PARSIPPANY — In preparation for Veterans Day Friday, November 11, Girl Scout troop spent time placing hundreds of flags on veterans’ graves at the Vail Memorial Cemetery.
Girl Scouts placing American flags on veterans’ graves
Girl Scouts placing American flags on veterans’ graves
Girl Scouts placing American flags on veterans’ graves
Girl Scouts placing American flags on veterans’ graves
Girl Scouts placing American flags on veterans’ graves
Girl Scouts placing American flags on veterans’ graves
Girl Scouts placing American flags on veterans’ graves
The Vail Memorial Cemetery at Parsippany Presbyterian Church is a historic cemetery dating nearly 300 years. Including graves of veterans from nearly every major war the United States has been a part of, Vail Cemetery has a long history of celebrating our heroes. Predating the American Revolution, the site is a favorite of genealogists and historians.
Our Cemetery is currently still in active use.
The Cemetery is located on the corner of Route 46 and Vail Road.
PARSIPPANY — Members of the Morris County Organ Transplant Group held a fundraising dinner at Kafe Mozart, 2900 Route 10 West, Powder Mill Plaza West, on Tuesday, November 15. The fundraiser benefitted the New Jersey Sharing Network Foundation.
A percentage of sales during the day were donated to the NJ Sharing Network Foundation whose mission is to increase the number of lives saved through research, donor family support, education and public awareness about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
The Transplant Group is made up of men and women who have had organ or tissue transplants, are on the wait list or have donated as well as their family. Members live in the greater Morris Country area including Parsippany, Boonton, Chatham, Denville, Lake Hopatcong, Mendham, Morristown, Morris Township and Randolph.
The Transplant Group wishes to thank Kafe Mozart for their generosity and to all the patrons who visited the restaurant during the day.
The group’s next meeting is 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7 in the Community Room at the Parsippany Police Complex.
PARSIPPANY — We should value all ages in our communities, from the very young to the very old. Northvail’s third grade students did just that when they recently visited Troy-Hills Assisted Living/Nursing Centeron Halloween bringing cheer to the senior residents. The visit was such a success that third grade teacher, Mrs. Jenelle Garcia, decided to continue the tradition throughout the school year. Her class prepared Thanksgiving Day cards for their new friends at the center.
Northvails Caring Cards for the Community
Mrs. Garcia plans more activities throughout the winter through Valentine’s Day. Even more are planned for the spring and early summer. The children designed a card and wrote a heartfelt message in each such as, “Thank you for letting us come and visit. We want to come next year too,” and “Happy Thanksgiving, I hope you enjoy the holiday with yummy food!”
While a single visit to a nursing home is a valuable experience for children and will brighten the day for older adults, ongoing communication such as Caring Cards for the Community is also worthwhile. Mrs. Garcia’s goal is to teach her class lessons in empathy, charity, respect, and friendship while also having fun. All of Northvail is very appreciative to have such a teacher.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC) held a monthly networking meeting presented by Damian Christian Shammas, Esq.
The topic was “Employers: Law Against Discrimination & Conscientious Employee Protection Act.”
PACC members and nonmembers had the opportunity to discuss with Mr. Shammas employment related issues.
The Law Offices of Damian Christian Shammas represents New Jersey employees in connection with workplace disputes such as wrongful termination of employment, hostile work environment, harassment, retaliation, whistleblowing, unpaid wages and commissions, and breach of employment agreements. The firm also represents individuals in connection with the negotiation of severance agreements and employment contracts and litigation involving non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
Founded in 2011, the firm services clients throughout New Jersey, as well as New York City.
Damian was selected to the 2016 Super Lawyers list issued by Thomson Reuters.
For more information on Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce click here to call (973) 402-6400.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany’s American Legion Posts 249 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10184 held their annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 11 (eleventh month, eleventh day, eleventh hour) at Veterans Memorial Park.
Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., Council Vice President Robert Peluso and Jonathan and Tyler Carifi
Revolutionary Reenactment Group
Presentation of the Colors
Invocation by Rev. Babu Thelappilly from Saint Peter The Apostle Church
Members of Girl Scout Troop #95735, “Pledge of Allegiance”
The National Anthem was song by Michelle Musolino-Roberts
Mayor James Barberio
“Almighty Father” sung by Parsippany Singers from Parsippany Hills High School, led by Kathleen Muka
Prayer of Remembrance by Rabbi Moshe Rudin, Adath Shalom
Cannon Salute led by Al Florio
Dr. Stacie Turk, First Baptist Community Church
Canon Salute
All Saints Academy Students
“God Bless The U.S.A.’ All Saints Academy – Grades 3 – 7, Led by Allison Murphy, Music Director
Laying of the Wreaths
Dr. Stacie Turk and Eileen White
The Presentation of the Colors by Color Guards of American Legion Post 249 and VFW Post 10184 followed by the Invocation by Rev. Babu Thelappilly from Saint Peter The Apostle Church.
The National Anthem and America the Beautiful was performed by Township Resident Michelle Musolino-Roberts. Mayor James Barberio took the podium to discuss “Why We Honor Our Veterans.”
“Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on what members of our armed forces have accomplished in the interest of freedom. And it gives us another opportunity to appreciate what they are now doing for freedom and world peace,” said Barberio. “Make no mistake, we owe them everything that is good in our lives today. To me, every veteran is a hero.”
Thank You Letters to Veterans were written and presented by Leanne Abrenica, Grade 7 and Isabella Toomey, Grade 7 from All Saints Academy. Parsippany Singers from Parsippany Hills High School Led by Kathleen Muka, performed “Almighty Father.”
Prayer of Remembrance by Rabbi Moshe Rudin, Adath Shalom.
Then Laying of the Wreaths by Bernard McElwee, Commander, VFW Post 10184 honored by Veterans: Joe Minsavage, American Legion Post 249 and Gary Erdmann, VFW Post 10184.
The Cannon Salute led by Al Florio, Commander, Lamb’s Artillery Company, Revolutionary Reenactment Group. Anthony Paterno, Parsippany Hills High School, Boy Scout Troop 173, performed the Taps.
God Bless The U.S.A. was performed by students Grades three to seven from All Saints Academy led by Allison Murphy, Music Director. The Benediction was led by Rev. Dr. Stacie Turk, First Baptist Community Church and the program was concluded by Bruce Michels, Commander, American Legion Post 249.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.
PARSIPPANY — At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 14 the Parsippany Police Department’s Communication Center received a 911 call reporting a structure fire at a residence on Tarn Drive.
The building department deemed the house unsafe
Multiple police officers and along with Mount Tabor Fire Department (Primary Fire District), Lake Parsippany Fire Department, Cedar Knolls RIC Team, Morris Plains Fire Department, and the Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance responded to the scene.
All occupants safely evacuated from the residence prior to arrival of responding units. Morris County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigative unit responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. Parsippany Rescue and Recovery responded to the scene and secured the exterior of the structure once the fire was extinguished. This incident is still under investigation by Parsippany Fire Investigator Detective M. Czajka.
Parsippany Rescue and Recovery was at the scene and boarded up the house. American Red Cross was called to help the family with temporary housing.
The fire was at the home of Bob and Carol Visoskas. Bob, Carol, Kyle, Danielle and Jenna are all fine but now going thru the first phases of getting back to some level of normal living. While insurance will hopefully cover most of the rebuilding, Bob and his family will have some immediate needs that insurance does not cover, while they sort out housing for the next few months and the holiday season.
The Visoskas family will need many things in the days to come such as household goods, clothes, gift cards and possibly furniture.
Little Vikings and Parsippany Hills Football Parent Association will be helping to organize donations.
There are two Drop locations:
Comerford home – 39 Robin Hood Road
Breslauer home – 8 Deerfield Road
Little Vikings and PHFPA will be helping to organize donations.
PARSIPPANY — On Wednesday, November 9 at approximately 10:45 a.m. the Parsippany Police Department’s Communication Center alerted officers of a vehicle wanted in connection to an armed robbery that occurred in Rockaway Borough.
Within minutes of receiving the notification Captain J. Wieners and Patrol Officer J. Seeger observed a vehicle matching the description given traveling eastbound on Route 46 passing the Parsippany Police Department.
