The hottest day of the year is ahead Tuesday for most of New Jersey. Forecasters are calling for the mercury to reach 91 degrees in parts of Bergen County today and 90 at Newark Liberty International Airport. The lingering cloudy skies this morning will give way to sun this afternoon as temperatures soar, the National Weather…
Super PAC spokesman linked to Waterview Developer, campaign photo raises questions
PARSIPPANY — If five words could sum up the 2015 Republican Primary race, those words would be “Democratic Super PAC invades Parsippany.” Last month it was revealed that NJ’s Future First (NJFF), a Super PAC with ties to Essex County Democrats and President Obama was hiring campaign workers to support Councilman dePierro’s Council slate and was mailing flyers in support of him and his running mates, Vincent Ferrara and Loretta Gragnani. dePierro has steadfastly denied all claims.
According to state and federal laws, PACs may support issues, but may not have any contact with individual candidates. When first made aware of the NJFF’s presence in Parsippany, dePierro told Politickrnj that “this must have been arranged by someone who sees what they’re [Councilman Paul Carifi] doing on council and doesn’t like their conduct at council meetings. Parsippany is the largest town [in Morris County] and all these years I never felt completely in control [of what happens in campaigns].”
“I don’t know who the PAC is,” he added. “I haven’t even seen the mailer. I understand they misspelled my name. I haven’t seen this.”
In an article published today and written by the Star Ledger and re-posted by Parsippany Focus, Timothy White, the Super PAC’s spokesman told the Star Ledger that NJFF represents “the collaboration of several New Jersey business professionals who were concerned that the partisan gridlock stymieing Washington, D.C. was being replicated on all levels of government. A network was created with intent on providing a new voice….NJFF has identified Parsippany Councilman Carifi as being a particularly divisive individual who is more concerned with political ambitions and personal vendettas than providing good government to the township.”
Parsippany Focus has learned that Timothy White is no stranger to Parsippany. White, a vice president at the Beckerman public relations firm, has previously been retained by Steve Kalafer, one of the investors of the controversial Whole Foods development plan at “Waterview”, a project, Carifi and his team oppose, and one that dePierro and his slate support.
In 2013, White, working for Waterview developer partner Kalfer, penned “letters to the editor” on behalf of various individuals in support of the project and issued press releases for the building trades unions, of which NJFF director Robert Dombroski is a member of.
In one email, White wrote Kalfer and his personal assistant:
Bob Grieb from the Pipefitters was nice enough to lend his name to the quote in the press release, I thought we can follow up with a letter to the editor from Bob that we can publish in the Daily Record, The PATCH and The Star-Ledger.
Attached is a draft of a letter from Bob. Do you think we can get him to approve this letter? If so I would just need his phone number and e-mail address for verification purposes and I will submit on his behalf.
Thanks again,
TW
In another email, Mr. Kalafer’s assistant asked another Waterview development partner, Joseph M Forgione, to forward a Timothy White authored press release to Parsippany Township attorney John Inglesino.
A Photo Tells a Thousand Words
Parsippany Focus recently compared three photos being used by the dePierro, Ferrara, and Gragnani team and the Super Pac. All three photos are the same except for some cropping. The first photo was taken from dePierro’s official Facebook page. There is a watermark showing the photographer who took the official portrait.
The second photograph shows an official dePierro campaign flyer. The same official photograph is used, but it was cropped to fit within the flyer.
The third photograph is a flyer produced by the Super PAC NJ’s Future First. Again, the official diPierro photograph is used, however without any cropping (the misspelling of dePierro’s name has since been corrected on more recent flyers) this time.
So what does this mean? The laws of physics say that it is impossible to un-crop a photo without first having the original, and although it can be argued that the Super PAC obtained the photograph for its flyer directly from dePierro’s Facebook page, the original Facebook photo is a much lower resolution photograph and it would be impossible to be used on NJFF flyer. NJFF, (which by law may not have any contact with candidates or their proxies) could have only received the photograph from one of the candidates on dePierro’s team, their representative, or the photographer hired by the dePierro team.
Jeffrey Brindle, the executive director of Nj’s Election Law Enforcement Commission recently blasted the Super PAC in an Op-ed for PolitickrNJ.
Parsippany Focus has asked Councilman dePierro and Timothy White, spokesman for NJ’s Future First for comment and will update if and when any are provided.
