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Rev. Richard Horn, retired Fire Chaplain, receives proclamation from Mayor
PARSIPPANY — At a recent Township Council meeting Mayor James Barberio presented a special proclamation to retiring Fire Chaplain Richard Horn for his 38 years of service to Parsippany-Troy Hills. Then Donald Bragg was named as Horn’s replacement and given his badge during the ceremony.
The proclamation presented to Rev. Richard Horn from Mayor James Barberio read:
Whereas, many individuals contribute to the well-being and welfare of others by giving tirelessly of their time and energy without desire for recognition or remuneration for personal gain; and
Whereas, Reverend Richard W. Horn has announced his retirement after serving 38 years as Chaplain for the Parsippany-Troy Hills Joint Chiefs Council; and
Whereas, Reverend Horn has been a powerful influence in our community and has earned and also justly deserves public recognition for his 21 years of service as the Chaplain for the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department; and
Whereas, Reverend Horn has embodied the highest quality service standards that any organization could hope for and his dedication to his follow man, the Parsippany-Troy Hills community and to all those in need is exemplified by his words, deeds and character; and
Whereas, Reverend Horn has counseled and comforted our police, fire and community members with spiritual insight, support and a very calming demeanor.
Now Therefore I, James R. Barberio, Mayor of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, do hereby extend appreciation to Reverend Richard W. Horn for his many years of faithful service and further proclaim that his outstanding service and dedication shall not be forgotten.
I-287 traffic shifts to take place this weekend in Morris County
HANOVER — New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced traffic pattern shifts are scheduled to be implemented this weekend on I-287 northbound and southbound as construction advances on the roadway rehabilitation project in Morris County.
Beginning at 9:00 p.m. Friday, May 29 until 8:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30, NJDOT’s Contractor, Tilcon of New York, Inc., is scheduled to close two northbound lanes to reposition construction barrier and restripe lanes on the I-287 northbound bridge over Eden Lane in Hanover Township. A third lane may be closed later tonight to set up the new traffic pattern. At least two lanes will be maintained.
The new traffic pattern will remove the single left lane “cattle chute” within construction barriers in the northbound direction and add a fifth lane. The new traffic pattern will shift all five lanes to right of the work zone.
On Saturday, May 30, at 9:00 p.m. through Sunday, May 31 at 8:00 a.m., Tilcon will close up to two lanes on I-287 southbound to shift all four travel lanes to the far right. At least two lanes will remain open. Crews will be setting up a work zone on the left to finish the permanent concrete barrier that divides the northbound and southbound lanes. In the event of inclement weather this weekend, the work will be rescheduled.
The $27.4 million project – which began initial construction activity in September 2012 – is designed to improve the pavement condition on a seven-mile segment of I-287 in both directions from just south of the South Street underpass in Morristown (Milepost 35.4) to the Littleton Road overpass in Parsippany (Milepost 42.2). The replacement of the bridge decks over Eden Lane in Hanover (Milepost 38.8) is included in the project as are guide rail upgrades, drainage clearing and various other incidental improvements to the highway.
NJDOT has designed the project to advance in stages to minimize impacts to motorists. All I-287 mainline travel lanes will remain open in each direction during peak-period hours throughout construction, while single and double-lane closures will be allowed during overnight and off-peak hours. The project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2015.
Portable variable message signs are being utilized to provide advance notification to the motoring public of all traffic pattern changes associated with the work. The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.
Register now for Parsippany Youth (Flag) Rugby
PARSIPPANY — Children entering kindergarten to ninth 9th grade can learn one of the fastest growing sports in the USA, Rugby. Rugby will be featured in the next Olympic Games. Rugby is a great sport to learn teamwork and to get and stay fit. The rugby program runs for six short weeks in early summer.
Please consider joining by registering by clicking here.
Kaitlyn Partington Named to Dean’s List at Lebanon Valley College
PARSIPPANY — Kaitlyn Partington of Mount Tabor, joined more than 600 Lebanon Valley College students named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester. Dean’s list students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.4 out of 4.0.
