5 Things You Should Know This Week

With less than two weeks before Christmas and Hanukkah, this is sure to be a busy week of shopping and planning for many in Parsippany-Troy Hills. And there is plenty more to do as well. From all the happenings taking place in and aroujnd the township, we present five you should note:

1. GOP Glitterati in Town: Gov. Chris Christie is making sure his recent endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is more than mere talk. The governor hosts a fund-raising VIP reception for Romney at the , NJ.com reports. Tickets for the event are $500 a person. A photograph with Romney runs $2,500.
2. Tough Turf Talks: This will be a busy week for the (and BOE watchers). The school board meets in closed session Monday to discuss the controversial Fields of Dreams plan to install turf fields at both of the township's high schools. Also taking part in the private gathering are area youth sports leaders and Mayor James Barberio. Whatever is decided in this meeting likely will be the prime topic on the agenda for Thursday's public school board meeting. Sessions start at 7 p.m. Monday and Thursday and take place at the Board of Education building. The public is invited to attend both sessions, although all discussions at the Monday meeting will be behind closed doors.
3. Council to Honor Heroic Helpers: Tuesday's regular meeting should be action-packed. Among the items on the agenda are an awards presentation to Hurricane Irene volunteers, a final hearing on the and to cover municipal employees. There also may be a reconsideration of the council vote to nix increases in Knoll Country Club golf user fees. The meeting takes place 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at .
4. Preserving Mountain Way: Once again, a comes before the . At the body's meeting Wednesday, the long testimony period continues with an expert representing Preserve Mountain Way, an organization of area residents opposed to the development project. The ZBA meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers at Town Hall.
5. Snowflake Festival Rescheduled: After being rained out last week, the finally takes place Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The event celebrates the season and the efforts of the FLH, who stepped in to decorate the town for the holidays when funding for adornments could not fit into the municipal budget.  The event features pictures with Santa Claus (bring your camera, organizers say), raffles, cocoa and cookies, and musicby DJ John Christian Entertainment. The Snowflake Festival takes place in the gazebo at Hiawatha Park on North Beverwyck Road.