PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, December 3 Santa arrived at the Lake Parsippany Association’s clubhouse to enjoy a pancake breakfast with the neighborhood children.
In the true spirit of Christmas the children brought presents to be given to other children in the area who could use a little extra Christmas cheer.
PARSIPPANY — A family of seven were among the hordes of volunteers Saturday assembling meals that will be distributed to families in need. Standing by a long table under a heated tent, Jamie Hemberger was packing up 12.4-ounce bags of macaroni and cheese, each with enough for six servings. She was joined by her husband, Mike,…
EAST RUTHERFORD – Morris Hills’ 41-year championship drought is over. The Scarlet Knights started the second half with 20 unanswered points to pick up the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 title in a 27-14 win over Parsippany Hills on Saturday at MetLife Stadium. It’s Morris Hills’ second title in school history; the first came in…
PARSIPPANY —The Sons of Italy Lodge 2561 and Parsippany-Troy Hills Fire District 5 hosted a Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner Fundraiser to benefit the family of Noah Lorencovitz on Saturday, November 19 at the Parsippany-Troy Hills District 5 Firehouse, 200 South Beverwyck Road.
With the combined efforts of both organizations they served almost 400 dinners and raised almost $8,000.00 which was donated to the family of Noah Lorencovitz.
The Sons of Italy Lodge 2561 bought and prepared all the pasta, meatballs and sausage and soda, water, coffee and dessert was donated by the ShopRite of Parsippany. Parsippany’s Best Pizza in Arlington Plaza donated all of the gravy for evening and Anthony & Sons Bakery, Denville, provided the bread.
Chairman Dave Cavaliere extends a huge thank you to Sons of Italy President Joe Jannarone Jr., Shop Rite of Parsippany, Parsippany’s Best Pizza and Anthony & Sons Bakery for their generous donations which highly contribute in making the fundraiser a huge success.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire District 5 Firefighter and Chairman of the event Dave Cavaliere would like to thank the entire committee for all of the effort they are contributing in making this annual event which gives back to the community a huge success.
The dedicated members of this years committee are Pat Calabrese, John Dente, Matt Palmieri, Pat Lorenzo, Brandon Schweizer, Mike Lambert and Glen Pelobuet.
On Thursday, March 3, what started out as a normal school day for 13-year old Noah suddenly turned tragic. During gym class, Noah excused himself to the locker room. While in there, his heart went into an arrhythmia which ultimately led to cardiac arrest. A friend found him unresponsive and contracted his teacher who immediately began CPR. The school nurse and EMT’s were summoned to help and administer an AED to get his heart started again.
Noah was rushed to nearby Morristown Medical Center. On the evening of March 3, he was transferred to Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at Columbia Presbyterian in New York City and was in the cardiac intensive care (ICU) for almost three weeks. The doctors conducted a successful ablation procedure on Noah and shortly thereafter he left ICU.
However, his fight is not over. Even after five months in the hospital, Noah is expected to have a long road of rehabilitation ahead. Everyone is hopeful that Noah will recover from the trauma so you can hear his voice and see that infectious smile.
Please join the community to help Noah and his family. All proceeds will go to help the Lorencovitz family as they continue to tackle this difficult situation. Let’s all come out together and continue to give support and prayers for Noah and his family so NOAH can wear his #4 jersey on the basketball court with his team mates very soon.
PARSIPPANY — For the many people that stopped by Lake Parsippany Fire House on Sunday, November 27 for the “Ladies Auxiliary 14th Annual Pancake Breakfast” they had the opportunity to eat delicious homemade pancakes, sausage and more … bagels, cream cheese, butter, coffee, tea and even orange juice. All you could eat for just $6.00 or less.
The following businesses and individuals contributed to the event: Annabella’s Restaurant, Anthony Francos Pizza, Atlanta Bread, Baldwin Pizza, Bangiola’s Sandwich Shoppe, Buffalo Wild Wings, Delizia Pizza Kitchen, Empire Diner, Evonik, Four Knives Deli, General Store, Great Wazu, G’s Famous Pizza, Habit Burger Grill, Houlihans Restaurant, IHOP, Vincent Ferrara, Zinburger, Jimmy’s Pizzeria, Longhorn Steakhouse, Mama Louisa’s Italian Deli, Outback Steak House, Pro-Haircutters, Quick Chek, Shear Creations, Aristocrat Limo, Birchwood Manor, Castle Printing, Cerbo Lumber, Costco, David Brask, Election Graphics, Fire and Safety Services, Friedman LLP, Glafelter Insurance Group, IBEW Local Union No. 102, NJ Fire Equipment, Parsippany’s Best Pizza, Par-Troy Funeral Home, Restaurant Depot, Robert J. Iracane CPA, Stifel Nicolaus, Stop & Shop and Tri-State Technical Services.
