PARSIPPANY — Nate Hayes, a scout with Troop 39, attended the Parsippany-Troy Hills Council meeting on Tuesday, February 15 to earn his “Communication Badge.” Nate is in the sixth grade at Brooklawn Middle School.
To earn a communication badge, the scout can select from a list of requirements. The scout can choose to attend a public meeting (city council, school board, debate) where several points of view are given on a single issue.
Practice active listening skills and take careful notes of each point of view. Then the scout had to prepare an objective report that includes all points of view that were expressed, and share this with their counselor.
Communication focuses on how people use messages to generate meanings within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media. The field of communication promotes the effective and ethical practice of human communication.
This badge is one of the many badges the scout must earn before earning Eagle Rank.
Troop 39 offers a wide range of activities and learning experiences for your child that focuses on their continued growth as they progress through the program. They strive to incorporate education, character building, growth, teamwork, and primarily FUN for our Scouts. They are a “Family Friendly” troop that encourages Moms or Dads to attend our meetings, special events, and camping trips so that everyone can experience the fun, together.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Rotary collaborated with community leaders who want to get to work on projects that have a real, lasting impact on people’s lives. Due to the generous donors, the Parsippany Rotary International Winter Coat Program was a MEGA Success. The outpouring of donations from various families, businesses, Rotary’s Partnered organizations PAL, Gandhian Society, NRIVA, Vasavi Society, GOPIO, and individuals enabled us to provide Up to 400 winter coats and Up to 200 New Winter blankets to children, homeless, and adults and supporting three different organizations of Table of Hope, Hope1 and Hope Hub.
This program is made possible because of great Teamwork and thorough planning and organizational efforts of all Individuals from Parsippany Rotary International, PAL, Gandhian Society, NRIVA, Vasavi Society, and GOPIO. A special thank-you goes to PAL for generously lending the space to drop off winter coats and accessories. Special thank you to the owners of Rishtaa Banquet Hall for hosting the Winter Coats donation event on February, 12.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Parsippany Rotary, PAL, Gandhian Society, NRIVA, and Vasavi Society for Winter Coats, Blankets and accessories Collections, Organizing and transporting coats between sites. This project was a huge effort collectively by all volunteers who donated their time and energy teams helped to shop, some transported the coats and some spent many hours organizing the coats and event preparations. This program could not have happened without them, we thank all of them.
Coats and blankets were donated to Table of Hope
The Winter Coats and Blankets event was attended by Elect District Governor-Sam Maddali, Parsippany Mayor James Barberio, Council President Michael dePierro, Vice President Loretta Gragnani, Councilmen Frank Neglia, and Justin Musella. Rotary Directors and Officers Santosh Peddi, Ravi Chhabra, Ravi Annadanam, Ylka Padilla, Venkat Bijjala. PAL Director Sam Yodice. Gandhian Society Founder and Directors Mr.Bhutala, Rajendar Dichpally, Mahesh, Vijaya Nadella, Dr.Asha Samant, Bhagavan Pingili, Jigar Shah, Anil Pulligala.
NRIVA Board members and E-Directors: TP (Rao Tummala), Ravi Peddi, Gangadhar Vuppala, Guru Alampalli, Committee leaders-Naga Mahender, Om Maduri. It was a great addition to the Coat Program this year, we’d also like to acknowledge NAPA Organization-Balaji Jilla for their Kind offering hand for any donation on winter clothing project in the future for children, homeless, and adults.
To all of the donors who dropped off coats and donated for the great Cause, all who are too numerous to mention, we send a heartfelt thank-you for supporting the Winter Coat Program and we Continue on Rotary’s mission to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Rotary members look for opportunities to improve our communities today and invest in the next generation for tomorrow.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio with members of Parsippany Rotary Club
PARSIPPANY — A man who wandered out of CareOne, on Friday night was found dead on Saturday, authorities confirmed.
John Eschenbach walked away from the Care One facility located at 100 Mazdabrook Road in Parsippany sometime Friday evening.
His body was found on Saturday morning. It was not clear where, though. He is described as having black hair, a grey mustache, a thin build, and is approximately 5’5 feet tall. He was last seen wearing a grey long-sleeve T-shirt with a green horizontal stripe across the middle, blue jeans, and white sneakers. He was not wearing a jacket or any headwear. He had no money, credit cards, or access to a vehicle.
Eschenbach suffered from dementia and other medical issues.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Green Team and The Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee are Going “Jersey Native”!
Did you know that providing habitat for beneficial pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and insects is one of the most important things you can do for the environment? Maintaining sustainable landscapes by promoting the planting of native plants creates an ecosystem that has a far-reaching impact.
