December 2020 January 2021
Lake Parsippany
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January 2021
Serving 53,515 Households of Parsippany-Troy Hills
January 2021 www.ParsippanyFocus.news
Gourmet Cafe: Lifelong Dream, Pride, and Joy of Chef Matthew Pierone | 4
Frank L. Cahill, Publisher Barbara Freda, Sales Manager Nicolas Limanov, Photographer Brian Lanigan, Contributing Writer Christine Mercado, Contributing Writer Sharon Maroldi, Contributing Writer Luis A. Matos, Distribution Manager
Anyone who knows me knows that one of my favorite go-to restaurants in Parsippany is the Gourmet Café.
State of the Township Address | 7
Mayor Michael Soriano delivers the State of the Township address Thursday, January 7th at 7:00 p.m.
PHS Key Club Spreading Holiday Cheer | 9
Design and Layout Zoomus Marketing, LLC 90 East Halsey Road, Suite 338 Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 (862) 295-1300
The Parsippany High School Key Club members have been hard at work spreading holiday cheer to the elderly in our community.
Chinese Christian Church Donates $6,000 to Community Food Banks| 10
Member of
To help alleviate the growing shortage of food and donations at our area Food Banks, the Chinese Christian Church of New Jersey recently made two significant donations.
CCM to Hold Virtual Open Houses on Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships| 13
County College of Morris (CCM) is offering individuals an opportunity to embark on a well-paying career path in advanced manufacturing by taking part in on-the-job training through its CareerAdvance USA apprenticeship program.
Cerbo’s Trees for Troops Sends Christmas Trees to Military Families| 17
The holiday season can be difficult for military families. For the third year, Cerbo’s Greenhouse and Garden Center, participated in “Trees for Troops.”
MPAC Adds Three Local Business Leaders to Board of Trustees| 21
Simone Craig of Morristown, Ken Lantigua of Chatham and Art Corwin of Morristown have been selected to join the Board of Trustees of Mayo Performing Arts Center.
Glimpse of History: Lake Parsippany| 28 About Parsippany Focus Parsippany Focus was founded on October 1, 1989 by Publisher Frank Cahill. Parsippany Focus is the only dedicated newsource, publishing local news and information for the past thirty years exclusively for Parsippany-Troy Hills. Parsippany Focus Magazine is published monthly by Zoomus Marketing, LLC, 90 East Halsey Road, Suite 338, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 (c) 2020 Zoomus Marketing, LLC. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publisher.
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In the early 1930s The New York Daily Mirror, part of the Mirror Holding Corp., purchased a huge tract of pasture and farmland in Parsippany.
Ryan P. Conklin joined H2M Architects and Engineers| 29
Ryan P. Conklin, AICP, PP, GISP joined H2M architects + engineers as Senior Project Planner at H2M. Beginning on November 23, he started working out of the Parsippany office. Previously Conklin was Principal at Collaborative Concepts LLC. Long Valley. Conklin currently resides in Long Valley.
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January 2021
RESTAURANT REVIEW
Gourmet Cafe: Lifelong Dream, Pride, and Joy of Chef Matthew Pierone By Patrick Minutillo
Anyone who knows me knows that one of my favorite go-to restaurants in Parsippany is the Gourmet Café. Since I was dining there for a pre-holiday dinner with friends, I figured it was as good a time as any to write up a review. The Gourmet Café is like so many New Jersey small, independently owned, and operated restaurants that you find hidden in the middle of some strip mall off the highway. The Gourmet Café is in Baldwin Plaza on Baldwin Road in Parsippany, nestled between a row of other small stores, and right off Route 46 West. Despite a classy and attractive exterior, unless you know of the Gourmet Café chances are you will drive right past it. Fortunately, many have found their way to this multi-award winning, highly acclaimed venue throughout the 15 years it has been here, mostly through word of mouth and social media. One thing I have noticed is that once someone finds (Continued on Page 11)
Chef Matthew Pierone
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State of the Township Address Join Me January 7th for a Virtual State of the Township Address
Mayor Michael A. Soriano
Hello Parsippany, As we embark on a new year, I’d like to invite you all to watch Parsippany’s State of the Township address, which will be presented on Thursday, January 7th at 7:00 p.m. on the Township website, social media, and on Video-On-The-Go-Channel 21. This year’s address will be different from our typical in-person gatherings, but I feel even with our continued social distance, it’s as important as ever to provide residents an opportunity to hear from your Township government, and be involved in our plans for the year ahead. We will highlight our Township’s efforts to communicate with residents on the significant changes and updates relating to the health emergency. Through our Community Updates, directed access to state and national health information, and input from local health experts, we will continue to engage our community and impart key information in our ongoing fight to end the spread of this virus. We will discuss taxes and finances of the Township, and what we’ve done to curb spending, while implementing a more fiscally prudent and balanced approach to local governance and operations. We will talk about doing more with less, restoring the utility fund balance to keep our utilities stable, and renewing the integrity in our Township’s budgeting practices. 6 l Parsippany Focus Magazine
