Exhibits at the Parsippany Library during October

Frank L. Cahill
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Exhibits at the Parsippany Library during October

PARSIPPANY — The HUB Camera Club, Mountain Lakes, photography exhibit is currently on display at the Parsippany Library.  The HUB Camera Club, founded in 1998 offers programs, demonstrations, competitions, workshops and exhibitions.  They meet the fourth Monday of the month at the Mt. Lakes Library.

Also displayed is an exhibit of the Parsippanong Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution DAR.
A collection of Tom Petty memorabilia is also on display to celebrate his life and his music.
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library is located at 449 Halsey Road.

“First Annual Italian Cultural Festival” was a huge success

Frank L. Cahill
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“First Annual Italian Cultural Festival” was a huge success

PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills held its first “Italian Cultural Event” on Sunday, October 14 on Minnehaha Boulevard between Washington Avenue and North Beverwyck Road.

Although the event slated to start at 1:00 p.m., plenty of people started arriving around 12:30 p.m. and were already lining up at the various food vendors.

By 1:00 p.m., Minnehaha Boulevard was filled up with plenty of people still arriving at both ends. The mandolin and accordion players were making their rounds while the dj was playing classical Italian music.

The tables were filled with people enjoying the festive atmosphere and eating all sorts of fine Italian foods. Everything from sausage & peppers, Linguine with meat and gravy, pizza, rice balls as well as meatballs were sold by various vendors.

On the dessert side, cannolis and zeppolis were a great hit. All flavors of Italian ices and funnel cakes were also available.

The multitude of residents crowded the street and often asked if this street fair could be done regularly. Italian day was really a big hit.

By the late afternoon, many of the food vendors were running low on food and were very surprised by the massive turnout. This being the very first year, many of the vendors didn’t know what to expect as far as turnout and weren’t sure of how much food to bring.

Mayor Michael Soriano said “A Sunday afternoon of good music, food, and friends is always a great success, and I look forward to the 2nd annual Italian Culture Festival.”

“I spoke to every vendor and they were all very happy with how well everything turned out. Not only that, but every vendor wanted to know if and when we were planning on doing this event next year. We are planning on having our Italian Cultural Event next year on Sunday, October 20. This was Mayor Michael Soriano’s idea and it turned out to be a big hit with everyone. We are planning on expanding the festival slightly next year and fine tuning certain things. It was great to be a part of it this year,” said Michael Sifonios, Director of Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani said “A fun day was had by Parsippany residents. An array of delicious Italian food was provided by our local restaurants, civic organizations and food trucks. From sausage and pepper sandwiches, meatballs, Sicilian rice balls and of course dessert, fresh cannoli, funnel cake and zeppolis. It helped that the weather was beautiful which attributed to the large crowds.”

Children had fun playing Bocce Ball
PHS Advisor Italian Honor Society Angela Minichiello-Garcia and PHS Advisor Italian Club Marta DeCandia
Sons of Italy
PHS Italian Honors Society: Yesssema Villota, Nicole Phelan, Daniela Chernyavsky and Bella Rocco
PHS Italian Honors Society was giving out Pizzelle
Tony Ferraro, Dana Ferraro-Ilic and Michael Ilic
The crowds at the “First Annual Italian Cultural Festival”
Councilwoman Janice McCarthy, Loretta Gragnani and Emily Peterson
Dawn Marie Keimel
Remo D’Alessandro, Parsippany Police Department
Karen DeChristopher and Carol Tiesi
Von Achen family
Karen DeChristopher, Ann Cucci and Carol Tiesi
Theresa and Bob Stroup
John Gangoni, Vanita Ghosh and Dina Beck
The mandolin and accordion players were making their rounds
Sallie Ann Marsh, Mayor Michael Soriano and George Bottarini

Parsippany Town Hall Council Agenda Meeting from (10/16/2018)

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Town Hall Council Agenda Meeting from (10/16/2018)

Parsippany Town Hall Council Agenda Meeting from (10/16/2018)

This meeting was split in two videos, here is the second part of the video.

Sons of Italy to host Fourth Annual Beefsteak Dinner

Frank L. Cahill
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Sons of Italy to host Fourth Annual Beefsteak Dinner

PARSIPPANY — Sons of Italy 2561 will be holding its Fourth Annual Beefsteak Dinner on Saturday, November 10. The event will be held at Bloomingdale Fire House, 97 Hamburg Turnpike, Bloomingdale. Tickets are $50.00 each and includes All You Can Eat Beefsteak, roasted potatoes, salad, pasta, assorted desserts, beer, soda, coffee and tea. Door Prizes and Raffles.

