If you ever wonder just how self-defeating the political process can be, consider this: The dark money spent by shadowy tax-exempt groups will continue to pour down like silver over political campaigns, because the agency in charge of policing those private donations has decided that it is no longer worth enforcing the rules. This is not…
N.J. poll Christie blasted helped get him into 2016 debate | The Auditor
Gov. Chris Christie wasn’t the only one from Jersey to get a prominent presidential debate spot in the eyes of Fox News. The Monmouth University poll also made the cut: It was one of five national polling organizations Fox used to determine the top 10 Republicans who fought it out in their first debate on the…
Weekend weather: Pleasant days giving way to early-week rain
Get those outdoor plans taken care of this weekend because rain is expected to move into the region for the first couple of days next week. Pleasantly warm days are expected Saturday and Sunday, with highs mostly in the low- to mid-80s, according to the National Weather Service. A low-pressure system coming in from the Great…
PACC hosts “Staples Small Business Showcase”
PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, August 8, Parsippany Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Eye Level participated in “Staples Small Business Showcase,” sponsored by the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.”
Parsippany OEM members Nicolas Limanov, Al Goldberg and Robert Beck were distributing literature, demonstrating ham radio equipment and answering questions from the public.
Parsippany OEM was recruiting new members during the event. If any one is interested in joining OEM, please email Eric Hubner, director, at cert@parsippany.net.
In addition, Eye Level of Morris Plains, was distributing information about the education center and had give-a-ways to all the children.
Frank Cahill, Executive Board Member, said “This is a great opportunity for chamber members to display their goods and services to the customers of Staples and to increase their brand awareness.”
This monthly event, “Staples Business Showcase” is available to all PACC members and local non-profit groups.
For more information on “Staples Small Business Showcase” please contact Frank Cahill at (973) 402-6400 or email flcahill@parsippanychamber.org.
Investigation into Barberio, Inglesino moves forward
MORRISTOWN — Parsippany Mayor James Barberio and the Township Council were back in court this morning for oral arguments in the case Township Council vs. Mayor James R. Barberio. At issue was whether the Township Council is permitted to hire its own attorney to assist in an investigation of Mayor Barberio, Township Attorney John Inglesino and the billing practices of his law firm.
In April 2014, the Council voted to retain attorney Wilfredo J. Ortiz, II from the law firm of Dario, Albert, Metz & Eyerman to provide legal assistance in its investigation. When Mayor Barberio refused to authorize the contract, the Council sued. Mayor Barberio counter-sued, arguing that the Council had over-stepped its authority and that two Council members were conflicted from voting, thereby rendering the original resolution null and void.
During a conference in Superior Court in Morristown on July 10, Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz asked both sides to meet with their respective lawyers to come up with a list of attorneys that might perform the investigation. Judge Minkowitz recommended that Barberio provide a list of three possible candidates that the Council would chose from. The Council agreed, as did Mayor Barberio in comments made to the Star Ledger at the time.
Ultimately, Barberio refused to the compromise which led to oral arguments in front of Judge Minkowitz this morning.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Minkowitz relied primarily on a 2005 case which landed in front of the NJ Supreme Court, MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK v. SHARPE JAMES. In that case, the Newark Council had attempted to hire its own attorney without mayoral approval. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of James stating that the Council had over-stepped its authority under the Faulkner Act.
Judge Minkowitz ruled today that Parsippany’s Council did not have the authority under the Faulkner Act to unilaterally chose its own attorney, but he also noted that the Township Council required legal representation and had the legal authority to approve or disapprove of any attorney Barberio may put forward to the Council. In his decision, Judge Minkowitz ordered the mayor to provide the Council with an attorney and should the Council not approve his selection, the mayor must continue to put forth a name until the Council agrees.
Under the Faulkner Act the powers vested with the Township Council include:
a. The override of a veto of the mayor;
b. The exercise of advice and consent to actions of the mayor;
c. The conduct of legislative inquiry or investigation;
d. The expression of disapproval of the removal by the mayor of officers or employees;
e. The removal of any municipal officer for cause;
f. The adoption of rules for the council;
g. The establishment of times and places for council meetings;
h. The establishment of the council as a committee of the whole and the delegation of any number of its members as an ad hoc committee;
i. The declaration of emergencies respecting the passage of ordinances;
j. The election, appointment, setting of salaries and removal of officers and employees of the council, subject to any pertinent civil service requirements and any pertinent contractual obligations, and within the general limits of the municipal budget;
k. Designation of official newspapers;
l. Approval of contracts presented by the mayor;
m. Actions specified as resolutions in the “Local Budget Law” (N.J.S. 40A:4-1 et seq.) and the “Local Fiscal Affairs Law” (N.J.S. 40A:5-1 et seq.); and
n. The expression of council policies or opinions which require no formal action by the mayor.
