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Parsippany Dems tap three; Team announced for Primary Election

PARSIPPANY — Nick Kumburis, Janice McCarthy and Greg Elbin have been 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.

Janice 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.

Baltimore devolves into chaos, violence, looting

BALTIMORE — After two weeks of tension over the death of Freddie Gray, Baltimore devolved into chaos Monday. Roaming gangs clashed with police in the streets, seriously injuring officers, tearing open businesses and looting their stocks. Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and called up the National Guard, and state police requested as many…

Northvail Takes First Place in District Wide Competition

PARSIPPANY — The Northvail School Expressive Reading Team finished in first place in the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District competition. This is the first time in the 21 years of the competition that Northvail has taken the first place title. The 2015 team members include Syan Ghosh (overall third place), Olivia Chou, Ark Ouyang, Neil Mathew, Neel Godbole, and Mahi Desai. The Northvail students were coached by teachers, Lauren Hackett and Janet Cassetta.

“I didn’t care about me winning individually, I cared most about our team winning it together because it took a lot of practice and dedication of our teachers helping us at recess, and our parents helping us at home,” explained Syan Ghosh.

The annual Expressive Reading competition has students competing against their fifth-grade peers from each of the 10 Parsippany elementary schools. Each student chose a three-to five-minute piece of literature, which they practiced reading with expression, poise, good enunciation, pacing and eye contact.

During the competition, teacher-volunteers judged the students on seven characteristics during two rounds of competition. While the students adjourned for dinner with their parents and coaches, the results were tallied and the top-five scorers read their pieces one last time on stage in the auditorium. Northvail’s student, Syan Ghosh, was one of the five students to read his piece to the entire auditorium.

Trophies were awarded for fifth place, fourth place, third place, second place and first place. In addition, one reader from each school received a trophy for best performance in their individual school. Northvail School’s Olivia Chou was the reader with the best performance from Northvail. The school with the highest total scores receives the “Forensics Cup” trophy, which travels from school to school each year.

The Harlem Wizards vs. the Brooklawn Bombers fundraiser

PARSIPPANY — The Harlem Wizards are warming up to play the Brooklawn Bombers on Saturday, May 9 at 7:00 p.m.

The evening promises to be a fun filled event that is great for kids and adults. This is Brooklawn PTSA’s only biennial fundraiser that sold out two years ago. Support our own Brooklawn Bombers as they take on the world-famous Harlem Wizards at Parsippany Hills High School!

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; game starts at 7:00 p.m. Have dinner, purchase 50/50 Raffle Plus tickets and win money or prizes.

The Harlem Wizards have a unique mission: create awe-inspiring events throughout the country. At a Wizards game, fans witness amazing basketball talent combined with hilarious comedy. It’s two hours of time where families and friends can all laugh together. Fans will experience a magical display of tricks, coordinated ball handling, fancy passing and aerodynamic athleticism combined with high-energy comedy and audience interaction. The experience can only be summed up in two words: Awe-inspiring!

Purchase a Wizards jersey and get the chance to warm up with the Wizards team! Go to www.harlemwizards.com/schedules to order online ($0.99 handling charge will apply per ticket) or email us for an order form by clicking here.

Tickets are $10.00 students, $12:00 adults in advance, $12.00 students, $15.00 adults at the door.

They are also offering $20.00 reserved seating in the first three rows, which will include a free Wizardsposter for each ticket.

Lastly, the limited Courtside VIP seats are $35.00 include the courtside reserved seat, an exclusive 10-minute meet and greet with a Wizard, a swag bag and complimentary food from Buffalo Wild Wings.

Criminal Mischief and Burglary to Auto on Interpace Parkway

PARSIPPANY — Patrol Officers E. Paseler and Z. Koch responded to an office complex on Interpace Parkway for a report of criminal mischief, on Saturday, April 25 at 11:35 p.m.

Upon their arrival, a 50 year old male employee advised the officers that he parked his 1999 red Ford F150 Pick-up truck along the wood line at this location.

