PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Mayoral candidate Michael Soriano, who announced his candidacy last month for the Democratic party, is proud to announce his slate of Township Council candidates for the 2017 primary election.

Soriano will run with businesswoman Janice McCarthy and small business owner Emily Peterson.

Janice McCarthy spent a career in private sector finance working for Fortune 500 companies, including ADP as Director of Finance and Ingersoll Rand as Director of Budget and Planning. She also served in managing the budget operation at Montclair State University. Her many years of private and public sector budgeting experience will be an asset to the township’s fiscal processes. Running to bring back bi-partisan government, McCarthy believes Parsippany deserves a Mayor and Township Council working effectively together to maintain our infrastructure, deliver quality services, preserve our environment, control development, and do it in a fiscally responsible manner.

Emily Peterson is a small business owner and adjunct professor at New York University who knows what it’s like to meet deadlines and balance a tight budget every day. She understands what it will take to develop Parsippany’s economy and build a base of small businesses to increase ratables. Standing firm on the belief that taxpayers’ money should be put to better use in providing for the people of Parsippany, she recognizes that controlling spending is one of the most important responsibilities the Township Council and administration have.

With this announcement, a different tone is set for the future of Parsippany’s fiscal planning. Janice McCarthy noted, “I know there is a more productive and beneficial way to spend a million dollars of taxpayers’ money than paying attorney’s fees for a failed lawsuit.” This kind of thinking is exactly what Parsippany needs in order to fully serve the people of this community. Both Peterson and McCarthy understand this, and are proud to partner with Michael Soriano in order to make this philosophy a reality.

Democrat Katie Cassidy is one of the candidates who will be seeking a Township Council seat in the June Democratic primary.

PARSIPPANY — Resolution R2017-38 was unanimously passed on Tuesday, March 7 by the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council.

The resolution was authorizing award of a contract to “Knoll West Country Club” (a private company) for the operation of catering and banquet facilities at the Township owned buildings at Knoll West Country Club and Knoll East County Club.

Both buildings will be going under major renovations within the next four years, and at times will be required to be closed to the public.

Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills advertised for bids to be received for Operation of Catering and Banquet Facilities and Provision of Related Services at Knoll County Club on two occasions, initially on January 20 and again on February 14.  The Township mailed out 24 bid packages to potential bidders in the field of catering and banquet services and no bids were received on either date.

Local Public Contract Law allows a contract to be negotiated after no bids were received on two separate occasions.

CFO Ann Cucci, Director of Purchasing Michael Hardie and Golf Superintendent Glenn Foesel met with the current caterer, Knoll West County Club and negotiated and revised the rent proposed to be more applicable with respect to the current market conditions.

Knoll West Country Club will pay a monthly rent of $30,000 each month for the initial forty-eight months of the term. The monthly rent will decrease by 50% during any time period where either the Knoll West Facility or the Knoll East Facility are completely closed down due to renovations. The monthly rent will increase to $55,000 once the renovations to both the Knoll West Facility and the Knoll East Facility have been completed.

Knoll West Country has booked well over 100 upcoming events in the next several months and is willing to work with the Township to coordinate these events around the upcoming renovations that the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills is planning to undertake at both facilities.

PARSIPPANY — Members of Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany recently donated winter coats to Homeless Solutions.  In addition, Ms. Lisette Rivera of Morris County’s Homeless Solutions discussed how that organization helps homeless families. Kiwanis member and former Homeless Solutions employee Nicolas Limanov organized the collection of the coats for the residents at Homeless Solutions.

The Transitional Housing Program opened in 1996 in order to give homeless families more time to work towards their goals and become self-sufficient. The facility includes ten self-contained apartments where families are provided with everything necessary for independent living (furniture, full kitchen, dishes/cooking utensils, etc.). The program requires that all adults in each family work full time with a minimum 30 hours per week. Families can reside in the program for up to eighteen months and most families obtain permanent housing and leave in less than a year. During this time, families work closely with Case Managers who provide them with supportive counseling and help link them with community resources.

Volunteers provide assistance including credit counseling, financial coaching, career
counseling, life skills workshops, tutoring for children, parties and activities for children, yoga, and more.

The program has helped over 190 Morris County families since its inception. In the past two years, twenty families have moved to permanent, affordable housing and remain housed.

The Transitional Housing Program staff stays in contact with families for up to two years after they graduate and provide follow up Case Management services in order to prevent recidivism.

Volunteer opportunities include hosting activities for children, babysitting for children while parents attend life skills workshops/case management meetings, helping to turnover apartments between move outs/ins, providing tutoring and music lessons for children.

Current needs for donations include new towels and wash cloths, new or like new lamps, new pillows, and large sized diapers (5, 6, 7 only and pull ups 2T, 3T, 4T).

Today, Homeless Solutions provides shelter for 25 homeless men, 10 homeless women, 10 families and 20 Safe Haven guests. Our guests receive services including case management, transportation to work and necessary appointments, money management and employment assistance, housing search assistance and daily living skills training. Referral services for counseling, substance abuse intervention, and prevention are also provided.

Homeless Solutions employs 49 staff, 36 full time and 13 part time. Homeless Solutions, Inc. is governed by a Board of Trustees and is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of New Jersey.

For more information on Homeless Solutions click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Lincoln is about 14-16 weeks old, about 26 pounds, and he is a handsome with a beautiful chocolate coat and white on his 4 paws and chest.  Lincoln also has an adorable wrinkly forehead! Lincoln is a playful, friendly puppy who was rescued from a high kill shelter in North Carolina and now living in a foster home in New Jersey.

Lincoln’s foster mom says…..’Lincoln is an awesome puppy! He is super friendly with everyone and he is all about having fun!  Lincoln loves being outside running around, loves toys, loves to cuddle and loves playing with other dogs.  

Lincoln listens well and he is smart and loyal.  He sleeps through the night without having accidents and is getting the hang of house training by going to the door when he wants to go out. Squeaky toys, bones and rope toys he enjoys and he will even throw a ball in the air and play by himself.

The only thing Lincoln loves more than playing with toys is to cuddle and be with us. Lincoln will lay on the couch with us between our legs and he will put his head on our legs and falls asleep. Just before Lincoln falls asleep he makes these cute little sounds.

So even though Lincoln has a lot of energy, he knows how to chill out!  Lincoln has the cutest floppy ears that perk right up when he hears something or when you are talking to him.  Cute, cute, cute! We adore Lincoln!!’

Adopt Lincoln he is Awesome!!  Please email FHDR@att.net for an adoption application.  

To see more photos and a video clip of Lincoln, please go to www.fhdr.petfinder.com.