Lake Parsippany Volunteer Fire District 3 is located at 255 Halsey Road.
Lake Parsippany Ladies Auxiliary: President: Diane Ritz; Vice President: Cindy Barilla; Secretary: Lynne Yaccorino; Treasurer: Barbara Birth; Financial Secretary: Dee Delgrosso and Sgt. of Arms:Jane Fenske.
Lake Parsippany Vol. Fire Co.: President: Arden Birth; Vice President: Andy Baum; Treasurer: Ken Nolan; Secretary: Bob Keller; Financial Secretary: Rob Koegler and Sgt. of Arms: Jonathan Earl.
Board of Fire Commissioners: Robert Yeager; Gabe Yaccorino; Darryl Jenkins; John Butkus and Clarence Ricker.
Lake Parsippany Fire Department is always looking for volunteers to join: Seniors 18 years and older; Juniors 16 to 18 years old. Stop in for an application on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. or call (973) 887-9071 and leave a message.
MORRIS COUNTY — On Wednesday, December 7 Homeless Solutions’ Young Professionals will host “Party with a Purpose”, a networking event to be held at the Laundromat in Morristown from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The event will include appetizers, raffles, live music – and attendees’ first drink is on the house. It’s also an opportunity to support Homeless Solutions shelter guests by donating a gift card to Walmart, Shop Rite or AMC; any denomination of donation is appreciated.
Please contact Event Manager Lacey Berdela (973) 993-0900, ext. 25 by December 5 if you’d like to attend.
About Homeless Solutions.
Homeless Solutions is a private, non-profit organization that has been helping the homeless and working poor in the Morris County, NJ area since 1983. Homeless Solutions operates emergency Shelter Programs for families, single women, single men, and the homeless mentally ill, in addition to a Transitional Housing facility. Based on the organization motto of ‘A Hand up, not a Handout’, its staff and programs give people the tools they need to rebuild their lives, and as working people move to independence, Homeless Solutions develops and renovates sustainable homes people can afford. In 2015 HSI sheltered and housed 424 individuals, including 128 children. To learn more or volunteer, please visit www.homelesssolutions.org.
PARSIPPANY — Emma Przyhocki ’17 made a commitment to play soccer at Misericordia University. She has been an integral part of the soccer team’s success at Mount St. Dominic Academy.
“We are so proud of Emma. The hard work and determination that she has put forth over her years here has really paid off. We are certain she will represent our school well as she moves on to college,” stated Director of Athletics, Lorenzo Sozio.
Ms. Przyhocki, a Parsippany resident, will continue to compete at the collegiate level on the Division III Misericordia Cougars team beginning Fall 2017. Mount Saint Dominic Academy, established by the Sisters of St. Dominic in Caldwell, is a Catholic college preparatory school, dedicated to the education of young women from a variety of ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds. Since 1892, The Mount has been empowering young women in the Dominican tradition. For more information about Mount Saint Dominic Academy, click here.
PARSIPPANY — Please join us in supporting the Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills (WCPTH) by enjoying lunch or dinner at Gourmet Café, 135 Baldwin Road, on Monday, December 5.
Lunch hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner is served from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The offer is valid for to-go orders and gift cards also. The club will get a portion of the proceeds.
The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills is a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs of GFWC (NJSFWC), which is the largest volunteer women’s service organization in the state, providing opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service.
The club’s next General Meeting, which is open to area women, is on Monday, January 23.
For more information call Cathy at (973) 984-0758, e-mail the club by clicking here or visit their website by clicking here.
PARSIPPANY — The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills (WCPTH) just held its annual Operation Candy/Cookie Meeting and wrapped over 210 tins of holiday cookies, along with 150 packets of holiday cards, for area nursing and care homes.
The goodies will be donated to residents of Care One of Morris in Parsippany, The Country Home and The Morris View Health Care Center, both in Morris Plains.
