Four year old Justin Mackinson sitting in the tire of a bucket loader
PARSIPPANY — The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany will be hosting its annual Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday, June 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 1515 Route 10 East,Parsippany (Just before Dryden Way). The price is $5.00 per person or $20.00 maximum per family. In 2018 over 1,100 children attended the event.
Kids had fun putting out the fire using a real hose from a fire truck
Touch-a-Truck is a fundraising event to benefit the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany. Children of all ages can have a hands-on experience with all kinds of vehicles and interact with community support leaders like police officers, firemen, first aid squad volunteers, sanitation workers and many more!
Every child will receive a goody bag full of surprises including a free ice cream cone and much more.
New Jersey State Police Helicopter
Aside from being a great time for the family, this event helps support our major initiatives. Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Our Parsippany based group supports and sponsors many community causes.
Kiwanis Club is looking for additional vendors to participate in this great event, as well as sponsors.
For more information click here, or contact Touch-a-Truck Chairman Nicolas Limanov at Ndlimanov13@gmail.com or (917) 499-7299. Interested in a sponsorships please contact Barbara Freda at (973) 769-5310.
Stephanie Berek (left), president of the Student Film Association at CCM, and Alexa Metro, vice president, in the college’s Media Center
MORRIS COUNTY — The Student Film Association at County College of Morris (CCM) will be presenting its first student-run film festival, “Screening Under the Stars,” showcasing the work of local high school students.
High school students are encouraged to submit their work by clicking here. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, April 10.
The festival takes place Friday, April 12, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the Davidson Rooms in the Student Community Center, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph. The event, free and open to the public, provides an ideal opportunity to view the creativity of high school students as evidenced in their films.
Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and pillows for floor seating (actual seats and tables will be available for those who prefer them) and to wear pajamas.
At the festival, the films will be screened and then judged by a panel, including two college professors and a high school teacher. First, second and third place winners will be selected and presented with gift certificates.
“We wanted to create this event to showcase the abilities of high school students,” said Stephanie Berek, president of the Student Film Association. “We hope that this festival will allow the contestants to network with other film students and encourage them all to pursue their passion of film.”
“Having an audience watch your movie is the end goal for all film majors,” said Alexa Metro, vice president of the Student Film Association. “For many of the high school students attending ‘Screening Under the Stars’ will be the first time a large audience will view their film, and we think that is very exciting.”
Representatives will be at the festival to provide information on CCM’s media programs. Hot food, snacks and drinks will also be available for purchase. For more information, please contact filmfestival.ccm@gmail.com.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Sheriff’s Office on April 3, 2019, announced the launch of the Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative (PAARI), an expansion of Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon’s hallmark Hope One mobile substance abuse recovery and resource vehicle whose two-year anniversary coincides with the start of PAARI.
The launch of PAARI and expansion of Hope One in Morris County is made possible through receipt of a $332,658 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice that was applied for in 2018 by Morris County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Erica Valvano and Sheriff’s Office Trends and Analysis Team Analyst Jane Recktenwald.
Expanding on its commitment to help wrest individuals from the grip of addiction and, for some, stop the cycle of crime associated with substance abuse disorders, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office is the first law enforcement agency in Morris County to launch PAARI and the only Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey to embark on the initiative that draws municipal police departments and non-profit agencies into a partnership to help individuals fight the ravages of addiction.
Under PAARI, individuals who walk into participating police departments and request help for their addiction will be screened, and in most cases connected with a certified peer recovery specialist who will guide the individual to treatment options and resources. Daytop-NJ, a premier substance use facility based in Mendham, is the Sheriff’s Office’s partner in providing the peer recovery specialists.
Individuals who self-initiate the treatment process by going to police headquarters must surrender any drugs or paraphernalia and will not be criminally charged with possessing contraband, under a directive to police prepared by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. As participation is voluntary, the individual can elect not to continue seeking assistance.
Separately, police can use their discretion in approaching individuals they encounter on the street to determine whether they are open to meeting with a peer recovery specialist. However, the PAARI program exclusively applies to people who ask for help and cannot be used in lieu of charges or arrest.
