Report of Collapse at Travel Lodge

PARSIPPANY — Emergency vehicles are responding to Travelodge, 626 Route 46 east, on the report of a partial collapse of several first-floor balconies. Requests for busses to remove and relocate people.

Parsippany Rescue and Recovery, Parsippany-Troy Hills Fire Department District 5, Parsippany Office of Emergency Management, Parsippany Fire Prevention, Parsippany Buildingb Department, American Red Cross, and Parsippany Troy Emergency Medical Services.  No injuries have been reported at this time .

Update from Parsippany-Troy Hills Fire District 5:

At approximately 10:21 a.m. on Tuesday April 19, 2022, members of the Parsippany District 5 Fire Department were dispatched along with Par-Troy EMS and Parsippany Rescue and Recovery for a reported balcony collapse at a hotel. On arrival Deputy 5 found an apparent collapse of the façade and rails on the 1st floor North side. Rescue 5, Ladder 5, and Engine 54 arrived and started evacuating surrounding rooms on all floors. The Township of Parsippany Building Department arrived during the evacuation process to evaluate the current situation. The decision was made by the Building Department officials to also evacuate the front South Side of the Building as a precaution and relocate the occupants. A township bus was requested by the town OEM for occupants to stay during the process. Once all occupants were evacuated from the affected areas, they were relocated with the assistance of hotel staff. The area was then roped off and turned over to the Parsippany Building Department.

Chief 5, Deputy 5, Ladder 5, Engine 54, and Rescue 5 operated for just under 3 hours before returning to service.

Dollar Tree Opens Second Location in Parsippany

PARSIPPANY — Recently Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio and Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Chairman Frank Cahill participated in the new Dollar Tree ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new location is at 1446 Route 46. For more information call (859) 300-8671. Click here to view their website. 

Shop Dollar Tree for Cleaning Supplies, Food & Drinks, Winter Holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas, Personal Care Items, Toys, Games, Puzzles & Books, Craft Supplies, Cooking & Baking Supplies, Dinnerware & Serving Essentials.

The new Dollar Tree opened recently at 1440 Route 46, and it’s over 60 percent bigger than its counterpart in the Troy Hills Shopping Center — 11,242 square feet for the former, compared to the latter’s 6,894.

Store Hours are Monday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Dollar Tree announced last summer it would raise prices on many products to $1.25. The company said the price increase would help them manage higher merchandise and operating costs.
The ribbon-cutting celebration for the new Dollar Tree Parsippany
Our wide selection of cleaning products and janitorial supplies will help keep your spaces sparkling clean and smelling great! Check out our deals on bathroom cleaners and wipes, mops, brooms, and carpet cleaners. K
Pet supplies galore
Frozen Foods section
Frozen Food section
The new location also has an expanded Crafter’s Square section, which has wood crafts and picture frames, art paper, staple-backed canvases, acrylic paints and brushes, glitter, colored pencils and crayons, markers, jewels and beads, make-your-own wreath supplies, ribbons and yarn, scrapbooking stickers, portable sewing kits, and storage containers.

At your local Dollar Tree, you’ll find extreme values every day, along with more thrills, more fun, and NEW items arriving every week! We strive to keep our shelves stocked with amazing deals on household items, cleaning supplies, vases and floral supplies, and more. Meet your family’s needs with affordable beauty products, toys and crafts, school supplies, and everything in between. Fill your pantry with brand-name food, snacks, candy, and drinks. Celebrate in style with our large selection of party supplies, balloons, gift bags, and seasonal decorations for every holiday and occasion! Plus, purchase many of your favorite products in bulk at DollarTree.com.

The other Parsippany location is located at 1099 Route 46.

Utility Help Is Still Available

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey’s utility shutoff moratorium ended on March 15, but some residential customers with overdue utility bills can receive an extension to June 15.

A new law requires local authorities, municipal or public utilities, and rural electric cooperatives to continue providing electric, gas, sewer, or water service to residential customers who have submitted an application for utility assistance prior to June 15 but have not yet received a decision on their application.

