fit into the PILOTs, will this reduced tax revenue help even if local citizens somehow were subjected to burden the costs of PFOS contamination of our aquifer? Why is your lack of faith in the higher powers of Federal or State sources to remedy this so strong, is that that the purpose of government as intended or the means proper?

When you admitted you did not know enough about the PILOTs rather than vote No, you abstained, allowing the vote to succeed. These PILOTs all initiated by John Inglesino have now divided the town into divisions that can not and will not be remedies by an audit of the BOE, the numbers you say that are “all over the place” seem to be mere estimations of projected children that will live in these so-called affordable units. PILOTs and especially for places like Parsippany only help justify a upside-down and regressive tax system that corporate power has subjected the working class to in this country.

Strange how the warehouse approved for Lanidex 20-30 and in an inappropriate location according to the warehouse guidelines themselves, needs not a PILOT, when it requires major modifications to the present site? The truth is that Lanidex 20-30 would be more suitable for affordable housing. A scorched earth policy of inappropriate development will not change the obligations of the Housing Mandates. The only logical answer is making housing more affordable overall. The only result of this would be slower profits for corporate real estate owners in their usury extraction of fees, and rents, for living space. Housing should be a passive right of citizenship, not a free market enterprise. The Housing Market is totally alienated from the reality of our austerity economy and the working people’s wages and costs of living.

Nicholas Robert Homyak

PARSIPPANY – A motorcycle accident occurred at the Jefferson Road and Parsippany Road intersection on Friday, September 13. The motorcycle involved appears to be a Suzuki GSX-R.

At this time, no further details have been released. Parsippany Focus will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Editors Note: All articles on www.parsippanyfocus.com are subject to
copyright protection laws and cannot be reproduced without
written permission from the publisher.

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Zoning Board of Adjustment – September 11, 2024.

Click here to download the agenda.

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council held its meeting on Tuesday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting took place in the Council Chambers at 1001 Parsippany Boulevard within the Parsippany Municipal Building.

Any individual who is a qualified disabled person under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request auxiliary aids such as a sign interpreter or a tape recorder to be used for the meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours before the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to request an auxiliary aid.

Click here to download the agenda.

Click here for the 2024 calendar.

Mayor James Barberio
Council President Paul Carifi, Jr.
Council Vice President Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella
Councilman Matt McGrath
Councilwoman Judy Hernandez