Update: Councilman diPierro told Parsippany Focus that “No one in my campaign had any contact with that PAC nor did we share any information or photos with that PAC! If you check our facebook site, our web site or the Township website, all of our photos and information are readily available to anyone.”
editor’s note: The photo NJFF used is indeed the same photograph used on Mr. diPierro’s Facebook page. However, Parsippany Focus stands by it’s assertion that it would be impossible to use the Facebook photo on the NJFF’s flyer. NJFF could only have used an original source photo, paid for by dePierro’s team and unpublished anywhere without the photographer’s watermark.
Parsippany says goodbye to “Jimmy Stefel”
PARSIPPANY — James J. Stefel, 66, passed away on Sunday, May 3, at Morton Plant Mease Hospital in Clearwater, Florida.
Jimmy was born in Newark and grew up in Irvington. He lived in West Orange before moving to Parsippany in 1990.
Jimmy worked for the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills as a Senior Maintenance Repairman. After working for the town Jimmy was a past chief and life member of Parsippany Rescue & Recovery.
He was predeceased by his son, Charles Pizzi and his daughter, Deborah Decker.
Survivors include his wife, Ruthann (nee-Frandsen); his son, J.R. Stefel; his sister, April M. Stefel; his daughter-in-law, Lisa Pizzi; his son-in-law, Dwain Decker; his six grandchildren: Jennifer, Nicole, and Christopher Decker; Anthony, Tiffany, and Juliana Pizzi; and his two great-grandchildren: Gabby and Brody Semple.
His funeral service was held on Saturday, May 9 at Par-Troy Funeral Home. The services continued at Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, where the Last Call was given and then the interment was at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in his memory to United Methodist Church, 903 South Beverwyck Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 or Parsippany Rescue & Recovery, Post Office Box 45, Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey 07034.
The Eulogy for Jimmy Stefel
By Pastor Jeff Edwards, United Methodist Church
Jimmy Stefel was born on February 6, 1949 in Newark, to Margaret and James Stefel, whose parents had both emigrated from Hungary. James had been a POW in Germany during World War II. Jimmy grew up in Irvington, New Jersey with a younger sister April, and with two cousins, Johnny and Valerie, close at hand.
He loved fishing, and when he turned 12 and his mother would allow him to venture off on his own, Jimmy would walk with his cousin Johnny all the way from Irvington to SpeedwellLake in Morristown in order to fish. There were closer places they could have gone, but they just preferred Speedwell Lake.
In the summertime the family would spend a great of time in Chadwick Beach Island at the Jersey shore, where with Jimmy’s help his father was perpetually in the process of building a house there.
After graduating high school Jimmy went off to Chadron State University all the way out in Nebraska. He loved kids and had in mind getting a degree that would allow him to teach handicapped children. His mother would send him care packages with Oatmeal raisin cookies. He made extra money doing ironing. But he wasn’t much inclined to sitting in classrooms, and his dream of working professionally with handicapped kids began to fade when he realized he just didn’t have it in him to be stern with kids.
So after two years he dropped out of college and came back to New Jersey to live in West Orange. He got a job with an asphalt company for a couple of years before getting a civil service position with the Essex Mosquito Commission where he worked for ten years, after which he worked for the Fairfield Road Department for four years. Jimmy attended Lincoln Tech to get a degree in air conditioning and refrigeration, and started a part time business on the side.
In 1974 Jimmy met Ruthann on a date arranged by their best friends, quickly becoming friends, over time becoming each other’s best friends. Ruth Ann had two children from a previous marriage, and she particularly appreciated how loving Jimmy was to her kids. Charlie at age seven loved Jimmy from the get go; Debbie at 12 took more time to win over, but once Jimmy accomplished this, she would adore him from ever after.
As a side bit here, most of you know how Jimmy loved to eat, and how Jimmy was a straight shooter with distinctive tastes, and as such he was quick to let you know when he liked or didn’t like how something tasted. The one exception to this rule was with Debbie who over the years would make Jimmy a Chocolate Cream Pie that he really didn’t care for, but since she held such a soft spot in his heart, he never let her know.
Jimmy and Ruthann were married on June 25, 1977 at the West Orange Presbyterian Church, in a wedding that was delayed because Ruthann’s father forgot to pick her up. The reception was held at the West Orange Elks Club. The couple honeymooned at the shore.
Jimmy took on the role of Dad to Charlie and Debbie, going to all their special events, and becoming Charlie’s baseball coach.
Ruthann’s family up in Massachusetts adored Jimmy. Jimmy didn’t care for New York City, and as a result he had rooted from early age for the Boston Red Sox – the arch enemies of the Yankees. There was something about Jimmy that inspired great love in others, and in particular from Ruthann’s family. In 1986 when the Red Sox made it into the World Series Ginny, Vicky, and Stacie waited in line for a day and a half to get Jimmy third row seats.
