BOMA New Jersey Names 300 Kimball “The Outstanding Building of the Year”

Frank L. Cahill
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BOMA New Jersey Names 300 Kimball “The Outstanding Building of the Year”

PARSIPPANY — Transwestern announces the New Jersey chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) named 300 Kimball Drive “The Outstanding Building of the Year” (TOBY), which recognizes quality in office buildings and excellence in building management. Transwestern, which provides leasing and management services for the property, was recognized for its transformation of 300 Kimball Drive into a first-class, multi-tenant office facility.

“We are extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished at 300 Kimball Drive, and this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication that contributed to this project’s success,” said Transwestern’s James Postell, partner and market leader for New Jersey. “The New Jersey office market remains competitive, and we’re confident the improvements made at 300 Kimball Drive will continue to keep the building positioned as one of the most sought-after properties in the state.”

The Transwestern team of Senior Property Manager Monique Hughes, Assistant Property Manager Eva Karcz and Engineers Ted Masters and Harold Whetham implemented the building improvements. Joe Polise, vice president of Transwestern’s construction management team, oversees project and construction management. Leasing services are led by Managing Director Matthew McDonough and Postell.

Situated in Parsippany, one of New Jersey’s foremost business markets, 300 Kimball Drive is a premier 400,147-square-foot office building. The capital improvement program included a modern redesign of the 4,900-square-foot, first-floor lobby, which features new stainless steel pillars, polished Italian marble flooring, Shaw carpet tiles and wood wallcovering. Transwestern also completed a redesign of the 8,600-square-foot bistro and 3,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center.

Numerous sustainable improvements were also implemented, aimed at strengthening the building’s performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Sustainable fixtures were also integrated into the fitness facility’s design, including LED lighting, low-flow toilets and automatic faucets powered by solar cells. As a result of Transwestern’s efforts, the building was honored with LEED® Silver certification and has maintained an ENERGY STAR® rating of 96 for the last three years.

Transwestern was honored on October 28 during BOMA’s 2015 Awards Dinner at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park. In addition to the TOBY award, Transwestern received the Impact Award from United Way of Northern New Jersey for a commercial development project that has had a positive impact on the northern New Jersey region.

ABOUT TRANSWESTERN
Transwestern is a privately held real estate firm of collaborative entrepreneurs who deliver a higher level of personalized service – the Transwestern Experience. Specializing in Agency Leasing, Management, Tenant Advisory, Capital Markets, Research and Sustainability services, our fully integrated global enterprise adds value for investors, owners and occupiers of all commercial property types. We leverage market insights and operational expertise from members of the Transwestern family of companies specializing in development, real estate investment management and research. Transwestern has 34 U.S. offices and assists clients through more than 180 offices in 37 countries as part of a strategic alliance with BNP Paribas Real Estate. Experience Extraordinary at transwestern.com and @Transwestern. For updates from the New Jersey office, follow @TranswesternNJ.

 

Fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings for Emma

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Fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings for Emma

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Police PBA Local 131 will sponsor a fundraiser for Emma, at Buffalo Wild Wings, on Saturday, November 21 between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.

Buffalo Wild Wings will donate 15 percent of the total bill (not including tax, gratuity, alcohol sales or promotional discounts) to the organization for Emma.

A wing-eating contest will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. The teams that will compete include Parsippany Police Officers, Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance Car 65, and the Parsippany Volunteer Fire District Six.

EmmaBuffaloWildWingsBuffalo Wild Wings is located at 1540 Route 46. For more information call (973) 588-5501 and request a coupon to print out and bring to Buffalo Wild Wings. Click here to download a coupon.

“Emma Marie Wyman is a happy, beautiful (one-year-old) baby girl undergoing at least one year’s worth of treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a rare type of sarcoma. Her parents, AJ & Lindsey (Kmit) Wyman, who are lifelong residents of Parsippany, learned of Emma’s tumor in late May and have taken her to Philadelphia to be treated by internationally-recognized pediatric oncologists. As they await more in-depth results regarding the type of sarcoma Emma has and begin chemotherapy, AJ has begun to take time off from his job as a corrections officer, while Lindsey is on her unpaid summer break from teaching sixth grade social studies at Brooklawn Middle School. During this life-altering time, AJ and Lindsey will incur costs from medical to travel expenses, while keeping up with their regular monthly bills for their cars, home, etc.