“With opioid and heroin addiction consuming the lives of family members, neighbors, classmates and friends, and often leading them to break the law to finance their addictions, we all have a stake as human beings to try to stop the scourge,” Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon said.
“Police officers who are familiar with vulnerable populations in their communities are well-suited to start the process of helping people connect with treatment services in a compassionate, non-judgmental style,” Sheriff Gannon said.
Daytop-NJ President and CEO Jim Curtin
Daytop-NJ President and CEO Jim Curtin said of the PAARI partnership, which builds upon the non-profit’s relationship with Hope One: “We commend Morris County Sheriff Gannon for implementing the PAARI program, and are honored to provide Daytop’s trained peer counselors as a first line of defense and a choice for people with substance use disorders.”
“The PAARI program recognizes that addiction is a disease, not a character flaw or a crime, and implementing PAARI in police stations throughout Morris County is a critical step in saving the lives of those suffering from this devastating disease,” CEO Curtin said.
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp noted the array of care programs aimed at ending the disease of addiction.
“The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office looks forward to partnering again with the Sheriff and our municipal law enforcement partners on this life-saving initiative. As with Operation Helping Hand and Narcan 2.0, under the leadership of Attorney General Grewal, we and Morris County law enforcement agencies have sought to stem the tide of the horrific opioid and heroin epidemic. PAARI is another innovative effort by Sheriff Gannon towards preventing the needless loss of lives experienced during this plague which has engulfed many of our residents,” Prosecutor Knapp said.
“Expanding upon the concept of Hope One and the addition of Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT) at our County Correctional Facility, the innovative work of the Sheriff’s Office has taken the lead in New Jersey towards reducing overdose deaths and we join in this effort today and going forward,” Prosecutor Knapp said.
On April 3, about 50 police chiefs and officers from 20 municipal police departments around Morris County participated in four hours of instruction on their obligations under PAARI, at Morris County’s Public Safety Training Academy in Parsippany. Police chiefs and superior officers from the Butler, Mount Olive, Montville, Dover, and Morristown Police Departments are part of an advisory group that met in February to plan the PAARI launch.
Morris County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Erica Valvano, coordinator the Hope One-PAARI program
“The PAARI program helps local law enforcement tremendously because it delivers certified peer recovery specialists out to meet directly with the person who is suffering from addiction, either on the street or right in our municipal police stations. As a result, we can offer real help,” said Butler Police Chief Ciro Chimento.
Police department participation in PAARI is voluntary and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office hopes to make the program available at all police departments in the future. To activate their police department’s participation in PAARI, governing bodies in the respective municipalities have to pass resolutions.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office has signed on as a venue to receive walk-in requests for help from individuals battling substance abuse, after the Morris County Board of Freeholders in March 2019 approved a resolution of support.
The freeholder resolution commends the Sheriff’s Office “for taking a leadership role in creating a positive impact on individuals and their families struggling with addiction, thus, providing a clear path to recovery.”
PAARI was launched in 2015 in Massachusetts as a constructive alternative to incarceration for people battling substance abuse and about 430 law enforcement agencies in 33 states have signed on.
PAARI USA Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade was present for the April 3 launch and said of the movement:
“We are delighted to be present as the Morris County Sheriff’s Office joins PAARI and launches the Hope One-PAARI Program. They are joining a growing movement of nearly 500 law enforcement agencies nationwide that are using non-arrest strategies to address the mounting opioid epidemic.”
“As we have seen with other PAARI initiatives across the country, this program will create a pathway to treatment and recovery, which will ultimately prevent overdose deaths and improve community safety and well-being. We are grateful to all the partners involved for the dedication and leadership, and we are thrilled to have the Morris County Sheriff’s Office as partners in this important effort,” Executive Director McDade said.
Hope One, which travels twice a week to communities in Morris County where drug overdoses and narcotics arrests are occurring, has logged more than 6,400 contacts with individuals since April 3, 2017, and 1,636 people as of March 31, 2019, were trained by Hope One staff in how to administer Narcan to a person who is overdosing. Hope One has verified that at least 32 lives have been saved by people administering Narcan provided to them on their visit to Hope One.
