FAIRFIELD — Two people were aboard a small business jet that ran off the end of the Essex County Airport runway after landing around 2:45 p.m. on Easter Sunday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Fairfield declined to respond to questions about the condition of the people aboard the plane.
The white Cessna Citation aircraft was laying in a grassy area on the southern end of the airport as of 3:30 p.m. Sunday and close to a dozen police, ambulances and fire trucks from Fairfield and West Caldwell were lined up behind the plane with their sirens flashing. A strong smell of fuel wafted through the surrounding area.
Ashley Balcerzak is a reporter covering affordable housing and its intersection of how we live in New Jersey. For unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges is participating in the Five Days of Action, from April 18 to 22. The Five Days of Action is a weeklong campaign to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse. The Y will share statistics and resources throughout the week and invite members to take the pledge to protect children from sexual abuse.
The Metro YMCA of the Oranges encourages adults and organizations to join in marking this special week and to come together to make the community a safer place for children to live, learn and play.
During the Five Days of Action, the Y will be engaging these critical steps of prevention: “know, see, respond.” When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention.
“The children in our communities have the right to a happy and safe childhood, and it’s our responsibility as adults and organizations to stand up to protect that right,” Metro Y President and CEO Richard K. Gorab said. “By joining in the Five Days of Action’s ‘know, see, respond’ campaign, we hope to inspire other organizations and members of our communities to create safe spaces that protect children from sexual abuse.”
According to statistics provided by nonprofit organization Darkness to Light, one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday; 90 percent of child sexual abuse victims know their abuser; approximately 30 percent of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members; 60 percent of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone; and false reports are rare, with research showing that only 4 percent to 8 percent of child sexual abuse reports are fabricated.
If you believe a child is being abused, you do not need to have proof that abuse is occurring to make a report, only reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion means that you have witnessed maltreatment or boundary violations in the child and/or adult; or, you have received a disclosure from a child about abuse, neglect or boundary violations toward them. Child sexual abuse reports should be made to the police and/or state child protective services.
The Metro YMCA of the Oranges, with support from the YMCA Champions for Child Protection, YMCA of the USA, Darkness to Light, Redwoods Group Foundation, Monique Burr Foundation for Children and American Camp Association, have made materials available to help adults learn more about preventing child sexual abuse.
This Easter, the St. Luke AME Church in Newark will celebrate two resurrections.
The first, of course, is the Resurrection, which refers to Christians’ belief that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday following the Crucifixion two days earlier, on Good Friday.
But like countless other congregations that have celebrated religious holidays remotely during the coronavirus pandemic, this Sunday, St. Luke will resurrect in-person Easter services for the first time since 2019. It’s a renewal that has congregants and clergy looking forward to a bigger turnout, live music, and more holiday spirit than they’ve rejoiced in for some time.
“It’s the fellowship before and after the service when you can go up and say, ‘Happy Easter!’ ‘Have a good week,’” said longtime St. Luke congregant Deborah Brown, 70, a retired Newark Public Schools teacher. “‘Oh, I missed you,’ ‘Meant to call you.’ Fellowshipping. That love, showing that love.”
This will be the first Easter since Gov. Phil Murphy lifted mask mandates and limits on attendance at indoor gatherings in May 2021. Even after that, houses of worship have required or strongly encouraged continued masking or social distancing that effectively reduced capacity.
St. Luke began holding in-person services last year, but with no choir and every other row of pews closed. And turnout has been low, averaging less than one-third of the 225-seat modified capacity, said the pastor, the Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Hooper.
But on Easter, all of St. Luke’s pews will be open, and the service will include a choir for the first time since the pandemic began, Hooper said.
“Easter Sunday will be full-blown,” the pastor said.
The steps toward normalcy are especially meaningful for St. Luke, an orange brick church on Clinton Avenue, which lost 17 parishioners to COVID-19 from an aging congregation totaling less than 580. The death toll was notable even among churches in Newark, a working-class city with a majority Black population hit hard by the pandemic, especially during its first year, when 15 St. Luke congregants perished.
