MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Washington Township Police Chief Michael Bailey announce the conclusion of the criminal investigation into the Saturday, April 18 motor vehicle accident that resulted in the death of a sixty eight year old male on West Mill Road in Washington Township.
On April 18, 2015 at 5:28 p.m., Washington Township Police received a 911 call of a motor vehicle crash in the area of 338 West Mill Road. A 1961 Chevrolet Corvette was struck by a 2013 Lexus SUV. The sole occupant of the Corvette, a 68 years old male, was injured and died as a result of his injuries.
The investigation revealed that the 1961 Corvette was travelling West on West Mill Road. Also during this time a 2013 Lexus RX was traveling East on West Mill Road. The Lexus crossed over the center double line for unknown reasons striking the Corvette head-on, causing the fatal injuries to the sole occupant of the Corvette.
After a thorough investigation by law enforcement, and in coordination with the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the New Jersey State Police Forensics Laboratory, no evidence of criminal conduct was found on the part of the driver of the Lexus. Analysis of the driver’s blood did not reveal the presence of any substance that would have impaired one’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. As such, no criminal charges are forthcoming arising out of this incident.
Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank Police Chief Michael Bailey and the Washington Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Section, the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their collective assistance in this matter.
PARSIPPANY — State and Federal filings from the Super PACs at the heart of the 2015 Parsippany GOP Primary are beginning to appear on NJ ELEC and IRS Websites, albeit very late. NJ’s Future First (NJFF) and it’s parent PAC, America’s Future First (AFF) submitted their first filings just days before the June 2015 Primary.
While both Super PACs incorporated in July 2014, the Internal Revenue Service did not receive AFF‘s first filings until May 11, 2015, just days before the June 2 Parsippany Primary. Per law, reports are due to the IRS quarterly; April 15, July 15, October 15, and January 31.
America’s Future First (AFF)
For the period July 1 through September 30, 2014 and due the following month, the IRS did not receive AFF‘s first filing until nearly 7 months after the due date. For that reporting period, $61,254.45 was raised by the Super PAC from donations from three different sources.
Adams, Rehmann & Heggan Associates, Inc, an engineering firm, donated to AFF six times during the first reporting period for a total contribution of $21,000. Adams, Rehmann & Heggan was recently awarded a no-bid professional services contract with the Township of Parsippany. According to the Parsippany Finance department, on July 1, 2015 Adams was paid $18,797.50 for engineering work provided to the township.
Another firm with close ties to the township also donated to AFF during the first reporting period. Fairview Insurance, the Township’s Insurance Broker of Record donated $35,254.45. Business & Government Insurance Agency, Inc of Woodbridge donated an additional $5,000 to the Super PAC.
For the reporting period October 1 through December 31, 2014 and due by January 31, 2015, AFF submitted its filing 4 months late and it was received by the IRS on May 11, 2015 as well.
During the second reporting period, AFF received $26,490.20 in donations from four different sources. The law firm of Archer & Greiner of Haddonfield, NJ, a firm the Star Ledger reported as being one of the largest legal clients of New Jersey under Governor Christie, donated $1000 to AFF. Adam’s Rehmann, & Heggan Associates donated an additional $12,950.00 which brought their total contribution for 2014 to $33,950.00.
Ryan Graham
Fairview Insurance donated an additional $540.20 during this reporting period, but the Director of Business Development for Fairview Insurance and liaison to the Township of Parsippany, Ryan Graham, son of the founder of the firm, donated $12,000.00 to the Super PAC during this reporting period.
It should be noted that the April 15 and July 15, 2015 contribution reports have still not been received by the IRS. The IRS confirmed this with Parsippany Focus this afternoon.
In 2014, aside from retaining the law firm Duane Morris, America’s Future First donated all of its funds to New Jersey’s First.
New Jersey’s Future First (NJFF)
Unlike its parent Super PAC, New Jersey’s Future First has not filed any reports with the IRS. However, NJFF must file disclosure forms with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJELEC). Since its inception, NJFF has been required to file 13 campaign disclosures with NJELEC. Nearly all were filed late, some nearly 10 months late.