Upon returning to the vehicle, he observed that unknown suspects removed the weather stripping surrounding the driver’s side window, all four tires flat and contents of the vehicle strewn about the interior.

Numerous items from the interior were also outside the vehicle and the suspects removed a can of soup from the vehicle, opened it and poured it into the vehicle’s gas tank and onto the driver’s side of the vehicle. The suspects then relocked the pick-up and fled the scene.

Officer Paseler viewed video surveillance from the premises’ security system which shows four (4) suspects walking away from where the vehicle was parked, toward Upper Pond Road at approximately 11:35 p.m.

Three of the four suspects are again observed walking toward where the vehicle was parked at approximately 12:17 a.m.

The suspects are all male, no definitive race.

One suspect is described as young with a thin build, wearing a zip-up dark hooded sweatshirt, yellow/blue sneakers and sweatpants.

Another suspect is wearing a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants.

Another is wearing shorts or sweatpants rolled up, with bright orange sneakers.

The fourth suspect was out of camera focus and no clothing description could be obtained. No images were available at this time.

The area where the vehicle was parked is adjacent to 300 Interpace Parkway and Upper Pond Road.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Parsippany Police at (973) 263-4300.

Numerous Burglaries to Automobiles

PARSIPPANY — There were a number of burglaries to motor vehicles over the weekend. Anyone with information on any of these incidents is urged to contact the Parsippany Police at (973) 263-4300.

BURGLARY TO AUTO AT HILTON HOTEL – 1 HILTON COURT

Patrol Officers M. Kimble and A. Ohlsen, with assistance from Patrol Sergeant E. Kinsey, responded to the Hilton Hotel for a report of a burglary to an automobile. A 48 year old male victim from Ledgewood advised Officer Kimble that between Friday, April 24 at 3:00 p.m. and 12:00 Midnight, unknown suspect(s) attempted to enter his 2012 black BMW X6 which was parked in the hotel parking lot. The initial investigation resulted in observing the driver’s side door lock damaged as well as damage to the windshield molding. No items appeared missing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Parsippany Police at (973) 263-4300.

BURGLARY TO AUTO – NORTH BEVERWYCK ROAD

Patrol Officer E. Elston responded to a residence on North Beverwyck Road for a report of a burglary to an automobile on Saturday, April 25 at approximately 11:23 p.m. Upon his arrival, Officer Elston was met by the 28 year old female victim from Bloomingdale who left her purse in her unlocked 2002 beige Chevy Malibu.

Unknown suspect(s) entered the unoccupied, parked vehicle and stole her purse. No suspect information was obtained.

BURGLARY TO AUTO – LONGVIEW AVENUE

Patrol Officer W. Stone responded to a Longview Ave residence for a burglary to an automobile. Upon his arrival, the female victim advised him that unknown suspect(s) entered her unlocked 2012 silver Honda Accord sometime between 11:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25 and 4:18 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 while it was parked in her driveway. The contents of the center console were strewn about the interior of the vehicle; however no personal items were removed. No suspect(s) were observed.

Swatting Incident at residence on Iroquois Avenue

PARSIPPANY — Patrol Sergeants A. Keiser and S. Miller along with Patrol Officers M. Kimble and E. Elston responded to a residence on Iroquios Avenue, in the Lake Hiawatha section, for a report of a man with a gun at 2:28 a.m. on Sunday, April 26.

The call came through the Montville Police Department, via 9-1-1.

Upon the officers’ arrival, with assistance from Boonton Township Police Officers also on scene, the female homeowner was contacted and her home cleared for suspects.

The investigation revealed that this was a swatting incident.

No contact could be made when the 9-1-1 phone number was called back numerous times. The incident was turned over to the Parsippany Police Investigative Division for further investigation.

Swatting is the act of tricking an emergency service (via such means as hoaxing a 9-1-1 dispatcher) into dispatching an emergency response based on the false report of an ongoing critical incident.