About 60 people attended the St. Luke service last weekend on Palm Sunday, which celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem before the Last Supper, which is celebrated on Thursday, followed by the Crucifixion. Hooper said he expects a much larger turnout on Easter Sunday, though he suspected lingering coronavirus concerns could keep some worshipers away.
“Easter has always been, in the Black church, one of those Sundays where you will see a big crowd,” Hooper said. “Now, coming out of COVID, this will be the first time. So we’ll see.”
Other denominations are likewise celebrating the holiday with in-person services.
For example, the Archdiocese of Newark, which includes 1.3 million Catholics in Essex, Bergen, Hudson, and Union counties, announced that Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin would lead an in-person service on Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.
Churches are not the only houses of worship to resume in-person services this weekend.
Friday was the first night of Passover, the Jewish holiday ending at sundown on April 23, celebrating the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt. At Ahavas Shalom, one of the last active synagogues in Newark, Friday night was its first in-person holiday service since the pandemic’s arrival, said the Broadway congregation’s longtime president, Eric Freedman.
“Our last service live was March 14 of 2020,” said Freedman, adding that all services had been remote until last month. “Three weeks ago, we reconvened for our first service literally in two years.”
Last year Freedman co-founded an interfaith social justice organization, Diversity United, with former Newark City Council President Mildred Crump, Rabbi Capers Funnye of Chicago, nicknamed “Obama’s Rabbi,” and Pastor Steffie Bartley of New Hope Memorial Baptist Church in Elizabeth.
“The underlying message of Passover is freedom, liberation, and justice,” Freedman said. “So it’s an exciting time, an exhilarating time.”
April has also witnessed a more joyous Ramadan, the month-long Islamic holiday when Muslims believe Allah revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, said Selaedin Maksut, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations of New Jersey.
“We’re back in full swing,” Maksut said of attendance at services and meals after sundown. “It’s definitely a beautiful atmosphere now. We’re happy to be back and seeing people again, sometimes for the first time in quite a while.”
Back at St. Luke’s on Palm Sunday, the service was led by a guest pastor, the Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Saunders of Mt. Zion AME Church in New Brunswick, whose sermon instructed parishioners “how to prevail when God says no.”
“When I was a little child, I had a three-wheeler bicycle, and I watched my big brothers on a two-wheeler,” he told the congregants. “And I said, ‘Mom, can I have a two-wheeler?’ And my mom said ‘No!’”
“But you know what?” Saunders added. “The reason my mother told me no, she knew that I wasn’t ready to ride a two-wheeler bike. And if she would have told me yes, I would have broke my [he then pauses for comic effect] neck.”
Saunders told congregants that God has a reason for saying no, which is usually because he doesn’t believe the person is ready for what they’re asking. But with that understanding, plus the knowledge that “no” can merely be a delay and not a denial, followed by persistent prayer, Saunders said God would eventually say yes.
“God has the ability to change his mind,” he told the congregation.
Saunders later said the sermon could apply to the delayed celebration of Easter amid the pandemic when the need to hold services remotely may have seemed like a denial but was merely a delay for the congregation’s good until in-person services were less risky.
Saunders and Hooper did not wear masks while they preached. But nearly everyone else inside the church did throughout the 45-minute service. And parishioners said later that masks did not filter out divine inspiration or interfere with their worshipping.
“None at all,” said Betty Risher, 72, a retired NJ Transit bookkeeper. But, Risher added, “I miss the choir singing.”
Hooper said Sunday’s worshipers included family members of some St. Luke congregants who died of COVID-19. Some were still traumatized, he said. To protect his flock, the pastor declined to identify any who had lost loved ones and asked NJ Advance Media not to inquire about the subject during interviews before or after the service.
But one long-time parishioner, Anthony Hammond, 56, raised the issue on his own while explaining that church attendance has not been what it was before the pandemic.
