BOONTON — The Kiwanis Club of Tri-Town recently held a “Wellness Fair” at Heal Wellness Center and Spa, 413 West Main Street, Boonton.
Participating vendors included Marina Sky – Heal Wellness Center and Spa, Alex Seidner – Body Strong Life, Pat Selimo – Synergy Chiropractic, Olga Tsiavos –KW Metropolitan, Jill Patricia – White Lotus Healing Center, and Frank Delpesce – BetterWay Mortgage Co.
Pat Selimo – Synergy Chiropractic and Olga Tsiavos – KW MetropolitanPat Selimo – Synergy ChiropracticKiwanis Club member Ralph Weber, President Nicolas Limanov and member Mickey ChopraKiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany President Laura Wohland and Jill Patricia – White Lotus Healing Center
Kiwanis Club had the opportunity to promote membership to all of the attendees as well they held a “Food Drive” of non-perishable foods which were donated to Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
Nicolas Limanov, President of Tri-Town Kiwanis, said “This was an opportunity to meet the public to discuss the initiatives of our club and recruit new members at the same time collect food for our local food pantry. Residents also got to listen to area vendors on ways to keep healthy during these times. This was a win-win situation for everyone who attended.”
For more information on the Kiwanis Club of Tri-Town click here.
HANOVER — Participate in the Whippanong Library activities to celebrate the past 300 years of Hanover Township from January 4 – 29, 2021.
Complete one or all the activities or “missions” through the Whippanong Library Readsquared program. Receive a digital badge while celebrating Hanover Township’s history.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — The agenda for the Borough Council meeting includes 1) Executive Session – Litigation (Tax Appeals) and Attorney-Client Privilege (Approval of Executive Minutes) 2) Discussion – Year-End Council Goals Review; 3) Introduction of Ordinance 14-20, Amending the Revised General Ordinances of the Borough of Mountain Lakes and Authorizing the Appointment of Chaplain to the Police Department.
The complete Agenda will be available soon.
Click Here for complete details on how to attend the meeting.
PARSIPPANY — The Mental Health Association in New Jersey honored NewBridge Services’ Victoria Ferlauto as a Behavioral Healthcare Hero for innovative leadership that has ensured the safe, steady treatment of adults with severe mental illness throughout the pandemic.
Ferlauto, director of NewBridge Services adult day treatment program, was featured in MHANJ’s 20th Annual Evening of Excellence, a 30-minute program to air on News12+ Optimum 61, Verizon FiOS 530, and MHANJ Facebook Live on Saturday, December 12. The show, honoring six mental health professionals, will be rebroadcast Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
“We are tremendously proud of Viki, whose efforts exemplify the entire staff’s commitment to our clients,” NewBridge CEO Michelle Borden said. Borden noted that Ferlauto “demonstrated deep care and concern for her staff as well as clients.”
Ferlauto was unaware she had been nominated for the award until MHANJ contacted her late last month. “I was touched and honored, and it came as a surprise!” she said.
“It must be said that the staff is all heroes as well, reminding society that mental health matters, now more than ever!” Ferlauto said. She joined NewBridge in 1998 and a year later was promoted to oversee both the adult day treatment programs in both Morris and Passaic counties.
When Gov. Murphy ordered the statewide shut down in March, Ferlauto worked feverishly over a weekend on a plan to keep essential treatment going. Video conferencing wasn’t an option, so Ferlauto went old-school: on Monday morning, staff phoned clients and used conference calling to connect them with group sessions.
“The clients were so happy we were calling them for the group,” supervising clinician Cheryl Schmidt said. Clients participated in daily skills-training groups on coping, emotional management, addiction recovery, and other topics.
Ferlauto planned how to safely have clients return to NewBridge for individual counseling sessions as soon as restrictions were lifted. As a volunteer on NewBridge’s COVID-19 safety committee, Ferlauto also ensured that staff receives and use personal protective equipment and that strict cleaning protocols are adhered to.
“She runs a tight ship, and is very supportive of her staff and compassionate about her clients,” said Derk Replogle, director of Addiction Services.
Ferlauto grew up in a tight-knit Hungarian neighborhood in Passaic, and as a young adult belonged to a semi-professional Hungarian folk dancing troupe that once performed at New York’s Avery Fisher Hall.
She planned on becoming an archeologist or anthropologist until she realized how much math was involved. “I decided instead to dig up people’s history, one by one,’’ Ferlauto said in a 2013 interview. As a student at Fordham University, “I fell in love with clinical psychology.’’
