Letter to the editor: Where does the money go?
Dear Editor:
Monday, February 1, 2016, I received in the mail a flier “Where does the money go???? It appears the flier was prepared and paid for by the Parsippany-Troy Hills Education Association. Who funds the association I do not know at this time.
The first glaring mistake was that this flier listed Michael Pietrowicz as a sitting Board of Education member. Mr. Pietrowicz’s term expired December 2015. What the flier does not tell the reader:
- Teachers received a very lucrative contract and pay increases at the last negotiation before the Governors cap restriction.
- Par-Troy teachers contract has the highest pay scale and benefits in the county.
- The teachers “ADD ONS” are very lucrative and in my opinion absurd!
- Where were the teachers when administrators got their ridiculous bonuses and pay raises?
- There are many more points I can make as to the flier.
Teachers do not pat yourselves on the back. I and many others know you have a great deal from start to finish. Full coverage medical and dental when you retire, a pension plan far exceeding the private sector. Why doesn’t the Association state the fact that many board members and administrators get their family members jobs in the school system.
Parsippany unfortunately lost one of its most precious, caring, educated board member last year, Dr. Frank Calabria. My many private conversations with Frank over twenty years gave me insight to many areas of the educational system and teachers contracts. I miss him.
In early 2014, I learned how the teachers contract pay increase was distributed throughout the staff. I was very surprised, flummoxed and my first response was that it was not fair. However, upon “a step back approach” I concluded it is fair and just. With all that said, I have been raised to be a soldiers general, the teachers are on the front line, their the foundation, their the ones that must deal with problems face to face every day.
Please keep in mind, the well is getting dry in America, we are in trouble, morally, ethically and financially. I know many teachers personally, many of you know I look at the whole picture altruistically.
Lets work this out.
Roy Messmer
Valori throws in his hat for Freeholder race
![valoriandbarberio](https://i0.wp.com/parsippanyfocus.com/uploadedmedia/2014/05/valoriandbarberio.jpg?resize=630%2C438&ssl=1)
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Council President Louis Valori announced at the Randolph Republican Club of his intention to run for a seat on Morris County Freeholder.
Valori, won elected to the Township Council during the November 2013 general election was sworn in on January 1, 2014. His term ends December 2017. He was nominated to serve as President of the Council during the reorganization meeting this past January.
Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo, Freeholder Doug Cabana and Freeholder Thomas Mastrangelo are up for re-election.
They have not officially announced re-election plans.
Also at the Randolph Republican meeting it was announced that Randolph Mayor Roman Hirniak, and Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Adjustment attorney Peter King will run in the June 7 primary election for seats on the freeholder board.
The freeholder board currently consists of Freeholder Director Kathryn A. DeFillippo, Deputy Freeholder Director Lyon, newly re-elected John Cesaro, new elected Christine Myers and Debbie Smith, as well as DeFillippo, Cabana and Mastrangelo.
Peter King, Esq., did not attend the Randolph Republican meeting on Wednesday, since he was at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Adjustment meeting.
![Randolph Mayor Roman Hirniak](https://i0.wp.com/parsippanyfocus.com/uploadedmedia/2016/02/Roman-Hirniak-200x300.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1)
Randolph Mayor Roman Hirniak terms expires December 31, 2016. Hirniak was elected to the Randolph Township Council in November of 2012, after having served two terms on the planning board and one term each on both the recreation advisory committee and the traffic advisory committee. During calendar year 2015, he was the township’s deputy mayor. Roman is a member of the Randolph Rotary Club, attends St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany and serves as a pedagogical advisor to the Ukrainian Educational Council. A graduate of Marquette University and The John Marshall Law School, he is a vice president and senior counsel with Santander Bank, N.A. His son Alex is a freshman at Rutgers University, studying biomedical engineering and his daughters Juliana and Adriana are, respectively, a junior and a freshman at Randolph High School. Roman enjoys swimming laps at the Randolph YMCA and lives on Ridge Road in the Mount Fern neighborhood.
King was a partner in a law firm with ex-state Senator John Dorsey and currently is a partner in the law firm King & Petracca, located at 51 Gibraltar Drive.
King is a certified diplomate in municipal law in the State of New Jersey and has extensive municipal experience, including positions as: Municipal Attorney; Conflict Counsel; Municipal Planning Board/Zoning Board Attorney; Municipal Board of Health Attorney; Municipal Prosecutor; Historic Preservation Commission Attorney; Water Commission Attorney; and Defense Counsel for various insurance funds.