In the last eight years Jimmy became particularly close to Vicky’s husband, Bobby Fish. Jimmy taught Bobby to fish, and became his fishing buddy to the end of his life.
Jimmy’s dad had wanted to hold a grandchild in his arms, but it unfortunately he died in 1981 before he could see his dream fulfilled. Jimmy was content to be a step dad, and had knew that the doctors had told Ruthann that there was no way she could get conceive a child. So there was both extreme shock and extraordinary joy present when word came down that Ruthann was in fact pregnant. The doctor said that there were women coming to his office who wanted to get pregnant but couldn’t who didn’t have one quarter of the things wrong inside them that Ruthann had wrong inside her. The pregnancy was a miracle, and Jimmy and Ruthann were sure the miracle had to do with Jimmy’s father pulling strings in heaven. This pregnancy went easier for Ruthann than either of her two previous pregnancies. Jimmy was tickled pink and delighted to attend birthing classes with Ruthann – classes Ruthann probably didn’t need herself having been through this drill twice before.
And when in 1983 JR was born he came out the spitting image of his father, sharing only, it seemed, dirty feet with his mother. And thus began a relationship between father and son that that is best described as that of “best buds.”
In 1989 the family moved from West Orange to Parsippany to share a house with Ruthann’s mother Joy who was alone after the death of Ruthann’s father.
There was a pool out back and many happy hours were spent by Jimmy with his son beside the pool. Particularly with Ruthann’s demanding work schedule, Jimmy became the one to take JR to his roller hockey and baseball games and such. Jimmy taught his son to fish and took him to the beach to go crabbing. They shared a particular passion for professional wrestling, watching it on TV and going to local events, and imitating what they saw with one another.
Before long after arriving in Parsippany, Jimmy was able to get a job utilizing his knowledge of heating and ventilation with the Parsippany Building Maintenance Department. He became deeply involved in the life of his community, getting involved early on with the rescue squad which would, as Ruthann put it, become Jimmy’s church. He never missed a meeting, and served for a time as the chief of the squad. He loved the friendships he made there, and the opportunity to help people in times of desperate need. He was on call, 24 7, going out to drive the ambulance at all hours of night and day.
It wasn’t easy what he witnessed at times. Jimmy would find it particularly hard to be present when young people were maimed or killed in accidents. Jimmy had a tough exterior, and was good in a crisis, but he was a softie inside and really cared about people. He was always willing to do whatever he could to help another human being in need. Jimmy would give you the shirt off his back.
At an early age Jimmy got his son involved at the Rescue Squad, who really enjoyed helping to get the trucks ready to ride in local parades.
Jimmy became particularly close to John Parnie and Joey Belladino; together they were the three musketeers, known for their practical jokes.
Another particularly close friend was Charlie Bedy.
Ruthann and Jimmy were always each other’s best friends. They told each other everything. When Charlie reported to his mother that at that World Series game his step-dad had been flirting with some Boston girls there, he was surprised when she laughed and told him Jimmy had already told her all about it. She knew how her husband liked to joke around, and she also knew her husband’s heart and his devotion to her.
He had that gruff exterior, but people quickly learned that he was a dog who was all bark but no bite. There was a child-like quality to Jimmy. He didn’t filter what he had to say; it would just come out – these wonderful, funny one liners that would speak the truth and make everybody laugh. He loved his dogs: Beauty, Casey and Willy and he grew to love JR’s cat, Petey, too.
Three years ago Jimmy was diagnosed with hepatitis C. He didn’t react well to the medications. His liver was deteriorating, but a heart condition kept Jimmy from receiving a liver transplant. But through it all Jimmy kept working. As I said before, there was something about Jimmy that would move people to do things for him. He was given a job that was less physically taxing working for Barbara at the Seniors Center. Even so, he was constantly exhausted, and had to take naps, but people like Barbara loved him so that they did what the could to accommodate him just so they could keep him coming to work.
Finally last December, Jimmy became so depleted that he stopped going in to work, and Ruthann cared for him at home.
Every October Jimmy, Ruthann and JR would fly` down to Florida to sit on the beach and fish and be with Ginny and his husband Victor, as well as Jesse their daughter and Jimmy’s godchild. In recent years Jesse would treat her uncle to back rubs that would always bring a smile to his face.
