Parsippany Focus Magazine - April 2023

Serving 56,162 Households of Parsippany-Troy Hills

April 2023

Publisher Frank L. Cahill

Photographer

Nicolas Limanov

Contributing Writers

Patrick Minutillo

Stephen Pellegrino

Christine Mercado

Sharon Maroldi

Distribution Manager

Luis A. Matos

Design and Layout

Zoomus Marketing, LLC

90 East Halsey Road, Suite 304

Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 (973) 559-6000

MEMBER OF

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COVER STORY

The Scura Team: Real Estate Is in Their Genes

The Scura Team, Jackie and Dominique Scura, are the Leaders in Real Estate.

Jackie has been a real estate agent for 38 + years and I’ve owned and operated my own real estate company for over 25 years.

Dominique has over a decade of professional experience in Real Estate and a strong background in marketing thanks to a degree in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

5 April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April 1 is the start of Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany started the campaign by setting up pinwheel gardens and displays, with the first at the Parsippany Town Hall. Followed by other displays around town to help raise awareness in our community by turning your attention to the importance of ensuring great childhoods for all children because our children are our future.

6 Message from Mayor James Barberio

April has arrived and with it the promise of warmer weather and longer days. As Robin Williams once claimed, “Spring is nature’s way of saying “Let’s Party!” Nature wakes up from its long winter’s nap, as do the rest of us, and we begin to venture back outside to enjoy the fresh air and outdoor activities.

8 Message from Superintendent Dr. Barbara Sargent

Looking for a new title to rekindle your love of a great story? Allow me to recommend some Young Adult and Children’s novels for your reading pleasure.

12 Mathnasium Celebrates Re-Grand Opening on National Pi Day

Mathnasium celebrated a re-grand opening ribbon cutting of their new location, 135 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha. Mathnasium also celebrated Pi Day with a party with over 100 attendees.

13 Los Carnales Mexican Restaurant

About Parsippany Focus

Parsippany Focus was founded on October 1, 1989 by Publisher Frank Cahill. Parsippany Focus is the only dedicated news source, publishing local news and information for over thirty-three years exclusively for Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Parsippany Focus Magazine is

by Zoomus Marketing, LLC, 90 East Halsey Road, Suite 304, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054

(c) 2023 Zoomus Marketing,

Another independent, family-owned business, we welcome brothers Saul, Ricardo, and Romel Santiago, who bring their take on Mexican cuisine to Los Carnales (which translates to “the brothers”), which they opened in September of 2022. The Santiago family hails from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, which is internationally renowned for its regional cuisine.

23 Troop 72: Serves Parsippany in Many Ways

Scouts BSA is an amazing way for kids and teenagers to learn skills for the real world, like responsibility, cooking, interview skills, organizational skills, outdoor survival skills, and much more. Luckily Parsippany has had its troop in town for almost 70 years, Troop 72.

29 Lions Club Held Installation Charter Ceremony

The Parsippany Lions Club held an Installation Charter Ceremony on Sunday, March 12. The official charter date is February 14, 2023, which according to District Governor Kam Patel, 16-N makes this a “loving club.”

34 STEAM Poster Competition

The Human Robotics non-profit organization, in partnership with STEM NJ Pathways, recently hosted a STEAM poster competition. The event featured 38 elementary and middle school students displaying their posters.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April 1 is the start of Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany started the campaign by setting up pinwheel gardens and displays, with the first at the Parsippany Town Hall. Followed by several other displays around town to help raise awareness in our community by turning your attention to the importance of ensuring great childhoods for all children because our children are our future. In addition, Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio will be issuing a Proclamation at the Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 4, designating April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month.”

While Child Abuse Prevention Month is underway, Kiwanis highlight the importance of ensuring great childhoods for all children because our children are our future. The theme of the 2023 campaign is “Growing a Better Tomorrow for All Children, Together.” The community garden metaphor reinforces the message that “Every day, we help families and children thrive.”

Throughout April, you will see pinwheels on display around the

Parsippany and Lake Hiawatha areas as the symbol of this very thought … that all children deserve a great childhood because they are our future. And while the pinwheel can do many

things — bring smiles, lift spirits, call for healthy starts for all children — the one thing it cannot do is move on its own. Be the force that makes it move, bringing about real change for children in the United States. Protecting our children is everyone’s job…it’s your turn to make a difference!

Since 1983, April has been a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse. As we look upon the faces of the many children in our communities and think about all of the children worldwide that suffer at the hands of others, let’s remember that April may be child abuse prevention month, but unfortunately, abuse happens every day. That is why every year, during April, communities across the country come together to focus on this startling issue and on the need for widespread prevention and public awareness campaigns to reduce the number of children who are abuse victims. Sadly, there were 3.6 million cases of child abuse reported in the US. Approximately five children a day

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Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio presents Karen DeChristopher, Kiwanis Director of “Young Children Priority One,” with a proclamation designating April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month.”

