HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Hanover Township Sergeant John Schauder was advised by Wegmans Asset Protection that an unknown female was captured on surveillance video shoplifting $1300.00 worth of merchandise from the store, on Friday, May 17.
An APBnet Bulletin was sent out to surrounding agencies asking for assistance in identifying the female. The female was eventually identified as Ms. Diana Panciello, 35, Irvington.
Ms. Panciello was located on Tuesday, May 21 and was arrested and transported to Hanover Township Police Headquarters for processing.
She was charged with Shoplifting and Conspiracy to commit shoplifting, Possession of CDS, Tampering with evidence and two counts of Drug paraphernalia.
She was then transported to Morris County Correctional Facility pending her court date.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
EAST HANOVER — The East Hanover Child Care Center, proud to be celebrating its 20th Year Anniversary, received a 4-star rating for their successful completion of the rigorous, research-based Grow NJ Kids quality rating program.
Grow NJ Kids is New Jersey’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). It offers child care and early learning programs access to training, professional development, staff scholarships for continuing education and targeted technical assistance. Professional raters visit the program to review quality standards and then program participants receive ratings – up to five stars – by meeting an extensive list of quality benchmarks.
More than 40 states across the country have a form of QRIS. In New Jersey, the program is administered by the Departments of Children and Families, Education, Health, and Human Services.
“The assistance we got from Grow NJ Kids helped us review our quality standards, refine our practices and, ultimately, gave our incredible teachers the opportunity to shine and feel proud of what they do on a daily basis” says center Owner and Director, Barbara Fucile.
“Grow NJ Kids offers resources to help educate parents on the importance of quality child care and early childhood education,” says Andrea Breitwieser, Grow NJ Kids Coordinator. “It also gives parents and families the tools needed to find programs that will make the most of their kids early learning experiences.”
East Hanover Child Care Center should be proud of their rating, as participation in Grow NJ Kids indicates they provide a higher standard of care, exceeding New Jersey’s licensing standards, Breitwieser said. The rating will help further the school’s mission to provide high quality child care. East Hanover Child Care is committed to excellence in early childhood education; it strives to fulfill the unique potential of each child in a supportive learning environment.
East Hanover Child Care Center offers an educational preschool and nurturing learning environment for children ages six weeks through eight years. For more information about the East Hanover Child Care Center, click here or to find a participating Grow NJ Kids program near you click here.
During the 2009 Primary election, when he was up for re-election to his 7th term in Trenton, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll sent out a mailer to his constituents where he listed 18 bills he supports or sponsored and said he could save them “15% or more on your taxes.”
Ten years later, eight of which were under a Republican Governor, Assemblyman Carroll failed to deliver on any of these promises. Taxes are as high as ever; residents are fleeing the state, and Assemblyman Carroll wants a taxpayer funded job with better pay. His failure to deliver any tangible results by the metric he set for himself, speaks volumes to the type of Assemblyman he is.
Carroll will respond, by stating that he was in the minority, but when he sent out this mailer, he was in his 6th term in the Assembly. This was not the product of an overambitious first-time candidate for office, but rather a calculated political decision by an entrenched incumbent to lie to his constituents in hopes they would be more likely to vote for him.
Assemblyman Carroll also holds disgusting views about slavery, views that will guarantee him defeat in November, and bring shame on Morris County Republicans, if he is our nominee. He once stated, and to this day refuses to back down from the following quote: “If slavery was the price that a modern American ancestors had to pay in order to make one an American, one should get down on one’s knees every single day and thank the Lord that such price was paid.” No one holding these views should be in public service and it’s a shame more Republicans have not taken a stronger stand against them.
Furthermore, despite claiming to be a taxpayer champion, Assemblyman Carroll cannot take care of his own finances. He filed for bankruptcy and had a tax lien against him for failing to pay his own taxes. Now he wants to control a $26 million children’s fund that the Surrogate oversees. His finances came back to haunt him in 2011 when he his judicial nomination was withdrawn amid feelings that among his own colleagues for over a decade in Trenton and in the Bar Association may be unfit to be a judge, and now he wants to be an elected judge to the Surrogate’s Court.