We will reflect on the many challenges and sacrifices from our brave first responders. In our darkest and most urgent moments, our Police, EMTs, and Fire Squads put their lives on the line to make sure we’re safe. We’ll discuss our new communication and accountability efforts to make sure our police are supported, while maintaining the highest standards. We will present the Township’s Open Space priorities, as well as our many initiatives in making environmental protection an important focus for the health of our neighborhoods and the wellbeing of our community. We will detail the revitalization of North Beverwyck Road, immediate deliverables from the New Master Plan, and discuss holding developers accountable to our residents. There are so many important issues facing our Township that must be discussed. As we look to building a better future, it’s important to recognize that every resident plays a role in making our community better. I hope you’ll join me on January 7th for the State of the Township presentation, and I look forward to working with you in the coming year, and into the future.
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January 2021
A Public Alternative to Private Education Mountain Lakes Public School District proudly provides its students an exceptional education through small class sizes, high expectations and personal attention to each student’s academic, social and emotional needs.
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Prospective tuition students may contact the main office of each school to set up a tour of the school. Here is the contact information for each school: MountainLakes High School – Terry Caprara at 973-33 -8 00 or tcaprara@mlschools.org Briarcliff Middle School – Sharon Shortt at 973-33 -03 2 or sshortt@mlschools.org Wildwood Elementary School – Jill Morris at 973-33 -3609 or morris@mlschools.org
For specific questions about the tuition program, please email: Mr. Michael J. Fetherman, Superintendent of Schools at: mfetherman@mlschools.org.
For application & more information visit www.mlschools.org/our_district Tradition of Excellence January 2021
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A Message From the Superintendent Just Because They Can Doesn’t Mean They Should: Choosing Age-Appropriate Books For Children
Dr. Barbara Sargent As we settle in for a winter without most of the usual youth sports or activities, reading aloud and independent reading is an especially attractive and important activity for children. With public libraries open and our school libraries able to connect students with books, there’s no excuse to skip the enjoyment of settling down with a terrific story.
year or two of the child’s age so that she can identify with and understand the actions of the character. Six-year-olds cannot identify with 12-year-old Harry Potter’s actions and choices. Stick with more age-appropriate titles like the Elisa series by Johanna Hurwitz, Gooney Bird Greene, Stuart Little, Little House in the Big Woods, Clementine, or My Father’s Dragon.
Helping Children with Book Selections Many elementary children are strong readers, capable of reading books that are usually read in upper grades with accuracy and fluency. However, young children may not have the life experiences to support the reading of those books. Children who believed in the tooth fairy just last year probably aren’t really ready to grapple with the concept of utopian societies.
The following books, written at a 5th through 8th grade readability level, are also good choices for strong younger readers:
It is important that we give children books to read that support their growth and development as readers. They won’t make progress as readers if they only read easy books. However, there are better options for young advanced readers than young adult books. Families can look at more than the readability level of the book when making book selections. A book’s theme, the students’ interests, age of characters, and the possible learning opportunities should also be considered. Challenging Advanced Readers at Any Age Kindergarten is a super time to begin reading aloud chapter books to children. They’ll be introduced to the idea that not all stories end in one sitting. Children will also begin to remember story events over several episodes of readings. Use the first few minutes of each evening’s reading time to remember what happened in the previous chapter. If your child is ready to explore chapter books, you’ll want to pay close attention to subject matter and character age. Be choosy in your text selection. The characters in the books children are reading should be within a 8 l Parsippany Focus Magazine
Avi. Poppy DiCamillo, K. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread Selden, G. A Cricket in Times Square Norton, M. The Borrowers Dahl, R. James and the Giant Peach Cleary, B. The Mouse and the Motorcycle Other Resources The website www.readkiddoread.com is the brainchild of author James Patterson and contains children’s book reviews. This site is fabulous and contains tons of suggestions for great picture books, transitional books (aka – early chapter books), and advanced reads. A special section even separates out titles that would be great for boy readers vs. girl readers. Also, make sure the readers in your family have their own library card. Picking out books from the library is just as exciting as picking books out at a bookstore, and it’s FREE! Being a member of the town library also means access to (virtual) storytellers and reading programs as well. These are both motivators for creating a love of reading in children. Finally, don’t neglect . . . Add new books to child’s collection, but keep
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VOLUNTEERING
PHS Key Club Spreading Holiday Cheer
The Parsippany High School Key Club members have been hard at work spreading holiday cheer to the elderly in our community. Members made over 250 Christmas and holiday cards that were distributed to St. Catherine’s Health Care Center in Caldwell, Marian Manor Senior Residence in Caldwell, and CareOne at Morris Assisted Living in Parsippany.
