Par-Troy Realty Company Helps Raise $2K+ for Children's Miracle Network

RE/MAX First Choice staffers helped out during a pancake fundraiser at the Boonton IHOP.

Staffers at Parsippany's RE/MAX First Choice Realty in Parsippany joined together to do their bit for charity on Feb. 5. The realty firm pitched in to assist at a pancake lunch hosted by the Boonton International House of Pancakes as part of IHOP's National Pancake Day, which benefits the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. RE/MAX is one of the Children's Miracle Network's largest corporate partners, having raised nearly $100 million for pediatric illnesses since 1992. This was the eighth straight year that the Parsippany office contributed to the effort. Alongside IHOP Boonton's General Manager Sue Prekel and her staff, RE/MAX First Choice employees greeted customers, answered questions and assisted in raising money for the cause, …

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Local Boy Raises $13K+ for Young Neighbor with Cancer

A Parsippany/Boonton kid shaved his head—and inspired others to join in—for a good cause.

An 8-year-old township boy took it all off to help a friend. Matthew Santana, wanting to help Peyton Zitelli, a 19-month-old neighbor battling a rare pediatric cancer, shaved his head in a fundraising effort to help her family defray medical expenses. In the end, his generous action raised more than $13,000 for the effort. The Santanas and Zitellis live in the Boonton mailing address area of Parsippany. The event took place last Saturday at the Blackthorn Irish Restaurant and Pub. Young Matthew gamely allowed his head to be shaven, and about seven others—children and adults— shaved theirs as well. The boy came up with the idea after hearing that the Zitelli child wa diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that forms in …

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Frelinghuysen, Vigilante Continue Valentines for Vets Campaign

Littleton School students team up with a congressman and a war hero to send greetings to wounded military vets for the holiday of love.

Parsippany students had an opportunity Thursday to wish American soldiers a happy Valentine's Day. District 11 U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen and U.S. Air Force Reserves Master Sgt. James Vigilante visited Littleton Elementary School, where students created holiday cards for soldiers hurt in the line of duty.   "These messages from students lift the spirits of veterans confined to a hospital on Valentine's Day," said Frelinghuysen, a Vietnam War veteran.   Mayor James Barberio was also on hand for the special visit. The Valentines for Vets school visits are becoming an annual tradition for the congressperson and Vigilante, who said the card delivery is important because it shows veterans that they have not been forgotten.  Frelinghuysen …

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Boonton Boy and Blackthorn Pub Team Up to Fight Cancer

An 8-year-old is shaving his head and raising funds to help a young neighbor battling a rare cancer.

An 8-year-old Boonton boy is making a big sacrifice to support a young neighbor battling cancer. Matthew Santana, wanting to help Peyton Zitelli, a 19-month-old neighbor battling a rare pediatric cancer, decided to show solidarity with the toddler, reported the Daily Record. Hearing the young girl would lose her hair after chemotherapy treaments, the boy decided to shave his head. Young Peyton has alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that forms in muscle tissue. She receives treatments during weekly visits to a clinic in Philadelphia.  And in the meantime Matthew, with the help of his father, Ray Santana, is raising funds via the Facebook event Pledges for Peyton, by collecting sponsors for his head shaving to bring attention to the …

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Parsippany Students to Get Special Cooking Lesson

A Vermont flour company is coming to town to teach kids the wonder of making their own bread.

The King Arthur Flour Company of Norwich, Vt., wants to teach Parsippany kids the power of baking one's own bread. To pass on the traditional pastime, a company representative is going on tour next week to visit seven New Jersey schools to teach students how to bake fresh homemade bread from scratch through its Life Skills Bread Baking Program. On the itinerary are Northvail and Intervale elementary schools. “The Life Skills Program has three goals: learn, bake, share,” said Paula Gray, who manages King Arthur Flour's Life Skills program. “The cross-curricular program includes math, science, reading, following directions and more; baking is a practical application of those skills and students are eager to use and share their newfound …

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PurpleStride Event Weathers the Storm

Originally postponed by Hurricane Sandy, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's PurpleStride event raised over $160,000 to fight pancreatic cancer.

Even Superstorm Sandy couldn't stop the fight against cancer.  After the storm wiped out the third annual PurpleStride New Jersey walk scheduled for Nov. 4, the organization found a way to raise money and awareness for the battle against pancreatic cancer after all.  The Northern New Jersey affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network held the PurpleStride Day of Inspiration Jan. 6 with about 200 participants at the Parsippany Hilton. The event was emceed by Rich DeMarco, the play-by-play voice of Army Black Knight football and Carla Marie, a producer from Z-100's Elvis and the Morning Show.  Several volunteers spoke during the hour-long ceremony, including five-year pancreatic cancer survivor Bob Brown, who encouraged people to …

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Rainbow Lakes Drummer Uses 2nd Chance to Help Others

Area musician who had a liver transplant earlier this year plans benefit concert to help other patients.

Scholarship Program in Memory of 9/11 Victim to Expand

Friends of Marty will boost the number of students eligible to receive scholarships in 2014.

Parsippany resident Martin Boryczewski lives on in the hearts of his friends more than 11 years after he was lost in the September 11 attacks in New York City. And in 2014, community service efforts launched in his honor will expand, according to his best friend. Since Boryczewski's untimely passing, the nonprofit Friends of Marty Inc. has hosted an annual golf outing that raises funds for deserving students at his alma mater Morris Catholic High School. And now, more students will have a chance to receive scholarships. "In 2014, we will expand our award scholarship funds to students at St. Peter’s University where Marty also excelled," said Ron Dollard, who heads Friends of Marty. "From the beginning, we’ve chosen to help students in need…

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Morris County Football League Lends Helping Hand to TEAM Sean

League has donated $7,000 to assist the family of Sean Ries, who has a rare pediatric brain cancer.

"It was a tear-jerking moment for me and the 100 'tough guys' in the room," said Little Vikings Football President Michael Pietrowicz, describing a moving experience he had Tuesday night at the Zeris Inn in Mountain Lakes.  The  Parsippany youth football league, part of the Morris County Youth Football League, gathered at a banquet to honor and help the family of Mt. Tabor's Sean Ries, a 5-year-old with a twinkle in his eye, an indomitable spirit and a tumor in his brain.  Last February, Sean was diagnosed with a low-grade, slow growing brain cancer called glioma—a condition that affects only 1,000 U.S. children. Since then, the Ries family has spent much time, effort and money in getting him the medical treatment he needs. MYCFL and …

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Dining Out for the Hungry at Morris Plains Tavern

Restaurant giving portion of Wednesday proceeds to help a Morristown food bank.

In the true spirit of holiday giving, Arthur’s Tavern in Morris Plains is donating $2 for every lunch or dinner entrée served on Wednesday, Dec. 12 to the Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center in Morristown. “No one should go hungry this holiday season," said owner Alyce McGreevy. "We recognize that many people here in Morris County are still struggling through tough economic times.  The devastation from Hurricane Sandy is still affecting many of our neighbors. With this donation, the Soup Kitchen will be able to purchase pantry items in bulk at lower costs. "All of these funds will go directly to feeding and helping those in need." McGreevy said the tavern is making the donation in memory of her late mother Doretta, who volunteered …

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