PARSIPPANY — Immunization Clinic for Dogs and Cats will be held on Saturday, November 12, at the Office of Emergency building, at the Recycling Center, 1 Pumphouse Road.
Dogs and Cats
Any questions please call the health department at (973) 263-7160.
Dear Editor:
I am supporting Andy Choffo, Jack Raia, and Yvonne Ferise for the Parsippany School Board. I am honestly disgusted by what the State Department of Education is doing with the health education curriculum. Under the title of health education, schools are required to teach:
Dear Editor:
Your School Board Election Vote for Candidates 4, 5, and 6 on the Ballot is Imperative
How important is it to vote in the November School Board Election? How important are students’ educational freedoms?
Elected School boards hold profound power over the direction of our schools and their students; what they don’t have the right to do is use that power to impose their personal beliefs on students and their families.
Yet this year it appears that is exactly what the School Board leadership, with support from political committees, is attempting to accomplish. Stifle dissent and unify the full Board around specific political ideologies.
Limiting students’ capacity to understand and meet the challenges of a diverse world through exposure to specific political ideologies is especially harmful and inconsistent with Parsippany’s community of different cultures, races, and faiths. Students represent their parents’ family’s history and a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and beliefs.
To govern cultural diversity requires a diversity of thought and differing opinions, so it’s critical that the School Board reflect diversity in their governance.
If you believe in your child’s educational freedom instead of education dictated by political ideology; In letting teachers teach without bureaucracy, politics, culture wars, and personal political agendas, it is imperative on November 8th to vote for Cogan, Von Achen, and Shappell.
Vote Rows 4, 5, 6 on the Ballot.
Janice McCarthy
MORRIS COUNTY — Help would be a phone call away for state residents who struggle to complete New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission transactions online under legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco and endorsed by the Senate Transportation Committee.
“In an effort to re-establish credibility with New Jersey drivers, MVC has transitioned many of its services to the internet,” said Bucco (R-25). “Unfortunately, many residents have found the process confusing and annoying.
“By requiring the commission to provide a call center where live representatives are standing by to help, this bill will alleviate much of the public’s frustrations,” the Senator added. “The hotline will ensure a higher level of customer service.”
The bipartisan bill, A-3663/S-1633 would require MVC’s call center to be available to the public on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at a minimum.
In addition, Bucco’s bill would require MVC to collect and publish online its quarterly performance reports, including information on the number of calls and wait times.
“MVC was roundly criticized for poor performance during the pandemic. Drivers felt abandoned and disrespected as long lines wrapped around facilities and agencies frequently closed for extensive sanitization and cleaning,” Bucco said. “With the creation of a responsive, effective phone center, this bill will help restore some of the public’s trust.”
Since introducing an online system for customers to make appointments for in-person services at motor vehicle agencies two years ago, MVC has expanded the site, adding options for getting licenses, registrations, and titles; and commercial driver’s license renewals. The commission now boasts that 80 percent of its motor vehicle services are available through its website.
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter to support the only candidates – Andy Choffo, Jack Raia, and Yvonne Ferise – who are listening to the public and fighting for policies that will benefit the children of Parsippany – and to address the misinformation spewed forth by the Cogan, Von Achen, and Shappell campaign.
Censorship: Andy Choffo has for the past two years asked the district administration to enhance literary choices for children in high school and middle school. He has never advocated banning books. He has repeatedly asked that there be more diversity of the authors of the district administration imposed limited selection of books that our children can choose from. Never asking that these books be banned, he has asked for a counterpoint to books like The New Jim Crow, White Fragility, Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II, and Things That Make White People Uncomfortable. Mr. Choffo and his running mates are only asking that our children have the widest variety of books available so that they can form holistic opinions. Cogan and Von Achen have limited what our children have access to by never questioning what students are reading. Please refer to the Board of Education Meeting Minutes of July 29, 2020, page 19, to read Mr. Choffo’s question on books. (Click here to read).
Parental Rights: An amazing thing happened during the dark days of Covid in 2020 and 2021. Students were forced to learn from home. Parents witnessed first-hand what their children were being taught and were concerned. Then parents started coming to Board of Education meetings and questioning the school administration and Board of Ed Members because they had serious concerns about the direction school districts were going. Parents were labeled “domestic terrorists” by some for simply asking questions. The result was a grassroots effort by parents to get involved and run for their local Boards of Education. And they did by the thousands! Cogan, Von Achen, and Shappell have tried to label Moms for Liberty as an extremist organization. Andy, Jack, and Yvonne proudly support parental rights and accept the endorsement of Moms for Liberty. This organization was formed by former school board members fighting for parental rights. Click here to visit their website to learn more.
