Diabetes Prevention Program to be held at Lakeland Hills YMCA

MOUNTAIN LAKES — If you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes, you can make small, measurable changes that can reduce your risk and help you live a happier, healthier life.  The program will start on January 10 and continue through November 14, on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program helps overweight adults at risk for type 2 diabetes reduce their risk for developing the disease by taking steps that will improve their overall health and well-being. This program provides a supportive environment where participants work together to achieve the program goals of reducing individual weight by 7% and building up to 150 minutes of moderate (the equivalent of brisk walking) physical activity per week for the purpose of reducing their risk for developing diabetes. The program is delivered over a 11-month period in a classroom setting and can be offered in any community location to participants who meet qualification criteria putting them at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
PROGRAM FEATURES
• 25 sessions delivered over the course of one year
• Led by a trained Lifestyle Coach
• A group that offers motivation and support
Change is tough, but we can help. And, thanks to a grant from Y-USA, your fee will be reduced by $129.00 at the time of registration.
Click here to register. Lakeland Hills YMCA is located at 100 Fanny Road.

Library gathered care packages for the food pantry

PARSIPPANY — In the spirit of giving, teens got together at both the Parsippany Main library and the Lake Hiawatha branch to put together care packages for the food pantry. While the essentials were collected, they also included some extra treats in hopes of making someone’s day a little bit brighter. They all had a wonderful time decorating the packages and making cards to be distributed by the Department of Human Services. They hope that this is only the beginning of a collaboration with Parsippany Township community leaders.

Along with the teen donations, staff at the Parsippany Libraries during their Holiday Breakfast, also contributed food donations to the food pantry and presented them to Michele Picone, Parsippany Director of Human Services.

Lake Hiawatha Library Teen care package
Holiday care packages

RD Management and JMF Properties sign lease with Lowe’s

HANOVER — RD Management one of the nation’s largest privately held real estate development and management organizations, and partner JMF Properties, a leading New Jersey development company specializing in transit-oriented projects, urban retail centers, and commercial office parks, announced today a lease signing with Lowe’s at Cedar Village in Hanover Township.

The 118,093-square-foot Lowe’s is currently under construction and expects to open in summer 2019. The site also includes as a 7,150-square-foot proposed gas station and a 5,500-square-foot convenience store to the property.

“Morris County continues to be a top-tier destination for shoppers and we have no doubt that Cedar Village will fit right in,” said Richard Birdoff, principal and president of RD Management. “In a great location, we expect Cedar Village and Lowe’s to garner immense traffic from the Hanover community and surrounding areas. JMF Properties is a long-term partner of ours on multiple projects and securing this anchor retailer enhances the developments taking place in the area.”

Cedar Village, a new commercial development, is located in the heart of Morris County in the Cedar Knolls section of Hanover on Hanover Avenue between Horse Hill Road/Martin Luther King Avenue and American Road, a heavily trafficked area with 26,406 cars passing daily. The property is situated in a high density, high-income trade area with close proximity to Interstate 287. Cedar Village is located just across from the Mennen Sports Arena, an all-season indoor arena with three ice rinks. A new full movement traffic signal will be installed as part of the development. Nearby establishments include IHOP, Mangiano Pizza Italian Restaurant and Catering Walmart, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Old Navy, Ulta, Five Below, ShopRite, and an Acme with Sav-on Pharmacy.

“We are proud to welcome Lowe’s as the anchor tenant of this burgeoning new shopping destination we are creating in Hanover along with our partner, RD Management,” said Joseph M. Forgione, Founder and Principal of JMF Properties. “This is a high-income area with strong retail demand. We believe that Lowe’s will thrive in this location and Morris County consumers will benefit from the value it delivers to the local marketplace.”

Lowe’s is a Fortune 50 home improvement company serving more than 18 million customers per week and employs over 310,000 people in 2,390 stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. During the 2017 fiscal year, the improvement store’s total sales hit $68.6 billion.

RD Management is currently building Waterview Marketplace in Parsippany, which will house Whole Foods, Homesense, The Paper Store, Ulta Beauty, DSW and other retailers.

