PARSIPPANY — The Lakeland Hills Family YMCA is proud to announce its annual award recipients, with a Citizen of the Year award for Nicolas Limanov and the high school Educator of the Year award for Parsippany High School’s own Briane DeGironimo.

Nicolas is a volunteer extraordinaire, actively participating in numerous Parsippany activities and organizations. He truly embodies the phrase “service about self” in everything he does.

He is a first responder for the Parsippany Office of Emergency Management, which is under the umbrella of the Parsippany Police Department.

He is a board member and participant with the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.

Nicolas is also an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, and is the Chairman of “Touch a Truck,” which is one of the largest fundraisers for the club.

He is out in the cold shoveling snow for his elderly neighbors; he clears fire hydrants to help fellow first responders. While focusing on a career in criminal justice, he hopes to one day work in law enforcement. From cooking at Homeless Solutions to saving lives, Nicolas does all this and still hasn’t turned the ripe old age of 21!

Most recently, Nicolas helped save an individual from a car fire, working with another Good Samaritan. He makes Parsippany a better place to live, and is more than deserving of the Lakeland Hills YMCAs Parsippany Citizen of the Year.

Nick is a graduate of Parsippany High School Class of 2013 and currently is attending County College of Morris.

Briane DeGironimo is a math teacher at Parsippany High School by day, and a team track coach by afternoon and evening! Briane is a talented and dedicated educator, teaching challenging courses including AP Statistics. She keeps her students focused and motivated, a task not easily achieved. After school, Briane is the Head Coach for the PHS Cross Country, Winter Track, and Spring Track teams. Under her watch, not only have all the teams improved on their record, they also have more students participating in these sports than ever before. Her commitment to the sports program and her dedication to her students has resulted in historic ways. The Girls’ Cross Country team and the Girls’ Winter Track team both won the first state sectional titles in the history of these programs at PHS. Briane is a role model for her students, and for her student-athletes. She is always selfless and humble, and is the first one to volunteer for PHS extracurricular activities, including class coverage, dances, and even the dunk tank! Briane is that rare educator who always gives her best. She was selected as the Lakeland Hills YMCAs high school Educator of the Year, where only one educator in grades 9-12 is selected from all the high schools, both public and private, in ten Morris County communities. Being chosen is quite an honor, and Briane has certainly done justice to earn the award!

The Lakeland Hills Family YMCA, a community organization located in Mountain Lakes, serves the towns of Parsippany, Boonton, Boonton Township, Denville, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Montville, Mountain Lakes, Pequannock, and Riverdale.

With a mission to strengthen the foundations of community, the Y recognizes individuals, groups, and corporations for their commitment to giving back to others. The Parsippany award recipients will be honored on Wednesday, May 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the Knoll Country Club West.

All honorees, their guests, and the community at large, is invited to attend the dinner. Parsippany is an integral part of the Ys community, not only recognizing Nicolas and Briane, but also is honored to have the Parsippany High School jazz ensemble play during the cocktail hour the night of their Awards Presentation.

Questions regarding the honorees and the Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation may be addressed to Rosemary Linder Day, Community Relations Director, at RosemaryL@Lhymca.com.

Dinner tickets are $50.00 per person and are available through Nancy Dunham at NancyD@Lhymca.com or call the Y at (973) 334-2820.

For a full list of honorees please check the Ys website by clicking here.

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany recently kicked-off National Donate Life Month to spotlight organ and tissue donation awareness.

It started with a fundraising dinner at Gourmet Cafe benefitting the New Jersey Sharing Network Foundation. The following day, Venture Crew 890 tied green ribbons around the trees along North Beverwyck Road in Lake Hiawatha.

Each year, at the beginning of April, those volunteering walk from the Foodtown on North Beverwyck to Chesapeake Road, tying green ribbons around trees. Green is the signature color of organ and tissue donation awareness.

The green ribbons are an effort organized by the Morris County Organ Transplant Group working with other community groups. The tying of the green ribbons was a tradition previously performed by Boy Scout Troop 177, a former troop based in the same area. After the troop’s dissolution in 2014, Crew 890 picked up the task.