“We lost a lot of individuals that had been here for years,” said Hammond, an emergency radiology technician. “You know it’s hard for individuals, some who lost loved ones, to come back.”
“But we have to be proactive, which we have been doing here at St. Luke,” Hammond added. “We, probably, were one of the first churches to start opening up. So I have to give Pastor Hooper kudos because on his heart, on his watch, he lost a lot.”
Hammond said the return of the church choir alone on Easter Sunday would elevate the passion in the pews to ecstatic levels.
“Music means a lot to the body,” he said. “People put it on in their car before they come into the house of the lord just to give them that sense of spirit.”
“Sunday? Easter?” Hammond added, his pitch rising at the thought. “It’ll be rockin’!”
NEW JERSEY — The most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.
FDA approves first COVID-19 breath test for emergency use
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday, April 15, that it had authorized the first test to detect COVID-19 through breath for emergency use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was extending the order, which was set to expire on April 18, until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant that is now responsible for the vast majority of cases in the U.S.
Murphy tests positive for COVID
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tested positive for COVID-19, officials announced on Thursday, March 31. He’s asymptomatic and feeling well, but was set to cancel all events and isolate for five days.
Moderna’s low-dose COVID vaccine works for kids under 6, company says
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine works in babies, toddlers and preschoolers, the company announced on March 23 — and if regulators agree it could mean a chance to finally start vaccinating the littlest kids by summer.
Moderna asks FDA to authorize 4th dose of COVID shot
Drugmaker Moderna asked the Food and Drug Administration on March 17 to authorize a fourth shot of its COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for all adults.
WHO now tracking hybrid COVID-19 variant: ‘deltacron’
Scientists are learning more about a hybrid variant of COVID-19 that has been detected called “deltacron.” Deltacron was first reported early this year, when it was thought to be a co-infection of the omicron and delta coronavirus variants (meaning people were possibly infected with two variants at once). Now, researchers believe it’s a single, hybrid variant that combines genes from both delta and omicron.
TSA extends mask mandate on planes, public transit
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is developing guidance that will ease the nationwide mask mandate on airplanes, buses and other mass transit, according to a U.S. official, but the existing face-covering requirement will be extended through April 18.
NJ drops school mask mandate but not all districts end requirement
As New Jersey health officials continue to report progress in beating back the latest wave of COVID-19 infections, Gov. Phil Murphy on March 7 allowed schools to drop the mask mandate. However, not all school districts across the state opted to drop masking rules.
Gov. Murphy ends Public Health Emergency 2 years after NJ’s first COVID case
On March 4, 2020, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy received word that the state recorded its first case of COVID-19. He recalled the day on Friday, March 4, exactly two years later, during what he said was his last in-person COVID-19 briefing.
What the CDC’s new ‘Community Level’ tool means for your county
Most Americans live in places where healthy people, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday, March 4.
Murphy dropping NJ schools mask mandate
While COVID numbers continue to decline in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy announced an end to the state’s mask mandate for public schools. The governor said students and school staff can go maskless beginning March 7. The statewide mandate has been in effect since the start of the academic year in September.
4th COVID shot: Who will need another booster soon?
As COVID cases caused by the omicron variant finally start to wane in the U.S., is it time to look ahead to the next variant? And will we need another booster shot to protect us from it?
Pfizer asks FDA to allow COVID vaccine for kids under 5
Pfizer on Tuesday, Feb. 1, asked the U.S. to authorize extra-low doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5, potentially opening the way for the very youngest Americans to start receiving shots as early as March.
Newark University Hospital gets military aid amid COVID surge
Gov. Murphy: NJ schools could ditch masks before end of academic year
As New Jersey’s COVID numbers start to slowly drop, Gov. Phil Murphy predicted Thursday, Jan. 20 that schools in the Garden State could reach a point before the end of this school year where masks are no longer required.