Please know that even the smallest donation will go a long way to aid baby Emma and her loving parents during this incredibly difficult time. Thank you for your love, support, and above all, your prayers.”

You can donate directly through GoFundMe, by clicking here.

Parsippany Playhouse presenting ‘Love, Loss, and What I Wore’

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Parsippany Playhouse presenting ‘Love, Loss, and What I Wore’

love-loss-and-what-i-wearPARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Playhouse, the Women’s Theater Company at the Community Center will present “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” a play by Delia and Nora Ephron starting this week.

Based on the bestselling book by Ilene Beckerman, this is a play of monologues and ensemble pieces about women, clothes, and memory covering all the important subjects – mothers, prom dresses, mothers, buying bras, mothers, hating purses, and why we only wear black.

“Love, Loss, and What I Wear” will be staged on Friday, November 6 and 13, at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 7 and 14, at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, November 8 and 15, at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets cost $25.00 general admission and $20.00 for seniors.

The Parsippany Playhouse is located at 1130 Knoll Road, in Lake Hiawatha.

For reservations, click here  or call (973) 335-3038.

Hunter needs a Home!

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Hunter needs a Home!

Hunter had a wonderful loving home until his mom fell on to hard times. She is heartbroken, but it’s in Hunter’s best interest to re-home him.

Here is her story….”My daughter was born about a year ago. At 3.5 months she was diagnosed with a rare brain condition. She had two brain surgeries and spent two months in the hospital. I am a single mom and now am dealing with two hour drives to her specialists at a hospital far from us, her therapies, and all her special needs. We didn’t anticipate any of this. I am dealing with postpartum depression on top of all the stress and anxiety from my daughter’s hospital stay and ICU stay. I had to leave my ex due to an abusive situation and now we are in an apartment.” 

Hunter, my daughter and I left and are safe now. However, I am now a single mom to a special needs child. I have no support from her father and I am struggling to make ends meet. While my heart is breaking, I need to find Hunter a new furever home. I know I need to do what is best for him. And what is best for him is a home that has a yard for him to run around in, people who can take him for many walks and play with him.

This is what she says about Hunter….Hunter, a black lab, is a three year old male. I rescued him when he was six months old from FHDR. He is very shy, mainly from anxiety and fear of people, but he is extremely friendly once he gets to sniff you. He is excellent with kids and babies. He has ALWAYS been happy and playful with my daughter. He is good with other animals too and plays well with other dogs and cats. He needs a lot of room to run around and he misses that. Hunter needs someone who can give him all their love and attention. He is house trained, up to date on shots and he is neutered. He is very much on the calm side, likes to sleep all day. He needs a home where he will not be crated. He walks well on leash (harness) and does not pull. Hunter loves cuddles, kisses, hugs, belly rubs.”

We listed Hunter as a special needs pup because he needs a home that has the patience to make him feel comfortable and can spend time teaching him he is safe. We are sure if you adopt Hunter, he will be a devoted, loving companion. He just needs the right person to call his own.

If you have a furever home for this pet, please e-mail FHDR@att.net and request an adoption application.

Furever Home Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer group located in Randolph dedicated to finding furever homes for dogs in high kill shelters that will be euthanized because there is no room at the shelter. All their pups are vetted, temperament tested and  placed in foster homes before adoption.

Reward offered in Stop & Shop robbery of employee

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Reward offered in Stop & Shop robbery of employee
Suspect #2 taken from surveillance cameras from Stop & Shop
Suspect #2 taken from surveillance cameras from Stop & Shop

MORRIS PLAINS — Authorities released surveillance photos of three men they say were involved in the armed robbery of a Stop and Shop employee Monday evening, November 2 and offered a $1,000 reward for information.

Around 7:00 p.m., a 17-year-old employee of the Stop and Shop supermarket located at the intersection of Route 10 and Littleton Road was assaulted by a man in the parking lot, according to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.

During the assault, a passerby tried to help the teen and his assailant displayed a handgun before fleeing the area.

