PARSIPPANY — On Easter Weekend, Liquid Church, one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing Christian churches, hosted a helicopter Easter Egg Drop event at its Parsippany campus. They also hosted similar Easter Egg Drop at Princeton, Wayne, and Mountainside.

The community was invited to attend the free Easter Egg Drop, where 75,000 colorful Easter eggs filled with candy and prizes and shared with kids ages 12 and under. 

The fun began Saturday with the first drops at its Parsippany campus, where young children hunted down the eggs following services. Two drops were on Saturday, with three drops on Sunday.

To participate in the Easter Egg Drop, each child ages 12 and under received an Easter egg basket after attending Liquid Family. The Easter basket will be their ticket to enter the free Easter Egg Drop activity. 

MORRIS COUNTY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) launched her sixth annual Congressional Art Competition for NJ-11 students. The competition offers high school students a chance to showcase their creativity and artistic expression. 

“I am excited to once again launch the Congressional Art Competition! Each year, I am so impressed by the creativity, passion, and talent of our high school students. The Congressional Art Competition provides a unique opportunity to celebrate young artists in our community,” said Rep. Sherrill. “I strongly encourage each high school to participate and I look forward to seeing all of the artwork!”  

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of judges select the winning entries. The winner’s artwork will be displayed alongside winners from across the nation for one year in the U.S. Capitol.

Artwork submitted for NJ-11’s competition will be displayed at an art show and reception at Montclair State University, where this year’s winners will be announced. Art teachers interested in submitting their students’ work can reach out to georgia.turvey@mail.house.gov for additional information. 

Due to limitations of gallery space, NJ-11 high schools will be able to select ONE piece of artwork to represent their school and their selected art must be dropped off to Rep. Sherrill’s District Office. The decision on which artwork is submitted by each school is at the sole discretion of the school, and no entries outside of that process can be included in the competition.  

The deadline for schools to let Rep. Sherrill’s office know which piece they are submitting is Friday, April 12. Artwork must be submitted through the student’s school.

Rep. Sherrill’s office is located at 375 South Livingston Avenue, Suite 201, Livingston NJ 07039. To view more information about the Congressional Art Competition, click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — On Wednesday, March 27, the Jam-e-Masjid Islamic Center in Boonton hosted a Ramadan fast-breaking event, bringing together Muslims and community leaders.

Among those in attendance were Mayor James Barberio, Council President Paul Carifi Jr., Councilman Matt McGrath, Councilwoman Judy Hernandez, Sheriff James Gannon, Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling, representatives from Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill’s office, and numerous other dignitaries.

Ramadan, a time of contemplation, introspection, and spiritual renewal, encourages people of the Islamic faith to reflect on the plight of the less fortunate and underscores the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.

The event also provided an opportunity to partake in the rich traditions of hospitality that are integral to the Muslim community.

PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills has introduced new government management software solutions in their municipal offices for 2024, aiming to automate processes, digitally manage data, and enhance citizen engagement through cloud-based services provided by GovPilot – the Operating System for Local Governments. Through collaboration with GovPilot, a government management software provider based in New Jersey, Parsippany has expanded its partnership to access modern software solutions throughout the municipality.

This partnership is geared towards simplifying access to data and information for both citizens and government officials, thereby saving valuable time and resources. GovPilot’s exceptional customer success rates and reviews distinguish it as a leading provider in streamlining the implementation of new software solutions efficiently and effectively for Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Among the solutions added to Parsippany-Troy Hills municipality are modules:
● Retail Food Establishment License Module
● Recreational Bathing/Pool Module
● Retail Food Establishment Inspections Module
● Septic System Permit Module
● Temporary Food License Module
● Miscellaneous Health Inspections

Mayor Barberio expressed excitement about the deployment of the new health department modules from GovPilot, emphasizing how these solutions will save municipal offices time and resources, while also streamlining health permitting and inspection processes. The seamless implementation of this software eliminates work silos that previously burdened the municipality.

The additional software solutions deployed by Parsippany-Troy Hills in 2024 will continue to simplify and digitize once manual, paper-based government processes. This enables government workers to focus on more pressing municipal tasks, while also sparing constituents the inconvenience of visiting city hall in person.

For further information about the Parsippany Health Department and to access the new portal for online Forms and Applications click here.

PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills was awarded a $111,240 grant provided by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection to further its recycling programs. Per the DEP, “The annual grant awards are based on 2021 recycling performance, the most recent year for which data is available. Municipalities must use their funds for various recycling initiatives which can include sponsoring household hazardous waste collection events, providing recycling receptacles in public places or maintaining leaf composting operations.” This marks a significant milestone in Parsippany’s commitment to sustainable waste management practices.

Mayor James R. Barberio expressed gratitude for the grant, stating, “We are thrilled to receive this funding, which will enable us to expand our recycling efforts and make meaningful strides towards a more sustainable future for Parsippany. Recycling plays a crucial role in preserving our environment and conserving natural resources. We are committed to maximizing its impact within our community.”

The Township of Parsippany extends its appreciation to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for its support and partnership in advancing recycling initiatives. With the help of this grant, Parsippany looks forward to building a greener, more environmentally-responsible community for generations to come. For more information about this grant, please visit the DEP site here. 

For more information on Parsippany’s recycling program and initiatives, click here. 

PARSIPPANY — Mayor James Barberio unveiled “Peter Devlin Way” on Thursday, March 28th, at Pumphouse Road near the Parsippany DPW.

Peter Devlin served Parsippany Township for 49 years, rising to the position of General Supervisor of the Road Department before retiring in 2016.

Regrettably, Mr. Devlin passed away in 2017.

Mayor Barberio expressed his deep emotions during the ceremony, recalling Mr. Devlin’s impact on his childhood and his continued respect for him during his tenure as Mayor. He praised Mr. Devlin’s strong work ethic and straightforward nature.

Mayor Barberio acknowledged the presence of Mrs. Patricia Devlin and sons Peter and John at the ceremony, expressing gratitude to former employee Ed Celardo for his dedication in realizing this tribute.

PARSIPPANY — Tax Day falls on Monday, April 15th. Seniors can avail themselves of free income tax preparation aid at the Parsippany Community Center courtesy of AARP, and this service has seen remarkable success this year.

For more details, please dial (973) 263-7351. Additionally, taxpayers who qualify can access free tax assistance through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.

Further information and details about local counselors can be found by clicking here.

PARSIPPANY — Morris County Sons of Italy – Lodge 2561 held their Installation Ceremony and monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 27th at the Knoll West Country Club in Parsippany. A Large crowd of over 65 members, including State President of the Grand Lodge of N.J. of the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, Stephen Camiscioli, and State V.P. Andrew Simone, were in attendance to join in the swearing-in of both organizations 2024-2026 slate of Officers, and 11 new members.

Incoming Officers include President Joseph Jannarone Jr., 1st V.P. Harry Mangiro, 2nd V.P. Mike Fazzio, Treasurer Mike Zambito, Secretary Joe Bonadeo, Sgt. at Arms Sean Clark, Orator Phil Parziale, and Immediate Past President Bob Adamo.

Trustees include Frank Campisano, Chuck Di Pietro, James Torsiello, Scott Walstedt, Bob Wilhalme, and Scholarship Chairman Mike De Pierro. As per the organization’s by-laws, each Officer will serve a term of two years.

Immediate Past President Adamo, who assumed the helm of the organization in 2022 did an exemplary job of keeping the organization on course. A demanding and time-consuming job that requires a lot of commitment, Adamo unarguably rose to the task. Adamo upon handing over the gavel to Jannarone stated, “It has been an extreme honor and privilege to lead such a great group of individuals. I’m extremely thankful and proud of every member of the Sons of Italy, and the hard work everyone does to support the community and the organization. Every leader is only as good as the people they surround themselves with, and I was fortunate to have the support of those people.”

Organizational growth over the past two years attests to the vibrancy and significance of this growing and impactful community service-orientated group.  The Sons of Italy moves on with the dynamic and effective leadership of former, and once again, Joe Jannarone Jr. assuming the top spot. Jannarone, who served as President from 1989 through 2017, is familiar with the role and responsibilities of the task at hand. Serving as the Sons’ long-time Fundraising/Philanthropic Committee Chairman, Jannarone has strong community ties, and spearheads many local and county charitable endeavors for the group, known for its community service and generosity.

Also sworn in at the meeting were new members; Matt De Vito, Hayden Cerrato, Steve Aimutis, John Alfano, Anthony Lenzi, Albert Bosco, Carl De Stefanis, Andrew Fillippone, Tony Scannell, Charles Di Pietro, and Frank Mauriello.