Morris County residents deserve better than Michael Patrick Carroll for their next surrogate. That is why I am supporting Freeholder Heather Darling. Freeholder Darling is an independent voice, who will be a champion for the elderly and special needs residents of Morris County. Darling’s platform also recognizes a group that Carroll seems to have forgotten as a “no vote” in the most recent decision in this regard, the unborn. Heather Darling has repeatedly indicated that she will champion adoption, a function facilitated by the Surrogate’s Office as a very viable alternative to abortion. Most importantly she takes her position as Freeholder seriously and will do the same as Surrogate. Please join me in voting Heather Darling for Morris County Surrogate in June 4 Republican primary.
Hanover Park High School, located at 63 Mount Pleasant Avenue in East Hanover, serves students from East Hanover and Florham Park as part of the Hanover Park Regional High School District.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — The Board of Education of the Hanover Park Regional High School District, which serves high school students from Florham Park, East Hanover and Hanover Township, has passed a Stigma-Free resolution, formally joining the countywide effort to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Hanover Park Regional, which includes Whippany Park High School and Hanover Park High Schools, joins 35 Morris County towns, plus school districts, law enforcement, nonprofit agencies, hospitals, and faith-based groups in the Stigma-Free initiative.
“Hanover Park Regional High School District, a ‘National School District of Character,’ continues to support the Stigma-Free effort through its character education initiative and core values: Caring, Citizenship, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility, Trustworthiness,’’ said Hanover Park Regional Superintendent Carol Grossi.
“As we practice these values in our school communities, we are able to heighten everyone’s awareness in understanding others who struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues. We continue to support our students with the many challenges that confront them during their adolescent years by showing them how they can help themselves by helping others.”
The three-year-old grass roots Stigma-Free movement recognizes the high prevalence of mental illness and substance use disorders in our communities. It promotes re-education and understanding that can lead to treatment and recovery – minus the stigma associated with these illnesses.
Leaders of this initiative from across the county are now working with school districts and faith-based groups to become active participants, hosting a variety of programs, such as the upcoming “Breaking Stigma: Building a Strong Healthy Community’’ arts and music festival set for June 22 on the Morristown Green. For more information click here.
As part of the countywide initiative, residents are urged to take the Stigma Free Pledge by clicking here.
The Morris County Board of Freeholders in 2016 passed a resolution (joining several towns that had initiated the movement), designating Morris County as a Stigma-Free County and asked all of the county’s towns to consider enrolling.
Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo
“We are pleased that Hanover Park Regional has formally joined the Stigma-Free initiative,’’ said Morris County Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo, who has been the county governing board’s liaison to this effort.
“The students and staff at the two high schools already have been leaders in the Stigma-Free effort, and we look forward to their continuing energy and support in this initiative to help affected people seek recovery, without fear of stigma or reprisal,’’ she added.
Morris County has created a Stigma Free website www.morriscountystigmafree.org to call attention to the initiative, provide information and resources, and a calendar of upcoming events related to mental illness and substance abuse. A Stigma Free Toolkit also is available for towns, schools, colleges and universities, and faith-based organizations.
Here are just a few of many voices in Morris County supporting the Stigma-Free Initiative:
Chester School District Superintendent Christina Van Woert: “We are extremely proud to be part of such a compassionate community and I think that is reflected in our desire to support all of our students, parents and community members by being a part of Stigma Free.’’
Montville School Superintendent Rene Rovtar: We feel it is important that students feel that if they are struggling with any mental health issues that they know that it is okay not to be okay, and that many resources are available to help them. We want all of our students and staff to know that the district stands ready to support them with no stigma attached.”
Pequannock Mayor Melissa Florance-Lynch. “In one way or another, everyone is affected by problems of mental illness and substance abuse and we want people to know the community is here to help.”