Olivia Santana, Ava Arthurs, Lydia Yu and Aurora Santana holding pinwheels at Parsippany-Troy Hills Town Hall

April has arrived and with it the promise of warmer weather and longer days. As Robin Williams once claimed, “Spring is nature’s way of saying “Let’s Party!” Nature wakes up from its long winter’s nap, as do the rest of us, and we begin to venture back outside to enjoy the fresh air and outdoor activities.

The sense of new beginnings brings a feeling of optimism that seems to come with every spring season. No matter how many times around the sun you may have gone, spring brings an air of positivity and enthusiasm with it. New places to go, new people to meet and new experiences to have are calling to us as we anticipate the upcoming warmer months.

New things have come to Parsippany this spring as well. I would like to call attention to the improved Township website. Our site has a fresh new look that invites viewers to explore what is going on in town. The website is much easier to navigate and

Message from Mayor Barberio

provides up-to-date information on what is occurring in Parsippany. Links to the town’s most popular webpages are easily accessible. There is no more in-depth hunting for agendas or making tax payments. News that affects residents is prominently displayed.

While you may be online to pay your water bill you may observe a notice that Phase I for new water meter installations is beginning. You might decide to check out the information to see what is being talked about and if it affects your neighborhood. I encourage you to check out the website often as new material is always being added. This is also one way to keep up to date on events that we are holding. Now that spring is here there will be postings on upcoming parades, concerts and various celebrations the Township will be hosting. The ease of surfing our site will make sure that you never miss an opportunity to join fellow

residents having fun.

I would also like to make you aware of a very convenient tool on our website that you can use to bring a concern to the Mayor’s Action Center. You can easily “Report a Concern” via the website. This means that you don’t have to wait an entire weekend to call my office should you notice a large pothole on a Saturday afternoon. You can simply go online to fill out the provided form and submit it.

The Mayor’s Action Center will receive your report and we will follow through with the appropriate response to remedy your concern. This is a valuable tool that helps my office provide efficient handling of many issues that arise.

Please know that this is a tool to assist you so that you can reach us even when our offices are closed. It most certainly does not preclude you from reaching out to my office directly when we are open.

Please make sure to check our website this month as we celebrate Arbor Day and being a Tree City USA once again.

I invite you to join me on April 28th as we accept the honor of being one of two municipalities in the State of New Jersey to be A Tree City for 47 years.

I look forward to seeing you there.

James R. Barberio

Mayor James R. Barberio

Lookingfor a new title to rekindle your love of a great story? Allow me to recommend some Young Adult and Children’s novels for your reading pleasure.

These particular titles are part of this year’s Battle of the Books, books that some of our elementary students are reading to prepare for a literary contest in which they answer questions about characters and events in the stories.

Rain Reign

Written by Ann Martin, this is the story of Rose, a girl with Asperger’s Syndrome and an obsession with homonyms. Rose’s dad doesn’t understand her or have time for her, so her best companion is a lost dog that her father brought home whom she’s named Rain.

For strong 4th grade readers and up.

Dr. Barbara Sargent

El Deafo

Message from

This hysterical graphic novel by Cece Bell tells her own story of growing up as a hearing-impaired individual in a public school. It’s a funny romp through school culture in the late 1970’s and is now an animated series on Apple TV. If you’ve shied away from graphic novels, make this your first read! It’s great!

Pie

When Alice’s Aunt Polly, the Pie Queen of Ipswitch, passes away, she leaves her famous pie crust recipe to her extraordinarily fat cat. And she puts Alice in charge of the cat. Everyone in town wants to be the next big pie-contest winner, and they’re concocting all sorts of ways to get at that recipe.

This funny and quick read by Sarah Weeks has the added benefit of pie recipes at the end of every chapter. Yum!

The War That Saved My Life

It seems like this book is on nearly every 5th grader’s “must read” list. Author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley tells the story of 10-year-old Ada who has never left her one-room apartment because her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. When her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada sneaks out to join him. Ada’s new life brings her the chance to ride a pony, learn to read, and watch for German spies. A wonderful story of triumph set against the background of World War II.

I’ve read all of these titles and heartily recommend them to young and - not old - veteran readers alike. It’s so important and comforting for us to read outside our age and grade levels. So, whether you prep for your own Battle of the Books or satisfy your literary soul, I encourage you to check out these books and tuck into a beautiful story. Read up!

