PARSIPPANY — The Key Club hosted another successful “Halloween at the High” on Friday, October 28.
Joshua Marks and Alexander Thurkauf
Students from various clubs, including, Key Club, were dressed for Halloween and supervised the games, face painting, or just handed out candy to the children.
Witches, Dragons, Mirabel Dresses and Disney Encanto were among the costumes children of all ages walked the hallways and rooms of Parsippany High School. The classrooms and gym were packed with games for the children to play.
Salma Majid
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, and Key Club members build themselves as they build their schools and communities.
Felipe Schuck, Joseph Croat, Key Club Member Lucas Craig and Alex Leone
In addition to hosting 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.
The Parsippany High School Key Club is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany.
Connor Dombrowski, 10, Hope Dombrowski, 3, and Social Studies Special Education Teacher Lindsay HulinKey Club members Ananya Mukherjee and Stevani Grosso handing out candy to the children
MORRIS COUNTY — Healthy Living Movement classes and lectures help you discover how to live well and equip you with the tools needed to improve your life. All classes are free and are open to Y members and non-members as well. No registration is needed for the series; just drop in. Bring a friend and share in this informative series, which takes place on the following Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.:
Thursday, November 10: Total Mobility
Healthy Living Director Darlene Kievit leads you through movements that focus on taking your joints through their full range of motion. Dress in comfortable clothes.
Thursday, November 17: Nervous-System Regulation
Integrative Yoga Health Coach Ivette Desai hosts this program on learning how to manage stress and anxiety using nervous system regulation tools such as rhythmic breathing and meditation.
For more than 100 years Lakeland Hills Family YMCA Y has been the leading community organization serving thousands of people, with its focus on Healthy Living, Youth Development, and Social Responsibility. For more information on Lakeland Hills Family YMCA please visit their website by clicking here or email Kelly Horvath at kellyh@lhymca.com. No one serves the community as powerfully as the Y does every day.
Lakeland Hills Family YMCA is located at 100 Fanny Road, Mountain Lakes.
MORRIS COUNTY — As the weather begins to get colder, the Market Street Mission in Morristown is preparing for its 32nd annual Coat Giveaway event. On Saturday, November 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. they will be handing out free winter coats, hats, gloves, and scarves on the Morristown Green.
Men’s, women’s, and children’s coats will be available, and anyone in need of winter gear is free to join us.
As they lead up to the giveaway, they are collecting new and gently used winter coats, as well as hats, gloves, and scarves, from now through the end of October. Winter gear can be dropped off at our thrift store at 25 George Street, Morristown. Donation hours are Monday to Saturday (except Wednesdays) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Our Coat Giveaway is a great opportunity for community outreach, and are expected to serve hundreds of people on Saturday, November 5. They are grateful to everyone who donates and participates to make sure families have what they need to stay warm this winter!
For more information on our coat collection and giveaway event, please visit their website by clicking here.
The Market Street Mission and its Jersey Shore Rescue Mission location are an experienced organization with a proven method of helping to fight alcoholism, substance abuse, hunger, and homelessness in northern and central New Jersey. As a private non-profit we rely on the charitable support of compassionate donors to provide more than 110,000 meals and 30,000 nights of shelter per year. For more information on our emergency services, free addiction recovery program, community counseling services, and thrift stores please visit by clicking here.
PARSIPPANY — Nest Chiropractic donated bagels to the Parsippany Police Department in honor of National First Responders Day.
National First Responders Day on October 28 recognizes the heroic men and women who make it their business to take immediate action when disaster strikes.
Dr. Dan is originally from West Orange. He earned his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Life University in Marietta, Georgia. Prior to that, he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from The Catholic University of America. Dr. Dan is proficient in multiple chiropractic techniques including Diversified, cox flexion-distraction, activator Sacro-occipital technique, and Gonstead as well as being Webster certified. He comes from a family of chiropractors – his father, two aunts, an uncle, and a cousin are all currently in practice. When he is not helping others achieve their optimum health through chiropractic, he is an avid sports enthusiast and faithfully follows the Yankees and Giants.
Nest Chiropractic is located at 341 Smith Road, Parsippany. The Nest Chiropractic is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 1.
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 prior to the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to make a request for an auxiliary aid.
Mayor James R Barberio
Council President Michael J. dePierro
Council Vice-President Loretta Gragnani
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr.
