Letter to the editor: No Loss of Services, but Service Lost. BOE Property a Disgrace
Dear Editor:
Our township administrations speaks of no tax raises and no loss of services. These photos show perhaps a service that does not function as it should, which means paying for something your not getting, or service lost.
These three photos are the Lake Hiawatha Elementary School property, the above photo shows an on-going address that fails to put out the garbage and recycles properly on a regular basis.
The Sanitation crew here March 11 simply tagged the bag and left the debris in the street and right over a storm drain. How much effort would it have taken to simply collect the recycles? The fact that it could be left in this condition is revealing, in the lack of conscience discipline, employer expectations of duties and responsibilities and “Pride in Parsippany” which alledegly invest the town.
No fines or penalities are forthcoming, instead we have businesses and property owners along North Beverwyck that use municipal trash and recycle container (always mixed) for their private use, at tax-payers expense. No effort by this administration has been forthcoming in remedying this obvious and on-going condition. The North Beverwyck business district is a disgrace and will continue to be as long as the Mayor accepts this behavior and lacks the will to enforce ordinances.
In fact at Town Council meetings it has been stated ordinances are not law, and are only guidelines. This citizen conjectures there is more to it than that, that the lack of will to uphold ordinances is political in nature, in that if they were enforced financial contributions may not be forthcoming, so businesses and certain property owners are allowed to inflict costs on the average tax payers by using municipal receptacles for their businesses. Businesses should be made to provide their own recycle containers, and pay for their own waste collection service, not use town or common property. Their lack of discipline costs us all in accumulative effects at the tipping stations for mixed trash. This must already be occuring in relation to the situation on North Beverwyck . It was food waste that brought the rats.
Recycle laws have been in existence for a long time and recycling predates even the actual law. What excuses can continually be used not to force the ordinances? It has been mentioned that education is required. I give you the school yard where subconsciously children are impressed with the surrounding norms of condition and example. The other explanation about sanitation is the other cultures; true perhaps to a degree, but what culture exactly; the culture of garbage, convenience and disrespect allowed and tolerated, with apathy and corporate irresponsibility? The BOE claimed that it was the first time anyone ever complained about the school property, which says much.
All parents, teachers and citizens need to take a look around, community is the people who make that community, if there is trash in front of your street, or the conditions of where you go are unaccepatable or ongoing take action yourself or at least notice it, complain but do something about it. Citizens also need to make their sanitation crews held responsible while performing their duties; if they spill something and don’t clean up they should be reported. This town has one Sanitation Enforcement officer, not enough, and he is not being allowed to fine offenders but only give notice. It is pure nonesense that certain locations along North Beverwyck are constantly dumped on and the culprits identified by mail and other obvious evidence ,can not be given summons unless they are actually seen, Singas Pizza for one. This is a tactic used for political purposes only. The Lake Hiawatha Business district is costing all Parsippany tax payers.
When becoming a citizen it must be taught to be respecttful in keeping common places trash free, including daily cleaning in immediate spaces, including the gutters and stormdrains. Without making this an issue of concern the Mayor is not doing his job and is putting business over community in hopes of gaining favor. No code of conduct would condone this apathy, at the same time alleging pride in Parsippany or patriotism of any sort.
Recently the County and local Police began advocating for three addition jobs to baby sit and spy on our school children in the name of possible terrorism, fear mongering. Two 50K one 75K a year with benefits. This is absurd. It would be better to hire sanitation inspectors that do their job and enforce ordinances by combing the whole town and keeping up with on-going offenders. This is what the times call for. This would also bring revenue and come to grips with those who place their own convenince above the responsibility of community and the collective. There are others ways to safe guard our children. We cannot live in constant fear encouraged by those whom stand to benefit from creating the very conditions that brought us to this state of social decay.
We need litter free school zones and sanitation crews that aren’t lazy; not police in schools that sanction fear while all things around us demise our quality of life and are passed on as norms.
Nick Homyak
Former State Pensions Director Agrees with Sierchio
In a story in the Daily Record, on Sunday, March 13, Former Director of State Pensions Fred Beaver confirmed what the taxpayers of Morris County already know: while there may be two candidates running for Morris County Sheriff, only John Sierchio has a plan that will result in actual tax savings.