Operation Cookie/Candy has been a project of New Jersey Women’s Clubs for over 50 years. Another recent holiday project of the club was Boatsie’s Boxes. Club members filled 52 Christmas stockings with toiletries, games, telephone cards and other items for members of the military serving overseas.
These stockings were taken to the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC) headquarters to be shipped with the 1200 stockings filled by the other clubs of NJSFWC. And later in December club members will be donating clothes, toys and other gifts to a family in the Adopt-A-Family Head Start Community Program of Morris County.
The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills is a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs of GFWC, which is the largest volunteer women’s service organization in the state, providing opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service. The next General Meeting is on Monday, January 23.
For more information about the January General Meeting or the club, call Cathy at (973) 984-0758, e-mail the club by clicking here or click here to view their website.
PARSIPPANY — JLL has completed a renewal transaction for the institutional ownership of Morris Corporate Center III, 400 Interpace Parkway with Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide. The healthcare marketing services firm signed for 83,497 square feet within Building C at the Class A, 530,000-square-foot office property.
The building owner was represented by Jonathan Meisel, managing director; Fred Hyatt and Daniel Spero, vice presidents, all with JLL. The tenant, Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide, was represented by Jeffrey Babakian, executive vice president, and Nicholas Savage, senior vice president, with CBRE Inc.
“Ogilvy CommonHealth truly appreciated Morris Corporate Center III and preferred to remain within the complex,” said Meisel. “Ownership continues to make many improvements to the property, which was honored by the Building Owners and Managers Association with an Outstanding Building of the Year Award in each of the past three years. The attention to detail from ownership and JLL’s management team had a great deal to do with helping keep Ogilvy CommonHealth at the complex.”
Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide signed an 11-year lease for 83,497 square feet and will occupy the entire fourth floor along with a portion of the second floor and third floor of Building C at Morris Corporate Center III, 400 Interpace Parkway, which is located between Walsh Drive and Upper Pond Road. The healthcare marketing services firm relocated most of its space from Building B within Morris Corporate Center III.
JLL has served as property manager and exclusive leasing agent at Morris Corporate Center III since December 2007. The property was selected by the Building Owner and Managers Association of New Jersey to receive its Outstanding Building of the Year Award in 2014, and then went on to receive the BOMA Middle Atlantic Conference TOBY in 2015. This year, the property achieved a BOMA NJ TOBY Award. All three BOMA TOBY awards were in the Suburban Low Rise Category. Property management services at the complex are overseen by Dana Getz, JLL group manager and senior vice president; Brian Finnerty, chief engineer; and Shayonne Jefferson, assistant general manager. JLL also serves as exclusive leasing agent for the building, with Meisel, Hyatt and Spero overseeing marketing and transaction services.
Building improvements were overseen through a partnership between JLL’s Property Management and Project and Development Services groups, with the effort led by Getz; Jerry Sullivan, senior vice president; and Susan Pady, senior project manager. Ownership has made a significant investment, with completed work including new white reflective roofs; heating, ventilation and air conditioning infrastructure mechanical improvements; a fiber-optic backbone to support a campus-wide energy management system; a renovated four-story atrium with energy-efficient LED, light-emitting diode lighting; a new fitness center; electric vehicle charging station; upgrades to the café server area; enhancements to the café seating area and common area soft seating.
In addition, the property’s common corridors are being upgraded with new carpet, wall covering, ceiling system and energy-efficient LED lighting; and the complex’s common-area restrooms are being renovated with a new decorative accent tile in the vanity area, as well as new subway wall tile, porcelain floor tile, LED light fixtures, and quartz-infused counter tops. Future building improvement plans, which are in the design and development phase, include enhancements to the interior and exterior of the property.
Morris Corporate Center III is a Class A, 530,000-square-foot commercial office complex comprised of four four-story buildings connected by a grand atrium. The property is situated on a 182-acre master planned corporate campus in Parsippany and was constructed in 1988. The superbly landscaped setting includes fountains and pedestrian seating areas. The building has a three-story parking garage in addition to surface parking options. The property hosts a diversified tenant profile, as evidenced by the varied cross-section of business including communications and marketing, pharmaceutical, real estate and other professional services. The property is located within three-quarters of a mile of Exit 42B of Interstate 80 and can be accessed via Cherry Hill Road to Interpace Parkway from the east and from Route 46 via Walsh Drive from the north.