To receive the extension, you need to apply for assistance. One easy way to apply is by clicking here to visit the DCAid Service Portal hosted by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

State Launches Free Financial Wellness Website

MORRIS COUNTY — Almost three-quarters of Americans rank finances as their biggest source of stress. There’s a new free tool to help you take control of your financial wellness if you’re among them: NJ FinLit.

NJ FinLit is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury and features user-friendly interactive tools, videos, and articles you can use to better understand and manage your financial resources.

Click here to access the website.

Local Heroes to be Honored for Rescue from Hurricane Ida’s Aftermath

MORRIS COUNTY — Twelve local volunteers will be honored for their participation in rescuing residents from Hurricane Ida’s aftermath on Thursday, May 5. The event will be held at The Legacy Castle, Pompton Plains, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

On Thursday, May 5, you can be part of Morris County 200 Club’s Golden Anniversary, as the tribute to the 2022 Valor & Meritorious Honorees, and the camaraderie of fellow citizens in our community who appreciate, respect, and support the women and men on the front line who protect and serve every one of us each and every day.

At 11:00 p.m. on September 1, 2021, five members from the Boonton Fire Department, three members from Parsippany Rescue & Recovery, and four members from Parsippany Fire District #6 were mobilized to Somerset County as a swift water rescue team which is part of the Morris Regional Water Incident Taskforce. They were called to assist local first responders who had become overwhelmed with water rescues and evacuations resulting from flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The area was already saturated from previous rainfall and had received another 7.6 inches of rain in just a few hours.

 

The Valor Honorees from Parsippany Rescue & Recovery are Lieutenant Paul Anderson, Ex-Captain Andrew H. Ludwig, and Chief Louis Yuliano, Jr.

The Valor Honorees from Parsippany Fire District #6 are Firefighter Bill MacStudy, Firefighter Stephane Meunier, Chief Vincent Petito, and Lieutenant Michael Sanford.

The Valor Honorees from Boonton Fire Department are Ex-Captain Rick Blood, Ex-Captain Michael Colarusso, Ex-Captain Jeff Gregory, Ex-Captain R.J. Ryerson, Jr., and Ex-Captain Michael Shondel.

While en route the team encountered heavy downpours which forced them to detour around flooded roads, dodge debris, and check on a few vehicles they encountered before they arrived at the staging area near Route 202/206 Somerville Circle. Once there, they were teamed with a crew from the North Branch Fire Department at the Bridgewater Police Headquarters and were immediately assigned to a series of rescues of people who had become swept away or trapped in their vehicles or homes. The team observed people clinging desperately to branches, to the side of vehicles, and many trapped inside vehicles or had climbed on top of them.

Utilizing multiple watercraft, spotters, and crews they navigated through waters moving faster than 15 knots (17 mph). They did this in zero visibility while homing in on desperate cries for help. Crews circumvented moving and stagnant obstacles while keeping their boat propulsion from becoming clogged by vegetation, including corn stalks and weeds. Quickly rising floodwaters also forced several residents to retreat to the second floor of their homes where they had to be rescued using ladders commandeered from nearby houses.

All the rescues and evacuations were documented on the fly and relayed to command to prevent the team from duplicating their efforts. This resulted in a more productive overall response. The crew worked tirelessly from 11:45 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following morning. In total, they responded to eleven sites across Branchburg, Bridgewater, and Bedminster and their dedication, expertise, and heroism resulted in the rescue of thirteen people and the evacuation of nine residents, including several children, an infant, and five pets.

To become a sponsor or to purchase tickets click here.

The 200 Club of Morris County proudly supports Morris County Police Officers, Fire Fighters, First Aid Squad Members, and Members of the New Jersey State Police serving Morris County who died in the line of duty. When tragedy occurs, grief is shared amongst the family as well as the members of The 200 Club of Morris County. Their support of the family is reflected in the following manner:

When a public safety official loses their life in the line of duty, the Action Committee of The 200 Club of Morris County reaches out to the widow(er) to offer emotional support and financial assistance in the form of a death benefit to help manage the financial burden during this difficult time.

