HANOVER TOWNSHIP — The Learning Experience is an approved state opened childcare center serving our FRONTLINE workers. If you are in need of FREE childcare and are an ESSENTIAL worker we can help serve you as you serve our great state.
Please feel free to call the center at (973) 887-1008 and they will walk you through the process of getting you the service you need.
The Learning Experience is located at 1 Papermill Drive, Whippany. Click here to view their website.
PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) will hold a third COVID-19 telephone town hall on Thursday, April 23, focused on mental health and health care services. Representative Sherrill will be joined by mental health and medical professionals who will help answer questions from residents and she will give an update on what she has been doing to support COVID-19 response efforts in New Jersey.
“The COVID-19 crisis has touched every aspect of our lives,” said Representative Sherrill. “As our community faces the loss of neighbors and loved ones to the disease, economic hardship and uncertainty, and the isolation that comes from social distancing, we must take care of both our physical and mental health. Our town hall this week will focus on resources available to residents, and we will have medical professionals from the community on the line ready to answer questions about COVID-19 and testing.”
The town hall will also stream live at 4:50 p.m. directly on Representative Sherrill’s website.
WHAT: Telephone Town Hall on Mental Health Services and Health Care Response
WHO: Representative Mikie Sherrill
WHEN: Thursday, April 23, at 4:50 p.m. EST
WHERE: Residents can register for the Telephone Town Hall by clicking here.
MORRIS COUNTY — Leaders in Morristown and Parsippany-Troy Hills have teamed up with small businesses to raise money to ‘Feed the Front Line,’ that is, deliver meals from local restaurants to Morris County’s first responders in the COVID-19 crisis.
“In true emergency situations, our first responders and essential personnel work tirelessly to keep us all safe and allow us to enjoy our daily lives! During these times, they need as much support as possible,” said Chris Mazzarella, an employee in the supermarket industry. Backed by Ted Stanziale, Nick Kraus and company Kraus Marketing, Rob Zwigard, and Freeholder Tom Mastrangelo, the following has been accomplished thus far:
-Parsippany Supporting Our Town has over 4,000 Facebook members
-Started Food drive for Parsippany Food Pantry at PAL three weeks of filling a minivan every Thursday with donations
-Helping local businesses advertise specials and services to stay in business
-Members making masks for Front lines workers as well as other PPE to help get them through
-Members started collecting donations for Animal shelter this week
-400-yard signs sold making about $2600 profit to purchase PPE for front lines and food for the food pantry
Their GoFundMe account:
“What’s better yet, is how grateful the frontliners are to receive meals, and how thankful the restaurants are to receive orders,” said Nick Kraus, Founder, and CEO of Kraus Marketing. “We are paying full price to restaurants; no discounts have been requested and we are paying 20% gratuity.”
Locally owned restaurants BurgerIM, Parsippany Deli, Jeremiahs Catering and Cooking Studio, and Committed Pig are among the many that have partnered with Feed the Front Line.
“This is a great way to support a community-led effort for our first responders, and while helping so many small businesses that right now are in need of a financial boost,” said Senator Anthony Bucco, who has contributed to the cause.
If you are a local business interested in participating, an individual that would like to volunteer or know of a group that would appreciate a meal, click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — Meet Lily! This gorgeous cowgirl is ready to find her forever home after birthing and weaning her pups!
Lily was rescued from a local, municipal shelter where she came in very, very bad shape. Lily was part of a neglect case and they soon realized she was pregnant and reached out to us.
While Lily clearly had a hard life before coming to us, she could not be sweeter or friendlier with her family if she tried! Lily loves to cuddle, lay on your lap, and be a couch potato!a
Lily definitely enjoys a walk and a romp in the yard, but she is not a high energy pup despite her being so young. Lily is potty-trained and walks well on a leash. She would prefer a home with someone who is home more often than not because she loves being with people.
Due to her past, Lily has a hard time trusting strangers. She absolutely loves her family but will need people to understand her limitations with strangers. Lily can live with other dogs and children 16+!
If you’re looking for a dog who wants to give you all the love in the world and more, apply to adopt Lily today! If you are interested in adopting Lily, please fill out an application by clicking here.
Follow Wise Animal Rescue on Instagram by clicking here.
Follow Wise Animal Rescue on Facebook by clicking here.
FLORHAM PARK — Jared Rosen, a member of the Colgate University Class of 2021, has earned the fall 2019 Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence.
Rosen is a graduate of Morristown-Beard School and resides in Florham Park.
Students who receive a term grade point average of 3.3 or higher while completing at least three courses earn the fall 2019 Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence.
Colgate is a leading American university for students who want classes with rigor, faculty with passion, and confidence in knowing they will learn how to thrive in work and life. Colgate offers 56 majors and supports 25 Division I athletic teams on a campus of about 2,900 students in central New York.
MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey became the first state to permanently ban the sale and distribution of flavored vaping products amid a national health crisis that has killed 60 people.
