Vrajdham Temple Holds Its 3rd Annual Parsippany Rath Yatra

Keshav Khandelwal
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Vrajdham Temple Holds Its 3rd Annual Parsippany Rath Yatra

PARSIPPANY — Rath Yatra, or the festival of chariots, was held on Saturday, May 13.

The festival was put together with the partnership of Vrajdham Temple and ISKCON of Parsippany to create an event that would live in the memories of all who witnessed it.

Rath Yatra is a journey where Lord Jagannath and His siblings, a form of the popular Hindu deity Krishna, sit in a chariot and travel from one temple to another. The Rath Yatra had first been celebrated in Puri, a town in India that has been a beautiful tradition carried on for hundreds of years, and now a town in America blessed with an amazing community and the opportunity to do so.

Mayor James R. Barberio welcomed the chariot with Hindu traditions.

Attendances were Mayor James R. Barberio and other community leaders. It was a beautiful and colorful event, with people from all over New Jersey and the tri-state area coming together to view the Deity and pull His chariot. Vraj and ISKCON devotees pulled the chariot to the sound of kirtan, the recitation of the holy name of Krishna, and booming cheers from the devotees as they paraded Lord Krishna through His town.

The festival culminated in a cultural program at ISKCON’s new Parsippany temple! Have a glimpse of the festival through photos in the article!

All of Parsippany is welcome as Krishna and His Rath (chariot) arrive once more next year for everyone to see and enjoy! 

Vrajdham Temple is located at 120 Littleton Road.

Founder Guru of Vrajdham is seated on the chariot.
Lord Jagannath in the chariot

Justin Meeh Plans for The Next Chapter

Frank L. Cahill
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Justin Meeh Plans for The Next Chapter

PARSIPPANY — Over 1,200 students received degrees from East Stroudsburg University during three commencement exercises on May 5 and May 6. Many will begin the next step in their life’s journey by attending graduate or professional school or starting a new career.

Meet just a few students, including Justin Meeh of Parsippany, who take their Warrior Spirit with them as they embark on their next chapter.

Justin Meeh is preparing for the next chapter of their life with exciting plans and aspirations.

Meeh, a computer security major, received a job offer from Picatinny Arsenal for government cyber security.

Victor Cruz, a graduate student in exercise science from Westfield, was hired by the Tampa Bay Rays, the major league baseball team, as a strength and conditioning coach.

Alexa Ferris, a graduate student studying athletic training from Suffern, N.Y., smoothly transitioned from ESU’s undergraduate to graduate program. Before graduating this May, she passed the Board of Certification exam on her first attempt and was hired as an athletic trainer at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, N.Y.

Three biology graduates with a pre-physician assistant concentration were accepted to graduate programs in physician assistant studies. Ingrid Hahn, from Mount Bethel, Pa., will attend St. Catherine University in Minnesota, and Megan Nyce, from Catasauqua, Pa., and Zowey Danubio, from Mount Bethel, Pa., will attend Marywood University in Pennsylvania.

Four hospitality, recreation, and tourism management students will begin their careers with Marriott Voyage Global Leadership Development Program. Paige Amrein, of Newtown, Pa., was hired as a front desk voyager at Westin Newport in Jersey City; Michael Cuozzo, of Fairfield, N.J., was hired as a rooms control voyager at the Marriott Marquis in New York City; Tyler Rhodes, of Laurel, Md., was hired as a food and beverage voyager at Fairfield Marriott at the Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Md. Keisha Hopkins, of Philadelphia, Pa., was hired as an event planning voyager in a corporate office of Marriot International in Seattle, Washington.

Three students who majored in social work were accepted as advanced, standing in Master of Social Work programs. Araceli Dunn, from East Stroudsburg, Pa., will attend Kutztown University; Ebony Galbreath, from Long Pond, Pa., will attend PennWest University; and Annalee Smith, from Hackettstown, N.J., will attend Rutgers University.

Jasmine Aue, a middle-level education major from Jim Thorpe, Pa., was hired full-time by the East Stroudsburg School District.

Jenna Johnson, a biology major from Brookhaven, Pa., will continue her education at ESU in the master’s of biology program.

Peter Kaires, an environmental studies major from Dingmans Ferry, Pa., accepted employment at Environmental Consultation Services (ECSi) in N.J.

