PARSIPPANY — Dr. Barbara Sargent presents “Parsippany Board of Education District Goals Update – October 15”
Council Meeting Tuesday, October 20; Residents Can Join Virtually
PARSIPPANY — Please be advised, the Township Council of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. Formal action may or not be taken, and any other action reasonably related thereto may also be taken. Click here to download a copy of the proposed agenda.
Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic Council Meetings will be held via web conferencing. This program will allow the public to listen to the meeting and to participate during the public portion session only.
Please be advised that in order for a member of the public to participate they must fill out the registration information using their real name and address, anyone not using their real name and address will not be allowed to speak during the public portion.
To join the meeting click here.
Rep. Sherrill Announces Self-Quarantine Following Child Care Provider’s Positive COVID-19 Test
PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement:
“We received news that our child care provider received a positive COVID-19 test. Luckily, everyone in our family has tested negative, however, we will be quarantining according to CDC guidelines.”
School Beautification Project at Parsippany Hills High School
PARSIPPANY — The Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) and community sponsors started Phase 1 of a very exciting School Beautification Project at Parsippany Hills High School.
Wall Landscaping, Cerbos Garden Center, Paul Miller Porsche, and Wegman’s sponsored the project.
Through the PTSA memberships, they were able to fund these types of projects!
Morris Arts Celebrates Pumpkin Illumination with Three Virtual Workshops
MORRIS COUNTY — This year, due to COVID-19, Morris Arts is not able to host an in-person Pumpkin Illumination event, but it’s still determined to celebrate Halloween in the spirit of its annual Pumpkin Illumination. Artist Dan Fenelon of Core Creative Academy will host a series of workshops for children and their families to bring the spirit of Pumpkin Illumination into the community.
The workshops will be:
- Monday, October 19: Miniature Scarecrow Creations
4:00 – 5:00 pm via Zoom
Ages: Best for ages 10-12 but all ages are welcome. Young children should be accompanied by an adult. Create a miniature scarecrow out of a variety of craft materials just in time for Halloween! This class is great for ages 10-12 who enjoy hands-on art projects. Mr. Dan will walk students through the step-by-step process from start to finish - Tuesday, October 20: Mask Making
4:00 – 5:00 pm via Zoom
Ages: Best for ages 13-16 but all ages are welcome. Young children should be accompanied by an adult.Grab cardboard and supplies and let’s have some fun creating one-of-a-kind Pumpkin Illumination inspired masks! Join Mr. Dan, the original creator of our Pumpkin Illumination parade masks, as he teaches you step-by-step how to make an original spooky cardboard mask of your own! Mr. Dan will provide some useful tips and tricks for how you can turn ordinary cardboard into a unique creature, just in time for Halloween! This class is great for high school students who enjoy hands-on art projects. Mr. Dan will walk students through the step-by-step process from start to finish. We can’t wait to start masking with you! - Thursday, October 22: Pumpkin Carving and Decorating
4:00 – 5:00 pm via Zoom
Ages: This workshop welcomes all ages! Young children should be accompanied by an adultCarve your own pumpkin with Mr. Dan in the spirit of Pumpkin Illumination! Grab your pumpkin, carving tools, and paint supplies and join Mr. Dan for an hour of pumpkin carving and decorating in the spirit of our annual Pumpkin Illumination event! Mr. Dan will provide some useful tips and tricks for how you can transform an ordinary pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind Spooktacular creation, just in time for Halloween! This class is great for all ages and younger children who are accompanied by an adult.
If you have any questions please email Kaity DeLaura at kdelaura@morrisarts.org.
Parsippany Spooky Snapshot Photo Contest Begins!
PARSIPPANY — It’s the season of ghosts and goblins in Parsippany! And we want to see photos of your family celebrating Halloween. Send in photos of your decorated house, or your family of trick-or-treaters and we’ll share them on our township’s social media page.
Best of all, our favorite selection will be featured in the 2021-2022 Town Planner Calendar for the month of October.
Send your submissions to contest@parsippany.net.
We can’t wait to see your spook-tacular photos!
Virtual Haunted Red Mill Museum Village
MORRIS COUNTY — The Red Mill Museum Village has partnered with “Unexplained Cases,” a paranormal investigative documentary web series, to host a #saveHalloween virtual event on the evening of Saturday, October 24 in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Haunted Red Mill.