Dr. Barbara Sargent

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

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die every year in the US due to child abuse or neglect. Out of those 1825 children that died as a result of abuse or neglect, 45% are younger than one year old, 31% are from ages 1-3, 11% are 4-7, 6% are ages 8-11, 5% ages 12-15 and 2% are aged 16-17.

Karen DeChristopher, Kiwanis

Director

of “Young Children Priority Oxqne” programs, said, “As an organization that continues to focus on children, there is one goal that we are looking to achieve…to raise awareness of the many ways people can get involved in the fight against child abuse: First, we can get educated, so you can learn to recognize the signs of child abuse, so you can be that one person with the courage to step up for these xchildren and report abuse when you suspect it. Secondly, you can volunteer or support your child advocacy centers (Prevent Child Abuse-NJ) by calling to determine how you can support them because every children’s advocacy center can benefit from your support for the programs and services they provide to child victims of abuse and neglect. And lastly, but most importantly, we must help break the silence surrounding child abuse by raising awareness and spreading the word. These children deserve a voice because this problem has been overlooked for far too long, and you can open the doors on this crime of secrecy because we can all make a difference for these children.

The local programs funded by the Kiwanis Club include sponsored youth programs in the ParsippanyTroy Hills school district, such as Key Clubs in both high schools, Builders Clubs in the middle schools, and K-Kids Clubs in all of the elementary schools; Parsippany Day Care Center; Parsippany Library; the Stickley Farms family fun day and numerous other 501(c)3 organizations that serve children and families.

In addition to this financial support of children’s leadership development and service initiatives, the club meets the basic needs of the less fortunate families in our community by providing

food and food cards, toiletry items, and blankets through a partnership with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Community Center. The Club also supports state and national organizations that serve the needs of children and their families.

For more information on the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany contact Nicolas Limanov at (917) 499-7299.

Kiwanis International is an international service club founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and is found in more than 80 nations

and geographic areas.

Kids need Kiwanis. Kids are curious, lovable and hilarious. They are also wild, impatient and vulnerable. Kiwanis is looking out for kids in every corner of the globe with more than 550,000 volunteers who serve their communities through local clubs.

To learn more about what you can do to help prevent child abuse, contact Pamela Stalcup, Director of Development & Communications for Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, at (732) 2468060 or visit them on the web at www.preventchildabusenj.org.

Mathnasium Celebrates Re-Grand Opening on National Pi Day

Mathnasium celebrated a re-grand opening ribbon cutting of their new location, 135 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha. Mathnasium also celebrated Pi Day with a party with over 100 attendees.

Joining in the celebration was Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio, ParsippanyTroy Hills Council President Loretta Gragnani, Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Chairman Frank Cahill, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso and Board Members Nicolas Limanov and Ildiko Peluso.

Pi Day celebrates the number 3.1459 that goes on and on…It’s the numerical value of the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.

The event was attended by over 100 people, including students, siblings, friends, and parents. The celebration included various fun Pi-related activities. Some included visualizing Pi through jewelry making, a Pi word search, and making your dessert pies. One of the kids’ favorites was the Pi memorization contest. The person that memorized the most digits of Pi got to pie the instructor of their choice in the face! This year’s winner was Aditri Priya, who selected Chris, one of the kids’ favorite instructors, to get pied!

There was pizza for dinner and rewards for the kids after

completing their activity cards. It was a really fun night for all involved! The kids can’t wait for the next one!

Mathnasium was established in 2002 and operates over 1,000 Learning Centers nationwide, providing the best private math tutoring nearby. Larry, a teacher, a curriculum consultant, and Mathnasium’s expert on the team, spent years refining math teaching methods.

They have designed fun and engaging techniques to help children understand math easily. Mathnasium has highly experienced and qualified math tutors who teach after-school mathematics programs.

Danna Seyam, the owner, graduated with honors from Rutgers Business School with her bachelor’s in Accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant and worked in Corporate America for ten years.

She started as an Auditor for PriceWaterhouseCoopers and continued her career in accounting in the banking industry at Barclay’s and CIT. While working as a CPA, Danna always felt like something was missing.

She wanted more than helping the large companies and realized what it was one day while volunteering with Barclay’s reading to kindergartners in the Bronx. As the kids sang a thank you song to the volunteers, Danna realized this

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Mathnasium celebrated a grand opening ribbon cutting of their new location, 135 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha.

Los Carnales Mexican Restaurant: Hearty Mexican and American Specialties

By Patrick Minutillo

You may not realize it at first glance. Still, a somewhat quaint downtown Lake Hiawatha, comprised of an approximately one-mile stretch of North Beverwyck Road, offers a wide, ethnically diverse variety of great little family-owned restaurants and shops, including a homemade ice cream specialty store. A vibrant section of Parsippany that is not without its multicultural charms, and which now is home to Carnales Mexican Restaurant, formerly Maddy’s Mexican, which was initially opened in 2012 by the Matos family as a Mexican Restaurant & Pizzeria and then acquired in 2015 by Andres Santiago and Isabel Salazar.