JLL is a leader in the northern/central New Jersey commercial real estate market, with more than 1,000 professionals and support staff providing agency leasing and property marketing, tenant representation, industrial services, strategic consulting, occupancy planning, workplace strategies, project and development services, property and facility management, and investment sales/capital markets services to New Jersey’s leading corporate tenants, investors and landlords. The firm, which assists clients from three full-service offices in Parsippany, Iselin (Metropark) and East Rutherford, also acts as a local service provider for JLL’s global and national corporate clients in need of real estate assistance in New Jersey. JLL’s New Jersey operations were honored by NJBiz magazine as one of its 2015 Best Places to Work in New Jersey.
PARSIPPANY — Buffalo Wild Wings, 1540 Route 46, Parsippany and 343 Mount Hope Avenue Rockaway is raising funds for the Visokas family, according to K.D. “Murph” Murphy, Assistant General Manager Rockaway location.
Parsippany and Rockaway Buffalo Wild Wings is inviting the community to “eat wings and raise funds” for the Visokas family
Ten percent of each bill will be donated to the Visokas family, according to Murph.
The family lost everything in a devastating house fire last night, Monday, November 14. Their home was the place family and friends gathered for holidays, parties, Sunday afternoon football and many happy occasions for two generations.
They lost everything except the clothes on their backs. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the road to get back on their feet will be a long one and insurance won’t cover a lot of what they will need.
The fundraiser will take place at the Parsippany location at 1540 Route 46 West, on Wednesday, December 14 from 11:00 a.m. to closing at 1:00 a.m. and from 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 12 until closing at 1:00 a.m. at the Rockaway location.
“Tickets must be presented at the time of dining,” Murph said. “This can be dine in or take out.”
As of December 2 a GoFundMe campaign has raised $29,600 in 17 days by 321 people.
Click on the flyers below and present it to your server at the appropriate days and location.
PARSIPPANY — Thanksgiving day placemats made by Kiwanis Club Brooklawn Middle School Builders Club were used at Homeless Solutions for this holiday.
The current advisors are Ms. Elena Gerber and Mrs. Christina DeStefano. They have been leading the Brooklawn Builders Club for the past four years.
This years service projects have included so far making Thanksgiving Day placemats for Homeless Solutions and last month, they decorated pumpkins with anti-bullying themes and put them around the Brooklawn Court Yard.
The Builders Club will be making Christmas placements for Homeless Solutions too.
Last year their big project was to sell gold links on a paper chain to raise money for baby Emma that supplied meals for the family when the baby was in the hospital.
Every year the Brooklawn Builders Club hosts a Teacher for a Day contest. It is always very popular as it gives students the opportunity to see what their favorite teachers do and to spend the day with them! Last year over $600 was raised and toys were purchased and donated to Toys for Tots.
The Builders club meets every other Thursday. They will be meeting next Thursday, December 8.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany has been sponsoring the Brooklawn Builders Club for the past 25 years.
Builders Club is an international student-led organization providing members with opportunities to perform service, build character and develop leadership.
The Builders Club Pledge: “I pledge on my honor to uphold the objects of Builders Club. To better my school, my community, my nation, and myself. To aid those in need while enhancing leadership capabilities, and to encourage the fellowship of all mankind.”
The Kiwanis family is bigger than just a club. It has clubs for every age and ability: adult Kiwanis clubs, Circle K clubs for university students, Aktion Clubs for adults with disabilities, Key Clubs for high school students, Builders Clubs for middle school students and K-Kids for elementary school students.
Volunteers from Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany prepares meals for Homeless Solutions once a month.
For more information on Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, click here. You are invited to join the Kiwanis Club for a meeting. They meet every Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46.
PARSIPPANY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders congratulates Earth Friendly Products, 50 Lackawanna Avenue, for being named as one of the top business recyclers in the state by the Department of Environmental Protection at the annual Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR) symposium and awards event.
Earth Friendly was one of three New Jersey businesses winners, along with Benjamin Moore’s Distribution Center in Clifton and Cox Printers in Linden.
“The Christie Administration is proud of these recycling leaders for their efforts and stewardship in recycling, which is a vital component of protecting New Jersey’s environment,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “Recycling is a civic duty that gets everyone actively involved in safeguarding and conserving our natural resources.”