January 2021
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DONATIONS
Chinese Christian Church Donates $6,000 to Community Food Banks
Rev. Paul Shen hands the $3,000 donation check to Laverne Duncan of Table of Hope, with Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano, Michael Sifonios, Dawn King
If you would like to volunteer at these Mobile Food Pantry sites, please apply at: https:// springstreetcdc.org/volunteer-opportunities/
To help alleviate the growing shortage of food and donations at our area Food Banks, the Chinese Christian Church of New Jersey recently made two significant donations. On December 11, CCCNJ donated $3,000 to Table of Hope’s Mobile Food Pantry program. On November 6, CCCNJ had already donated $3,000 to Parsippany’s Food Pantry. Mayor Michael Soriano was on hand to receive both check donations from Pastor Paul Shen of CCCNJ. Mayor Soriano thanked Pastor Paul for his team of six driver volunteers who deliver the Food every Friday from the Liquid Church distribution point to more than 30 home-bound families in the Parsippany and Lake Hiawatha area. Dawn King of Table of Hope was pleased that the recent $3,000 donation will help Table of Hope purchase fresh vegetables and fruits in addition to the non-perishable canned food that is distributed. 10 l Parsippany Focus Magazine
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January 2021
RESTAURANT REVIEW
Gourmet Cafe: Lifelong Dream, Pride, and Joy of Chef Matthew Pierone
(Continued from Page 5)
this place they come back, and they come back often. The Gourmet Café, which opened in 2007, is the lifelong dream, pride, and joy of Chef Matthew Pierone, known to all his friends and customers, which are usually the same, as Chef Matt. I think you must look at the back story of any great Chef to really appreciate how, where, and from whom, they learned and how they developed their exceptional culinary skills and abilities. I believe that a great Chef must pay his/her dues if they want to get to where they can earn such recognition. Ask any of his customers and they will most likely tell you, Chef Matt who is one of the most sincere, warm, welcoming, and personable people you will ever meet always goes the extra yard to make every customer feel that they are part of his family, which presents itself not only in the personalized service but in the high-quality gourmet dishes that he is proud to serve every day. When he can extricate himself from the kitchen Chef Matt enjoys making January 2021
the rounds and personally visiting every table. A genuinely nice personal touch. Back to Chef Matt’s back story which began at age 14 as a dishwasher at several popular restaurants before graduating with the highest honors from The New York Restaurant School in Manhattan. Early ventures into the restaurant trade included stints at such high-quality establishments as Gracie Mansion, The Highlawn Pavilion, and the Rainbow Room in NYC. As he continued to learn and develop his skills his reputation grew, and people noticed. He went on to become the Executive Chef at the Racquets Club of Short Hills, Chef de Cuisine at Eccola Italian Bistro, Saucier at Rod’s Steak House, Chef at the Green House & Sous Chef at the Grande Café in Morristown. Each new experience providing Chef Matt the opportunity to continue to enhance his culinary skills, which now can be experienced with a visit to his fine establishment. Upon entering the Gourmet Café, you will find a very classy and chic ambiance.