Learning Loss: Cogan, Von Achen, and Shappell appear to be focused on things that will not benefit the academic achievement of our students. Alison Cogan even said at the PTA candidate’s debate that the learning loss was not that bad! The fact is that there has been significant learning loss over the past two years. Our children have fallen behind and need Board of Education members who will set policies to get them caught up, instead of spending $10,000’s of taxpayer dollars on a fruitless partnership with the University of Virginia as Cogan and Von Achen have done. See what your children have not been learning by clicking here.
Andy Choffo, Jack Raia, and Yvonne Ferise are concerned about the students of Parsippany. That is the only reason they are running for a seat on the Board of Education. They are the best-qualified candidates to guide our school district through these troubled waters.
Sincerely,
Margo Peterson
PARSIPPANY — This single-family residential home is located at 5 Marston Drive, Parsippany. This property has four bedrooms and five bathrooms. This property has a lot size of 0.63 acres and was built in 1900 and sold for $777.000. There is 2,098 square feet of living space.
The property was listed by Andrea Martone, Realty Executives Platinum, and sold in 48 days.
Other recent Parsippany home sales:
| 2467 | Route 10* | $ 197,000.00 |
| 684 | Parsippany Blvd* | $ 455,000.00 |
| 510 | Vail Rd* | $ 615,000.00 |
| 28 | Glenwood Ave* | $ 275,000.00 |
| 2C | Yacenda Dr* | $ 410,000.00 |
| 191-13 | Beverwyck Road* | $ 177,000.00 |
| 189 | Allentown Rd* | $ 345,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route10* | $ 179,000.00 |
| 71 | Patriots Rd* | $ 495,000.00 |
| 54 | Averell Dr* | $ 524,500.00 |
| 2467 | Route10* | $ 199,000.00 |
| 56 | Intervale Rd* | $ 1,149,999.00 |
| 2467 | Route10* | $ 185,000.00 |
| 8 | Norman Ave* | $ 395,000.00 |
| 14 | Sweetwood Ct* | $ 450,000.00 |
| 215 | Jacksonville Dr* | $ 280,000.00 |
| 304 | Halsey Rd* | $ 550,000.00 |
| 27 | Winding Way* | $ 790,000.00 |
| 10 | Delbrook Rd* | $ 765,000.00 |
| 62 | Edgefield Dr* | $ 537,500.00 |
| 23 | Alan Dr* | $ 825,000.00 |
| 40 | Alexander Ave* | $ 775,000.00 |
| 25 | Glenwood Ave* | $ 475,000.00 |
| 108A | Minnehaha Blvd* | $ 475,000.00 |
| 13 | Windsor Rd* | $ 699,900.00 |
| 2467 | Route 10* | $ 210,000.00 |
| 58 | Mayetta Rd* | $ 425,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route 10* | $ 175,000.00 |
| 56 | Califon Rd* | $ 440,000.00 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania Ln* | $ 938,000.00 |
| 105 | S Powder Mill Rd* | $ 730,000.00 |
| 104 | South Powder Mill Rd | $ 800,000.00 |
| 14 | Ute Ave* | $ 365,000.00 |
| 91 | Allentown Rd* | $ 511,000.00 |
| 300 | Mohawk Ave* | $ 550,000.00 |
| 23 | Farrand Dr* | $ 742,000.00 |
| 129 | Minnehaha Blvd* | $ 520,000.00 |
| 4 | Candlewood Ct* | $ 785,000.00 |
| 41 | Intervale Rd* | $ 430,000.00 |
| 15 | Norman Ave* | $ 720,000.00 |
| 19 | Homer St* | $ 651,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route10 Bldg. 8-4B | $ 170,000.00 |
| 12 | Wolf Pl* | $ 595,000.00 |
| 5 | Exeter St* | $ 662,500.00 |
| 28 | Kelley Ln* | $ 540,000.00 |
| 39 | Whitewood Dr* | $ 670,000.00 |
| 5 | Tracy Ln* | $ 665,000.00 |
| 300 | E Halsey Rd* | $ 985,000.00 |
| 511 | Lake Shore Dr* | $ 530,000.00 |
| 10 | Cambridge Rd* | $ 725,000.00 |
| 4 | Walnut St* | $ 439,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route 10, Bldg 20 Unit 4A | $ 250,000.00 |
| 5 | Colony Ct* | $ 480,000.00 |
| 298 | Summerhill Dr* | $ 520,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route 10, Bldg. 19, 3A | $ 225,000.00 |
| 530 | Allentown Road | $ 500,000.00 |
| 39 | Chesapeake Ave* | $ 305,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route 10* | $ 199,000.00 |
| 1117 | Knoll Rd* | $ 525,000.00 |