The Daily Record compared the salary and pension plans of John Sierchio and James Gannon. Upon being elected, Sierchio will accept only the minimum Sheriff’s salary of $113,000, as required by law. Conversely, Gannon will “accept a sheriff’s salary that the Morris County freeholders deem appropriate” – which could be as high as $160,000 – and plans to freeze his state pension.
“While ‘freezing a pension’ may result in a good sound byte, it doesn’t result in any tax savings,” noted Sierchio. “I’m the only fiscal conservative in this campaign, and that’s why I pledge to accept only the minimum Sheriff’s salary as required by law. My plan is the only plan that will return dollars where they belong – back to the taxpayer.”
Don’t take it from us – listen to Fred Beaver, who served as Director of State Pensions and Benefits for eight years, in yesterday’s Daily Record:
“Fred Beaver, a past director of the state Division of Pension and Benefits, agreed with Sierchio that a candidate’s freezing of a pension would result in no savings to taxpayers because his pension already has been funded, with contributions no longer being given by the governmental employer.”
“The former Director of State Pensions said it himself: Jim Gannon’s pension plan will not save any tax dollars,” said Sierchio, who served as Chairman of the state’s Police and Fireman’s Retirement System. “Candidates like to call themselves ‘fiscal conservatives,’ but I’m the only one with a proven record of saving tax dollars, and the only one with a plan to do it again as Sheriff.”
John Sierchio served 27 years in the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, the Essex County Police Department, and as Detective Sergeant on the Bloomfield Police Department. John served as Chairman of the state’s Police and Fireman’s Retirement System, where he was called a “crusader” by the Star-Ledger for saving millions of dollars for taxpayers by exposing fraudulent pension claims. John is a Member of the Boonton Township Board of Education and is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association.
Morris County 2016 Open Space Grant Applications Now Being Accepted
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Department of Planning and Public Works, Division of Planning and Preservation, has announced that the 2016 grant application for funding of open space projects under the Morris County Preservation Trust are now available online on the Planning & Public Works – Open Space Preservation by clicking here. In 2014, the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills submitted an Open Space Trust Fund Application with Morris County requesting funds to purchase the rear property of the controversial Waterview tract, but the committee did not approve the application.
The Township submitted an application for purchase of nine acres of the Waterview Tract for $3.5 million dollars. The Township appraised the property at $4 million, and the county appraised the property for $3 million. At the Council meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Township Attorney John Inglesino explained to the approximately 40 people in attendance that an Open Space Grant application submitted to the Morris County Freeholders would need to be amended due to the fact that the County’s appraisal of a portion of the Waterview tract was substantially lower than the Township’s. As part of a proposed settlement with RD Management, Mayor Barberio’s administration had requested $3.5 million from the County to purchase a little over nine acres of mostly steep slopes and an area in which approximately two thirds of it was already protected as a buffer zone in the current master plan.
Any of Morris County’s 39 municipalities and qualified charitable conservancies are eligible to apply for grant funding, said Barbara Murray, open space program coordinator.
The 2016 application process begins as the freeholders on Wednesday approved continued funding for the county’s Preservation Trust Fund, which generates revenues through a voter-approved special county tax.
The tax, set at 7/8 of a cent per $100 of tax assessment, should generate about $8 million this year. Of that money, the county allocates 2/8 of a cent to the Park Improvement Trust used by the Park Commission to restore facilities and 5/8 of a cent is allocated to the other Preservation Trust Programs.
In addition to open space projects, the county’s preservation fund also is used to help finance farmland and historic preservation, county parkland acquisition, and the purchase of residential properties prone to flooding.
“Preserving our open spaces to create parks, connect trails, offer recreational opportunities for our residents, or just to make sure we have green spaces in each of our towns, is vitally important to maintaining our great quality of life in Morris County,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo.
The freeholders in 2015 approved funding for six open space preservation projects, at a cost of nearly $1 million and totaling more than 113 acres in five Morris County towns. Included were two projects in Washington Township and one each in the town of Boonton, Hanover, Jefferson and Mendham Borough.
More than 13,500 acres of open space have been preserved with the assistance of grant funding from the county program since its inception in 1993, according to Murray.