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RESTAURANT REVIEW
Gourmet Cafe: Lifelong Dream, Pride, and Joy of Chef Matthew Pierone (Continued from Page 11)
Custom crafted tables are spaced throughout in accordance with COVID safety rules, the interior of the beautiful dining room comes across as very intimate, cozy, and comfortable. The restaurant is immaculately clean, and the service is fast, personable, and always professional. Basically, it is a very friendly Bistro style setting with tasteful accouterments throughout, including the Chef’s nicely framed family photographs that adorn the walls and the tasteful brick accents. The dining room is always well-appointed, and the table settings are always elegant and sparkling and do not forget to bring along your favorite vino as the Gourmet Café is BYOB. On entering we were immediately welcomed and directed to our well-prepared table. Without delay, our wine was uncorked (at my request) as cold water and a basket of bread was brought to our table by the very accommodating, friendly, and cordial wait staff. On this visit our group started with appetizers’ including Spiedini all Romana (this bread filled treat complete with Prosciutto, Mozzarella, Anchovy, and Garlic was fantastic), Pignoli Encrusted Scallops with a Balsamic Reduction drizzled over the large, sweet, and buttery, perfectly prepared row of scallops, fresh and flavorful grilled shrimp, and a generously sized portion of Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, Mozzarella and Red Peppers. I personally could not
wait to try the Gourmet Café’s newest dish, Zuppa di Pesce. The carefully prepared presentation alone makes your mouth water. This is truly a treat any seafood lover will go crazy over. A large selection of fresh and delicious assorted seafood thoughtfully arranged over al dente pasta with a ring of mussels surrounding the plate. It was seriously as good a Zuppa di Pesce as any I have ever had. The roasted, crispy Chicken Matteo also looked and smelled amazing. Served with crispy Salami, Spinach, and melted Mozzarella and served with an Anisette brown sauce. I was told by my friend that it was as delicious as it looked as he devoured his serving. Of course, there’s always the Gourmet Café’s signature pasta dishes to choose from. Tonight’s choice was the Orecchiette with shrimp, sausage, roasted peppers and served with a Maple Whiskey Sauce. Perfectly prepared with just the right amount of shrimp and sausage to compliment the pasta. A normal human being would have stopped there but I could not pass up Chef Matt’s newest sensation, the Pear Clafoutis. I have never had or heard of this French dessert and I do not know how it is made but it is tender, sweet, and somewhat custard-like and topped with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream. I was seriously impressed at how good it was and along with a final cappuccino it made for a perfect end to a memorable dining experience. I have no doubt that the Pear Clafoutis will soon be a much-in-demand item on the dessert menu. We are incredibly lucky to have such high quality, gourmet Italian food available right here in Parsippany and I highly recommend stopping in and giving the Gourmet Café a try. I am confident you will not be sorry. Dine-In, Take Out, BYOB, Available Parking, Curbside Pickup, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options. Gourmet Café (Italian Restaurant) is located at 136 Baldwin, Parsippany. For reservations call (973) 316-0088. Visit their website at gourmetcafenj.com.
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January 2021
SCHOOL NEWS
CCM to Hold Virtual Open Houses on Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships County College of Morris (CCM) is offering individuals an opportunity to embark on a well-paying career path in advanced manufacturing by taking part in on-the-job training through its CareerAdvance USA apprenticeship program. The first step to becoming an apprentice in the CareerAdvance USA program is to take part in a boot camp to learn the basic skills needed for employment in advanced manufacturing. Totaling 213-hours, the boot camp covers all of the advanced manufacturing basics and gives students the opportunity to earn college credits over a four- to 10-week timeframe. An OSHA 10 General Industry Completion Card, up to five National Institute of Metalworking Skills certifications and a SolidWorks certification are awarded upon successful completion of the certification exam and required hours. Job opportunities apprentices can pursue include computer numerical control operator, manual machinist, shop technician and CAD drafter. While the apprenticeship program is offered at no cost, there is a $3,750 fee, plus the purchase of supplies, to take part in the boot camp. Scholarships are available and payment is broken up over a period of time instead of being due as one
January 2021
lump sum. CCM’s Center for Workforce Development, which is overseeing the program, will be holding a series of virtual open houses where individuals can learn more about the boot camp and apprenticeship program. The open houses take place: · Wednesday, January 27, at noon · Wednesday, February 10, at 2 p.m. · Wednesday, February 24, at 5 p.m. · Wednesday, March 10, at 9 a.m. · Wednesday, March 24, at noon · Wednesday, April 7, at 2 p.m. · Wednesday, April 21, at 5 p.m. · Wednesday, May 5, at 9 a.m . Those interested in the program can sign-up for an information session and receive Zoom login information by visiting www.ccm.edu/apprenticeships/. CCM was awarded a four-year $4 million CareerAdvance USA grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to lead a consortium of New Jersey community colleges to create successful apprenticeship models in advanced manufacturing. with good job prospects, the field pays well with an average starting salary of $45,000 to $65,000 plus benefits after completing an apprenticeship.