“I was proud to welcome Earth Friendly Products to Parsippany several years ago and when we toured their facility there was no doubt that they had an effective recycling program. Their company and employees commitment to an effective recycling program is a testimony to the quality companies that are located in Parsippany,” said Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Vice President Robert Peluso.
“We salute Earth Friendly as an environmental and business leader in Morris County,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo. “They’re a model of a successful business and good neighbor to their community.’’
Earth Friendly manufactures “green” cleaning products at its five U.S. plants, including a facility in Parsippany. The company recycles a variety of materials, has established “zero waste” as a company-wide goal, and has integrated sustainability into all business operations.
It welcomes employee suggestions for waste reduction, and has conducted waste audits that led to further cuts in waste generation at the company. Significant cuts to the company’s trash stream resulted in recycling revenue totaling more than $180,000.
The company also uses solar power and has achieved carbon neutrality since 2013.
In 1987, New Jersey became the first state to require recycling, by passing the New Jersey Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act.
Some 30 years later, the state continues to develop policies to further increase recycling rates and adapt recycling strategies to match current lifestyles. As part of that effort, DEP requires counties to meet recycling tonnage targets and, with help from local and county partners, promote public participation in recycling.
Earth Friendly Products is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.
Also recognized by DEP from across New Jersey for their recycling efforts were the following businesses, institutions and individuals:
BUSINESS: Cox Printers
In addition to recycling numerous materials and offering customers recycled products as part of its print jobs, Cox Printers has installed a 36kW solar system and two wind turbines on the roof of its building. A partial roof garden, which reduces rainwater runoff, has also been installed on the roof, as well as a number of honeybee hives. The business also follows carbon neutral shipment of goods.
BUSINESS: Benjamin Moore and Company
Benjamin Moore’s Distribution Center in Clifton has recycled hundreds of tons of wooden pallets and unwanted paint, corrugated cardboard and shrink wrap. It now has a paint can crusher to recycle steel paint cans. Employees also are educated about the key part environmental programs play in segregating the waste stream, labeling and handling materials safely.
LEADERSHIP: Learn Your ABC’s BYOBag
A collaborative effort by Princeton Borough, the Princeton Merchant’s Association, McCaffrey’s Grocery Store and Sustainable Princeton that follows the waste reduction cycle of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is the focus of The Learn Your ABCs BYOBag Campaign. The effort also has expanded existing programs and provides a solution for recycling non-mandated materials including plastic packaging films, which are difficult to recycle.
INSTITUTION: The Valley Hospital
The Valley Hospital, in Ridgewood, Bergen County, continues adding new materials to an already extensive list of materials for its recycling program. The hospital also uses eco-friendly building products whenever possible and has installed rooftop beehives.
INSTITUTION: Chairville Elementary School
Chairville Elementary School in Medford, Burlington County, recycles a variety of materials and has composting containers for food waste. Recycling is an important part of the curriculum, and the school’s “Green Team” works to promote various environmental programs including waste reduction. The 400-student school is in the process of constructing an Outdoor Classroom, to extend the school’s environmental curriculum.
RISING STAR: Patricia Totaro
Since becoming Brick Township’s recycling coordinator in 2012, Totaro’s efforts have resulted in many improvements to the township’s recycling program. Changing the culture of her department, township employees, residents and businesses has taken several years. Totaro also was instrumental in convincing the governing body to invest in new recycling equipment to improve the program and marketability of materials.
To learn more about recycling in New Jersey, click here.
To learn more about recycling in Morris County, click here.
NORTH 2, GROUP 3 BRACKET Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford 4-Parsippany Hills (7-4) vs. 3-Morris Hills (8-3) Tickets: $9 for adults and $3 for senior citizens/students. Parking is $12. LIVE GAME COVERAGE • LIVE UPDATES and in-game chat (to come) ABOUT THE TEAMS • 10 things to know about Parsippany Hills…
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department held their second “Coffee with a Cop” event.
This event helps the police to continue to build upon their current community policing efforts and foster stronger relationships with the residents of Parsippany-Troy Hills.
With the large turnout during the event they addressed topics from simple hellos and introductions to more pressing issues such as traffic concerns and crime around town.
The Parsippany Police Department would like to thank the Parsippany Library for coordinating the event, along with Mayor Barberio and Council President Louis Valori for attending and their continued support of the Police Department.
