PARSIPPANY — Central Middle School Students and Creative Writing Enthusiasts Prisha Suresh and Akshara Kumar recently conducted creative writing workshops for the GRO elementary students at the Parsippany Troy Hills School District. They raised $350, which was donated to the Parsippany Food Pantry, and taught fifty Parsippany students about poetry and journaling.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, students across Parsippany faced a decline in their education because of the lack of in-person classes. Suresh and Kumar wanted to help this growing problem, but also create a fun, interactive learning environment for young students. After hours of talking, planning, and practice meetings, in March 2021, they launched a creative writing club in coordination with the Parsippany Library, called Nifty Novelists.
Each month, members of the Nifty Novelists Club pick from a selection of one book and one short story, as well as two different “types” of writing. Types of writing include a prequel of the story, a review of the story, a poem analyzing aspects of the story, etc. Members will read their story of choice and write about it during the month. Their writing would be showcased on the Nifty Novelists website and peer-reviewed before being posted.
Their meetings include fun writing activities and games, as well as creative writing workshops to help their club members while they write. Some examples are:
• A step-by-step presentation and printable guide on how to write creatively
• A critical thinking escape room that is educational but still fun!
• Multiple ELA resources, including online reading platforms and helpful writing checklists
Meetings are held during the first and fourth Saturday of each month. Participants will read their novel offline after the first meeting and complete a draft of their creative writing, all done before the second meeting. The second meeting of the month will be leveraged to edit, and peer reviews their writing.
They are welcoming members from Grades three to six to join the current Session 2 of Nifty Novelists by clicking the registration link.
After the development of their club, Suresh and Kumar decided to broaden their audience and eventually opened GRO Creative Writing Workshops for the Parsippany Troy-Hills School District. Kumar conducted poetry workshops for grades two and four while Suresh conducted journaling workshops for grades three and five. Each workshop consisted of detailed, in-depth presentations along with fun activities to accompany them.
The Parsippany Food Pantry received the proceeds of the workshops, a grand total of 350 dollars gone towards fighting hunger and poverty. The Parsippany Food Pantry collects donations of canned food, money, and goods, which go towards a customized package of food for people in need. The food pantry accommodates those with dietary restrictions as well, putting together packages for those who are vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, etc.
Many of the participants felt that the Nifty Novelists should conduct more creative writing seminars due to the success of the workshop.
“I had a lot of fun doing the activities and I learned a lot from the workshops. My favorite part was doing the escape room with my friends,” A participant of the Grade 3 session said.
The Nifty Novelists responded to this positive feedback with the creation of another workshop that was open to all students from grades 3-6. This poetry seminar was conducted at the Lake Hiawatha Library from 12-1 on Saturday, March 19.
PARSIPPANY — Loantaka Parsippanong Chapter of The Daughters Of The American Revolution will host a “Dine to Donate” at the Gourmet Cafe. This will help them Fund their Scholarship Fund for women returning to work. Join on April 4 all day, 10% of the gross profits will be added to our scholarship fund. No flyer is needed. Just show up, eat in or order out.
Gourmet Cafe is located at 136 Baldwin Road, Parsippany.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Board of Education is excited to embark on the continuation of their strategic planning process that will result in our next three-to-five-year plan to enhance student achievement and further enrich our schools.
Strategic planning is a thoughtful, reflective process that depends on participation by all stakeholders. Your thoughts and suggestions are critical if this process is to be successful and provide the District with a meaningful three-to-five year plan to enhance our high-performing district.
Students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members will be invited to participate in the process by responding to our electronic surveys. The information gathered during this process will be used to identify areas that are effective and areas of focus over the next several years.
Please watch for announcements about survey participation. They welcome feedback from the schools and township as they define the focus for the coming years.
PARSIPPANY — The ongoing quest for the next great Parsippany dining experience continued as my foodie friends and I ventured out to Shan Shan Noodles. I had been to Shan Shan Noodles before, and I loved it, but it has been closed for indoor dining for most of the last two years because of the pandemic, so when I found out that the restaurant had resumed indoor dining a couple of months ago, I was anxious for a return visit.
Lili Lu, Shan Lu, Chef Kegong Zhang, and Pat Minutillo
Shan Shan Noodles, which opened in 2014, is another one of those nondescript, unassuming, humble-looking little storefront eateries, located in the small Pacific Pavilion strip mall, right off Route 46 East and Edwards Road. I have learned long ago that these simple, unpretentious, little locations can truly reveal one of those “hidden gems” people talk about. Shan Shan Noodles is one of those gems.