The Officers conducted a motor vehicle stop on the 1995 blue BMW 325 in the parking lot of the Days Inn located at 3159 Route 46.
The driver, Shana Aviles, 31, Morristown, and a passenger, Darryl Simmons, 37, Dover, both exited the vehicle. Mr. Simmons discarded multiple items onto the ground outside the vehicle and then fled the area ignoring officer’s commands. Multiple units responded to the scene and setup a perimeter around the area.
After a short time Mr. Simmons was located in a nearby lot on Pumphouse Road and placed under arrest. Ms. Aviles was also placed under arrest by Rockaway Borough Police.
Mr. Simmons was transported to Parsippany Police Headquarters and processed.
Morris County Sheriff’s Department CIS responded to the scene and processed the area.
After a brief investigation, a replica handgun, knife, hypodermic needle, and heroin were found to be in the possession of Mr. Simmons and discarded at various points as he fled the officers.
He was then transported to Saint Clares Hospital-Denville due to a minor laceration received while resisting arrest. Custody of Mr. Simmons was transferred to the Rockaway Borough Police Department.
Mr. Simmons was charged with the following:
Two Counts Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose
Resisting Arrest
Burglary to Auto
Theft from a Motor Vehicle
Possession of CDS (Heroin)
Possession of a Hypodermic Needle
Unlawful Discarding of a Hypodermic Needle
Judge Frese set his bail at $50,000 with no 10% option on the Parsippany charges.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
PARSIPPANY — Thousands of supporters joined together at the Mack-Cali Campus on Sunday, November 13 for a day filled with hope and inspiration to raise funds, awareness and support for pancreatic cancer. Ken Rosato, anchor of Channel 7 Eyewitness News in the Morning, emceed the event along with special guest Soprano’s star Dan Grimaldi.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Vice President Robert Peluso joined Ken Rosato and Dan Grimaldi in support of pancreatic cancer. Peluso, had the opportunity of congratulating the runners as they crossed the finish line.
The event Co-Chairs were Dr. Lawrence Harrison, chief of surgical oncology at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center for Atlantic Health, Dr. Rosario Ligresti, Chief of the division of gastroenterology at Hackensack University Medical Center, and Dr. Darren Carpizo, leader of the Hepatobiliary Oncology program at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Speakers included two-and-a-half year Pancreatic survivor Lisa Eidelberg, along with her team “Team Lisa.” She considered herself “lucky” that she is now over 2 years out from diagnosis. Most are not so lucky. She walked so the future of pancreatic cancer is not so grim, and many more will survive this horrible disease which takes almost 70% of those diagnosed in the first year. Recently Montville Township Mayor James Sandham presented Lisa Eidelberg, with a plaque stating that the Montville Township Committee designated November 17 as World Pancreatic Cancer Day in Montville Township.
Eidelberg stated, “The current five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 8 percent. Pancreatic cancer is projected to be the second deadliest cancer by 2020. Once the symptoms present themselves, it is usually too late. Seventy-one percent die within the first year.”
Zach Cohen, the second highest team to raise funds, was participating because he lost his amazing grandfather Pop Pop Bill Rabb to Pancreatic Cancer when he was only nine. As my Bar Mitzvah approaches he decided he wanted to raise money to help the fight against this terrible disease in memory of my Pop Pop. His Pop Pop cheered him on at every basketball and soccer game. He still misses him every day. Zach’s family, grandma and cousins are walked in Purple Stride Pancreatic Cancer event. Zach’s team “Pop Pop Bill Crew” earned $8,581.00.
Ken Rosato – ABC Eyewitness News
Ken Rosato, Dr. Lawrence Harrison, Dr. Rosario Ligresti, Dr. Darren Carpizo
Soprano’s Star Dan Grimaldi and Michael Weinstein who raised over $3,800
Soprano’s Star Dan Grimaldi and Zachary Cohen raised over $8,581.
Soprano’s Star Dan Grimaldi and Tracey Early who raised $12,674.