Criminal Mischief on New England Drive

PARSIPPANY —  The Parsippany Police Department’s Investigative Division is seeking information for ongoing acts of Criminal Mischief that occur to residences along New England Drive.

Within the past year, approximately ten incidents have been reported for unidentified suspect(s) who have vandalized fences, lawn ornaments, and sidewalks / walkways.

The suspect(s) also bang on doors or the sides of houses. The incidents usually occur on Thursday evenings between 10:00 p.m. and 12:00 Midnight, but are not exclusive to that time frame.

Extra attention is being conducted by our Patrol Officers and we are urging anyone with information to contact the Parsippany Police at (973) 263-4300.

Littleton Girl Scouts Learn About Women In Law Enforcement

PARSIPPANY — Littleton Girl Scouts invited Lt. Yvonne Christiano of the Parsippany Police Department to learn about women in law enforcement on Thursday, April 23.

Lt. Christiano described to the girl scouts her reasons for joining the department and her training at the police academy. Lt. Christiano can boast a number of “firsts” in her career including first female supervisor in the department and first female Field Training Officer with responsibility of one-on-one training and evaluations of new recruits.

She was a 2011 honoree of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office for Women’s Achievement in Law Enforcement.

Internationally Acclaimed Jewish Musical Recording Artist to perform

Dan Nichols
Dan Nichols

PARSIPPANY — Dan Nichols, internationally acclaimed recording artist will appear at Temple Beth Am for a Rock’n Shabbat Service and Song Session on Friday, May 8,  at 7:30 p.m. 

The service and song session are free and open to the public. Dan Nichols is a singular talent in the world of Jewish music. He is one of the most dynamic, influential and beloved Jewish musicians in North America. Dan’s melodies have become an integral part of the spiritual and liturgical experience of countless individuals and Jewish communities.

Dan’s anthology includes a wide range of sounds and styles, from energetic Jewish rock anthems to moving interpretations of traditional Jewish liturgy. Jewish youth and adults from around the world  have drawn inspiration from Dan’s music and its positive message of Jewish values, identity and pride. 

His live performances are legendary for their unrestrained energy and infectious spirit. Dan spends more than 180 days each year on the road, where he often serves as artist-in-residence for congregations and camp communities. He has performed live in Israel at the historic fortress of Masada and in the studio for the groundbreaking XM Radio presentation of Radio Hanukkah. In addition to these highlights, Dan has been featured at conferences and conventions of nearly every major Jewish movement, including the URJ Biennial, NFTY Convention, BBYO International, and Limmud. 

Temple Beth Am is located at 879 South Beverwyck Road.

West New York man arrested for criminal mischief to Lake Hiawatha Firehouse

PARSIPPANY — Patrol Officers A. Ohlsen and J. Pledger, with assistance from Patrol Sergeant A. Keiser responded to the Parsippany Fire Department’s District 4 Firehouse, located at 39 North Beverwyck Road for a report of criminal mischief, on Sunday, April 26 at 8:30 a.m.

Upon arrival, the officers were informed by individuals that a male suspect vandalized the firehouse by throwing rocks through the windows of the two front garage doors, and side entry door glass, with subsequent damage to the fire apparatus windshield and an electronic message board. The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival.

While conducting the investigation, Parsippany Police received a call for an intoxicated injured male who fled the North Beverwyck Road 7-11.

The description of the injured male matched that of the suspect. However during the course of the investigation, the suspect returned to the 7-11 as a passenger in a vehicle. He was approached by Officers Ohlsen and Pledger who determined he was the suspect for the criminal mischief to the firehouse. The intoxicated suspect, identified as Mr. Kiefer Corro, 26, West New York, was placed under arrest and transported to Saint Clare’s Hospital by Rockaway Neck Volunteer Ambulance Squad for injuries suffered during the vandalism.

Upon his hospital release, he was transported to Police Headquarters where he was charged with third degree criminal mischief due to the approximate $3,500 in damages.

He was given a bail amount of $5,000 with no 10% option by the Parsippany Municipal Court. He was released on bail pending a court appearance.