The Parsippany Green Team and The Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee are helping coordinate “The Plants for Pollinators Online Sale”, plantsale@greatswamp.org, which is operated with the promotion and volunteers from Community Plant Sale Partners that include ten towns and seven community organizations.
What are Native Plants?
Native plants are species that were present at the beginning of the European settlement of North America. These plants have evolved and established symbiotic relationships with other native plants, insects, and animals, and many are dependent on one another to succeed. Once established these plants do very well with minimal care.
Why Consider Native Plants?
Native plants have evolved to flourish within their specific ecosystems and thereby, support ecosystems with more diversity than those with exotic or non-native plantings. Exotic plants may offer a nectar source for wildlife, but often their leaves, fruits, pollen, and nectar do not meet the nutritional needs of the wildlife. When a region has too few native plants, the food web, the ecosystem, is jeopardized and flora and fauna decline.
What Going “Jersey Native” can do for your Jersey garden?
• Native plants save time. Native plants are hardy, low-maintenance, and well-adapted to the local climate and soil. They have natural defenses to plant diseases, harmful insects, and pests. Once established, native plants flourish with normal rainfall and minimal care.
• Native plants save money. Natives require little or no fertilizers or pesticides, saving you money.
• Native plants attract and support biodiversity. New Jersey, the most densely populated state, has lost a considerable amount of wildlife habitat. Native plants in your yard can create new habitats to help balance the loss. Plant a variety of native plants to provide year-round sources of nectar, seeds, and fruits and diverse types of cover for birds, butterflies, and insects.
• Improve water quality. Native plant roots help prevent erosion by holding soil in place, increasing infiltration of rainwater into the ground, and filtering pollutants like lawn chemicals from the water. Since native plants lessen the need to apply fertilizers and pesticides, they keep our water cleaner and healthier by reducing the amount of pollution that rainwater runoff can carry into our waterways.
Our joint goal is to foster broad adoption of native plant gardens across our area to create necessary habitats for the pollinator insects and bird communities that are foundation elements of our local ecosystem.
The Great Swamp Water Shed Association (GSWA), in conjunction with the sale, is offering a native pollinator plant webinar series in preparation for our Native Plants for Pollinators Sale taking place online April 1-22. Join GSWA for “What’s the Buzz”? the second in a three-part series of free one-hour webinars, as we take a closer look at our native pollinators and the important roles they play in our gardens and in supporting healthy ecosystems. More than 75% of all flowering plants need pollinators to reproduce – and your garden veggies need their help too! Native pollinators have fascinating life histories, so knowing about gardening for pollinators from the insects’ perspective will enable you to truly welcome them to your yard. URL/Signup Link https://www.greatswamp.org/event/native-pollinators-whats-the-buzz/
Contact plantsale@greatswamp.org to request ongoing email updates and reminders.
PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, February 5, over 300 youth in the Scouts BSA program participated in the annual Fishawack Klondike Derby, a team competition testing Scouting skills and knowledge. The event was held at Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation in Byram Township.
Sled Captain Nicholas Shatynski, of Whippany, is honored to hold the 1st Place Junior Klondike Sled Plaque on behalf of the entire Troop 173 (Parsippany) Junior Sled Team.
Those youth who compete maneuver a Klondike sled with their equipment from one town to the next around the reservation. It is somewhat reminiscent of the Gold Rush of many years past in Alaska, with towns such as Nome, Barrow, and Juneau. At each town, the team and its captain decide how to best utilize the members’ skills to solve a problem within a certain time constraint. Each team was tested on various skills including Pioneering, First Aid, Shelter Building, Orienteering, Shooting, Scout Lore, Cooking, Nature, and Flint & Steel (a.k.a. Fire Building).
The sled teams spent nine hours in 20 to 25-degree weather preparing and pulling their sleds from town to town in the competition on that day.
Junior teams are limited to Scouts 13 years old and younger. Senior teams may include Scouts up through 17 years of age. Troop 173 in Parsippany fielded one Junior and one Senior team.
The Junior team, under the leadership of Nicholas Shatynski of Whippany, and assisted by Andrei Filipescu of Parsippany, placed first out of a field of 16 teams. Additionally, the Senior team scored in the top quarter of its field. The Senior Scouts assisted in the training and guidance that the Junior team used to win in their field.
