MORRIS PLAINS — Looking for a way to give back? Enjoy working outdoors? Join the Morris Plains Beautification Committee! We help to beautify the town, with a strong emphasis on gardening, and fun.
There is room for all levels of gardening, skills, and availability. Call Nancy at (973) 390-1129 or come to our meeting at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 1 at the Community Center, 51 Jim Fear Drive, Morris Plains, which is guaranteed not to last more than an hour.
PARSIPPANY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, and Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department Acting Chief Richard Pantina are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 52-year-old male from Parsippany.
Christopher Kaliszuk, who resides at 8 Mountain Meadow Circle, was last seen at 12:30 pm on Sunday, May 22, 2022, as he left for a walk, possibly to a nearby gazebo.
Christopher Kaliszuk is a 52-year-old white male with blue eyes. He has messy, sandy blonde hair and facial stubble. He weighs approximately 175 lbs. and is 6 feet in height. He was last seen wearing a light blue and white striped shirt, jeans, and sneakers.
He may be wearing headphones or carrying an old-style Walkman radio player.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts or this investigation is encouraged to contact the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department at (973) 263-4300 ext. 0, or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Missing Persons Unit On-Call Detective through the Morris County Communications Center at (973)285-2900.
Anyone with information who may be seeking to remain anonymous can contact Morris County Crimestoppers at 1-800-743-7433.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker announce the hiring of William A. Fox as Agent for the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
Agent Fox was officially sworn in by Prosecutor Carroll at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office on May 16, 2022.
Agent Fox began his career in law enforcement as an investigator for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office in 1972, becoming an Assistant Prosecutor at the ECPO in 1979. In 1980, he joined the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice as a Deputy Attorney General, and over the next decade, served in the Environmental Prosecutions Task Force/Organized Crime/Racketeering Bureau, Special Prosecutions and Organized Crime, and Economic Crime Section units.
Between 1990 and up until joining the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, he served in private law firms, including acting as a joint municipal prosecutor for Hillsborough/Montgomery/Manville from 2003 through 2022.
Agent Fox earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Saint Peter’s College and a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law. Prosecutor Carroll said, “We are very pleased to have Bill Fox join our Office. As noted above, Bill has a huge amount of professional experience and more specifically, has served as an Essex County Investigator, an Assistant Prosecutor, Deputy Attorney General and Municipal Prosecutor for many years and has a vast knowledge of the criminal justice system. On a personal note, I have known Bill for over 40 years and his character, skills, integrity, and work ethic will be a significant benefit to the MCPO and the citizens of our communities.”
BOONTON — The Boonton Coffee Co., a busy café on Main Street, Boonton, received a $14,559 check from the Morris County Small Business Grant Program, as the Morris County Board of County Commissioners joined local officials in meeting with the local entrepreneur.
“This is great. Thank you so much. It will go a long way,” said Frank McDonald, who owns and operates The Boonton Coffee Company with his wife, Nicola.
Commissioner Douglas Cabana delivered the grant, which is drawn from a fund created by the Commissioners to assist small businesses and nonprofits who survived the pandemic yet continue to struggle to operate and meet expenses.
Joining the grant delivery with Commissioner Cabana were Boonton Council members Joseph Bock (Ward 3), Marie DeVenezia (Ward 2), James Lynch (Ward 4), and Michael Wade (Ward 4). The Boonton officials gathered Morris County Small Business Grant Program pamphlets to distribute to other business owners in town.
“Our goal is to help small businesses hit hard by the pandemic. We initially put $5 million into the program, and we quickly followed up with another $5 million. I believe we are just shy of $3 million that has not yet been committed, and we urge every small business owner and nonprofit to explore this grant opportunity. We know they are busy, but this is worth investigating,” said Commissioner Cabana.
Click here to apply.
More than 600 applications have been filed since the Morris County Small Business Program was launched on Valentine’s Day with “Morris County Loves Small Business.” The Morris County Board of County Commissioners created the grant program from pandemic relief funding issued through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Morris County is still accepting applications.
Most of the applications heading for final approval will provide each of the qualified businesses and nonprofits the maximum grant amount of $15,000. While the remaining applications are still being reviewed, the program remains open to new applications.
There is no cost to apply.
The Small Business Grant Program eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to:
· Business has 25 or fewer full-time employees (or equivalent)
· In operation since January 1, 2019
· Located within Morris County
· Less than $5 million in sales/revenue
· Proof of a decline in sales/increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Read the Qualifications & Apply: morriscountysmallbusinessgrant.com
Federal guidelines covering the grant program will determine exactly which expenses qualify for coverage under the grant program and which applications may be approved.