The 200 Club of Morris County also awards an annual benefit to each eligible child of the public safety official in an effort to help ease the financial concerns created by the loss of their loved one.

500-Plus Shop Owners Apply for Morris County Small Business Grants

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Small Business Grant Program, launched on Valentine’s Day, has garnered 518 applications to date from shop owners, service providers, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs, while nearly 150 of those small businesses are in the process of having their grants approved.

Most applications heading for final approval will provide each qualified business and nonprofit with the maximum grant amount of $15,000. While the remaining applications are still being reviewed, the program remains open to new applications. Businesses, as well as non-profits, are urged to take advantage of the grant offer. There is no cost to apply.

Click here to apply for the grant.

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners has committed $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars toward the program, which is designed to provide grants of up to $15,000 to reimburse small businesses and nonprofit organizations for specific pandemic recovery expenses. The expenses must have been incurred on or after March 3, 2021 – a timeline established under ARPA guidelines.

The Small Business Grant Program eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to:
· Business has 25 or fewer full-time employees (or equivalent)
· In operation since January 1, 2019
· Located within Morris County
· Less than $5 million in sales/revenue
· Proof of a decline in sales/increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Click here to read the qualifications and apply.

Federal guidelines covering the grant program will determine exactly which expenses qualify for coverage under the grant program and which applications may be approved.

The grants are capped at $15,000 per applicant. However, business owners and nonprofits are encouraged to submit applications that include all costs they believe may qualify for the grant, even if the total amount of a single claim exceeds $15,000.

A final review may determine that some costs submitted for consideration are not covered under the program guidelines. However, by submitting all expenses that may qualify, applicants increase the possibility of getting the maximum amount of grant dollars possible.

Two Kinder Chocolate Products Recalled Before Easter Due to Salmonella Risk

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-based manufacturer Ferrero has voluntarily recalled two products because of concerns that the candy might be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

The products, Kinder Mix Chocolate Treats Basket and Kinder Happy Moments Milk Chocolate and Crispy Wafers Assortment, were manufactured in a facility in Belgium where salmonella was detected.

Ferrero USA is located at 7 Sylvan Way.

So far, no reports of illnesses in the U.S. have been linked to the products, Ferrero said in its announcement on Thursday on the Food and Drug Administration’s website. The European Food Safety Authority detected 134 salmonella cases from January 7 to Tuesday, April 5 most of them among children under ten. The agency said that “specific chocolate products have been identified as the likely route of infection.”

The candy is being recalled as many families stock up on treats less than a week before Easter.

“Ferrero deeply regrets this situation,” the company said. “We take food safety extremely seriously and every step we have taken has been guided by our commitment to consumer care. We will continue to work cooperatively with the Food and Drug Administration to address this matter.”

Salmonella infections can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in healthy people, and they may result in more serious cases among those who are very young, old, or immunocompromised.

The recalled Kinder chocolate product Happy Moments. (FDA)

The recalled Kinder Happy Moments assortments were sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club stores across the U.S. and in Costco stores in the San Francisco Bay Area and northern Nevada. The lot codes of those batches — 48RUP334, 48RUP335, 48RUP336, and 48RUP337 — can be found on the back panel. The products have a “best by” date of July 18, 2022.

“FDA is aware of the recall in the EU market and we are analyzing shipment data to determine if the impacted product was imported into the United States. At this time we have no further details to provide,” an FDA spokesperson said. “When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal or safety alert, the FDA posts the company’s announcement as a public service.”

Groundbreaking on Annex Rehabilitation and Log House Kitchen Restoration at Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms

PARSIPPANY — The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms broke ground on the Annex Rehabilitation and Log House Kitchen Restoration, on Saturday, April 9.