Brian Finestein, CEO of Saint Clare’s Behavioral Health Centers “One in four adults experiences a diagnosable mental illness every year and many of these individuals do not seek help because of fear of shame or judgment from friends, family and coworkers.’’
For information on the disease of mental illness, visit www.nami.org and for information on NAMI’s national Stigma Free effort click here.
Stigma is defined as a mark of disgrace which results from the judgment by others. When individuals are labeled by their illness, they experience judgment and prejudice. Stigma brings experiences and feelings of shame, embarrassment, distress, hopelessness and reluctance to seek or accept help.
FLORHAM PARK — Florham Park Mayor, Mark Taylor, is a Republican candidate for Mayor in the upcoming primary election to be held on Tuesday, June 4.
Mark has been the Mayor of Florham Park for over six years. He is a lifelong resident of Florham Park and the fifth child of Frank and Mickey Taylor. His parents moved to Florham Park in 1952 and lived and raised a family until their passing in 1984-85.
He is married to Janet Taylor for thirty years and has two great children. Erin is 24 and Christopher is 21.
Taylor has worked as an account executive in the automotive aftermarket for 39 years. He is a Senior Associate with Kam Marketing, a manufacturer’s representative firm headquartered in Greenville, DE. He has been with Kam Marketing for over 24 years. During his employment he has received many sales awards for excelling in sales and growth in his territory. In 2016 the Kam Marketing sales force received the highest award given in the business. They were chosen as the Representative of the year by SEMA.
Some of Mark’s achievements include:
Member of the Florham Park Jaycees and past President 2004.
2005 named as national Jaycees President of the year.
Member of Board of Directors Morris County League of Municipalities
Member of Florham Park Rotary
Member of the Sons of Post 43 American Legion
Co-Founder of the NJ Coalition for Education and Positive Choices
Appointed to the Council in 2006 following a nomination from the County Committee. He severed as Council President three times before taking the post as Mayor in 2013. He was also unanimously selected by the County Committee to take the role as Mayor of Florham Park. He has subsequently run three times for Mayor.
Taylor has been a champion of numerous open space projects. Chairing the grant committee for more than seven open space applications to the County Open Space Committee. He was able to successfully receive grants to purchase property for permanent open space status. Taylor’s largest achievement was obtaining a grant for the purchase of the Fish Farm 11 Acre site, slated for an 11 home subdivision. This property will be persevered forever as open space. He also served for a three year term on the Morris County Open Space committee.
Mark has been on the Historic Preservation Commission and severed as Chairman on one of the first Grand applications awarded to the Little Red School House for new heat and air conditioning. This was done to preserve the artifacts inside the building.
After joining the council, Mark has been a member of the Liaison to the Town Center Task Force. This Task Force helped to mold the list of improvements to buildings in the downtown area.
He developed and brought the first Tree Ordinance to the Boro Council and that Ordinance was passed and is in place for the betterment of Florham Park today.
Taylor worked side by side with former Mayor Scott Eveland on the donation of some 110 acres of property on Elm Street from the Rockefeller Group to the Boro of Florham Park; He worked with Mayor Eveland and many of the council members on the transformation of the 19 acres to new fields that were later constructed and now named “Volunteers Park”. This was the first new athletic fields project in more than 50 years in Florham Park. His opponent voted NO on this project. This has been the single greatest addition to Florham Park for our children.
Taylor has worked tirelessly on growing back our commercial tax ratable base. Under my leadership we have added close to $500,000.00 in new assessed value ratable in commercial properties. This has been the catalyst to the ability to deliver a budget under 2% for many years. As a long time Planning Board member, he has worked with the Planning Board members to improve the downtown and the complete transformation of the former Exxon site to the Green at Florham Park developed by the Rockefeller Group.
Costs continue to rise on healthcare and pensions for the great town employees, the Police and DPW workers and Library employees and the members of the governing body have been tasked with continuing to deliver the services that all residents deserve with the very lowest increases in taxes.
Florham Park has the second lowest tax rate in the 39 Morris County communities. This has been a continued effort of the Council members working closely with the finance team.