Monica Kaden named Trustee of the Healthcare Foundation
PARSIPPANY — Monica Kaden, MBA, ASA, Director, Marks Paneth LLP, was recently named a Trustee of The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey.
The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey has an endowment of $170 million and grants between $7-$8 million to healthcare organizations in Newark and Essex and Morris counties.
“It is a great pleasure and honor to be a trustee for this prestigious foundation that works hard to improve the healthcare of vulnerable populations,” states Ms. Kaden.
Every year the trustees of the Foundation have the responsibility to evaluate grant applications from not for profit health care organizations, meet with grantees, and then make decisions regarding the allocation of grant funds.
According to Ms. Kaden, ” this Foundation does great work and last year donated almost $8 million to programs for veterans, children, those with disabilities, and more.”
Ms. Kaden is an accredited senior appraiser (“ASA”) with the American Society of Appraisers. She has been performing business valuations for two decades and has focused her valuation practice in the healthcare industry. She specializes in valuing medical practices, ambulatory surgery centers and other health care entities, and has been qualified as a healthcare valuation expert. Her articles have appeared in various business and trade publications and she is a frequent presenter at accounting, legal and other professional organizations.
Ms. Kaden’s practice provides services to hospitals, physicians, free standing ambulatory centers, and other entities that must comply with health care regulation.
The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, originally called The Beth Israel Foundation, was established in 1996, when Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC) was sold to the Saint Barnabas Corporation after a proud history of providing quality care and a humanistic environment to people of all backgrounds in greater Newark who came to the hospital for treatment or for employment. The Foundation attempts to enhance and provide a new perspective on healthcare and health-related problems and, where appropriate, seeks to provide leadership in identifying problems and in seeing that such problems are studied. The Foundation seeks collaborations with organizations and institutions in both the Jewish and general communities to study problems, develop solutions, and provide funding to make those solutions a reality. To achieve these ends, and to ensure that Foundation funds are used as effectively as possible, the Foundation has developed and from time to time refines standards for the consideration of proposals and the evaluation of results. Flexibility is key: not only to respond to developments in healthcare with appropriate grants, but to identify new areas of concern and different approaches to improving the health of vulnerable populations and create funding initiatives to meet those new concerns.
Overnight Route 80 Ramp Closures due to paving
PARIPPANY — Due to paving on Route 80 between 9:00 p.m. Friday, August 7, and 5:00 a.m. Saturday, August 8 the following ramps will be closed. Please follow detour signs.
- Smith Road to Road 80 Eastbound
- Route 287 Northbound to Route 80 Eastbound
- Route 80 Eastbound Express to Route 80 Easebount Local Cross over Ramp at Mile Post 44.0
- Route 80 Eastbound Local Exit 45 to Beverwyck Road
CVS drops Viagra, other drugs from coverage
CVS is dropping more than two dozen drugs from its prescription plans including Viagra, according to reports. The chain pharmacy store will remove 28 drugs in total from its CVS/Caremark insurance coverage, narrowing the list of approved drugs to lower costs for companies that pay for its employees’ benefits, CNN reports. “For those drugs that are…
Report: Defense attorney says man arrested near movie theater had guns legally
MORRISTOWN — The defense attorney for the man who was arrested for allegedly carrying concealed guns near a movie multiplex in Morristown said he possessed the guns legally, according to a report in the Daily Record. The family of defendant Andrew Pfitzenmayer, 26, of Peapack-Gladstone, has retained Montville attorney Frank Pisano to represent him, according to…
Kiwanis Club donates to The Women’s Theater Company
PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany made a donation to The Women’s Theater Company on Thursday, August 6.
Kiwanis Club president Mimi and Kiwanis Club Foundation President Carol Tiesi presented Barbara Krajkowski a check to help the theatre in maintaining quality performances while keeping ticket prices very reasonable.
