HANOVER — Mark your calendars for an upcoming musical treat! On Friday, November 2 the Whippanong Library will come alive with the enchanting rhythms of jazz.
The library is proud to present jazz guitarist Abe Ovadia, who will take the stage to perform “Strings of Jazz,” a tribute to guitar legends. Join at 6:30 p.m. in the library for an evening of captivating music that’s sure to delight jazz enthusiasts and music lovers alike.
Register by clicking here.
HANOVER — Halloween is around the corner, and while goblins, ghosts, and ghouls roam the streets in search of sugary treasures, there’s a special treat awaiting them at a unique location. The Whippany Fire Company has something delightful up its sleeve, and you’re invited!
Instead of the usual door-to-door trek, why not head over to the Whippany Fire House this Halloween? Offering a blend of thrill and tradition, the dedicated volunteers of the Whippany Fire Company are excited to welcome the community for a night of treats, fun, and perhaps a little trick or two!
Every Halloween, Whippany’s bravest don their fire gear and brace themselves for emergencies. But this year, in addition to their usual responsibilities, they’re preparing for an invasion of princesses, superheroes, witches, and maybe even a fire chief or two. So, whether you’re a menacing mummy or a playful pixie, we want to see your imaginative outfits!
While sweets are at the heart of Halloween festivities, visiting the Whippany Fire House offers so much more. It’s an opportunity to meet local heroes, learn about fire safety in a fun environment, and create lasting memories.
For the curious ones, there might be a chance to get an up-close look at the fire trucks, feel the weight of real firefighting equipment, and even listen to some spine-tingling stories from the firefighters. After all, what’s Halloween without a bit of spooky fun?
The Whippany Fire Company is proud to be a part of the community, and this is just one way for us to give back and share in the joy of the season. So, mark your calendars, gather your friends, and set course for the Whippany Fire House this Halloween.
Remember, while the night may be filled with pretend frights, real safety should always be a priority. Let’s celebrate responsibly and ensure a spooktacular evening for all!
See you there, and happy haunting!
DENVILLE — Eugene Piekarz, 64, Dover, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
According to police, at 2:33 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, the Denville Police responded to the area of Route 10 West on the report of a vehicle striking the center median and then fleeing the area. The vehicle was subsequently located and stopped on South Salem Street. During the course of the stop, it was determined that the driver, Eugene Piekarz, was operating the vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages.
Piekarz was arrested at the scene, transported to Denville Police Headquarters, processed and ultimately released on his own recognizance to a sober adult pending a future court appearance in Denville Township Municipal Court.
In addition to the driving under the influence charge, Piekarz also received several motor vehicle summonses, including reckless driving, careless driving, failure to maintain lane, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, and possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — Keira Lee and Myra Almeida from Mountain Lakes High School have been accepted into the 2023-2024 class of the Governor’s STEM Scholars (GSS). STEM stands for “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.” Both Keira Lee and Myra Almeida are juniors at Mountain Lakes High School.
These students, selected from among nearly 1,000 applicants across the state, are among the highest-achieving students in New Jersey, according to officials.
GSS is a collaborative effort involving the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, the Office of the Governor, the New Jersey Department of Education, the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, and both public and private research institutions. GSS aims to support and enhance New Jersey’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) talent pool by introducing the state’s STEM students to the R&D and STEM ecosystem.
Scholars attend four conferences to explore the STEM sectors of industry, academia, and government. For the 2023-2024 programmatic year, these conferences will be held at Kean University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and Rutgers University, officials said.
Additionally, scholars build relationships with diverse STEM professionals by attending field trips and fireside chats at New Jersey companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb, Kenvue, Panasonic, PSEG, Stryker, and United Airlines. Scholars participate in an engineering design research project that will enhance their analytical and 21st-century skills.
Scholars hail from 20 of New Jersey’s 21 counties. Sixty-three percent of the class identify as female and 82 percent as students of color.
To qualify for GSS, applicants must have at least a 3.5 GPA, be a high school sophomore through doctoral-level student at a New Jersey-based high school or university, and demonstrate a strong passion for STEM.
