FLORHAM PARK — The Ridgedale Middle School Student Council is sponsoring a fundraising mask sale with the choice of your school or district logo. The proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to help support students in financial need within the Florham Park School District. The masks are shipped directly to your address, so there is no need to pick up at a location.
Please consider purchasing a mask to help students in the Florham Park Schools and to show your school pride!
TRENTON — Governor Phil Murphy announced his intention to nominate Fabiana Pierre-Louis to the New Jersey Supreme Court to fill the seat of Associate Justice Walter F. Timpone, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 later this year. The appointment will first be sent to the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee. With the Committee’s approval, the Governor will proceed with a formal nomination. Upon confirmation by the state Senate, Pierre-Louis would be the first Black woman to serve on the state’s highest court.
“A core tenet of my Administration is a commitment to an independent, fair-minded judiciary that reflects the immense diversity of our great state,” said Governor Murphy. “As a first-generation American, Fabiana brings both a sharp legal acumen and the perspective of her own past that will greatly benefit the proceedings of our state’s highest court. In addition to her esteemed legal career, Fabiana’s humility, empathy, and character are all traits that make her well-suited to become the next Associate Justice and the first Black woman to serve on New Jersey’s Supreme Court.”
“Across this country, there are 33 states which do not have a woman of color on their highest court,” said Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver. “I cannot wait to see New Jersey leave that list with Fabiana’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.”
“I have spent my entire legal career in New Jersey, both private practice, and in government service as an Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Fabiana Pierre-Louis. “It is extremely humbling to have the opportunity to continue the proud tradition of the New Jersey Supreme Court’s commitment to justice, equality, and fairness. I would like to thank Governor Murphy for this honor, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of New Jersey.”
Sharon Deventer-Goldfarb, owner of Sharon's Studio of Dance & Music in Whippany, on the ability of operations like hers to safely operate and that they must be open to provide young people with healthy outlets
MORRIS COUNTY — Unlock New Jersey held a press conference on Tuesday, June 3 in front of Depasquale the Spa, Powdermill Plaza East, Route 10, Parsippany.
Small Businesses in New Jersey are failing and will never survive the COVID19 crisis due to the restrictions under Governor Phil Murphy’s lockdown orders. We are urging the Governor to unlock the economy through a responsible, expedited, and decisive plan we have proposed. With summer quickly approaching and many people experiencing economic devastation, the time is now for massive action.
Joining Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce was Rosemary Becchi, tax lawyer as well as a Congressional candidate; Sharon Deventer-Goldfarb, owner of Sharon’s Studio of Dance and Music; Amanda Veinott-Praml, owner of now-defunct “Momique”; Justin Depasquale of Depasquale the Spa; Peter Sederas of Townsquare Diner in Wharton, also representing New Jersey’s Iconic Diners; and Owners of Village Restaurante & Pizzeria.
Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce: Intro to the start of Unlock New Jersey, that shop owners are here today to detail how the continued lockdown is killing small businesses and our economy
Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce said “Gathered on each side of me representing diners restaurants, jewelry stores, dance studios, you name it. They are a part of “Unlock New Jersey” and it has grown across the state of New Jersey. Unlock New Jersey Isn’t irresponsible. It’s not wrong. It’s right because it’s about opening up New Jersey and a responsible gradual way. We had asked that the governor open up New Jersey on Memorial Day to all businesses; that are not taking place. I see. As you have that, the Governor is opening up in phases. We see no plan before us, and we need to see that; we need to be able to understand what the Governor is thinking. I, for one, want to make sure that everybody is safe.”
“I can tell you that all the people around me and anybody, that’s a part of Unlock New Jersey, they want to open their businesses, but they don’t want to get sick. They don’t want their employees sick. They don’t want their customers sick. They’re going to be responsible and do it the right way. We have been sending videos out there. We have been showing the Governor and the people, how responsible ‘Unlock New Jersey’ is” she continued.
Sharon Deventer-Goldfarb, owner of Sharon’s Studio of Dance & Music in Whippany, on the ability of operations like hers to safely operate and that they must be open to provide young people with healthy outlets.