The deadline for submitting 2016 open space applications and appraisals is Friday, June 17.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Morris County Division of Planning and Preservation at (973) 829-8120.
Opinion: Trumping Freedom of Speech
Whether you like Donald Trump or not doesn’t give you the right to obstruct his right to free speech. The Chicago mob that shut down Donald Trump’s campaign speech last week should have been put in jail. Trump’s campaign was hosting the rally. This was Trump’s party. Your right to free speech does not Trump someone else’s right to free speech.
Ronald Reagan’s most famous line may be, “I am paying for this microphone Mr. Green.” The statement was made in Nassau, New Hampshire leading up to that state’s primary. Reagan was trying to explain to the crowd why the debate was being delayed when the Nassau Telegraph newspaper editor told the soundman to turn off Reagan’s microphone. Only he and George H.W. Bush had been invited to debate but Reagan thought that was unfair not to include the other candidates and insisted that Bob Dole and the others running at the time be on the platform. Dole had previously complained to the Federal Election Commission about the debate stating the Telegraph was making an unfair campaign contribution to the Bush and Reagan campaigns. The Commission agreed and hence Reagan’s campaign agreed to foot the bill. The Nassau Telegraph newspaper editor whose name was Jon Bren and not Green asked that Reagan’s microphone be turned off when Reagan began to say something. Reagan responded with the famous statement.
When Lyndon Johnson paraded through Inez, Kentucky in 1964 nobody dreamed of trying to yell down the President. I was there. When Barack Obama came to Indiana I stood in line for three hours to hear the Senator speak to almost 13,000 people. Everyone was courteous. No one yelled out or tried to interrupt Obama. My son and I went to hear Hillary Clinton a few years back. We went down and shook hands with her. No one tried to disrupt her speech. In each scenario it was Johnson’s, Obama’s or Clinton’s party, people were invited to listen and not to make buffoons of themselves.
If you have something to say free speech gives you the permission to say it. Rent your own convention space. Announce you have something to say and then stand up and say it. Have a party at your house, subdivision or stand in front of your courthouse or state house and say what you want to say. People should listen without interrupting you if they are interested in what you want to say.
Freedom of speech does not mean forgoing all civility. If you are having a hamburger party in your backyard and want to espouse all your reasons for smoking Cuban cigars then so be it. You don’t expect people to show up and shout you down.
There are many ways to foster your first Amendment right. However, trying to Trump someone else’s speech with your speech is out of line especially when that person is paying for the microphone.
Glenn Mollette is an American Syndicated Columnist and Author. He is the author of eleven books and read in all fifty states.
Parsippany PAL Girls Compete in All-Star Game
PARSIPPANY — After clinching the PAL Girls 7,8,9 Division Championship, the girls played in an All-Star game. Pictured with their medals: Back row standing left to right: Coach Pete Hernandez, Coach Laurie Howell, Alexandra Bond, Neha Deshpande, Stephanie Hernandez, Alena Tran, Coach Jeff Levine. Front row kneeling left to right: Jordana Levine, Kiersten Koch, Anjali Ramesh, and Lauren Hernandez.
Joyce M. Gibbons, 88, passed away
PARSIPPANY — Joyce M. (nee-Holbrook) Gibbons, 88, passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at her home in Parsippany. Joyce was born and raised in Providence, RI before moving to Parsippany in 1964. She worked at Epstein’s Department Store in Morristown as the Head of the Sales Audit for over 30 years before retiring in 2004.
Joyce was predeceased by her husband, J. Joseph, who passed away May 20, 1983 and her daughter, Linda C. Badalamenti, who passed away on April 30, 2010. Survivors include her granddaughter, Karen L. Kinsey and her husband, Earl of Parsippany; her sister, Carol M. Barnhart and her husband, Brian of Shrewsbury, Mass.; her beloved two nieces and two nephews; and her three great-grandchildren, Riley, Liam and Owen.
Relatives and Friends are invited to attend her Funeral Service at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 12 at Restland Memorial Park Chapel. 77 De Forest Avenue, East Hanover. Interment to follow. Visiting hours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Restland Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers please make donations in her memory to the Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance Squad. 397 Parsippany Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Par-Troy Funeral Home. 95 Parsippany Road, Parsippany.