| 14 | Lake Shore Dr* | $ 460,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route 10* | $ 238,000.00 |
| 178 | Bridgeton Dr* | $ 782,000.00 |
| 58 | Whitewood Dr* | $ 610,000.00 |
| 95 | Longport Rd* | $ 485,000.00 |
| 33 | Deauville Dr* | $ 818,000.00 |
| 21 | Stephen Ter* | $ 660,000.00 |
| 66 | Longport Rd* | $ 425,000.00 |
| 5 | Marston Dr* | $ 777,000.00 |
| 18 | Heritage Ct* | $ 535,000.00 |
| 1 | Lincoln Gdns* | $ 180,000.00 |
| 60 | Meadow Bluff Rd* | $ 900,000.00 |
| 1070 | S Beverwyck Rd* | $ 765,000.00 |
| 2350 | State Route 10 | $ 210,000.00 |
| 119 | Edwards Rd* | $ 582,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route 10* | $ 212,000.00 |
| 22 | Lakeside Dr* | $ 600,000.00 |
| 45 | Minnehaha Blvd* | $ 370,000.00 |
| 64 | Ball Ave* | $ 522,000.00 |
| 22 | Woodhaven Rd* | $ 715,000.00 |
| 21 | Valley Forge Ln* | $ 459,000.00 |
| 40 | Dartford Rd* | $ 765,000.00 |
| 119 | Summerhill Dr* | $ 480,000.00 |
| 2350 | Route 10 | $ 175,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route 10, Bldg. 24-5A | $ 266,000.00 |
| 19 | Hoffman Ave* | $ 350,000.00 |
| 35 | Hector Rd* | $ 745,000.00 |
| 2467 | Route 10, Bldg. 40-5A | $ 180,200.00 |
| 6 | Brentwood Dr* | $ 645,000.00 |
| 1 | Pondview Rd* | $ 650,000.00 |
| 36 | Lord Stirling Dr* | $ 679,000.00 |
| 8 | Ferndale Dr* | $ 775,000.00 |
| 71 | Brooklawn Dr* | $ 575,000.00 |
| 47 | Patriots Rd* | $ 506,000.00 |
PARSIPPANY — The annual “Halloween at the Hills’ will be held on Friday, October 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Parsippany Hills high School, 20 Rita Drive. Join them for their annual night full of fun and safe trick-or-treating!
The PHHS Interact Club is collecting non-perishable goods at Halloween at the Hills to help restock the shelves of the Interfaith Food Pantry. The collection of cans will take place in the cafeteria s you enter.
Enjoy the night with your family while giving back to the community.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department is taking back unwanted prescription drugs Saturday, October 29 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in front of the Harmon Face Values Store, 3189 Route 46, located in the Morris Hills Shopping Center.
They cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, ONLY PATCHES OR PILLS.
This drop off is ONLY for individual citizens. Businesses that deal with pharmaceuticals, doctors, health care providers, and pharmacies are prohibited from disposing of pharmaceuticals at the collection site under FDA guidelines.
According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
PARSIPPANY — In honor of National First Responders Day on Friday, October 28, The Nest Family, Pediatric and Prenatal Chiropractic in Parsippany is offering a free first visit to first responders including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and military (active and veterans).
The Nest is recently under the new ownership of West Orange native Dr. Daniel Roses, D.C.
“It’s extremely important to me to ensure that the brave people who protect, serve and keep our community safe are taken care of as well,” says Dr. Roses. “With many first responders in my family, I have seen the toll that the physical and mental stresses of their jobs take on their bodies. I know that regular chiropractic care can not only help with aches and pains that come with the job, but also allow our local heroes to maintain their maximum functionality.”
The Nest Family, Pediatric, and Prenatal Chiropractic are located at 341 Smith Road in Parsippany. It has been serving families, children, and expecting moms since February 2020 and is now under the ownership of chiropractor Dr. Dan Roses, D.C. The Nest was built upon the principles to nurture, empower, support, and teach the local community through chiropractic care.