Partington, a graduate of Parsippany Hills High School, is pursuing a bachelor of science in business administration.
Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., welcomes 1,573 full-time undergraduates studying more than 30 challenging and sophisticated majors, as well as customized self-designed majors.
Founded in 1866, LVC has graduate programs in athletic training, physical therapy, business, music education, and science education. Learn more at www.lvc.edu.
Annville is 15 minutes east of Hershey and 35 minutes east of Harrisburg; Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are within two hours.
Janet Zorsky retires and moves to Delaware
PARSIPPANY — Janet Zorsky, retired on Wednesday, May 27, from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Clerk’s Office. Janet has been with the Township for a little over eight years. She worked in the Mayor’s office for a short time, then joined the Clerk’s Office as a Clerk Typist.
“It’s been a pleasure working with Janet. I wish her enjoyment of many happy and healthy years of retirement,” said Township Clerk Yancy Wazirmas.
Janet was always a very helpful, pleasant person who will be dearly missed. I wish her the very best with her retirement, said Council President Paul Carifi, Jr.
Council Vice President Robert Peluso said “It was a great opportunity to work with Janet who is a professional that truly cares about our community. Although we are loosing a great colleague, I wish her the best in her retirement.”
Councilman Dr. Louis Valori stated “Janet was an asset in the clerks office and will be truly missed. I wish her the very best in her retirement with her family.”
“Janet has always been pleasant, professional, and cooperative whenever I reached out to her. She shall be missed. I wish for her good health and happiness in her retirement,” said Michael J. dePierro
Parsippany Focus Publisher Frank Cahill said, “Janet was always very helpful, and pleasant to work with. Every visit to the Clerk’s Office, I felt welcomed and Janet was always there to greet me and made sure that all my needs were taken care of. I will truly miss Janet. I wish her the best on her retirement and will surely miss her.”
Janet has moved to Delaware and will enjoy her retirement with her husband.
Breaking news: Parsippany Police Officer Commits Suicide
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Focus has learned from confirmed sources that a Parsippany Police Officer committed suicide this evening near Entin Drive and Sylvan Way.
Out of respect of the family and the Parsippany Police Department additional details will not be published until a press release is issued from the Parsippany Police Department.
Police Continue Investigation Into The 2011 Murder Of Kenvil Diner Owner
PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, May 28, 2011, in the middle of Memorial Day Weekend, Chafic “Steve” Ezzeddine was found murdered inside of his place of business, the Kenvil Diner, located on Route 46 in the Kenvil section of Roxbury Township, New Jersey.
In the past four years since the murder of Steve Ezzeddine, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Roxbury Township Police Department have continued to actively investigate this crime and search for the identity of the person(s) involved.
In additional to the crime itself, it is also important to recall the story that exists behind the innocent life that was taken that day in 2011.
Steve was a simple, hard-working family man, and a family patriarch, who left a rich and fulfilling life in Lebanon over 40 years ago, to come to the United States to be with the woman he loved – his wife, Amal. One of six children, Steve completed university in Lebanon and was enjoying the beginnings of a promising career with Middle East Airlines when he met Amal in 1970. Due to religious differences, Amal and Steve’s relationship was forbidden by society and frowned upon by their family and friends. As they secretly continued their relationship, Steve made a courageous decision to move to the United States in hopes of someday being able to marry the woman he loved. Before leaving, he told Amal that someday he would send for her to come join him in the United States.
Steve departed Lebanon in 1971, leaving behind his family, friends, and successful job to start a life in America. He located to New Jersey, where he worked at a diner and enrolled in a Master’s program to continue to build on his education. After more than a year of long days, hard work, and weekly letters to Amal, Steve finally sent for her to join him in the United States. Although the decision was not supported by family, Amal left Lebanon in 1972.