![IMG_7865](https://i0.wp.com/parsippanyfocus.com/uploadedmedia/2016/02/IMG_7865.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
Mr. King is admitted to the bar of the State of New Jersey, and to the U.S. District Court District of New Jersey and is a graduate of Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Meet Meadow! Meadow is looking for her furever home
Meadow is between two to three years old, weighs about fifty pounds and she is beautiful! She has a beautiful shinny black coat with white on her chest and her four paws. And, just look at those eyes!
Meadow was dropped off at a high kill shelter in North Carolina after she was hit by a car. The nice people at the shelter took her to the vet where it was deternined she had a dislocated hip. The vet treated her hip and Meadow is now a happy pup!
When Furever Home Dog Rescue (FHDR) heard about how sweet and friendly Meadow was, we transported her to a nice foster home here in New Jersey. Her foster family says….”Meadow is an absolute Love!! She is very affectionate and loves being with people! If you are standing or sitting, Meadow will lean into you to get petted. She spends her days going to long walks and playing with our dogs. Meadow is very gentle and sweet and is an all around great dog. We love her!”
Get your application in now, we know with her personality she will be adopted quickly.
If you have a furever home for this pet, please e-mail FHDR@att.net and request an adoption application.
Northvail Participates in the Flat Stanley Project
PARSIPPANY — A third-grade teacher in Ontario, Canada started the Flat Stanley project in 1995. The idea was to make a paper cutout of the main character from the book “Flat Stanley,” by Jeff Brown, and mail that cutout around the world, keeping a journal of where Stanley had been.
The basic principle of The Flat Stanley Project is to connect your classroom with other classrooms participating in the Project by mailing “flat” visitors, created by the children. Kids then talk about, track, and write about their flat character’s journey and adventure similar to a pen-pal activity. In addition to letter-writing skills, keeping track of Flat Stanley supports lessons in geography.
A few weeks ago Ms. Cassetta, Mrs. Tangorra and Mrs. Hackett, first grade teachers at Northvail School, introduced the Flat Stanley Project idea to theirstudents, and they were very excited to participate. They sent letters to many places in the U.S. and countries around the world including India, Germany, Sri Lanka, and Dubai to name just a few.
Every day they are receiving responses. So far they have received correspondence from Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Oregon and Texas.
Pepper is found; returned safely to his family
![peppersafe](https://i0.wp.com/parsippanyfocus.com/uploadedmedia/2016/02/peppersafe-203x300.jpg?resize=203%2C300&ssl=1)
FAIRFIELD — Parsippany Focus published a story last week regarding a dog escaping from Animal Emergency & Referral Associates (click here to read story). The story has a happy ending.
Pepper is safe and sound and will be reunited with his family. Scott, a Good Samaritan wearing a UPS shirt and driving a white truck, saw a small dog on Bloomfield Avenue across from Animal Emergency & Referral Associates (where he escaped) and stopped his truck.
Gena, one of the overnight technicians at Animal Emergency & Referral Associates was walking a dog at 3:00 a.m. and saw the truck.
She brought the dog she was walking inside, and headed back out into the night to help the man recapture what she thought was his own dog.
When she got closer she saw that it was Pepper! When she crouched down and called Pepper’s name, he looked right at her, and then took off running.
Gena immediately took off after Pepper and Scott followed in his truck to help her. After Gena chased Pepper on foot for a full mile in the dark of night down Bloomfield Avenue and then down Route 46, Gena and Scott finally were able to corner Pepper.
Scott was able to get close enough to step on the leash that was still attached to Pepper and recapture him.
Another wonderful overnight technician arrived by car to then take Gena and Pepper back to the hospital.
Pepper had a full evaluation including blood work and x-rays and is in good health and good spirits.
He got a nice warm bath and a soft fluffy blanket so he can nap until his Mom picked him up later that day.
(Please note: He is considered a severe flight risk and will NOT leave the hospital until he is reunited with his family.)
Davey Willans takes oath of office
PARSIPPANY — Long-time resident Davey Willans was sworn in as the newest member on the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Adjustment.
Willans was appointed by the Township Council to a two-year term as an alternate member. His term will expire on December 31, 2017.