In total, NJFF has received $158,200.00 in donations; all from one source. America’s Future First. Since AFF reported donations of $87,744.65 for 2014 but has not yet filed any reports for 2015, at least $70,455.35 was raised during the first part of 2015.
It is very difficult to decipher NJFF’s ELEC filings as each report has critical errors. For example, NJFF reports on all of its forms that no amount over $300 was ever received by the Super PAC, yet the exact opposite is true. In fact, through June 23, 2015 AFF has contributed $156,200.00 to NJFF, $155,900.00 more than the $300.00 contribution limit.
Among the Super PAC’s biggest expenses was Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio’s former political consultant, Alan Zakin. According to ELEC filings NJFF has paid Zakin $26,550 with what appears to be additional $3440 still due to him.
Another $76,500.00 was paid to Bluewater Operations out of Clifton, New Jersey. Bluewater provided the campaign headquarters for the Super PAC, paid the Super PAC’s campaign workers and provided “street money” in Parsippany during this past Parsippany GOP primary. Bluewater is no stranger to controversy.
Ryan Graham and Alan Zakin
As previously reported in Parsippany Focus, During an April 1, 2015 meeting with Morris County Republican Chairman John Sette, Freeholders John Krickus, Dave Scapicchio, and Denville Councilwoman Deborah Smith, Alan Zakin shared with the group that he was working with an organization spearheaded by Fairview Insurance Executive Ryan Graham that was going to spend money in the Parsippany Republican Primary to aid incumbent Councilman Mike dePierro and his team to help defeat incumbent Council President Paul Carifi, Jr. and his running mates. Although Super PACS may support candidates, there can be no interaction between the Super PAC and an individual candidate.
Although Councilman dePierro has steadfastly denied any involvement with either NJFF or AFF and denied that he had ever visited the Super Pac’s headquarters in Lake Parsippany, two witnesses have told Parsippany Focus that they witnessed both Mr. dePierro and his running mate former Councilman Vincent Ferrara at the Super PAC’s office.
“These Parsippany Super PACS are becoming a political cancer which must be stopped from spreading.” Councilman Louis Valori told Parsippany Focus recently. “These Super PACs are corrupting the foundation of honest government and it must stop now.”
Sources tell Parsippany Focus that the Election Law Enforcement Commission has opened an investigation into ELEC violations.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of the 2015 Labor Day Statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Beginning Friday, August 21 and running through Monday, September 7, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols, looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.
“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement and public education tools, including posters, banners and mobile video display signs. Launched across the U.S. in 1999, the program works to combat drunk driving during the busy summer travel season, including the Labor Day holiday period.
“More than 10,000 people are killed in the United States each year in alcohol impaired driving crashes, and these crashes cost our society nearly $50 billion annually,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “There is a zero tolerance message for this campaign. If drivers are caught operating their vehicle while impaired they will be arrested.”
In 2013 alcohol-impaired fatalities accounted for 27 percent of New Jersey’s motor vehicle fatalities. As part of the initiative, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides grants to local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to run the two• week campaign.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2015 crackdown offer the following advice:
If you plan to drink, designate a driver, someone who will not drink alcohol, before going
Take mass transit, a taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you
Spend the night where the activity is
Report impaired drivers to law enforcement. In New Jersey, drivers may dial #77 to report a drunk or aggressive
Always buckle up, every ride, regardless of your seating position in the vehicle. It’s your best defense against an impaired
If you’re intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab or have a sober friend or family member drive you to your doorstep.
Rideshare company Uber, a ride share company, available 24 hours offers a $20.00 discount to new users. Click here to receive the discount.
PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany donated school supplies to the Parsippany Food Pantry, to be distributed to needy families in Parsippany.
Kiwanis Club Secretary (center) Karen Gajewski and Immediate Past President/Foundation President (right) Carol Tiesi presented the school supplies to Parsippany-Troy Hills Acting Director Human Services Michele Picone.
For more information on the Kiwanis Club, click here.
MORRISTOWN — The case against a 22-year-old Mountain Lakes man accused of killing a Kentucky family of three in a motor vehicle crash on Route 80 in Rockaway Township is headed for a grand jury. Bhavuk Uppal has been charged with death by auto, driving while suspended and driving while intoxicated in the July 11 crash.…
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County health officials are joining the state campaign this summer to get the word out that leaving unattended children in cars is a bad idea at any time, but can be a health danger to kids in the hot summer months.