Sharon Deventer-Goldfarb from Sharon Studio of Dance and Music located in Hanover Township said “We teach children and adults since 1975. Listening to everybody speak, I was thinking about the highest honor for me. The thing that fills my heart the most is we have third generation in our studio. That means they trust us. I taught the mother, the child came and now the grandchildren. That says a lot to me. Our children need to get back into the classrooms. Not only all the classrooms, not only for their physical wellbeing but for their emotional and mental health, they need to be back in class. I have set up all guidelines for safety. I researched all the studios throughout the country who are now open and open successfully.”
Amanda Veinott-Praml, owner of the now-defunct maternity boutique, Momique, which has gone under due to the lock-down
Amanda Veinott said “We are right down the strip center here. We’re two years old. And unfortunately, right before our second birthday, we had to make the very hard decision to close permanently because of the forced extended shutdown. I have a community of close to 6,000 moms here in Morris County that we serve through the business. When I made the announcement in the middle of May that we were going to have to close permanently. I had hundreds of people reach out to me personally, but also through our social media community saying how sorry they were to see that we had to close. It’s actually very emotional. My husband and I, put our life savings into this business. We invested close to $150,000 of our own money into this business to make sure that our community had a motherhood center and we’re losing it.
Justin Depasquale of Depasquale the Spa, which has submitted a safe re-opening plan to Governor Murphy for his business and similar salons, but has remained shuttered awaiting an answer and specific plan from the Governor, who only offered a re-opening date of June 15 without any specifics
“What do you do when your business is shut down and you have to furlough 170 employees? You just kind of watching your heart and soul sink every day. There are only so many days you can sustain something like that. Although the beauty industry is excited that we finally have a date there’s so much more to do. I think what’s really important is that business owners like us, understand that the future is going to look different and we are not ones to sit at home and salt. We’re not looking for handouts. We’re just looking for us to be able to get back to work responsibly. I know that the safety of the entire community is at hand here. So we are taking this very seriously. I would love to invite all of you to see the safety measures that we put in place. ” said Justin Depasquale.
“We’re not asking to be unreasonable. We’re asking to be responsible. We know our business better than anybody knows our business. And therefore I think the Governor if he would like to talk to us about our businesses, let us tell him how they should be operated safely and responsibly. And let’s all get back to work because if there are too many guidelines put on us, if there are too many restrictions that make no sense for our companies and our business, well then forget about being shut down. Even when we open, it will be very difficult to overcome the challenges we face and the monies we need to pay. And the teams we need to support and the bills that need to be paid. And we need to be very, very careful as we start to Unlock New Jersey,” continued Depasquale.
Peter Sedereas of Townsquare Diner in Wharton. Speaking on behalf of New Jersey’s iconic diners, some represented here today, which have been largely shuttered by the Governor and see little if any reprieve from the Governor’s vow to allow outdoor dining to return soon. Most diners do not have outdoor dining facilities, and those that do cannot maintain the business on the few tables they would serve outside their establishments
Peter Sedereas owner of Townsquare Diner stated “We don’t have customers. We have family, our patrons, or extended camp. One of my good friends, Brian, is here today in support of Jersey diners and all small businesses in New Jersey. We have heard, we need to flatten the curve. Now we have heard that we need a fully functional vaccine before we reopen our economy with the new normal, this has become such a fluid situation. Yes, there are many unknowns, but we need to use not only science and forecasting but logic, goalposts cannot be moved without logic. The time has come to reopen the economy with the proper safety procedures and guidelines in place. We are now at the point where we have an unsustainable business model that will be the demise of many small businesses. The Cares Act, the Paycheck Protection Program were great short-term fixes to help us sustain. They were beneficial and serve their purpose. But now we need to open our dining rooms in New Jersey. We are truly grateful that outdoor dining will be allowed starting June 15, but unfortunately, one size fits all mentality simply does not work in New Jersey. We are fortunate at the Town Square as we have an outdoor patio, but many diners and other restaurants don’t or simply will not have the capability to have outdoor dining.”
“You see how unlocked New Jersey is. We are working together to do it the right way. We’re being responsible and we are being protective of not only themselves but their customers and the public,” said BettyLou DeCroce.
