PARSIPPANY — Successful Mary Kay Distributor Doreen Brennan is the guest speaker at the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce “Lunch Dozen Networking Series.” This series will be held on Wednesday, February 13 at 12:00 Noon.  Cost for this event is $15.00 and includes lunch, from a selection of items.

Doreen will discuss some techniques that may help you in those face-to-face networking interactions and proper techniques to make your networking successful and gain new customers. Networking will help you develop and improve your skill set, stay on top of the latest trends in your industry, keep a pulse on the job market, meet prospective mentors, partners, and clients, and gain access to the necessary resources that will foster your career development.

During lunch and you will have a one-on-one conversation with Doreen Brennan on her success in networking.

Reserve your seat today by clicking here, as there are a limited quantity available.

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. For more information call (973) 402-6400.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP — In February of 2019 with the opening of RegeneSpine at 197 Ridgedale Avenue, Suite 210, in Cedar Knolls, comes a new approach to treating patients who are suffering from painful spine and joint conditions.

Dr. Stephen J. Roman, a triple board certified Medical Doctor, having been a senior partner for 15 years with Trenton Orthopedic Group, is the Medical Director of the RegeneSpine, Regenerative Spine and Joint Institute.  According to Dr. Roman “The use of regenerative medicine in the treatment of spine and other musculoskeletal conditions is a paradigm shift. We once had to rely on the tools available to us such as steroids, addictive medications, and surgery. With the advent of regenerative medicine we can now use a patients’ own cells for healing.”

Dr Roman utilizes techniques including the use of patient’s own blood products such as platelet rich plasma (PRP). He is also making use of patients’ own fat for the treatment of arthritis as well as patients’ bone marrow which includes mesenchymal stem cells. He reports that he prefers to offer patients minimally invasive treatments prior to considering more invasive or surgical procedures.

He goes on to say “My 15 years of experience working in an orthopaedic practice has shown me what works for patients. Unfortunately, like so many other new treatments, insurance carriers and Medicare do not yet pay for regenerative treatments.”

Dr. Roman states “I am happy to be back in Morris County where I grew up and I am very excited to be working alongside regenerative experts at the New Jersey Regenerative Institute including Drs. Gerry Malanga, Jay Bowen, and Tom Agesen.”

To determine if you are a candidate for these new regenerative cell-based therapies, click here or contact RegeneSpine at (973) 387-1044.

NEW JERSEY — Tyson Foods a Sedalia, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 36,420 pounds of chicken nugget products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically rubber, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.

The panko chicken nugget items were produced on November 26, 2018. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF only)]

5-lb. plastic packages of “Tyson WHITE MEAT PANKO CHICKEN NUGGETS” with a “BEST IF USED BY” date of “NOV 26 2019,” case code “3308SDL03” and time stamps 23:00 through 01:59 (inclusive).
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-13556” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered when the establishment received consumer complaints of extraneous material in purchased Panko Chicken Nugget products. FSIS was notified on January 29, 2019.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website by clicking here.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Tyson Consumer Relations at  1-888-747-7611. Members of the Media with questions about the recall can contact Worth Sparkman, Senior Communications Manager with Tyson Foods, Inc., at (479) 290-6358.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day by clicking here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County has joined with six other New Jersey counties to support a New Jersey Association of Counties challenge to the state’s mail-in ballot initiative that has put the burden of paying for the handling, printing, postage and other costs squarely on the fiscal shoulders of county taxpayers.

NJAC, in a filing with the New Jersey Council on Local Mandates, contends state government violated the New Jersey Constitution by requiring county clerks and elections staff to undertake a comprehensive voting initiative without including any state funds for the effort.

That unfunded mandate cost county government across the state more than $1.5 million in 2018, with the bill expected to rise in coming years. The new law cost Morris County an extra $170,000 in 2018.

Morris County mailed out more than 37,000 vote-by-mail ballots in 2018 compared to about 6,000 in previous elections.

“This all came about due to an executive order by the Governor and with no thought of the financial strain it would put on counties,” said Morris County Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “The state did not allocate money to county governing bodies to offset the costs associated with implementing and administering the new law in violation of the state Constitution.”

The Morris County Board of Freeholders unanimously passed a resolution earlier this month opposing the mandate and authorizing NJAC to act on its behalf. Other counties backing this action include Atlantic, Cape May, Hudson, Hunterdon, Monmouth, and Somerset.

“I fully support the efforts of the Freeholder Board and NJAC to deal with these fiscally burdensome requirements,’’ said Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi. “As we come up on the next Presidential Election in 2020, this could become an even more difficult and costly situation.’’

