PARSIPPANY − The Pasippany Hills Cross Country Team held a car was this past Sunday, September 27 to raise funds for their team. The car wash was held at Lake Parsippany Volunteer Fire Department District 3, Halsey Road.
Par Hills Cross Country team held Car Wash
Today is National Coffee Day!
PARSIPPANY — Whether you like it hot, iced, sweetened or even infused with nitrogen, there’s no denying that coffee is one of America’s favorite beverages.
According to the National Coffee Association, Americans spend over $40 billion a year on coffee with the average person shelling out just over $20 a week for their favorite cup of joe.
But today is National Coffee Day so a few of America’s biggest coffee shops are showing their appreciation by handing out free or discounted cups to coffee lovers across the country.
Here’s a list of national freebies and deals to help you get your caffeine fix:
Dunkin’ Donuts: Free medium cup of Dunkin’ Donuts hot or iced dark roast coffee. Limit one per guest and deal is only available at participating locations.
JetBlue: If you’re traveling today, Jet Blue is offering Mint customers the opportunity to
enjoy complimentary espresso brews from the Brooklyn Roasting Company.
Krispy Kreme: Guests can enjoy one free small coffee and original glazed donut.
Staples: Post a photo on social media with your coffee mug and the hashtag #OfficeMugShot for the chance to win a free pack of coffee.
Wawa: Free coffee in any size.
Whole Foods: The grocery store is celebrating all month long with 25 cent cups of 12-ounce coffee.
Cumberland Farms: Consumers of this convenience store chain can text FREECOFFEE to 33733 to get a free iced or hot coffee of any size from one of its 600 stores. Added bonus: starting on October 9, consumers can get free coffee on Fridays at the chain; the offer expires at the end of that month.
If your favorite spot for coffee is not on our list, and they are offering coffee specials today, email news@parsippanyfocus.com, and we will add it!
Outdoor Movies at St. Gregory’s
PARSIPPANY — Outdoor cinema makes a return to Parsippany on Saturday, October 17, as the Films For Thought Series kicks off at Saint Gregory’s Episcopal Church with a screening of beloved cartoons from the Sixties and Seventies. Besides being outdoors (weather permitting) the most notable aspect of the evening will be that it features projection from real film, just like at the drive in theaters of old. Due to the proliferation of digital media, film projection, especially of cartoons, is a phenomenon that most kids have never experienced. “We know that technology marches on but we want to provide an opportunity for young people to experience the depth and clarity of real film projection before its gone forever,” said event mastermind, Dave Sica. “Plus these cartoons are classics and worth a watch in their own right.”
Event organizers will employ a giant, inflatable movie screen, 16mm projectors and state of the art sound to enhance the experience. Kids of all ages are welcome. Admission is free. Lawn chairs and blankets are recommended. The first cartoon will be shown at 7:00 p.m.
Hot cider, coffee and light snacks will be available for purchase. If the weather does not cooperate the event will be re-located inside as the Series has done in the past. Saint Gregory’s is located at 480 S. Beverwyck Road.
For more information please call the church office at 973-887-5879.
Blood Donors at Community Blood Services will Receive Restaurant Gift Card
PARSIPPANY — Community Blood Services invites its volunteer donors to make a life-giving blood, platelet or plasma donation on Monday, October 12 and get a “thank you” restaurant gift card.
Any blood, platelet or plasma donor who donates that day at the Paramus, Parsippany or Montvale donor centers will receive a gift card redeemable at a number of popular restaurant chains, including Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Longhorn Steakhouse.
Donors can call (201) 251-3703 for hours and locations and to schedule an appointment. Whole blood donors can also walk in but an appointment is needed to donate platelets. You can also schedule online by clicking here.
O negative donors are especially needed because this blood type is in most demand by local hospitals. As the universal blood type, it can be transfused to any patient in need regardless of their own blood type. Platelets are also urgently needed to treat patients diagnosed with cancer or other blood disorders.
Whole blood donors must be healthy, 17-75 years old (16 years old with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds.
Community Blood Service is a not-for-profit organization that provides blood and blood products to more than 20 hospitals in New Jersey and New York, including Atlantic Health System Hospitals, HackensackUMC, St. Joseph’s Healthcare System in Paterson/Wayne and The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.