Also in attendance today was Morris County Prosecutor Frederic Knapp and Parsippany Police Chief Paul Philipps.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Adjustment will be hearing an application for Kingston Commons, 171 Kingston Road, Block: 245 Lot: 18.1 Zone: B-4. The location is the current site of Lake Parsippany General Store.
The applicant is seeking a “C” and ”D” variance along with Preliminary and Final Site plan to construct a mixed use consisting of two buildings, five units in each and a retail store.
Case#16:44 will be heard on Wednesday, December 7 at the Parsippany Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard. The meeting will start at 7:30 p.m.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Sheriff’s Office is collecting new donated toys for Zufall patients in need.
Please drop off new toys at Morris County Records and Administration Building, 10 Court Street, Morristown or Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Legal Services Section, 560 West Hanover Avenue, Morristown by December 13.
Any questions please contact Undersheriff William Schievella at (973) 285-6672 or email by clicking here.
Zufall Health is the medical and dental home for the underserved with sites in north, west, and central New Jersey. As a fully licensed, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), they provide high-quality, affordable, compassionate medical and dental care to patients in Morris, Sussex, Hunterdon, Warren, Somerset, and Essex counties. Zufall Health welcome patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors, regardless of income or insurance status. They offer a broad range of primary care and support services delivered in the comfortable, healing environments of our eight offices as well as on the Highlands Health Van, our eco-friendly mobile medical unit. Recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Zufall is committed to working closely with patients to coordinate their care so they have direct access to all the services they need for optimum health and well being.
For more information on Zufall Health visit 85 Washington Street, Morristown or call (973) 998-7310. To visit their website, click here.
PARSIPPANY — The staff at Parsippany Focus has chosen three winners in our “Halloween Story Contest” for young readers.
The first winner is a student at Knollwood Elementary School; Julia Bruggeman, 11 years old, in the fifth grade. Julia received a plaque from Parsippany Focus, lunch for Julia, her parents and her teacher and a $25.00 VISA gift card.
Frank Cahill, Publisher and Nicolas Limanov, Photographer, visited Knollwood Elementary School and congratulated Julia.
by Julia Bruggeman
Natalie was in her house, ready for school. She closed the door and hurried out, but she heard a voice. “Come with me to the Lost Woods. Come with me to the Lost Woods.” Natalie stopped, turned around, and screamed her head off. There wasn’t anything there. So, she walked into what seemed to be the woods that her parents wouldn’t let her into. When she walked in, it wasn’t a normal forest. There was a blast of light and everything changed. Instead of light shining down through the trees, the trees were covered with gigantic cobwebs. It smelled like dust and mold. Natalie, who was filled with fright, looked around. She was lost, but she was in luck. A small payphone that looked like it was from a million years ago was right in front of her. She called her mom, but it sounded like someone else.
“Hi the voice said. “To request this caller, press one.”
Natalie thought this person must be very famous to have a great voicemail like that, so she pressed one. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH” Natalie screamed. “Don’t yell. It’s okay,” said a ghost figure that slowly began to appear. “Hi, fm Marcie!” Natalie was surprised about this.
“How do I get home?” she asked.
“Just come with me and you will see.”‘ So, Natalie followed Marcie into an immense stone castle that seemed bigger inside. “This,”‘ Marcie said “This is the Castle of Ghosts! Natalie thought this was crazy. Inside, was a golden throne, surrounded by terrifying ghosts. Soon, a ghost with a gold crown with rubies on it came out. “I am King Ghost,”‘ he said “If you want to go home, you have to defeat me in a battle. Marcie, you know what to do.”‘ Marcie went through Natalie’s ear and into her body to give her powers. ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! Natalie and King Ghost battled until Natalie had one blast left inside her. ZAP! She did it! Marcie· can now show Natalie the way out, but Marcie told her something important. “I’m your sister, Natalie. I died when you were little.”‘ Natalie’s jaw dropped, but she didn’t have time to think because Marcie already blasted her back home, where she belongs.
PARSIPPANY — The staff at Parsippany Focus has chosen three winners in our “Halloween Story Contest” for young readers.
The second winner is a student at Knollwood Elementary School; Alexa Strain. Alexa received a plaque from Parsippany Focus, lunch for Alexa, her parents and her teacher and a $25.00 VISA gift card.