Ferlauto lives in Jefferson Township with her husband and, despite the pandemic, maintains close ties to relatives scattered throughout the U.S., she said. NewBridge, she added, “is like a second family to me.”
HANOVER — Over one hundred of Hanover Township’s first responders will soon have better protection from COVID-19 exposure with Fire District No. 3’s imminent purchase of a new respiratory protection “fit-tester” machine. The equipment will be financed through a $25,000 grant from Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of the life sciences company Bayer.
Bayer Fund announced the award for the purchase on December 4th to support all of Hanover Township’s emergency management personnel. The fit-tester will be located in Fire District No. 3’s Fire House in the Cedar Knolls section of the Township, affording convenient access for use by the firefighters and emergency medical technicians of District No. 3, Fire District No. 2 (Whippany Fire Department), and Hanover Township departments of Police, Health, and Office of Emergency Management.
“The timing of the grant award could not have been better,” stated Bob O’Hare, Chairman of Hanover Township Fire District No. 3’s Board of Fire Commissioners. “With the second wave of COVID-19 bringing higher case numbers, and the potential for even greater numbers with the upcoming holidays, anything additional we can do to help protect our first responders and the public we serve is crucial. The Fire Commissioners are very grateful to Bayer and Bayer Fund for supporting all emergency management personnel and volunteers in the past, and most recently, through this generous grant award that’s making the purchase of this fit-tester possible.”
Fire Chief Chad DiGiorgio, who submitted the grant application on behalf of Fire District No. 3 for the benefit of all Hanover Township’s first responders, is thrilled with the award. “I have always looked for grant opportunities that all of our first responders could use as shared-services,” DiGiorgio commented. “The machine we’ve all been using up until this point doesn’t allow for fit testing of N95 and P100 masks, respiratory filtering that offers the highest level of protection to first responders. The new fit-tester will not only enable this testing, but also measure real-time fit while the user performs a series of moving, breathing, and talking exercises designed to simulate activities done in the field. The OSHA-compliant device will also maintain records of all testing and give us the ability to generate reports.”
The announcement of the grant award coincided with the unveiling of a new and improved Bayer sign-on Whippany Road in Whippany, New Jersey, the site of Bayer’s U.S. headquarters. Bayer dedicated the sign to its employees who have worked so hard throughout the pandemic. Raymond F. Kerins, Jr., SVP and New Jersey Site Leader for Bayer in the U.S. noted, “The dedication of this new sign to our employees who have worked diligently through this crisis, together with Bayer Fund’s $25,000 donation, demonstrates our commitment both to our team and to our community heroes in emergency services. What we want the Township of Hanover to know is that Bayer is right by your side, and we will continue to stand with you as all of us continue to meet and overcome the challenges associated with the pandemic.”
On behalf of the Hanover Township Committee, Mayor John L. Ferramosca joined Hanover Township Fire District No. 3 in acknowledging the grant award. “The governing body and I want to thank Bayer and Bayer Fund for once again supporting the Hanover Township community in meaningful ways that enhance our quality of life and provide assistance to our first responders in staying safe.”
MADISON — Thomas Dailey of Scouts BSA Troop 7 was awarded the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank, Eagle Scout, on Monday, November 30. Dailey’s Eagle Court of Honor was held at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison and was live-streamed so that Troop members, family, and friends could attend the event.
Dailey began his scouting adventure in the 1st grade in Cub Scout Pack 7 at St. Vincent Martyr parish. During his years as a scout, Dailey has hiked, biked, backpacked, and paddled over a thousand miles on trails and rivers in eight states, and he has visited national landmarks with Troop 7 in Washington, D.C., Arlington, New York, Boston, Plymouth, Gettysburg, and Acadia National Park. In 2016, Dailey was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s honor society, and he also completed National Youth Leadership Training later that same year. Working with his family, parish, and diocese, Dailey earned the Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei religious emblems, and he received the Ad Altare Dei award from Bishop Serratelli in 2017.
Dailey has held many leadership positions in Troop 7, including two terms as patrol leader and one term as the troop’s Senior Patrol Leader, and he has dedicated hundreds of hours of service to the Madison community as an individual scout and alongside his troop. For his Eagle Project, Dailey assisted the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project in building its collection of personal narrative accounts from American veterans. “The project involved collecting letters and photos and recording interviews with veterans, and then submitting those records to the Library of Congress for preservation,” Dailey explained. “I’m grateful to the eight veterans who shared their experiences, the Gold Star family that contributed many original letters and photos, and to all the volunteers who helped to assemble, record, and catalog the materials.”
