Breaking news: Hazmat Incident at Ferring Pharmaceuticals
PARSIPPANY — There is a report of a suspicious powder found at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, 100 Interpace Parkway.
On the scene is Parsippany-Troy Hills Fire District 5 Hazmat team, Parsippany-Troy Hills Fire District 2, Morris County Hazmat team, Parsippany Emergency Medical Services and Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance.
As details become available Parsippany Focus will update this breaking news story.
New law to impact mail-in ballots
MORRIS COUNTY — An amended state law that took effect in August imposes strict new limits on the pick up and delivery of “vote by mail’’ ballots, limiting any individual to just three ballots that can be obtained or delivered to county elections officials. That is a reduction from the previous state limit of 10 ballots that could be picked up by a surrogate for other voters.
Also, the amended law requires any person dropping off mail ballots to show valid identification, such as a New Jersey driver’s license or other form of identification recognized as official by the federal, state, or county governments. That identification must include the full address of the person and a signature.
The change in Public Law 2015, Chapter 84 – concerning bearers and messengers of ballots – could impact facilities such as nursing homes or hospitals where social workers collect the mail-in ballots and delivers them in large numbers to elections offices.
Also, it could impact local campaign efforts to collect mail-in-ballots from groups of voters in a town, especially senior citizens, and deliver them to the county elections office.
In a recent local fire election in Ocean County, one candidate’s campaign collected and delivered 150 mail-in ballots and delivered them to county Board of Elections, only to have all of them rejected because the “bearer” portion of the envelope was not completed by the person delivering the ballots.
“We are working to get the word out to the public prior to the next election so there is no confusion and no eligible Morris County voters is disenfranchised,’’ said Dale Kramer, administrator of the Morris County Board of Elections.
“This will most likely affect larger institutions, such as hospitals, and nursing homes, from which large numbers of mail-in ballots are many times carried to the county for their residents by one or two persons. That is not acceptable anymore.’’
Notices of the changed voting rules have been sent to county and local Republican and Democratic committees, municipal clerks in all 39 Morris County towns, and healthcare facilities. The new rule also has been posted on the Morris County Board of Elections website.
Children invited to participate in Hoop Shoot contest
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Elks, in conjunction with the Parsippany PAL, will host a hoop shoot contest at the Parsippany PAL building on Baldwin Road on Sunday, November 8, starting at 10:00 a.m.
The contest is open to boys and girls who will be aged 8 to 13 on April 1, 2016. A copy of the child’s birth certificate should be presented at the time of registration.
Registration will be held at 10:00 a.m. for children aged 8 to 9, with the contest to start at 10:30 a.m. Registration will be at 10:30 a.m. for those aged 10 to 11, with the contest starting at approximately 11:00 a.m.
Children aged 12 and 13 will register at 11:00 a.m. and the contest will start at approximately 11:30 p.m.
At the conclusion of the contest, the winners will receive trophies and given instructions regarding the district contest. Pizza and refreshments will be available to all the contestants and their families.
For more information call Bill Wall, youth activities chairman at the Parsippany Elks Lodge 2078 at (973) 879-9633.
Amanda Lyons is a National Merit semifinalist
PARSIPPANY — Amanda Lyons, a member of Morris Catholic High School Class of 2016, was named a National Merit semifinalist. More than 1.5 million students across the country take the PSAT, the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Less than one percent of high school seniors in each state are named semifinalists.
The Parsippany resident is one of two from the three high schools sponsored by the Diocese of Paterson.
Last spring she was named the recipient of the Sister Joseph Marie – Crusader Award for Academic Distinction, a recognition given to a junior who has achieved principal’s honors for each quarter while a student a MCHS. Lyons was the sole recipient.
Both teachers and peers recognize the joy Lyons finds in learning, and she has especially distinguished herself in writing and world languages, the school noted. “Amanda embodies the meaning of scholarship seeking understanding. We are proud of her.”
Parsippany Democrats holds fundraiser
PARSIPPANY — Dozens of supporters gathered at Baadshah Restaurant Thursday night, October 15, to support the Council Candidate team of Janice McCarthy, Greg Elbin and Nick Kumburis.
Hosted by Parth Parikh, the candidates each spoke on the hot-topic issues facing Parsippany, including Waterview, township legal fees, and the impact of Super Pac funding during the primary.
The night was capped off by a passionate speech by Parsippany Environmental Advisory Board Member Harshad Anjaria focusing on the importance of Parsippany’s key environmental issues.
For more information on the three candidates, click here.
Parsippany Positive “Fiscally Responsible, Socially Responsible, ” working to build consensus on the Town Council to support an open and transparent town government that advocates for spending accountability and responsible development.
For more information click here.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk held in Parsippany
PARSIPPANY — Making Strides Parsippany had 377 teams 3,652 participants and raised $394,394.42 at the time this story was published. The local event was held in the Mack-Cali Business Campus, 4 Century Drive.
The top three companies donating were Atlantic Health System $29,161.02; Quest Diagnostics $16,818 and Realogy $11,024.
The top three teams were Michele’s Cancer Crusaders $16,718; Team Realogy $11,024 and AFR Ladybugs $9,084.11.