Councilman Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella
PARSIPPANY — Immunization Clinic for Dogs and Cats will be held on Saturday, November 12, at the Office of Emergency building, at the Recycling Center, 1 Pumphouse Road.
Dogs and Cats
No charge for dogs and cats (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
Dogs must be restrained on a leash and accompanied by an adult
Cats must be restrained in carriers or similar carrying devices
Any questions please call the health department at (973) 263-7160.
I am supporting Andy Choffo, Jack Raia, and Yvonne Ferise for the Parsippany School Board. I am honestly disgusted by what the State Department of Education is doing with the health education curriculum. Under the title of health education, schools are required to teach:
. First-grade children (age 6), in explicit terms, the names and uses of male and female body parts.
. Second-grade children (age 7) gender identity means that boys can be girls and girls can be boys.
. Graphic illustrations of male and female body parts.
I support teaching our kids material that is controversial and thought-provoking. I just think that should be taught at the right age. I do not believe that kids as young as 6 and 7 years old can understand concepts like gender identity and gender fluidity. Their brains simply do not think in those terms.
From what I have seen and read, Alison Cogan, Kendra VonAchen, and Michelle Shappell are in support of the updated healthcare curriculum. They appear all too willing to acquiesce to the state mandates that are overreaching and sexualizing our kids.
The only candidates running for election to the Parsippany School Board that have spoken out against the sexualization of our children are Andy Choffo, Jack Raia, and Yvonne Ferise. I want someone who will fight for the fundamental right of parents and what the school district is teaching them. I know I will vote for Lines 1, 2, and 3 – Andy Choffo, Jack Raia, and Yvonne Ferise on November 8th.
Your School Board Election Vote for Candidates 4, 5, and 6 on the Ballot is Imperative
How important is it to vote in the November School Board Election? How important are students’ educational freedoms?
Elected School boards hold profound power over the direction of our schools and their students; what they don’t have the right to do is use that power to impose their personal beliefs on students and their families.
Yet this year it appears that is exactly what the School Board leadership, with support from political committees, is attempting to accomplish. Stifle dissent and unify the full Board around specific political ideologies.
Limiting students’ capacity to understand and meet the challenges of a diverse world through exposure to specific political ideologies is especially harmful and inconsistent with Parsippany’s community of different cultures, races, and faiths. Students represent their parents’ family’s history and a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and beliefs.
To govern cultural diversity requires a diversity of thought and differing opinions, so it’s critical that the School Board reflect diversity in their governance.
If you believe in your child’s educational freedom instead of education dictated by political ideology; In letting teachers teach without bureaucracy, politics, culture wars, and personal political agendas, it is imperative on November 8th to vote for Cogan, Von Achen, and Shappell.
MORRIS COUNTY — Help would be a phone call away for state residents who struggle to complete New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission transactions online under legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco and endorsed by the Senate Transportation Committee.
“In an effort to re-establish credibility with New Jersey drivers, MVC has transitioned many of its services to the internet,” said Bucco (R-25). “Unfortunately, many residents have found the process confusing and annoying.
Senator Anthony Bucco
“By requiring the commission to provide a call center where live representatives are standing by to help, this bill will alleviate much of the public’s frustrations,” the Senator added. “The hotline will ensure a higher level of customer service.”
The bipartisan bill, A-3663/S-1633 would require MVC’s call center to be available to the public on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at a minimum.
In addition, Bucco’s bill would require MVC to collect and publish online its quarterly performance reports, including information on the number of calls and wait times.
“MVC was roundly criticized for poor performance during the pandemic. Drivers felt abandoned and disrespected as long lines wrapped around facilities and agencies frequently closed for extensive sanitization and cleaning,” Bucco said. “With the creation of a responsive, effective phone center, this bill will help restore some of the public’s trust.”
Since introducing an online system for customers to make appointments for in-person services at motor vehicle agencies two years ago, MVC has expanded the site, adding options for getting licenses, registrations, and titles; and commercial driver’s license renewals. The commission now boasts that 80 percent of its motor vehicle services are available through its website.
I am writing this letter to support the only candidates – Andy Choffo, Jack Raia, and Yvonne Ferise – who are listening to the public and fighting for policies that will benefit the children of Parsippany – and to address the misinformation spewed forth by the Cogan, Von Achen, and Shappell campaign.