At that point the suspect fled the area in a black Dodge Charger with at least two other males, the Sheriff Edward Rochard said.

Suspect #3 taken from surveillance cameras from Stop & Shop
Suspect #3 taken from surveillance cameras from Stop & Shop

The vehicle is registered in New Jersey, has a license plate of V79-FNZ, and is a rental out of Newark Liberty International Airport.

Anyone with more information about this incident can contact Morris County CrimeStoppers at www.copcall.org, calling (973) COP-CALL, or texting 274637 using keyword “MORRISTIP.” Tips can be made anonymously.

Information leading to the arrest and prosecution of a defendant can receive a $1,000 reward.

It’s official: Starbucks coming to Parsippany

Frank L. Cahill
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It’s official: Starbucks coming to Parsippany

PARSIPPANY — For almost a year, Parsippany Focus, was told of a Starbucks opening in Parsippany, but until now we couldn’t disclose information. Soon you will be able to drive-up and order your Iced Carmel Macchiato or Caffè Americano in Parsippany, instead of driving to Denville or elsewhere.

Our source, a Starbucks Manager, stated “A Starbucks with a drive-thru will be opening on Route 10 East in the Octagon Building sometime in 2016.”

When Parsippany Focus conducted a reader survey in 2014 our readers wanted a Starbucks and Trader Joe’s.

Focus has been listening and watching ever since.

Plans were finally submitted to the Parsippany Troy-Hills Zoning Board of Adjustment, applying for a variance for property located at 1719 Route 10, East, Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey and is designated as Block 200, Lot 1 on the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Tax Map. The building is known as the Octagon 10 Office Center

Included in their application, “Applicant has applied for the following approvals: Use Variance, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(d)(1), uses are not permitted and the property contains more than one principal use. Bulk Variances, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c)(1), front yard setback. Such other approvals, variances and waivers from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinances as may be deemed necessary or required by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills at the hearing in this matter.”

According to the application, they are seeking approvals to add and integrate additional uses to the existing office building property which will include a restaurant, daycare or fitness center and a café with a drive-thru.

According to the plans, the café with a drive-thru will occupy 2,000 square feet, the daycare or fitness center will occupy 13,689 square feet and the restaurant will occupy 8,740 square feet.

At a Zoning Board meeting on Wednesday, October 20, Board Chairman asked the Applicant’s Attorney, Joe O’Neill, who will be occupying the cafe? A Dunkin Donuts? Mr. O’Neill replied, the only thing I can disclose it will be an “upscale coffee cafe.”

The Board of Adjustment on Wednesday, November 4, approved the cafe with a drive through. It was also disclosed that the tenant would be Starbucks.  The other two buildings received preliminary approval at this time, since there is no pending tenant. The board votes unanimously to approve Starbucks.

The current office building at 1719 Route 10
The current office building at 1719 Route 10

The Octagon 10 Office Center is located in Morris County’s Fortune 500 District, this octagon shaped building has an outdoor courtyard and fountain. Unique octagonal design,  Internet fiber optic SONET rings,Full service cafeteria, Basement storage, fine local business hotels (Hilton and Marriott) and restaurants abound in the area, Interior court with fountain. The building is located directly across from the Mack-Cali Business Campus.

The office building is approximately 87% rented. It contains 192,660 square feet, on three floors, with 16,740 square feet currently vacant. Some of the current tenants include Internal Revenue Service, Chase Bank, Net Access, Law Offices of Thomas Buonocore, Manpower and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  The building was constructed in 1975 and renovated in 1996.

The building is owned by Commercial Realty Group, the same company that owns 100 IMS Drive.

NJFOG seeks changes in how ethics complaints are handled

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NJFOG seeks changes in how ethics complaints are handled

NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey Foundation for Open Government, Inc. (NJFOG) submitted a formal Petition for Rulemaking to the Local Finance Board (LFB) within the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), on August 31, 2015. (The petition and NJFOG’s cover letter can also be found on the DCA’s website.) NJFOG’s petition seeks changes in the rules that govern how the LFB processes citizen complaints against county and local officials that allege violations of the Local Government Ethics Law.

NJFOG’s petition seeks three categories of rule amendments:

Time constraints on resolving ethics complaints.