Annelise Knauf, a history major from Stroudsburg, Pa., was accepted as an intern in the history department at the Smithsonian Institution.

Savannah Kohler, a psychology major from West Grove, Pa., was accepted into the master’s program in applied behavior analysis at Pepperdine University.

Johnathan Makar, a mathematics major from Oxford, Pa., was accepted to graduate school at West Chester University to study applied math.

Aaron Palm, a physics major from East Stroudsburg, Pa., was accepted to graduate school at Wilkes University to study mechanical engineering.

Arianna Weaver, a mathematics major with a concentration in secondary education from Effort, Pa., will be teaching at Pleasant Valley Middle School this fall.

For a full list of ESU’s 2023 graduates, click here.

East Stroudsburg University, a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education member, opened in 1893 as East Stroudsburg Normal School. Today, ESU is a comprehensive university in northeastern Pennsylvania offering 58 undergraduate programs, 21 master’s programs, and two doctoral programs. Over 5,000 students are enrolled for the high-quality, affordable, and accessible education ESU provides. Nearly 31,000 ESU alumni live in Pennsylvania.

Council Vice President Michael dePierro Speaks Out Regarding Musella Proposed Budget Cuts

Focus contributor
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Council Vice President Michael dePierro Speaks Out Regarding Musella Proposed Budget Cuts

PARSIPPANY — Longtime Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Vice President, Michael dePierro, submitted a statement regarding Councilman Justin Musella’s proposal to reduce certain items from the 2023 Municipal Budget.

“In his desire to cut $2 million from the Township Budget, Councilman Musella
seemed to be more interested in negotiating with the public rather than with
the administration. While other Council members were successfully reducing
the Mayors proposed budget from over 5% to 3.76% (overall Tax Rate of 2.57%)
by working with our Auditor Valerie Dolan; our CFO Leonard Ho; our Business
Administrator Jamie Cryan and, Mayor Barberio, Councilman Musella was using
public meetings as a show-and-tell.

Councilman Musella showed little understanding or concern for the devastating
results of his proposed cuts, even though they were explained many times.
Some of his proposed cuts would have affected the Township’s Bond Rating
resulting in higher interest rates on all future Capital Expenditures.
His proposal to cut the Township Bus would have left many Senior Citizens
stranded.

His proposal to cut all vacancies would have left all Departments seriously and
permanently short-handed. Most of those vacancies resulted from the
prior Mayor’s four-year hiring freeze. Councilman Musella’s claim that those
positions were unnecessary is wrong.

His concern about the employee’s 2% salary increase ignored the fact that current
cost of living is far higher than that.

Our responsibility as Mayor and Council is to find a balance between Quality of
life, Services, Safety, and Taxes. To only concentrate on taxes is short-sighted
and irresponsible.

Par-Troy Little League East Opening Day

Frank L. Cahill
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Par-Troy Little League East Opening Day

PARSIPPANY — The Par-Troy Little League East celebrated its opening day, with President Chris Mazzarella introducing all the teams. Mazzarella expressed his excitement about the newly installed scoreboard on DeLio Field, which was made possible through a generous donation from “Parsippany Supporting Our Town.”

Par-Troy Little League East is a place where kids and families can go to have fun, watch, and play baseball or softball while building relationships that will last a lifetime. It’s not just about playing ball, and it’s about teamwork and making friends along the way.

Volunteers maintain and operate the complex, home to five fantastic fields. Our top-rated and highly praised concession stand is the perfect place to grab lunch or dinner before, during, and after your games. The Stand is so good that we won’t be surprised to see you there even when you don’t have a game and want to hang out. 

 

Kiwanis Club Installs New Members

Frank L. Cahill
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Kiwanis Club Installs New Members

PARSIPPANY — New members joining community organizations like the Kiwanis Club is always nice. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany does great work in the community, so I’m sure Cassara Grasso and Shaun Astorga will make valuable contributions as new members. And it’s always wonderful to see existing members like Justin Musella sponsoring new members and helping to grow the organization.

Lt. Governor Frank Cahill 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 community than to welcome a new member? Today we’re very pleased to welcome Cassara and Shaun to our club. We welcome Cassara and Shaun to our global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child, and one community at a time.