In addition to a live haunted house attraction, the event will also feature a Halloween costume party and contest hosted by YouTube star Malia Miglino, the creation of Halloween-themed cocktails, and a live paranormal investigation of the Red Mill led by two stars of A&E’s television show “Ghost Hunters” — Daryl Marston and Mustafa Gatollari.
This event will be held on Saturday, October 24, from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. General Admission tickets are $25.00.
For more information and to register click here.
Grossi and Valori put County Election Workers at Risk
Editors Note: Although the press release from MCDC only makes mention of Lou Valori and Ann Grossi in the photo provided, it also shows Former Morris County Democratic Committee Endorsed Surrogate Candidate George Tannous.
PARSIPPANY — On the evening of Wednesday, October 14, Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi and Lou Valori, Republican candidate for Parsippany Mayor, attended a maskless kickoff event for the Trump campaign in Randolph. Pictured here are Grossi, Valori, and others disregarding the basic advice of public health officials, by refusing to wear masks or maintain six feet of social distancing.
Grossi and Valori, to the best of public knowledge, do not reside in the same household or have any other relationship of proximity that would render their contact safe, particularly not at a crowded campaign event.
This reckless display of irresponsibility is a slap in the face to the over 300,000 Morris County voters who are relying on the Clerk’s office and Board of Elections to remain healthy in order to keep the offices running through Election Day. The fact that this arrogance is being displayed by Morris County’s chief election official and a politician seeking to lead Morris County’s largest municipality should be disturbing to all Morris County residents.
Just yesterday, Grossi issued a statement proclaiming her employees overwhelmed by the volume of calls her office is receiving about the election. Instead of looking out for her employees, she has potentially put them at risk of contracting a deadly virus in the middle of the election they’re overseeing.
Grossi and Valori must take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by self-quarantining and being tested at the appropriate time. Anything less is a disservice to the residents and employees of Morris County, as well as the election process.
This press release was submitted by Morris County Democratic Committee (MCDC)
Governor Murphy Announces Launch of COVID-19 Transparency Website
MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy announced the launch of New Jersey’s COVID-19 Transparency website, providing oversight and public confidence in the expenditure of federal recovery funds as the State continues to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement of the website follows the Governor’s signing of Executive Order No. 166 on July 17, 2020, which established the Governor’s Disaster Recovery Office (GDRO) and COVID-19 Compliance and Oversight, Task Force.
“New Jerseyans deserve to know how the State is addressing the COVID-19 crisis and how their taxpayer dollars are being spent,” said Governor Murphy. “This website represents a crucial step in our commitment to transparency during the ongoing pandemic.”
“The COVID-19 transparency site will centralize information for the public on federal funding data and federally-funded contracts to ensure New Jerseyans that the State is properly stewarding coronavirus recovery funds,” said Daniel J. Kelly, Executive Director, Governor’s Disaster Recovery Office. “The site is emblematic of Governor Murphy’s commitment to transparency and oversight in order to guard against fraud, waste, and abuse in the expenditure of desperately-needed COVID-19 recovery funding.”
“The new COVID-19 Oversight website is designed to shine a bright light on how federal money is being spent on New Jersey’s recovery efforts, and to serve as a resource for New Jersey residents,” said Acting State Comptroller Kevin D. Walsh. “Publicly posting contracts that pertain to New Jersey’s recovery from COVID-19 means that our recovery from this crisis is proceeding with maximum transparency and accountability to taxpayers.”
“As a person within Information Technology, it’s always a moment of pride when a project with a specific delivery deadline and specific budget is delivered on time and on budget,” said Chris Rein, Chief Technology Officer for the State of New Jersey. “Leveraging existing assets and technologies, this application was substantially less expensive than prior data transparency projects. Working with Dan Kelly, Poonam Soans and Julie Veffer on this was a special effort.”
The GDRO, with the assistance of the New Jersey Office of Information Technology (NJOIT) and the Office of the State Comptroller, developed the transparency website within ninety days of the date of the Executive Order. The website tracks the State’s eligible and planned uses of any funds disbursed by the federal or State government to help New Jersey residents, businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and other entities respond to or recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. It will provide a list of the contracts involving the allocation and expenditure of recovery funds, in addition to providing information on the various disaster recovery resources available to residents, businesses, and government entities.