CDC encourages more Americans to consider N95 masks
U.S. health officials on Friday, Jan. 14, encouraged more Americans to wear the kind of N95 or KN95 masks used by health care workers to slow the spread of COVID-19. Those kinds of masks are considered better at filtering viruses from the air. But they previously were in short supply, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials had said they should be prioritized for health care workers.
Murphy reinstates Public Health Emergency for NJ as COVID spreads rapidly
Gov. Phil Murphy renewed his Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declarations for the Garden State on Tuesday, Jan. 11. The executive order allows state agencies and departments to use resources to assist in the battle against COVID-19, according to a release from the governor’s office.
NJ COVID surge, pandemic recovery top priorities for Gov. Murphy in 2022
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 11, as the Garden State continued to grapple with another wave of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
“Our state remains on a war footing against a virus that has now taken on a new form. Omicron is doing its best to stop us in our tracks and push us back. We will not let it,” Murphy said.
FDA shortens Moderna booster wait time to 5 months
The agency announced it amended its emergency use authorization for the Moderna vaccine to allow adults to get a booster dose a month earlier than previously.
Officials, including Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, cited the highly transmissible omicron variant as reasoning for the update.
The booster wait times for those who received the Johnson & Johnson (two months)or the Moderna vaccines (six months), have not changed.
Additionally, the CDC also recommended that moderately or severely immunocompromised children 5 to 11 years old receive an additional, third dose of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after their second shot.
NJ COVID hospitalizations soar
COVID-19 hospitalizations in New Jersey have blown passed the peak number reported during last winter’s surge, state Health Department data showed on Monday, Jan. 3. There were 4,715 people hospitalized on Sunday, Jan. 2. By comparison, the peak daily number of hospitalizations during last winter’s surge was 3,873.
NJ first lady positive for COVID; Gov. Murphy tests negative
New Jersey’s first lady Tammy Murphy tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test, a spokesperson said on Sunday, Jan. 2. Gov. Phil Murphy and the rest of his family tested negative, but will continue to test regularly in the coming days, the spokesperson said.
NJ cities tighten COVID restrictions with mask, vaccine mandates
As COVID cases continue to surge across New Jersey, the cities of Hoboken and Paterson enacted new indoor mask mandates. Meanwhile, Newark geared up for a new vaccine mandate for indoor dining and entertainment venues.
Paterson schools go remote after winter break amid COVID surge
As New Jersey continues to see a startling spike in COVID-19 cases statewide, the Paterson school district announced on Wednesday, Dec. 22, that students will start 2022 remotely. They were initially expected to return to classrooms on Jan. 4, however given the spike in COVID cases, they will learn remotely from Jan. 4 through Jan. 17. School buildings will reopen on Jan. 18.
NJ, NY CityMD locations temporarily close while demand for testing grows
Newark issues indoor mask mandate in public spaces to curb COVID uptick
Folks in Newark will need to mask up before they enter indoor public spaces under an executive order signed on Monday, Dec. 19, by Mayor Ras Baraka. The indoor mask mandate was issued as the state and city continue to see a concerning spike in COVID-19 cases, spurred by the omicron and delta variants.
Biden pledges 500M free COVID-19 tests to counter omicron
According to the company, the currently authorized booster dose increased omicron-neutralizing antibodies approximately 37-fold, compared to pre-boost levels.
Breakthrough COVID infections may create ‘super immunity’
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 800,000 on Dec. 14, a once-unimaginable figure seen as doubly tragic, given that more than 200,000 of those lives were lost after the vaccine became available last spring.
Additionally, the TSA will extend the requirement to wear a mask on planes, trains, subways and other public transportation hubs including airports and bus terminals through the winter.
Scientists call omicron variant ‘most mutated’ version of virus
There’s one thing we keep hearing from the scientists who’ve gotten a close look at the omicron version of the virus: It’s really mutated. More mutations don’t necessarily make a virus more dangerous, but viruses evolve over time to increase their chance of survival, which can be bad for humans.