Censorship: Andy Choffo has for the past two years asked the district administration to enhance literary choices for children in high school and middle school. He has never advocated banning books. He has repeatedly asked that there be more diversity of the authors of the district administration imposed limited selection of books that our children can choose from. Never asking that these books be banned, he has asked for a counterpoint to books like The New Jim Crow, White Fragility, Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II, and Things That Make White People Uncomfortable. Mr. Choffo and his running mates are only asking that our children have the widest variety of books available so that they can form holistic opinions. Cogan and Von Achen have limited what our children have access to by never questioning what students are reading. Please refer to the Board of Education Meeting Minutes of July 29, 2020, page 19, to read Mr. Choffo’s question on books. (Click here to read).
Parental Rights: An amazing thing happened during the dark days of Covid in 2020 and 2021. Students were forced to learn from home. Parents witnessed first-hand what their children were being taught and were concerned. Then parents started coming to Board of Education meetings and questioning the school administration and Board of Ed Members because they had serious concerns about the direction school districts were going. Parents were labeled “domestic terrorists” by some for simply asking questions. The result was a grassroots effort by parents to get involved and run for their local Boards of Education. And they did by the thousands! Cogan, Von Achen, and Shappell have tried to label Moms for Liberty as an extremist organization. Andy, Jack, and Yvonne proudly support parental rights and accept the endorsement of Moms for Liberty. This organization was formed by former school board members fighting for parental rights. Click here to visit their website to learn more.
Learning Loss: Cogan, Von Achen, and Shappell appear to be focused on things that will not benefit the academic achievement of our students. Alison Cogan even said at the PTA candidate’s debate that the learning loss was not that bad! The fact is that there has been significant learning loss over the past two years. Our children have fallen behind and need Board of Education members who will set policies to get them caught up, instead of spending $10,000’s of taxpayer dollars on a fruitless partnership with the University of Virginia as Cogan and Von Achen have done. See what your children have not been learning by clicking here.
Andy Choffo, Jack Raia, and Yvonne Ferise are concerned about the students of Parsippany. That is the only reason they are running for a seat on the Board of Education. They are the best-qualified candidates to guide our school district through these troubled waters.
PARSIPPANY — This single-family residential home is located at 5 Marston Drive, Parsippany. This property has four bedrooms and five bathrooms. This property has a lot size of 0.63 acres and was built in 1900 and sold for $777.000. There is 2,098 square feet of living space.
The property was listed by Andrea Martone, Realty Executives Platinum, and sold in 48 days.
PARSIPPANY — The annual “Halloween at the Hills’ will be held on Friday, October 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Parsippany Hills high School, 20 Rita Drive. Join them for their annual night full of fun and safe trick-or-treating!
The PHHS Interact Club is collecting non-perishable goods at Halloween at the Hills to help restock the shelves of the Interfaith Food Pantry. The collection of cans will take place in the cafeteria s you enter.
Enjoy the night with your family while giving back to the community.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department is taking back unwanted prescription drugs Saturday, October 29 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in front of the Harmon Face Values Store, 3189 Route 46, located in the Morris Hills Shopping Center.
They cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, ONLY PATCHES OR PILLS.
This drop off is ONLY for individual citizens. Businesses that deal with pharmaceuticals, doctors, health care providers, and pharmacies are prohibited from disposing of pharmaceuticals at the collection site under FDA guidelines.
According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
PARSIPPANY — In honor of National First Responders Day on Friday, October 28, The Nest Family, Pediatric and Prenatal Chiropractic in Parsippany is offering a free first visit to first responders including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and military (active and veterans).
The Nest is recently under the new ownership of West Orange native Dr. Daniel Roses, D.C.
Dr. Dan Roses, D.C.
“It’s extremely important to me to ensure that the brave people who protect, serve and keep our community safe are taken care of as well,” says Dr. Roses. “With many first responders in my family, I have seen the toll that the physical and mental stresses of their jobs take on their bodies. I know that regular chiropractic care can not only help with aches and pains that come with the job, but also allow our local heroes to maintain their maximum functionality.”