Rosemary Becchi, a tax lawyer as well as a Congressional candidate, on the larger economic impact of keep small businesses locked down.
Rosemary Becci said “The message here is pretty simple. We need to open up New Jersey’s businesses safely and quickly. Unlock New Jersey is that approach. It’s thoughtful, it’s measured and it’s based on data. And that’s what our small businesses be. This is real life and real people and real stories. And when your business is failing or you can’t get that PPP loan, it puts a pit in your stomach, it hurts. We have to do something. I think Justin said it and a few others. This is not only a short term conversation about reopening. It’s also a long term conversation. It’s a longterm conversation about putting in place the policies that will help our businesses grow and help our businesses grow back to where they were and beyond. We need to help people and we need to do it now. Again, we need to open our small businesses safely and quickly. At the end of the day, the ultimate judge is going to be the customers. That’s, who’s going to decide whether or not they’ve done it safely. And if they feel safe, they will come back. And, and that’s what we need the Governor to pay attention to. And we need him to set a clear cut matrix for reopening our businesses.”
The group, which is also asking concerned residents to send physical or virtual keys to Gov. Phil Murphy as a symbolic gesture, argues small business owners need help as the COVID-19 pandemic forces locals shops to close and people to stay home.
Fatmir Nika, Azem Kolig and George Koliq from Village Restaurante & Pizzeria (formerly Il Villaggio Restaurant)
Sharon's Studio of Dance & Music
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Sharon's Studio of Dance: Dance floor is squared off in six-foot squares for every student
Separate stations for each studio to use
Sharon's Studio of Dance: Dance floor is squared off in six-foot squares for every student
Sharon Deventer-Goldfarb, owner of Sharon's Studio of Dance & Music in Whippany, on the ability of operations like hers to safely operate and that they must be open to provide young people with healthy outlets
For more information on Unlock New Jersey click here. You can also click here to download a copy of Unlock New Jersey’s complete plan.
MADISON — “Jersey Shore” cast member Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is using her Madison storefront to make an impact.
Snooki said in a post on Instagram ” USE YOUR VOICE‼️ Please feel free to use your voice by adding posters to our store🙏🏽 You can tape them to the bottom of the windows, covering the cement 👊🏽; for a little background into Madison, where my shop is located- #BLM posters are being torn down. My space is a safe place for you. I won’t tear down your posters.”
The Snooki Shop, 61 Main St., Madison
The Snooki Shop is located at 61 Main Street, Madison. Click here for the website.
Nicole Elizabeth LaValle (née Polizzi; born November 23, 1987), best known by her nickname “Snooki”, is a Chilean-American reality television personality, television host, author, professional wrestler, and dancer who is best known for being a cast member of the MTV reality show Jersey Shore and starring in Snooki & Jwoww and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. Since appearing on Jersey Shore in 2009, Snooki has gained popularity, leading to numerous talk show appearances, web and television series participation and hosting, and a large social media following. She reportedly earned $150,000 per Jersey Shore episode by the last season.
The Snooki Shop, 61 Main St., Madison
In March 2012, Polizzi announced her engagement to Jionni LaValle. Snooki gave birth to the couple’s first child, Lorenzo Dominic LaValle, on August 26, 2012. Her second child, Giovanna Marie LaValle, was born on September 26, 2014. On November 29, 2014, Snooki married Jionni LaValle at St. Rose of Lima, a Catholic church in East Hanover, followed by a reception at The Venetian, Garfield. On May 30, 2019, Polizzi gave birth to her third child, Angelo James LaValle.
TRENTON — Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that Santander Consumer USA Inc. will pay the State of New Jersey approximately $589,142, provide New Jersey consumers $2.5 million in restitution, forgive the loans of more consumers, and modify its business practices as part of a settlement that resolves a multi-state investigation into Santander’s allegedly predatory auto lending practices.
Santander is one of the largest subprime auto lenders in the United States. Subprime auto lending targets higher-risk borrowers. The loans typically involve high-interest rates and prolonged repayment plans, both of which increase the likelihood of borrower default. About 82 percent of Santander’s retail auto loans are considered subprime, and between 2013 and 2015, roughly half of Santander’s subprime auto loan borrowers defaulted.