After the Beefsteak dinner, comedians Mike Morse and Brad Lowery will perform.

Call (201) 774-0943 for tickets and additional information.

You may recognize Mike Morse from his television appearances on MTV, VH-1, Comedy Central, and E! Entertainment Network. He was a winner on ABC-TV’s popular show America’s Funniest People, and was the host and head writer of Fox TV’s stand-up/sketch comedy show “The Comedy Cabaret.” Mike recently appeared in the AC/DC music video “Stiff Upper Lip” and the Ben Folds Five music video “Army”.

As a stand-up comedian, Mike has performed at comedy clubs, casinos, and colleges in cities all over North America, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Denver, Toronto, and Montreal. Recent appearances include shows at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City and the Riviera in Las Vegas. His unique combination of rapid-fire jokes, hilarious music, and clever props has made him a headlining favorite wherever he performs.

Besides writing and illustrating for Cracked Magazine since the mid-1990’s, Mike’s writing and artwork has been featured in magazines such as Weekly World News, Reader’s Digest, Slick Times, Thwak, and Steppin’ Out. His humorous plays have been produced in New York, California, New Jersey, and Texas, and he served as staff writer for the comedy news television show “168 Hours.” He wrote, directed, and performed with the sketch comedy group The Little Bastards and appeared in several successful New York City productions with the group, including “Nuts In A Lifeshell” and “Dust Bunny Beaujolais”.

Mike was a writer and performer on the popular Internet radio program “The Chaunce Hayden Show.” Mike’s work has also been featured on “The Howard Stern Show,” ESPN, Fuse, and “Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn,” and he is currently a writer for “Late Shift With Kevin Ferguson.”

Brad Lowery travels across the country performing, averaging over 200 dates each year. He has been nominated for Comedian of the Year four times and has been seen on A & E’s “Caroline’s Comedy Hour” and CBS’s “Star Search.” He has also opened for acts such as Chris Rock, Tommy Davidson and Adam Sandler.

Fall has arrived in Lake Hiawatha

Frank L. Cahill
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Fall has arrived in Lake Hiawatha

PARSIPPANY — A reader suggested we take a picture of the Halloween display in front of the Super Foodtown of Lake Hiawatha, 435 North Beverwyck Road.

How do you spell Parsippany?

Frank L. Cahill
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How do you spell Parsippany?

PARSIPPANY — How do you spell Parsippany? This sign has been in the Morris Hills Shopping Center for years.

When we noticed the above sign in the Morris Hills Shopping Center, with Parsippany misspelled, Parsippany Focus emailed Jason Fox of Brixmor Property Group, on January 22, asking them to correct the sign. The sign still remains incorrect.

Last year, Parsippany Focus, ran a story on another misspelled sign on Route 202. Focus contacted the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the sign was corrected within days.

The sign that was on Route 202 that was corrected by New Jersey Department of Transportation
The sign on Route 202 just before Route 80 east ramp, had Parsippany misspelled

When will the owners of Morris Hills Shopping Center correct their sign?

 

 

Valori recommends the “Million Dollar Attorney” to Rockaway Township

Frank L. Cahill
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Valori recommends the “Million Dollar Attorney” to Rockaway Township

PARSIPPANY — In a letter obtained by Parsippany Focus, addressed to the Acting Mayor and Members of the Rockaway Township Council, Former Parsippany-Troy Hills Council President Louis Valori wrote “It gives me great pleasure to send this letter of support for John Inglesino to become Rockaway Township’s next Township Attorney.” (Click here for endorsement letter).

This endorsement comes as a surprise, since Mr. Inglesino characterized Lou Valori at a public Council Meeting “Bad people like Lou Valori prey on that cynicism to lie about good, decent public service.” Valori was not content to simply having his big lie play out in the press as a, he said, she said. In order to give his big lie credibility he knew that he had to up the ante, so Valori demanded an investigation and then he took to the microphones to announce that the Somerset County prosecutor’s office was investigating the mayor, the council president and the township attorney. Valori’s big lie was proceeding according to plan, but the Valori made the big miscalculation…” “Personally, I anticipated that Valori would announced his lies to this level after all, he is a former police officer, trained and initiating and conducting investigations,” said Inglesino.  (Click here to view video tape).

During the famous Sunday Night meeting on January 13, 2013 at Parsippany-Troy Hills Town Hall,  Valori alleged that Barberio, Inglesino and former council president Brian Stanton offered to give him a $50,000 township job if he’d stay out of the township’s GOP primary.

Valori secretly recorded the Sunday Night meeting which can be heard discussing a potential job. (click here to listen to bribe tape supplied by Mr. Valori). Valori’s job would have paid about $50,000 a year, and he would have served as media liaison for the police department, Valori said.