Editors Note: A complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Patrick Fagan arrested for stealing wire from Home Depot

Patrick Fagan
Patrick Fagan

PARSIPPANY — Patrol Officer J. Williams responded to the Home Depot for a report of a theft at 1:18 p.m. on Friday, April 22.

Upon his arrival, he was met by Home Depot’s Loss Prevention Specialist (LPS) who detained a male individual who attempted to steal six rolls of wire from the store.

The suspect was exiting through the garden center passed all point of sale without paying.

When the Loss Prevention Specialist blocked the suspect’s escape route and identified himself, the suspect pushed the Loss Prevention Specialist with his hands and again with his body in an attempt to flee.

The suspect was detained in the store until Officer Williams arrived and took custody of the suspect, Mr. Patrick Fagan, 21,  Lake Hiawatha.

Mr. Fagan was transported to Police Headquarters and charged with Robbery, Shoplifting and Possession of Hypodermic Needle. A $10,000 bail amount was issued against Mr. Fagan, with no 10% option. He was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility, pending a court appearance.

Editors Note: A complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Sleeping man arrested for DWI

PARSIPPANY — Patrol Officer W. Stone responded to the Delta Gas Station to assist Patrol Sergeant S. Miller with a motor vehicle stop, at 12:16 a.m. on Thursday, April 21. The officers observed a male driver, later identified as Mr. Joshua Feldman, 30, South Orange, with his feet outside the vehicle and his body slumped over the interior.

After waking Mr. Feldman who was asleep in the vehicle, a brief investigation was conducted and resulted in Mr. Feldman’s arrest for Driving While Intoxicated. He was transported to Police Headquarters and charged with Being Under the Influence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Driving While Intoxicated and Reckless Driving.

He was released to a friend, pending a court appearance.

 

 

Robbery at U-Haul; employee assaulted

PARSIPPANY — Patrol Officer D. Farms responded to U-Haul on Route 46 for a report of a burglary to an automobile and simple assault.

Upon his arrival, he spoke with the 25 year old male victim, who was also a U-Haul employee.

The victim advised Officer Farms that while he was parking a returned rental truck, he observed an unknown male suspect standing beside another truck.

The victim approached the suspect who had broken the driver’s side window and was attempting to enter the truck. The victim grabbed the suspect’s shirt to prevent him from entering the vehicle at which time the suspect turned around and allegedly struck the victim with a closed fist.

He then pushed the victim and ran into the wooded area behind the U-Haul lot.

The victim did not suffer injury and the area was checked by assisting Police Officers with negative results for locating the suspect. The suspect is described as wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and black pants. The incident is classified as a Robbery due to the suspect using force during an attempted theft.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Parsippany Police at (973) 263-4300.

Letter to the editor: Parsippany student on PARCC

lettersDear Editor:

As a high-school student, I realize that some form of standardized testing is essential, in order to monitor and improve education. However, the newly implemented PARCC, fails to properly assess students, and instead, takes time away from actual learning, confuses students with its online format, and poorly designed questions, as well as unnecessarily drains money from our districts.

We can all agree that preparation for tests is important, but when the whole curriculum and school system stars to revolve around testing, it becomes a problem. It’s nice to learn for the sake of being more educated, but when the PARCC was implemented, teachers began to focus more on preparing for the test, and “you need to know this for the PARCC” became a common phrase that ended many lessons. Instead of actual learning, we are forced to complete practice tests and worksheet for the main purpose of doing well on the PARCC. Also, it takes an additional ten hours to administer the test, which could have been used for actual learning.

There were many technological issues during the PARCC, which took time away from our testing time, and often lost some of the answers we had inputted. The online format not only makes the test unreliable, but it is also makes the test more difficult to take. Scrolling was difficult, and it was also very uncomfortable to type in the work done for math problems, as I, and many other students, prefer to draw pictures to represent work.