Click here to access New Jersey’s COVID-19 Transparency website.
Cycling to help find a Cure for Type 1 Diabetes
PARSIPPANY — Lake Hiawatha resident Brian Donlin continues to fund-raise to help to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Even though this year’s in-person events have been canceled due to the Coronavirus, thousands of cyclists across the nation have still shown their support of JDRF research with their 2020 “My Ride to Cure T1D” event, raising almost $5 million so far. Some are kids and adults with T1D, and some are the friends and family that support them. Brian has known many people in his life that live with T1D, but it really hit home when the diagnosis came to his nephew Zach.
But it all hasn’t been smooth roads for Brian, who in late June suffered a compression fracture in his back while doing yard work. He was forced to stop training since then while recovering in a brace but has since gotten the okay from his doctor and therapist to begin light training again. With the brace now in the closet, he is ready to get back in shape and continue his support of the JDRF.
With in-person events being canceled, so too was his $3,500 goal for the ride he was preparing for. Instead, Brian changed his goal to $2,020 in order to make something good come out of this year. He has met this goal and surpassed it, and continues to show his support for the JDRF. While his return to cycling will be mostly indoors for the rest of the year, keep your eyes open for him on the roads throughout Lake Hiawatha and Montville! You can show your support through his JDRF page by clicking here.
In light of the current COVID-19 health situation, the JDRF has published some great information for those with T1D and how you can keep yourself safe, and how to care for yourself in case you feel sick. While having T1D does not increase your chances of developing the disease, there are some things to stay on top of should you get it. These tips and a wealth of more information can be found by visiting their blog by clicking here.
Acme Markets Buys 27 Kings Food Market, Balducci’s Locations
PARSIPPANY — Malvern, Pa.-based Acme Markets, which is owned by Albertsons, announced plans this week to buy 27 Kings Food Market and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market stores.
The expected purchase price is $96.4 million, and the transaction should close later this fiscal year, pending the standard regulatory approvals, according to a news release.
Acme said Wednesday that it expects to finalize the transaction later this fiscal year, pending customary closing conditions and regulatory and court approvals. KB US Holdings, parent of Kings and Balducci’s, put the chains up for sale in August upon filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
At the time of its Chapter 11 filing, Parsippany-based KB Holdings — whose majority owner is GSSG Capital Corp. — said it had accepted a $75 million stalking-horse bid for the Kings and Balducci’s stores from New York investment firm TLI Bedrock. But in an October 14 bankruptcy court filing, the stalking-horse bid was designated as the backup bid.
Plans call for the upscale Kings and Balducci’s grocery stores to retain their banners and become part of Albertsons’ Mid-Atlantic division, which operates Acme and Safeway supermarkets on the East Coast.
Letter to the Editor: Reelect Mikie Sherrill
Dear Editor:
Freshman Congresswoman, Mikie Sherrill, in CD11, is one of the most hard-working representatives I’ve ever encountered and it’s been difficult recently to watch lies and misinformation being spread about her.
Sherrill’s predecessor held his seat without much opposition for two dozen years, barely engaging constituents. Our current representative stands in sharp contrast as a public servant. The Congresswoman has held 22 town halls in 22 months! Access to her and her staff is easy, and they work diligently to serve the district.
Upon arriving in DC, Mikie became Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on the Environment (on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee) and Vice-Chair and co-founder, of Servicewomen and Women Veterans Caucus.
Sherrill has shown the ability to work in a bipartisan fashion. Part of her training in the Navy, as she likes to say, never included “partisan missions”. They were just missions and that is how she performs in DC. She has:
- Introduced 12 bills, 9 of which were with a Republican lead
- Co-sponsored 345 pieces of legislation
- Held COVID telephone town halls to make sure she continued to remain accessible during the pandemic
- Successfully helped pass bills in the House to:
- Restore the SALT Cap
- Lower the cost of prescription drugs
- Bipartisan background checks legislation
- Fund the Gateway Tunnel Project
- And legislation that became law:
- Great American Outdoors Act
- Permanent 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund
- Provide healthcare for Blue Water Navy Veterans
- Accreditation for the Graduate School at Picatinny Arsenal
- Reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program
- Reauthorized and extended autism research and services
These are astounding achievements for anyone but remember, she is a freshman Congresswoman in a particularly contentious political climate. That takes skill and building bridges, not chasms.