As Jimmy neared the end of his life, he became insistent that he wanted one last trip to Florida. And so it came to pass that exactly two weeks ago on Ruthann and Jimmy flew to Florida, where to Jimmy’s surprise he was met by JR. Jimmy spent three days in a beachside condo that Ruthann had rented. Ginny, Victor, and Jesse were there, and Bobby Fish too.
Jimmy had a bucket list he wanted to cross off:
He wanted to go to the flea market.
He wanted to buy a new fishing poll and go fishing.
He wanted to eat stone crabs.
He wanted to eat ice cream with jimmies; and Turkish taffy.
He accomplished everything on his list except to get a hair cut, though he asked to do that in the middle of the night Tuesday. Instead, with his consciousness fading, he checked into the hospital. The last really clear words he spoke were to JR, “I love you, too Buddy.” He died peacefully on Sunday. He was met on the far side by his parents and Ruthann’s parents, by Debbie and Charlie.
PHS “Jazz Cafe” was a huge success
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany High School Jazz Ensemble performed on Wednesday, May 6 to a packed audience in the Cafeteria of Parsippany High School. The Jazz Ensemble Director is Mr. Gregory Dalakian.
The members of 2015 PHS Jazz ensemble include:
Alto Saxophone: Kentaro Hansen and Samir Gandhi
Tenor Saxophone: Ethan Kaplan and Nic Colella
Baritone Saxophone: Craig Hunt
Trumpet: Miki Hansen, Michelle Inn, Adam Ye and Jyotsna Ramaswamy
Trombone: Kyle Ting, Megan Wang, Anthony Martucci and Brendan Laux
Rhythm Section: Yang Fu, Piano; Joshua Lustig and Jacob Curley Guitar; Stephen Giercyk, Bass; Mitchell Ryzuk and Brian Carter, Drum set; Eric Lai, Auxiliary Percussion.
The students performed the following during the Jazz Cafe:
Birdland: Joe Zawinul; Arranged by Victor Lopez
No Business Blues: Jeff Jarvis
Sir Duke:Words & Music by Stevie Wonder; Arranged by Dave Wolpe
As Time Goes By: Words & Music by Herman Hupfeld; Arranged by Mike Carubia
Sarah Ferguson, Monique Mendoza, Sienna Lafuente, Jailene Veloz: Vocal Quartet
A Night in Tunisia: “Dizzy” Gillespie & Frank Paparelli; Arranged by Sammy Nestico
Hit the Bricks: Gordon Goodwin
Jericho: African-American Spiritual; Arranged by Chris Sharp
Samba Kinda Mambo; Michael Philip Mossman
At Last: Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Mack Gordon and Arranged by Dave Wolpe with Isabella Cacciottolo – Vocals
Chameleon: Herbie Hancock, Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, Jr. & Bennie Maupin; Arranged by Victor Lopez
Sister Sadie: Horace Silver, Arranged by Mike Dana
The lncredibles: Michael Giacchino, Arranged by Stephen Bulla (From Walt Disney Pictures’ THE INCREDIBLES — A Pixar Film
Kiwanis Club Donates To Family Promise Of Morris County’s Jolin Food Box Program
PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany presented a $500.00 check to Family Promise of Morris County’s Jolin Food Box Program at a recent meeting at the Empire Diner in Parsippany. For more information on the Jolin Food Box Program click here.
Family Promise partners with Jolin Food Boxes, a private organization, to help formerly homeless families and single women prepare nutritious meals on a budget. Buying food in large bulk quantities for over 20 years, Jolin Food Boxes partners with local non-profit organizations, churches, senior centers, housing projects, and other organizations dedicated to assisting needy community members. Each food box contains $100.00 worth of frozen, refrigerated, and other grocery items unobtainable from other sources for $39.00.
Social workers at Family Promise report that donations have already made a significant difference in the lives of families with interrupted benefits and other emergency situations. Community support is particularly helpful, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture no longer permits individuals to use SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – aka food stamps) to purchase food boxes.
Serving Morris County since 1988, Family Promise is dedicated to ending the crisis of homelessness by partnering with public and private agencies, congregations and 1600+ community volunteers to provide shelter, case management, and mentoring services leading to self-sufficiency.
For more information regarding Family Promise of Morris County and Jolin Food Boxes, please contact Joann Bjornson at j.bjornson@familypromisemorris.org or (973) 998-0820, or click here.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany meets on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at the Empire Diner, Route 46. For more information, click here.