![Board member Nancy Snyder welcomes Davey Willans](https://i0.wp.com/parsippanyfocus.com/uploadedmedia/2016/02/IMG_7854.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
Other members of the Board of Adjustment include Robert Iracane, Chairman; Jonathan Nelson, Vice-Chairman; Mr. Bernie Berkowitz; Mr. Scot Joskowitz; Nancy Synder, Aida Visakay, Dave Kaplan and Mr. Sridath Reddy. Harriet Jacobs is the Zoning Board of Adjustment Secretary. Willans and Joskowitz are alternate members.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment reviews all applications for relief from provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. The Board’s principal duties are to hear appeals, grant variances and rule on “use” applications.
The Zoning Board is comprised of seven regular members and two alternates appointed by the Township Council. All Board Members are Township residents. The Board reviews subdivisions and site plans with variances.
Mayor: Where’s the Cash?
PARSIPPANY — Fellow taxpayers (residential, corporate, landlords and renters) we are getting ripped off in a lot of ways in Parsippany. Let me succinctly explain one of the rip offs: medical self insurance.
Mayor Luther with the consent of the then town council went self-insured. At the time (in my opinion) it was the correct choice due to cost savings and made good economic sense for the future. Going into year 2016, Parsippany is with the same Broker and Insurance Administrator with one exception- Mayor Barberio dropped one of the Company Brokers. The sole Broker is Fairview Insurance (Google: Follow the Money). Fairview is a big time political contributor to candidates and PACS.
Parsippany is currently paying approximately $50.00 a month per employee to Fairview. The average rate statewide is approximately $25.00 to $28.00 per employee. Parsippany Troy-Hills number of employees is 550.
Par-Troy 550 x $50.00 = $27,500.00 per month
average rate 550 x $25.00 = $13,750.00 per month
rip off $13,750.00 per month
Why, you the reader can figure that out! I have asked Mayor Barberio publicly, because Parsippany is self-insured and our loss ratio has been very low the last three to four years where is the surplus? In other words, where’s the Cash?
In closing, Governor Chris Christie has made the state medical insurance program very attractive to townships. Please get involved it’s your town.
Letter to the editor: Parsippany Officials Need Enforce Sanitation Ordinances
Dear Editor:
Last evening Council Meeting, Tuesday, February 2, brought to light a new “supervisor” on board for the Sanitation Department. It was mentioned part of his job will be to speak to students on the importance of waste management and its impacts on the world.
One would think the Board of Education would already have such a program or agenda somewhere in the curriculum, even at a most basic level; poster or enforcement on school property; “a litter free school area”; similar to the drug free zones now in place. In Japan for example; students are responsible for keeping their class rooms and school property clean, through a program of a collective cooperative. Perhaps something along these lines can be considered by the BOE.
Any student seen littering or areas effected by student aberrant behavior such as littering such be addressed by administering their time and labor in any clean-ups. Custodial staff, teachers or any person involved with BOE duties should be encouraged to report any such behavior. Do not feel a municipal sanitation supervisor should spend time in this aspect of our behavior, but rather the BOE itself. The sanitation employee should devote his duties and responsibilities to law enforcement and reporting offensives that are on-going and too obvious to overlook.
Many such violations of the local ordinances, State and Federal laws go unabated. How long has recycling been in effect? There can no longer be any latitude given in not enforcing our local and State laws concerning littering, residents, property owners and businesses must be held responsible.
Our street and public places are a disgrace. A consumer convenience and free society must reign in its lack of being responsible and civic minded. Fines and Penalties are in order, only these long overdue measures will give any chance to bring a remedy to our abused places of common. We need conscience discipline from our, Police, sanitation crews, housing department, health department, road department, even parks and forestry. It is this lack of concern that has allowed the corporate mess of plastic that now infects our world everywhere we go. Only enforcement of the ordinances have any chance of bring this disease of convenient consumption under control. Too many things divide us rather than bring us together excepting this behavior and using public spaces for a garbage dump must no longer we excepted as the norm.
Nick Homyak
Jeep overturns on Route 46; Driver arrested for DWI
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department received a report of a motor vehicle crash in the area of 1540 Route 46 at 1:52 a.m. on Sunday, January 31.
The caller also reported that the vehicle rolled over. Multiple units responded to the scene, at which time they located a 2012 Jeep Wrangler laying on its side, in the right lane of travel of Route 46 East.
Witnesses stated the 2012 Jeep Wrangler drifted into the left travel lane of Route 46, over-corrected and hit a snowbank on the right hand shoulder of Route 46. Then the Jeep flipped onto its die and slid to stop in the middle of Route 46.