Now, continuing with another independent, family-owned business, we welcome brothers Saul, Ricardo, and Romel Santiago, who bring their take on Mexican cuisine to Los Carnales (which translates to “the brothers”), which they opened in September of 2022. The Santiago family hails from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, which is internationally renowned for its regional cuisine. I did get to sit down with one of the cordial

Los Carnales Mexican Restaurant, 52 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha

Owners and Chef, Romel Santiago, during my visit, who told me that he arrived in America when he was 16 years old, following in his older brothers’ footsteps, and acquired his cooking skills working in the food industry over the years. He said his

goal is to offer delicious, fresh food and to keep working on his cooking skills to continue to please his customers. Romel emphasized that “everything at Los Carnales is made to order, and only the freshest ingredients are used.” He also said old family recipes and cooking styles ensure the authenticity of the food.

By my count, we are fortunate to have no less than nine excellent restaurants and cantinas, plus a few of those fast food Tex-Mex franchises serving Mexican and Mexican fusion cuisine, all within a several-mile area of Parsippany. Ranging from more high-end, formal dining establishments to tiny, casual eateries, all offering up their take, often based on family recipes, regional differences, and traditional dishes, on this unique, flavorful, savory, earthy, and hearty fare. Which is best depends on your tastes and preferences, but I recommend trying them all and then deciding. It would be a fun family

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Colorful plastic tablecloths cover the tables, and the black leather cushioned wooden chairs provide that rustic look common to Mexican restaurants.

Easter Bunny Made a Visit in Parsippany

The Easter Bunny arrived in Parsippany on Saturday, March 25.

He visited Town Hall, and children of all ages came to say “hi,” give a “high five” or hug the Easter Bunny.

Parsippany-Troy Hills

Recreation staff helped the Easter Bunny hand out chocolate bunnies, coloring books, and treats.

Mayor Barberio enjoyed seeing how happy the children were to meet the Easter Bunny and said, “We know spring can’t be far off when the Easter Bunny arrives!”

Easter is celebrated on Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary.

In 16th century literature, there are accounts of a bunny who, each spring, would reward those who were good with eggs.

The first edible Easter rabbits, made out of pastry and sugar, were made in Germany during the early 1800s.

Carter, 8, and Liam, 2, Malson visit the Easter Bunny

Five year old twins, Joe and Derek Imbriaco sit on the lap of the Easter Bunny

Los Carnales Mexican Restaurant

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You may not realize it at first glance. Sdining experience making the rounds, trying out the various eateries, many with their blend of spices, seasonings, textures, flavors, and cooking styles.

I enjoyed my visits to Maddy’s Mexican Restaurant and was sorry to hear they closed their doors late last year. I always hate to see these wonderful little family-owned shops move on, and I was hoping not to see an empty storefront at the location. Those

concerns were quickly assuaged when I saw that another Mexican restaurant, Los Carnales, was taking over the location. I enjoy Mexican cuisine, and I always thought that the previous restaurant offered some tasty dishes, so I figured it was time to stop in and check out the new kid in town.

We were greeted by our very friendly server and hostess, Carla, who offered us the seating of our choice. The small, cozy, warm interior is set up with approximately ten tables, comfortably spaced throughout the dining area so

as not to feel crowded. Colorful plastic tablecloths cover the tables, and the black leather cushioned wooden chairs provide that rustic look common to Mexican restaurants.

The room is comfortably lit by the large storefront window, which is enough to allow you to enjoy the food and ambiance. Low Mexican music plays in the background. The décor throughout the restaurant is relatively simple yet appropriate to this venue. Brick wall accents, bright and colorful native American/Latin murals, assorted festive Mexican artifacts, and artwork adorn the walls. Altogether creating an appealing, bold, and cohesive color scheme that sets the tone for an enjoyable dining experience.

On their website, Los Carnales boasts that they offer “Authentic Mexican food, in addition to their unique twist on classic meals. Hearty Mexican and American specialties in an easygoing, BYOB space with festive décor.” After my visit, I must agree that they live up to their statement. I enjoyed the casual, comfortable atmosphere and friendly and efficient service. I found the food very tasty, well-prepared, expertly seasoned (spicy, as I like it, but not too spicy), beautifully presented, generously sized, and reasonably priced.