Students have two additional days off for Easter Vacation
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills School District voted on Thursday, March 10 to give the students and teachers two of its unused inclement weather days by closing for an extra long weekend at the end of March.
The district was already scheduled to be off Friday, March 25 for Good Friday. That weekend will now be extended to include Monday, March 28 and Tuesday, March 29.
The school district allotted five inclement weather days for the calendar year, and none of them were used thanks to a mild winter.
Other dates may be announced for later in the year if the school is able to escape additional inclement weather days. According to the district’s calendar, unused inclement weather days will be added to the three-day Memorial Day weekend in May.
Thursday, June 23 is the last day of school for students, and Friday, June 24 is the last day of school for teachers, according to the 2015-2016 calendar. Both Parsippany High School and Parsippany Hills High School will hold graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 23.
Former Attorney Sentenced To State Prison
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that Neil Gross, 47, Livingston, has been sentenced on charges of Theft (second degree), Unauthorized Practice of Law (third degree) and Bad Checks (third degree).
Gross is a former partner in the Mount Olive law firm of Ward & Gross.
Gross was sentenced by the Honorable Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. to three years in State Prison on the charge of Theft (second degree) with concurrent three year sentences on the charges of Unauthorized Practice of Law (third degree) and Bad Checks (third degree).
This matter was referred to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office from the New Jersey Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection. An investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit disclosed that while Gross was suspended from the practice of law, he conducted real estate transactions for clients. In one transaction, Gross received $150,000.00 into his Trust account to hold pending receipt of a Tax Clearance Certificate. Gross immediately began to withdraw those funds and convert them to his own personal use.
Gross was suspended from practicing law in October 2012 and subsequently disbarred in October 2014 for a series of violations of professional conduct.
Criminal charges against Gross were signed on October 23, 2015, by Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Joseph Soulias and the matter was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Michael Rappa.
Prosecutor Knapp thanks the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit, whose efforts contributed to this result.
Gross was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1994. He was also temporarily suspended on February 28, 2011, for failure to cooperate with a disciplinary investigation.
You can read more on a Disciplinary Review Board decision, by clicking here.
Kiwanis Club to host “Trivia Night”
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PARSIPPANY — It’s back again, for the 13th consecutive year. The Ultimate Trivia Contest will be held on Saturday, April 16. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., and Trivia starts at 7:00 p.m. Gather your friends, family, co-workers and come out for a night of fun. Each team can have up to eight people.
The 2015 Winners were Jim Hecht, Jayne Beline, Ginny Sherinates, Kiwanis Club President Mimi Letts, Chris Fedda, Joe Sheemaets, David Schappert, Tom Beline and Emily Beline.
Bring your own food and BYOB. Soda, coffee, dessert, plates, cups, napkins, and utensils will be provided.
Please bring an extra, non-perishable food item to be donated to our community food bank.
To play fair there are a few simple rules: The use of ANY electronic device whatsoever during competition will immediately disqualify the offending team. This includes but is not limited to I-Pod’s, PDA’s, ICBM’s, drones, etc. The use of printed material such as encyclopedias, almanacs, National Geographic, and the like, is strictly prohibited and of course no tweeting!
The fee is $20.00 per person. The event is held at Parsippany PAL, 33 Baldwin Road.
For more information or to download a flyer, click here.
NewBridge opens 15,320-square-foot center in Troy Hills Office Centre
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PARSIPPANY — Health care professionals, government leaders and area residents attended an open house at NewBridge Parsippany Center, which provides mental health counseling, addiction treatment and wellness programs to the community. “Access to quality, affordable behavioral health care remains one of the biggest challenges in our state and the nation’s health care systems,” NewBridge Services CEO Robert L. Parker said. “We are happy to be addressing that issue here in the greater Parsippany area.”