Kiwanis President Mimi Letts said “Kiwanis Is pleased to help the Women’s Theater Company that performs at our local Parsippany Playhouse. The company provides quality, affordable theatrical productions making it possible for so many of our local residents to be able to enjoy live theater. Barbara Krajkowski, the company’s director, strives to maintain quality while keeping ticket prices very reasonable. We are happy to help keep live theater here in Parsippany.”
The Women’s Theater Company, which is located at the Parsippany Playhouse, 1130 Knoll Road, will kick off its new season in November 2015 presenting “Love, Loss And What I Wore.”
The Women’s Theater Company mission is to provide a fertile environment for the advancement of professional women theater artists and to provide quality theater for the community at large.
Through the main stage, educational outreach, and new works development programs, the Women’s Theater Company supports the development of new women artists, promotes new works in the American theater, and provides entertaining and enriching productions for growing audiences.
Originally performing only original works by women, they have broadened the mission to produce plays that also offer important roles for women and men. Additionally, they have provided dramaturgic services and presented many new works for emerging playwrights.
For more information on The Women’s Theater Company, click here.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany meets weekly at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46. Visitors and members of other clubs are welcomed.
New Jersey Career Fire Chiefs Host Charity Softball Tournament
EAST HANOVER — Step up to the plate and be a hero by registering as a potential lifesaving bone marrow stem cell donor at the annual charity softball tournament to be held Saturday, August 15 by the New Jersey Career Fire Chiefs Association to benefit the Be The Match® bone marrow registry.
Up to 12 teams will battle for the championship at the charity tournament to be held 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Lurker Park on Ridgedale Avenue and Eagle Rock Avenue, East Hanover. If it rains on August 15, the tournament will take place Sunday, August 16.
All proceeds of the tournament will go to the Be The Match national registry which finds blood cancer patients the marrow transplants they need, helps patients overcome financial barriers faced during transplant, and funds lifesaving research. Be The Match representatives from The HLA Registry at Community Blood Services, based in Montvale, will also be at the event to register new potential marrow donors and to answer any questions regarding the registration process and how to host a marrow and/or blood donation event.
To kick off the event, 5-year-old Delaney of Wood-Ridge, will throw out the first pitch at the softball game. At three months old Delaney was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma and needed numerous platelet transfusions during her cancer treatments. Her own uncle, Denis Zamora, who is a police officer in Wayne, registered with Be The Match and recently donated his stem cells for a patient in need of a marrow stem cell transplant. Delaney is the president of Delaney’s Clubhouse, a club for platelet donors at Community Blood Services and she and her family support other patients by hosting marrow and blood donations events. Her mom Kaitlin sponsors blood and marrow drives at Montclair State University.
Every day thousands of adults and children like Delaney are diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia and other serious diseases that eventually require stem cell transplants as a cure. For patients with such life-threatening diseases a cure exists – a marrow transplant. But approximately 70 percent of those patients will not find matches within their own families and must turn to the Be The Match registry to find their donors.
The National Marrow Donor Program’s Be The Match registry leads the fight to advance the science of transplant, support patients at every step of their journeys and empower people to give the greatest gift of all – the gift of life. It costs approximately $100 to add each new member to the registry and much more to help patients through their transplant process.
If you cannot make the tournament but would still like to register you can register online at www.bethematch.org using the code “HLAREGISTRY”. You will be asked to complete a registration form online and your cheek swab kit will be mailed to your home.
For more information on how to register or schedule a marrow or blood donation event go to www.communitybloodservices.org or contact The HLA Registry at 1-800-336-3363.
ABOUT THE HLA REGISTRY
The HLA Registry at Community Blood Services (HLA stands for human leukocyte antigens, the genetic information encoded on white blood cells) is a member of the National Marrow Donor Program’s (NMDP) Be The Match Registry. The registry is dedicated to finding compatible unrelated donors for lifesaving bone marrow transplants. Based in Montvale (NJ), it is one of the largest non-governmental donor centers in the U.S. and has registered more than 230,000 potential donors in the NMDP’s data base.
N.J. fisherman recounts 4-hour fight for survival in Atlantic before Coast Guard rescue
Coast Guard rescues man 44 miles off Cape May, Aug. 2, 2015 A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Atlantic City hoists a 45-year-old man aboard the aircraft from a recreational vessel, which had picked him up after he tread water for four hours. The unidentified man was transferred to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City…
Maccarella disqualifed on run for Board of Education seat
PARSIPPANY — The deadline for filing a nominating position for the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education has been over for weeks. At the time of the deadline four residents filed with the Morris County Clerk to fill three seats that will become available December 31, 2015. The seats are for a term of three years.