Mark continued talking about the Florham Park AAA bond rating. “A few years back the Boro was challenged by one of the leading three names in bond ratings agencies. Moody’s contacted the Boro of Florham Park to do a review and a possible downgrade to the credit rating prior to meeting with them. I stepped up with my Team consisting of the CFO Patrice Visco, our Budget Consultant Jon Rheinhardt, the Boro’s auditor, Raymond G. Sarinelli, Business Administrator Bill Huyler, Councilman Charlie Malone and myself and conducted what was one of the best business plans for today and the future that the representative from Moody’s had ever seen. That was his words not mine.”
“Following that meeting with Moody’s we received a very supportive letter holding the AAA bond rating for the Boro of Florham Park. This is a very significant achievement for the town and only 16 towns in New Jersey have this rating. Moody’s has been back two more times in recent years only to clarify our financial plan is a sound plan for today and for the foreseeable future,” he said.
Taylor has worked with the Board of Education on many projects including a very large issue concerning our state aid to the K-8 school system. He hosted several conference calls with State Representatives in the Governor’s Office, and then a follow up meeting in Trenton with Superintendent Melissa Varley, BOE President Nick Retrivi and Business Administrator John Csatlos. The thrust of these conference calls and the subsequent meeting in Trenton was to increase the state aid for the schools. Florham Park Board of Education was given the good news by state representatives that they would receive 13% additional funding for the 2019-2020 calendar year.
Florham Park is blessed as a community to have the services of the Florham Park Fire Department and the Members of the Memorial First Aid Squad. He does everything he can to help these members and he respects what they do for the Boro on daily basis. Please contact either of these organizations if you would like to join.
Fair Share housing in Florham Park. Florham Park has been tasked with a very high burden of our share of Low / Moderate income housing. The first numbers Florham Park received from the Superior Court under what is called the third round of obligations was not good. Florham Park was assessed at 1082 units. Taylor’s team members fought this obligation and settled on a much lower but still huge amount of 624 units. The Planning Board and the Council has done a magnificent job in mitigating this number by delivering some very low traffic products to the mix. This will include 102 units counting as COAH units. This product is called Supportive housing built by the Rockefeller Group for the United Way of Bergen County. Florham Park will also have a large number of over 55 years of age and no school age children in another addition of housing to the Boro. And finally many one bedroom units in another project will further helping with lower traffic in town.
Mark Taylor has received the endorsement of all but one of the council members. Taylor thanks them for their continued support.
On June 4, 2019, he asks that you please vote for him, Mark Taylor, to continue to serve as Mayor of Florham Park. Vote Column 1, Line 15.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany President and Touch-A-Truck Chairman Nicolas Limanov
MORRIS COUNTY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany President Karen DeChristopher had the honor of presenting Touch-A-Truck Chairman Nicolas Limanov with a certificate of Recognition from New Jersey District of Kiwanis.
Every year, all clubs throughout the world submits their signature project to their District.
A signature project is one that includes all of the following criteria:
Recurring: At a minimum, the project should take place annually.
Brand enhancing: The project should be designed to elevate the Kiwanis brand in the local community with opportunities for public relations activities, such as using the Kiwanis name on the project, media mentions, etc.
High impact: The project should have a demonstrable positive impact on the community; this impact should be measurable in monies raised, children served, flags hung, playgrounds built, etc.
Membership focused: The project should support opportunities to strengthen membership and develop new partnerships.
New Jersey District of Kiwanis has chosen Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany Touch-A-Truck as the #1 signature project this year, from all the clubs submitting in New Jersey.
Touch-A-Truck is an annual event held every June. This year, Touch-A-Truck will be held on Saturday, June 15 at 1515 Route 10 East, Parsippany, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The committee will have over 50 displays including fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, New Jersey State Police Helicopter, cranes, busses, taxi’s, dump trucks, and more. There will be child fingerprinting, DJ, face painting, balloon artists. Every child will receive a free ice cream cone from The Dairy at Lake Hiawatha, and also receive a “goody” bag provided by local merchants.