Publisher Frank Cahill and School Photographer Nicolas Limanov visited Mrs. Seib’s fifth grade class and announced the winner to the students.
by Alexa Strain
Behind the door Kacy heard a voice. One dark and gloomy night, Kacy was home alone. Her parents had to take her little brother to his soccer game. Kacy was watching T.V. when she heard a noise come from the basement. In Kacy’s house she had a frightening basement that nobody ever used. She wondered who could have been down there.
SLAM! Kacy got scared. What was that Kacy thought. It could have been just the wind so she ignored it. Stomp, Stomp! “Who is that”? Kacy screamed! Kacy called the police and they found nothing. That night she went downstairs to see if anybody was there.
All of a sudden, she saw something. She called her parents immediately., and right when they got down there, it was gone. She stayed in the basement because she knew something was down there. She saw it again. “Who are you?” Kacy said. “I am a ghost and I want to kill your whole family.” “Why?” Kacy yelled. “Every Halloween I like to kill one family, so I decided to kill yours this year” said the ghost. “That’s not nice” Kacy said. Finally after an hour of talking Kacy convinced the ghost never to bother them again and become a nice ghost. That night she told her parents. They didn’t believe her but she knew that she saved her family and that’s all that mattered.
PARSIPPANY — The staff at Parsippany Focus has chosen three winners in our “Halloween Story Contest” for young readers.
The third winner is a student at Knollwood Elementary School: Sapana Dhakal. Sapana received a plaque from Parsippany Focus, lunch for Sapana, her parents and her teacher and a $25.00 VISA gift card. Publisher Frank Cahill and photographer Nicolas Limanov visited the class and awarded Sapana with her winnings.
by Sapana Dhakal
Sally strolled down the dusty dirt path, her hands clamped to her dog’s leash. Her dog, Cookie, trotted beside her, wagging her tail. The shadowy trees leaned into them, their coarse branches reaching for their heads. Wet grass poked through the mud, and crickets chirped. It was getting dark, and Sally was heading home. Suddenly, Sally slipped into a mud puddle, her arms flailing. She slid past her dog and let go of the leash in panic. Sally was drenched in wet mud and water. There was chunks of the mud in her hair and it was smothered on her clothes.
“Woof!” Cookie leaped into the dark forest after a squirrel, barking excitedly. Sally gasped, jumping to her feet. She swiped at her brown hair, letting the mud drip onto the floor.
“Cookie!” Sally cried. Without a second thought, she sprinted into the woods. Sally breathed hard, sprinting past trees. She lost her balance, and tripped over a branch. Her body fell to the ground. Sally lay still, stifling her whimpers. She heard the sound of snapping twigs and crunching leaves. She lay still. “Cookie?” There was only silence. Sally leaped to her feet, turning around.
In between two trees, there stood a monster. The monster had black fur, and was almost melting in the shadows. It’s eyes were red, with repulsive yellow pupils. Sally’s heart stopped in her chest. She was paralyzed with fear. Boom! Thunder shook the sky, sending buckets of rain, piercing her skin like daggers.
Sally stumbled through the trees, weeping. The rain stopped, along with Sally. She dropped to her knees, whimpering in fear. A chill tingled through her spine as she looked in horror at the sight behind her. She could smell the putrid scent of rotting meat as the entity breathed over her. Yellow saliva dripped onto the ground. Sally let her tears run down her face, unable to move. Slowly, it let its arms wrap around her, lifting her off the air. “No!” Sally screamed. She wrestled her way out of the monster’s grip, shrieking and shouting. She escaped, crying furiously as she stumbled through the forest. Sally swiveled around just as the monster arrived. Sally took a stick and whacked the monster with fierce strength. The monster responded in shock, but soon anger. It swiped back angrily, hissing. Sally threw a punch on the monster’s stomach. In a flash of light, everything melted into darkness.
Sally’s eyelids fluttered open as she sat up, dazed and afraid. Everything was just a dream. The dog, the monster, everything. Just then, she heard the snapping of leaves and twigs, and a low growl from behind her …
Parsippany Focus is a digital news organization that provides news coverage of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey. The organization was founded in 1989 by Frank Cahill, who currently owns and operates the organization. Parsippany Focus covers local news, events, and community issues, and their content is primarily distributed through their website and social media channels. The organization has been serving as a trusted source of news and information for the Parsippany-Troy Hills community for over 30 years.
Contact us: news@parsippanyfocus.com
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