Dr. Dan Roses grew up in West Orange. After earning his Doctorate of Chiropractic Degree from Life University in Marietta, Ga., Dr. Dan has spent the last three years working as an associate chiropractor at Roses Family Chiropractic in Bayonne and Revolution Chiropractic in Marlton. Now, Dr. Dan is humbled and excited to serve and take care of the people of Parsippany and its surrounding towns in his newest chapter as the owner and chiropractor of The Nest.
Dr. Dan is proficient in multiple chiropractic techniques including Diversified, cox flexion-distraction, activator sacro-occipital technique, gonstead and is certified in the Webster Technique for chiropractic care in pregnancy. He comes from a family of chiropractors – his father, two aunts, an uncle and a cousin are all currently in practice.
When he is not helping others achieve their optimum health through chiropractic, he is an avid sports enthusiast and faithfully follows the New York Yankees, New Jersey Devils, and New York Giants.
The Nest Family, Pediatric, and Prenatal Chiropractic is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, click here for more information.
Dear Editor:
As Mayor and Council members duly elected by the people of Parsippany Township, we are disappointed that our colleague, who cast the lone no vote on the PLA ordinance, is taking public shots at us. The PLA ordinance only applies to public projects in excess of $5Million. There is, in our view, a significant public interest in ensuring that large scale public projects get done correctly, on schedule, and at (or below) cost. Our colleague has argued that union labor will cost 30% more. We disagree because the studies that he was referring to were years old and only compared jobs of the same square footage and not the complexity of the job (i.e. both jobs were 100,000 square feet, but one was a warehouse and the other was a high tech computer building). We believe that significant public projects, funded with public money, should be performed by skilled labor who know what they are doing – who have the training and experience to ensure these projects are done correctly.
To this end, the PLA ordinance requires that all apprentices on the project shall be Parsippany residents, and that 20 percent of the project’s total labor hours shall be performed by Parsippany apprentices. The PLA ordinance also contains several provisions aimed at increasing job and apprenticeship opportunities for minorities and women.
The PLA ordinance is the best way to ensure that large projects get done correctly. The Administration has supplied the Council with all the information it needed to make an informed decision. Unfortunately, one of our colleagues has decided to play politics by taking baseless politically motivated shots at the administration.
Mayor James Barberio
Council President Michael dePierro
Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani
Councilman Paul Carifi
Councilman Frank Neglia
MORRIS COUNTY — The three candidates running to represent the 11th Congressional District held a candidates forum on Tuesday, October 25, moderated by the League of Women Voters of New Jersey at Drew University in Madison.
The forum featured Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, and Republican challenger Paul DeGroot. Sherrill, who lives in Montclair, is seeking her third term. DeGroot, a Montville resident, and former Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor is seeking elected office for the first time and third candidate on the ballot, Libertarian Joseph Biasco of Lincoln Park, a retired Cliffside Park police captain.
The in-person early voting period starts from October 29 to November 6.
After the redistricting based on the 2020 Census, the 11th district now covers these communities:
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council passed ordinance No. 2022:24 on Tuesday, October 18, to mandate to use Project Labor Agreements (PLA) on all direct township construction projects valued at $5 million or more.
Union members from across New Jersey met at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, 50 Parsippany Road, and drove in caravans to Parsippany Hills High School, where the Township Council meeting was moved due to the large number of attendees expected.
Click here to view video of union workers marching into the council meeting at Parsippany Hills High School.
Parsippany’s PLA ordinance was approved with a 4-to-1 vote. Councilman Justin Musella was the lone “no” vote in advocacy for the beleaguered township taxpayers: “I have a financial responsibility to the taxpayer and from the beginning tried in vain to get a thorough understanding of why Parsippany had to be the first town in Morris County to do this, but the [Barberio] administration provided no answers or supporting evidence. On multiple occasions, I provided independent and careful studies to the administration and my colleagues about how PLAs drive up costs, harm small businesses, and are anti-competitive.”
Click here to download a copy of the Ordinance 2022:24.
Mayor James Barberio responded to Musella, admitting to disregarding Musella’s inquiries. “And you know what, I wasn’t going to waste the time. Because it was a way out, that’s all it was. It was to reduce it [the PLA].”
“I made an oath from Day 1 to fight to keep Parsippany affordable and enable to enable residents to stay here and not flee our town,” Musella said prior to the voting against the ordinance. “With that said, I see no compelling reason to depart from our competitive bidding process that brings benefits to our taxpayers as it stands today.”