My friend and I started with a couple of shared appetizers. The extensive menu has many tantalizing selections, but we settled on the Nachos and Nopales con Chorizo. The Nachos (freshly made crispy corn tortillas mixed with melted cheese, Mexican sour cream, pico de galo, lettuce, guacamole, jalapeno & black beans) were a very large serving, delicious, and quickly devoured. Bowls of fresh Salsa Roja and Salsa Verde for dipping accompanied the nachos. Our other appetizer was the Nopales con Chorizo (roasted cactus mixed with Mexican sausage). Absolutely

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Romel Santiago, Carla and Pat Munutillo

Mathnasium Celebrates Re-Grand Opening on National Pi Day

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was missing in her life, empowering young minds to become our future. She always had the desire to become a teacher. After that experience with the kindergartners, her passion for helping kids was re-ignited. That passion, along with her business background, inspired her to open up a Mathnasium. Mathnasium’s commitment to teaching kids math in a way that makes sense and Danna’s love of math was the perfect fit. She believes that helping a child become more confident in math not only helps them get better

grades but truly makes them more confident overall, giving them the opportunity for bigger dreams and the conviction that they will be able to achieve them.

John Lorenzo, Center Director, graduated from Rutgers University and majored in Mathematics. He has extensively undergone a variety of teaching classes and mathematics courses, including Calculus I-III, Differential Equations, Advanced Calculus I & II, Geometry, Linear and Abstract Algebra, and Probability and Statistics. He has worked with children for over 16

years and actively volunteers as a mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program once a week. His passion for mathematics is rivaled only by his passion for teaching it. He commits himself to ensure each student attains a firm conceptual understanding of the topics.

Mathnasium instructional approach goes beyond traditional math tutoring. The Mathnasium Method transforms the way kids understand and appreciate math, which in turn builds their confidence and their love of learning.

BUILDING ON TRUST

The Scura Team ... Leaders in Real Estate

Jackie Scura

I’ve always believed that if you love what you do and do what you love, then success will follow. I’ve been a real estate agent for 38 + years and I’ve owned and operated my own real estate company for over 25 years - loved every minute of it.

What makes my job special is that I get to help people every day. I help them to realize their dreams of ownership. I ease their transitions into larger homes as their family grows and smaller homes when it is time to relax and retire. Being a real estate agent is so much more than just being a salesperson and I know I’ve done my job well not just when a house sells, but when my clients are able to relax and enjoy the excitement of selling their home or buying their dream home.

Growing up in Parsippany and being a graduate of Parsippany High School is what keeps me connected to the people in the community.

Dominique Scura

I have been in the business since the age of three. I grew up in real estate, learning from my mother, Jackie Scura, a top selling local Realtor and business owner for almost 40 years. I have over a decade of professional experience in Real Estate and a strong background in marketing thanks to a degree in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

As a lifetime resident of Morris County, I can offer both local knowledge and a genuine enthusiasm for the community that I’ve always called home. I can’t imagine a better way to work than with clients who I often come to call my friends. It’s my privilege to make buying and selling a positive experience for my clients and to take part in some of the biggest days of their lives!

I am a huge animal lover and the charities that are closest to my heart are those that rescue and support all kinds of animals.

Scura Team Q & A

QI’m in my 60s, retired and living on a fixed income, in today’s environment I’m having difficulty meeting my monthly expenses. I own my home, what are my options?

AA Reverse Mortgage allows you to use the equitiy in your home to pay any expenses anddoes NOT require a monthly payment.

To qualify you must own a home, be at least 62 years old, and have enough equity in your home.

A Reverse Mortgage does not affect regular Social Security or Medicare benefits and there are no medical requirements.

You can choose to receive the money from a Reverse Mortgage all at once as a lump sum, as fixed monthly payments for as long as you live in the home, as a line of credit, or a combination of these.

The amount of funds you are eligible to receive depends on your age (or the age of the youngest spouse when there is a couple), appraised home value, interest rates, and in the case of the government program, the FHA lending· limit, which is currently $970,800.

The proceeds from a reverse mortgage can be used for anything, whether it’s to supplement retirement income to cover daily living expenses, repair or modify your home (i.e., widening halls or installing a ramp), pay for health care, pay off existing debts, cover property taxes, or prevent foreclosure.

If you would like to learn more and explore this option please contact me for a free consultation.

QWhat are the 3 most common mistakes to avoid when buying real estate?

A1. Not having a clear idea of what you want. ‘before starting your search for a property it is important to identify your needs and wants. You should consider factors such as location, size, amenities and budget.

2. Rushing the buying process. Buying a property is a significant investment. Take your time, do your due diligence, and make an informed decision. Rushing the process can lead to costly mistakes.

3. NOT hiring a competent real estate agent. A good agent can help you navigate the complex buying process, negotiate on your behalf and provide valudable insight into the local market.