DOVER — At the Town of Dover’s Mayor and Board of Aldermen gathering on Tuesday, October 24, the officials approved Ordinance No. 25-2023. This ordinance officially replaces the title “Board of Aldermen” with “Council Member.”
Historically, the inaugural governing body of the Town of Dover in 1869 went by the name “Council.”
The ordinance expressed, “The Town of Dover’s governing body is dedicated to promoting equality and aims to make its governance more inclusive and reflective of its residents, business proprietors, and visitors.”
BOONTON — Boonton is unmistakably in the throes of campaign season, as evidenced by reports of vanishing campaign signs from both political factions. Despite the ubiquity of surveillance cameras nowadays, some still risk potential exposure.
A recent incident in Boonton highlighted this audacity. David Vasa, 54, the former Chairman of the Boonton Democratic Committee, was captured on video removing a campaign sign of Republican Mayoral Candidate Jim Lynch. More notably, the sign wasn’t just any regular lawn sign but a 15-foot banner prominently displayed on the side of an RV.
Boonton Police Records indicate that a complaint was issued concerning the banner’s theft, which took place on Saturday, October 21. Mr. Vasa was charged under statute 2C:20-3A.
Vasa stated to Boonton Police that the banner appeared to be loose, to which he admitted that he removed the banner, placed it in the rear of his vehicle, and drove away. He stated that he no longer had the sign, and it was discarded. At this point, Mr. Vasa was mirandized due to incriminating statements. He was then processed according to Boonton Police policies and procedures for theft. He was released on complaint 1401-S-2023-000082, with a court date of November 15 at Morris County Superior Court.
It’s worth noting that Vasa previously contested for the Council member of Ward 4 position in the 2019 election but was defeated by Republican Michael J. Wade. He also ran in 2020 against James Lynch, facing another loss.
Commenting on the recent incident, Republican Candidate James Lynch stated, “My campaign emphasizes restoring unity, decorum, transparency, and collaboration to the Council. Such goals become increasingly challenging when Democrat candidates and sitting Council members have ties with individuals charged with campaign material theft. Boonton and its residents truly deserve better.”
“Despicable conduct like this by DeVenezia Democrat Dave Vasa has no place in Boonton or anywhere else. Voters deserve better,” commented the Morris County Republican Committee.
The upcoming General Election on November 7 will see James Lynch as the Republican Mayoral contender, while Council Member Ward 2, Marie DeVenezia, represents the Democratic Mayoral side.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
HANOVER — Hanover Township Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher, in cooperation with The Ukrainian American Cultural Center of NJ- Political Affairs committee is hosting a town hall meeting open to the public on November 1.
The event will provide an opportunity to hear from and meet local state legislators. State Senator Joe Pennacchio, Assemblyman Brian Bergen and Assemblyman Jay Webber will be on hand to discuss issues that are important to the residents of Hanover Township.
The Town Hall meeting is being held following Hanover Township’s shift from the 27th District to the 26th District due to the latest legislative redistricting following the new 10-year census.
The details of the meeting are as follows:
The Ukrainian American Cultural Center of NJ
60 North Jefferson Road
Whippany NJ 07981
Wednesday, November 1
7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
PARSIPPANY — I thought I would do something a little different this month and stop in at a local landmark, the Spa Coffee Shop & Restaurant located in the Troy Plaza in downtown Lake Hiawatha. The Spa has been offering comforting home-cooked meals to its customers for “over 55 years”, yet it doesn’t seem to get the attention it deserves after all those years. No one seems to know exactly when the original Spa opened, but one individual posted on my social media page that she moved into town over 55 years ago and the Spa was there when she moved in.
Diner, restaurant, luncheonette; exactly how would one best describe Lake Hiawatha’s classic Spa restaurant? I really don’t know, you tell me. Any one of these would seem to fit this well-loved mainstay. With its welcoming, homey atmosphere and retro vibe The Spa has always been a well-known gathering spot for locals, whether it be for a regular breakfast get-together for a group of seniors, local politicians, or businesspeople meeting for a bite, or just local folks looking for a good, hearty, tasty, reasonably priced meal. Just one of those old-school, friendly neighborhood places that’s as local as local gets, and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week.