Parsippany resident Richard Corbett said “On February 4, 2022, President Biden issued an executive order requiring the use of PLAs for all federal construction projects. Thanks to this town council and mayor, the same failed economic policies of the current Biden administration that continue to cause economic hardship for Americans are coming to Parsippany. Now we can all look forward to even higher taxes. Thank you. This council should be working to make the lives of Parsippany residents better, not more expensive. Thank you, Councilman Musella for supporting sound economic principles and the taxpayers of Parsippany.”
Kenneth Dukes stated “I support this legislation of PLA legislation, both as a union carpenter and as a residence of Parsippany. I like going to work knowing that I’m going to be in a professional clean work environment safe. I’m going to give the contractor a full day’s work in exchange for a fair wage, and at the end of the day, I’m gonna return to my family safe. 90% of the dollars that I make on these projects remains right here in the community. Obviously, I pay taxes, I support police officers, firefighters, public schools, libraries, et cetera. As regular consumers, me and my family, do everything right here in town. We go to the movies here, we go to restaurants here. We support businesses here. We take our kids out to events here.”
Morris County Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo said “I believe in project labor agreements at the county for certain projects over $5 million. There are projects in this state where non-union contractors are charging prevailing wage, but they’re not paying their employees prevailing wage. The other thing is competition. PLAs allow competition for non-union companies to bid as well. You have to look at is a safety. We had some projects right here in Morris County in Hanover, the firehouse, a generator fell on two individuals and safety wasn’t installed. Those two people got killed. And there, there was another one up at a Castle where another worker got killed because safety wasn’t implemented. These people work hard and they have to be safe. When you look at fiscal conservative approaches to government, Morris County has done it well. We’ve been one of the top rated fiscal conservative counties in this nation. We continue to strive to be one of the top fiscally managed counties in this country. We’re a Republican operated or managed county, and if you look at the Legislators, just about every Republican Senator and every Republican Assemblyman supported PLAs for the right reasons. Because projects come in on time, projects come in safely, and you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to fix all the mistakes from contractors who aren’t doing the right thing. As a county commissioner, as a taxpayer in this county, I support PLAs. I support these workers, and I will stand up here repeatedly to support you when in implementing this policy.”
Morris County Commissioner Stephen Shaw, after listening to the Council Meeting tape published on Parsippany Focus, submitted this comment:
“Regarding County Resolution 2021-909 adopted October 27, 2021 (Click here to read). The County PLA resolution was referred to during public comment at the October 12 and 18 Parsippany Council meetings. I checked with the administration to confirm that the resolution gives the administration the option to employ a PLA on a project by project basis and does not mandate its use. To date, the County has not used a PLA on any projects.”
“I’m a Morris County resident, a United States Marine Corps veteran, and a second year apprentice in the Local 254 Carpenters. Been a Morris County resident all my life and plan on staying that way. And hopefully one day, once this job’s done, when you say yes to the PLA and get us in here, we’re gonna be looking at this job, passing by it every day. And hopefully once I have kids, I could tell them I built that and we’re all gonna be proud to show what we’ve built,” said Brendan Kelly.
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr. outlined the opinion of the council majority, citing benefits for public projects that include higher-quality results from trained workers who operate under agreements that prohibit strikes, work slow downs and other costly delays. PLAs would guarantee projects use documented workers who pay taxes, while non-union contractors may employ underpaid illegal workers to lower their bids, Carifi said.
Carifi added that public construction projects costing $5 million or more are rare, even in Parsippany. The town is the most populous in Morris County, with 56,000 residents and a $122 million capital budget this year.
Mayor Barberio scoffed at suggestions that his support was bought by the unions that contributed to his campaign, saying he shared those funds equally with his running mates, Musella and Councilman Frank Neglia.
“When you contribute to me, all you get is good government,” he said.
He also said “I’ll explain what a keyboard warrior is. It is those people that go on and they continue to put letters to the editor out; who are guided by individuals to get their point across. I do respect Mr. Heller, Mr. Corbett and Mr. Venezia who actually come up here to state their concerns on this ordinance. I have a lot of respect for individuals like that and I applaud you for that because that’s what the process is all about. I’m gonna go all the way back to the “Tap Into Parsippany” editorial with Samantha DeAlmeida, who comes and puts false information. And if you notice, all the emails we get are very generic, very similar to what the statements that council member Musella made; all the same, every single one’s the same.