Lewis Cherville, Steven Negro, Amber Bragg, Jenny Pinto, Mayor Ron Francioli, Tim Lockwood, Township Committeeman Brian Cahill, Deputy Mayor John Ferramosca, Sarah Young, Justin Bis, and Preston France. (Center row) Megan Doherty and Carol Donnelly.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — On Friday, March 29, Wegmans’ store manager Tim Lockwood accepted a trophy presented by Mayor Ron Francioli on behalf of the Township Committee for the store’s soft ball victory over Bayer during the first “Hanover Township Annual Charity Classic” held last fall.
Employees of both business neighbors stepped up to the plate for seven innings of friendly, competitive fun for a great cause – a $5,000.00 donation from each company to support the work of the Interfaith Food Pantry. Members of the Wegmans’ softball team and Township Committeemen joined Lockwood and Francioli for the presentation.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Hanover Township Police Officer Eric Prach charged Mr. Donald Yarlaski, 66, Newton, (currently residing at the Americas Best Value Inn) with a township ordinance.
Mr. Yarlaski was observed multiple times failing to leash his dog and pick up after the dog after it had defecated on the property of the America’s Best Value Inn.
He was warned by Officer Prach on March 11 and was again observed failing to leash and clean up after his dog on March 22.
A township ordinance special complaint was mailed to Mr. Yarlaski for failing to clean up after an animal. He was advised of his court date.
Mayor Ron Francioli and Committeeman Thomas Ace Gallagher
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — The deadline of Monday, April 1, has passed for filing for November’s election. This year only two Republicans are seeking the two three-year Township Committee seats.
Incumbents Mayor Ronald Francioli and Thomas “Ace” Gallagher filed their petition with Township Clerk Joseph Giorgio.
Other candidates on the June 4 Primary ballot will include:
Morris County Freeholder
Freeholder Incumbents Kathy DeFillippo, Doug Cabana and Thomas Mastrangelo seeking reelection. Republican candidates William Felegi, Catherine Winterfield and Donald Dinsmore also entered the race. They will face off at the June 4 primary. The winner of the primary will compete in November against a slate of Democrats. The Democrat candidates are Cara Parmigiani, Cary Amaro and David Timpanaro.
Morris County Surrogate Morris County Freeholder Heather Darling, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll and Isabella Alfano of Parsippany will compete in primary for Morris County Surrogate, a five-year post. The winner of the primary will compete in November against Democratic lawyer Michael Thompson.
Morris County Sheriff Republican incumbent James Gannon has filed to run for his second three-year term as Morris County Sheriff. Gannon has no primary challenge but will face Democrat and former Morris County Undersheriff William Schievella, who is also facing no primary challenge.
Assembly – 27th District Republicans Michael Dailey and Mauro G. Tucci are running unopposed in the Republican Primary. They will face off in November with Democrat incumbents John F. McKeon and Mila M. Jasey.
You are eligible to vote if you are a citizen of the United States; are a Morris County resident 30 days before the election; are a resident of the election district in which you expect to vote on Election Day, you will be 18 years of age on or before the next election (Note you can register at 17, but can’t vote until you turn 18) and you are not incarcerated, on parole, or on probation due to a conviction for an indictable offense under any federal or state laws.
During the primary election to be held on June 4, you can only vote for candidates in your party affiliation (such as Democrat or Republican). If you wish to change this affiliation, you may do by April 10 for the primary election. Click here to download a voter registration application to change party affiliation.
You must register to vote 21 days before any election, which is May 14 for the Primary election.
If you moved into Hanover Township click here download a voter registration application.
If you have any questions contact Morris County Board of Elections at (973) 285-6715.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — We’re about two months away from The 5th Annual Hanover Township Education Foundation’s 5K Run and One-Mile Fun-Walk which will be held on Saturday, June 8.
All the schools in both districts (K-12) have benefited from the contributions to the Hanover Township Education Foundation over the years; including technology advancements, an outdoor classroom, audio, visual equipment and many more advancements. By participating in our 5K, you help us continue on our mission of creating a strong school-community.
Registration is now open and organizers are enthusiastically preparing for an action-packed day!