Community Blood Services is located at 1259 Route 46 East and can be reached by calling (973) 676-4700.
Parsippany Ice 12U are Tournament Champs
PARSIPPANY — This past weekend, September 26 and Septembr 27 the 12U Parsippany Ice Team were the champions of the Fall Friendly Softball Tournament held in Long Valley. Pictured with their well earned trophies are from left to right: Manager Jason Adams and Coach Norm Gong. Players Rosa Marfia, Haley Belfiore, Chloe Budd, Kiersten Koch, Sabrina Gong, Madison Thiel, Lauren Hernandez, Carlee Urban, Abigail Adams, and Laura Swan. Not pictured: Coach Greg Duska and players Katie Duska and Mikayla Swan.
Whole Foods to cut 1,500 jobs
AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market says it will cut 1,500 jobs in the next two months in the midst of a challenging year for the retailer. Austin-based Whole Foods said it is making the cuts “as part of its ongoing commitment to lower prices for its customers and invest in technology upgrades while improving its…
In young athletes, what are the warning signs of an injured spleen?
With the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office determining that Warren Hills High School quarterback Evan Murray died of massive internal bleeding due to a laceration of the spleen, we asked two doctors at University Hospital in Newark – one of the state’s three Level One trauma units – about spleen injuries. Adam Fox is a trauma…
500-year storms could now occur every 24 years, study says
Under normal odds, the chance that a New York City or Jersey Shore resident would witness a so-called “500-year flood” — one with massive storm surge and flooding — would be so low, many residents would never live to witness one. But according to new research, those residents today could witness ocean flooding of that magnitude…
Super Blood Moon wasn’t so super to see in Parsippany: PHOTOS
Because of heavy cloud cover, the Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse was a dud in Parsippany. But that didn’t stop some great photos from being taken in New York and across the country. If you weren’t able to see the eclipse last night, don’t worry, the show will be back in town again in 2033.
Warren Hills QB Evan Murray died from a lacerated spleen
Warren Hills Regional High School quarterback Evan Murray died of a lacerated spleen, a medical examiner found. An autopsy of the 17-year-old from Warren County found the cause of death to be massive internal bleeding due to the laceration. Morris County Medical Examiner Dr. Ronald Suarez determined during the examination that Murray had an abnormally enlarged…
Facebook Goes Down for the Second Time in a Week
For the second time in a week, Facebook had outage issues. The website began having issues around 3 p.m. Eastern Time, causing a flurry of angry posts on the other social media networks that were working. Facebook went down on September 24th for a brief time, much to the frustration of their one billion active users.…
NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today’s Mars
New findings from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) provide the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day Mars.
Using an imaging spectrometer on MRO, researchers detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where mysterious streaks are seen on the Red Planet. These darkish streaks appear to ebb and flow over time. They darken and appear to flow down steep slopes during warm seasons, and then fade in cooler seasons. They appear in several locations on Mars when temperatures are above minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 23 Celsius), and disappear at colder times.
“Our quest on Mars has been to ‘follow the water,’ in our search for life in the universe, and now we have convincing science that validates what we’ve long suspected,” said John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “This is a significant development, as it appears to confirm that water — albeit briny — is flowing today on the surface of Mars.”
These downhill flows, known as recurring slope lineae (RSL), often have been described as possibly related to liquid water. The new findings of hydrated salts on the slopes point to what that relationship may be to these dark features. The hydrated salts would lower the freezing point of a liquid brine, just as salt on roads here on Earth causes ice and snow to melt more rapidly. Scientists say it’s likely a shallow subsurface flow, with enough water wicking to the surface to explain the darkening.
“We found the hydrated salts only when the seasonal features were widest, which suggests that either the dark streaks themselves or a process that forms them is the source of the hydration. In either case, the detection of hydrated salts on these slopes means that water plays a vital role in the formation of these streaks,” said Lujendra Ojha of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, lead author of a report on these findings published Sept. 28 by Nature Geoscience.
Ojha first noticed these puzzling features as a University of Arizona undergraduate student in 2010, using images from the MRO’s High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE). HiRISE observations now have documented RSL at dozens of sites on Mars. The new study pairs HiRISE observations with mineral mapping by MRO’s Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM).