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WHAT IF YOU’RE THE ONE? If you’re holding this magazine in your hands right now, you ARE the one. You’re the one who knows the importance of a strong education. You value your environment. You hold doors for people and offer a smile when someone holds one for you. You know people deserve to be happy, healthy and safe. We know how you feel because we feel that way too. And we know you’re the one. You’re the one who can change the world. Right now. Right this moment. How do we know? Because we know that everyone has that power within them. Really. You do. One simple act of kindness toward another changes the world. Can you imagine the power you’d have if you joined forces with others who are also the one? You are the one. It’s you. This is an amazing world. Let’s continue to make it better by helping children and families live their greatest lives. Join Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46 East, Parsippany on Thursday morning at 7:15 a.m. to learn how you can change the world. For more information visit www.parsippanykiwanis.org.
Visit www.parsippanykiwanis.org for meeting details
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January 2021
GIVING BACK
Cerbo’s Trees for Troops Sends Christmas Trees to Military Families
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano and Tyler Cerbo
The holiday season can be difficult for military families. For the third year, Cerbo’s Greenhouse and Garden Center, participated in “Trees for Troops.” Many Parsippany volunteers gathered at Cerbo’s Parsippany Greenhouse and Garden Center to support the third annual Trees for Troops Christmas tree donation drive. Residents in small groups unloaded trees, tagged them with holiday wishes, and carefully loaded them into FedEx shipping trucks, to be delivered to military families at Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia and Fort Bragg, in North Carolina. “Our first year we had 115 trees donated, last
year we got around 300, this year we’ve got a hard count of 500 trees we’re donating,” said Tyler Cerbo, standing along truckloads of carefully wrapped pine trees ready to be unveiled by military families. “This is something the community has been so engaged in and willing to support. People are definitely looking for a feel good at the end of this year, and helping our military and their families is something I think everybody wants to be a part of.” “The Cerbo family is graciously supporting the “Trees for Troops” effort again this year, and I’m delighted to be joining them as they prepare freshly cut Christmas trees for delivery (Continued on Page 18)
Cerbo’s Trees for Troops Sends
Tyler Cerbo and Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce
(Continued from Page 17)
to a base in Texas this year,” Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce said. The Trees for Troops program is a nationwide event that donates thousands of farm-grown Christmas trees to military bases all over the country. Donors are provided a card to offer well wishes to the recipient, which is tied to the tree and placed on the trucks to be hauled away to military bases. “When the Cerbo family asked me to get involved with this three years ago, I was reminded of my father, who was in the military and stationed in Germany, who had brought along his Bing Crosby ‘White Christmas’ record with him, to remind him of the Christmas traditions he missed while overseas,” said Mayor Soriano.
“This is personal, not just for me but for the people here volunteering. We respect the men and women who wear the uniform, and protect this country at home and abroad. What a great way to kick off our holiday season.” Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill said “It was great to be in Parsippany yesterday to help load trucks for Trees for Troops with Mayor Soriano. I know how tough it can be to serve overseas during the holidays away from friends and loved ones. Thanks to the work of Tyler Cerbo, the Cerbo family, and the Morris County Chamber, our community is helping to send some holiday cheer to our service members and their families.” Trees for Troops began in 2005 and has delivered more than 225,000 Christmas trees to military families in the US and to troops
Christmas Trees to Military Families
Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and Mayor Michael Soriano
stationed overseas. The act may seem small, but for those serving, it can mean everything. Nationwide, the Trees for Troops program delivers close to 20,000 trees to active duty military members and their families at over 75 bases in the U.S. and overseas each year. Tree farms in about 20 states have donated trees to brighten a military family’s holidays. Many individuals have donated to Trees for Troops as well, getting the organization to its grand total of 225,319 free trees over the past 15 years. All those trees are then delivered to the bases with the help of in-kind work from FedEx, whose volunteers coordinate all deliveries. Cerbo’s Greenhouse and Garden Center is Parsippany’s oldest business – even older than the town itself! The original deed was completed on a piece of parchment paper and
consisted of 26 acres much of which is now under Route 80. Cerbo’s Greenhouse and Garden Center is located at 440 Littleton Road. For more information call (973) 334-2623 or visit their website https://cerbogreenhouse.com/
COMMUNITY NEWS
MPAC Adds Three Local Business Leaders to Board of Trustees Simone Craig of Morristown, Ken Lantigua of Chatham and Art Corwin of Morristown have been selected to join the Board of Trustees of Mayo Performing Arts Center. All three will serve three-year terms. “On behalf of my fellow Trustees I’d like to welcome Simone, Ken and Art to the MPAC Board,” says Greg Supron, Chairman, Board of Trustees, MPAC. “We are thrilled that such outstanding community members and leaders will be helping to guide MPAC’s future direction.” Ken Lantigua is a Vice President and Senior Regional Consultant in asset management, responsible for partnering with private wealth financial advisors and their teams for tailored portfolio guidance and investment product support. Prior to his current role, Mr. Lantigua spent 17 years at UBS Financial Services, Inc., most recently serving as the Head of Advisory Consulting, where he led a team of specialists responsible for providing practice management and investment advice through UBS Investment Advisory Programs. Mr. Lantigua is a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) and an active member of the Investments & Wealth Institute®. A North Jersey native, he lives with his family in Chatham.