In the beginning, the two struggled, living in a motel room as Steve continued long days of work and school. Amal, not having many friends or family in New Jersey, and not knowing the English language, spent much of her time isolated in the motel room. Despite this hardship, the two married in October 1972. There began a union marked by the struggle to not only earn a living, but to also assimilate into a new society, start a family, make new friends, and ultimately become productive members of the community they came to call home. They dealt with the scrutiny of the family they left behind in Lebanon, knowing that their decision to leave their country to be together was brave, but not accepted. At the time, they knew in their hearts and minds that this was the only way they could be together.
Steve and Amal started a family, eventually having three (3) sons. In 1983, after many years of hard work, the couple purchased the business that became the Kenvil Diner. For years, Steve worked tirelessly at the diner to provide for his family, consistently working 16 hour days, 7 days a week, up until the day of his murder. Amal was there throughout it all, working countless hours in the diner alongside the love of her life. Together they raised three (3) hard working, successful young men, who struggle daily with the loss of their father. It is through his memory and inspiration that they strive to live as honorable a life as he did.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Roxbury Township Police Department continue to pursue leads in this investigation and have worked with numerous other law enforcement agencies during the course of this investigation, to include the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office, New Jersey State Police, New York City Police Department, New York City Medical Examiner’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Secret Service.
The Ezzeddine family has raised the reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone responsible for the murder of their patriarch. Coupled with the Morris County CrimeStoppers reward money, the total reward is now $25,000. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is not involved in any aspect of the reward being offered.
A website has been developed by the Ezzeddine family (www.kenvildiner.com) as a tribute to their loved one.
Law enforcement asks that anyone with information in regards to this investigation please contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (973) 285-6200 or www.morrisprosecutor.org, the Roxbury Police Department at (973) 448-2090, or Crimestoppers at 973-COP-CALL, www.morriscrimestoppers.org.
Persons reporting information may remain anonymous.
Patsy Cline has come to Parsippany
PARSIPPANY — In the coming weekends, the Women’s Theater Company at the Parsippany Playhouse presents “Always Patsy Cline.” Starring Patricia Durante as Cline and Barbara Babbitt as Cline’s most avid fan Louise, the play unveils the true story of the celebrity and fan who become deep friends. Their story progresses through the narration of Louise and the music of Patsy.
Durante is the absolute embodiment of Cline, a shy and talented rising country star. An extraordinary performer, Durante brings the songs to life with pitch-perfect perfection and much heart. With each song, you can feel the joy and the heartache of Cline’s life.
As fan Louise, Babbitt engages the audience as she relates her journey with Patsy Cline. Long before meeting Cline, Louise falls in love with the music. Cline’s voice on the Arthur Godfrey show draws Louise out of her kitchen and to the television. It was love at first hearing. When Louise learns that Cline will be appearing in Houston, Louise makes sure she has a place in the honky-tonk. This leads to a chance meeting that further leads to a lasting friendship.
Babbitt’s enthusiasm is infectious, and the audience becomes as excited as she is to know Cline. As Louise, Babbitt brings a down-home humanity to her character which brings a delicate balance to an over-the-top fan and true friend.
In her directorial debut, Grayce Coviello has staged a vibrant production. Even in the midst of poignant moments, Coviello has a touch of humor and lightness. For those who know the story of Patsy Cline, it might have been easier to play to emotion. Coviello takes a subtler, more satisfying approach that brings a wonderful texture to the characters.
Throughout “Always Patsy Cline,” a talented trio of musicians acts as the singer’s stage band while brilliantly punctuating the narrative. Under the tutelage of Regan Ryzuk, the band plays in character to complete the setting’s nostalgic look of 1950s and 1960s Texas.
“Always Patsy Cline” is a lively, touching and uplifting production. A must see!
The show runs May 29, 30, 31 and June 5, 6 and 7.
The Women’s Theater Company is located at the Parsippany Playhouse, 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha. For GPS driving directions, please enter the town of Boonton, 07005.
To purchase tickets online click here or call (973) 316-3033.