The driver, James Chu, 46, Florham Park, was standing outside of the vehicle upon arrival of responding patrols. After a brief investigation Patrol Officer E. Elston placed the driver under arrest for driving while intoxicated and transported him back to Parsippany Police Headquarters.
Upon arrival at Parsippany Police Department, Mr. Chu was processed and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, and Driving While Intoxicated in a School Zone.
He was released on his own recognizance into the custody of a family member, pending his court appearance.
John ‘Jack’ Joseph Dolan Sr., 76 passed away
PARSIPPANY — John ‘Jack’ Joseph Dolan Sr., 76, a lifelong resident of Morris County, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, January 29, 2016 after a long illness.
Jack was born in Morristown and grew up in Cedar Knolls. He lived in Parsippany for 46 years before moving back to Cedar Knolls in May of 2015.
Jack graduated from Bayley-Ellard High School in 1958 and attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He was a construction engineer and a founding member of Garden State Tunnel and Boring, where he functioned as President and Treasurer until 2004, and was a member of the Utility Contractor’s Association of New Jersey.
Jack’s greatest love was his family, which he raised in Parsippany. He was dedicated to serving his community, and was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany for many years. He also ran for Morris County Freeholder in 1979, and was the Chairman of the Parsippany Democratic Party, as well as a graduate of the first Parsippany Police Academy. His love of photography earned him various awards, including one from the Audubon Society. Jack was also an avid boater.
A devoted Catholic, Jack was a member of St. Catherine of Siena in Mountain Lakes for 46 years.
Jack and his family are also grateful to Dr. Yekyung Kong and the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation for their many years of care and support.
Jack was deeply loved by many, and will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his loving wife of 54 Years, Marilyn (nee-Lorenzo); his son, John of New York City; his daughter, Maureen Dolan and her husband, Andreas Braunlich of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and his granddaughter, Lindsay Jawor and her husband, Alex, of Wanaque. He is also survived by his siblings: Robert, Patrick, Michael, Eileen Ferriauolo, Peter, and Kathleen and their families, as well as the families of his predeceased siblings: Richard, Thomas and David. Survivors also include his brother-in-law, Dr. Louis Lorenzo and his wife, Francine, as well as his sister-in-law, Mildred Payack and her husband, Paul, and their respective families.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 3 at St. Catherine of Siena R.C. Church, 10 North Pocono Road, Mt. Lakes. Interment: Holy Rood Cemetery, Morristown.
Visiting Hours will be on Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Par-Troy Funeral Home, 95 Parsippany Road.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are welcome in Jack’s name to the Kiwanis Sponsored Youth Program of Parsippany. (Checks made payable to: Kiwanis Club Greater Parsippany Foundation) P.O. Box 5342, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 or to the Kessler Foundation. 300 Executive Drive, #70, West Orange, New Jersey 07052.
Morris County Sheriff’s Office Holds First Clergy Academy
MORRIS COUNTY — This past week the Morris County Sheriff’s Office completed its first ever Clergy Academy.
More than thirty religious leaders from throughout Morris County participated in this three session program. The academy included a dialogue between law enforcement and the clergy about their role in police community relations as well as an overview of our criminal justice and public safety system.
The participants also toured the award winning Morris County Correctional Facility and was given a realistic look at Use of Force by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Law & Public Safety in its Vir Tra Firearms Simulator.
The participants also met with the Sheriff’s K-9 Unit and was given a demonstration of police canines are used to detect drugs and explosives as well as rescue those in danger. The participants overwhelmingly enjoyed the program and felt that they learned a lot about law enforcement.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Paul Philipps also provided an overview about municipal law enforcement and answered many questions from the clergy. This successful program brought diverse groups from throughout Morris County together. “Programs like these are vital to good relations between law enforcement and citizens”, said Undersheriff William Scheivella who also serves as the President of the NJ Police Community Affairs Officers Association.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office has a number of free community programs for the community which can be requested by government or community groups by calling (973) 285-6600.