You may think your errand will just take just a few minutes, but running an errand while leaving your child – or your pet — alone in a car often stretches longer, putting your child at risk of heatstroke and even death.
Striving to educate parents that the risk far exceeds any convenience, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) has partnered with statewide business organizations to raise awareness about the dangers of leaving children alone in vehicles.
DCF has been distributing window stickers to retail stores, supermarkets, financial institutions, insurance agents, state-licensed child care centers, and more featuring a simple but important message: Never leave your child unattended in a car. Not even for a minute.
“A hot car can become like a hot oven in just a matter of minutes on summer days,’’ said Carlos Perez, Jr, Health Officer for the Morris County Office of Health Management. “The rule of thumb should be never to leave your children or pets in a hot car, even for what you think will be a minute or two. It’s a bad idea.’’
“We urge Morris County residents to heed this common sense message and avoid potential problems,’’ said Morris County Freeholder Doug Cabana, who is the county governing board’s liaison on health issues. “Maybe they’re grabbing a gallon of milk or using the ATM and think it won’t take much time, but it’s never okay to leave a child alone in a car,” said DCF Commissioner Allison Blake.
The Department of Children and Families has produced an online video alerting parents and caregivers to the danger.
Last year, according to DCF, 31 children nationwide died from heatstroke because they were left unattended in vehicles. Since 1998, 12 children in New Jersey have died from vehicle-related heatstroke. Vehicle interiors hit unbearable temperatures quickly. A relatively cool day at 60 degrees outside could heat a car to 110 degrees inside. Parents and guardians can take easy steps to avoid leaving children unattended in cars. Adults can leave a stuffed animal in the child’s unoccupied car seat. Once caregivers place the child in the car seat, they can move the stuffed animal to the front seat. The stuffed animal will act as a visual reminder to remove the child from the vehicle upon reaching the destination. Other steps adults can take to keep young children safe include:
• Removing kids from the vehicle before unloading groceries or other items;
• Looking inside at the vehicle’s front and back seats before locking the door and walking away;
• Not allowing children to play in or around an unattended vehicle;
• Always lock your car and secure the keys so children can’t get to them;
• Installing a trunk release mechanism to avoid kids getting trapped inside the trunk; and
• Calling 911 immediately if you see a child unattended in a vehicle.
For more information, click here.
For more on Morris County health issues, click here.
TRENTON — Details of nearly $1 million spent by State Police troopers to protect Gov. Chris Christie while he’s traveling the country can remain a state secret, a state Superior Court judge ruled. Judge Mary Jacobson issued an order Friday that will keep past expenses incurred by Christie’s Executive Protection Unit out of the public eye.…
PARSIPPANY – A 68-year-old Dover woman who wasn’t wearing her seat belt was ejected onto the highway after the sport utility vehicle she was a passenger in struck a guardrail on Route 80 Monday evening, State Police said. Shortly before 6 p.m. state police received a report of a serious motor vehicle accident on Route 80…
For some, Frank Gifford will be remembered as the player who made professional football matter in New York for the Giants. For others, he’ll be thought of as the broadcaster who helped bring the NFL into living rooms on Monday night as a tempered voice to go along with the bombastic Howard Cosell. But for Chuck…
RANDOLPH — There is still time to enroll at County College of Morris (CCM) for the Fall Semester. Those who would like to take classes this fall should apply online and register for classes now at www.ccm.edu to get the best choice of classes.
The college also will be holding final in-person registration sessions later this month on its main campus at 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph. Once they have applied, students can register in-person in the Student Community Center during the following dates and times:
Tuesday, August 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Full-time students can save up to $50,000 or more by starting their first two years at CCM. Along with that savings, CCM students benefit from smaller class sizes and a selection of more than 50 associate degree programs, along with a full slate of certificate programs.
Students should apply to the college prior to the final in-person registration dates. A $30.00 application fee is required. Those who apply late and have not completed the testing process may be limited in the courses they can select.