Soprano’s Star Dan Grimaldi and Tracey Early, Shari Berger and Guy Van DeVaarst
Soprano’s Star Dan Grimaldi and Eric Doppelt, with Team Jane raising over $19,000
The Survivors
The Survivors
Lisa Eidelberg, 2-1/2 year cancer survivor addresses the crowd
Ken Rosato and Lisa Eidelberg
The crowd listening to the introductions
Ken Rosato, Kerry Kelly and Mallory Adams
Soprano’s Star Dan Grimaldi and Parsippany Council Vice President Robert Peluso
Ken Rosato and Parsippany Council Vice President Robert Peluso
Kelly’s Heroes
Momma D’s Marchers
Stephanie Blash and Rachel Gaida, Applebees Parsippany, were handling the food for the 5K run
Jordan Mandel was the first runner to finish the race, with Council Vice President Robert Peluso
Sam Foale was the second runner to finish the race, with Council Vice President Robert Peluso
Eric Doppelt, 16, formed “Team Jane.” He stated three years ago, his Aunt Jane was diagnosed with the pancreatic cancer.
The diagnosis shook more than just Jane: the news of a tumor quickly spread from one person to another – friends and family alike were plagued by this awful discovery. It was devastating to hear that someone so innocent, and so compassionate, was given such an awful sentencing. How could we come to grips with that?
After the initial shock subsided, they quickly concluded that while they may not have been able to understand why it happened, they certainly didn’t have to accept it as a simple death sentence. They could fight back. So while Jane battled, they did too.
Jane’s tumor was discovered in the Summer of 2013. For the following year, she battled relentlessly. Jane underwent chemotherapy and radiation, and despite awful side effects, her smile never faded. Cancer could never steal her smile.
Jane underwent surgery to remove the tumor, and with chemotherapy treatments, she lived cancer-free.
The dark, grim future faded, and life was simpler. But then, in the Winter of 2015, multiple tumors appeared. Her cancer had spread. Jane battled these tumors with a similar vigor – she failed to relent. But these tumors were different. They couldn’t be beat.
Jane passed away on September 24, 2016. Team Jane raised $19,039.00 during PurpleStride Parsippany. Team Jane has participated in other walks PurpleStride New York, PurpleStride Chicago, PurpleStride Delaware as well as PurpleStride New Jersey.
Emcee Ken Rosato is anchor of Channel 7’s top-rated Eyewitness News This Morning. Ken joined the Eyewitness News Team as a freelance reporter in 2003. He came to WABC-TV from New York’s WNYW-TV, where he was a reporter and anchored the morning and midday news. Before that he worked as a news anchor and reporter at WFOR-TV in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, where he covered the 2000 Presidential election vote-count stalemate and the year-long Elian Gonzales standoff. While there, he was nominated for a Suncoast Emmy Award.
Special Guest Dan Grimaldi, from the Sopranos, portrayed identical twin mobsters, Patsy and Philly Parisi, on the critically acclaimed HBO series. He was nominated and won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a
Drama Series in 2008 and received a nomination in 2007.
Honoree Co-Chairs were Lawrence E. Harrison is Chief of Surgical Oncology at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center for the Atlantic Health System. He earned a B.A. degree in Chemistry at Franklin & Marshall College and his M.D. degree at Temple University Medical School. He completed his general surgical training at University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Over the next four years, Dr. Harrison went on to complete both Research and Clinical Fellowships in Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Subsequently, he was Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at New Jersey Medical School in Newark and then Director of Surgical Oncology at Valley Hospital.
Also Rosario Ligresti, MD, FASGE is the Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at HackensackUMC. He is the Site Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship of Rutgers/ UMDNJ. He is also the Director of the Pancreas Center at HackensackUMC, and Medical Director of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Pancreas Foundation. Earlier this year he was named as a Fellow of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Prior to coming to HackensackUMC in 2005, he was the Director of Endoscopy and Co-Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship at Westchester Medical Center. He continues to hold an academic appointment at New York Medical College.