Parsippany Rescue & Recovery Helps Student Complete Eagle Scout Award In Memory of Oklahoma City Bombing
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Rescue & Recovery helped Madison Elementary School Student Michael Voeller to complete his Eagle Scout Award in Norman, Oklahoma.
The significance of the project lies in the fact that April 19, 2015 was the twentieth anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.
Bill Sanford, President of Parsippany Rescue & Recovery, connected with Michael Voeller on Facebook where he read about Michael’s Eagle Scout project to beautify the Madison Elementary School Peace Garden with the intention of serving as a place of peace, hope and serenity for those still in need of comfort. This was to include the planting of a tree grown from a seedling that originated from the Oklahoma City Memorial Survivor tree at the site of the Alfred P. Murrah bombing.
Because the project sounded interesting to Bill Sanford, he shared the information with members of the Rescue & Recovery squad who were most receptive and excited to participate. It hit home because many members of our rescue community went to Oklahoma to assist with the rescue efforts of the bombing in 1995. The response of rescue personnel from New York & New Jersey set the standard called “The Oklahoma Standard”.
When the World Trade Center Memorial was opened in New York City, a tree that grew from a seedling of that same Oklahoma Memorial Survivor tree was planted there also. When Rescue & Recovery volunteers learned of the importance of Michael’s project, they were eager to provide support.
In preparation of the twentieth anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, Michael Voeller worked diligently to replace the tree wall at Madison Elementary School and installed a new plaque stand to accommodate the original plaque from the tenth anniversary of the bombing, a plaque to honor those lost or forever changed by the events of that day and a plaque listing project supporters. Parsippany Rescue & Recovery provided two benches for the peace garden.
Michael continued to work with the principal and faculty of the school to educate the students about the preservation and purpose of the memorial and why, at the twentieth anniversary, it is important to come together in remembrance.
Michael Voeller and Parsippany Rescue & Recovery are selfless community champions who serve as role models who have utilized their talents to make a difference in the world.
Letter to the editor: Waterview Rezoned Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA)
Dear Editor:
It is quite disturbing to realize Parsippany’s senior most Councilman and most likely his allies and members of the present administration do not believe nor comprehend the situation and present dilemmas of sustainability concerning water and landscapes; statements made that no water problems exist in Parsippany and that somehow only land development needed or not is good for the township, because of tax ratables and jobs is where Parsippany should be in this time and place.
So they say any landscape any proposal dam the actual facts concerning that landscape. Waterview because of it being privately owned, and along Highway Route 46 is syllogistically condemned through a narrow minded induction away from its natural assets, character and proper place in the ecology of biodiversity, ground water recharge, flood control, steep slopes and forests that enhance a traditional neighborhood, and ensure long-term water health through, its unique features identified in a Troy Brook Storm water study. Loss of this landscape will spell long-term future costs in infrastructure and water health through injury to sustainability of which Waterview landscape is an aid and asset in our waters quality and quantity. It’s destruction for market speculation land development, will surely cost tax-payers later and would bring immediate demise of the quality of life here. No new land development of a corporate market nature is needed anywhere in the region or Parsippany-Troy Hills itself.
Let us examine our water situation and some facts most people and official ignore this information comes from the NJDEP and Highlands Council. “Water use restrictions are used routinely for conservation. In the case of Parsippany, it is a buried valley aquifer with heavy drawdown during summer months and limited rate of recharge to the aquifer. If you reference the deficit/surplus table you will notice that the system has contracts to purchase water from JCMUA & MCMUA. Without these contracts in place, Par-Troy would have a shortfall in available water”. Now examine this statement from NJ Division of Watersupply & Geoscience. “
The Division of Water Supply & Geoscience does not track discharge by watershed, we account for diversion not discharge. Safe yield is a term associated with the yield of a surface water system through the drought of record. Parsippany-Troy Hills does not have surface water sources but they do purchase water from Jersey City which uses the Boonton Reservoir”
Here in lies the contradiction; notice Parsippany-Troy Hills does not have surface water sources; they purchase water. These sources are now privately owned and in the future especially when because of drought or excessive drawdowns water becomes less and shared by many sources, not only Parsippany water prices will surely increase. Homeowners will have to share in the costs for all water use, be it drinking water or water used for lawns or other desires not of a thirst or washing necessity. The thing to remember is “Without these contracts in place, Par-Troy would have a shortfall in available water” a water deficit which it does in fact have of its own without the sources.
Therefore we need to understand the limitations of the NJDEP water regulations. Just because we adhere to them, doesn’t mean we will have enough water. The regulations do not look at the sustainability of the aquifer.This explains how we have arrived at the present situation with conflicting viewpoints. The administration advises that the borough meets the NJDEP regulations and could continue to meet the regulations no matter what new developments.