NewBridge’s 15,320-square-foot center in the Troy Office Centre on Route 46 has 20 counseling rooms and spacious group therapy rooms. Located near routes 80 and 287, the center is also home to NewBridge Jobs Plus, a free program that has helped more than 1,000 young adults earn their high school diplomas and prepare for careers. Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Vice President Robert Peluso and Executive Board Member Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, Frank Cahill, led a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
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Fulton Bank of New Jersey, the event sponsor, donated $2,500 to NewBridge Jobs Plus. “Having this reputable nonprofit in Parsippany is a real benefit for our residents,’’ Mayor James Barberio said. “I want to do my part to get the word out about all the wonderful counseling and educational services NewBridge has provided to communities for more than 50 years.” Guests had the opportunity to tour the center and Zufall Health’s Highlands Health Van, which visits NewBridge twice a month to provide medical care to Parsippany area residents, including NewBridge clients.
“True wellbeing requires a healthy body and a healthy mind, so NewBridge partnered with Zufall Health to provide affordable, quality medical care as well as behavioral health care,’’ Parker said. “There’s great mutual respect between Zufall and NewBridge,’’ said Zufall President and CEO Eva Turbiner, one of the guest speakers at the open house. “We believe that integrating primary medical and behavioral health brings benefits for all,” she said. “This patient-centered, collaborative approach is designed to improve health outcomes.” For more information about the services NewBridge offers throughout Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties, visit newbridge.org or call (973) 316-9333.
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PACC held success Speed Networking event
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC) held a “Speed Networking” on Tuesday, March 8. The event was held at Heroes Journey CrossFit, 5 Eastmans Road.
Members had the opportunity to network with members and discuss their services.
Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce is a service organization for businesses, merchants, residents, and volunteers that provides education, information, and networking opportunities to the Parsippany Area. PACC works with our local and county governments and stand ready to pursue any matter that can make our community a better place in which to live, conduct business, and make a living. We promote a healthy and more prosperous economic climate.
For more information click here.
Kiwanis Club helps on National Pancake Day
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PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany members Carol Tiesi and Karen DeChristopher helped collect donations at Parsippany IHOP on National Pancake Day.
This year, in keeping with the focus on bringing neighbors together to help the community, local members of Kiwanis International and its affiliated clubs, including Key Club and Circle K, joined volunteers from the charities to help spread the message in the restaurants that every donation matters.
“Every pancake we give away has a purpose on National Pancake Day. Through the generosity of our guests and the hard work and commitment of our team members, we will help fund life-saving treatment and care for children in need,” said Mo Abdelhadi, co-owner Parsippany IHOP. “On behalf of everyone in the IHOP family, we are so grateful to our guests who have turned this into such an incredible event that truly makes a difference in the lives of these kids.”
In what has become a cultural phenomenon, over the last 10 years, National Pancake Day has raised $20 million for meaningful local charities. Last year alone, IHOP restaurants served 6.6 million free pancakes—which would have created a stack nearly 19 miles high—and raised $3.5 million for children’s charities.
ABOUT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloonicon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.
ABOUT KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL
Founded in 1915, Kiwanis International is a global organization of clubs and members dedicated to serving the children of the world. Kiwanis and its family of clubs, including Circle K International for university students, Key Club for high school students, Builders Club for middle school students, Kiwanis Kids for elementary school students and Aktion Club for adults living with disabilities, annually dedicate more than 18.5 million hours and raise more than $100 million to strengthen communities and serve children. Nearly 670,000 adult and youth members in more than 80 countries and geographic areas comprise the Kiwanis International family. For more information about Kiwanis International, visit www.kiwanis.org.
The winner is announced
PARSIPPANY — The winner is announced. Jefferson resident Pat Cosgrove won the Vizio 39 inch HD flat screen tv at IHOP, 792 Route 46. Parsippany Focus supplied the television to help raise money on “National Pancake Day.”
The raffle netted over $600.00 and will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network.
The raffle was part of IHOP’s Annual National Pancake Day. Now in its eleventh year, IHOP restaurants nationwide gave away millions of free pancakes.
Roys corner: Business Administrator, CFO and Mayor Barberio never answered residents question
Tuesday night, March 1, 2016, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council meeting the Business Administrator, CFO and Mayor Barberio verbally responded to a Parsippany resident questions regarding comments on Roy’s Corner article in February on the townships medical self-insurance. In my opinion, the response was a horse and pony show, the residents two questions stated at the February council meeting were never answered.