This project to rebuild the Annex, which was severely damaged by an uprooted tree during Tropical Storm Isaias, also will include the long-awaited restoration of the Log House kitchen and key improvements to both buildings.

Special invited guests included Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio; members of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Town Council including Council President Michael J. dePierro, Council Vice-President Loretta Gragnani, Councilman Justin Musella, and Councilman Frank Neglia; members of the NJ Historic Trust including Executive Director Dorothy Guzzo; and Eric Holtermann of HMR Architects; along with Board Trustees, Advisory Council Members, and Volunteers at the museum.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio

After remarks from museum Executive Director Vonda K. Givens, Board President Barbara Weiskittel, Mayor Barberio, Council President dePierro, and Dorothy Guzzo, guests were invited to visit the Log House and new Education Center and peruse architectural plans for the Annex/Kitchen project, which was made possible by generous funding from the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills and the NJ Historic Trust.

Councilman Justin Musella (standing), Courtney Pirone and Adam Gragnani reviewing the site plans

CCM Foundation to Hold In-Person Gala with a Western Twist

MORRIS COUNTY — Put on your cowboy boots and get ready for some fun by reserving your place at the County College of Morris (CCM) Foundation Better in Blue Jeans Ball, held in person on Friday, May 13, at Alstede Farms in Chester.

Better in Blue Jeans is going to be packed with lots of activity and enjoyment — live bluegrass, bourbon tasting, line dancing, games, special photo opportunities, and a buffet dinner. All proceeds from this fundraising event support student scholarships and educational programs. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour and tricky tray, followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. and then dancing and s’mores by the fire.

“As we emerge from COVID and delightfully begin to attend live in-person gatherings, Alstede offered us the perfect setting to have some fun, while supporting our students, with its open barn door facility,” says Katie Olsen, executive director of the CCM Foundation. “The event is taking place outside and in Alstede’s charming and rustic Harvest Hall.”

Dr. Bette Simmons, vice president of Student Development & Enrollment Management at CCM, will be presented with the Dr. Edward J. Yaw Leadership Award.

This year at the ball, four significant members of the community are to be honored.

Barbara Capsouras

According to Olsen, the honorees were selected for excellence in service in their professional lives and service to the community. Barbara Capsouras, a CCM graduate and now-retired director of Alumni Affairs at the college and Randolph resident, will be presented with the Alumna of the Year Award. Wilson and Maria Vasquez, proprietors of the Sabor Latino Restaurant in Dover, will receive the Community Ambassador Award. Sparta residents Roy and Karen McDonald, longtime donors to the CCM Foundation, will receive the Philanthropy Award. Dr. Bette Simmons, vice president of Student Development & Enrollment Management at CCM, will be presented with the Dr. Edward J. Yaw Leadership Award.

Individual tickets are $225.00 and $400.00 for a pair. Guests are encouraged to wear country-western attire and boots, spurs optional. Alstede Farms is located at 1 Alstede Farms Lane in Chester, off Route 24.

Corporate tables, sponsorships, and ads in the dinner journal also are available by clicking here. For additional information, call the CCM Foundation Office at (973) 328-5060.

 

Parsippany Library Hosts “Data Axle Reference Solutions Presentation”

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library will be presenting a “Data Axle Reference Solutions Presentation” on Monday, April 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Parsippany Main Library, 449 Halsey Road. Registration is required by clicking here.

Patrons will learn how to use the U.S. Business and Consumer Modules to target specific groups of businesses or individuals who may most likely be interested in their products or services. In this training, you will learn how to identify the ideal geography of potential new customers, learn key contacts, research competitors, identify sales leads, marketing intelligence, key elements to include in a business plan, and much more.

Bill Carlson

Meet Bill Carlson, Customer Success Manager. Bill has been with Data-Axle|Reference Solutions since April of 2008. Responsibilities include ensuring that customers with access to Reference Solutions are getting the most from their subscription value. Bill’s presentations are always lively and entertaining.

This event is sponsored by Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, and NJSBDC.