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

Parsippany Budget with 2.57% Tax Hike Passes; Musella Lone No Vote

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Budget with 2.57% Tax Hike Passes; Musella Lone No Vote

PARSIPPANY — On Tuesday, May 18, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council passed the 2023 Budget with a 4-1 Vote; Musella was the lone dissenter.

Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr.

“The overall increase is 2.57%, and the municipal tax rate increase is 3.76%. That’s a $100.00 annual municipal impact on the average home or $8.33 monthly. We are putting forward a responsible balance budget that provides the services our community deserves,” said Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr.

Mayor James Barberio said, “The budget process started last year with individual meetings with the department heads. We have answered questions from public members and, on multiple occasions, met with less informed council members to help them understand the process. We have taken every suggestion seriously and reviewed each with the finance team auditors and department heads. We considered all possible suggestions and clarified why it was not possible. The important part to remember is that this budget is built on a strong financial foundation that proves we meet our responsibilities to serve our residents today while preparing for the future.”

“This budget does not kick the can down the road as some have done in the past like some would want us to do. Most importantly, this budget does not play politics with people’s lives. Along with the council president of Loretta Gragnani, we met with Councilman Justin Musella on two occasions. We did our best to help him understand how we see the budget. After consulting with our BA (Jamie Cryan) and our CFO (Len Ho), auditors, and pertinent department heads, it was clear that the proposed cuts were unrealistic and would harm our town. Although Justin and I disagree, I respect his opinion on the budget. I aim to ensure we provide a fiscally responsible budget for today and for years to come,” he said.

Councilman Frank Neglia responded, “When the Finance Committee met in March, the budget increase was 5.1%.  We found this to be unacceptable.  Through hard work from the Administration and Mayor, it was reduced to 2.57%.  That is significant.  Any further cuts would impede services and hurt the town significantly.  It is a sound budget.

Mike Polsinelli, Business Agent at IBEW Local 102

Mike Polsinelli, Business Agent at IBEW Local 102, stated, “I’ve been working in Parsippany for close to 45 years. I’ve dealt with every mayor and council person in 45 years. I think the budget is solid. Our office is right here in Parsippany. I work on this stuff. I’m not a CFO, and I’m not a financial guy. Our company is worth over a billion dollars. So I do know a little bit about funds. Nobody wants anything to be raised. Understood. But if you want your town to operate, which everybody here wants it to operate, they cut things. Everybody was issued the budget. Everybody had a chance to review the budget. When Justin says he wants to know where the tax cuts are, I guess he didn’t read the budget. He doesn’t even pay taxes in this town. Most of us are homeowners. He doesn’t pay taxes in this town. He rents an apartment. So he wants to get behind this big paper bag curtain and be a hero to say, I’m gonna save the town a million dollars. The people behind him better wake up because he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

Musella fired back at Polsinelli, “Renters do pay taxes. It’s included in the leases. And I think you know that as a smart business person. When you pay a lease, it includes the taxes that are on the property. Thank you for bringing that up. Secondly, we’re talking about alternatives, and that’s what we’re here to do. My sole job is to develop solutions and policies that will improve the overall quality of life in town. Putting new eyes onto this budget reveals that we can make edits related to the vacant positions. And it’s not my goal to tax you, your business, and everybody else in here a dollar more than they need to be taxed. And when we allocate money for people who aren’t showing up to work, how could services be impacted?”

Parsippany resident Hank Heller

Resident Hank Heller said, “I’m really upset that we have people who come in here, and they may do business here, but I think that it’s important that we all express ourselves with respect toward each other. And I think the process we have gone through here in Parsippany over these past few months has been outstanding. I was very, very strongly and still am against the PLAs. You know that because I spoke to you about it. I let you know what I feel. You voted to do something else, and I respect that, and I walked away from the problem. But I’m very offended that people are coming here tonight. And point out that Mr. Musella or Mr. Carifi have not done the right thing when I think what has been done here is the most right thing I’ve seen in many years. Instead, I see many people here that I’ve seen, some of whom I’ve seen in the past, at other meetings at the Parsippany Hills High School. I was very resentful when we had many people from the unions who didn’t live in town to come and put pressure on what was happening. I know that many people did not come. Many people would not speak because they are intimidated. I am not intimidated and don’t want our government to be intimidated. And I wanted everybody to know that what we’ve done here has been right. Yes, Mr. Musella has asked hard questions, and you’ve given him hard answers. And I think that’s to be respected. But I don’t think we should be pushed around by anyone. Or anybody who comes along with busloads of people.”