First omicron variant case confirmed in NJ, Murphy says
Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said New Jersey’s first omicron case was confirmed on Friday, Dec. 3, in a fully vaccinated woman who visited New Jersey from Georgia.
Omicron COVID variant identified in California; 1st known US case
The first known case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 was identified in California, the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the person was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29.
US panel backs first-of-a-kind COVID-19 pill from Merck
The Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13-10 that the antiviral drug’s benefits outweigh its risks, including potential birth defects if used during pregnancy.
How to pronounce the new COVID-19 variant
Omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant of concern designated by the World Health Organization, gets its name from a letter in the Greek alphabet. But unlike the alpha or delta variants before it, omicron might not roll off the tongue so naturally to English speakers.
Rising concerns over omicron variant
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said he expects COVID cases to rise until at least the new year, and he’s asking people to remain vigilant over the holiday season as both New Jersey and New York closely monitor for the first cases of the omicron variant.
Omicron variant prompts new US travel ban on South Africa, other nations
5 things to know about omicron, the new COVID ‘variant of concern’
The announcement of a COVID-19 variant called omicron by scientists in South Africa, where it was first detected, has sent governments and financial markets around the world reeling. Click here to learn more about what experts know about the new “variant of concern.”
What is this new omicron COVID variant in South Africa?
South African scientists have identified a new version of the coronavirus that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. It’s unclear where the new variant actually arose, but it was first detected by scientists in South Africa and has also been seen in travelers to Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.
CDC approves expanding COVID-19 vaccine boosters to all adults
The U.S. on Friday, Nov. 19, opened COVID-19 booster shots to all adults and took the extra step of urging people 50 and older to seek one, aiming to ward off a winter surge as coronavirus cases rise even before millions of Americans travel for the holidays.
Pfizer agrees to let other companies make its COVID-19 pill
Pfizer said it would grant a license for the antiviral pill to the Geneva-based Medicines Patent Pool, which would let generic drug companies produce the pill for use in 95 countries, making up about 53% of the world’s population.
Getting a COVID vaccine before the holidays? Here are some key dates to know
Time is running out if you plan to be fully vaccinated against COVID by the holidays. Click here for the deadlines to be fully vaccinated before each holiday.
US lifts nearly 20-month international travel ban
More than a year and a half after COVID-19 concerns prompted the U.S. to close its borders to international travelers from countries including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and much of Europe, restrictions are shifting to focus on vaccine status.
Bans on travel from specific countries ended on Nov. 8. The U.S. will allow in international travelers, but they must be vaccinated — with a few exceptions.
The U.S. also reopened the land borders with Canada and Mexico for vaccinated people. Most trips from Canada and Mexico to the U.S. are by land rather than air.
US gives final clearance to COVID vaccine for kids 5 to 11
U.S. health officials on Nov. 2 gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a milestone that opens a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign to children as young as 5.
The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.
Vaccinated just as likely to spread delta variant within household as unvaccinated: study
People who have received COVID-19 vaccinations are able to spread the delta variant within their household just as easily as unvaccinated individuals, a new study published on Oct. 29, shows.
Child tax credit 2022: What we know so far
As inner-party conflict continues to shave off elements of President Joe Biden’s sweeping domestic policy package, there may be good news for parents. While it’s unclear what the ultimate bill will include, Democrats arrived at a framework Thursday, Oct. 28, that included a one-year extension of the expanded child tax credit.
Moderna says its low-dose COVID shot safe, effective for kids 6 to 11
FDA says Pfizer COVID vaccine looks effective for young kids
Federal health regulators said late Oct. 22, that kid-size doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine appear highly effective at preventing symptomatic infections in elementary school children and caused no unexpected safety issues, as the U.S. weighs beginning vaccinations in youngsters.
NJ among top vaccinated states in U.S.
New Jersey is among the top 10 states in the country with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates at 74%. Helping to lead the charge is Paterson, which has a 90% vaccination rate.