The grants are capped at $15,000 per applicant. However, business owners and nonprofits are encouraged to submit applications that include all costs they believe may qualify for the grant, even if the total amount of a single claim exceeds $15,000.
A final review may determine that some costs submitted for consideration are not covered under the program guidelines. However, by submitting all expenses that may qualify, applicants increase the possibility of getting the maximum amount of grant dollars possible.
MORRIS COUNTY — Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony Bucco that would allow New Jersey towns to increase funding for volunteer first aid and rescue squads was signed into law by Governor Murphy.
“I am extremely pleased that the Governor signed this bill into law. As a 40+ year member and former captain of the Salvage and Rescue Company of the Boonton Volunteer Fire Department, I am well aware of the shoestring budgets that volunteer first aid and rescue squads struggle with each year,” said Bucco (R-25). “These organizations are essential assets for our communities, especially in suburban and rural areas. Unfortunately, many squads continue to experience a shortage of basic first aid equipment, and some cannot even maintain their ambulances. My legislation will help alleviate these issues by allowing towns and counties to increase the annual funding for these life-saving services so that they can properly protect the people they are sworn to serve in their communities.”
The current limits of $70,000 and $35,000 that a county or a municipality can contribute to volunteer rescue squads have remained static for more than 20 years.
Bucco’s legislation will increase these amounts to $125,000 and $70,000 respectively.
“Thousands of dedicated EMTs and rescue specialists across this state put the needs of their neighbors above their own,” added Bucco. “It’s time to give them the funding they deserve.”
HANOVER — The Board of Trustees of Employment Horizons is very pleased to announce that Lisa Montalbano has been named as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer.
Lisa began her career with Employment Horizons in July 1998.
Over the years Lisa held various roles at Employment Horizons including Job Coaching and Development and overseeing the agency’s Career Development Services Department.
In 2012, the organization moved Lisa into the all-important Director of Business Development role. For the last several years, Lisa has held the dual responsibilities of business development and managing fundraising and events as our Director of Development.
Lisa’s most recent appointment was to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Lisa holds a BA in Psychology from Liberty University as well as a MA in Executive Leadership from Liberty University.
Jack Cox, the president of the Board of Trustees said, ‘The Members of the Board of Trustees are thrilled to be able to elevate Lisa into the role of CEO. She has broad institutional knowledge and is very well known and appreciated by all our constituents. With her familiarity with our past, support by all constituents, and understanding of the organization’s opportunities, Lisa is poised to lead Employment Horizons into the future.”
Lisa served as Board Secretary of Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce from
MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblyman Christian Barranco (R- Morris, Essex, Passaic) has prime sponsored legislation to give parents a greater say in what and how their children are taught in public schools and access to more information about the operations of public school districts.
Titled the “Parents Bill of Rights Act”, the legislation (A3800) prohibits school districts from interfering with or denying the rights of parents and guardians the right to review copies of school curricula, books, and other educational materials.
The legislation comes on the heels of the recent disclosure that the State Board of Education is embarking on a plan to have school districts teach children as young as six and seven a sex education curriculum – including lessons on gender identity — that many parents find objectionable or not in the best interest of children
“This legislation will put the operation of school districts where it belongs, in the hands of parents and taxpayers,” said Barranco, the father of three school-age children. “It is not the province of educational elites or the special interests that they align with to determine what our children learn.”
Among its many provisions, the Parents Bill of Rights Act forbids school districts from denying parents or guardians copies of curricula, books, and education materials used in the classroom as well as the names and professional qualifications of teachers and guest lecturers; and the names of third-party individuals or organizations that receive contracts or funding through the school district.
Districts also must provide parents – prior to the start of the new school year – with copies of the syllabi and books for each class the student is enrolled in. And districts must allow parents to be heard at school board meetings. Districts must obtain from parents or guardians written permission for the school district to collect biometric data – such as fingerprints, palm prints, DNA, and retina scans — from students.
Parents who are denied the rights under the proposed legislation can file a civil action against the district. According to the legislation, the state Attorney General’s office may also seek an injunction against the school districts that fail to uphold the rights of parents.
“It is sad that in the 21st Century the classroom has become the battlefield of the culture wars brought on by the progressive left, whose sole aim is to undermine America and the American family,” said Barranco.