Councilman Justin Musella said, “Based on my experience on Council, it is beyond obvious that these union members are nothing more than weapons in the Mayor’s political game to intimidate residents and suppress public comment at public meetings and hearings. I have noticed that union members suddenly appear to support the Mayor on an issue if he faces strong opposition from the community. This was blatantly evident during the PLA mandate ordinance and last night’s Town Council meeting on the budget and tax hike. I call on my colleagues to advocate for our residents and join me in a call to end this unacceptable manipulation that has no place in our community.”

Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Vice President Michael dePierro

Councilman Michael dePierro said, “We need to provide the increase for employees at 2%. It’s way below the cost of living. To meet all of our requirements, there’s a compromise. We did compromise on this budget. We did cut it from 5%. It’s the best budget we could come up with at this point in time. Everything else has gone up. Benefits have gone up. Gas has gone up. The price of materials has gone up. And for us to have just a two-and-a-half percent increase to the homeowners is as prudent as we could be at this point in time.”

Councilman Paul Carifi said, “I want to start off with Mr. Musella. I have all the respect in the world for him. You know, there’s gonna be things we disagree on. I made cuts. He wants further cuts. I’m listening to the professionals: The auditor, CFO, and BA, and they say we cannot go any lower. Or we’re going to have to eliminate services. The residents in our town count on it. Some of the cuts you had thrown out were $200,000 for Parks and Forestry. Another thing that you brought up was to cut $20,000 from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). I spent over 25 years in law enforcement. The OEM deals with emergencies and public safety in the town. You can’t cut $20,000 from that when we have an emergency. You won’t have resources for these people to handle this. God forbid something happens here.”

“You wanted to cut $100,000 from legal. We have four contracts coming up. So there will be extra-legal things, and we also have other potential litigation pending for which we may need money.  You brought up cutting $90,000 from the Summer Concerts and the Farmer’s Market. I’ve always done my research and talked to residents, and our residents want the services. We’ve invested $30,000 in this budget for Economic Development, which is important—a $30,000 investment. We bring in businesses and work with the existing businesses. If Economic Development can bring more businesses into our town, that’s more revenue. These are wise investments.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Justin Musella

We wouldn’t be able to provide the services that we do that our residents enjoy. I’m sure for $8.33 cents per month. You want to keep your parks open on the weekend. You want to maintain your garbage pickup twice a week. You want to have the public safety in this town. We went down to 81 deployable police officers, down 20 plus officers. We can’t have that. We had residents coming up telling us four or five months ago. I’ll pay more. I want the police. Burglaries are up; car thefts are up. We, we can’t do it. I’m relying on our experts,” Carifi said.

Councilman Justin Musella stated before voting no on the budget, “The Mayor and I ran our campaign on a promise to end the practice of overburdening taxpayers with large tax increases. It was unacceptable for the previous administration to raise taxes at these levels with no thought on the impact it would have. It is also unacceptable for this administration to do the same. I presented a specific plan to make the budget more acceptable and bring back fiscal responsibility to our township, but this fell on deaf ears. I worked hard to find a compromise with the Mayor, and I was disappointed no aspects of my proposal were entertained. I voted no on last year’s budget as it was out of touch and unreasonable, and I’ll vote no on this budget for the exact same reason. Taxpayers need to see budgetary restraint and leadership, now more than ever. I hope my colleagues on the council join me in voting no on this budget and supporting my call for serious consideration of further cuts.”

Following the 4-1 adoption of the budget, Mayor James Barberio is seen leaning over to speak with Councilman Justin Musella.

Local Athletes Shine at NJAC Championships

Frank L. Cahill
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Local Athletes Shine at NJAC Championships

PARSIPPANY — Congratulations to Anya Sadowski for placing 2nd and Leann Lombardi for placing 5th in the 100m high hurdles at the NJAC championships! Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we are proud to have such talented athletes representing our community.