“I live in Parsippany. After listening to the presentations that were made during the public session of last week’s council meeting, I don’t know how any council member can justify voting in favor of Ordinance 2022:24, which mandates project labor agreements or PLAs for Parsippany projects valued at $5 million or more. About 200 union workers travel from all parts of the state in order to lobby on behalf of the ordinance. On the other side of the issue are Parsippany residents who are not affiliated with the Union Council members should take note that every non-union Parsippany resident that spoke at the meeting was unanimous in their disapproval of the ordinance. I would also like to remind the council members that your primary responsibility is to the residents of Parsippany and not to non-resident union members who are solely looking out for their own monetary interests.
In speaking against the ordinance, several Parsippany residents cited results of two studies, which compared the time and cost of PLA projects versus non PLA projects. Both studies, one of which originated from the New Jersey Department of Labor, were in agreement that the PLA contracts increase the time and cost of projects by about 30%. Union members and the council members who spoke favorably about the ordinance didn’t dispute the results of these studies, but they more or less implied that the union workmanship is worth that extra premium. While sympathizing with the union member’s desire to improve their living standards, Parsippany taxpayers made it very clear that they were unwilling to pay a 30% PLA project surcharge, which calculates to an extra 1.5 million for each 5 million project. What happened to the council members that were dedicated to cutting costs and reducing taxes during the previous administration? What changed between then and now? Make no mistake, approval of this ordinance is equivalent to passing a 1.5 million tax increase for every large construction project. It’s also a class example of pandering to special interests as well as a complete sellout of the taxpayers of Parsippany,” said Parsippany resident Bob Venezia.
Parsippany resident Hank Heller said “I’ve been a taxpayer and voter in Parsippany for over 51 years. At the last meeting, I was surprised and perhaps somewhat taken back by the large showing of members of the various unions that attended to show their support for the project labor agreement issue. Tonight, I’m still chagrin because it’s fairly clear that this strong showing of union support is meant to perhaps overpower those who might not be in agreement and thereby silence discussion of an issue that is of a great importance in this community. Some of the union attendees said that they live in Parsippany, some of the speakers told of how union membership had saved their lives and allowed them to live lives of greater dignity. I am and was, I was, and I am respectful of that. However, the purpose of local government is not to provide better paying jobs for the public at large, but to make judicious decisions in the use of public funds so that the citizens of Parsippany benefit. When we voted you into office, we expected you to enact laws that would do not damage us. In this terrible time of inflation and possible recession. We’re seeing our retirement funds decline by 20 to 30% or more. We are seeing our savings go up in smoke as an irresponsible national government causes us to spend 20 to 35% more to heat our homes, drive our cars to work, and just to put food on the tables for our families. We are being squeezed in every way imaginable. And to have our local government decide to give union leadership with new laws that precludes small local contractors from bidding for large government projects, if they are not a union shop is just wrong. The demands of PLA actually from all that I have been able to read cost a taxpayer 25 to 37% more in cost and even more in time to completion. I think that is unconscionable to vote for, for PLAs at this time. Frankly, I might have expected such gifts to come from a democratic administration, but no, it is a gift to us by our current Republican administration. And additionally, amazingly, almost unanimously, I tell you, if you care at all, you will not be able to defend yourselves from this vote. Those who will look to unseat you in the future, who look to cast aspersions on your decision making and on your effectiveness will serve you this meal over and over and over again. I was treated well when I spoke at the last meeting the union. But I also learned that not everyone was treated respectfully. In fact, I now know that a few of the people in the audience were threatening to some who dissented. I’m here to say that no matter the size of the opposition, this municipal body has a, a responsibility to make sure that all people who live in Parsippany and come to speak civilly and express themselves reasonably can be fairly heard and they should not have to worry about email threats, telephone threats and voice threats.”
Parsippany’s PLA ordinance was approved with a 4-to-1 vote.
Click here to watch the video of the meeting.
Click here to read related story regarding the. October 11 Township Council meeting.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library System hosted its first-ever Diwali Festival on Saturday, October 22.
They celebrated Diwali with dancing, henna, food, arts, and crafts with over three hundred of the community! Thank you to the Thillai Fine Arts Dance for their wonderful performance!
The event was sponsored by the Friends of the Parsippany Library!
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Library is located at 449 Halsey Road.
Diwali, the festival of lights, joy, prosperity, and happiness will be celebrated this year on October 24, 2022. It is a five-day-long celebration that commences with Dhanteras and ends with Bhaiya Dooj. The festival of Diwali is celebrated on the darkest night of the year in the Hindu month of Kartik.
MORRIS COUNTY — Harmonium Choral Society’s concert A Child’s Christmas will be performed on Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m. at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, 57 E. Park Place, Morristown, and will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their commissioning of Matthew Harris’s setting of Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales for chorus and chamber orchestra.