The District at 1515 project has been tabled

PARSIPPANY — During the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting of Tuesday, December 18, the vote on the proposed redevelopment of vacant commercial property, formerly occupied by Intel,  at 1515 Route 10 has been tabled. Steve B. Pearlman, attorney for Stanbery Development Group made the request to the Township Council.

Pearlman said “I listened to Attorney Leslie London’s a presentation which was very informative. I appreciate that the council has a lot to consider with your (Council on Affordable Housing) COAH situation. We also know that I lecture state and nationally on pilots and (Redevelopment Area BondsRABs and I know they’re complicated because I talked to audiences for people who are involved in this field. We don’t want you to be force fed. We want you in the community to understand this project and frankly evaluate the way we value it. We spent a lot of time working on this question and answer document that we’ve left copies for everybody.  We really would like people to look at it, understand it, because we’ve sat here through several meetings and I believe on that sheet we’ve answered every question that we’ve heard and we think that when you take this all in context, as I understand from your attorneys presentation, you have a very short window to figure out your COAH situation because you’re in that settlement litigation. So why would they ask him that spirit of trying to get something that everyone is happy with, that you tabled the motion for tonight? Everybody take time, get better informed, and then at a future date were rescheduled with the town attorney and let’s come back and vote in that case.”

The project will be re-noticed to the public in 2019. Parsippany Focus will update on upcoming meetings.

The redevelopment plan approved on September 25 is for construction of 100,000 square feet of retail space and restaurants with 441 residential units, 33 of those units to meet COAH requirements. (They are required to have an additional 34 COAH units, which they will pay Parsippany’s Affordable Housing Fund $3.3 million dollars.)

Proposed development at 1515 Route 10

Stanbery Development also is the owner of The Shoppes At Union Hill, on Route 10, Denville.

The building was previously occupied by Intel. The main building on the property has three stories plus a lower level. The gross floor area is 237,300 square feet. It was built in 1984. The building is unoccupied.

The second building, to the south of the main building and connected by a second story walkway, is three stories and has a gross floor area of 71,231 square feet. It was built in 1999. There are 1,091 parking spaces on site around the perimeter of the buildings, more than 700 parking spaces located on Lot 1.02. The remaining 320 parking spaces are located on Lots 13 and 14 of Block 303 in Hanover Township.

Stanbery Development, LLC., paid $14.1 million for property in March 2015.

Steven B. Pearlman is the founding member of Pearlman & Miranda. Before Pearlman & Miranda, Mr. Pearlman was a founding partner of the Parsippany based firm Inglesino, Pearlman, Wyciskala & Taylor since 2010. John Inglesino is the former Township Attorney of Parsippany, from 2010 to 2017.

 

Littleton School K-Kids collects 131 children books

PARSIPPANY — Littleton School K-Kids held a book collection during the holiday season. The students collected a total of 131 children books to be distributed to Jersey Battered Women’s Service (JBWS).

Books collected by the Littleton School K-Kids
Books collected by the Littleton School K-Kids

Members of Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany purchased pajamas, hats and gloves to be distributed to JBWS.

Jersey Battered Women’s Service of Morris County is a full-service domestic violence and domestic abuse prevention agency with volunteer opportunities. The services include a 24-hour hotline; counseling; safe house; transitional living; children’s services; life skills education; vocational counseling; batterers’ intervention; legal assistance; teen dating violence services; and professional training, education and youth prevention programs.

K-Kids is a service club for students in elementary schools It’s led by elementary students just like you and teaches the value of helping others by taking part in community service projects.

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

 

Parsippany Town Hall Regular Council Meeting (12/18/2018)

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Parsippany Town Hall Regular Council Meeting (12/18/2018) – Part 2

Parsippany Town Hall Regular Council Meeting (12/18/2018) – Part 3

https://youtu.be/fp1ukzJlR7A

Parsippany Town Hall Regular Council Meeting (12/18/2018) – Part 4

Two Parsippany residents involved with Multi-County Drug Trafficking

PARSIPPANY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Chief of Investigations Stephen F. Wilson, Jr. announce the arrests of several drug traffickers following an investigation into the importation and distribution of cocaine in Morris County and other counties.