Our hostess, Lili Lu
The moment we entered the restaurant we were immediately and warmly welcomed by our hostess, Lili Lu, mother of owner Shan Lu. The personable, enthusiastic, and genial persona of Ms. Lu immediately made one feel comfortable and at home. Our group was immediately seated, like menus, water, tea, and chopsticks arrived (and for a couple of our group, forks were requested). Shan Lu also made it a point to come over to welcome us to her restaurant; you knew we were in for a pleasant dining experience.
I should mention that Shan Shan Noodles is a family-owned and operated business that specializes in the authentic food of Northwestern China, specifically the Xinjiang Province, where Shan and her mother, Lili, were born. The food prepared and served at Shan Shan reflects that region of China and is unique due to the various cultural influences that together make Shan Shan’s food so special.
Shredded Pork with Hot Pepper over Hand-Pulled Noodle
Shan Shan is a comfortable, homey, exceptionally clean, and organized eatery. Though the dining room is small, with seven, four-person booths along both the sidewalls and five or six glass-covered, wood-grained tables thoughtfully placed around the room, one gets the feeling that it is more spacious. I did notice immediately that the interior had been renovated since 2019, and now offers diners a more modern, bright, and sleek appearance. The attractive Chinese-themed mural still covers one wall, and diners can still enjoy Chef Kegong Zhang (AKA John) pulling, stretching, and flapping freshly made noodles through a large window. That show alone is worth the visit, and you can see that the Chef enjoys what he is doing. Chef Zhang explained to me that he makes a variety of different shaped hand-pulled noodles that can vary in thickness to accommodate the variety of dishes served at the restaurant. The noodles range from “Skinny”, “Angel’s Hair”, “Regular”, “Second Skinny (Woodon)”, “Flat”, and “Belt” (AKA Biangbiang noodles); and each type of noodle marries perfectly with the accompanying dish.
The rest of the interior is simple, with a casual, relaxing vibe, with two wall TVs (on quiet), and soft mood music playing in the background. Reminds me of a Chinese restaurant I used to visit on Mott Street in New York City, and that is a compliment.
Shan Shan’s menu is not too extensive as Shan Lu prefers to concentrate on quality food, service, and keeping her customers happy. Though the menu might be considered limited by some, each dish seems more tempting than the next, and it was nice of both Shan and Lili Lu to walk us through the assorted items, and on our request offer some helpful recommendations. The menu does offer appetizers, Chef Specials, sauteed noodles and dishes, fried rice, cold plates, and hand-pulled noodle soup.
Scallion Pancake
After some fun conversation and bantering with our hosts, we finally decided to begin our meal with a selection of shared appetizers. We went with the Beef Pancake, Spicy Wonton, Scallion Pancake, and Pot Stickers. Both the beef and scallion pancakes were freshly and perfectly cooked to a golden brown; savory, light, chewy crepes that were nicely enhanced with the sauces that they were served with. Chinese pancakes are one of the quintessential popular snack foods found throughout China.
Beef Pancake
The Pot Stickers, basically Chinese dumplings; lightly browned, golden crispy, folded, and pleated bundles looked as good as they tasted. Wonderful taste sensation as they melted in your mouth. They came eight to a serving, which is a lot of stickers. Our final appetizer was the Spicy Wonton. Wonton’s, another type of dumpling, sits in an oil-based hot sauce, well rounded with the flavorings developed from a myriad of herbs and spices. A sophisticated, flavorful broth that I was not ashamed to slurp down to the last drop.
Black Bean Sauce Over Hand-Pulled Noodle
For an entrée I ordered the Shredded Pork with Hot Pepper over Hand-Pulled Noodle, others in the group chose the Black Bean Sauce over Hand-Pulled Noodle, (Ground pork, with black bean sauce), Cold Hand-Pulled Noodle with Hot and Spicy Chicken, Seafood with Fried Hand-Pulled Noodle, (Shrimp, fish ball, imitation crab meat), and the Pork with Fried Hand-Pulled Noodle. My dish of shredded spicy pork paired perfectly with the homemade hand-pulled noodles. A visually beautiful dish filled with tender pork, fresh ingredients and seasoned perfectly. This delectable dish had a nice mouthfeel to it, was not overly spicy hot, and the fusion of textures, spices, and flavors, along with the luscious, freshly made springy and satisfying noodles made for a memorable meal. A wonderful fusion of meat, noodles, and broth; I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Part of what makes eating this cuisine fun is that is comes with a pair of scissors so you can cut your very lengthy noodles to a manageable size. While I prefer to cut my own noodles while I devour my meal, others didn’t mind letting Lili Lu guide them on how to master this eating technique. There’s also chili oil and black vinegar on the table should you want to enhance the flavors of your meal. Personally, I didn’t need it. This dish also went well with my Beijing-based Yanjing beer, which I brought along as Shan Shan is BYOB.