Under current rules, the LFB is not subject to any time constraints for conducting its ethics law investigations.  NJFOG’s petition cites to case that had been pending for nearly three and half years and others that have been in the investigative stage for more than two years.  NJFOG proposes an amendment requiring an investigation to be completed within eighteen months of the LFB’s receipt of an ethics complaint.

Earlier public disclosure of ethics complaints. 

Under current rules, all information concerning ethics complaints is held confidential until the complaint is finally resolved.  Under NJFOG’s proposal, complaints will made public after the LFB completes its preliminary investigation, which must be completed within 120 days of the complaint’s filing.

Rejection of complaints that deal with conduct that is also the subject pending before a court or other tribunal.

NJFOG’s proposal would not allow the LFB to dismiss a complaint that alleges the same conduct that is the subject to an action by a court or another tribunal unless the complaint’s allegations are “substantially similar to the material allegations” made in the other matter.  The rule would also require the LFB to inform the complainant that he or she may bring the complaint anew after the matter before the court or other tribunal has been resolved. 

The New Jersey’s Administrative Procedures Act (APA), N.J.S.A. 52:14B-4(f), permits anyone to petition any state agency for a new rule or for an amendment to or a repeal of an existing rule.  The same law requires the agency to formally grant any such petition, deny it with a statement of reasons or refer the matter for further deliberations to be concluded within ninety days.

The LFB considered NJFOG’s petition at its October 14, 2015 meeting.  In a “Notice of Action on Petition for Rulemaking” published after the meeting, the LFB elected to “refer the matter to Local Finance Board staff for further deliberation and recommendation on further action within 90 days.”

PHS Spanish Honor Society to hold fundraiser

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PHS Spanish Honor Society to hold fundraiser

PARSIPPANY — Make dinner a selfless act by joining the Parsippany High School Spanish Honor Society for a fundraiser at Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Visit Chipotle on Wednesday, November 11 between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Download this flyer and show it on your smartphone or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds are donated to Parsippany High School Spanish Honor Society.

Chipotle is located at at 1111 Route 46, in the Troy Hills Shopping Center.

Morris County Leaders Gather to Discuss Health Issues

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Morris County Leaders Gather to Discuss Health Issues

PARSIPPANY — The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) hosted a community health forum in Parsippany today as part of an ongoing series of regional conversations on how all sectors of a community can work together to ensure that residents have the opportunity to lead healthier lives.

An audience member asks a question at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Morris County Culture of Health Forum in Parsippany
An audience member asks a question at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Morris County Culture of Health Forum in Parsippany

“We want to build a Culture of Health here in our home state of New Jersey – and across the country – that takes into account everything that impacts our well-being: from the neighborhoods, schools and offices where we spend our days, to our transportation options, to the location of grocery stores in our communities,” explained RWJF Chief of Staff Robin E. Mockenhaupt. “We believe health needs to be a shared value and priority across all sectors of society, which is why we are so excited to bring together so many Morris County leaders to discuss a Culture of Health here.”

The forum was moderated by Kent Manahan, former anchor for NJN News. Participants also joined the conversation online using the hashtag #CultureofHealth.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James R. Barberio agreed. “My goal as mayor is to have a healthy town and a healthy workforce,” said Barberio. “We hired a wellness coach in 2011, and the result has been happier, healthier workers – including myself! I’ve lost 40 pounds, I’m controlling my diabetes, and I feel better than ever. We use our Mayor’s Wellness Campaign to reach out to members of the community, to help them lead healthier lives.”

According to Chris M. Kirk, president and chair of the North Jersey Health Collaborative: “We have worked with over 100 partner organizations across North Jersey, to help them to identify community needs and use their resources to help people live healthier lives. With their help, we’ve identified the top factors affecting Morris County residents’ health, including obesity, affordable housing shortage, alcohol abuse, and socioeconomic disparities. By working together, we can use the funding and resources we have for to the most impact.”

Xiomara Guevara, executive director of the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs drilled down even further into the health concerns facing some residents. “One of the ways we help the minority population in Morris County is through our Center for Citizenship and Legal Immigration. By providing affordable and quality immigration legal services, we are improving the Hispanic and Latino community’s ability to access preventative services, health insurance coverage, and health literacy.”