Between January 2017 and December 2018, members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit/Narcotics Task Force and detectives with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department received information that Michael Swanson and multiple associates were importing and distributing cocaine in Morris and surrounding counties.

On December 17, 2018, as a result of the wide-ranging distribution network that Michael Swanson operated, directed and controlled, Court-ordered search and arrest warrants were executed in Bergen County—where Michael Swanson lives, and Passaic County—where two of his associates live, by members of the Morris County Narcotics Task Force, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office’s Tactical Narcotics Team, and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office SWAT.

The investigation resulted in Court authorization for 17 arrests, the seizure of more than 150 grams of cocaine, various packaging and drug distribution related materials, and over $5,200 in United States currency. In addition, four vehicles used by Swanson and his network of drug distributors were seized.

The following is a list of individuals charged in the investigation. The charges specific to each individual are included:

  1. Michael Swanson (aka “Brian”), 41, of Hackensack (arrested)
  2. Keisha Swanson, 42 of Hackensack (arrested)
  3. Joanny Peon (aka “JoJo”), 38, of Paterson (arrested)
  4. James Gaita, 29, of Paterson (arrested)
  5. Monique Colon, 28, of Ringwood. (arrested)
  6. Federico Bado, 35 of Roselle (arrested)
  7. Silvana Ferreira, 33 of Ringwood (arrested)
  8. Eileen Brennan, 52, of Lake Hiawatha (arrested)
  9. Devon Miles,  53, of Boonton (arrested)
  10. Roger Kelly, 70, of Hamburg (arrested)
  11. Kenneth Poust, 52, of Wantage (arrested)
  12. Melinda Romero-Bonilla, 30, of Dover (arrested)
  13. Frank Oliver, 52 of Boonton (arrested)
  14. Cecile J. Aponte, 33 of Paterson (at-large)
  15. David S. Ruddy, 38 of Metuchen (at-large)
  16. Keith Andreasen, 46 of Ogdensburg (at-large)
  17. William Stivaly, 59 of Lake Hiawatha (at-large)

The Honorable Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. authorized the complaint warrants for the defendants, all of whom are subject to Criminal Justice Reform.

Prosecutor Knapp stated: “This investigation uncovered a far-reaching cocaine distribution network controlled, organized, and directed by Michael Swanson who employed several subordinates to travel throughout Morris County and surrounding counties in their quest to be a full-service drug distribution network. This network included Swanson’s customers who, in turn, were re-sellers that further distributed the cocaine in several locations. This Office remains steadfast in its efforts to battle drug distribution throughout Morris County. I am extremely proud of the efforts and cooperation of all agencies involved.”

Prosecutor Knapp thanks the following agencies for their invaluable assistance and commitment to the Narcotics Task Force: the various units within the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office led by the Special Operations Division and the Special Enforcement Unit/Tactical Narcotics Team, Morris County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office/Bergen County SWAT, Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, Town of Boonton Police Department, Boonton Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Morristown Bureau of Police, Dover Police Department, Morris County Park Police, Butler Police Department, Lincoln Park Borough Police Department, Rockaway Borough Police Department, Kinnelon Borough Police Department, Jefferson Township Police Department, Hanover Township Police Department, Denville Township Police Department, Hackensack Police Department, and Woodland Park Police Department. The investigation and prosecution is being conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Division. Task Force Officer George Tsimpedes of the Morris County Narcotics Task Force is the lead investigator. Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan is assigned to the prosecution.

Michael Swanson (aka “Brian”), 41, of Hackensack. Swanson was charged with (1) Count of Leader of a Drug Trafficking Network (1st degree); (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); (15) Counts of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree); (9) Counts of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree); (9) Counts of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree); (5) Counts of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); and (5) Counts of Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree).

Swanson was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility. Pursuant to Criminal Justice Reform, a motion for pretrial detention has been filed and will be heard on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

Keisha Swanson, 42, of Hackensack was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree).