Simone Craig
“I’m honored to have an opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees of MPAC, and play a small part in supporting all of the wonderful entertainment which the theater provides to our community,” he says. “Like so many, my family and I have been missing going out during this pandemic, and I know the theater has faced extraordinary challenges in navigating through this difficult period. Through conversations with the MPAC team, I’ve learned just how much the theater contributes to the vibrancy of the local area, as well as the unique experiences it provides through educational programs such as The Miracle Project and Arts in the Community. The MPAC team has worked incredibly hard to innovate and power through the hardship this year, and I’m excited to help back their efforts - looking forward to the day when we’re all enjoying packed shows in the theater once again.” Simone Craig is the founder and CEO of SLC Global, a boutique accounting and wealth consulting firm for women business owners. Simone is a capital building strategist and holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from Hampton University in Hampton, VA. She has extensive experience in the financial industry, including with KPMG Peat Marwick, and Prudential Financial in Newark. Simone is a thought leader and keynote speaker on topics including money mindset, entrepreneurship, women in business, financial freedom, generational wealth and legacy-building. She is a frequent guest on podcasts and for private business groups seeking her unique insights into the intersection of mindset, money and success. She loves helping her clients, and audiences from all around the world, to have the mindset and money management skills to create (Continued on Page 27)
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January 2021
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January 2021
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Parsippany Focus Magazine l 23
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RECIPES
Pasta Fagioli Soup
1 box Ditalini pasta, cooked drained and shocked with cold water 2 large gloves garlic, sliced thin. 2 leaves fresh basil, Chiffonade. 1 large can cannellini beans, drained & rinsed. 2 T grated parmesan cheese. Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups chopped plum tomatoes 2 cups vegetable (or chicken) stock In a medium pot, brown the garlic in olive oil and add the fresh basil. Add tomatoes January 2021
and stock. Add beans and simmer 5 minutes. Add cooked pasta. Add seasoning and grated cheese. Serve with Italian bread. Makes 2 quarts. Chef Matthew Pierone, Gourmet CafĂŠ Restaurant Baldwin Plaza 136 Baldwin Road Parsippany, NJ 07054 Phone: (973) 316-0088
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Parsippany Focus Magazine l25
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A Message From the Superintendent (Continued from Page 8)
reading old favorites. Yes, you may roll your eyes when your child asks you to read Goodnight Moon for the umpteenth time, but your child is able to anticipate the language in the story and will eventually “remember read” the book on her own. Search out related books ~ Arthur series, theme books, Frog and Toad. All readers get hooked on a particular author or genre for periods of time. If your child is really engaged with a particular book series, keep feeding them that reading material. They’ll move onto to other books when they’re ready. Keep fairy tales and nursery rhymes alive in your children’s lives. Fairy tales provide an excellent foundation for later literary works. Pre-readers gain a tremendous understanding about how language works by listening to and repeating nursery rhymes. Nursery rhymes are important for language acquisition and help with speech development. In addition to being a wonderful introduction to poetry, nursery rhymes build vocabulary and reinforce phonological skills such as rhyme production and phoneme awareness. Plus, some of them are just plain silly, and couldn’t we all use a giggle now and then? I hope the winter months provide your family with many opportunities to gather together and enjoy the magic of reading.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
MPAC Adds Three Local Business Leaders to Board of Trustees (Continued from Page 20)
