Parsippany Focus

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department reports during the evening of Tuesday, July 24 into the morning of Wednesday, July 25 the below incidents occurred:

Marcella Road
A 2017 Ford Escape was burglarized. The victim advised electronics, bags, and a purse were stolen totaling approximately $600.00, along with $200.00 in cash. The vehicle was believed to have been left unlocked overnight.

A 2016 Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Traverse were burglarized. The victim advised that checks, personal documents, and $1000.00 in cash were stolen from the Explorer. Both vehicles were left unlocked overnight. Officers located an iPhone box containing personal documents belonging to another person at the scene of the burglary. After a brief investigation it was determined that they were stolen out of a vehicle on Alloway Road.

Alloway Road
A 2017 Nissan Pathfinder was burglarized. The victim reported the only item missing was a box containing various credit cards and receipts. The items were found outside of another vehicle that was burglarized on Marcella Road.

PARSIPPANY — On July 22 at approximately 6:00 p.m. Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Officers responded to Modell’s Sporting Goods, 780 Route 46, for a shoplifting that had just occurred.

Upon their arrival, they spoke with the store manager who advised them that two black males and one black female entered the store and spoke to store employees briefly and then ran out of the store carrying merchandise.

The unknown suspects entered a dark green minivan and fled the area.

The store manager stated they stole approximately $215.00 in merchandise.

PARSIPPANY — Families participated in the Family Kindness Rock Craft held at the Lake Hiawatha Library on Tuesday, July 24.  Adults and children were given two rocks to decorate to place in a random public place in our community to make someone else feel good!  Rocks were generously donated by the Parsippany Home Depot.

The Kindness Rocks Project aims to spread connection through art. The goals are to 1) touch others through randomly placed rocks and 2) inspire those touched by the rock to perform another random act of kindness. In short, by leaving rocks with inspiring messages you can help make someone’s day and start a domino effect of thoughtfulness, patience and love.

Article submitted by Lucy Wyndham

Being involved in a car accident is one of the most devastating experiences anyone can ever encounter. In 2016 14,241 people were injured in car accidents in Morris County according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Actively practicing high levels of road safety is imperative as is ensuring your vehicle is safe to take to the roads as well. Whether you are planning to take an extended trip or simple drive around town on a daily basis, a regular inspection of your vehicle is a must. By following six simple steps you will increase your own safety and that of other Parsippany road users significantly.

Check for fluid underneath your car

Before embarking on a journey take a few seconds to check under your car to make sure none of the vital fluids are leaking. If you happen to find a leak, try to identify it before driving the car. A leak can be completely harmless (air conditioner water) or more serious (oil, transmission fluid or brake fluid) and should never be ignored. If you can’t make a positive identification yourself, pop into one of the many gas stations or reputable auto repair shops situated in Parsippany for assistance.

As well as in your car

Sufficient brake fluid in a car is pivotal for its safe operation and should be topped-up regularly and flushed every 36,000 miles. If your car doesn’t have enough brake fluid the brakes will not operate as required and can cause a nasty accident as a result. Although most modern-day cars use power steering, many drivers do not check their power steering levels regularly. When this liquid becomes contaminated your steering wheel can become less responsive which can proof to be extremely dangerous when driving. Make it a point to have the power steering fluid replaced every 18 to 24 months.

Check the brakes

Experiencing a car accident due to brake failure, whether due to a manufacturing defect or poor maintenance is not something anyone should have to endure. It is estimated that up to 5% of car crashes in the US every year are caused by brake failures, equating to a massive 300,000 accidents per year. As already mentioned make sure you always have sufficient brake fluid in your car. Your braking system is not made to last forever and should be replaced periodically. If you notice any problems with your brakes while driving have them checked immediately because if they fail you could end up having a very serious accident.

Check your tires

Your tires are the only part of your car that are in contact with the road, which is why it is extremely important to check your tires regularly for any signs of damage. When you inspect your tires, make sure to check for uneven wear, punctures, and embedded nails. If you have a tire that appears damaged, have it seen to at one of the tire repair centres around town such as Firestone, Mavis Discount Tires and Tire Tech and Auto Repair. Don’t forget to have your tires rotated every 5,000 miles to extend their life and replaced every 50,000 miles or sooner if you notice any significant damage.

Inspect your lights and signals

It is very important to physically check all your signals and lights, noting if any are dirty, broken or cracked. Check your reverse lights, taillights, headlights, brake lights and turning signals. It is especially important to check where your headlights point as misaligned headlights can be hazardous to other road users, causing major accidents. Headlights that shine too low will limit how far you can see at night, which can prove to be very unsafe, especially in the quieter parts of Parsipanny with limited street lights. Faulty turning signals are equally dangerous – just imagine the consequences of changing lanes on the freeway without signalling your intention to do so.

Check seat belts and baby chairs

There is no denying that seat belts save lives. According to the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety, as many as 132 unrestrained drivers and passengers are killed in crashes in the state each year. Physically check your seatbelts and baby seats at regular intervals, looking for any signs of wear and tear. Get any problems seen to immediately as no driver or passenger, regardless of age, should ever be in a moving vehicle without being restrained properly.

With the freedom associated with obtaining a drivers license comes an immense amount of responsibility. By regularly following the steps above to ensure your vehicle remains roadworthy, coupled with safe driving techniques, you will be able to decrease your risk of being involved in a car accident substantially.

PARSIPPANY — Living Water Church held a “Family SummerFest” on Saturday, July 21. The event was free and is designed to bring the community together on a sunny summer day. Living Waters Church raised funds for Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire District 5.

PARSIPPANY — Missing cat! Please be on the lookout for this small, 11 year old black and white cat named Cookie.

She is missing from Hiawatha Boulevard in Lake Hiawatha. Please call us or Michelle at (862) 207-2388 with any sighting.

PARSIPPANY — Integrated Marketing Consultant, Lynda Starr, DTM, of Parsippany is the newly elected Program Quality Director for District 83 Toastmasters, serving members in metropolitan New Jersey, Rockland County, and Staten Island, New York.  Starr is a member of Dining to Speak Toastmasters.

As Program Quality Director, Starr oversees all aspects of education and training with the district. The program quality director is the second ranking member of the district executive committee and presides when the district director is not available.

“I am honored to be called upon by members of the district to help then to achieve their educational goals and to assure the quality of the Toastmasters program within the clubs,” notes Starr. “This year, we are asking all members to challenge themselves by trying something new, be it to take on a new role or to build a new speaking talent. The goal of Toastmasters is learning in moments of enjoyment to develop leadership skills.”

“Lynda Starr, DTM is a dynamic and effective leader that knows wholeheartedly what it takes to win,” notes said Manny Reyes, District Director.  “She is assertive and always operates with a sense of urgency, is always ready to help anyone who needs to put the final touch on an almost finished project. I look forward to working with her this year to promote the individual and collective achievement of members and to expand and strengthen the district.”

Lynda Starr, DTM, has been a member of Toastmasters International since October 2006. She has achieved Toastmasters International’s highest honor, Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM).   Currently, she serves as Vice-President, Education for Dining to Speak Toastmasters, Fairfield, NJ and is a member of Northern Stars Advanced in Basking Ridge, NJ. She has previously served as district public relations officer, conference chair, and newsletter editor in addition to other club officer roles. An enthusiast of the written word, she has a Master’s Degree in Communication from University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in Communication and Marketing from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

District 83 includes 150 clubs (4,000 members), in Metropolitan New Jersey, Staten Island, and Rockland County, New York. For more information click here.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 270,000 members in 13,000 clubs in 116 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs click here.