The law (S3265) became effective on April 20 after Governor Phil Murphy established a task force on vaping last fall. The flavors, some say, get kids hooked on nicotine. But vape shop owners say their customers predominately buy those flavored products, and that they will go bankrupt.
The bill introduced on December 6, 2018 (S3265) was sponsored by Senators Richard Codey, Shirley Turner and Joseph Vitale state “No person, either directly or indirectly by an agent or employee, or by a vending machine owned by the person or located in the person’s establishment, shall sell, offer for sale, distribute for commercial purpose at no cost or minimal cost or with coupons or rebate offers, give or furnish, to a person any electronic smoking device or any cartridge or other component of the device or other related product, including liquid nicotine, that has a characterizing flavor.” (Click here to view a copy of the bill).
Murphy also signed a law (S1647) that bans the use of coupons and rebates for vaping products, but he vetoed another (S4223) that would have increased penalties for shop owners caught selling products to people under 21. The governor did not sign the bill because it would have required an overhaul of the vapor shop licensing system and complicate taxes on products. (Click here to view Bill S1647 or click here to view Bill S4223).
These laws took effect on April 20.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce, Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling, Esq., will be a guest speaker on a Zoom meeting to be held on Friday, April 24 starting at 10:00 a.m.
Darling will be speaking regarding the importance of having a will to plan for the future
Her presentation will include:
1. The role of the Surrogate
2. The importance of planning for the future of your business by having a will to keep your entity’s leadership and future stable
3. Protecting your loved ones
4. What do you want to happen to your assets
5. Advance directives
6. Avoiding probate
7. Benefits to business succession planning, drafting operating agreements that address the transfer of interests and the use of trusts
8. A Q & A session
This zoom meeting is free and open to all Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce Members as well as the general public. Registration is required by clicking here.
For additional information contact Frank Cahill, Executive Board Member, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce at (973) 402-6400.
Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce is a service organization for businesses, merchants, residents and volunteers that provides education, information and networking opportunities to the Parsippany Area.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County has risen to 4175 an increase of 432 cases since last reported on Friday, April 17. A total of 269 deaths have been reported in Morris County. In New Jersey a total of 88,806 with a total of 4,377 deaths.
The County of Morris, in partnership with Atlantic Health, is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the County College of Morris, Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869, in parking lot 1. Testing is scheduled beginning at 9:00 a.m. and is for Morris County residents only. There is no fee for the test.
To sign up for an appointment online click here for details.
| Municipality | 4/10 | 4/13 | 4/14 | 4/15 | 4/16 | 4/17 | 4/20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Boonton | 52 | 60 | 62 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 76 |
| Township of Boonton | 33 | 36 | 37 | 40 | 43 | 43 | 48 |
| Borough of Butler | 35 | 46 | 48 | 51 | 56 | 57 | 62 |
| Borough of Chatham | 41 | 43 | 42 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 44 |
| Township of Chatham | 54 | 80 | 83 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 90 |
| Borough of Chester | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Township of Chester | 21 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 |
| Township of Denville | 74 | 82 | 82 | 90 | 93 | 95 | 105 |
| Town of Dover | 215 | 267 | 296 | 306 | 317 | 322 | 373 |
| Township of East Hanover | 71 | 83 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 87 | 95 |
| Borough of Florham Park | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 82 |
| Township of Hanover | 100 | 106 | 113 | 120 | 121 | 126 | 136 |
| Township of Harding | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 |
| Township of Jefferson | 30 | 90 | 105 | 109 | 112 | 116 | 136 |
| Borough of Kinnelon | 30 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 35 | 37 | 44 |
| Borough of Lincoln Park | 129 | 152 | 159 | 164 | 176 | 184 | 209 |
| Township of Long Hill | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 35 |
| Borough of Madison | 61 | 67 | 70 | 69 | 73 | 72 | 79 |
| Borough of Mendham | 19 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 31 |
| Township of Mendham | 28 | 34 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 |
| Township of Mine Hill | 21 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 31 |
| Township of Montville | 115 | 128 | 130 | 130 | 138 | 139 | 155 |
| Borough of Morris Plains | 32 | 34 | 35 | 39 | 38 | 41 | 44 |
| Township of Morris | 141 | 169 | 167 | 171 | 175 | 183 | 193 |
| Town of Morristown | 198 | 229 | 243 | 243 | 263 | 280 | 310 |
| Borough of Mount Arlington | 13 | 18 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 35 |
| Township of Mount Olive | 113 | 132 | 142 | 148 | 158 | 160 | 185 |
| Borough of Mountain Lakes | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 17 |
| Borough of Netcong | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 23 |
| Township of Parsippany | 278 | 331 | 358 | 370 | 404 | 415 | 485 |
| Township of Pequannock | 79 | 94 | 101 | 107 | 117 | 122 | 133 |
| Township of Randolph | 140 | 160 | 172 | 180 | 188 | 189 | 204 |
| Borough of Riverdale | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 26 |
| Borough of Rockaway | 45 | 51 | 54 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 67 |
| Township of Rockaway | 115 | 134 | 142 | 147 | 155 | 158 | 174 |
| Township of Roxbury | 106 | 118 | 123 | 128 | 135 | 137 | 150 |
| Borough of Victory Gardens | 14 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 22 |
| Township of Washington | 38 | 47 | 57 | 59 | 60 | 60 | 74 |
| Borough of Wharton | 78 | 88 | 92 | 93 | 96 | 97 | 102 |
| TOTALS | 2682 | 3169 | 3356 | 3469 | 3636 | 3725 | 4157 |
The figures reflect COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, some cases which may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.