Susy Golderer, Louis Maccarella, Judy Mayer and Frank Neglia, Jr. filed their petition with the Morris County Clerk for the three expiring seats.
A representive of the Morris County Clerk’s Office confirmed today that Louis Maccarella did not qualify and his name has been removed from the ballot. To qualify you must submit 10 registered voters signing your petition. He submitted 11, but three were disqualifed because they were not registered voters.
The three remaining candidates will be running unopposed.
Frank Neglia, Judy Mayer and Michael Pietowicz terms expire on December 31, 2015. Mayer and Pietowicz was appointed unanimously in February 2015 to fill the seats vacated by James Carifi and the late Dr. Frank Calabria.
Old Weichert building being torn down; Bank of America coming soon
PARSIPPANY — Contractors are aggressively tearing down the old Weichert Realtor building on the corner of North Beverwyck Road and Route 46 to make room for a new Bank of America.
In December, CP Management received a conditional use variance and preliminary site plan approval from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Adjustment to construct a Bank of America facility with two drive-thru lanes and a by-pass lane with associated parking at the front and rear of the building on Route 46 at North Beverwyck Road.
The building was previously occupied by Weichert Realtors. Currently the entrance to the location is on Route 46 West, just past North Beverwyck Road. The board voted 5-2 in favor of this application with Jonathan Nelson and Brian Kelley voting against the application; both cited concerns allowing vehicles exiting on Hawkins Avenue, a residential street which parallels Route 46.
On Saturday, August 2, 2015 members of Parsippany District 5 Fire Department and members of Lake Hiawatha Fire Department Fire District 4 in a joint drill at the former Weichert Realty building. It’s not often that they firemen are offered a building to utilize for drilling purposes that will be taken down so members took full advantage of the opportunity.
All members participated in stations to practice numerous skills that can be utilized at any time.
Some skills that members focused on were:
• Roof Ventilation
• Forcible Entry
• VES (Vent Enter Search)
• Searching of a Building
• Wall Breaching
• Overhauling
• Denver Drill
While these were only some stations, many other skills were utilized to accomplish these tasks. Parsippany Rescue and Recovery Unit was at the scene for filling air bottles during the duration of the drill.
On Wednesday, August 5, CP Management is requesting the Board of Adjustment for a major soil removal permit.
Overnight detours on Route 80
PARSIPPANY — New Jersey Department of Transit announced the following exits and ramps will be closed this evening, Wednesday, August 5 from approximately 10:00 p.m. until approximately 5:00 a.m. Thursday, August 6.
The ramps from Route 287 North and South (Exit 41B) to Route 80 West will be closed.
Route 80 West crossover to local lanes at mile marker 45.0 will be closed. The crossover at mile marker 44.0 will remain open.
Detours are being setup by the construction crews.
Democratic Fundraiser Concert was an afternoon delight
PARSIPPANY — A Parsippany Democratic Fundraiser Concert was held on Sunday, August 2 at the Livingston‐Benedict House on Old Parsippany Road.
Grover Kemble, Tim Metz, Frank Elmo and Teddy Comora performed some jazz and blues during the afternoon fundraiser. “The entire experience was awesome,” said attendee Joanne Rich.
Some of the summer time menu items included mini-mufalettas, mini-shrimp po’boys, pimento cheese sandwiches and fruit skewers. After the music, they served freshly fried beignets, (and I have to say delicious too), prepared by Roberta Bramhall
The event was hosted by Bob and Julia Dutton Peterson.
In April Nick Kumburis, Janice McCarthy and Greg Elbin was endorsed by the Parsippany Democratic Committee to run for Town Council on the Democratic Committee Line.
Nick Kumburis, a resident of Lake Parsippany, is a U.S.Navy veteran. He is a graduate of Montclair State with a degree in biology and chemistry and will receive an MBA from Rutgers this month. He and his wife, Sue Martin, are raising two children who attend Eastlake School. Nick is a member of the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association and has served St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church as a Vice President of their Council and is currently employed at PAR Pharmaceuticals.
anice McCarthy lives in Mount Tabor with her husband Joe. She has an undergraduate degree in Business from Bloomfield College and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson. After a career as a financial professional managing and directing for Fortune 500 companies, she helped lead the Budget and Planning function at Montclair State University, served in the University’s freshman mentoring program, and taught finance at Seton Hall. Janice has volunteered for Literacy Volunteers and served as trustee and treasurer for a local homeowner’s association.