The spectrometer observations show signatures of hydrated salts at multiple RSL locations, but only when the dark features were relatively wide. When the researchers looked at the same locations and RSL weren’t as extensive, they detected no hydrated salt.
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Ojha and his co-authors interpret the spectral signatures as caused by hydrated minerals called perchlorates. The hydrated salts most consistent with the chemical signatures are likely a mixture of magnesium perchlorate, magnesium chlorate and sodium perchlorate. Some perchlorates have been shown to keep liquids from freezing even when conditions are as cold as minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 70 Celsius). On Earth, naturally produced perchlorates are concentrated in deserts, and some types of perchlorates can be used as rocket propellant.
Perchlorates have previously been seen on Mars. NASA’s Phoenix lander and Curiosity rover both found them in the planet’s soil, and some scientists believe that the Viking missions in the 1970s measured signatures of these salts. However, this study of RSL detected perchlorates, now in hydrated form, in different areas than those explored by the landers. This also is the first time perchlorates have been identified from orbit.
MRO has been examining Mars since 2006 with its six science instruments.
“The ability of MRO to observe for multiple Mars years with a payload able to see the fine detail of these features has enabled findings such as these: first identifying the puzzling seasonal streaks and now making a big step towards explaining what they are,” said Rich Zurek, MRO project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.
For Ojha, the new findings are more proof that the mysterious lines he first saw darkening Martian slopes five years ago are, indeed, present-day water.
“When most people talk about water on Mars, they’re usually talking about ancient water or frozen water,” he said. “Now we know there’s more to the story. This is the first spectral detection that unambiguously supports our liquid water-formation hypotheses for RSL.”
The discovery is the latest of many breakthroughs by NASA’s Mars missions.
“It took multiple spacecraft over several years to solve this mystery, and now we know there is liquid water on the surface of this cold, desert planet,” said Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA’s Mars Exploration Program at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. “It seems that the more we study Mars, the more we learn how life could be supported and where there are resources to support life in the future.”
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
There are eight co-authors of the Nature Geoscience paper, including Mary Beth Wilhelm at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California and Georgia Tech; CRISM Principal Investigator Scott Murchie of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland; and HiRISE Principal Investigator Alfred McEwen of the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in Tucson, Arizona. Others are at Georgia Tech, the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique in Nantes, France.
The agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin built the orbiter and collaborates with JPL to operate it.
Cloudy, warm Parsippany weather to start week, but rain on the way
It looks like we’ll squeeze in one more day of dry weather before some much needed mid-week rain in New Jersey. Forecasters are calling for mostly cloudy skies on Monday with highs in the mid to upper 70s. There’s a slight chance of rain during the overnight hours. The chance of rain increases to about 50…
Morris County Improvement Authority to Hold Special Public Session on Future Solar Projects
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Improvement Authority will hold a public session on Monday, October 5, at 6:30 p.m. in Morristown to detail its findings on the viability of unbuilt solar sites from the Morris II Solar Energy Project.
The MCIA, in concert with a Morris County Freeholder’s “Build-No Build Committee,’’ were asked by the freeholders to make recommendations regarding the financial and operational aspects of the unbuilt renewable energy sites.
The sites that have been reviewed consist of those originally scheduled for implementation of solar arrays as part of the MCIA’s Renewable Energy Program Series 2011, plus alternate sites.
Morris County in 2011 sold $33.1 million in county-guaranteed bonds to help finance the Morris II solar project to install solar panels at 30 municipal and school sites in Morris County to generate power and reduce energy costs for the participants. Of those projects, 17 have been fully built and are up and running.
However, due to a variety of factors – including a legal battle between project’s developer and contractor — the county has run into a major financial deficit on its Solar II effort. The county faces potential additional losses depending on the market value of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)
The county and the MCIA are now deciding the viability of the unbuilt sites, with a primary emphasis on financial viability. These sites consist of facilities owned by Morris County, municipalities and boards of education.
“The special public session on October 5 will give county residents a chance to get a first-hand understanding of the process we are now employing, and to get all of their questions answered,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo. “It’s an effort for transparency that is essential when it comes to expenditures of county tax dollars, especially on such a complicated project,’’ she added.