The area children will have an opportunity to talk to firemen, police officers, truck drivers and learn the different services they provide in our community.
Last year over 1,100 children attended the event.
For more information on Touch-A-Truck, contact Nicolas Limanov at (917) 499-7299 or click here.
Kids had fun putting out the fire using a real hose from a fire truckNew Jersey State Police HelicopterEight Year old Marvelo Parks having fun inside a vehicleJacob Paniccia sitting on the motorcycle
MADISON — The Borough of Madison will be holding its annual Memorial Day Parade this Monday, May 27.
The ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m. sharp at Upper James Park with the laying of the wreath by the American Legion of Florham Park. Following the ceremony, the parade will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Condurso Way, proceeding down Main Street to Prospect Street, then, following Kings Road to Hartley Dodge Memorial, where there will be a solemn remembrance ceremony.
Kings Road between Madison Avenue and Green Avenue will be closed at 8:00 a.m. for parade staging.
The parade route will be closed at 8:30 a.m. and residents are advised that there will be a strict enforcement of “No Parking” along the parade route.
Access through/around town is best via Loantaka Way to Woodland Road, or, Elm Street to Park Avenue and Ridgedale Avenue.
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — The Calais Foundation, the fundraising arm of The Calais School in Whippany, celebrated their ninth Gala. The annual event was held at The Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park. From the Wine & Whiskey tasting pre-event, to the awards ceremony, and an action packed live auction there were lots of memorable moments.
Celebrity guest Don Oriolo, creative mastermind and son of the creator of “Felix the Cat”, lent his talents and larger than life personality to the Gala as co-auctioneer. He also donated a custom guitar with an original “Felix the Cat” design which sold at the live auction.
This year’s event honorees included: Charlotte Leitner, founder of The Calais School and recipient of The Making A Difference Award for her lifelong commitment to empowering children with special learning needs.
Trevor Jones, Treasurer of The Calais Foundation, and recipient of The McClafferty Award for his leadership, dedication, and generosity.
Maryann Braen, educator at The Calais School and recipient of The Leitner Excellence in Education Award for her ongoing commitment to the learning disabled community through her profession.
Students studying Floral Design & Landscape at The Calais School prepared all of the floral centerpieces and dignitaries’ boutonnieres. Original artwork produced by students under the instruction of Kevin Brooks, The Calais School’s Artist-in-Residence, were displayed throughout the venue.
Perhaps the most impressive contribution from Calais’ students, based on sheer quantity, was the dessert! Under the tutelage of Assistant Principal, Steve Sokolewicz and the school’s nutritionist Kelly Walsh, the Culinary Arts classes worked for several weeks perfecting their donut recipe for the Gala’s first ever donut wall. Ultimately 300 donuts were produced!
MADISON — Madison Junior Football (MJF) invites parents of current and prospective players (Grades K-8) and all interested area residents to its upcoming parent safety clinic on Tuesday, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Madison Community House, 25 Cook Avenue.
Speakers will include parents of current football players, a representative from the Riddell equipment company, MJF President Tom Leck and board member Scott Spelker, all of whom will discuss the many initiatives taken by MJF to maintain a safe environment for all players.
MJF has always been at the forefront of safety in the Morris County Youth Football League. MJF was one of the first programs in the county to join the nationally-acclaimed USA Football organization, which requires a three-hour certification program and test. The USA football program focuses on “heads up” tackling to avoid helmet to helmet contact and to make the game safer for all participants. Every MJF coach is USA Football certified.
Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, make comments and check out the equipment worn by the players during the season. This will include the Riddell InSite Smart Helmets its seventh and eighth-grade teams have been using for three years and that the sixth-grade team began using last season.
The InSite helmets have multiple sensors to detect hard impact. We will learn how the system notifies coaches of high impact hits and the protocol followed to ensure player safety. MJF was the first youth program in NJ use the InSite System and has been featured in several promotional videos by Riddell.
To register for the parent safety clinic email: [email protected]. Refreshments will be provided.