“I wish this legislation was not necessary. But I cannot sit on the sideline and allow school officials to dictate to parents what their children learn, nor can I sit by quietly and allow political indoctrination to replace skill development in our children,” added Barranco.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Sheriff’s Office, specifically the Patrol Division wants to reassure all persons enjoying the Morris County recreational facilities that their enjoyment of the parks system and their safety are of paramount importance. The officers operate regular and routine patrols in and around all aspects of the 20,000+ acres of Morris County Park Commission properties and its 38 facilities. Safety and security technologies are at our disposal and are deployed strategically. We partner with all municipalities in providing a police presence and incident response as needed.
We also want to reassure the public that last week’s incident on the Traction Line Recreation Trail in Morristown is not a common occurrence in county recreational areas. The attack concluded with two arrests being made swiftly with exemplary solid police work. Patrols have since been increased.
Should an emergent matter need immediate attention in a county park, please DIAL 9-1-1 and report your location, explain your emergency, and request a Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division unit to respond. You may also contact the Sheriff’s Office dispatch by calling (973) 285-2900. Please report all suspicious activity in the county parks to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division. Always remember to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity no matter the significance. Remember, your safety is important to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.
Learn more about the Sheriff’s Patrol Division and County Park regulations by clicking here.
MORRIS COUNTY — We missed Cinco de Mayo by a day, but my group of adventurous gastronome friends and I headed to the newest Mexican restaurant in the area for a visit. This past April, Mexican Antojitos opened on North Beverwyck Road in Lake Hiawatha, in a previously owned building by a local pizzeria.
There is certainly no shortage of high-quality Mexican venues in the area, but as Mexican cuisine continues to grow in popularity there seems to always be room for one more. In fact, Mexican food is one of the most popular ethnic cuisines in the United States. Mexican Antojitos appears to focus primarily on antojitos (as in its name), but they offer a lot more. Antojitos, referring to “little cravings,” refers to a wide variety of popular street snacks or appetizers, often sold by street vendors in Mexico as a precursor to the big meal of the day, or after a few late evening cocktails, and considered by many as some of Mexico’s most enjoyable and beloved food. There are at least fifteen types of antojitos and regional specialties. Commonly known choices might include tacos, empanadas, tamales, nachos, and enchiladas, but there are many more selections to choose from.
Mexican Antojitos, a family-owned and operated eatery, offers a wide selection of these tantalizing “little cravings,” as well as an impressive full menu complete with entrees of Pork Ribs, Grilled Steak, Fried Fish, and more. The menu also offers a selection of breakfast items, as they do open their door for business starting at 6:00 a.m. There are no desserts on the menu, but a variety of drinks (Bebidas) and coffee are available. The restaurant is also a BYOB, so for my first visit, I brought along some Cerveza Pacífico Clara, a Mexican pilsner-style beer, to complement my meal
I have always found Mexican cuisine, which is a blend of Indigenous and Spanish dishes, to be hearty, savory, full of flavors and textures, with plenty of gusto. Distinguished by fresh and healthy tomatoes, chiles, traditional spices, beans, corn, meat, and cheeses, Mexican fare is a delicious and healthy cuisine that is certainly worth a try.
Prior to their opening Mexican Antojitos renovated and updated the building’s interior to transform it from the pizzeria that occupied the location, to create a clean, cozy, comfortable, and casual atmosphere where one can relax and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The exterior windows and signage are enticing and welcoming, decorated with bright colors and a collage of mouth-watering Mexican treats. The interior is brightly lit, with cream-colored walls, a tile floor, and 12 to 14 tables. Apart from the red and green checkered tablecloths, Mexican motif chairs, and Mexican music playing in the background, the interior is simply decorated, with no-frills, and very unpretentious. Clearly, the emphasis is on the quality of the food and not the décor. I found it a nice feature that you could observe the cooks expertly preparing freshly made tortillas through a small open window allowing a view into the kitchen.
As our group arrived, the friendly staff enthusiastically welcomed us. Our pleasant server, Cynthia, who immediately brought over a basket of corn chips with zesty, homemade salsa, was very attentive and helpful. After perusing the menu, we decided to choose a variety of antojitos to share among the group for appetizers, with the intention of ordering individual entrées afterward. We agreed on a couple of servings each of Enchilada de Mole, Sopes, Quesadillas, Tacos Dorados, and Tostadas.