Rina Ramirez, chief medical officer for Zufall Health Center, offered an overview of how her organization contributes to the health of Morris County: “We help the underserved communities within our county, and in addition to primary medical, dental and behavioral health services, we provide an array of programs to promote health,” she explained. “These include patient navigators to assist with access to services, group visits for patients with diabetes and asthma, support groups for breast cancer survivors, cooking classes, exercise classes and yoga at our Wellness Center, and more.”

Bob Parker, chief executive officer of New Bridge Services, also addressed the mental health component. “We help provide mental health counseling to homebound senior citizens, through in-home professionals. We have also been working with the United Way of Northern New Jersey and the College of Saint Elizabeth to address some of the ongoing mental health needs that remain in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.”

Representing the Morris County Chamber of Commerce was president Paul A. Boudreau. Earlier this year, RWJF announced a two-year initiative called “Better Health through Economic Opportunity” as part of its efforts to make sure the business community is included in discussions on how to build a Culture of Health.

“We are looking into ways to leverage our contacts and resources to have a bigger impact on making Morris County a healthier place to live and work,” said Boudreau. “We have a diverse membership with more than 900 companies, including not only hospital systems and pharmaceutical companies, but also hundreds of small businesses. Our Health & Wellness Committee meets monthly and we focus on a variety of topics including health education, exercise and nutrition.”

In addition to the panel of speakers, the forum included spotlight presentations from various community stakeholders, detailing their work building a Culture of Health through practices like farm-based primary medical care, community and school gardens, increased transportation options, addiction prevention and treatment, and early-education enhancement. Those presenters included:

Asha Gala, practice manager, Ethos Health

Abby Gallo, executive director, Grow it Green Morristown

Richard Gentles, vice president, TransOptions

Lisa Gulla, health officer, Borough of Madison

Barbara Kaufman, director of prevention services, Prevention is Key

Michelle Roers, cpo, United Way of Northern New Jersey

The forum took place at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, amulti-faceted training facility that was designed for providing professional training for fire, law enforcement, corrections and first aid squad personnel, both volunteer and salaried. The academy includes a Life Safety Complex, completed in 2001, for state-of-the-art fire training. The Foundation first announced its vision for working with others to build a Culture of Health during a statewide forum in Princeton in June 2014, and has since held local events in Jersey City and Camden.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the largest private foundation in New Jersey and the nation’s largest philanthropy working to improve the health and health care of all. The Foundation is striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. RWJF has invested more than $900 million in New Jersey since 1972. For more information, click here. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at  or on Facebook.

Morris County Sheriff’s Office to Host First of its Kind Clergy Academy

Frank L. Cahill
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Morris County Sheriff’s Office to Host First of its Kind Clergy Academy

MORRIS COUNTY — Sheriff Edward V. Rochford is pleased to announce the inaugural session of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Clergy Academy.

This program is the first of its kind in Morris County and will be held in January of 2016. The program is designed to build relationships between the diverse clergy serving Morris County and law enforcement.

This program will consist of three sessions and will provide members of the clergy with important information about law enforcement’s role in the community and how officers are trained to protect and serve in today’s complex world.

The sessions are scheduled to be held on Thursday, January 14, 21 and 28 at the Morris County Public Safety Complex, Parsippany.

The program is free of charge and open to all members of the clergy and religious leaders from the Morris County area. “This program is an important way to strengthen the relationships between our law enforcement officers and the clergy. The clergy has a unique role in fostering community relations,” said Undersheriff William Schievella who will lead the program. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office is the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of New Jersey to become nationally accredited and has gone on to earn national accreditation for 12 straight years, ranking the agency in the top 1% of the over 3,000 Sheriff’s Offices nationwide. Under Sheriff Rochford’s leadership the Sheriff’s Office continues to build important relationships with the communities that it serves.

To obtain more information about registering for this program please contact Sheriff’s Investigator Erica Valvano at (973) 285-6600 or via e-mail erice@co.morris.nj.us.

For information about this program or other Community Outreach programs please visit the Morris County Sheriff’s Office at www.mcsheriff.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MorrisCountySheriffsOffice.

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