Greg Elbin is a graduate of Dickinson College and earned an MA from Penn State. He taught at Morris Knolls High School for 28 years. He and his wife, Susan, are active in environmental causes. Their daughter is a graduate of Parsippany High School. Greg is active in Kiwanis and Parsippany United Methodist Church.
The team of Kumburis, McCarthy and Elbin will work to build consensus on the Town Council to support an open and transparent town government that advocates for spending accountability and responsible development.
The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3.
Crash causes boom, boom, boom and boom
PARSIPPANY — On Thursday, July 23 at approximately 7:30 p.m. there was a four car chain reaction accident on North Beverwcyk Road.
Ms. Jenitanen Patel, 35, Parsippany was driving her 2011 Black Honda and was stopped at the traffic light of Vail Road and North Beverwyck Road.
Ms. Ellen Verrone, stopped behind Ms. Patel’s vehicle. She was driving a a 2013 Toyota.
Mr. NatarajanKurinohi-Vedhan, 55, Lake Hiawatha was behind Ms. Verrone’s vehicle stopped in traffic. He was driving a 2002 Hyundai Elantra.
Ms. Kaitlynn Pinero, 18, Lake Hiawatha, driving a 1996 Black Lexus and hit into Mr. NatarajanKurinohi-Vedhan vehicle causing a chain reaction.
Ms. Kaitlynn Pinero was the cause of the motor vehicle accident and was charged with careless driving.
Letter to the editor: Residents to foot the bill of Lake Parsippany
Dear Editor:
The Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association (LPPOA) is going to ask the residents of Lake Parsippany to foot more of the bill. (Click here to read related article)
The decline in people using the Lake is not the residents fault. So why should we have to pay? I have a pool in my yard for my grandchildren. They use it an enjoy it as I do.
I stopped one day with my grandson to let him see the ducks. A man came up to me and said it was private property an I would have to leave. Great Public Relations on his part.
It doesn’t cost me $460.00 a year to run my pool. This would be a very unfair tax burden on the resents of Lake Parsippany. It’s like saying you have to buy a car from us but you can’t drive it. This would be a tax but no repetitive. My spelling may not be 100% but my anger is.
Jim Festa
Another 90-degree day in the forecast for N.J.
As most wake up to a wet morning, New Jersey residents should expect the rain to clear up by midday, setting the stage for another scorcher. Highs Tuesday are expected to push into the 90s for the eighth straight day, the longest heat wave since 2013. PLUS: ‘Winter-like’ storm could break heat wave, usher in cool…
Letter to the editor: Please attend meeting on August 13 regarding Turf Fields
Dear Editor:
On Thursday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m., Parsippany Board of Education is holding a meeting at the Board Office, 292 Parsippany Road, to discuss how and when the newly turfed football field and track will be used once work has been completed this September. (Editors note: click here to read related article).
At that meeting the board will provide the public with the opportunity to comment and hopefully the board will take the public’s input into consideration as they decide who will use the field and when the field will be used having served on the board of education for seven years I know that if the board does not receive any feedback from the public, the board will likely conclude that it can take any action it wants to take and will then feel free to favorably consider the requests that are going to come from the many organizations that will want to use the Parsippany High School field. (Please remember that the turfed field is being lined so that football, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse teams can use it. As the board of education has the authority to allow any Parsippany based not- for-profit organization to use the field the risk that the field could be in use seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. is very real.
On numerous occasions over the past couple of years the board of education has been asked to provide families who live around and near the field information as to how the board planned to manage potential noise, parking, litter and safety issues that might arise as a result of opening up the field to teams other than those that play for the high school. Up to this point in time the Board of Education has refused to comment which is why attending the meeting on August 13 is so important. Among the questions that need to be answered:
Which organizations does the Board of Education intend to allow to use the field and what will be the ages of the athletes allowed to use the field?
What days of the week will the field be available to those organizations and what hours will the field be open? Who will enforce those hours?
What kind of noise restrictions will be in effect i.e. no public address system?
Will parking be allowed on streets surrounding the field or restricted to the high school parking lot?
Who will be responsible for ensuring that the surrounding neighborhoods are kept safe and clean when the fields are being used by non-school teams and their out of town opponents?
Bob Crawford
Parsippany