QA tree in my neighbor’s yard has a very large branch over my yard. I’m really tried of all the extra leaves every Fall and it’s starting to mix in with my power lines. Can I cut the branch?

AFor the record, I do recomment talking to the owner first as a friendly gesture, but you have the right to trim back no further than your own property line and don’t cust it back severly enough to harm the tree. If you kill the tree, your neighbor may have the right to demand compensation for a new one. (And you’ll get the evil eye every time you go outside!)

Los Carnales Mexican Restaurant

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You may not realize it at first glance. delicious!

The chorizo was cooked perfectly, moist, savory, and with a hint of vinegar and chili peppers, and the cactus, with its slightly sour and citrusy taste, perfectly complemented the chorizo. Like the nachos, it was a very large serving! I honestly could have left a happy and satiated diner right there, but being me, I had to soldier through and try their signature dish, the Molcajete.

Carla, our server, arrived with my Molcajete, and I quickly realized my eyes were bigger than my stomach. A very ample variety of Mexican Sausage, Steak, Chicken, Shrimp, Pork Chop, Cactus, Jalapenos, Fresh Cheese slices, and Cambray Onions filled and overhung the enormous molcajete. A molcajete is a traditional mortar and pestle bowl made of volcanic stone that keeps the food hot. Fantastic entrée, but enough for two or three people. I knew by now that I was taking most of it home. It also came with sides of

hot tortillas, rice, and beans. Wow! Different textures, different tastes, and different seasonings, but it all came together perfectly. Wonderful dish.

My friend ordered the Chicken Fajita, served with soft flour tortillas, rice, beans, pico de gallo, Mexican sour cream & guacamole. Again, a generous portion and, according to him, delicious.

Common sense would dictate that I should skip dessert by now, but no one ever said I had common sense. Tres Leches cake was on the menu, and I loved it; it is a Mexican-origin cake. The vanilla sponge cake, soaked in three kinds of milk, was moist, sweet (not too sweet), and decadent and made for the perfect grand finale to a great meal.

I would recommend you stop in and give Los Carnales a try. I’m sure you will enjoy it. Delicious food, nice people, and you will be supporting a relatively new local business.

Dine-in – Take Out – Curbside Pickup – No Contact Delivery – BYOB. Catering Available. Street Parking

Their signature dish, the Molcajete

Chicken Fajita, served with soft flour tortillas, rice, beans, pico de gallo, Mexican sour cream, and guacamole.

Mayor’s Action Center

Mayor James R. Barberio

What The Mayor’s Action Center Does For You (973) 263-4262

Listens: The Mayor’s Action Center welcomes any request for service or information. No matter what the problem or question, every effort is made to give a prompt response. Please use GovPilot to report a concern, the concern can be reported at any time via online form or through the Gov-Pilot App.

Records: All requests for service, received through the Mayor’s Action Center, are automatically logged-in to ensure that every request is on file and can be easily retrieved. Requests are forwarded to the appropriate department and the requester will be updated along the process.

Resolves: The Mayor’s Action Center attempts to address residents’ concerns in a timely manner. Every request for action is tracked from inception to completion. Upon completion, residents will receive notice that the issue or complaint was addressed.

Examples of Requests: Repairing of potholes; Drainage problems; Requests for signs; Litter; Icy road conditions; Illegal dumping; Housing maintenance problems; Animal control and removal; Street lighting; Curb repair;

Sponsored by Inglesino Webster Wyciskala Taylor LLC

Postpartum Breastfeeding Support

Postpartum Breastfeeding Support will be held on April 17 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Hosted by St. Clare’s Hospital, Denville. Connect with other moms from the comfort of your home; New moms and their babies welcome up to one year old; Different topic each session: pumping, nutritional needs, positioning, weaning, storing milk, returning to work, sleep, etc.

This is a virtual event. Visit saintclares.com/event/ postpartum-breastfeeding-support-17april to register for this event.

There will also be a Q&A session with a lactation consultant.

Troop 72: Serves Parsippany in Many Ways

By Cathryn Smith

Scouts BSA is an amazing way for kids and teenagers to learn skills for the real world, like responsibility, cooking, interview skills, organizational skills, outdoor survival skills, and much more. Luckily Parsippany has had its troop in town for almost 70 years, Troop 72. The troop welcomes both boys and girls from Parsippany and surrounding towns. Troop 72 has helped serve our town in many ways, like trash cleanups, food drives, and, most recently, working with Liquid Church to pack meals for Rise Against Hunger.