Dailey is a senior at Madison High School where he is in a share time program with the County College of Morris for Cybersecurity and Information Protection. He is also a three-season athlete, running and swimming for MHS’s Varsity Cross Country, Track and Field, and Swim Teams, and he was a Harvard Model Congress delegate for MHS in 2018, 2019, and 2020. This past summer, Dailey completed an internship in cybersecurity at Nokia/Bell Labs, and he hopes to attend a U.S. Service Academy after graduation.
Thomas Dailey is the 68th Troop 7 scout to earn the rank of Eagle since the troop was re-chartered in 1959. Troop 7 is chartered by St. Vincent Martyr Catholic Church in Madison. Information about Troop 7 is available by clicking here, and young men ages 11-18 are welcome to observe a meeting or join at any time.
BOONTON — Looking for a dining experience that is a little different, innovative, and unique? How about a short jaunt to quaint and historic Main Street in Boonton, a thriving little downtown area were among a diverse and eclectic array of small stores shops, and restaurants you will find i2i Indian Italian Fusion Restaurant. Reportedly the only Indian Italian fusion restaurant in the world.
Chef Mickey Chopra, and his daughter Tamanna
i2i is the brainstorm of award-winning Master Chef Mickey Chopra. Immediately upon entering I was greeted by the highly personable, accommodating, and cordial Chef Mickey Chopra, and his daughter Tamanna, who could not have made us feel more welcomed or at home. The ambiance of i2i’s interior immediately presents an exceptionally clean, comfortable, warm, and casual vibe with a very classy décor while at the same time being very cozy and spacious.
Chef Mickey Chopra, and his daughter Tamanna with Patrick Minutillo
I guess I would be remiss if I did not note that Chef Chopra is very vigilant about maintaining all the mandated pandemic protocols and the seating is well-spaced throughout the restaurant.
Just talking to and seeing how enthusiastic and passionate Chef Mickey is about his cuisine was a great sign that I was in for a treat. This was my first time at i2i, so I was looking forward to trying something quite different from my usual dishes and I was not disappointed.
i2i Indian Italian Fusion
Not surprisingly, I had to try the dish famously reviewed by Dave Portnoy of Barstool Pizza who rated the dish a 9.3. If you follow Dave Portnoy you know this is an amazingly high score. The dish in question, the Chicken Makhani Penne Alla Vodka (Marsala marinated grilled chicken, slowly cooked in Indian spices with a creamy sauce and served over Penna pasta), but first on my radar was i2i’s unique appetizer, their Naanchos (A bowl of crispy naan chips with melted spicy cheese, mango chutney, and toppings).
Pearl Jamun (cheese and milk dumplings in a honey syrup)
These Naanchos were a nice twist from the traditional Nacho appetizer we are all used to. The sweet Mango Chutney and other toppings provided a savory kick to the flavorful Naan bread. There is no doubt Naanchos will be a must order every time I visit i2i. On Tamanna‘s recommendation, we also tried the Royal Butter Chicken (boneless fresh chicken pieces broiled in Indian spices and cooked in a buttery creamy tomato sauce). We were glad we followed her recommendation. What a great dinner. For dessert, we went with the Pearl Jamun (cheese and milk dumplings in a honey syrup) and the Rabri Cannoli (traditional Indian sweet made from milk solids and Pistachios filled in a Cannoli).
Chicken Makhani Penne Alla Vodka
Now back to the Chicken Makhani Penne Alla Vodka. I must agree with Portnoy, it was delicious. Chef Mickey’s merging of the two cultural dishes was an absolute genius, as the Indian spices added both flavors and fragrances to the chicken and pasta that really brought this dish all together. Excellent, and it went well with my BYOB Pinot Noir.
If you are or have been, hesitant or skeptical about trying out some of these new fusion dishes, I think you are missing out, but no fear, i2i also offers a full menu of traditional Indian and Italian dishes and pizzas, from Chef Chopra’s attached restaurant, Vinnie’s Pizzeria, for those so inclined.
Rabri Cannoli (traditional Indian sweet made from milk solids and Pistachios filled in a Cannoli)
As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this totally satisfying dining experience and would certainly recommend you stopping in and giving it a try.