Roy’s corner commentary in February was plain and simple. First, why is Parsippany paying well above the going rate per employee for self-insurance coverage and second if Parsippany is experiencing a very favorable claim-loss ratio, what is the surplus and where is the money?
At the February meeting the resident plainly asked is Roy’s corner correct or not. The twenty minute diatribe from the administration did not answer the simple questions. Fellow taxpayers its obvious we are overpaying. There is a surplus. Parsippany has coverage thru Fairview (Goggle: follow the money) which is making substantial political contributions to PACS that fund some of our local politicians campaigns.
The undersigned contacted NJ State Department of Banking and Insurance and Federal Dept. of Labor, neither requires reporting on statues regarding self-insurance reporting for municipalities. At a minimum, Parsippany should have a Trust account in place for self-insurance separate and distinct from the other operating expenses of the township. Retired police officers, you have a lot at stake here as well a taxpayers and others insured.
Mayor James Barberio with silent consent of several council members is ripping the taxpayers off so he can benefit from political contributions. You, even if you do not vote for him are paying for his political campaign. Keep that in mind !!!!!
Tia Scola to perform at Kafe Mozart on Sunday
PARSIPPANY — Kafe Mozart will be featuring Tia Scola, a Nashville based singer songwriter, from Randolph. She will be performing on Sunday, March 13, starting at 7:00 p.m. There is no admission charge, but reservations are suggested.
Kafe Mozart, opened in early February, serves homemade soups, panini’s, savory crepes, sweet crepes, entrees and has extensive list of coffee selections on their espresso bar.
Tia’s music has a heavy influence of artists she’s grown up with like Billy Joel, Shania Twain, and Top 40 pop.
Her catchy melody hooks and interesting phrasing will have you wanting more of her sound and her energy. Performing at some of the most popular venues for live music in Nashville, The Bluebird Café, The Listening Room, The Sutler, and The Row, this artist has really grown as not only a songwriter, but a performer.
“When I first got to Nashville, I realized very quickly I had to step up my game to a whole other level. Everyday I feel that way listening to my friends and those who inspire me. But I think that’s great, you have to let amazing talent inspire you instead of discouraging you because that’s the only way you can get better and be that person who inspires somebody else,” said Tia.
She continued “At the end of the day, Tia says she will always be a writer. “I always want to write songs for other people, but I have performed all my life on different platforms, whether it be a dance showcase, a musical theater performance, etc., and it’s definitely a love of mine that my bones and my heart are making me pursue.”
Be sure to stay up to date with Tia Scola on her social media platforms to be the first to know when she releases new music. Facebook; Twitter; Instagram: @TiaScola and Snapchat: @TiaScola.
Kafe Mozart is located in the Powder Mill West Shopping Center, 2900 Route 10. For additional information call (973) 998-7788. Reservations suggested.
Other upcoming performers is Teddy Cormora, on Thursday, March 31 and Glover Kemble on Thursday, April 14, Thursday, April 21 and Thursday, April 28.
Suspicious incident on Hawkins Avenue
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Dispatchers were contacted by the mother of an 11-year-old female reporting a suspicious incident on Hawkins Avenue.
After speaking to the juvenile and her mother, the Officers were advised that a silver SUV, possibly a Lincoln Navigator with white stickers on the back, drove up next to the juvenile and attempted to engage her in conversation while walking on the shoulder of Hawkins Ave at approximately 8:25 a.m., on Thursday, March 10.
The juvenile ignored the male’s attempts to speak to her at which time he turned onto a side street and left the area. The juvenile continued to the bus stop and boarded the school bus without incident. The male is described as a white male in his mid to late 30’s with short brown hair, short brown beard and wearing a white t-shirt.
It should be noted at no time did the male attempt to get the juvenile into his vehicle or allude to what his reasons were to speak to the juvenile female.
“Keeping our children safe is always of paramount importance. We urge you to be vigilant in making your children wary of strangers. Please let them know to tell an adult immediately if an incident occurs and to try to get a license number if at all possible. Any incident needs to be reported immediately to a responsible adult and the police should always be notified,” saidDr. LeRoy Seitz.