New Jersey was part of the Executive Committee spearheading the investigation of allegations that Santander typically failed to require proof of income when considering loan applications; failed to conduct meaningful oversight of conduct by auto dealers, increasing the number of loans founded on false information; and often extended loans that were unaffordable over the life of the loan. Illinois served as the lead state, with California, Maryland, Oregon, and Washington rounding out the Executive Committee.
The multi-state settlement involves 34 States and secures monetary relief estimated to total hundreds of millions of dollars. Santander will pay $65 million in restitution to certain consumers who defaulted on their loans and $5 million to the participating States.
For some consumers who defaulted but have not had their cars repossessed, Santander is required to allow them to keep their car and waive any loan balance up to a total value of $45 million. Santander also will implement reforms to make its lending practices fairer and more transparent.
The settlement also includes significant consumer relief by way of loan forgiveness, including immediate deficiency waivers for defaulted loans still owned by Santander and additional deficiency waivers for loans that Santander no longer owns but is required to attempt to buyback.
“With the financial downturn affecting so many consumers’ credit scores, we will continue to hold accountable companies whose predatory conduct targets New Jersey residents with limited financial options,” said Attorney General Grewal. “I am pleased that in this case, we were able to secure financial relief for so many hard-working New Jerseyans.”
“This settlement will help protect New Jersey consumers from being exploited by predatory lending practices,” said Paul Rodríguez, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “For too long, subprime auto lenders have saddled the most vulnerable consumers with unaffordable loans. This settlement represents an important step in curbing these abuses.”
The States’ investigation found that Santander’s subprime auto loans were often unaffordable over the life of the loan, mainly due to the punitive nature of simple interest, which benefits consumers who pay early, but is particularly harsh on consumers who are chronically late with their payments.
Despite their high default rates, Santander’s subprime auto lending practices proved profitable owing to low capital costs and Santander’s sale of the loans on the secondary market.
Loans that are “structured to fail,” however, may violate state and federal law, and lending that fails to consider the borrower’s capacity to make scheduled payments under the terms of the loan may constitute predatory lending.
Under the settlement announced today, Santander is prohibited from originating any loan if the consumer’s residual income – the consumer’s net monthly income minus the consumer’s total debt obligations – is zero or negative.
Santander is also required to monitor auto dealers for possible embellishment or falsification of loan applicants’ income information. In addition, Santander must contact the credit reporting agencies and request the deletion of any information related to loan modifications and loan forgiveness resulting from the settlement.
The settlement also requires greater transparency in Santander’s lending practices.
For example, Santander must clearly and prominently disclose during enrollment calls, on its loan extension authorization forms, and on loan extension confirmation letters: (1) the effect of an extension on a loan’s maturity date; (2) the application of payments between interest and principal when the consumer resumes making payments; and (3) that the extension may delay repayment of principal, resulting in more interest accruing over the life of the loan than if the consumer had not entered into an extension.
The $65 million in restitution to consumers across the country will be handled by a third-party administrator, and consumers will be notified if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Lead Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Koziar and Deputy Attorney General Monisha Kumar of the Division of Law’s Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section handled the Santander matter on behalf of the State.
EAST HANOVER — Chasse Rush earned the distinction of Faculty Honors for Spring 2020 at the Georgia Institute of Technology. This designation is awarded to undergraduate students who have earned a 4.0 academic average for the semester.
One of the nation’s leading research universities, the Georgia Institute of Technology is in the business of Creating the Next — the next idea, the next technology, and the next legion of agile minds well equipped to imagine and engineer our future.
More than 36,000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled, and Georgia Tech is ranked in the nation’s top five public universities by U.S. News & World Report. For more information click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — A total of 1,802 students have been named to the Dean’s List at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) for the Spring 2020 semester of the 2019-2020 academic year, according to Joanne Bruno, J.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Lauren Blake, an Early Childhood Education (PreK-4) from East Hanover, was among those named to East Stroudsburg University’s Spring 2020 Dean’s List.
Laura D’Elia, a Nursing from Cedar Knolls, was among those named to East Stroudsburg University’s Spring 2020 Dean’s List.