Other Donate Life Month activities this April include a display at the main branch of the Parsippany Public Library and a guest speaker from the NJ Sharing Network Foundation board at the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany club meeting.

The Morris County Organ Transplant Group is comprised of men and women from Boonton, Denville, Randolph, Butler, Morristown, Morris Township, Lake Hopatcong, Chatham and Parsippany. Members have had transplants, are on the wait list, have donated and their families. The group meets at 7:00 p.m., on the first Wednesday of the month, in the Community Room of the Parsippany Police Station. For more information on the group, contact Nick at (973) 984-6966.

Crew 890, also known as the “Red Eagle Dancers,” is a Venture Crew based in Parsippany. In addition to being a Venture Crew, 890 is also a Native American dance group that travels throughout New Jersey, teaching about Native American dances and cultures. The crew, which is comprised of boys and girls ages 14 to 20 years old from across the state, strives to teach scout and personal skills, while providing many fun and safe camping trips and High Adventure opportunities.

PARSIPPANY — Hector A. Cafferata, 86, of Venice, FL, formerly of Lake Hiawatha passed away April 12, 2016 with his loving family by his side. Mr. Cafferata served his country during the Korean War as a PFC USMC, 2nd Batallion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Fox Company. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for Conspicuous Gallantry during the Chosin Reservoir Campaign in Korea in 1950, as well as its South Korean equivalent, the First Class Taegeuk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit.

Mr. Cafferata also received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Because of his meritorious service, the Hector A. Cafferata Elementary School in Fort Myers, Florida was named in his honor.

It was his joy to visit the school from time to time, something he missed doing in his later years. Preceded in death by his parents Hector, Sr., and Helen, his brother Godfrey (John) R. Cafferata, and a grandson, Mr. Cafferata is survived by Doris, his loving wife of over 50 years, children Lynn D. Cafferata Coovert of Charlotte, North Carolina, Dale Cafferata of Pinellas Park, Florida, Heather A. Cafferata of Budd Lake, and Deborah Cafferata-ReFalo of Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also survived by his precious grandchildren Jessica, Peter, Nicole, David, Jennifer, and Alexandria, cherished great grandchildren Emily, Remy, and Landon, dear brother William N. Cafferata of Vancouver, B.C., and numerous nieces and nephews.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. He will be laid to rest with military honors in Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 22. A reception will follow services.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Mr. Cafferata’s memory to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation at www.mcsf.org.

Friends may visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com to send a condolence or to share a memory.

PARSIPPANY — Freeholder Thomas Mastrangelo presented a proclamation from the Morris County Freeholders to Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany for their successful work on the “National Child Abuse Prevention Program” campaign.

Committee Chair Karen DeChristopher and members Joyce Garrow, Barbara Lysenko and Carol Tiesi were on hand to accept the proclamation with Kiwanis President Connie Keller.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families. During the month of April and throughout the year, communities are encouraged to share child abuse and neglect prevention awareness strategies and activities and promote prevention across the country. In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, we have designed a historical timeline of significant moments in child abuse prevention in the United States.

For more information on Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, click here.

PARSIPPANY – If you have questions, restorative and general dentist Dr. Alan Rauchberg has answers. Dr. Rauchberg is hosting a free luncheon for people interested in learning how today’s dental implant technology can renew their smile. He’s also offering something life-changing to three lucky attendees: a free dental implant valued at $2,500 each. The event will be held on Friday, April 29 at 12:00 Noon, at the Holiday Inn, 707 Route 46 East in Parsippany and includes a free buffet lunch. Each attendee also receives a complimentary exam and X-rays (a $500 value).  Registration is required, to reserve a seat call (973) 321-4173.

Dr. Rauchberg will discuss the advancements that have made dental implants the new standard of care for a beautiful, natural-looking smile. Topics will cover initial consultations and treatment options through post-op care, insurance coverage, and implant affordability.

Rauchberg Dental Group is one of the only multi-specialty practices in northern New Jersey. The practice offers state-of-the-art technology, modern comforts and amenities, and a focus on education and dental innovation.  They participate in most major dental insurance plans and offer a dental savings plan for those without insurance.