An additional group of new members is on deck to be sworn in at an upcoming meeting. In actuality, the organization is growing so quickly that they were forced to move their monthly meetings to larger venues to accommodate the attendees.

Mike Zambito will also resume his significant role as Treasurer. Another demanding and time-consuming role that seldom receives the credit he deserves. Zambito’s experience as a former municipal Chief Financial Officer provides the organization the benefit of his extensive knowledge, skills, and abilities in overseeing a complicated budget that allows for the various charitable donations and community-oriented programs that have become the focal point of the Sons of Italy.

The Sons of Italy is one of America’s largest and longest-standing Italian American organizations.

The Morris County Lodge – 2561 was founded as a non-profit organization that contributes thousands of dollars to worthwhile local charities and families. 100% of what the Lodge raises in various events goes directly back to local charities, including but not limited to the Parsippany Food Pantry, High School Scholarships, the Valerie Fund, The Shelter for Battered Women, Alzheimer’s, and many more.

Explore upcoming events hosted by the Sons of Italy at www.soi2561.org or on Facebook.

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Councilman Justin Musella will hold a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, April 6 from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 p.m. at Parsippany-Troy Hills Main Public Library, 449 Halsey Road.

A valuable information session with members of government at different levels to discuss issues in the Lake Parsippany area and find solutions to fix them. The event will be hosted in a Town Hall format where residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns. The panel will be announced shortly.

PARSIPPANY — A gathering for Iftar, marking the breaking of the fast during Ramadan, took place at the Islamic Community Cultural Center in Parsippany on Sunday, March 24, uniting Muslims and community leaders.

Mayor James Barberio of Parsippany, along with Councilman Justin Musella and Parsippany Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso, were among the attendees.

Traditionally, Iftar commences with the consumption of dates and water, following the practice of Prophet Muhammad, followed by a more substantial meal comprising various dishes. It serves as a significant occasion for Muslims to come together with loved ones, engage in prayer, and contemplate the day’s fasting.

PARSIPPANY — On Easter Weekend, Liquid Church, one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing Christian churches, will host helicopter Easter Egg Drop events at four locations in Parsippany, Princeton, Wayne, and Mountainside, New Jersey. On Saturday, March 30, and Sunday, March 31, the community is invited to attend the free Easter Egg Drop, where 75,000 colorful Easter eggs filled with candy and prizes will be shared with kids ages 12 and under. 

“At Liquid Church, we like to say ‘Church Is Fun’ and on Easter Weekend, kids will have a blast as we share thousands of Easter eggs for a memorable family Easter celebration,” said Tim Lucas, founder and lead pastor of Liquid Church.

On Easter Weekend, Liquid Church will also host 27 Easter services across its 7 locations, plus a Church Online Easter experience. Easter services at Liquid Church are approximately 70-minutes with great music, an inspiring Easter message, and an epic Easter Egg Drop for kids after the service. Liquid Family kids’ programming will be available for infants through 8th grade on Easter Weekend.

The Easter Egg Drop activity for kids will occur after each Easter service and on the lawn of Liquid’s Parsippany, Princeton, Wayne, and Mountainside locations. The Egg Drop activity is free, but registration and Liquid Family attendance are required to participate. Families can claim free tickets for their preferred Egg Drop experience at JerseyEggDrop.com. 

To participate in the Easter Egg Drop, each child ages 12 and under will receive an Easter egg basket after attending Liquid Family. The Easter basket will be their ticket to enter the free Easter Egg Drop activity. 

Fun family Easter Egg Hunts (no helicopter) will also occur at three Liquid Church locations on Sunday, March 31st in Parlin, Somerville, and Garwood, New Jersey.

To view Easter Weekend service times and RSVP, visit LiquidChurch.com/Easter.

PARSIPPANY — Robby Brooks had the distinct privilege of gracing the cover of Parsippany Focus magazine, a rare opportunity indeed. Featured prominently during February, Brooks was highlighted in a special feature on the Clean Water Café, situated within the premises of Liquid Church.

In a gesture of celebration, Frank Cahill, the publisher of Parsippany Focus, went above and beyond. He took the initiative to have Robby’s cover feature framed into a plaque, ensuring that Bobby would always have a tangible reminder of this special moment.

In addition, Mayor James Barberio was excited to surprise Robby at his job at Liquid Church’s Clean Water Cafe with a Certificate of Appreciation for his dedication to providing outstanding customer service.