Video: Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting – May 16, 2023

Frank L. Cahill
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Video: Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting – May 16, 2023

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council held a general meeting on Tuesday, May 16, at 7:00 p.m.

Among the many topics to be discussed was the adoption of the 2023 Township Budget.

Click here to download the agenda.

Regular Township Council Meetings will commence at 7:00 p.m. All meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings. Council meetings are held at Parsippany Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard. Formal action may or may not be taken at all scheduled meetings.

Any individual who is a qualified disabled person under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request auxiliary aids such as a sign interpreter or a tape recorder to be used for a meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours before the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to request auxiliary aid.

Click here to download the 2023 agenda schedule.

Mayor and Council

Mayor James R Barberio
Council President Loretta Gragnani
Council Vice-President Michael J. dePierro
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr.
Councilman Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella

Inspection Survey of the Whippany River Corridor

Frank L. Cahill
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Inspection Survey of the Whippany River Corridor

MORRIS COUNTY — The first step in launching the Whippany-Passaic Rivers’ Flood Mitigation project will occur on Thursday afternoon, May 18.

A low-flying helicopter will investigate approximately a 12-mile Whippany and Passaic Rivers corridor and its tributaries. The purpose is to identify areas in need of clearing and de-snagging. Data will be collected from a manned helicopter approximately 600 feet above ground level, traveling at 35 knots ground speed. The helicopter will utilize a high-tech camera to gather imagery. The survey will include tributaries such as the Smith Ditch, Black Brook, and Pinch Brook streams.

Once the aerial inspection survey is completed, Colliers Engineering & Design, the Task Forces’ designated engineering firm, will prepare a topographic base map of the approximately 500’ wide river corridor. The base map will represent existing site features observed during the field survey to identify drainage issues and blockages. It will also include other site features such as buildings, roadways, driveways, retaining walls, and individual trees in open areas.

 Following completion of the base mapping, Colliers Engineering & Design will identify the locations needed de-snagging and pinpoint site access to those areas, considering the need to minimize disturbance and environmental impact in each area. The partnering municipalities, Hanover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Parsippany, Morris Plains, and Morristown, will secure permission in their respective towns to use the site access points for the clearing and de-snagging work. 

Letter to the Editor: Expressing Shock Over Mayor’s Use of Out-of-Town Union Members at Budget Hearing

Letters to the Editor
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parsippany focusDear Editor:

I am writing this letter with a profound sense of shock and disgust regarding yesterday’s Council meeting involving our mayor’s decision again to bring out-of-town union members to a crucial budget hearing. I witnessed a strong amount of support during these hearings for Councilman Musella’s budget cuts and noticed so few residents buying the arbitrary claim made by the Mayor and the other Councilmembers that “nothing could be cut.” It’s important to say this because I have noticed a pattern whereby if residents support Councilman Musella on an issue, out-of-town union members show up to start repeating the Mayor’s talking points. I remember this during the Waterview episode. It was well-documented during the PLA meetings and now during a meeting about our budget that has no relevance to unions.

Of course, the Mayor will say he can’t control the unions, but the unions routinely show up whenever his back has been up against the wall. Yesterday, I got out of my car and saw almost 75 union members in our Town’s parking lot again, creating an atmosphere that felt very intimidating. I am sure these union members were following orders, and I wish them no ill, but it doesn’t make sense to me why they would come to support the Mayor’s tax increase that doesn’t affect them.

This action raises serious questions about the mayor’s priorities and motives. Why did the Mayor need to rely on outsiders rather than engaging with local residents? Is there a hidden agenda or a disregard for the opinions and expertise of our own community members?

I’d like to again thank Councilman Musella for being the lone voice last night, acting in the best interests of the Town.
Ray Gallup
41-year resident residing in Lake Hiawatha
Vietnam-era Veteran

Kimberly Leandry Named to SNHU Dean’s List

Frank L. Cahill
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Kimberly Leandry Named to SNHU Dean’s List

PARSIPPANY — Kimberly Leandry of Lake Hiawatha has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Winter 2023 Dean’s List. The winter terms run from January to May.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with a 90-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 170,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH. Recognized as one of the “Most Innovative” regional universities by U.S. News & World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high-quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each learner. For more information, click here.