Grossi noted that NJAC has the support of the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey on this issue.

The state Constitution prohibits state government from requiring units of local or county government from implementing additional or expanded activities with providing funds for those actions. The State Council on Local Mandates is empowered to resolve any disputes on whether a law, rule or regulation constitutes an unfunded mandate.

On August 10, 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed a law (P.L. 2018, C72) that stated that any qualified voter is entitled to vote use a mail-in ballot in the 2018 or any future elections, including general elections, held in the state.

The act further required that all qualified voters who sought a mail-in ballot in the 2016 Presidential Election should receive vote-by-mail ballots in perpetuity — for all future elections. This was required even if voters did not request mail-in ballots for the 2018 election cycle.

It also mandated that County Clerk’s Offices prior to the 2018 general election send written notices to all vote-by-mail voters informing them they will receive vote-by-mail ballots for all future elections unless voters send a request in writing to end the practice.

Only a request in writing from a voter can stop elections officials from sending them mail-in ballots for all future elections, everything from Presidential elections to fire district elections.

As a result of this new law, counties’ elections offices have incurred personnel costs, and contracted costs with outside vendors for printing services, postage, and supplies such as stickers and labels.

NJAC is asking the State Council on Mandates to enjoin the state from enforcing this new law in all future elections.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders has issued a resolution to County College of Morris Professor Kathleen McNeil in recognition of her years fostering the talents of young designers as the faculty advisor of the award-winning student literary magazine The Promethean.

Additionally, the freeholders awarded county certificates of congratulations to four student designers who produced the 2017-18 edition of The Promethean, selected by Graphic Design:USA as a winner in its American Inhouse Design Awards contest.

The competition pits the student publication against 5,000 entries submitted by professional designers from around the world. The award continues a decade-long streak of national recognition for the magazine, garnering numerous awards from Graphic Design:USA.

The awards are considered a barometer of success in the graphics design and advertising fields.  Student recipients were:

• Emily Ambrosi of Denville, student designer and cover photographer/illustrator
• Margaret Koenig of Mount Olive, student designer,
• Dhrupa Patel of Parsippany, student designer
• Matthew Wotasek of Hackettstown, student designer

Among those present for the awards were CCM President Anthony Iacono and trustees Joseph Weisberg, Jeffrey M. Advokat, Thomas Pepe and Paul Licitra.

Professor McNeil developed a unique course curriculum for production of The Promethean to immerse CCM students in design development and professional practices not commonly taught in classrooms.

In addition, to serving as advisor for the magazine, she teaches design courses at both CCM and Fairleigh Dickinson University.

The American Graphic Design Awards is the largest showcase for original work created by graphic designers. This is the 13th year in a row that the Promethean has received an American Graphic Design award from GraphicDesign:USA.

MORRIS COUNTY — The 11th Hour Animal Rescue will host their “Third Annual Trivia Event? on Saturday, February 23 at Lake Hopatcong Elks Club, 201 Howard Boulevard, Mt Arlington.

There are two seatings available: Brunch Seating: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Brunch from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. followed by Trivia Game) and Dinner Seating: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Dinner from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. followed by Trivia Game)

Tickets: $25.00 Brunch Seating and $30.00 Dinner Seating.

Includes Trivia Game hosted by Joe Trivia and either brunch buffet or dinner buffet with coffee, tea and dessert. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Bring a team of up to eight friends or allow us to match you up with a team. Seats are limited and available on a first-come first-served.

Prizes for the winning team. Tricky Tray and 50/50 Raffle* *Must be at least 18 years old to participate.

For more information, contact ehrwendy@gmail.com. Click here to pick your seating.

MORRIS COUNTY — Representatives of the Burlington County Sheriff’s and Prosecutor’s Offices want to replicate Hope One, an innovative mobile substance abuse recovery vehicle launched in April 2017 by Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon to help fight opioid and heroin addiction.

Hope One, which in the past 21 months has logged more than 6,000 contacts with individuals struggling with addiction or their families and friends, was parked Monday outside the Netcong Train Station, where Sheriff Gannon met with four law enforcement officials from Burlington County.

Hope One already was replicated by the Newark Police Department in December and earlier by the Cape May Prosecutor’s Office and Monmouth and Atlantic County Sheriff’s Offices.
Burlington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Mike Ditzel said he heard Sheriff Gannon speak about Hope One at a New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association meeting last fall, admired the concept, and believes Burlington County can be successful with the same proactive approach.