Please re-elect our committed, fair, and honorable Congresswoman.
Laura Fortgang
Verona Resident,
Former Candidate for NJ State Assembly LD26
Board of Adjustment to Hold Meeting
PARSIPPANY — Meeting of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Adjustment will be held on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Click here to download the agenda.
Board of Adjustment members are:
Parsippany Community Update October 15, 2020
PARSIPPANY — “COVID Alert NJ,” New Jersey’s COVID-19 app has launched.
This voluntary opt-in contact tracing platform allows users to safely, securely, and anonymously detect and track potential exposure to coronavirus, and take the appropriate next steps.
More information can be found by clicking here. New technology is giving public health officials innovative and effective ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
While data and privacy concerns are understandable, giving this completely voluntary app a try will aid health officials in keeping New Jersey safe.
Parsippany Community Update October 14, 2020
PARSIPPANY — This is the third week in a row that we’ve seen a weekly case increase in the double digits. It’s clear at this point that we’re experiencing an increase in new case rates here in New Jersey.
Keep up with the day-to-day numbers on the Morris County coronavirus tracker by clicking here.
Township Information Regarding the General Election on November 3
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Clerk Khaled Madin released the following information for voters of Parsippany-Troy Hills:
The General Election for 2020 will be November 3, 2020. In the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, there will be two polling locations:
(1) Brooklawn Middle School, located at 250 Beachwood Road, Parsippany, and
(2) Central Middle School, located at 1620 Route 46 West, Parsippany.
Polling locations will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Please be advised that the above polling locations are reserved and limited to individuals with disabilities which render them unable to complete a mail-in ballot or a provisional ballot without assistance. Therefore, polling locations are not available for the general public without such disabilities; however, as a courtesy, all persons may vote provisionally or drop off their vote by mail ballots at the above-mentioned polling locations.
In addition, a Ballot Drop Box is provided by the County of Morris for voters to submit their mail-in ballots which is located in the front of the Township Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Building at 1001 Parsippany Boulevard.
This box is available to all Morris County voters and ballots must be received until 8:00 p.m. on November 3, 2020.
The Ballot Drop Box is under 24-hour surveillance and the Vote by Mail Ballots are picked up on a daily basis and brought to the Board of Elections. All security measures will be followed when collecting and transporting the Vote by Mail Ballots.
Planning Board to Hold Meeting
PARSIPPANY — Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board will hold a meeting on Monday, October 19 starting at 7:30 p.m.
Click here to download the agenda.
The members are:
- John Von Achen, Chairman
- Tom Dinsmore, Vice-Chairman
- Councilman Michael dePierro
- Bruce Frigeri
- Jennifer Vealey
- Vincent Aperawic
- Judy Hernandez
- Steve Mandel
- Dominic Mele
- Jayesh Kumar Patel
- Judy Hernandez
- Scott Carlson, Carlson Siedsma, Board Attorney
- Andrew Cangiano, Keller and Kirkpatrick, Board Engineer
- Susan Favate, BFJ Planning, Board Planner
- Nora O. Jolie, Board Secretary
PHHS Key Club Collects Food for Parsippany Food Pantry
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Hills High School hosted a food collection. The food will be donated to the Parsippany Food Pantry. The Food Drive was coordinated by Key Club Advisor Ms. Bushong.
The food collection was conducted on Thursday, October 15 on the PHHS patio from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Go Vikings!
Key Club is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization that teaches leadership through service to others. Members of the Kiwanis International family, Key Club members build themselves as they build their schools and communities.
The Parsippany High School Key Club hosts Halloween at the High for children in the community, reads to Parsippany elementary school students in the SKIP program, assists at a local daycare center, and much more.
Parsippany High School Key Club is sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany.
Murphy Signs Executive Order Extending Utility Shut Off Moratorium
MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 190, extending a moratorium preventing New Jersey residents from having their utilities disconnected through at least March 15, 2021. The moratorium applies to all residential gas, electric, and water utilities, both public and private. Further, the utilities will not be charging late fees nor fees to reconnect services that have been disconnected. The Order also requires that all residential services that were disconnected after social distancing measures went into effect on March 16 be reconnected. The Governor and legislative leadership further announced that $15 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund will be allocated to assisting low-income households in paying off utility arrearages.