Keisha Swanson was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility. Pursuant to Criminal Justice Reform, a motion for pretrial detention has been filed and will be heard on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

Joanny Peon, (aka “JoJo”) 38, of Paterson was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); (9) Counts of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree); (8) Counts of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (3rd degree); (8) Counts of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree);  (1) Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree) and (1) Count of Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree).

Joanny Peon was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility. Pursuant to Criminal Justice Reform, a motion for pretrial detention has been filed and will be heard on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

James Gaita, 29, of Paterson was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); (5) Counts of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree); (1) Count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (3rd degree); (1) Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree); (4) Counts of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; (2nd degree) and (4) Counts of Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree).

James Gaita was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility. Pursuant to Criminal Justice Reform, a motion for pretrial detention has been filed and will be heard on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

Monique Colon, 28, of Ringwood, was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree); (1) Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree), (1) Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree) and (1) Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree).

Monique Colon was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions.

Federico Bado, 35 of Roselle was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree); (1) Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree);  (1) Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree) and (1) Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree).

Federico Bado was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions.

Silvana Ferreira, 33 of Ringwood was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree); (1) Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree); (1) Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree) and (1) Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree).

Silvana Ferreira was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions.

Eileen Brennan, 52, of Lake Hiawatha was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree).

Eileen Brennan was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions.

Devon Miles, 53, of Boonton was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree).

Devon Miles was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions.

Roger Kelly, 70, of Hamburg was charged with(1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree) and (1) Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree).

Roger Kelly was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and was later released with conditions.

Kenneth Poust, 52, of Wantage was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree).

Kenneth Poust was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions.

Melinda Romero-Bonilla, 30, of Dover was charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree).

Melinda Romero-Bonilla was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions.

Frank Oliver, 52 of Boonton was charged with (1) One Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree) and (1) One Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree).

Melinda Romero-Bonilla was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions.

Cecile J. Aponte, 33, of Paterson (at-large) will be charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree); (1) Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree); (1) Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree) and (1) Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree).

David S. Ruddy, 38 of Metuchen (at-large) will be charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree); (1) Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree); (1) Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree) and (1) Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree).

Keith Andreasen, 46 of Ogdensburg (at-large) will be charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree).

William Stivaly, 59 of Lake Hiawatha (at-large) will be charged with (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree).

If you have information as to the whereabouts of the at-large defendants, please contact your local police department or the Morris County Communications Center at (973) 285-2900.

Editor’s Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Ground Breaking Ceremony for new Education Center at Craftsman Farms

PARSIPPANY — The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms broke ground on its new Education Center on Wednesday, December 12.

The Education Center project will preserve and rehabilitate a garage building, one of the nine original  Gustav Stickley-era buildings on the 30-acre historic property.

While protecting the garage’s remaining historic fabric, the building’s interior will be rehabilitated for use as a meeting, conference and program space.  The new multi-use space will more than double the museum’s current program facilities.

The building’s two upper levels, which were destroyed by fire around 1950, will be rebuilt and used for collections and archive storage and administrative offices.

In addition, the new Education Center will provide a beautiful new entrance to this 30-acre National Historic Landmark, which is open for tours year round and welcomes visitors from around the world. Once the new Center is open for use, the museum’s shop, located currently in the kitchen of Gustav Stickley’s home, the Log House, will move into its former program space, paving the way for restoration of the home’s kitchen.

Before the Groundbreaking, attendees were invited to warm up with coffee and write “Wishes for Craftsman Farms” on the walls of the old building.

Then Board President Barbara Weiskittel welcomed Groundbreaking attendees, which included Township Officials, Museum Trustees, Advisory Council Members, Volunteers, Museum Members, and supporters from around the state.

Vonda Givens, Executive director, spoke about the determination and years of work leading to the groundbreaking and thanked everyone involved. She particularly noted the early support of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, which helped the organization secure additional funding to get the project off the ground. After remarks and photos, attendees were invited to see the holiday decorations in the Log House and enjoy refreshments in the museum shop.