The top medalists in the Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure 5K USATF Timed run. Left to right: John Rahe (Kingston, NY), 2nd Place Men; Ken Wigg (Mountainside), 1st Place Men; Sherry Keyt (New Providence) 1st Place Survivor; Lauren Spiegelhoff (East Brunswick) 3rd Place Survivor; Gabby Allen (Basking Ridge) 1st Place Women; Kari Flanagan (Bayonne) 2nd Place Women; Alyssa Schwartz (Belle Mead) 3rd Place Women; and Marcus Luce (Sussex) 3rd Place Men. Not pictured: Katie Ward (Madison, WI) 2nd Place Survivor. Photo: Sarah Kravits
MORRIS COUNTY — Sunday, May 5 may have been a wet and soggy day at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, but the downpour couldn’t keep away the “outpouring” of support—an estimated 1,000 people, in fact, braved the weather and came out to participate in the annual Susan G. Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure.
The ribbon-cutting that kicks off the 5K Fun Walk is a highlight of the Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure event. Left to right: Gloria Kiken-Feiner, Survivor/Top Fundraiser; Karen Meleta, Vice President, Consumer & Corporate Communications for Wakefern Food Corporation and a Komen North Jersey Board Trustee; Kelly E. Nagle, Executive Director, Komen North Jersey; and Suzanne Fonseca, Survivor/Top Fundraiser. Photo: Eloquent Studios
ABC-TV Eyewitness News Reporter Anthony Johnson served as Emcee; and there absolutely was singing and dancing: as part of the Survivor/Forever Fighter Celebration, survivors sang the traditional “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, and scores of young dancers from the Lois Allen School of The Dance literally danced in the rain to entertain Race Day participants.
An estimated 1,000 people braved the rain to participate in the 2019 Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure on Sunday, May 5th at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Photo: Sarah Kravits
The annual event, which includes a 5K Fun Walk, USATF Timed Race, and other activities, raises money for the fight against breast cancer.
The mission of Susan G. Komen North Jersey is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.
Through the annual Race for the Cure® Pink Tie Party and other events and activities, Komen North Jersey raises funds to provide screening and diagnostic services, breast health/breast cancer education, treatment support, and survivorship programs for underserved women and men in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties. Since its founding in 1997, Komen North Jersey has awarded over $19 million in local community grants, and has directed more than $7 million to national research programs in pursuit of new breast cancer screening techniques, better and more effective treatment options, and ultimately, the causes and cures to eradicate breast cancer forever.
Susan G. Komen North Jersey is located at 4 Campus Drive, Parsippany. For more information click here.
Dancers from The Lori Allen School of The Dance performed a dance routine (in the rain). Their team, “Team Loralyn,” honored the school’s owner and teacher, Loralyn Gaughran, who was diagnosed with breast cancer less than a year ago. Team Loralyn raised over $7,000 and was the largest team this year, with 148 members. Photo: Eloquent studiosSurvivors/Forever Fighters pose for an “official photo” with representatives from RWJ Barnabas, 2019 Race for the Cure Local Survivor Sponsor. Left to right (behind banner): Lou LaSalle, Senior Vice President of Corporate External Affairs, RWJ Barnabas; Joseph Cianci, Director of Operations, Ambulatory Services, Jersey City Medical Center; Lori Pimenta, 12-year Survivor/Volunteer; Judy Swajger, 3-year Survivor/Volunteer; and Michael Prilutsky, Chief Executive Officer of Jersey City Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health. Photo: Eloquent Studios
Dear Editor:
Hanover Park Regional, which includes Whippany Park High School and Hanover Park High Schools, joins 35 Morris County towns, plus school districts, law enforcement, nonprofit agencies, hospitals, and faith-based groups in the Stigma-Free initiative.
“As we practice these values in our school communities, we are able to heighten everyone’s awareness in understanding others who struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues. We continue to support our students with the many challenges that confront them during their adolescent years by showing them how they can help themselves by helping others.”