“New Jerseyans are hurting and many of our fellow state residents, who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic need help,” said Governor Murphy. “Extending the utility moratorium is the right thing to do as so many in our state struggle to pay their bills during one of the most devastating economic crises in the history of our country. As we enter the winter months it becomes even more imperative that we work with our state’s utilities keep the lights on and families warm.”
“Thank you to the Governor and to the utilities for taking an important step today to protect New Jersey residents who are facing dire financial circumstances and are unable to pay their utility bills,” said Board of Public Utilities President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Now, nobody will fear losing service during the winter months. Please know as well that assistance and deferred payment programs are available to prevent bills from piling up over time. Help is here for those who need it.”
In addition to extending the Internet disconnection moratorium to November 15, cable and telecommunications providers are prohibited from disconnecting Internet service in households that have one or more school-age children that may be using such service for educational purposes. Also, if a household experiences a change of circumstances where school-age children will be using their home Internet service for school, the cable and telecommunications company will be required to reconnect that Internet service.
After November 15, cable and telecommunications providers are required to enroll customers with an already existing account in an interest-free payment plan of at least 12 equal monthly installments, including the balance already due, prior to disconnecting the customer’s service.
Although the moratorium is being extended, utility customers are still encouraged to set up payment plans with their utilities so they can begin paying their bills, if they are able, over a period of time. Utility customers are also urged to apply for the assistance programs that are available at both the Board of Public Utilities and the Department of Community Affairs and from their utilities.
Additionally, the Governor partnered with legislative leadership to set aside $15 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund so that the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) can reduce utility arrearages. DCA will use a portion of the funds to address arrearages among low-income households who are current Universal Service Fund (USF) participants. USF serves low-income families (Income below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level) who need assistance with electric and natural gas bills.
“Protecting the most vulnerable households in our state during this pandemic is a priority,” continued Governor Murphy. “I am proud to announce that in partnering with Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin, as well as legislative leadership, we have allocated $15 million in CRF funding to reduce utility arrearages for low-income households in New Jersey.”
“We insisted that this funding be included in the budget because we won’t allow for utility shut-offs that would deny New Jersey residents vital electric, heat, and water services,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney. “A sudden loss of power and utilities would create disruptive and even dangerous conditions for families, individuals, and small businesses who are enduring more than enough financial hardship caused by the pandemic. The economic consequences of the Covid crisis are having a severe impact on their ability to afford utility bills. The extended moratorium is especially important for families with children who need power supplies to participate in remote learning at home. Utilities are a necessity that should not be lost to those in need.”
“Throughout the budget process, one of our major priorities was to provide money to help families who have been hit hard by the pandemic and fallen behind on their utility payments,” said Senate President Pro Tempore M. Teresa Ruiz. “We were able to include $15 million to reduce what is owed and help individuals around the state become current on their gas, electric, and water bills. By extending the shut-off moratorium and funding forgiveness programs we can offer a comprehensive approach to ensure residents are not left in the dark, as they work towards greater financial stability.”
“As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, too many of our neighbors are struggling with the negative financial impact caused by the coronavirus,” said Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. “Helping those in need pay their utility bills doesn’t just keep the lights on, it will mean many residents will not have to choose between paying their gas and electric bills or putting a nutritious meal on the table. I thank the Governor and Senate President for their partnership in this initiative.”
For a copy of Executive Order No. 190, please click here.
Robert J. Carroll Sworn In as Acting Morris County Prosecutor
MORRIS COUNTY — In a ceremony at the Morris County Administration Building on Wednesday, October 14, former New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice James R. Zazzali administered the oath of office to Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.
Also sworn in were Special Deputy Attorney General / Acting First Assistant Prosecutor Thomas A. Zelante and Special State Investigator/Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker. Both
First Assistant Prosecutor Zelante and Chief Kimker held their positions prior to the appointment of the Acting Prosecutor.
Acting Prosecutor Carroll said, “I am deeply honored by this appointment. I sincerely appreciate the trust and faith of Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal in enabling me to lead the MCPO, which has always enjoyed a reputation for professionalism and fairness. I look forward to working with our dedicated State, County, and local law enforcement agencies, and with the input and support of our communities, I pledge to work together to resolve any divisive societal challenges that have been confronting all levels of government.”