Parsippany Council Set to Adopt Budget

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Council Set to Adopt Budget

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council will hold a general meeting on Tuesday, May 16, at 7:00 p.m.

Among the many topics to be discussed will be the adoption of the 2023 Township Budget.

Click here to download the agenda.

Regular Township Council Meetings will commence at 7:00 p.m. All meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings. Council meetings are held at Parsippany Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard. Formal action may or may not be taken at all scheduled meetings.

Any individual who is a qualified disabled person under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request auxiliary aids such as a sign interpreter or a tape recorder to be used for a meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours before the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to request auxiliary aid.

Click here to download the 2023 agenda schedule.

Mayor and Council

Mayor James R Barberio
Council President Loretta Gragnani
Council Vice-President Michael J. dePierro
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr.
Councilman Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella

Parsippany Tax Sale Public Notice

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Tax Sale Public Notice

PARSIPPANY — Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills will sell at public auction several parcels of land, hereinafter described in fee simple, for nonpayment of 2022 and prior taxes as shown on the unpaid list, to such person or persons as will purchase the parcel subject to redemption at the lowest rate of interest, but in no case over eighteen (18) percent per annum.

Click here for the list and location of the lands subject to sale, the owner’s names as contained in such list, and the total amount due on the respective parcels as computed as of June 08, 2023. The names shown are as they appear in the Tax Duplicate and do not necessarily mean that parties are the present owners of the property. 

Industrial Properties may be subject to the Spill Compensation and Control Act (N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11 et seq.), the Water Pollution Control Act (N.J.S.A. 58:10A-1 et seq.), and the Industrial Site Recovery Act (N.J.S.A. 13:1K-6 et seq.)  In addition, the municipality is precluded from issuing a tax sale certificate to any prospective purchaser who is or may be connected to the site’s prior owner or operator.

Payment must be made by cash, certified check, or money order on the amount due as advertised, together with interest and costs incurred up to the time of payment.

The Collector’s Telephone Number:   (973) 263-4252
The Collector’s Office Hours:  8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Monday to Friday

Meet the Merchant: Cerbo’s Greenhouse

Frank L. Cahill
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Meet the Merchant: Cerbo’s Greenhouse

PARSIPPANY — Cerbo’s Greenhouse, the oldest business in Parsippany, is celebrating its 110th year in operation. Even before Parsippany was incorporated as a township on May 9, 1928, the greenhouse operated as its property was originally part of Hanover Township.

Watch our video to learn about the history of Cerbo’s Greenhouse.

Dollar Tree in Troy Hills Closed

Frank L. Cahill
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Dollar Tree in Troy Hills Closed

PARSIPPANY — We had all anticipated that the Dollar Tree, 1099 Route 46, in the Troy-Hills Shopping Center would not survive for long, especially after opening a newer, well-stocked store less than a mile away in the Troy Village Shopping Center.

During a recent visit to the store, a sign was posted indicating that the location has been permanently closed. The sign also thanked customers for patronage and encouraged them to visit neighboring Dollar Tree locations.
Even the sign on the store’s facade appears to have been removed.

The other Dollar Tree location in Parsippany, which opened in April 2022 at 1440 Route 46, is significantly larger than its counterpart in the Troy Hills Shopping Center. The other location spans 11,242 square feet, over 60 percent bigger than the Troy Hills Shopping Center.

Republican Candidates Take to the Streets to Campaign and Engage with Voters

Frank L. Cahill
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Republican Candidates Take to the Streets to Campaign and Engage with Voters

PARSIPPANY — Recently, Republican candidates gathered at Morris County Republican Club to start canvassing the town to get their message out to voters.

Successful canvassing campaigns often involve well-organized and motivated volunteers and effective messaging and outreach strategies.

At the meeting, Parsippany-Troy Hills Council candidates included Matt McGrath, Adam Kandil, and Paul Carifi, Jr.,

As the primary election on June 6th approaches, you will likely notice increased political campaigning in Parsippany. This includes frequent candidate appearances, an uptick in political signage throughout the town, and a higher volume of campaign literature, such as mailers, distributed to residents via mail and door-to-door.