5K FEE: $25.00 single adult or $15.00 child pre-registration fee. (non-refundable) Register online no later than 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 5 for the pre-registration rate. On race day, the fee will be $30.00 single and $20.00 child and you will receive a t-shirt while supplies last. Same day registration closes at 8:00 a.m. Check in starts at 7:00 a.m. for pre-registrants. 8:30 a.m. is the official 5K race start time.
ONE-MILE FUN-WALK: A One-Mile Fun-Walk has been added to the mix of activities. Walkers will begin and end at the 5K Race finish line. The Fun-Walk will begin promptly at 8:15 a.m.
ONE-MILE FUN-WALK FEE: $20.00 single adult or $10.00 child pre-registration fee. Same-day registration for the Fun-Walk will remain the same – $20.00 single adult or $10.00 child.
EARLY PICK-UP: Pre-race packet pick up can be made Friday evening June 7, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Whippany Chiropractic Life Center, 133 Whippany Road, Whippany.
The 5K Race for Health is full of awards for racers. Over 100 medals are up for grabs as the top three male finishers and top three female finishers in each age group are each awarded (five-year age brackets from 10 to 85).
Click here to register and support a school of your choice, and ask your friends and family to join in on the fun.
For sponsorship opportunities contact Barbara Freda at (973) 769-5310 or e-mail bfrefa@zoomus.com.
Douglas Cabana, Kathy DeFillippo and Thomas Mastrangelo
MORRIS COUNTY — Republican Freeholders and proven conservatives Doug Cabana, Tom Mastrangelo and Kathy DeFillippo received the official endorsement from their colleagues: Morris County Freeholders Deb Smith, John Krickus, Steve Shaw and Heather Darling.
They joined other Republican elected officials across Morris County who announced their support of Cabana, Mastrangelo & DeFillippo. That brings the total endorsement count to over 168 Republican elected officials, county-wide including four Senators, nine Assembly members.
Cabana said “It’s an honor to earn the support of our colleagues whom we work together with to deliver sound and effective government to the people of Morris County.”
Tom Mastrangelo said “I am humbled to have their support and look forward to working with them in the upcoming term. It has been my pleasure to serve with them. I know that our team appreciates their support. We are united in our common efforts to deliver good government to the people of Morris County.”
“I truly appreciate Deb, Steve, John and Heather’s support and look forward to continuing the good work we do together said DeFillippo.
Freeholders Cabana, Mastrangelo and DeFillippo are common sense Republicans who have guided the county to fiscally responsible budgets including multiple ZERO tax increases and reduced the county debt by tens of millions of dollars while continuing to deliver responsive, quality services to all the residents of the county. Morris County has been rated as one of the best run counties in the country by two leading financial rating agencies . Business along with county government are continuing to create an environment that promotes growth and new jobs, with more coming each year making Morris County one of the best places to live, work and raise a family . The primary election is Tuesday, June 4.
BOONTON — GFWC Woman’s Club of Boonton is sponsoring an eyeglass drive. Drop box is located at Boonton Coffee, 516 Main Street, if you have any old frames to donate.
If you are interested in community service, developing friendships, making a difference in the lives of others, and to have fun, please join us. Open to all, and membership forms will be accepted at the meeting. A non-profit, community service organization – Guests always welcome.
The Woman’s Club of Boonton general meeting will be held on to Town Of Boonton, 126 North Main Street. For additional information contact Paula Geleailen at (973) 219-1794 or email rpalgele@aol.com.
The Woman’s Club of Boonton was a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC) of GFWC, an international, non-profit community service organization, founded in 1894.
MORRIS COUNTY — Meet Apollo, a three-year-old Husky! This active, young boy was given up due to landlord issues in his previous home. We are so excited to be able to help him find his forever home now!
Apollo
Apollo, typical of his breed, is extremely active and will need a home that understands this and is willing to exercise him both physically and mentally. He is dog-friendly and can live with children 13+.
Apollo’s ideal home would be one with a fully-fenced yard he can play in with a family who is home more often than not as he does not like being left alone for extended periods of time. He is an extremely friendly dog who loves meeting new people and playing with them, especially tug-of-war!
Apply to adopt Apollo if you’re ready for adventure and fun!
If you are interested in adopting Apollo, 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.