The Enchilada de Mole (a corn tortilla stuffed with chicken or beef in a Mole sauce, topped with lettuce, onions, sour cream, and cheese) a highly popular and traditional Mexican street food, was savory and perfectly seasoned and was clearly enhanced by the rich, nutty, sweet, and earthy flavors of the Mole sauce. Sopes (a soft fresh Tortilla, with beans, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream, with a choice of beef, pork, or chicken) a homemade corn flour shell; thicker than a tortilla, the Sope shell has a rim around the edge with pinched sides to keep in all the toppings. The deliciously fried Sope was savory, and tender, and has a nice crunchy texture. Our Quesadillas (Corn dough with chicken, beef, pastor, or chorizo) were crispy, gooey, and flavorful. The Tacos Dorados (filled with lettuce, tomato, radish, cheese, crema y salsa, with chicken) were perfectly packed within a nicely textured shell, and generously sized; as were all our choices, and finally the Tostadas (Fried Tortillas, beans, lettuce, tomato, queso crema, avocado, and filled with a choice of chicken or meat}. Do not forget to try the assortment of sweet and hot sauces that are readily available. My personal preference was the Habanero sauce, but I do like hot, spicy food.
As we enthusiastically devoured all our antojitos, the consensus was that the food not only met but exceeded our expectations. The portions were generous, and everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The only problem we encountered was that “our eyes were bigger than our stomachs,” and despite our initial intention to follow up with a full entrée, we were all so satiated after our antojitos that none of us could not eat another bite. I guess that the Bistek a la Mexicana I was planning to have will have to wait until my next visit. It was a very pleasurable, satisfying, and filling meal. This is the “real deal” for Mexican cuisine and certainly belongs on the revisit list.
I did have the opportunity to speak with Roman Sanchez, who along with his wife Cynthia owns and operates Mexican Antojitos, expressed that “his goal was to offer the finest, most natural ingredients, including fresh-tasting organic meat to real Mexican herbs and seasonings, in the restaurants authentically made dishes. Mexicans take pride in serving you a dish of Mexican food that is packing the punch in taste, texture, and overall delightfulness in every bite you take.” One of my personal tell-tale indicators of an authentic ethnic restaurant is the ethnicity of the customers frequenting the venue. In this case, there were quite a few customers of Mexican heritage enjoying their meals, and when asked, responded that Mexican Antojitos food was as authentically Mexican as you can get. “A taste of home.” A nice compliment for a restaurant!
Mexican Antojitos is another great new addition to our diverse restaurant community. Stop in, just by yourself, with friends, or with the entire family for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I believe you will be happy that you did. And as always, please continue to support all our local businesses.
Mexican Antojitos, is located at 122 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha. Phone: (973) 588-4047.
Website: https://www.mexicanantojitos.com/
Menu: https://www.mexicanantojitos.com/menu
Dine-in · Curbside pickup · No-contact delivery. BYOB. Catering. Reasonably Priced. Ample free street parking available. Open 7 days a week. Monday to Friday 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
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MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblyman Brian Bergen, a former Apache fighter pilot during Operation Iraqi Freedom, says a report released Monday showing New Jersey failed to award disabled veteran-owned businesses statutorily required state contracts demands an immediate response and swift corrective action.
“New Jersey state agencies are mandated to do business with veteran turned entrepreneurs, but they have not lived up to their commitment. It is completely unacceptable and I’m calling on state leaders to join me in making consequential changes,” Bergen (R-Morris) said. “For the past seven years, veteran-owned businesses have lost out on millions because of empty promises and failed policies.”
According to the report released by the Garden State Initiative and New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce, 97% of state agencies that have procurement power are not enforcing a 2015 law that requires 3% of their budgets to be set aside for contracts with businesses owned by disabled veterans. No state agency is following the legal reporting requirements.
“According to news reports, Gov. Phil Murphy has deflected comment on the matter to the Treasury Department. A better response would have been to say he is creating a task force to ensure New Jersey meets its legal requirements and improves procurement rates for veteran businesses,” Bergen said. “I am urging the governor to support this initiative.”
There are 255 certified disabled-veteran businesses in New Jersey and nearly 60,000 veteran-owned. State contracts can be worth as much as $1 million.
“I am also calling on Speaker Craig Coughlin to work with Senate President Nick Scutari to establish a joint legislative subcommittee to foster economic development for veteran-owned businesses,” Bergen said. “I want to make New Jersey the best state for veterans to start a business after they complete their service to our country. Whether it is through legislation or leadership, I will work with my veteran communities and colleagues to make sure state government is working for those who selflessly fought for our freedom.”
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: [email protected]
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