That year, Valori ran for and won his first council seat, amist a voter fraud campaign. A campaign worker Jordan Valori, testified that she got a stack of vote-by-mail ballots off a desk in James Vigilante’s office (Candidate for Morris County Clerk) before he told her to sign them so he could drive her to the county election board to drop them off. Jordan Valori is the daughter of Dr. Louis Valori, a retired Parsippany police sergeant who won the Parsippany GOP primary council election with running mate Robert Peluso. (Click here to listen to audio). (Editors Note: This audio tape was recorded by NJ.Com reporter Brendan Kuty).

On March 7, 2013 “An ugly history: Valori accused Inglesino of political bribery” (Click here for article).

On April 1, 2013, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township received a Grand Jury subpoena issued by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Somerset County. That subpoena was to compel production of certain specific documents from the township clerk.

On March 20, 2013, “Valori said he had spoken with representatives from the state Attorney General’s Office and that they were investigating his allegations.”

In a May 9, 2013 letter provided by Inglesino, the Somerset Prosecutor’s Office said criminal prosecution wasn’t “viable” after various interviews and reviews of documents, including a secret recording Valori made. It also said no further investigation was warranted. At that time “Valori said he was disappointed with the investigation.”

On March 4, 2014 it was stated in a story titled “Inglesino’s lucrative Parsippany job on the line, pair allege ‘egregious’ ethics violations” appearing in NJ.com “…Valori said “1099 forms from Inglesino’s law firm show he’s received nearly $3 million for legal services from Parsippany since he took his post in 2010.” (Click here for article)

In April 2014, a story appearing in NJ.com “Parsippany to investigate its own attorney, John Inglesino,” stated the council voted to establish itself as a committee to investigate Inglesino over various alleged conflicts of interest and violations, under a resolution read by Councilman Louis Valori — one of the leading figures in the anti-Inglesino camp.

In November 2014, Former Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio said “Lou Valori is seeking revenge because I would not promote him to lieutenant prior to his retirement from the Parsippany Police Department.” This comment was in reference when “Parsippany council sues mayor, says he’s sending big bucks to politically connected attorney.” (The suit is targeting what it terms “excessive payments” to Township Attorney John Inglesino) (Click here for article).

On February 12, 2015, in an article published on nj.com, it was stated “Also at issue is a 1099 tax form submitted to the township that lists $822,382 in “nonemployee compensation” to Inglesino’s law firm for 2014. Valori, leader of the effort for the audit, said Aurora has billed the township for 3,500 hours of work. “Really?” Valori asked. “3,500 hours? For one computer?” More than $1.4 million is now in question in the two areas — the billings from the Aurora firm and Inglesino’s legal bills. Aurora’s billing records became public following an Open Public Records Act request by Frank Cahill, editor and reporter for the online news site Parsippany Focus.”

In March 2015, “Valori said that Inglesino has racked up exorbitant legal fees from the township, and that he improperly circumvented the council approval process for hiring a company — Aurora Information Security — to evaluate the computer records of the council president’s brother.

“Inglesino has already put Parsippany taxpayers are on the hook for $900,000 in legal bills paid directly to his law firm and $700,000 for Aurora Information Security and Risk Services with Mr. Inglesino circumventing the mandated council approval process when retaining Aurora,” Valori also said in his statement. “The amount of money spent on Aurora and Inglesino, Parsippany could have re-turfed both High School Football Fields,” said Valori. (Click here to read article).

Then Valori flip-flopped and supported Inglesino. Many residents questioned why?

Valori ran for re-election to the Township Council in 2017 and lost. A resident stated “A majority of people wanted him (Inglesino) removed, and were willing to remove the Mayor and the town council (Louis Valori) to do it.”

The sign is very clear. This was the message many residents at the Township Council meeting of December 27, 2017 were echoing.

At the council meeting of Tuesday, December 19, 2017, residents were voicing their opinion over the dissatisfaction of the resolution presented by Township Council President Louis Valori in a final attempt to save Township Attorney John Inglesino from being replaced by the new Administration at the annual reorganization meeting. Council President Louis Valori introduced Resolution No. 2017:187 at the regular Council meeting held on Tuesday, December 19. (Click here to read previous article on Resolution 2017:187)

Resolution No. 2017:187 was approved 3-0 with two members abstaining. Council President Louis Valori, Councilman Michael dePierro and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani voted to approve the resolution to keep Inglesino as a holdover.

Residents holding up signs “No More Inglesino”

“I feel the voters spoke. We want a new attorney. We don’t want a holdover appointment,” said Parsippany resident Julia Peterson.