The consensus of the group was that everyone thoroughly enjoyed their individual meals and that Shan Shan Noodles was definitely a standout, and a location to add to our “must return” list.
Asian desserts
We ended this culinary feast with a variety of Asian desserts from Shan Shan Noodles’ own bakery, Sweet Sensations, which is a separate store located just a few doors down from the restaurant and which specializes in cakes, desserts, bubble teas, and more. The desserts we tried were very light, fluffy, not overly sweet, and very fresh. I found out that this style of Asian dessert, from the Xinjiang Province in Northwestern China, only uses fresh whipped cream (no buttercream) and is very health-conscious, diabetic-friendly, and unlike the heavy sweetness that is usually found in desserts here in America.
Sweet Shansations by Shan Lu
Naturally, this led to a tour of Sweet Shansations by Shan Lu. Sparkling clean, attractive bakery with an interesting selection of tantalizing Asian baked goods. All those in my group enjoyed the education they received on the unfamiliar items and based on how delicious our desserts were everyone walked out with a bag full of tasty treats to take home with them. They also offer a choice of special occasion cakes if that is your interest. If you have not yet tried authentic Asian desserts, I would strongly suggest giving Sweet Shansations a try.
Sweet Shansations by Shan Lu
Shan Shan Noodles is a true culinary treasure right here in Parsippany. Delicious cuisine, very reasonable prices, generous portions, wonderful family atmosphere, professional service, and a family that truly cares about their customers. Shan Shan Noodles is not one of your familiar run-of-the-mill Chinese eateries. Next time you are seeking out a different type of Chinese restaurant, do yourself a favor and give Shan Shan a try, and while you are at it, stop in at Sweet Shansations for dessert.
Shan Shan Noodles is located at 333 Route 46 East, Parsippany. (973) 287-7399. Click here for the website. BYOB – No Reservations. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Closed Mondays. Parking Lot.
PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany was among a number of North Jersey Kiwanis Clubs participating in distributing over 40,000 pounds to those in need on Saturday, March 19. Over 1,500 families with 2,900 children in six towns received food containing fresh garden vegetables and other non-perishable items. The retail value of the food distributed was over $100,000. Kiwanis members seek donations from local residents and businesses to keep this initiative going. To make a donation, click here.
Connie Keller, President Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany said “Since the beginning of the pandemic, Kiwanis Clubs have donated over 475,000 pounds of food, feeding 12,000 families, over 23,000 children with a retail value of over $800,000. I am proud of all our members, especially the Key Clubs at Parsippany High School and Parsippany Hills High School for their efforts in the ‘Feeding Our Neighbors’ program.”
Vritika Kilaru loading a box of food in a vehicle
“The USDA estimates that in 2018, about 774,860 people, including 219,760 children, in New Jersey were food insecure. That means one in 11 individuals (8.7%) and one in nine children (11.3%) live in homes without consistent access to adequate food for everyone to live healthy, active lives,” said Frank Cahill, Lt. Governor Kiwanis Division 9.
“The economic damage wrought by mass layoffs and business closures is expected to persist long after vaccines become widely available and that means demand for food assistance will remain at the current high level for months or years to come,” said Gordon Meth, Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany member, and former Kiwanis NJ District Governor.
To find out information on the next Kiwanis Food Distribution click here.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Passed a resolution on Tuesday, March 15 “Authorizing the Expenditure od Municipal Funds for the Abatement of the Nuisances, Defects or Conditions” located at 108 Longview Avenue, Lake Hiawatha.
debris, garbage, tree logs, tree stumps, hazardous oils, and overgrown vegetation
The property was determined to have “debris, garbage, tree logs, tree stumps, hazardous oils, and overgrown vegetation.” In addition, the Township requires that the exterior walls, roofs, window frames, doors, door frame foundation, siding, and other parts of a structure located on the premise shall be so maintained as to keep water from entering the structure and to prevent excessive drafts.