Tayfun Selen for Morris County Commissioner, Jay Webber for Assembly, Joe Pennachio for Senate, Brian Bergen for Assembly and Nick Grossi representing Ann Gross for Morris County Clerk

Political campaigning often involves various strategies, such as door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, social media outreach, and advertising, to persuade voters to support a particular candidate or party. Ultimately, the success of a political campaign depends on various factors, including the candidate’s platform, messaging, and the effectiveness of their campaign strategies.

It appears that several elected officials also attended the Saturday morning gathering. Assemblyman Brian Bergen, Jay Webber, Senator Joe Pennachio, and Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi. It is common for political figures to attend these types of gatherings to show support for their party and fellow candidates, as well as to engage with voters and discuss important issues in the community.

Senator Joe Pennachio will be challenged by Thomas Mastrangelo; Assemblyman Jay Webber and Brian Beregn are being challenged by Robert Peluso and BettyLou deCroce. Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi is not being challenged in the primary. Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen is being challenged by Paul DeGroot.

Gary Martin and Danny Desai are challenging Paul Carifi, Jr., Adam Kandil, and Matthew McGraft for Parsippany-Troy Hills Council.

There is always something to do at MCRC

 

Reform Congregation Opens New Sanctuary in Conservative Synagogue

Frank L. Cahill
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Reform Congregation Opens New Sanctuary in Conservative Synagogue
PARSIPPANY — Temple Beth Am, meeting on Zoom and in a temporary location for two years, has found a new permanent home. The congregation celebrated the opening of their new sanctuary, which is located within the premises of Adath Shalom in Morris Plains. Previously, Temple Beth Am was located on South Beverwyck Road.
 
Despite being forced to sell their building, the members of Temple Beth Am were determined to preserve their identity and voted to find a new home. With the Covid-19 pandemic preventing in-person gatherings, they continued to hold services and Torah study on Zoom while searching for a new space. Eventually, they signed a lease with Adath Shalom and began constructing a beautiful new sanctuary within the Adath Shalom building.
Temple Beth Am’s new home was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by 1st Vice President Pat Greenberg, Mayor James Barbeiro, and Rabbi Matthew Reimer.
 
On Friday, May 5 Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio cut the ribbon as the congregation escorted their Torahs into their new home. A  joyous family Shabbat service included the Temple Beth Am choir and special Oneg.
Members of the congregation carry the Torah.
 
The celebration continued on Saturday morning, May 6, with Torah Study led by Rabbi Matthew Reimer and a complimentary breakfast. Saturday evening offered an evening of fun, food, and entertainment. Dinner was served, and a comedy show followed with comedian Johnny Lampert (www.johnnylampert.com). The cost was $36.00 per person.
 
To enjoy a Temple Beth Am tour, don’t hesitate to contact the Temple office at office@tbaparsippany.org. They will gladly give you a tour of their new Sanctuary and Religious School classrooms. The celebratory weekend concluded with a free breakfast on Sunday morning as they completed another successful Religious School year. 
 
 
 
 

Morris Habitat for Humanity CEO Blair Schleicher Wilson Announces Retirement

Frank L. Cahill
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Morris Habitat for Humanity CEO Blair Schleicher Wilson Announces Retirement

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris Habitat for Humanity Chief Executive Officer Blair Schleicher Wilson has confirmed her retirement plans. Wilson has led the affordable housing organization since 2004 and will continue to serve as CEO until July 31.

“It has been my great honor and privilege to serve as the leader of Morris Habitat for nearly 20 years,” said Schleicher Wilson. “I am proud of the organization we are today and our impact, working with thousands of outstanding people, groups, and networks to advance the cause of safe, decent, and affordable housing for everyone.”

Schleicher Wilson is an accomplished leader who has helped transform lives by furthering Morris Habitat’s mission of providing affordable homeownership to those in desperate need. During her remarkable 19-year tenure, Schleicher Wilson has grown a once-small New Jersey nonprofit into one of the nation’s top Habitat for Humanity affiliates.

During her tenure, Schleicher Wilson has developed and implemented strategic business plans that have accomplished extraordinary program and revenue growth, increased staff size and tripled the number of homes built and families served. She is a sought-after thought leader for her accomplishments and advocacy efforts to serve more deserving, hardworking families with a hand up to homeownership. She has also built an increasingly diverse board that reflects the functional knowledge needed for effective leadership and governance oversight and counsel while deepening political relationships and community engagement.