“This could potentially be a great addition to other programs we have, including youth programs to help stop addiction before it starts,” said Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigations Darren Anderson.

“We bring services to the client, out in the field,” Sheriff Gannon told the Burlington County officials. “It’s successful because of relationships we have with the service providers.”
Sheriff Gannon noted that 3,118 people statewide died of overdoses in 2018, a 15 percent increase over 2017 but Morris County saw a 1 percent decrease in overdoses in 2018 from the previous year. There were 84 deaths attributed to overdoses in 2018 in Morris County.
The sheriff related to the Burlington officials how a father approached the Hope One vehicle on Jan. 7 with a story of concern that his son, just home from a rehabilitation center, would relapse. The father was trained by Hope One staff to administer Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses the effects of opioids, and given a canister to bring home. He found his son unconscious from an overdose in their home the same day and was able to revive him with Narcan, the sheriff said.

There’s a cascading impact on families, the children, parents, spouses and siblings of addicts, Gannon said.

Since April 3, 2017, when Hope One made its debut on The Green in Morristown, the vehicle has made about 270 stops in locations throughout Morris County that statistics show are populated by at-risk people and where drug overdoses are occurring. Sheriff Gannon said 200 people who boarded Hope One in search of services were transported to treatment for mental health issues or to detox centers and treatment facilities for their substance abuse addictions.

Hope One was staffed during the visit by Burlington County officials by Morris County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Erica Valvano in plainclothes; Kelly LaBar, a peer recovery specialist for Morris County CARES; Madine Despeine, director of Self Help, Advocacy and Education for the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris; and Ashley Reed, a care navigator for Family Promise of Morris County.

In nonjudgmental style, the staff offer literature, resources, Narcan training, coffee, water, hand warmers and snacks to visitors to Hope One, and are equipped to immediately help individuals find treatment for their addictions.

The Hope One vehicle used to be a Sheriff’s Office SWAT truck that was stripped of law enforcement emblems and painted white and purple, the color symbolizing recovery. Hope One parks Mondays and Thursdays for about five hours in selected locations where at-risk people are known to congregate.

PARSIPPANY — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill was named Chair of the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The subcommittee is empowered with investigative authority on all matters concerning non-defense federal research.

“Federal research is vital to the innovation that drives our local economy and global competitiveness,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “I am proud to lead the subcommittee in support of the independence and integrity of science and scientists advancing the fields of energy, space, and transportation.”

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee has jurisdiction over non-defense federal research and development, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It also has jurisdiction over research and development at the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi announced the winners in the 2019 Morris County Manual Cover Contest.

1st place: Krystal Colon from Morris Knolls High School

2nd place: Andrew Donahue from Morris Hills High School

3rd place: Julian Mesa from Morris Hills High School

The judges of this year’s contest were Morris County Tax Board Commissioner William Kersey, Parsippany Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani, and from the County Clerk’s Office, Lauren Esposito, Maria May and Laura Roberts.

The Morris County Manual is a comprehensive resource containing the names and contact information of elected and appointed officials at all levels of government. The annual publication is designed to help simplify doing business with the various departments, boards and commissions and with all 39 municipalities throughout Morris County.

Each year, the County Clerk conducts an art contest to select a cover for the Morris County Manual. The contest is open to all high school art students within the county. The creators of the top three covers selected by a group of judges are presented with monetary scholarship awards by County Clerk Ann F. Grossi.

The 2018 Winners were: First Place Winner: Felicia Terreri is a senior at Whippany Park High School. She plays varsity softball and is actively involved with the Art Club. Felicia was voted Most Spirited and humbled to have been crowned Homecoming Queen. During the school year, Felicia works as an aide for Hanover Township’s aftercare program and enjoys working as a lifeguard during the summer. Her free time is spent painting, snowboarding, watching movies and spending time with family and friends. She plans to attend college and pursue a career in Graphic Design.

Second Place Winner: Aayush Saxena is a junior in the Academy of Computer Science at Morris County School of Technology. He designed the cover as part of Advertising Art and Design elective at MCST. He is a member of the Robotics Club and the Tech Club. His hobbies include reading and playing video games. He volunteers at Dover Hospital. He resides in Randolph with his parents and younger brother, Aakansh. After high school he would like to work for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Third Place Winner: Jared Redington is a sophomore student attending Morris Hills High School in Rockaway. His interests include Track & Field (throwing the javelin, and shotput), photography, magic, hiking, and spending time with his friends & family. Jared is also an Eagle Scout, a member of Wharton Troop 67, and one day hopes to pursue Military Intelligence as his future career.