Let us thanks to Highlands Council examine this contradiction further.
1. Sustainability: Let’s start with the basic assumption that our goal is to keep our aquifer at historic water levels by not withdrawing more water than the system can safely sustain over time. In other words we will not add to a water deficit over the long-term.
2. Water Deficit: Before we increase the demand for water, we need to determine whether current water withdrawals exceed the natural replenishment of the aquifer. We may decide to look into this further, but it appears that the experts are telling us that indeed we do have a water deficit. The Environmental Commission reported on March 10, 2014 that calculations by the New Jersey Highlands Council for the Regional Master Plan determined that our watershed has a significant water deficit.
The abstract of the Regional Master Plan states the following: “A central goal of the Regional Master Plan is to determine the amount and type of human development and activity that the ecosystem of the Highlands Region can sustain while still maintaining the overall ecological values thereof, with special reference to surface and ground water quality and supply. Based on an analysis of available methods and available data, the Low Flow Margin method was selected as the best scientific approach available at this time for estimating capacity of ground water supplies across the entire Highlands Region, to maintain both ecological flow needs and estimate sustainable levels of human consumption.”
Thus, as stated above, a central goal of the Regional Master Plan was to come up with data on the capacity of ground water supplies in the Highlands. Their 2007 Water Resources Technical Report on net water availability found a water deficit in our watershed and in many others. See map attached.
3. NJDEP Water Regulations: Your next question might be to ask how has it come about that we have a water deficit when the borough has been meeting the water diversion limits and firm capacity* regulations of NJDEP.
The answer to this inconsistency lies in the fact that the NJDEP regulations are based on a different set of criteria than are discussed above in items 1 and 2. NJDEP looks at past water use in the Borough and the adequacy of our wells’ pumping equipment. NJDEP is saying to us, if the water is there, these are the regulations for how much you can pump out. NJDEP is not addressing the important question of how much can safely be withdrawn from the system over time.
We must say to ourselves of these two facts concerning water which one should we all use in relation to deciding, actual need in new land development, where should the development go, what landscape should not be developed, and most importantly what criteria for water conservation and method of allocation should be allowed in local Planning Board Standards or revisions?
It now should be obvious that any official claiming there are no problems with water and that Parsippany has plenty of it is not quite a truth but a fiction favoring corporate developers in a short-term sense costing tax payers and residents in a long term outcome. Water first and foremost is a common public trust and belongs to us all. Parsippany being in the Highlands be it planning zone, or not has a responsibility to do what is best in landuse matters by ignoring its responsibility to long term water health and developers effects on water and landuse is simply adding to the accumulative sure to come future problems.
Our new Master Plan update of 2014 has done little if anything to revise our community defenses in its long term quality of life our zoning, ordinances and regulations remain virtually unchanged. No new safeguards or proactive measures were incorporated; we still stand in a state of reaction rather than being proactive. Our watershed is in deficit as many others now are. In 10 years the whole of New Jersey will be. New Jersey is going backwards is continued sprawl, in not being responsible for maintaining and repairing water infrastructure, 25% or more water is lost to leaks and seeps, and many sewer systems of the State suffer ‘combined source overflow” where sewage and stormwater runoff mixes as it empties into streams and rivers; one gallon of clean water and one of dirty equal two gallons of dirty water. We as a people have ignored water for too long; it is now catching up with us all.
Parsippany’s biggest mistake was and is not continuing the regional Master Plan Conformance as its benefits far outweigh any possible drawbacks. In fact regional Conformance has more transparency and encouragements in citizen participation and education. Corporate developers are given many opportunities, however best management practices and proper land use criteria are all in a higher state that in the long run preserves, protects and enhances any required land use. Home Rule is developers rule; saving money while avoiding lawsuits is not in the best interest of our Township. Conformance also gives legal protections why would anyone deny the people in the here and now and the future this advancement? Ask our senior Councilmen; who says what is good for the region may not be good for Parsippany, absurd! Unless one is powerless or in cahoots; which is it? Conformance would be instilling power, while “home rule” obviously is in cahoots with outside forces, caring less for anything less than their interest. The lessons of RD Realty and Waterview still unlearned.
Waterview Landscape can be saved by good leadership and using water as the element of salvation in being human not corporate. One additional fact from Clean Water Action, right now in the US 1 in 3 and in NJ 1 in 2 people suffers either in additional costs or health issues associated with water supply. We are not exactly sure what is in our water supply. Besides pollution urban decline and sprawl are the main culprits.