The Township requires that the exterior walls, roofs, window frames, doors, door frame foundation, siding, and other parts of a structure located on the premise shall be so maintained
The owner of the premises was served with a “Notice of Violation and Order to Correct” on May 6, 2019. The owner was then served with a “Notice of Hearing” on February 10, 2022, and the date of hearing with scheduled for March 1, 2022. The owner failed to appear for the scheduled hearing.
The Parsippany Housing Department has obtained an estimate in the amount of $3,395.68 from Fox Hollow Landscaping and Design for the abatement of the nuisances, defects, and conditions located on the premises.
In accordance with Township Coe 213-44, the Township Council has the authority to expended municipal funds to abate nuisances, conditions, and defects and have the costs incurred assessed to the property tax bills as a lien.
PARSIPPANY — Lake Hiawatha resident Sylene Whittle is a State Finalist in Miss New Jersey Teen USA | Miss New Jersey Teen USA pageant!
Sylene Whittle
Sylene is a freshman at Parsippany High School where she is in Concert Band, African American Culture Club, French Club, Asian American Club, and on the Girls Lacrosse Team.
She resides in Lake Hiawatha with her mother, Patricia Beecher, and her brother Peyton Whittle. Her father, Silas Whittle, lives in Newark. She attended Knollwood Elementary School and Central Middle School.
She does competition cheerleading at Star Athletics in Boonton.
She wants to own her own cheerleading and gymnastics gym one day. Her hope is to inspire and bring gymnastics and cheerleading to underprivileged children. She has been working on her business plan since she was in fourth grade.
Class of 2022 People’s Choice Award voting starts now!! Miss New Jersey USA & Miss New Jersey Teen USA will be collecting friends, families, and the public votes for their favorite contestant for the People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award Winners are guaranteed a spot in the Semifinals! $1 = 1 vote.
The People’s Choice Award Winner in each division will be presented with a beautiful crystal trophy and is guaranteed a spot as a top Semifinalist!
Voting will take place online up until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. Be sure to cast your votes before the deadline in order for your votes to count! Click here to vote.
Anyone in the world can vote; spread the word! Please Share!
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Focus has learned that Panda Wok will be reopening about a half-mile from their previous location in Green Hill Plaza.
Panda Wok was destroyed during a multi-alarm fire on Tuesday, January 4, in the Green Hill Plaza, Parsippany Road. They have been closed since the fire. (Click here for full story)
Panda Wok will be reopening at 219 Littleton Road, in the Littleton Plaza, across from Troy Gardens.
The location will consist of 1,260 square feet in the on story building, that also houses Domino’s Pizzeria, and Tino’s BBQ and Grill.
Panda Wok will be reopening at 219 Littleton Road, in the Littleton Plaza, across from Troy Gardens. Currently, the new location is vacant.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council passed a resolution (R2022-058) supporting Ukraine and its people against Putin’s Russian Invasion on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
Council President Michael dePierro presented the resolution to Reverand Stephan Bilyk, Pastor, St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church.
In addition, Senator Joe Pennacchio and Assemblyman Brian Bergen presented a resolution on behalf of the State Legislators.
Mayor James Barberio and the Township Council will raise the Ukrainian flag at Town Hall on Saturday, April 2 at 10:00 a.m.
Senator Joe Pennacchio presented the resolution to Reverand Stephan BilykAssemblyman Brian Bergen presented the resolution to Reverand Stephan BilykMembers of the Township Council, Mayor Barberio with members of the Ukraine community
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County was born 283 years ago – or was it before that?
It’s not that the centuries have made us forgetful. It’s a matter of which calendar you use and in what part of the world you live.
It was 1752 when England and its colonies, including New Jersey, switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, moving our official birthday to March 15, 1739, from 1738.
Regardless, history records that Morris County was created by an act of the State Legislature on March 15, 1738/39, separating it from Hunterdon County, one of the state’s largest counties of the period. Named after Colonel Lewis Morris, then Governor of the Province of New Jersey, it originally included what are now the counties of Morris, Sussex, and Warren.
We invite you to learn more about our history:
Check out online exhibits from the Morris County Heritage Commission about exceptional women in Morris County history, and our courthouse, homes, and cultural center by clicking here.
Visit historic sites across the county by clicking here.
Read about the history of our veterans, miners, and railroaders by clicking here.