List of Morris County Religious Institutions Participating:
Saint Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Parsippany
First Baptist Church of Parsippany
Yogi Divine Society, Parsippany
New Hope Community Church of the Nazzarene, Denville
St. John the Beloved Church, Morris Plains
Parsippany Christian Church
Saint Paul’s Church, Morris Plains
Saint Lukes Catholic Parish, Long Valley
Church of Saint John, Randolph
Mount Freedom Jewish Center, Randolph
Christ Church, Rockaway Township
First Baptist Church, Dover/Rockaway
Morris County NAACP
Salvation Army, Dover
Parsippany Living Waters Church
Iglasia Evangelica Church, Dover
Chabad Center of Randolph
Jewish Community Housing Center, Whippany Presbyterian Church of Morristown
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Wharton
Saint Clement Pope & Martyr Church, Rockaway Township
Wegmans Alerts Consumers to Facebook Scam
ROCHESTER, NY – Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is alerting consumers to a scam that involves a fraudulent Facebook post bearing the company’s name. The company became aware of the scam earlier today when an employee questioned the validity of the post.
The Facebook post shows the image of a Wegmans storefront with a false claim that the company is giving away a free $200 grocery coupon. This giveaway is neither affiliated with nor supported by Wegmans.
Jo Natale, Wegmans vice president of media relations, said, “We’re actively working to have this fraudulent post removed from Facebook. We urge consumers not to click it, share it, or provide any personal information.”
Wegman’s will be opening in Hanover, on the border of Parsippany in early 2017. (see related article.)
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is an 88-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 18 consecutive years, ranking #7 in 2015. The company also ranked #1 for Corporate Reputation, among the 100 ‘most-visible companies’ nationwide in the 2015 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient ® study.
Letter to the editor: Why were Parsippany schools open on Monday, January 25?
Dear Editor:
My wife and I did not take the car out on Monday out of respect to our fellow residents, road crews and emergency /police personnel. You, Mr. Seitz, Superintendent of Schools put our students and staff at risk. Parsippany’s population due to business environment increases tremendously Monday thru Friday. I’ve seen you close schools with two inches of snow. The hills, winding roads and low areas in Parsippany make for very dangerous driving in normal conditions. Did you, Mr. Seitz make your decision after speaking with Parsippany’s Police Chief and Mayor?
The previous Monday schools were closed to make for a much needed three day weekend, I’m being sarcastic, two weeks earlier was the ten day holiday break. By the way, in my opinion, schools should be open to celebrate the day for Martin Luther King Jr’s life so that this generation can be exposed to what this country was like in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Obviously, I hope nobody was hurt or in an accident due to Mr. Seitzs poor decision. The current Board of Education better start making common sense decisions as to the welfare, safety and education of the students.
Roy Messmer
Where’s Mayor Barberio? At ShopRite
Was Mayor Barberio’s article of Wednesday January 27, 2016 in response to the undersigned’s article of the previous week “Parsippany is going downhill” or was it just a coincidence? Just like a few years back he had a town meeting at Parsippany High School a week before my annual town meeting.
How disrespectful Mayor Barberio was when he set-up a table next to mine at town hall petition signing regarding the huge surplus in the utilities fund that I wanted returned to the user payers. Which by the way, the Mayor has used approximately $3,000,000.00 over the last six years so he could say he stayed below the 2% mandatory cap. Mayor Barberio has taken care of his sycophant followers, friends and family on your tax dollars.
Reminder, very soon every single-family house will be a boarding house or over occupied. Your home property values are plummeting. There are only a handful of residents at town council meetings who ask questions, ask for information and make comments about the town and almost all go unanswered.
In Mayor Barberio’s article of January 27, 2016 he states he will make himself more available by holding regular meetings at ShopRite. That’s right ShopRite!!!!!!! The undersigned could go on and on (look for my weekly letter). Please get involved, please get in touch with undersigned regarding problems in town before it’s too late.
It’s February 1, 2016, not a call back from Mayor Barberio from December to schedule a meeting.
Times up.
Economic Development Advisory Committee greets Bagel City Grille
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Advisory greeted a business which opened recently in Parsippany.
Chairman Frank Cahill congratulates Bagel City Grille Owner Henry Delgado on his new business located at 998 Tabor Road. Bagel City Grille is open seven days a week.
The Economic Development Advisory Committee is to serve in an advisory capacity and shall, upon request of the Township Council, provide information, advice and recommendations relating to the promotion of Economic Development in the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills. The Committee shall consist of eleven members, five of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor, and six of whom shall be appointed by the Council. Members shall be Township residents who have knowledge of or have demonstrated an interest in the economic well-being of the Township. Each member shall be chosen with a special view to qualifications and fitness for service on the Committee. Members shall serve without compensation.