Some area groups participating raised: Team Realogy $11,024, Parsippany-Troy Hills School District raised $2,756.00; Hilton and Hampton Parsippany raised $1,177.00 for today’s event.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks are the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting nearly 300 communities with a shared determination to finish the fight against breast cancer. Passionate walk participants raise critical funds that enable the American Cancer Society to fund groundbreaking breast cancer research; provide free, comprehensive information and support to those touched by breast cancer; and help people take steps to reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it is most treatable.
The money raised through Making Strides walks help the American Cancer Society finish the fight against breast cancer by funding groundbreaking breast cancer research; providing free, comprehensive information and support for those touched by breast cancer; and helping people take steps to reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it is most treatable. Search for a Making Strides participant, by name or by team, to support their fundraising effort. Or simply make a general donation to help finish the fight.
For more information on Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, click here.
Planning for College? Talk to the Y’s Panel of Experts!
MOUNTAIN LAKES — This is not your usual college planning seminar!
The Lakeland Hills Family YMCA in Mountain Lakes will be hosting a free program on Monday, November 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. that will offer you a chance to get all your pertinent college questions answered.
Get valuable advice from experts in their field, including: admissions, financial aid, new student programs, and more. Program is free and all teens and parents welcome. No membership required but please pre-register online by clicking here or by calling (973) 334-2820.
Michelle Yost named to the Wesley College Athletics Hall of Fame
PARSIPPANY — Michelle Yost, Field Hockey/Softball was recently named to the Wesley College Athletics Hall of Fame. She is a 2004 graduate of Wesley College, and a 2001 Graduate of Parsippany Hills High School.
Her parents are Galen and Pat Yost, Parsippany.
During her high school years, she played field hockey, basketball and softball. Currently she is a physical education teacher at Parsippany High School and is the freshman field hockey coach.
Yost was a great dual-sport athlete at Wesley College, earning a combined four All-PAC selections, two for field hockey and two for softball.
She finished her field hockey career with a pair of conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. In softball, she set several offensive records. Yost remains in the top 10 in hits, doubles, slugging percentage, and RBI, and still holds the program records in career triples and single-season triples.
The Wesley College Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1983 to recognize alumni, coaches and other members of the Wesley College Athletics community for outstanding contributions.
Wesley College is located in Dover, Delaware.
Nursing Board member, Avery Hart stands for NJ Assembly
MORRIS COUNTY — NJ Board of Nursing Public Advocate, Avery Hart of Kinnelon, has announced she is a candidate for NJ Assembly in District #26, challenging Jay Webber and Betty DeCroce. She has been endorsed by the Sierra Club and other groups.
“I care deeply physical, emotional, and economic well-being of people, and the health of the environment,” she said in a prepared statement. “And I know from my work of the NJ Board of Nursing that NJ has a looming health care crisis, due to a nursing shortage and problems in home health care. I want to take my problem solving skills to Trenton to avert that crisis.”
“If the incumbents were doing a good job for the people of New Jersey, I wouldn’t run. But their votes have not helped our state. For instance, they voted against meeting NJ’s pension obligations and that contributed to the lowering of NJ bond-ratings. And they’ve really done nothing to help solve NJ’s on-going property tax problems. Even worse, Webber is the NJ Chair of the notorious ALEC, the front group that pushes corporate written laws. And Decroce takes multiple pensions from the state – all tax payer money. According to NJ Watch Dog she is the #1 “double dipper” in the Assembly. Lastly, their talk does not match their actions. For example, they talk about transparent government, but voted against opening the books of the Port Authority and private prisons.”
A retired Clinical Psychotherapist, Hart is also an award-winning playwright and author, whose books have been translated into several languages. “My life experience has uniquely prepared me to serve as an Assemblywoman,” she said in a prepared statement. “I’ve successfully held positions in the judicial, educational, medical systems, and was also involved in the arts, which taught me the value of thinking outside the box.”
In Kinnelon, Hart created,a grassroots environmental group, called Kinnelon Conserves. She wrote a Citizen’s Petition signed by nearly1400 voters that helped defeat artificial turf in the Highlands preservation zone, saving tax-payers over $1.7 million.
“Webber and DeCroce caused a lot of discord in Kinnelon because artificial turf was not allowed there until they co-sponsored a bill to permit it. They also voted by abstention to allow the Pilgrim Pipeline to run through four district towns, including Parsippany, I would have voted NO since the pipeline offers residents 100% risk and no benefit whatsoever.
It seems clear to me that health – physical, economic, or environmental – is not on their to-do list. How else can you explain their vote to refuse US Medicaid dollars that would have insured thousands of residents at no extra cost to NJ taxpayers? Presumably they voted to help Gov. Christie’s presidential campaign in Iowa. But the result in New Jersey is more crowded emergency rooms and fewer insured patients.”
“What drives me is a vision of New Jersey as a renewed Garden State where opportunity and creativity abound, the truly vulnerable are protected, quality health care is accessible, and the natural environment is protected. My goal as an Assemblywoman will be to bring fresh air, positive energy, and sensible innovation to our state to accomplish those goals.”
For more information, click here.