PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany donated winter jackets to Covenant House on Thursday, November 17.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany President Nicolas Limanov, joined by NJ Kiwanis District Past Governor Gordon Meth and Lt. Governor Division 9 Kiwanis NJ District Frank Cahill delivered winter jackets to Jen Williams, Senior Development Director, Covenant House.

The NJ Kiwanis District is advocating to raise awareness of youth homeless as an issue throughout New Jersey in the 2022-2023 Kiwanis Service year. The NJ Kiwanis District will contribute $10,000.00 to organizations in NJ that address youth homelessness and related LGBTQ+ issues; We will complete 1000 Hours of community service with Youth Homeless Organizations and organizations addressing LGBTQ+ issues related to youth homelessness in the 2022-2023 Kiwanis Service year.

November is Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, a time to turn the world’s attention toward youth homelessness. Throughout the month communities come together to Sleep Out and amplify a shared message: it’s time to end youth homelessness. Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany will be sponsoring a “Sleep Out” night on Friday, November 25 at Parsippany United Methodist Church. For more information contact Frank Cahill at (862) 213-2200.

Since 1972, Covenant House opened its doors to over 1.5 million young people experiencing homelessness and trafficking, one youth at a time. That’s half a century of believing in youth and nurturing their promise, talents, and courage.

Many complex factors increase a young person’s chances of experiencing homelessness. Demographic risk factors for becoming homeless include being Black, Hispanic, or Indigenous; parenting and unmarried; or LGBTQ+. Children raised in poverty and youth lacking a high school diploma or equivalency also have a higher risk of homelessness.

Covenant House meets immediate needs for food, clothing, safety, and medical and mental health care.  For more information on Covenant House, click here.

Zaki Mustafa and Loretta Kruge Mustafa of TransformingALife worked with Kiwanis Club to secure the jackets.

Kiwanis Club has been distributing jackets in the State of New Jersey to homeless individuals, both youth and adults, for the past three years.

For more information on the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, click here.

PARSIPPANY — Mayor James Barberio honored our military veterans with a Veteran’s Day Memorial Ceremony held on Friday, November 11 at 11:11 a.m.

Mayor Jamie Barberio and Council President Michael dePierro (a Veteran himself) presided over the ceremony.  Also on hand were Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani, Councilman Justin Musella, Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi, Former Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, and Morris County Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus. Krickus served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

The Presentation of Colors by the American Legion Post #249 and VFW Post 10184 included members John Flavin, Richard Kunz, Bernie McElwie, Andy Dachile, and Bob Hughs.  Bruce Michels, Dermot Brennan, and Howard Hendrickson represented American Legion Post 249.

The Invocation was led by Deacon Len Deo of St. Ann’s RC Church. The National Anthem was sung by Michelle Musolino-Roberts.  Council President Michael dePierro led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and also delivered the Introductory Remarks.

Mayor James Barberio addressed the Veterans and the audience with the opening remarks. He stated, “Veteran’s Day is a time to look back, honor, and remember those who have sacrificed for our freedoms. We would not be who or where we are without the many brave and courageous men and women who have fought for us. Their patriotism and dedication to the United States of America are honorable and it is not something I don’t think about every day. We can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the American service members who died in battle or those who were wounded. We can, however, recognize and thank the millions of veterans still living today and let them know that we appreciate them for their service and honor them for their sacrifices.”

Council President Michael dePierro then decided “The Noble and Brace: A Veteran’s Day Tribute?”

Rabbi Moshe Rudin, Adath Shalom Synagogue, offered a “Prayer of Remembrance.”

Laying of the Wreaths was performed by Mark Miller, Commander VFW Post #10184, and Bruce Michels, Commander American Legion Post #249.

Taps were performed by Dominick Caponegro, a student at Parsippany High School.

The guest speaker was Lake Parsippany resident Joseph Bulgarini, a Veteran of WWII. Joe served his country with honor during WWII in the United States Army, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant T4 and was deployed to India where his unit worked to keep the Japanese forces from gaining control.

Bulgarini celebrated his 100th Birthday on Saturday, October 1. Joe and his wife Louise moved with their two daughters, Carol and Janice, to Lake Parsippany in 1966 where they created many wonderful memories together.  He also served as President of the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association.

Joe is the beloved father to Carol Elmstrom and Janice Blinder, a devoted grandfather to Sharon, David, and Cheryl, and a loving great-grandfather to Carina and Victoria.

Then Council President recited the poem “Just a Common Soldier.”

“God Bless America” was recited by Parsippany Hills High School student Squeeze Paterno.

Rev. Donald A. Bragg, Pastor, of Parsippany Presbyterian Church gave the benediction, and Retirement of the Colors was performed by the VFW and American Legion.

PARSIPPANY — Morris County Clerk, Ann F. Grossi, strongly refutes the highly partisan, uninformed, and defamatory remarks published by the Morris County Democratic Committee Chair.

The Clerk’s Office now provides you with fact, rather than fiction.

1. The paper order in question was ordered by the printer for the new ES&S XL voting machines (“XL voting machine) and was not the wrong size. The 17-inch ballot cards were ordered directly from ES&S, the manufacturer of the new XL voting machines.  These ballots can only be ordered from ES&S and they offer several sizes specifically to be used with the XL voting machine.  The 17-inch ballot cards are one of the available options and the size does not affect the efficiency.  To say that the County Clerk purchased the wrong size ballot cards is patently false.
2. The issue in Mendham Township regarding discrepancies with voters placed in the wrong congressional district was caused by the programming of the electronic poll book. The poll books maintenance and programming are solely the responsibility of the Board of Elections, and/or their designee.  The County Clerk does not have anything to do with the electronic poll books.
3. There were no fundamental mistakes made by the County Clerk concerning the length of time voters had to wait to cast their vote in Mendham Township. There simply were not enough XL voting machines to handle the number of voters. The number of voting machines at the polling locations is solely the responsibility of the Board of Elections.
4. The County Clerk had absolutely nothing to do with the purchase of the XL voting machines, including the number of machines purchased. The XL voting machines were purchased by the County and these voting machines were the voting machines that the Board of Elections wanted.
5. The voting machines, the number of voting machines purchased, poll workers training and deployed to the polling locations, the number of machines and electronic poll books at each location, maintenance, storage, and delivery of the poll books and voting machines are solely under the purview of the Board of Elections, not the County Clerk.