The Nest Family, Pediatric, and Prenatal Chiropractic are located at 341 Smith Road in Parsippany. It has been serving families, children, and expecting moms since February 2020 and is now under the ownership of chiropractor Dr. Dan Roses, D.C. The Nest was built upon the principles to nurture, empower, support, and teach the local community through chiropractic care.
Dr. Dan Roses grew up in West Orange. After earning his Doctorate of Chiropractic Degree from Life University in Marietta, Ga., Dr. Dan has spent the last three years working as an associate chiropractor at Roses Family Chiropractic in Bayonne and Revolution Chiropractic in Marlton. Now, Dr. Dan is humbled and excited to serve and take care of the people of Parsippany and its surrounding towns in his newest chapter as the owner and chiropractor of The Nest.
Dr. Dan is proficient in multiple chiropractic techniques including Diversified, cox flexion-distraction, activator sacro-occipital technique, gonstead and is certified in the Webster Technique for chiropractic care in pregnancy. He comes from a family of chiropractors – his father, two aunts, an uncle and a cousin are all currently in practice.
When he is not helping others achieve their optimum health through chiropractic, he is an avid sports enthusiast and faithfully follows the New York Yankees, New Jersey Devils, and New York Giants.
The Nest Family, Pediatric, and Prenatal Chiropractic is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, click here for more information.
As Mayor and Council members duly elected by the people of Parsippany Township, we are disappointed that our colleague, who cast the lone no vote on the PLA ordinance, is taking public shots at us. The PLA ordinance only applies to public projects in excess of $5Million. There is, in our view, a significant public interest in ensuring that large scale public projects get done correctly, on schedule, and at (or below) cost. Our colleague has argued that union labor will cost 30% more. We disagree because the studies that he was referring to were years old and only compared jobs of the same square footage and not the complexity of the job (i.e. both jobs were 100,000 square feet, but one was a warehouse and the other was a high tech computer building). We believe that significant public projects, funded with public money, should be performed by skilled labor who know what they are doing – who have the training and experience to ensure these projects are done correctly.
To this end, the PLA ordinance requires that all apprentices on the project shall be Parsippany residents, and that 20 percent of the project’s total labor hours shall be performed by Parsippany apprentices.The PLA ordinance also contains several provisions aimed at increasing job and apprenticeship opportunities for minorities and women.
The PLA ordinance is the best way to ensure that large projects get done correctly. The Administration has supplied the Council with all the information it needed to make an informed decision. Unfortunately, one of our colleagues has decided to play politics by taking baseless politically motivated shots at the administration.
Mayor James Barberio Council President Michael dePierro Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani Councilman Paul Carifi Councilman Frank Neglia
MORRIS COUNTY — The three candidates running to represent the 11th Congressional District held a candidates forum on Tuesday, October 25, moderated by the League of Women Voters of New Jersey at Drew University in Madison.
The forum featured Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, and Republican challenger Paul DeGroot. Sherrill, who lives in Montclair, is seeking her third term. DeGroot, a Montville resident, and former Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor is seeking elected office for the first time and third candidate on the ballot, Libertarian Joseph Biasco of Lincoln Park, a retired Cliffside Park police captain.
The in-person early voting period starts from October 29 to November 6.
After the redistricting based on the 2020 Census, the 11th district now covers these communities:
Morris County – Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham, Chatham Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Township (partial), Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens.
Essex County – Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair (partial), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell.
Passaic County – Little Falls, Totowa, Wayne (partial), Woodland Park.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council passed ordinance No. 2022:24 on Tuesday, October 18, to mandate to use Project Labor Agreements (PLA) on all direct township construction projects valued at $5 million or more.
Union members from across New Jersey met at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, 50 Parsippany Road, and drove in caravans to Parsippany Hills High School, where the Township Council meeting was moved due to the large number of attendees expected.
Click here to view video of union workers marching into the council meeting at Parsippany Hills High School.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Justin Musella listens to the speakers at the Council Meeting of October 11. File Photo
Parsippany’s PLA ordinance was approved with a 4-to-1 vote. Councilman Justin Musella was the lone “no” vote in advocacy for the beleaguered township taxpayers: “I have a financial responsibility to the taxpayer and from the beginning tried in vain to get a thorough understanding of why Parsippany had to be the first town in Morris County to do this, but the [Barberio] administration provided no answers or supporting evidence. On multiple occasions, I provided independent and careful studies to the administration and my colleagues about how PLAs drive up costs, harm small businesses, and are anti-competitive.”