This incident is under investigation by the Parsippany Police Departments Investigative Division. If you know who the vehicle belongs too, saw this vehicle or incident, or are the driver of the vehicle, we would like to speak to you. Please contact the Parsippany Police Department Investigative Division at (973) 263-4311.
Sheriff’s Explorer Post host Spaghetti Dinner
PARSIPPANY — Morris County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post #140 held its first Spaghetti Dinner to raise funds for its programs. This program is outstanding and helps our youth make positive choices and guides them towards careers in public service.
The event was held at Parsippany-Troy Hills Elks Lodge, on Saturday, March 5.
Explorer Post #140 is a community-based program sponsored by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office which is designed to educate and involve youth in law enforcement operations for ages of 14 and 21. Participants are exposed to many aspects of law enforcement including patrol, communications, K-9, bomb squads, crime scene investigation, courthouse security, emergency response team, crime lab and corrections.
Explorers also participate in community events and service projects such as sponsoring food drives for local food banks, conducting traffic control at community events, marching in local parades and purchasing toys for needy children during the holidays.
Explorers receive classroom instruction and hands-on training from law enforcement officers who are dedicated to working with young people. In addition, the officers arrange activities and trips, bring in guest speakers and act as positive role models, providing career counseling and mentoring.
Participation in the program promotes responsibility, leadership, dedication, honesty and commitment to the community. Explorers must be law-abiding citizens, maintain good grades in school and be team players.
The application process includes an oral interview, background check, physical agility test and acceptance by vote at a regular Post meeting. For further information on becoming an Explorer, please contact Support Services at (973) 285-6074.
Freeholders Proclaim MS Awareness Week In Morris County
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders have declared this week, of March 7-13, as MS Awareness Week in Morris County, encouraging all county residents to learn about Multiple Sclerosis and to find out what they can do to support individuals who have MS, and to also support their families.
The freeholders awarded a proclamation for MS Awareness Week to Roseanne Dawer, who has MS, and her husband Ira Dawer of Montville, who are both members of the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the MS Society. Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo, a trustee of the N.J. Metro Chapter and the founder and organizer of the annual MS Walk in Roxbury, also was present for the award at the freeholders’ meeting today in Morristown.
“Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. It disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and the body,’’ said Deputy Freeholder Director Hank Lyon.
“During MS Awareness Week, efforts are being made across the county and state to ensure the public is aware of issues affecting those with MS, and to be sure that everyone affected by MS has a platform to be heard and to share their stories and concerns,’’ Freeholder Lyon added.
Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disease of the central nervous system, affecting at least 2.3 million people worldwide, including some 14,000 people in Morris County. The disease generally strikes people in the prime of life and causes unpredictable effects in which the progression, severity and symptoms cannot be foreseen. The cause and cure for this debilitating disease remain unknown.
Since 1946 the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has been a driving force of MS research, pursuing prevention, treatment and a cure, and has invested more than $920 million dollars in groundbreaking research. These funds fuel the efforts of more than 380 research projects globally at the best medical centers, universities and other institutions throughout the United States and abroad.
Roseanne Dawer, who runs MS support groups in Montville and Livingston, spoke to the freeholders this morning. She urged the public to become more aware of the disease, to help friends and neighbors who might suffer with MS, and to become active in MS organizations and fundraising. Dawer, who runs two MS support groups, one in Montville and one at Barnabas Health in Livingston, cautioned that MS is a disease that can strike anyone without warning.
For a wealth of information on MS, including symptoms, treatments, research and support, click here.
MS Walks in New Jersey are scheduled for the weekend of April 16 and 17. There are 15 walks scheduled across the state, including the April 17 MS Walk in Roxbury. For information and to register click here.
Parsippany veteran recalls Battle of Iwo Jima
PARSIPPANY — The Battle of Iwo Jima was a major battle in which the U.S. Marines landed on, and eventually captured, the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. The battle would ultimately change the course of the war in the Pacific.
On Feb. 18, Gartenberg came to Picatinny Arsenal to visit the Marines of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Corps Regiment and related his experiences during the key battle. Gartenberg, 89, a resident of Parsippany.
Before entering the military, Gartenberg was an engineering student at City College of New York. Within 18 months, he found himself a graduate of Marine Corps boot camp, infantry school, and aboard a ship headed to Iwo Jima.