Front View of the new Education Center
Architecture drawing of the new Education Center
The groundbreaking for the new Education Center
Vonda Givens, Executive director at Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, addressing the attendees
Board of Trustees and Advisory Council: Mitch Codding, Nancy Willans, Jayne Beline, Jill Thomas-Clark, Lynn Leeb, Joe Jannarone, Vonda Givens, Ted Lytwyn, Barbara Weskittel, Julie Peterson, Davey Willans, Mike dePierro, Dave Rudd, Laura Russell, Debbie Goldwein, Pete Mars, Tom Menard and Tom Bird

The Education Center is funded by a grant of Open Space funds from the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, a grant from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust and the museum’s Education Center Capital Campaign project.

Fundraising is ongoing and support is welcomed. For more information, call (973) 540-0311 or email info@stickleymuseum.org.

Swarali Academy held first musical recital

PARSIPPANY — Swarali Academy just held their first musical recital a Winter Concert on Sunday, December 16 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Lakes.

The event had over 30 performances; vocal solo and group Indian Classical/ Bollywood songs, keyboard and Guitar. Each and every student did a great job.

The event opened with Indian National Anthem on Keyboard by Eshaan Bhansali and Krish Jain accompanies by their instructor on the Guitar Mr. Ajit Pachegaokar.  The audience joined in and song the National Anthem.

The next performance was praising Lord Ganesh in Raag Yaman by Kajal Ranade, Aarjun Bodade, Kimaya Kamdaar, Yashica Patange, Riddhi Deshpande and Riya Rewankar. This was followed by a solo performance by Ishita Gunisetti, she sang alankars of raag Bilawal. Prisha Bhawsar played Achyutam keshavam, an Indian prayer. There were many performances such as Jingle bells by Aardhya, Satvik and Amrit on Keyboard to bring the holiday spirits up! Vrishti played Aura Lee, Sidhhant Bhansali played Down the valley/Yankee Doodle and Areyan Bordawekar played Mary had a little lamb/London Bridge on guitar.

Adults performed solo singing were Rashmi, Amit, Manisha, Sanjay, Yogesh, Guncha, Brinda and Kajal who mesmerized the audience with their beautiful voices and songs.

The event went on flawlessly for 2½ hours. Event finale where all the students; kids and adults performed Ishwar Ya allah prayer along with Mile sur mera tumhara was enjoyed by everyone.

Our chief guests were Mr. Sushant Yadav, an accomplished Pianist and Mr. Abhijit Pachegaokar, a a very talented Singer.

Instructors are Ajit Pachegaokar is a legendary artist, a guitarist, from Bollywood. Ajit teaches students Keyboard and Guitar to kids as well adults. Ajit has worked in Bollywood for over 50 years and has accompanied many legendary artists as well as played in Bollywood movies. Shweta Ranade, Hindustani classically trained vocalist, teaches vocal to kids as well as adults. Shweta is an accomplished singer and has performed in over 400 concerts all over the US and India.

For more information visit their Facebook page by clicking here.

Kent Place Announces Admission Events in January

SUMMIT — The Admission Office at Kent Place School, an independent, college-preparatory day school for girls and young women, with a coed Preschool, announces its Curriculum Panel for prospective families on Tuesday, January 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The panel will feature Kent Place faculty, college advisors, young alumnae and will be moderated by Julie Gentile, Kent Place Director of Studies.

A broad range of opportunities for leadership, social development, and responsible citizenship are offered in Kent Place’s Preschool, Primary, Middle and Upper Schools. Independent thinking and personal development are integral to the learning experience at Kent Place.

We are a school community with clearly defined scholastic, moral and behavioral standards, committed to a challenging academic, creative and physical curriculum. Kent Place offers a multi-dimensional and comprehensive educational experience combining academic challenge with a richness of activities, athletics and community endeavors. Kent Place seeks motivated students who are eager to learn and take advantage of the many opportunities the school offers. We encourage applications from families of all racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. We value the wide range of interests and talents that all of our students bring to the school.

Applications for the 2019-2020 school year are now being accepted and are due by January 10, 2019. For more information about Kent Place or the Admission events, please contact the Admission Office at (908) 273-0900 or e-mail at admission@kentplace.org. You may visit the Kent Place Admission Office online by clicking here.