Troop 173 is one of three Scouts BSA Troops in Parsippany, but all troops may include youth from surrounding areas. More information is available by clicking here.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Hills High School Academic Decathlon (AcDec) Team took third place in the New Jersey Region III Competition. Parsippany Hills was one of ten schools that competed virtually on Saturday, January 29, and earned over 45 awards and honors, including a scholarship awarded to Lindsey Lee for receiving the highest overall score in the Region at the Varsity level. The team consisted of nine competitors and seven alternates. The competing members were: Katharine Arthur, Ram Gupta, Lindsey Lee, Adrina Livingston, Catherine Peng, Hrishikesh Reddy, Andrew Song, Ash Stone, and Danial Tanveer. Alternate team members who participated were: Waleed Alim, Kenneth Cheng, Dylan Chiu, Alexa Dela Cruz, Nishanth Makkithaya, Chaitanya Matrubai, and Adomas Vaitkus. The team will now move on to the State competition, which will be held virtually on Saturday, February 26.
Academic Decathlon is a ten-event scholastic competition for high school students. The events include math, science, social science, literature, economics, art, music, speech, essay, and interview. This year’s theme is Water: A Most Essential Resource. Team coaches are Jaclyn Bevacqua, an Italian teacher, and Jacqueline Forte, a Spanish teacher.
PARSIPPANY — Daniel Kempf was named to first honors on the Clark University Dean’s List. This selection marks outstanding academic achievement during the Fall 2021 semester.
Students must have a GPA of 3.8 or above for first honors or a GPA between 3.50 and 3.79 for second honors.
Daniel is a 2017 graduate of Parsippany Hills High School.
Founded in 1887, Clark University is a liberal arts-based research university that prepares its students to meet tomorrow’s most daunting challenges and embrace its greatest opportunities. Through 33 undergraduate majors, more than 30 advanced degree programs, and nationally recognized community partnerships, Clark fuses rigorous scholarship with authentic world and workplace experiences that empower our students to pursue lives and careers of meaning and consequence.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany resident Judi Chase was one of the newest members to join the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany.
Club President Connie Keller said “Kiwanis is something so good that each of us loves to share it. What better way to show our love for our club and our community than to welcome a new member to our club? Today we’re very pleased to welcome Judi to our club. We welcome Judi to our global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
The New Jersey District of Kiwanis International currently has 80 active Kiwanis Clubs, with a total of 1395 members. Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany has a total of 70 active members.
During the pandemic, Kiwanis ‘Feeding our Neighbors” has distributed over 358,400 pounds of food, to 8,980 families, over 17,000 children with a retail value of over $600,000. The next food distribution is scheduled for Saturday, March 19. Any resident that needs food can register at kiwanishelps.org. The registration is 100% confidential and is used to make sure we have enough food at each location. Other locations include Roxbury, Rockaway, Livingston, South Orange, and Maplewood.
“Kiwanis Feeding our Neighbors” was started in December 2019 by Kiwanis Club of Greater Roxbury President Cain Pope and has spread to many Morris County Kiwanis Club and other clubs in New Jersey as far away as Asbury Park, South Orange, Maplewood, Clifton, and Bridgewater.
Kiwanis does not ask for proof of income. The only thing we ask for is name, email address, the town of residence, and the number of children. The information is 100% confidential and is used to make sure we have a sufficient supply of food at each location and for informing the public of future food distributions. We are always looking for donations to support this operation. Click here to make a donation.
“Kiwanis club members believe in service,” said Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany President Connie Keller. “They care about children. They’re interested in the community around them because the community matters to them. They’re people like you. Friends. Neighbors. Volunteers who want to make a difference.”
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. It is not religious-based or partisan in any way.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany supports ten K-Kids clubs, Lake Parsippany Elementary School, Eastlake Elementary School, Intervale School, Mt. Tabor Elementary School, Littleton Elementary School, Lake Hiawatha Elementary School, Troy Hills Elementary School, Northvail Elementary School, Knollwood School, and Rockaway Meadow Elementary School, two builders clubs, Central Middle School and Brooklawn Middle School; two Key Clubs, Parsippany Hills High School and Parsippany High School and one Aktion Club.
Interested in learning more about the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, contact President Connie Keller. Click here to view the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany website.
MORRIS COUNTY — Held in any kind of weather, the family-friendly golf event and chili sampling raised nearly $40,000 to help ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and households in poverty — those struggling to afford the basics even before the pandemic hit.
Hosted by United Way of Northern New Jersey in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Branchville, Newton, and Wallkill Valley, the event also featured food from local restaurants, raffle prizes from local businesses and community members, and live music by Sussex County band R.E.NO.
The event was made possible in part by Name a Nine sponsors Franklin Mutual Insurance and Thorlabs and Habanero Sponsors ADP TotalSource, Edem Title Agency, Homebridge Financial Services, Lakeland Bank, navitend, Newton Medical Center Foundation, and Selective Insurance.
To earn a communication badge, the scout can select from a list of requirements. The scout can choose to attend a public meeting (city council, school board, debate) where several points of view are given on a single issue.