Jane Hiscano, a History from Madison, was among those named to East Stroudsburg University’s Spring 2020 Dean’s List.
Nicole Krozser, a Communication Sciences & Disorders from Boonton, was among those named to East Stroudsburg University’s Spring 2020 Dean’s List.
East Stroudsburg University, one of the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, 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 6,000 students are enrolled for the high quality, affordable, and accessible education ESU provides. Nearly 30,000 ESU alumni live in Pennsylvania.
MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio criticized the passage of A-4175 in the General Assembly. This legislation would allow up to $14 billion in new borrowing to cover operating expenses.
“The governor has yet to clearly define what our budgetary expenditures will be for the next thirteen months, yet proceeds to encourage legislative democrats to increase borrowing by $14 billion,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “The bill relies on hefty sales tax increases to cover the costs. If those costs are not covered, every homeowner in the state of New Jersey will be charged an additional surcharge on their already suffocating property taxes. It makes no sense to ask for the money first and then have the governor explain how he will spend it later.”
The closure of businesses throughout New Jersey has led to a decrease in state revenues. Pennacchio points to the closure of car dealerships which supply a huge amount of sales revenue to the state. He believes those dealerships, as well as many other businesses, could have easily complied with social distancing guidelines and infection protocols and have stayed open.
A critic of the administration’s handling of the pandemic, Pennacchio has previously cited how New Jersey, although seemingly paralyzed during the last three months, has still managed to increase tolls on roads by up to 36% and now will begin piling on the already overburdened property tax owners in this state.
“It seems that government and businesses came to a standstill, except when it came to raising tolls and taxes,” added Pennacchio. “The people of New Jersey deserve better.”
FLORHAM PARK — Fairleigh Dickinson University is planning to start its fall semester Monday, August 17, a week earlier than planned, and end it Tuesday, November 24, before the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no October break.
Schedule Changes for Fall 2020 At both New Jersey campuses, the Fall 2020 semester will start on Monday, August 17, a week earlier than originally planned, and end on Tuesday, November 24, before the Thanksgiving holiday. They will eliminate the October break and one of the two reading days to condense the semester into this new schedule. This will help community members avoid the need to travel back and forth for breaks and will reduce the time that community members need to be on campus during the colder months that may bring a potential risk of resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
The first three weeks of the semester will be taught online, with face-to-face instruction beginning no earlier than September 8, the day after Labor Day. This gradual and blended approach of returning to face-to-face instruction and incorporating online instruction can be easily modified should situations arise for an extended period of remote learning at any point.
Moreover, in finishing the fall semester by Thanksgiving, our new academic calendar also enables us to offer a more robust set of online winter courses during December and January that will benefit students and help them complete their degree requirements sooner, as well as participate in longer and more meaningful internship experiences if so desired.
Returning to Campus They are hopeful that students who intend to live on campus will be allowed to start returning to campus beginning August 17 if they wish, but only if permitted by local, state, and federal guidelines at that time. They will be updating the plans as these guidelines are issued. Nevertheless, regardless of when students are able to be on campus again, campus operations will be aligned with recommendations provided by public health and governmental authorities. And, they certainly expect that there will need to be adjustments to certain aspects of campus life, as well as protocols and routines established to help ensure the ongoing safety and well-being of our entire University community. A second task force is working on developing such protocols and routines, which will be critical to the operation of the campuses.
Enhanced Online Instruction The faculty did an outstanding job this past semester transitioning to online instruction. Moreover, most of the full-time faculty will spend significant time this summer preparing courses with online dimensions for the fall, with the goal of making the virtual learning experience even better for the students.
FLORHAM PARK — Giselle Rohane graduated from the University of San Diego for the 2019-2020 school year.
Rohane earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and graduated cum laude.
The University of San Diego sets the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative Changemakers confront humanity’s urgent challenges. With more than 9,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education.
USD recently concluded our successful $317M Leading Change: The Campaign for USD, which represented the most ambitious fundraising effort in the history of the university. In September 2016, USD introduced Envisioning 2024, a strategic plan that capitalizes on the university’s recent progress and aligns new strategic goals with current strengths to help shape a vision for the future as the university looks ahead to its 75th anniversary in the year 2024.