a thriving business they love, while leaving a legacy they’re proud of. Simone is also on the Board of Directors of Art in the Atrium, Inc. based in Morristown. She lives in Morristown and is the proud mom of her 8 year-old daughter, Charleigh. “I grew up in Morristown and have such fond memories of enjoying movies and events at The Community Theatre, as it was previously known,” Ms. Craig says. “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to give back to the community in this way. I’m very happy to be elected to the Board of Trustees of MPAC as it embarks on a path of diverse entertainment programming to a burgeoning and increasingly diverse Morris County community.” Art Corwin is a licensed professional engineer and has dedicated over 42 years to a career in engineering and construction. In his current role as President at Railroad Construction Company (RCC), he is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and collaborates with executive and senior level management to promote an environment that cultivates the company’s mission to deliver quality construction and engineering serving the customer with professionalism and integrity. Mr. Corwin has been involved in many major infrastructure projects throughout the U.S., including the Boston Big Dig, the 2nd Avenue subway in New York City, and his most challenging, recovery and reconstruction at the World Trade Center after 9/11. He graduated from NYU Tandon School of Engineering and has lived in Morris County for 37 years with his wife Ann. They have three grown children. He has been an active volunteer at Homeless Solutions Shelter, serving as its Board Chair for two years. He served on the Board at the Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child for six years, and currently serves on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic.
Art Corwin
About MPAC Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2020-2021 season is made possible, in part, by a grant the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations and individuals. Mayo Performing Arts Center was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres, and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine. Mayo Performing Arts Center is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Ann and I have been attending and supporting MPAC for over 20 years,” he says. We understand how important it is to the Morristown community. We certainly enjoy the shows but are inspired by how the theater brings the arts to life for so many children and young adults.” January 2021
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Parsippany Focus Magazine l 27
OUR COMMUNITY
Glimpse of History: Lake Parsippany In the early 1930s The New York Daily Mirror, part of the Mirror Holding Corp., purchased a huge tract of pasture and farmland in Parsippany. They dug out 159 acres and erected a dam that formed Lake Parsippany, which became the headwaters for Eastman’s Brook.
Officers and Directors of The Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association for 1934 President......................Frank R. McCarthy Vice President................William C. Niemand Financial Secretary..................Albert Wasko Recording Secretary...............George A. West Treasurer....................... George McDougall
The Mirror Holding Corp. made the 7,916 lots surrounding the lake available to anyone agreeing to subscribe to the Daily Mirror for six months. Lots measured 20 by 100 feet and were offered for $98.50 each. A minimum of two lots had to be purchased in order to build a cabin.
William H. Brown Anton J. Huck Clarence A. Loehwing Timothy Mulroy E.P. Fisler George P. Johnson James Magnatta Nils Pearson Milton Gibian Louis W. Kahout Fred S. Miller John P. Yancho
Developers Warren and Arthur Smadbeck of New York City handled the sales for the Mirror Holding Corp. Working agents for the Smadbecks in Parsippany were Alex Eckstein and Dean Gallo Sr. By 1933 a sufficient number of properties had been sold. On October 19, 1933, the Certificate of Incorporation was signed and filed with the Morris County Clerk’s Office on October 25, 1933. On October 29, 1933, at a meeting at Lake Parsippany, to which all lot owners were invited and which was attended by about fifteen hundred people, an incorporated organization of lot owners was formed; the Officers and Directors for the first year chosen; and a general spirit of cooperation and good will fostered The Mirror Holding Corp. turned over the property to the Lake Parsippany Property Association. The governing body consisted of five officials and 12 directors. They supervised all Community activities, such as fire and police protection, water supply, sewage disposal, electricity, abatement of nuisances, and compliance with building regulations. 28 l Parsippany Focus Magazine
The first issue of the Lake Parsippany Pilot now known as News & Views printed in the Spring of 1934 gives us a glimpse of history and the vision for Lake Parsippany. 1940s: The roads and garbage collection were maintained by the association until 1948 at which time they were given over to the town. At the start of the Association if one didn’t buy a membership into the association their garbage would not be picked up. The community grew as increasing numbers of city residents retreated from the summer heat. Drewes Beach, Hoffman Beach, Johnson Beach, and Jorges Beach where dedicated to Heroes who lost their lives during WWII and where active members and property owners of Lake Parsippany. Present Day: It is interesting to note that most all the lakes in this area are man made including Lake Hopatcong. All but Lake Hopatcong and Mountain Lake are run by associations, which requires membership. There are parts of Lake Hopatcong, which are governed by associations. Mountain Lakes can only be used by its residents.