Along with the life skills that you learn, you also earn merit badges. Merit badges are awards earned by youth in the troop based on activities within the study area by completing a list of periodically updated requirements. Some of the different merit badges you can earn are Communications, Citizenship in Society, Citizenship in the Community, Cooking, Fingerprinting, Rifle Shooting, Art, Photography, Genealogy, and a lot more. When you complete the merit badge that you have chosen, you earn the badge at your troops’ next Court of Honor. A Court of Honor is a ceremony where the scouts in the troop earn the ranks that they have finished, any

merit badge that they have finished, and any other award that they might have earned. There are seven ranks in the Scouts BSA. The first is Scout Rank and the seventh is Eagle Rank. There are so many amazing parts to scouts, so I could not choose just one thing that is my favorite part of Scouts BSA, but I narrowed it down to my three favorite parts of Scouts BSA are the memories you make, the skills that

you learn, and the friends that you make.

Parsippany’s own Troop 72 will have an open house on Wednesdayday, April 12, 2023. We will have a lot of activities that will show you just a little bit of all the amazing things you do in Scouts BSA. The open house will be in the back of All Saints Academy in the Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m.

Troop 72

Pool Tables Are Open at the Senior Center

The Parsippany Senior Community Center pool tables are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The center is available to all Parsippany senior citizens at 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha.

There is no joining fee to the center, so come by for a visit to shoot a game or two. If you want to play more frequently, a $2.00 annual fee .

In addition the Golden Age Senior Club meets the first and third Monday at 11:00 a.m.

The Lake Hiawatha Senior Club meets the first and third Wednesday.

St. Ann’s Senior Social meets the second and fourth Wednesday.

Parsippany Seniors playing pool at the Parsippany Community Center

Luna Wants a New Home

Luna, is a two year old Golden Retriever Shiba Inu mix. She currently weighs only 18 pounds.

Luna is a resilient, loyal, fun-loving pup! She lights up every room she enters with her smile and big personality. Nothing phases her or slows her down one bit! She is eager to try new things and very calm in the process. She LOVES to cuddle, receive belly rubs, and be pet! Luna is great with being handled and wouldn’t hurt a fly! She is treat motivated and aims to please. She loves to play with toys and does not mind sharing.

Luna was found abandoned in a box on the side of the road in China as a puppy. Thanks to good samaritans, they saved her and raised her and contacted WISE for help. She then made her journey from China to NJ and has been adapting quickly to her new chapter! Luna only has about 20% function in her back legs. She gets around

by scooting using her front legs or being assisted by her back leg sling. Despite this, she is quite active and loves to chase balls, do zoomies, and wrestle with her foster siblings! She will need medical assistance for the rest of her life so her family must be prepared with the care she will need. We are optimistic that with therapy, she may be able to gain back more function.

She would love a family who can shower her in love and attention, and also play with her! Her forever family must have the dedication and time to provide all her medical care and ensuring Luna is comfortable.

Luna is currently being fostered with another dog and they play all day long!

If you are interested in adopting, please fill out an application on www.wiseanimalrescue. org/adoption-application

Happy Paws House Calls

Did you know Parsippany has its very own food pantry?

The food pantry is open to any Parsippany resident in need. Please sign up at the Health Department, located in the Senior Community Center. The Center is located at 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha.

The food pantry carries non-perishable items. Once you are signed up, you can come by once a week to shop.

The pantry is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Feel free to call (973) 263-7160 with any questions.

3 Cups fresh Corn

2 Cups carrots, diced

1 Cup onions, diced

¼ Cup Shallots, minced

1 Cup Celery, diced

1-1/2 Cups Yukon Gold potatoes, diced

1 stick butter

4-ounce flour

Salt and pepper to taste

4 Cups vegetable stock

1 Cup heavy cream

Corn Chowder

Sautee the corn, until just browning and set aside. In a medium pot, brown the onions and shallots in olive oil. Add carrots, celery, and potatoes,

Chef Matthew Pierone

Gourmet Café Restaurant

136 Baldwin Road

Parsippany, New Jersey (973) 316-0088

gourmetcafenj@comcast.net

stir, and sweat. Add the butter and melt. Add flour and stir, making a roux. Add warm stock slowly, stirring the entire time. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add the corn and simmer for 10 more minutes. Stir in the cream, salt & pepper. Using a ladle check the thickness and adjust if needed.

Serve with Italian bread or biscuits!

Lions Club Held Installation Charter Ceremony

The Parsippany Lions Club held an Installation Charter Ceremony on Sunday, March 12. The official charter date is February 14, 2023, which according to District Governor Kam Patel, 16-N makes this a “loving club.”

This club was formed by members of the sponsoring Livingston Lions Club who, living in Parsippany, decided to give back to their community by forming their own Lions Club.