Another problem that the PARCC arises is its cost. Pearson charges approximately $30 per student, not including practice material and electronic devices to administer the test. All if the accumulating billions of dollars could have been used for better things. The government does not provide grants to cover these expenses.

Some districts have adopted an opt-out policy that allows students to be exempt from testing, our district has not, and it was threatened that there would be consequences for those who choose not to take the PARCC. As a result, I chose to purposely fail the test to show that I do not support the PARCC, as did many other students. I feel that it is important to at least create an opt-out policy for those that are against the PARCC, that would allow students to simply not take the test, instead of resorting to other measures, such as skipping school, or failing the test.

Thank you for your understanding, and I hope that the PARCC will be completely abolished. However, assuming that that option is not very likely, an opt-out policy should be put in place so student have the choice of not taking the PARCC, which does not benefit students in the least.

Thank You
Alice Limanova

25 Bags of Trash collected on South Beverwyck by the local Church

PARSIPPANY — Twenty youths from the Chinese Christian Church of New Jersey cleaned up the two-mile stretch of South Beverwyck Road on Saturday, April 25.

The clean up began at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Fire District 5 firehouse on South Beverwyck and ended at Old Troy Park on Bee Meadow Parkway. One team worked on clearing trash from the north bound side of the road while the other team worked on the other side.

Together,  they collected a total of 25 large garbage bags of trash!  This was part of the Chinese Christian Church’s  annual community service project to serve the township of Parsippany.
Members of the Chinese Church picked up trash along South Beverwyck on Saturday
Members of the Chinese Church picked up trash along South Beverwyck on Saturday
Members of the Chinese Church collected 25 bags of trash along South Beverwyck
Members of the Chinese Church collected 25 bags of trash along South Beverwyck

Par-Troy Little League East Opening Day

PARSIPPANY — The Par-Troy Little League East held its Opening Day ceremonies on Saturday, April 25 at the Delio Field.

Parsippany High School Junior Meghan Wisniewski sings the National Anthem. Some of the Little Leaguers recited “The Little League Pledge.”

The Pledge: I trust in God, I love my country, And will repsect its laws, I will play fiar, And Strive to win, but win or lose, I will always do my best.

After throwing some of the opening balls, the fans got to enjoy some food at the snack bar, there was a Tricky Tray and 50/50.  Some area vendors had tables set up displaying their products.

Boy Scouts pack seedlings for Arbor Day

PARSIPPANY — Boy Scout Troop 72 and Cub Scout Packs 177 and 215 joined together with the township’s Parks and Forestry Department to continue a longstanding tradition.

It was their biggest year yet. They had 30 Boy Scouts and Leaders from Troop 72, 19 Cub Scouts and family members from Pack 177 and an incredible 55 Cub Scouts and family from Pack 215.

In 1972, then-Parks Director Joseph Jannarone Sr. introduced an idea: presenting every third grader in town with his or her very own tree seedling. Over the passing decades, many trees in this town—a national Tree City USA since 1975—have grown from the plantings made by local school children.

For 2015, the tradition continued as the scouts gathered Thursday evening at the Parks and Forestry building on Knoll Road to prepare pine tree seedlings, which were distributed to third graders Friday, Arbor Day. The scouts have assisted in this endeavor for several years, and in that time have committed several hundred hours to this project alone.

 

Italian-American Police Society raise funds for Special Olympics

The Italian American Police Society of New Jersey held its annual sold-out Pasta Night for Special Olympics, on Saturday, April 25. The event was held at Local 464 Union Hall located at 245 Paterson Avenue, Little Falls.

A record crowd attended amd enjoyed a gourmet homemade Italian meal of antipasto, meatballs, sausage, spaghetti, stuffed shells, salads and more than 30 different desserts.

Thanks to the members a very successful Tricky Tray raised a lot of money for this important cause. The attendees were treated to a comedy show and the event was a huge success.

Thanks for the generous food donations as well as to the many volunteers that worked from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. cooking, cleaning, preparing food and serving. What a great way to enjoy an evening together and help New Jersey’s Special Olympics athletes.

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