The Spa is situated in the center of a small strip mall right off North Beverwyck Road. (In the event you are not from the area, Lake Hiawatha is a section of Parsippany-Troy Hills.) The restaurant itself is in one of those nondescript glass-front businesses, from which the restaurant’s interior enjoys nice ambient lighting. If you are not looking, the restaurant seems to get lost amongst the various other small businesses that comprise the mall. Just keep an eye out for the prominent blue and red neon sign in the window, along with the restaurant’s signage clearly noted overhead. There is plenty of free, off-street parking available in the mall’s large lot.
As soon as you enter the Spa you are immediately greeted with a homey and welcoming vibe. Bright, clean, and airy, with a variety of ample seating, including booths (for four and two people). You will find soft, comfy mauve leather seats, Formica-topped tables, and a row of nine stylish chrome-based, diner-style seats along the Spa’s lengthy counter. The interior is spacious, ensuring you will feel comfortable wherever you choose to sit. The décor is unpretentious, attractive, neat, and well-organized. The Spa may have been around for a long time but still exudes a contemporary yet cozy, comfortable, warm, nostalgic feel. The rich, brown solid oak paneled walls and woodwork, white tile flooring, and ceiling fans, blended with a soft color scheme nicely complement the theme of the restaurant.
Owner and Chef, Gus Haralambopoulos arrived in the USA from Greece at the age of 19 barely speaking any English, but it wasn’t long before his culinary career began to blossom in 1975 at a small hamburger joint in Morristown. His boss, Peter, would eventually buy the Spa in 1977, bringing along his young protegee as his Chef. Peter decided to sell in 1983 and Gus, seizing the opportunity, acquired the Spa, which was at that time a very small (some might say tiny) sandwich/coffee shop situated next to a local, well-known men’s clothing store, Tony Ruda’s. A fire on January 4, 1987, which started in Tony Ruda’s, destroyed many of the small businesses in the mall, including the Spa. Out of disaster came opportunity, as Gus rebuilt the restaurant to almost twice its original size by expanding into half of the former clothing store location, reopening 11 months later, bigger and better than before.
I was fortunate to sit down with the very amiable Chef who stated, “I’ve been here over 40 years and I love all my customers. They are all like family. 97% of my customers are regulars who I have known for many years, and even when they move away, they come back when they are in the area.” Gus elaborated that he enjoys it when new customers visit and then join that family of regulars. “Once they try the food here, they come back.” “Everything is homemade every day from scratch, including almost all the desserts, and I use only fresh ingredients in every dish. One of our most popular dishes is the Sammy Salad with Tzatziki Sauce. Actually, I go through 80 to 100 pounds of Tzatziki Sauce every week.” I told Gus that I had just had his Sammy Salad earlier in the afternoon and I could see why it was so popular.
As my friends and I perused the eclectic menu, I was impressed with the diverse number of appetizing options to choose from, especially since every dish is homemade. Pretty much anything that would satisfy anyone’s cravings. Including such mouthwatering dishes as Veal Saltimbocca over Linguini, Chicken Napolitano, Chicken Villa with Crispy Calamari, and Seafood Paella, just to provide a few examples. In addition, to keep things fresh, the Spa offers 10 to 12 fluctuating “daily specials”, and every couple of months offers a specialty “Greek Night”. The regular selections include many Greek and Italian specialties, as well as a wonderful array of quintessential American comfort food.
The Chef told me that he either does all the cooking himself, or he carefully oversees his three-member kitchen staff. It was clear that Chef Gus loves what he does and takes great pride in the dishes he serves. It is no surprise as to why he is held in such high esteem by his customers, and why the Spa has been around so long.
As our group settled into a corner table we were welcomed by our smiling and friendly server, who quickly set us up with menus and tableware, including wine glasses. By the way, did I mention that The Spa is BYOB? Always a good thing!