Schleicher Wilson’s accomplishments leading the organization to unparalleled growth in program and revenue:

  • Achieved nonprofit affordable homeownership developer of choice by municipalities, building 166 homes in five counties and 30 municipalities, with an additional 25 set to close in 2023 and over 80 homes planned for completion over the next four years.
  • Developed a property pipeline of more than 200 homes.
  • Added Neighborhood Revitalization/Home Repair/Aging in Place Programs to assist lower-income homeowners with home preservation activities, assisting nearly 500 households.
  • Led successful acquisition of Greater Plainfield & Middlesex County Habitat for Humanity, creating a service area of 68 municipalities in three counties.
  • Established the organization’s ReStore retail operation and its virtual e-commerce store, supporting the organization with annual revenues of more than $3 million.
  • Grew philanthropic support, including an equity revolver fund and $20 million in governmental funding; established strong collaborative partnerships with non-profit housing organizations, municipalities, corporations, congregations, businesses, and organizations.
  • Rated in the top 4% of Habitat affiliates nationwide in its new home construction and in the top 10% in overall program delivery.
  • Successfully led program activities during COVID, serving 60 families with housing solutions and hundreds more through donations of N95 masks to first responders, furniture to local nonprofits serving the homeless, laptops to inner city school children, and launched an online food drive as well as assisting with food distribution activities.

With over 25 years of experience in the affordable housing sector, Schleicher Wilson has served on numerous boards, including Habitat for Humanity International’s U.S. Council, the Housing & Community.

Development Network, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at her alma mater, William Paterson University, and the Housing Alliance for Morris County.

Numerous organizations and businesses have recognized her work in the nonprofit housing sector, including NJBIZ Best Women in Business, the New Jersey Builder’s Association, SmartCEO Magazine, and the Legacy Award for Distinguished Alumni Excellence from William Paterson University.

Schleicher Wilson is also a former Mountain Lakes four-term town council member, having served as Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Morris Habitat Board Chair Richard Barrett said, “Blair’s leadership has led to a phenomenal increase in affordable houses built and home repairs. She has been an inspiration to everyone she has worked with.”

Liz DeCoursey, Chief Operating Officer, will serve as interim CEO while the Morris Habitat Board searches for Schleicher Wilson’s successor.

Nikita Sifonios Named to President’s List at Bob Jones University

Frank L. Cahill
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Nikita Sifonios Named to President’s List at Bob Jones University

PARSIPPANY — Nikita Sifonios, a Senior Health Sciences major from Haskell, was among over 650 Bob Jones University students named to the Spring 2023 President’s List.

The President’s List recognizes students who earn a 3.75 or higher grade point average for the semester.

Nikita, formerly of Lake Hiawatha, is the son of Michael and Joanna Sifonios. Michael is employed by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Located in Greenville, South Carolina, Bob Jones University provides an outstanding regionally accredited Christian liberal arts education designed to inspire a lifelong pursuit of learning, loving, and leading.

BJU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in religion, education, fine arts and communication, arts and science, health professions, and business.

BJU has over 3,000 students from nearly every state and more than 40 countries. We are committed to the truth of Scripture and to pursuing excellence in all we do.

Parsippany Education Foundation Golf Tournament

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Education Foundation Golf Tournament

PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Education Foundation will host its annual Tom Ladas Memorial Golf Classic on Tuesday, May 16, at the Knoll West Country Club.

Starting at 11:30 a.m., participants will be treated to lunch, a premium bag, locker room access, a full round of golf, carts, dinner, and an awards presentation.  

While on the course, golfers will participate in contests for longest drive, straightest drive, closest to the pin, a putting contest, and a hole-in-one luxury automobile prize sponsored by Trend Motors of Rockaway.

The golf format will be a four-person team scramble with awards for first, second, and third-place teams.  The entrance fee for the tournament is $200.00 per golfer, and sponsorship packages are available.  

Proceeds benefit the foundation’s mission of supporting new, unique learning opportunities and enhancing educational experiences for Parsippany Pro Hills school district students.  To register or become a sponsor, contact the PEF at PEF4KIDS@AOL.com.

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