Please note the following limitations and provisos related to the data above:
BOONTON — Gunvor Synnove (Haland) Wekilsky, 81, died at home on Thursday, April 16, 2020, following a long illness.
Born and raised in the fishing port of Egersund, Norway, Synnove – as she was always known to family and friends – was the eldest of four children born to Per and Liv (Aartun) Haland. She graduated from high school in Egersund in 1956, worked in Oslo for one year, and then traveled to Germany to study languages at the Goethe Institute and the University of Munich.
While in Munich she developed not only a strong fluency in German, but also a romantic relationship with a young Iranian expatriate named Krum Cyril Wekilsky, who was of Bulgarian and Russian heritage and known to all as “Cy.”
The couple later left Germany for Norway, where Synnove became a German teacher, and they were married in Oslo in 1962. In 1963, they emigrated from Norway, bound for America and sailing on the final trans-Atlantic voyage of the Norwegian ocean liner, Stavangerfjord.
Arriving in New York, they made their way to New Jersey and eventually settled in the little town of Boonton, where they raised their two children, and for more than 50 years, were instrumental in bettering the lives of many people in their community. Synnove was a teacher at the Boonton United Methodist Church nursery school for many years and, later, a teacher of hearing-impaired children at the Lake Drive School in neighboring Mountain Lakes. She also served on the board of the Ada Budrick Day Care Center, volunteered in the work of the Boonton Local Assistance Board, and was actively involved in the Rockaway Valley Garden Club – all the while supporting Cy in his more than 40 years of local public service, which included ten years as mayor of Boonton.
Synnove loved gardening, needlepoint, helping people in need, and traveling, including yearly trips to visit her family in Norway. She cherished a quotation from one of her fellow Scandinavians, Hans Christian Andersen, who said: “To travel is to live.”
Synnove was predeceased by her parents, her brothers, Per and Olav, and her sister, Louise. She is survived by her husband, Cy; her son, Eric (Della); her daughter, Christine Wekilsky and her grandsons, Zachary and Nicholas Wekilsky. She is also survived by her uncle, Sigurd Aartun; sister-in-law, Darina (Richard) Slover; seven nieces and nephews and dozens of cousins around the world.
Because of the unfortunate societal circumstances that now surround us, the family plans to have a public memorial service at some future time.
The Wekilsky family is being assisted by the Codey and Mackey Funeral Home, 107 Essex Avenue, Boonton.
For anyone so inclined, a contribution in memory of Synnove can be made to the American Cancer Society
MORRIS COUNTY — Recently, the public had the opportunity to view the movie, Mallory, which is the story of Mallory Grossman, 12, a student from Rockaway Township, who fell victim to suicide after being bullied for nine months.
The film that launched Friday evening is the story of Mallory’s parents and their journey post the devastating tragedy. There are interviews and home movie clips included throughout the film. The film has a rental fee of $22.00, which covers the cost of licensing and logistics. The movie will be available for viewing for nine days.
Mallory Rose Grossman was an all-American 12-year-old girl who loved gymnastics, cheerleading, and all things outdoors. Her love for her friends, family, and helping others was beyond measure and she showed her charitable spirit every day. Sadly, on June 14, 2017, Mallory took her own life after months of relentless bullying at school and online.
Mallory’s school failed to stop the bullying and would remove her from class to distance her from the abuse, only isolating her further. In one instance the Vice Principal and guidance counselor made her “hug it out” with the aggressors. Frustrated by the lack of change, the family discussed changing schools but since there were only a few weeks left in the school year they decided that Mallory would simply finish out at her current school and begin the next year anew. A decision that changed their family forever.
On the last day of Mallory’s life, the family attended a 3-hour meeting where the principal dismissed the acts of cruelty and used the analogy that this was merely a game, handed her a poker chip, and asked if she “was all-in”. Mallory and her parents returned home, vowed everything would be okay, and promised she did not have to return to school. Mallory was not even able to bring herself to make it through another day in this life. Her parents returned home from work to find that Mallory had taken her own way out.
Follow the story of the Grossman’s and their journey from losing Mallory through their subsequent fight to combat bullying, hold people accountable for their actions, and change the very way we see our fellow human beings.
Morris Focus was founded in 2017 and is published in print and online formats. Its mission is to provide timely and accurate news coverage to Morris County residents and promote community engagement and involvement. The newspaper covers various topics, including local government, education, business, and sports. We can be reached by calling (973) 559-6000—a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce.
Contact us: news@morrisfocus.com
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