“I did some intense infantry training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. I learned up to pick up cigarette and cigar butts on a daily basis,” Gartenberg joked.
As he recounted his story, the Marines chuckled along with Gartenberg, as did other veterans in the room, all vaguely recalling their “police calling” duties during their enlistment.
In November 1944, just before he left for the war, Gartenberg was assigned with the 4th Marine Division and went to Maui, Hawaii for training. His first assignment was guarding Japanese prisoners who were being transferred to the U.S.S. Indianapolis for interrogation.
“The problem with the Pacific War was that most people didn’t know where it was,” Gartenberg told the Marines.
“There was the Battle of Guadalcanal. OK, well, where was Guadalcanal?”
“On the Solomon Islands. OK, where were the Solomon Islands?”
Again the Marines laughed, but quickly fell silent to continue listening to the man who lived through the battle that every Marine is familiar with through tradition and knowledge handed down by generations of Marines before them.
“We boarded ship, January 1, 1945, and we had no idea where we were going,” Gartenberg said.
“You couldn’t even see Iwo Jima on a map. Not that anybody knew about it either,” he added.
Gartenberg said that because of the erroneous intelligence they received, they were completely unprepared for what they were about to endure.
“We were told there were 10,000 Japanese troops and the fight would take eight to ten days,” he said.
“There ended up being 22,000 troops and the eight to 10 days turned into five weeks.”
Gartenberg said that although they fired upon the island from their ships, the Japanese did not return fire.
“They didn’t want to reveal their positions,” he explained.
“The beaches were covered with black volcanic ash. We would later find that our tanks would get bogged down and our weapons would not fire because they would get clogged.”
“You couldn’t dig a foxhole for protection because the ash just didn’t allow it,” he said.
“Initially I was a rifleman, but then assigned to a machine gun.
“They took my M1 away and gave me a machine that didn’t have a sling. I had to use my bed roll as a sling,” he added.
Gartenberg described the scene once the fighting really took hold.
“Every square foot of beach was covered by mortar and artillery fire,” he said.
“Marines don’t retreat!” Gartenberg blurted out with intensity.
“We took that fire for three days and nights before capturing the airfield.”
Gartenberg’s tone then changed as he shifted from describing the battle to how news of the battle was received back in the states.
“There was a ton of criticism back home. The papers described the loss of four or five thousands Marines on an island that nobody ever heard of before,” he said.
“People questioned why we were there. People questioned our generals, and the Marines fighting the war.
“Then when that iconic photo of the flag raising on Mt. Surabachi hit home, then everything changed. Now the tide had turned. That photo changed the entire concept of the battle.”
Gartenberg was referring to the famous Associated Press photo taken by Joe Rosenthal. The photo captured a second flag raising after the mountain had been captured.
Rosenthal recalled what it was like to actually witness the original flag raising on Feb. 23, 1945.
“When the first flag went up there was so much cheering you would have thought it was Times Square on New Year’s Eve.”
Again, quite abruptly, Gutenberg’s demeanor changed. What was a glorious moment and incredible memory quickly turned to sadness.
“Six thousand, eight hundred and twenty-one Marines were killed in action and another 20,000 wounded,” he said somberly.
“One third of all Marines killed in the Pacific were killed at Iwo Jima.”
Gartenberg, he not only lost friends during that battle but feels that the battle and its high loss of life might have been forgotten were it not been for Rosenthal’s photo.
“I asked other fellas years later, ’Do you think people would be talking about Iwo Jima if the photo had not been taken?’ Sadly, they said, ‘No.’” he said.
After Gartenberg spoke, the Marines had a chance to ask him a few questions. Several Marines want to know about living conditions, weaponry and gear.
One Marine asked Gartenberg if he recalled what the atmosphere or spirit of the men was like as they approached the island on ship.
“Most of the men were more concerned about Kamikaze’s hitting the ship then they were about what was about to happen,” he said.
Gartenberg was wounded in a fight for Charlie Dog Ridge on his ninth day on Iwo Jima. The battled lasted February 19 to March 26, 1945.
Gartenberg is the president of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 246 of Morris County.