Brooklawn Drive resident Bob Venezia asked several questions including (1) How does the resolution benefit Parsippany residents and (2) Where is the conflict of interest in Carifi voting on the new Twp Attorney?

“Your mayor, James Barberio, promised a smooth transition, so you are usurping the power of both mayors, the present mayor and the elected Michael Soriano,” said Lake Hiawatha resident Nick Homyak.

“How about Inglesino’s conflicts with his developers buddies. After Waterview this guy is no friend of the people of Parsippany. If Barberio refused the past council’s vote to remove Inglesino then the new Mayor should have same privilege to remove any attorney” said Nicholas Homyak.

“John Inglesino is a political parasite feeding on the body politic of Parsippany,” said Glacier Hills resident Brian Tappen. “Jamie and you both lost your election because of your association with John (Referring to Council President Louis Valori). A majority of people wanted him removed, and were willing to remove the mayor and the town council to do it.”

Resident Ken Dolsky said “The Carifi cases are not the most important issues in this town. The council can’t deny the will of the people for years over this one issue.  I did not hear anyone from the public speak in favor of keeping Mr. Inglesino as the town attorney.” 

Current Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano campaign promise was to replace Township Attorney John Inglesino. Soriano replaced Inglesino on January 1, 2018, after he was sworn in as Mayor.

Valori is currently the Chairman of the Parsippany Republican Committee.

Hey! My name is Cookie … adopt me

Frank L. Cahill
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Hey! My name is Cookie … adopt me

PARSIPPANY — Hey! My name is Cookie and I’m as sweet as my name suggests!

I am a two-year-old Whippet/Spaniel mix who is active, fun, and very loving. I am about 30 lbs and fully grown.

I was rescued by Wise Animal Rescue from a local municipal shelter where I was beyond terrified. Staff could barely get me to even take a walk outside my cage. Thankfully, I found a wonderful foster home and have absolutely blossomed!

My ideal home would be one with a fenced yard, a doggy friend, and older children. I love running around and giving kisses! While I have made leaps and bounds coming out of my shell, some loud noises still spook me but I am working on it! My doggy foster sister gives me lots of confidence so that’s why I’d love to live with one in my forever home!

I am potty trained and not destructive when left alone. My foster mom taught me “sit” and I love learning! One of my favorite things to do is jump on her lap and give her LOTS of kisses–it’s my favorite!

If you’re looking for a fun, loving dog, please fill out an application by clicking here.

Follow Wise Animal Rescue on Instagram by clicking here.
Like Wise Animal Rescue on Facebook by clicking here.

Webber Campaign Fundraising is nearly $1.3 million

Frank L. Cahill
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Webber Campaign Fundraising is nearly $1.3 million
MORRIS COUNTY – The Webber for Congress campaign announces that its total raised in the campaign is nearly $1.3 million. The Webber Victory Committee has raised over $333,000, and the campaign is on track for raising substantially more between now and Election Day.
Campaign spokesperson Ronica Cleary made the following statement: “We are thankful for our donors who have supported our campaign and believe in Jay’s message. Jay is running a campaign that aims to unite us across party lines and make New Jersey’s 11th District better for everyone.”

Saint Christopher Church will host “Operation Christmas Child Shoebox”

Frank L. Cahill
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Saint Christopher Church will host “Operation Christmas Child Shoebox”

PARSIPPANY — Saint Christopher Church will host “Operation Christmas Child Shoebox” on Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Samaritan’s Purse is an amazing organization that works year round for many great causes. Operation Christmas child is an amazing way to bring a smile to a child who would otherwise not receive anything at Christmas time.

They will gather at Saint Christopher Church to come together as a community to fill as many shoe boxes as we can with all the donations we receive.

This is a great experience for all involved. Bring your children and have them join in on the fun of giving back. The children will get to write a personal letter to fill the box with love.

If you are wondering how you could help, here are several ways to help:

ADOPT A BOX – You can adopt a box for $9.00 your  donation will pay for the shipping of a single shoe box. Our goal this year is to pack 500 boxes and ship to 100 countries! Checks for shipping will be made out to Samaritan’s Purse

DONATE GIFTS – You can go to your local dollar store and purchase items for the children and drop them off to me at Saint Christopher’s Church.

Find a list of items click here.

MAKE A MONETARY DONATION – You can make a $20.00 donation. This donation will be used to purchase gifts and ship one box! We accept cash or checks. checks made payable to to Stacy Stampone. All checks and donations should be to me by October 26.

JOIN THE PACKING PARTY – Join the packing party to help pack a box. Please bring a check to ship at least one box!

For more information on Operation Shoebox, click here.

Saint Christopher Church is located at 1050 Littleton Road.

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