“Another great day in Parsippany,” said the Mayor. “This is the best kind of surprise! I love recognizing and showing appreciation for kindness. Robby Brooks is a wonderful, caring member of the Parsippany community, and I applaud his kindness,” said Mayor Barberio.

Clean Water Cafe is a one-of-a-kind coffeehouse in New Jersey! The goal is to provide a delicious selection of handcrafted coffees, teas, specialty drinks, breakfast, and lunch with a cause. The Cafe is a non-profit that provides meaningful work for adults with special needs as part of our staff! Plus, a portion of our coffee sales helps bring clean drinking water to children and families in Africa.

PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, March 23rd, the Parsippany Lions Club held its annual ‘Vision Of Hope’ event at the Parsippany Main Public Library.

The main goal of the event was to provide complimentary vision screenings to people of all age groups, particularly targeting those without vision insurance and families facing financial constraints. A total of 79 individuals underwent vision screenings, and some of them will additionally receive free eyeglasses within the coming week.

“We believe that clear vision is essential for individuals to lead fulfilling lives,” said Pratap Jayakar, Zone Chair for Northern New Jersey at Lions Clubs International. “Through our annual ‘Vision of Hope’ event, we aspire to make a positive impact on the visual health of our community.

With the generous support of local businesses and organizations, we can ensure that every individual in need receives free vision screening and possibly eyeglasses.”

MORRIS COUNTY — Former Morris County Commissioner Kathryn DeFillippo received the 2024 Alex DeCroce Public Leadership Award, as local elected officials and business leaders gathered at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park for the Morris County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Legislative Luncheon.

Morris County Commissioner Director Christine Myers highlighted DeFillippo’s many contributions to public service and invited fellow Commissioners Doug Cabana, Tayfun Selen, and Deborah Smith, as well as Chamber President Meghan Hunscher to join her in presenting the award.

“Kathy was Morris County’s champion of Human Services and an outspoken supporter of people in need. She advocated for the nonprofits we depend on in this county while also serving on the NJTPA (New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority) board since 2014, which she guided through the global pandemic for two years as director. She is a diverse talent and resource who we miss having on the Commissioner board,” said Commissioner Director Christine Myers.

DeFillippo, who is retired, served three terms on the Board of County Commissioners from 2014 to 2022, including two years as board director. During her tenure, she served as the chief liaison to the Morris County Department of Human Services and area nonprofits. She also served on the board of the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National MS Society for ten years until 2016 and brought the fundraising Walk for MS to Roxbury, where she was Mayor in 2009 and served on the council from 2006 to 2013.

During her acceptance speech, DeFillippo attributed her success in public service to guidance she received from the late assemblyman early on in her career.

“Alex said to me that to lead I need to understand my community and use my voice to make things happen. That’s what I always tried to do. So, I think this afternoon we should listen once again to Alex’s advice. It takes a lot of demanding work, long hours, and a tremendous commitment to make our communities a great place to live, work, and raise a family… I am grateful for this recognition,” said DeFillippo.

While serving on the board of the NJTPA, DeFillippo was elected chair in 2020 and 2021. Under her leadership, the NJTPA adopted plan 2050 to prioritize the transportation needs and challenges over the next 30 years, which prompted a major infrastructure investment for New Jersey under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Morris Canal restoration was also completed in 2022, a project 16 years in the making that got its biggest push in 2019 when the NJTPA funded more than $3.4 million through their Transportation Alternative Grant Program.

This year’s Legislative Luncheon keynote speech was delivered by Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, who spoke on the significance of the upcoming elections for New Jersey. He was introduced by Rosalie Serapiglia, Vice President of Government Affairs for Tilcon and Co-Chair of Chamber Gov’t Affairs Forums.

Following the keynote, Rasmussen joined an informative panel discussion between state Senators Anthony Bucco (R-25) and Andrew Zwicker (D-16) regarding legislative matters that affect state residents and businesses. The panel was moderated by Sal Anderton, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel for Porzio Governmental Affairs and Co-Chair of the MCCC’s Government Affairs Forums.

Each year, the Chamber nominates a Morris County official for the Alex DeCroce Public Leadership Award who exemplifies the values of public service by Assemblyman Alex DeCroce: an unwavering commitment to making the community a great place to live, grow a business, and raise a family.

The annual Legislative Luncheon, part of the chamber’s Public Policy Series, is open to both chamber members and non-members. For more information, visit the Morris County Chamber of Commerce website.