Frank Cahill was appointed Chairman and Eric Seguin is Vice Chairman. John Beehler serves as secretary. Tom Williams, Raviram Medapati and Ganesh Persaud are also members of the group. Council Vice President Robert Peluso serves as a liaison to the committee.
PACC welcomes Bagel City Grille to Parsippany
![IMG_7764](https://i0.wp.com/parsippanyfocus.com/uploadedmedia/2016/01/IMG_7764.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
PARSIPPANY — Bagel City Grille, 998 Tabor Road, held a ribbon cutting grand opening celebration on Friday, January 29.
Bagel City Grille is open Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Bagel City Grille is also located in Flanders and Chester.
Bagel City Grille is a member of Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce. Bagel City Grille also participates in the Greater Parsippany Rewards program, offering a 10% discount to all card holders.
Parsippany Regional Ice Hockey holds Fundraiser at Applebee’s
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Regional Ice Hockey Booster Association held a fundraiser at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill on Sunday, January 31.
The Parsippany Regional Players served breakfast to the guests.
Tickets for the breakfast was $10.00. The meal included pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and beverages.
The Parsippany Regional Ice Hockey team was established in 2012 and consists of players from both Parsippany High School and Parsippany Hills High School student athletes. Prior to 2012 the two high school played as independents from 1998 to 2012 and they began MCSSIHL league play in 1999-2000.
For more information click here.
Woman’s Club announces winner of Fifth Grade Spelling Bee Winner
![Sayanika Upadhyay, fifth grade student at Northvail School with Woman's Cub of Parsippany Troy Hills President Marilyn Marion](https://i0.wp.com/parsippanyfocus.com/uploadedmedia/2016/01/DSCN9883.jpg?resize=231%2C345&ssl=1)
PARSIPPANY — The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills held a “Fifth Grade Spelling Bee” on Saturday, January 30 at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Library.
The winner of the Fifth Grade Spelling Bee is Sayanika Upadhyay. Sayanika is a fifth grade student at Northvail School.
The over 50 contestants from each of the fifth grade classes in all of the Parsippany Elementary Schools participated in the event.
Ms. Melissa Okerblom, Head of Children’s Services; Parsippany Public Library, Mr. William Westhoven, Reporter, Gannett NJ Daily Record and Retired Teacher Ms. Kitty Lucibello were the judges of the event.
First, second and third place winners in the Spelling Bee are invited to participate in the NJSFWC District Spelling Bee being held on Saturday, February 20 in Sparta (snow date is Saturday, February 27).
The Regional winners will then be invited to the State Championship on March 5 at NJSFWC Headquarters, 55 Liberty Center Way, New Brunswick.
The committee members and volunteers are Jennifer Biondo, Cathy Cerbo, Diana Friedinger, Cathy Haney, Diane Monaco, Mary Ann Coyne, Karen DeChristopher, Joan Garbarino, Betsy Lowry, Marilyn Marion, Lora Rios-McBride and Marianne Burke.
The support of the Spelling Bee is a reflection of dedication to academic achievement.
The Woman’s Club of Parsippany-Troy Hills is a non-profit, civic organization for women committed to promoting volunteerism, improving community and fostering friendships.
Winners announced in Intervale School Science Fair
PARSIPPANY — Hayley Kells and Averi Zitelli were winners of the Fourth grade Intervale Science Fair held on Saturday, January 31.
The project was called Underwater Explosion, visually showing how hot water rises.
They created a display board and demonstrated a hands on experiment for the judges.
![Amanda Hoffman](https://i0.wp.com/parsippanyfocus.com/uploadedmedia/2016/01/5th-grade-fair.jpg?resize=300%2C498&ssl=1)
Every part of the project was completed by the girls themselves.
The girls met for a few weekends and even “Face-timed” each other to practice. This is a great way to use technology.
Amanda Hoffman, is a fifth grade winner of Intervale Science Fair.
She tested the cooling effect of mint. She determined that the cooling effect of mint isn’t just a sensation. Mint actually lowered the temperature of water 6 degrees Celsius compared to the control, after 25 minutes
The Intervale School PTA did an amazing job coordinating the event and all the children that participated worked hard and displayed wonderful science experiments.
Intervale is a kindergarten through fifth grade school where staff and parents work together to provide a nurturing environment for our students. The school’s diverse population provides us with wonderful opportunities to learn about many different cultures, traditions and life styles.
Intervale School is located at 60 Pitt Road.