There is a large selection of appetizers on the menu, but today we went straight to our entrees. Since I had heard so much about that signature dish, the Sammy Salad, I had to order it. Honestly, that would have been enough for any normal human being, but being a gavone and dismissing our servers’ advice that it might be too much I also ordered the Greek Special Hamburger, which was one of the “Daily Specials.” My dining companions went with a Spinach Salad with Chicken and a Chicken Caesar wrap. All our entrees came with French Fries and a cup of the Soup of the Day.
The Sammy Salad, a delicious mixture of pita bread, lettuce, tomato, cucumber & Bermuda onion, tossed with Greek dressing and tzatziki sauce, lived up to the hype. There are also plenty of additions you can add to the salad including chicken, shrimp, gyro, and more, if that’s your preference. The freshly made authentic Greek tzatziki (a yogurt and cucumber-based sauce) really livened up the dish. Rich, creamy, and full of fresh herbs, it married perfectly with the pita and fresh, crispy vegetables. Plus, it was definitely a very generously sized portion.
My Greek Burger was cooked to perfection, crispy crust on the outside and moist, juicy, and chewy on the inside. It came open-faced over pita bread and surrounded by fresh lettuce, tomato, and onions, with a serving of that tzatziki sauce on the side. The accompanying fries were also nice and crispy, not the least bit oily. Very tasty! All our meals came with that aforementioned cup of homemade, delicious, freshly made soup, which on this visit was a choice of either Chicken Pasta or Beef Barley.
My friends expressed their pleasure with their dishes as well, and our visit clearly rates as another great local dining experience. We couldn’t leave without trying one of Chef Gus’s desserts. A couple of us went with the Rice Pudding, while Mike Z tried the Chocolate Cream Pie. The Rice Pudding was decadently delicious. The flavorful pudding was sweet, soft, spongy, and textured, and topped with a large scoop of whipped cream. One of the best ones I’ve had in a very long time.
Just as a side note: A few weeks ago, I stopped in for breakfast and tried their New Jersey Eggs Benedict (only available on weekends). Outstanding! Don’t pass this up if you’re looking for a great breakfast. And don’t forget their hot fresh coffee, with free refills.
If you haven’t been there yet, do yourself a favor and give the Spa a try. You will not be disappointed.
Spa Coffee Shop & Restaurant is located at 482 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha. Phone: (973) 335-7770 www.thesparestaurant.com; Dine In – In-Store Pickup – BYOB – Ample Parking. Home-Made Desserts – Reasonably Priced – Family Friendly. Casual, Cozy, and Comfortable Dining. Open 7 Days a Week for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Follow “The Spa Restaurant” on Facebook for Daily Specials.
Dover — Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen visited Dover this week to congratulate the Town of Dover and the Dover Housing Authority at a groundbreaking ceremony at 80 E. McFarlan St. for a new 90-unit apartment building in which ten percent of units will be zoned affordable housing.
Formerly a free-standing restaurant, the property has been vacant and underutilized for nearly a decade. Once complete, the development will feature 90 luxury rental apartments and over 5,000 square feet of interior and exterior amenity spaces—including the first rooftop community space in Dover. Residents will benefit from a location that is within walking distance of Dover’s downtown shopping district and train station.
At the same time, the project will enhance the neighborhood and add new housing options to an underserved submarket.
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners commends the Town of Dover and the Dover Housing Authority in their ongoing effort to provide desirable housing options for the residents of Morris County.
Crossroads Companies is the designated developer for this redevelopment project.
BOONTON — Join the Kiwanis Club of Tri-Town on Tuesday, October 24, as we celebrate the dedication of our 2022-2023 officers and warmly welcome our new leaders for 2023-2024. This special event serves as an open invitation for the community to discover the many benefits of joining Kiwanis.
We’re excited to feature Yash Samat, a member of the Mountain Lakes High School Key Club, as our guest speaker. Mountain Lakes High School Chartered in 1992, the Key Club showcases youth leadership and service, embodying the spirit of giving back to the community in partnership with Kiwanis.
Location: Gateway Community Resource Center, 513 Birch Street, Boonton. 6:00 p.m.
For More Info: Contact Frank Cahill at (973) 559-6000.
️ Entry: Open to the public and absolutely free!
Come, celebrate, and learn how Kiwanis positively impacts our community!
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: news@morrisfocus.com
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