The first half of the concert celebrates diverse childhood winter experiences from Haiti to Sweden, Brazil to Wales, and features many women composers including Ysaye Barnwell, Misty Depuis, Flory Jagoda, Caroline Mallonee, Tracy Wong, and Grace Williams. Artistic Director Dr. Anne Matlack says, “I am so excited to re-visit this wonderful work which is full of humor and joy. We’ll use piano, harp, flute, oboe, cello, and percussion for lots of colors! The rest of the concert includes some ‘Harmonium surprises’ such as folk dance and audience participation. Bring the whole family.”
Tickets to A Child’s Christmas may be purchased for $30.00 for adults or $25.00 for students and teachers by clicking here. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Harmonium Choral Society is dedicated to ensuring that all of our patrons are able to enjoy the arts equally. If you have accessibility needs, questions, or concerns, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the scheduled performance and we will assist you in the best manner we have available. For more information, please contact Jody Marcus at (973) 538-6969. Doors open one-half hour before the concert begins, but concertgoers are advised to leave plenty of time for parking.
COVID Guidelines for Harmonium Performances
All Harmonium singers are vaccinated and will remain masked during performances except for occasional solos. We will require proof of vaccination presented at the door for entry. Audience masking is now optional as long as that remains the policy of our host venues.
Funding has been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Harmonium Choral Society, based in Morris County, is one of New Jersey’s leading choral arts organizations. The 100-voice choral society has been recognized for its musical excellence and innovative programming and has commissioned and premiered works by Amanda Harberg, Matthew Harris, Elliot Z. Levine, Harmonium’s composers-in-residence Mark Miller, Martin Sedek, and others.
Directed by Dr. Anne J. Matlack of Madison, Harmonium’s 2022-23 season consists of four subscription concerts held in December, March, May, and June, as well as numerous special events and partnerships. Harmonium, known for its eclectic programming, choral excellence, and community spirit, sponsors commissions and musicianship workshops, as well as an outreach chorus that performs in schools, nursing homes, and other venues. Harmonium sponsors an annual High School Student Choral Composition Contest, which is celebrating its 26th anniversary this season. This innovative program won the prestigious Chorus America Education and Outreach Award. Harmonium has also toured internationally, most recently to the Balkans in the summer of 2022.
Dear Editor:
I have been a Parsippany resident for many years. I am a father and a grandfather. I remain active within the town and talk to many people on several different topics. The Board of Education election this year has come up in my conversations numerous times. I, and many others who I have talked to, believe that our educational system is going in the wrong direction. We believe there is too much focus on things that won’t help the kids be successful in life.
I have educated myself regarding the 7 candidates running for the Parsippany Board of Ed. I have met and spoken with some of them. I believe that the team of Andy Choffo, Jack Raia and Yvonne Ferise are the right choices for the Parsippany Board of Ed. They have stated in different ways the wholesome values that I believe in.
In addition to making sure the Board of Education is making the right decisions for the students, I am a senior and concerned about cost. Andy Choffo, Jack Raia, and Yvonne Ferise have said that they are going to make sure that seniors are not priced out of town with unaffordable property taxes. This is important to me.
I want people like Andy, Jack, and Yvonne on the Board of Education. I know I will be voting for them on November 8.
Vincent Schindel
Parsippany
MORRIS COUNTY — Allison Larena, President & CEO of Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Morristown, was honored Friday night, October 14, by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners for her 20 years at the helm of the arts organization.
Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus presented Larena with a framed “Resolution of Honor” inside MPAC’s Starlight Room just prior to the performance of “Croce Plays Croce” at the theater on South Street.
“I am grateful for the recognition by the Morris County Board of Commissioners in honor of my 20th anniversary at MPAC. MPAC is fortunate to be located in a county that recognizes the value of our cultural institutions and how they contribute to the quality of life for our residents. The Commissioners’ support of our education programs this past year has been a vital lifeline to helping these programs return to enrich the lives of thousands of children every year,” said Larena.
The resolution notes that Larena has been instrumental in transforming the Morristown-based theater into a world-class performing arts center and for growing its annual operating budget from $1.5 million to more than $13 million. Under her tutelage, MPAC operations grew from about 50 events annually to over 250 events, welcoming more than 240,000 patrons each year and generating over $9 million in ticket sales, while simultaneously having an estimated impact of $15 million dollars on the local economy.