Click here to download a copy of the Ordinance 2022:24.
Mayor James Barberio responded to Musella, admitting to disregarding Musella’s inquiries. “And you know what, I wasn’t going to waste the time. Because it was a way out, that’s all it was. It was to reduce it [the PLA].”
“I made an oath from Day 1 to fight to keep Parsippany affordable and enable to enable residents to stay here and not flee our town,” Musella said prior to the voting against the ordinance. “With that said, I see no compelling reason to depart from our competitive bidding process that brings benefits to our taxpayers as it stands today.”
Parsippany resident Richard Corbett said “On February 4, 2022, President Biden issued an executive order requiring the use of PLAs for all federal construction projects. Thanks to this town council and mayor, the same failed economic policies of the current Biden administration that continue to cause economic hardship for Americans are coming to Parsippany. Now we can all look forward to even higher taxes. Thank you. This council should be working to make the lives of Parsippany residents better, not more expensive. Thank you, Councilman Musella for supporting sound economic principles and the taxpayers of Parsippany.”
Kenneth Dukes
Kenneth Dukes stated “I support this legislation of PLA legislation, both as a union carpenter and as a residence of Parsippany. I like going to work knowing that I’m going to be in a professional clean work environment safe. I’m going to give the contractor a full day’s work in exchange for a fair wage, and at the end of the day, I’m gonna return to my family safe. 90% of the dollars that I make on these projects remains right here in the community. Obviously, I pay taxes, I support police officers, firefighters, public schools, libraries, et cetera. As regular consumers, me and my family, do everything right here in town. We go to the movies here, we go to restaurants here. We support businesses here. We take our kids out to events here.”
Morris County Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo
Morris County Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo said “I believe in project labor agreements at the county for certain projects over $5 million. There are projects in this state where non-union contractors are charging prevailing wage, but they’re not paying their employees prevailing wage. The other thing is competition. PLAs allow competition for non-union companies to bid as well. You have to look at is a safety. We had some projects right here in Morris County in Hanover, the firehouse, a generator fell on two individuals and safety wasn’t installed. Those two people got killed. And there, there was another one up at a Castle where another worker got killed because safety wasn’t implemented. These people work hard and they have to be safe. When you look at fiscal conservative approaches to government, Morris County has done it well. We’ve been one of the top rated fiscal conservative counties in this nation. We continue to strive to be one of the top fiscally managed counties in this country. We’re a Republican operated or managed county, and if you look at the Legislators, just about every Republican Senator and every Republican Assemblyman supported PLAs for the right reasons. Because projects come in on time, projects come in safely, and you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to fix all the mistakes from contractors who aren’t doing the right thing. As a county commissioner, as a taxpayer in this county, I support PLAs. I support these workers, and I will stand up here repeatedly to support you when in implementing this policy.”
Morris County Commissioner Stephen Shaw, after listening to the Council Meeting tape published on Parsippany Focus, submitted this comment:
“Regarding County Resolution 2021-909 adopted October 27, 2021 (Click here to read). The County PLA resolution was referred to during public comment at the October 12 and 18 Parsippany Council meetings. I checked with the administration to confirm that the resolution gives the administration the option to employ a PLA on a project by project basis and does not mandate its use. To date, the County has not used a PLA on any projects.”
Brendan Kelly
“I’m a Morris County resident, a United States Marine Corps veteran, and a second year apprentice in the Local 254 Carpenters. Been a Morris County resident all my life and plan on staying that way. And hopefully one day, once this job’s done, when you say yes to the PLA and get us in here, we’re gonna be looking at this job, passing by it every day. And hopefully once I have kids, I could tell them I built that and we’re all gonna be proud to show what we’ve built,” said Brendan Kelly.
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr. outlined the opinion of the council majority, citing benefits for public projects that include higher-quality results from trained workers who operate under agreements that prohibit strikes, work slow downs and other costly delays. PLAs would guarantee projects use documented workers who pay taxes, while non-union contractors may employ underpaid illegal workers to lower their bids, Carifi said.
Carifi added that public construction projects costing $5 million or more are rare, even in Parsippany. The town is the most populous in Morris County, with 56,000 residents and a $122 million capital budget this year.