The third Honoree Co-Chair was Darren Carpizo completed his MD from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1997 before moving to the University of California at Los Angeles where, during a nine-year period, he completed an internship and residency in surgery as well as a PhD in molecular, cell and developmental biology (2003). He completed his PhD in the STAR program (Specialty Training in Advanced Research) which is a unique program to train physician scientists under the mentorship of Dr. Luisa Iruela-Arispe studying tumor angiogenesis. He later went on to complete a surgical oncology fellowship at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer center where he specialized in the management of patients with pancreatic, liver and bile duct cancers. There he published one of the first papers published on the surgical management of patients with hepatic and extrahepatic colorectal cancer metastases.
Pancreatic cancer begins when abnormal cells in the pancreas grow out of control and form a tumor. The symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer are often vague, similar to symptoms caused by other conditions and may not be present in early stages of the disease.
There will be an estimated 418,451 new cases diagnosed world-wide in 2020.
The Morris County Freeholders have proclaimed November 17 as World Pancreatic Cancer Day in Morris County, to help call attention to this hard-to-diagnose, quick moving and very deadly disease that will take more than 1,300 lives in New Jersey this year.
Freeholders Deborah Smith and Doug Cabana, Sandi Field of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and Freeholders Kathy DeFillippo, Hank Lyon and John Cesaro
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that Morris County Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Catherine Broderick was honored by receiving the 2016 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Commission On Professionalism In The Law. She was selected by both the Commission and the Morris County Bar Association to receive the award. The annual award is given to lawyers from New Jersey who demonstrate moral excellence, competence and demeanor that others in the law profession can emulate as a professional.
Among other dignitaries, the Honorable Jerome B. Simandle, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the Honorable Barry T. Albin, Associate Judge of the New Jersey Supreme Court, were present at the ceremony which was held in Somerset, New Jersey.
Since joining the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 1989, Supervising Assistant Prosecutor (SAP) Broderick has prosecuted numerous cases including bank robbery, kidnapping, drug possession and burglary. Moreover, she has prosecuted sex crimes, child abuse, child pornography, child luring and internet child luring cases.
Among other responsibilities, SAP Broderick currently supervises the Specialized Services Unit, the Megan’s Law Unit, Missing Persons Unit and the Weapons Returns Unit. Her experience also includes the supervision of various functions such as Bias Crimes, the Drug Court Team, Evidence Destruction, Open Public Records Act processing and Civil Discovery.
SAP Broderick received her Bachelor’s Degree from Seton Hall University and her Jurist Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law. She then served as Judicial Clerk to the Honorable David S. Cramp, J.S.C., in Morris County Superior Court. SAP Broderick also graduated from the Leadership Morris Program of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, the Worrall F. Mountain Inn of Court, and the Seton Hall University School of Law Alumni Inn of Court. She is also a member of the Morris County Bar Association.
Following the awards ceremony, SAP Broderick said, “As a Career Prosecutor, I was honored and privileged to receive the nomination of the Morris County Bar Association for the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism Award for Morris County. Receiving the award is a highlight of my career. Professional integrity and courtesy are a cornerstone in the legal profession, but Prosecutors stand in a slightly different position, in that they are sworn to diligently represent the interest of the State in an impartial manner, to determine the truth of a matter. A Prosecutor conveys professionalism through courtesy, candor, civility, and observing the rules of the court in dealing with a defendant, opposing counsel and the Court. Professionalism is paramount to uphold the laws and Constitution of the State of New Jersey.”
“Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Broderick’s unwavering dedication to the rule of law enables her to excel as a lawyer and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. I have full confidence in her as a professional, and as a prosecutor serving the people of Morris County and the state of New Jersey”, said Prosecutor Knapp.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigations John Speirs announced three promotions effective Monday, October 31.
The officers who were promoted are set to fill vacant supervisory positions within the Prosecutor’s Office created by the recent retirement of Lt. Charles Brady.
“Each individual has demonstrated an unconditional commitment to the goals and objectives of this organization” Knapp said. “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to promote those of such high caliber.”
Sgt. Evelyn Tasoulas was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the General Investigations Unit of the Courts and Administration Division.
Detective Supervisor Matthew Potter was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the General Investigations Unit of the Courts and Administration Division.
Detective Daniel Haber was promoted to the rank of Detective Supervisor and was assigned to the Professional Standards Unit of the Specialized Crimes Division.