“On behalf of the Morris County Commissioners, We are pleased to present you with this resolution recognizing your 20 years of leadership of Mayo Performing Arts Center. MPAC is a crown jewel for Morris County,” said Deputy Director Krickus.
“Morris County was proud to provide MPAC with $600,000 of funding for education programs as part of the recovery from COVID, and also recently approved $24,000 of historic grant funding for the plans to renovate the historic facade to the theater,” he added.
MPAC, which operates out of a 1937 theater designed by Thomas Lamb, has served more than 40,000 children through education and outreach programs, and Larena is credited with launching innovative programs during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the arts accessible.
Among the programs were the first outdoor drive-in concerts, the first limited-capacity concerts, and the first live streams in New Jersey as she kept the theatre active and relevant while creating a safe environment for people to enjoy an indoor art experience.
To learn more about MPAC and upcoming events click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll joined other government officials from federal, state, county, and municipal levels at the municipal hall of Madison Borough, during a news conference to support federal legislation that would assist law enforcement in combatting vehicle theft on Monday, October 17.
Area police chiefs and county sheriffs from the region were also in attendance as a show of support.
The bipartisan legislation, introduced to the United States Congress by Representatives Mikie Sherrill from New Jersey and Don Bacon from Nebraska would provide $150 million in grants over a five-year period to state and local law enforcement, to address and mitigate the number of vehicle thefts, and provide resources for stolen vehicle trafficking throughout the United States. The legislation provides that 70% of the funding will go to the county and local law enforcement with 30% to states being heavily impacted by vehicle thefts and especially the related escalated violence. If passed in Congress, the bill would provide $30 million each year for hiring, equipment, technology, and other resources to target the crime of vehicle theft.
In addition to the federal bill, the recently introduced bi-partisan legislation from Senators Codey and Bucco also received the unanimous support of law enforcement as it addresses the issues of repeat offenders as well as those criminals who recruit juveniles into criminal theft organizations in order to insulate themselves from serious criminal charges. A separate state bill from the Senators also addresses the frightening issue of home invasions and substantially increases the potential criminal penalties for such serious criminal conduct.
During the news conference and following the initial presentation speech delivered by Rep. Sherrill, multiple officials spoke including NJ State Senators Anthony Bucco and Richard Codey, NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, and Passaic County Undersheriff Kevin Dickson all spoke in support of the initiative.
Prosecutor Carroll stated that law enforcement sincerely appreciates the legislative efforts to help stem the increasing crime and reiterates the need for community and citizen assistance in stopping these criminal theft organizations. The Prosecutor stated:
“Year to date, 89% of the vehicle thefts in Morris County involve keys/key fobs being left in a vehicle; 61% of these thefts were from residential properties and another 23% from commercial locations. Morris County Law enforcement again reiterates that it is vitally important that our citizens help in stopping these thefts by securing their keys and fobs, and not making themselves and their families easy targets for these opportunistic, and now too often armed criminals.”
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, and Town of Boonton Police Department Officer in Charge Christian Trowbridge announce that missing 16-year-old Keyoni Jackson from Boonton was found safe.
Keyoni Jackson was located unharmed in Morris Township by the Morris Township Police Department and returned home.
Prosecutor Carroll thanked the public for helping get the word out about this missing teenager.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany High School Key Club is hosting its free, annual “Halloween at the High” this year on Friday, October 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for the children of Parsippany!
Please join us at Parsippany High School for this exciting and spooky event! There will be trick-or-treating, haunted alleys, crafts, and games. This is a perfect way to become Halloween-ready! Donations for Unicef’s Start Strong: Zambia program will be accepted.
Parsippany High School is located at 309 Baldwin Road.
PARSIPPANY — On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, Woman’s Club of Parsippany- Troy Hills members Ronnie Fagan, Terry Gerber, and Ronnie’s sister, Eileen, delivered 146 Holiday Stockings to NJSFWC headquarters, in New Brunswick. The stockings were collected from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Woman’s Club members, family, co-workers, and friends.
While at headquarters, the ladies helped put boxes together for shipping the stockings.
Parsippany Focus is a digital news organization that provides news coverage of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey. The organization was founded in 1989 by Frank Cahill, who currently owns and operates the organization. Parsippany Focus covers local news, events, and community issues, and their content is primarily distributed through their website and social media channels. The organization has been serving as a trusted source of news and information for the Parsippany-Troy Hills community for over 30 years.
Contact us: news@parsippanyfocus.com
© 2024 Zoomus Marketing, LLC.