“While the solar program bonds were issued in 2010 and 2011 by a prior freeholder board, we have a fiduciary responsibility to Morris County taxpayers regardless of our prior misgivings,’’ said Freeholder John Krickus. “Our primary focus now is damage control, minimizing the losses the county will incur.”
The Committee’s efforts regarding the unbuilt sites, to be detailed on October 5, included:
- Site visits and inspection of roof, ground and other engineering factors;
- Analysis to determine anticipated photovoltaic production at each site;
- Financial modeling, including a preliminary ranking of sites, based on multiple factors, including installation costs, efficiency in installation, existing site conditions, energy productivity and break-even Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) values.
- Receipt of preliminary design and installation cost proposals for each site from engineering, procurement and construction contractors.
The Committee’s preliminary sites’ revenue analysis, to be discussed on October 5, will detail the following information on each location:
- PPA Revenue – The amount at each site for the potential supply of solar energy, in lieu of a similar payment to the traditional grid-energy supplier.
- SREC Revenue – The amount of revenue anticipated to be generated at each Unbuilt Site from the generation and sale of SRECs.
- Operating Costs – Includes industry-standard operation and maintenance expenses, as well as equipment upgrades in years 5, 10 and 15.
- Debt Service – The aggregate amount of principal plus interest to be incurred to finance implementation of the solar project at each site.
- Project Cash Flow – An amount equal to the excess of the aggregate of PPA Revenue plus SREC Revenue, less operating costs and debt service.
- Local Unit Energy Savings – The aggregate amount of savings realized at each site as a result of participation in the program.
- Breakeven SREC – The price of SRECs needed to produce sufficient SREC Revenue, along with PPA Revenue, to result in a Project Cash Flow of $0.
The preliminary revenue analysis was presented to the freeholders and public at the Board of Freeholders’ meeting on September 21.
On October 5, a subsequent public workshop, to be held in the Morris County Administration Building in Morristown, the MCIA will again present that analysis, plus any additional findings, and respond to questions from members of the public.
For more information and to get an initial look at the recent analysis, prior to the October 5 meeting, click here.
CCM Hosting Second Annual 5K Fundraiser to Benefit Veterans
RANDOLPH — Multiple student organizations at County College of Morris (CCM) are partnering with the Office of Counseling and Student Success to host the second annual Veterans Day 5K and 1 Mile Walk on Sunday, November 8.
The college’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Student Ambassadors Club and Student Government Association are co-hosting the event, which will be held on CCM’s Randolph campus, 214 Center Grove Road.
Registration for the 5K and 1 mile walk begins at 7:45 a.m. and the event starts at 9:00 a.m. Runners can register before October 30 to pay the discounted pre-registration fee of $20.00. On October 30, the fee is $25.00 through same-day registration. Children 10 and younger pay $10.00. The fee covers the cost of a T-shirt, race bib, gifts and food.
All proceeds will go to the new CCM Fund for Veterans and Families. The fund provides non-academic financial assistance to cover such costs as housing, wellness support and daycare expenses for veteran students and/or their dependents.
Awards will be presented to the top three male and female runners. To register online, click here.
For more information, click here to email.
Watch the Super Blood Moon Live
PARSIPPANY— It’s too cloudy to see in Parsippany, but you can watch the lunar eclipse live on NASA TV or by watching here on Parsippany Focus
High School Quarterback Evan Murray’s funeral set for this week
The funeral and visitation for Evan Murray, the Warren Hills Regional High School quarterback who died Friday, are set for later this week. Evan Murray (lehighvalleylive.com file photo) Visitation will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Faith Discovery Church, 33 Brass Castle Road in Washington Township, Warren County. The funeral will be at…
PBA 298 Morris County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections holds clam bake
MORRIS PLAINS — The PBA 298 Morris County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections held a successful clam bake on Sunday, September 27 at the Morris Plains VFW 3401.
The menu was completed with all you can eat clams, hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta, beans, macroni salad, chicken wings, ribs, salad and beverages.
PHS Marching Band won Second Place in Yamaha Cup Competition
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany High School Marching Band won Second Place with a score of 82.725 at MetLife Stadium Yamaha Cup Competition on Saturday, September 26.