The 21 charter members are Lions Mihika Bhatt, Vinit B. Bhatt, Rahul Chitte, Joshaba Jayakar, Pratap Jayaker Club President, Dhanajay Kelkar, Mruduka Kelkar Club Secretary, Shewta Mahale, Bharat K. Patel, Dilip Patel, Shakuntala Patel, Ushaben B. Patel, Jayashree Shah, Dr. Nayan K. Shah, Rajendra Shah, Rahesh P. Shah Club Treasurer, Reena Shah, Soval Shah, Hemal Sheth, Nitrin J. Sheth, Parul Sheth.

King Lion Pratap Jayakar welcomed all guests and dignitaries by stating that this is a memorable day as we celebrate the club’s charter presentation ceremony. Thank you to District Governor Kam Patel and PDG Nalit Patel for sponsoring the Parsippany Lions Club. He also stated that the club aims to serve

other organizations to benefit the Parsippany community.

Mayor James R. Barberio, accompanied by Councilman Frank Neglia and Paul Carifi, Jr., stated that Lions are role models with their passion for helping those in need, working together in unity and strength, collaboration and teamwork creates goodwill for the community, and successful service projects.

District Governor Kam Patel thanked all for attending this Charter celebration. Creating the Parsippany Lions Club was a 15-month process, and with a lot of energy from the charter members, “we did it!”

Lions dignitaries attending this charter celebration included PID Dr. Bob Moore, State Advisor Dawn Kosobucki, Pact Council Chair Jack Romano, PDGs Brad Day and Nalit Patel, who are the Parsippany Lions Club Guiding Lions, Ruth Molenaar, Nancy Jakubczyk, Dennis Brubaker, and District 16-N Cabinet members 1VDG John Carroll and 2VDG Barbara Corsaro.

Members of Parsippany community organizations included Frank L. Cahill, Chairman of the ParsippanyTroy Hills Economic Board as well as Executive Board Member of Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, and Robert J. Peluso, President of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, of which the Parsippany Lions Club is a member.

PID Bob Moore inducted all members of the Parsippany Lions Club who were present, stating that the Club Charter will be a piece of history as it is to be signed by all charter members. PID Bob Moore and the other Lions dignitaries presented the club charter and individual charter membership certificates.

Lion Rahul Chitte, a founding charter member, gave the congratulatory speech citing our founder Melvin Jones as someone who recognized that we must be compassionate and selfless in giving back to the community. King Lion Pratap Jayakar thanked him for his works of encouragement.

PID Bob Moore presents the club’s charter to Pratap Jayaker, Club President, and Kamlesh Patel, 2022-2023 District Governor, District 16N, New Jersey.

Pratap Jayaker Club President

Art Competition Announced by Representative Sherrill’s Office

Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced the launch of her fifth annual Congressional Art Competition for NJ-11 students. The competition allows high school students to showcase their creativity and artistic expression.

“New Jersey’s 11th District is home to so many incredible young artists,” said Rep. Sherrill. “Each year, I am impressed with all of our students’ submissions. The Congressional Art Competition is a great way to come together to celebrate their hard work. I look forward to seeing the artwork and encourage each high school to participate.”

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent nationwide and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982,

more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panel judges select the winning entries. The winner’s artwork will be displayed alongside winners from nationwide for one year in the U.S. Capitol.

Artwork submitted for NJ-11’s competition will be displayed at an art show and reception

at Montclair State University on May 4. The winner will be announced at this reception.

Due to limitations of gallery space, NJ-11 high schools can select up to two students’ work to submit, and their art must be dropped off at Rep. Sherrill’s District Office. The deadline to submit is April 21. Rep. Sherrill’s office is 8 Wood Hollow Road, Parsippany, NJ, 07054. .

Representative Mikie Sherrill

STEAM Poster Competition

The Human Robotics non-profit organization, in partnership with STEM NJ Pathways, recently hosted a STEAM poster competition in Parsippany on March 25. The event featured 38 elementary and middle school students displaying their posters on various topics ranging from green energy, how technology works, save the earth to nuclear fission.

Over 80 people attended the event. The young participants were given a platform to present their posters for one minute, during which they shared their ideas and concepts with the audience.

The Guests of honor were the Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor, Mr. James Barberio, and Kiwanis Lt. Governor, Mr. Frank Cahill.

Mr. Barberio spoke highly of promoting STEAM education and encouraging youth to create a sustainable future

actively. Mr. Cahill also commended the kids for their excellent work and highlighted the importance of such events to create awareness and encourage sustainability. The success of the STEAM poster competition was made possible

by the dedication and hard work of both young and old Human Robotics volunteers. The event provided an opportunity to give back to the community and inspired several parents to inquire about the volunteering program.

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