Nick Homyak
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034
Parsippany Lacrosse Day was celebrated on Saturday, May 9
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Lacrossee Club held “Parsippany Lacrosse Day” on Saturday, May 9 at Jannarone Park.
On Thursday, April 30, the Parsippany-Troy Hills School budget was passed. This means that the youth of Parsippany will have Lacrosse at both High Schools starting in the Spring of 2016!
This great news means that our children have a spring sport option that they can pursue up to, and possibly through college. This program was started with the intention of teaching this great sport to our youth and showing them how it applies to life. In 3 short years eveyone helped get this program going and now it’s being taken to the next level.
Lacrosse is a great metaphor for life. We all “drop the ball” every once and a while, and when we drop it, every effort is made to pick it back up. Once we have it in our possession again, we look to achieve our goal. We know that doing it alone can be difficult, if not impossible, so we look to others for “help”. In our family, when we see someone struggling to achieve their goal we let them know “ I got your back”, and “here’s your help”. The pace of life is fast, and planning is important but often spontaneous creative thinking on the fly gets us to our goal faster. “Dodging” the obstacles in life is often the most efficient way to get there.
Our program is going to grow with the news of Lacrosse at Parsippany High School and Parsippany Hills High School.
To learn more about Parsippany Lacrosse Club, click here.
Stickley Museum Family Fun Day attended by children of all ages
PARSIPPANY — The Stickley Museum held its third annual Family Fun & Games program on Saturday, May 9. The day’s activities were built around the theme “My Home.” Children of all ages attended to explore and learn about homes of all kinds, including the Stickley family’s home, the Log House at Craftsman Farms.
Birds are good architects – they choose soft natural materials when building nests for their eggs. The visitors took a bag and gathered nesting materials to take home to the birds in their yard – some moss or twine a colorful piece of ribbon, cotton. Birds will use them to build their nests.
Children visited the Education Room for a chance to get up close and personal with live animals from Animal Experiences, an outreach program developed by the Happy Tales Animal Sanctuary. Children had the opportunity to pet and ask questions about the animals and their homes in nature in a fun and safe environment.
To top off the day, Story Time was in the Log House, brought to you by the Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library.
While focused on family fun, this program also encouraged children to consider concepts that Gustav Stickley held dear, like the value of nature and the meaning of home. Family Fun Day included scavenger hunts, both indoors and out, that encouraged a fun exploration of the Log House and its beautiful natural environment, craft activities, and games. To end the day, visitors had snow cones from Kona Ice!
Boy Scout Troop 72 serves up Mothers Day breakfast
PARSIPPANY — On Mother’s Day, Troop 72 served its annual Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser. Scouts and Leaders were serving breakfast at the Applebee’s on 1087 Route 46.
Proceeds from the fundraiser help to sponsor scouts to attend National Youth Leadership Training, provide new equipment for the growing troop, and keep scouting affordable by helping pay for financially challenged families summer camp experience.
The breakfast consisted of pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, tea or juice.
For more information on Parsippany’s Boy Scout Troop 72, click here.
Happy Mother’s Day
As we all know that mother is precious gift to us. Mostly Mother day is celebrated on second week of May. It is a modern celebration day to honor mothers and motherhood for their contribution to their families. Therefore the children celebrate mothers day with special gifts, flowers, greeting cards, candies.
It is celebrated on various days mostly we seen in March and May. Firstly Mother Day has been started in 20th century in United States, mainly it celebrates because of two omens, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis. Make your sweet mothers happy by greeting them. So we are providing some Mother Day wishes to greet you mom in different ways.
You can pick up the best Mothers Day Wishes and Latest Mothers Day Wishes what you feel about your mom in your heart. These messages are speechless words which are very apt to the thoughts.
Jerry Seinfeld, Dionne Warwick among big stars in NJPAC’s 2015-16 season schedule
Kiwanis Club participates in “Staples Small Business Showcase”
PARSIPPANY — The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany had a display table at “Staples Small Business Showcase” on Saturday, May 9.
The Kiwanis Club provided membership information as well as flyers for their upcoming events to the customers of Staples.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany is hosting a Touch-A-Truck on Saturday, June 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 1719 Route 10 East, Parsippany. Kids…your chance to climb on and explore fire engines, construction vehicles, army trucks, police cars and more.
Face painting, a Flying Drone, Music, Food provided by Shop Rite (for a small fee) and so much more! Goody bags for all children attending.