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January 2021
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Ryan P. Conklin joined H2M Architects and Engineers Ryan P. Conklin, AICP, PP, GISP joined H2M architects + engineers as Senior Project Planner at H2M. Beginning on November 23, he started working out of the Parsippany office. Previously Conklin was Principal at Collaborative Concepts LLC. Long Valley. Conklin currently resides in Long Valley. About H2M: Celebrating over 85 years, H2M is a full-service consulting and design firm offering the expertise of more than 480 architects, engineers (water supply, civil/site, structural, M/E/P, wastewater and environmental), planners, designers, inspectors, surveyors, and scientists. Our professionals combine their technical experience and specialized market knowledge and respond to our clients’ needs. H2M is proud of its long history of client service and consistent ability to meet architectural, engineering, and environmental challenges head-on. H2M offers a practical
Ryan P. Conklin, AICP, PP, GISP
approach, with creative results. For more information visit https://www.h2m.com/
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January 2021
COMMUNITY NEWS
Second Hand Rose Thriftique Has Something for Everyone The thrift shop at St. Christopher Church, 2nd Hand Rose Thriftique, geared up for a major celebration. December marked the ninth-year anniversary of the nonprofit store with the bright pink doors. That means lots to do and to decorate for coordinator Patricia Taylor. Second Hand Rose Thrift Shop has something for everyone … when you enter this thrift shop, it will amaze you with all the items that are available. New, Used, and Vintage merchandise. Taylor showed off a huge array of wares, including household items, unique collectibles, toys, teddy bears, games, books, clothing, shoes, CDs, DVDs, and more. They even have quality items and great holiday baskets. Taylor said she opened the shop out of pure love—for the church and for her longtime passions: decorating and design.
Second Hand Rose Thrift Shop has something for everyone
One challenge for 2nd Hand Rose is letting people know about its merchandise and bargain prices. “Right now, we get a mention in the church bulletin, but not everyone reads that,” she said. “I hope people spread the word because there are really good buys here.” Second Hand Rose Thriftique is located at 1050 Littleton Road, on the grounds of St. Christopher’s Church. For any questions contact Pat at (973) 7134939.
Second Hand Rose Thriftique is located at 1050 Littleton Road, on the grounds of St. Christopher’s Church. January 2021
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Parsippany Focus Magazine l 31
Community
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Janauary 2021
COMMUNITY NEWS
Parsippany Elks Lodge #2078 Donates to Operation Chillout
Eric Bisch, Joe Serrecchia, Ray Chimileski and Ted Sattur
Parsippany-Troy Hills Elks Lodge #2078 donated $2,750 to Operation Chillout as part of a Gratitude Grant. Operation Chillout is New Jersey’s oldest all-volunteer-only mobile outreach for homeless veterans, men and women, on-mission since December 2000. Their motto is “No borders-no
boundaries.” The Veterans of Foreign Wars Gratitude Initiative to provide vital support for the children of service members and veterans. Parsippany-Troy Hills Elks Lodge #2078 is located at 230 Parsippany Road.
Did You Know? Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce mails a “Welcome To Our Community” package to new residents? If you are interested in participating in these mailings, please contact Frank Cahill at (973) 402-6400 January 2021
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Parsippany Focus Magazine l 33
COMMUNITY NEWS
Blood Drive Volunteers Needed New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS), which provides blood for local patients, is looking for a few good volunteers. The blood drive volunteer is an integral member our team whose tasks include assisting donors with registration and/or at the refreshment area. No medical background necessary. Volunteers should be outgoing to provide friendly customer service and be able to perform tasks as needed. Must have transportation. All training is provided including additional precautions for the safety of our team and blood donors. For additional information call or text Sharon Zetts, Manager, NJBS Volunteer Services at (732)8508906, Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To apply on line as a blood drive volunteer, please go to: https://www.nybc.org/support-us/volunteer-nybc/ volunteer-application/
Founded in 1964, New York Blood Center (NYBC) is a nonprofit organization that is one of the largest independent, community-based blood centers in the world. NYBC collects approximately 4,000 units of blood products each day and serve local communities of more than 45 million people in the Tri-State area.
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