And please come out and support all our small, independent local businesses in any way you can.
i2i Indian Italian Fusion is located at 408 Main Street, For more information call (973) 334-3403.
Gluten and vegetarian dishes available, BYOB, Street Parking, Take Out, Open 7 Days a Week.
i2i Indian Italian Fusion
Editors Note: Patrick Minutillo is a longtime Parsippany resident covering restaurant reviews for Parsippany Focus and Morris Focus. Reviews will also appear in Parsippany Focus Magazine, Tri-Town Focus Magazine as well as Morris Focus Magazine.
MORRIS COUNTY — The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission has announced that starting Monday, December 14, all MVC Vehicle Centers will be open by appointment only. No walk-ins will be allowed at any Vehicle Centers.
“We’ve made tremendous progress in clearing the backlog of registrations for newly purchased used vehicles, which enables us to move fully to an appointment system in Vehicle Centers, reducing our capacity but increasing customer convenience,” said Sue Fulton, Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission.
Appointments at Vehicle Centers for new titles/registrations and registration renewals for customers ineligible for online renewal are scheduled at NJMVC.gov. Recently, appointments were added at Vehicle Centers for duplicate or replacement titles.
Appointments during the hours 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays continue to be reserved for seniors. Eligible customers 65 years and older should look for the dedicated appointment option at NJMVC.gov.
At Trenton Regional/Vehicle Center, Regional services will continue to be available on a walk-in basis, but not regular vehicle transactions. Regional services include certain suspension and restoration services.
In early November, the MVC shifted ten Vehicle Centers to appointment-only. The remaining six Vehicle Centers will join them, starting Monday.
MVC Licensing Centers offer service by appointment for Out-of-State transfers, in-person renewals, and driver knowledge tests. Licensing Centers offer walk-in service for a new license, non-driver ID, or permit.
The MVC has added more appointments at all locations for improved customer service.
“While the new surge of COVID-19 cases continues to impact our staffing, we will be adding more appointments every day to accommodate those whose appointments were canceled due to COVID quarantines,” Fulton noted.
To make an appointment for any service, customers should log on to NJMVC.gov and scroll down to the “Schedule an Appointment” box or use the “Make Appointment” menu header. Appointments are scheduled on a rolling 30-day basis.
Most basic license and registration renewals or replacements can be completed online at NJMVC.gov. There are nearly thirty different online services and transactions available on the MVC website.
The MVC has implemented many changes in recent months. To help identify whether a transaction is available online, by appointment, or by walk-in, customers should check the new “How do I…?” Cheat Sheet in the Quick Links on the MVC home page.
HANOVER — The Hanover Rotary Club brought warmth and good cheer to fifty senior residents of the Morris View Healthcare Center during this holiday season.
Not to be stopped by this world-wide Corvid issue, the Club donated 50 blankets/throws to the senior residents. The program was initiated by Rotarians Kim Deckert and Val Kostenko and was a welcome gift to those seniors who would otherwise be alone through this quarantined holiday season with no relatives or visitors to share with. They were aided by Robin Dente, Hanover’s Administrative Assistant who helped with the outreach to Morris Views Daria Cohen.
Throughout the year the Hanover Rotary, as well as Rotary International, sponsors various fundraisers to support the many programs offering medical and economic aid for those in need throughout the world. Their Gift of Life Program provides much needed medical aid to children diagnosed with heart diseases. The Rotary Polio Plus has contributed much to the elimination of polio throughout the world and there are numerous other events and programs providing aid all over the globe.
To learn more about Hanover Rotary Club, Rotary International, and their many local and international philanthropic services click here.
EAST HANOVER — Though COVID-19 will alter East Hanover Police Department’s beloved annual holiday toy drive and drop off, the global pandemic only underscores the need to bring seasonal cheer and we need your help.
For the Children at Morristown Memorial’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital who are fighting for their lives, this Holiday season will be especially difficult. The EHPD is asking for your help in bringing a smile to these brave warriors’ faces. Although the EHPD will not be accepting drop-offs, Morristown Medical Center has offered another alternative!
If you wish to participate you can go to either of the following wish list links and purchase a present selected by a child.
Morristown Medical Center has asked for those participating to identify “EHPD Toy Drive” on the message slip as well as an email so that you can receive a thank you. For any questions please contact Ptl. Matt Cerrato [email protected].