Admission is $5.00 per person, or a maximum of $20.00 per family.
For more details visit www.parsippanykiwanis.org.
Staples Small Business Showcase is a program offered by the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce to it’s membership.
Any Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce member interested in participating in this program, please contact Frank Cahill, Executive Board Member, at (973) 402-6400.
Police Unity Tour … and they’re off
PARSIPPANY — The Police Unity Tour 2015 started at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9 in East Hanover and is heading to Washington D.C.,
Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Paul Philipps received some donations from several local businesses, organizations and invididuals to support his goals. Members of the Police Unity Tour, Chapter 1 will ride approximately 300 miles in the four days.
The schedule of the Police Unity Tour:
Saturday, May 9 – Police Unity Tour Send Off: Target / Ramada Inn, Route 10 West, East Hanover
Tuesday, May 12 – Police Unity Tour Arrival Ceremony, 2:00 p.m. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, E Street between 4th & 5th Street, NW Washington D.C.
Wednesday, May 13 – 26th Annual Candlelight Vigil – National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, 8:00 p.m. E Street between 4th & 5th St, NW Washington D.C.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Paul Philipps is riding in memory of Officer Justin Wayne McGrory,
California Highway Patrol. Officer Justin McGrory was struck and killed by a drunk driver while conducting a field sobriety test on I-15 in Barstow at 3:38 a.m., on Sunday, June 27, 2010.
He and his partner had stopped a suspected drunk driver and were administering the tests when he was struck. His partner was not injured. The drunk driver who struck him stopped a short distance away. He was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of marijuana.
On June 24, 2012, the suspect was acquitted after his trial resulted in a hung jury.
Officer McGrory had served with the California Highway Patrol for almost three years. He is survived by his expected wife and three small children. His fourth child, a daughter, was born on July 20, 2010.
Membership to Police Unity Tour is open to all full or part time law enforcement officers, whether active or retired. Civilians 18 years of age or older, who are employed or affiliated with law enforcement agencies and related organizations or possess specific training or skills required to safely and effectively assist the organization may apply. These requirements include, but are not limited to: dispatchers, first aid personnel, doctors, nurses, lawyers, mechanics (automobile and bicycle) and members of organizations such as the Concerns of Police Survivors, Domestic Violence Response Teams.
In May 1997 the Police Unity Tour, Chapter 1, was organized, by Officer Patrick P. Montuore of the Florham Park Police Department, with the hope of bringing public awareness of Police Officers who have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices. What started with 18 riders on a four day fund-raising bicycle ride from Florham Park to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Has grown into nine Chapters consisting of over 1,800 members nationwide who make the trip annually.
As the original / founding chapter of the Police Unity Tour, Chapter 1 is still based in Florham Park where Pat Montuore now serves as the Chief of Police.
Although based in New Jersey they welcome members from all other states as well as other countries. In addition to having members represent over 40 states they had members from Australia, England, Israel, Italy, India and Canada.
They are proud to be part of the many accomplishments of the Police Unity Tour in 2014 they were able to donate over 1.9 Million Dollars to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, bringing our total donations to nearly 16 Million Dollars.
Valley National Bank Hosted Free Identity Theft Prevention Event
PARSIPPANY — Valley National Bank hosted an Identity Theft Awareness Event on Saturday, May 9, at the Parsippany branch, located at 800 Route 46 West. This event was partnered with USA SHRED, which provided an on-site truck to shred personal and confidential documents, at no cost, to help customers avoid becoming victims of identity theft.
The branch also held a Fire Safety Tips event, hosted by the Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer District 5 Fire Department. Children were offered a free tour of the firetruck and a goody bag.
Residents from the community were encouraged to bring documents such as old bank statements, checks, income tax returns, credit card statements, etc., that were shredded on-site, for free. Staff members discussed effective measures that can be used to reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft.
For more information contact Branch Service Manager Elizabeth Haywood at (973) 263-0600 or by email by clicking here.
For information about similar events, visit Valley’s website by clicking here.
Valley National Bancorp is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey with $19 billion in assets. Its principal subsidiary, Valley National Bank, currently operates 224 branches serving 24 counties throughout northern and central New Jersey, the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, and southeast and central Florida. Valley National Bank is one of the largest commercial banks headquartered in New Jersey and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest in product innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable staff with a high priority on friendly customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information about Valley National Bank and its products and services, please visit www.valleynationalbank.com or call Customer Service, 24/7 at 800-522-4100.