Mayor Barberio scoffed at suggestions that his support was bought by the unions that contributed to his campaign, saying he shared those funds equally with his running mates, Musella and Councilman Frank Neglia.
“When you contribute to me, all you get is good government,” he said.
He also said “I’ll explain what a keyboard warrior is. It is those people that go on and they continue to put letters to the editor out; who are guided by individuals to get their point across. I do respect Mr. Heller, Mr. Corbett and Mr. Venezia who actually come up here to state their concerns on this ordinance. I have a lot of respect for individuals like that and I applaud you for that because that’s what the process is all about. I’m gonna go all the way back to the “Tap Into Parsippany” editorial with Samantha DeAlmeida, who comes and puts false information. And if you notice, all the emails we get are very generic, very similar to what the statements that council member Musella made; all the same, every single one’s the same.
Parsippany resident Bob Venezia
“I live in Parsippany. After listening to the presentations that were made during the public session of last week’s council meeting, I don’t know how any council member can justify voting in favor of Ordinance 2022:24, which mandates project labor agreements or PLAs for Parsippany projects valued at $5 million or more. About 200 union workers travel from all parts of the state in order to lobby on behalf of the ordinance. On the other side of the issue are Parsippany residents who are not affiliated with the Union Council members should take note that every non-union Parsippany resident that spoke at the meeting was unanimous in their disapproval of the ordinance. I would also like to remind the council members that your primary responsibility is to the residents of Parsippany and not to non-resident union members who are solely looking out for their own monetary interests.
In speaking against the ordinance, several Parsippany residents cited results of two studies, which compared the time and cost of PLA projects versus non PLA projects. Both studies, one of which originated from the New Jersey Department of Labor, were in agreement that the PLA contracts increase the time and cost of projects by about 30%. Union members and the council members who spoke favorably about the ordinance didn’t dispute the results of these studies, but they more or less implied that the union workmanship is worth that extra premium. While sympathizing with the union member’s desire to improve their living standards, Parsippany taxpayers made it very clear that they were unwilling to pay a 30% PLA project surcharge, which calculates to an extra 1.5 million for each 5 million project. What happened to the council members that were dedicated to cutting costs and reducing taxes during the previous administration? What changed between then and now? Make no mistake, approval of this ordinance is equivalent to passing a 1.5 million tax increase for every large construction project. It’s also a class example of pandering to special interests as well as a complete sellout of the taxpayers of Parsippany,” said Parsippany resident Bob Venezia.
Barberio’s support drew loud cheers from the over 200 people who attended the meeting. Many wore union shirts and waved signs reading “Local Jobs for Local Workers”Parsippany resident Hank Heller
Parsippany resident Hank Heller said “I’ve been a taxpayer and voter in Parsippany for over 51 years. At the last meeting, I was surprised and perhaps somewhat taken back by the large showing of members of the various unions that attended to show their support for the project labor agreement issue. Tonight, I’m still chagrin because it’s fairly clear that this strong showing of union support is meant to perhaps overpower those who might not be in agreement and thereby silence discussion of an issue that is of a great importance in this community. Some of the union attendees said that they live in Parsippany, some of the speakers told of how union membership had saved their lives and allowed them to live lives of greater dignity. I am and was, I was, and I am respectful of that. However, the purpose of local government is not to provide better paying jobs for the public at large, but to make judicious decisions in the use of public funds so that the citizens of Parsippany benefit. When we voted you into office, we expected you to enact laws that would do not damage us. In this terrible time of inflation and possible recession. We’re seeing our retirement funds decline by 20 to 30% or more. We are seeing our savings go up in smoke as an irresponsible national government causes us to spend 20 to 35% more to heat our homes, drive our cars to work, and just to put food on the tables for our families. We are being squeezed in every way imaginable. And to have our local government decide to give union leadership with new laws that precludes small local contractors from bidding for large government projects, if they are not a union shop is just wrong. The demands of PLA actually from all that I have been able to read cost a taxpayer 25 to 37% more in cost and even more in time to completion. I think that is unconscionable to vote for, for PLAs at this time. Frankly, I might have expected such gifts to come from a democratic administration, but no, it is a gift to us by our current Republican administration. And additionally, amazingly, almost unanimously, I tell you, if you care at all, you will not be able to defend yourselves from this vote. Those who will look to unseat you in the future, who look to cast aspersions on your decision making and on your effectiveness will serve you this meal over and over and over again. I was treated well when I spoke at the last meeting the union. But I also learned that not everyone was treated respectfully. In fact, I now know that a few of the people in the audience were threatening to some who dissented. I’m here to say that no matter the size of the opposition, this municipal body has a, a responsibility to make sure that all people who live in Parsippany and come to speak civilly and express themselves reasonably can be fairly heard and they should not have to worry about email threats, telephone threats and voice threats.”
Barberio’s support drew loud cheers from the over 200 people who attended the meeting. Many wore union shirts and waved signs reading “Local Jobs for Local Workers”Union workers met at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, 50 Parsippany Road, and drove in caravans to Parsippany Hills High School. Pictured is a truck with an Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters logo. A large video sign on the side of the truck displayed an image of Musella and a message: “Tell Justin Musella: Support Parsippany workers.”Union workers met at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102 and drove in caravans to Parsippany Hills High School. Pictured is a truck with an Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters logo. A large video sign on the side of the truck displayed an image “PLA ALL THE WAY.”
Parsippany’s PLA ordinance was approved with a 4-to-1 vote.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library System hosted its first-ever Diwali Festival on Saturday, October 22.
They celebrated Diwali with dancing, henna, food, arts, and crafts with over three hundred of the community! Thank you to the Thillai Fine Arts Dance for their wonderful performance!
The event was sponsored by the Friends of the Parsippany Library!
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Library is located at 449 Halsey Road.
Diwali, the festival of lights, joy, prosperity, and happiness will be celebrated this year on October 24, 2022. It is a five-day-long celebration that commences with Dhanteras and ends with Bhaiya Dooj. The festival of Diwali is celebrated on the darkest night of the year in the Hindu month of Kartik.
MORRIS COUNTY — Harmonium Choral Society’s concert A Child’s Christmas will be performed on Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m. at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, 57 E. Park Place, Morristown, and will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their commissioning of Matthew Harris’s setting of Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales for chorus and chamber orchestra.
The first half of the concert celebrates diverse childhood winter experiences from Haiti to Sweden, Brazil to Wales, and features many women composers including Ysaye Barnwell, Misty Depuis, Flory Jagoda, Caroline Mallonee, Tracy Wong, and Grace Williams. Artistic Director Dr. Anne Matlack says, “I am so excited to re-visit this wonderful work which is full of humor and joy. We’ll use piano, harp, flute, oboe, cello, and percussion for lots of colors! The rest of the concert includes some ‘Harmonium surprises’ such as folk dance and audience participation. Bring the whole family.”
Tickets to A Child’s Christmas may be purchased for $30.00 for adults or $25.00 for students and teachers by clicking here. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Harmonium Choral Society is dedicated to ensuring that all of our patrons are able to enjoy the arts equally. If you have accessibility needs, questions, or concerns, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the scheduled performance and we will assist you in the best manner we have available. For more information, please contact Jody Marcus at (973) 538-6969. Doors open one-half hour before the concert begins, but concertgoers are advised to leave plenty of time for parking.
COVID Guidelines for Harmonium Performances
All Harmonium singers are vaccinated and will remain masked during performances except for occasional solos. We will require proof of vaccination presented at the door for entry. Audience masking is now optional as long as that remains the policy of our host venues.
Funding has been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Harmonium Choral Society, based in Morris County, is one of New Jersey’s leading choral arts organizations. The 100-voice choral society has been recognized for its musical excellence and innovative programming and has commissioned and premiered works by Amanda Harberg, Matthew Harris, Elliot Z. Levine, Harmonium’s composers-in-residence Mark Miller, Martin Sedek, and others.
Dr. Anne J. Matlack
Directed by Dr. Anne J. Matlack of Madison, Harmonium’s 2022-23 season consists of four subscription concerts held in December, March, May, and June, as well as numerous special events and partnerships. Harmonium, known for its eclectic programming, choral excellence, and community spirit, sponsors commissions and musicianship workshops, as well as an outreach chorus that performs in schools, nursing homes, and other venues. Harmonium sponsors an annual High School Student Choral Composition Contest, which is celebrating its 26th anniversary this season. This innovative program won the prestigious Chorus America Education and Outreach Award. Harmonium has also toured internationally, most recently to the Balkans in the summer of 2022.
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