COVID vaccine mandate for state workers, teachers begins
Many state employees returned to in-person work on Oct. 18, the same day Gov. Phil Murphy’s requirement for them to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular virus testing went into effect. The vaccine or test mandate also applies to teachers in New Jersey.
New COVID safety guidance for the holidays released by the CDC
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released updated COVID-19 safety guidance for the holiday season on Friday, Oct. 15, including getting vaccinated, wearing a mask indoors if you’re not vaccinated and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated spaces.
Rutgers team tries to understand ‘brain fog’ COVID connection
Dr. William Hu, the Chief of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is leading a team trying to figure out what brain fog is and how it’s connected to COVID-19.
FDA endorsement essentially calls for Johnson & Johnson to be 2-shot vaccine
An FDA panel unanimously recommended a Johnson and Johnson booster vaccine on Friday, Oct. 15. The terms of the endorsement essentially call for the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to be a two-dose shot, rather than the one-dose shot for which it’s been known since it first got emergency use authorization last spring.
The panel called for a second shot to be available to people 18 and older, at least two months after the first shot.
FDA panel recommends Moderna booster shot, but the process isn’t over
A panel of medical experts affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration endorsed a COVID vaccine booster from Moderna on Thursday, Oct. 14. The panel recommended a half dose as a booster.
Vice President Kamala Harris visits NJ day care, vaccination site
Vice President Kamala Harris made a stop in New Jersey on Friday, Oct. 8, to discuss the state’s latest vaccination efforts. She visited a day care center to highlight child care provisions in the president’s spending proposal as well as a vaccination site at Essex Community College.
Children will feel impact of pandemic on mental health for years: UNICEF report
UNICEF released a critical report on Friday, Oct. 8, which found that children and young people could feel the impact of the pandemic on their mental health for many years to come.
COVID vaccine for kids: Doctor answers your questions
The Pfizer vaccine for kids could be on the market in about a month after the drug maker filed for FDA authorization Thursday, Oct. 7, for their shot for kids ages 5 to 11.
However, many parents still have questions about the children’s COVID vaccine. Dr. Sallie Permar, the head of pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, joined the PIX11 Morning News on Friday, Oct. 8, to share more information and answer some of the biggest questions.
Pfizer’s request to OK shots for kids a relief for parents
Parents tired of worrying about classroom outbreaks and sick of telling their elementary school-age children no to sleepovers and family gatherings felt a wave of relief Thursday, Oct. 7, when Pfizer asked the U.S. government to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 5 to 11.
NJ leaders take on ‘Mayors Vaccine Challenge’
Two New Jersey mayors are going head-to-head in an effort to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s all part of the ongoing vaccination campaign in the Garden State that has already propelled it as one of the nation’s leaders in the fight against COVID-19. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is squaring off with Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora in what the state is calling the “Mayors Vaccine Challenge.”
New Jersey surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases
As of Tuesday, Sept. 28, more than 1 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in New Jersey since the pandemic reached the state in 2020.
Pfizer submits vaccine data on kids to FDA
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced they have submitted initial data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from the Phase 2/3 trial of their COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 to 11.
In the trial, which included 2,268 participants 5 to 11 years of age, the vaccine demonstrated a favorable safety profile and elicited robust neutralizing antibody responses using a two-dose regimen of 10 μg doses.
NJ offers $500 ‘return to work bonus’ to unemployed residents
Unemployed New Jersey residents could earn a $500 bonus to return to the workforce as part of a new program announced by Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday, Sept. 27. The “Return and Earn” initiative will offer the one-time bonus to folks who secure a job through the program, including positions that require on-the-job training.
CDC director overrules panel, backs booster for all adults in high-risk jobs
The panel had voted against saying that people ages 18 to 64 can get a booster if they are health-care workers or have another job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to the virus.
FDA OKs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for 65 and older, high-risk Americans
The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger people with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high-risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.
J&J booster shot 94% effective 2 months after 1st dose
Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday, Sept. 21, said new data shows a second dose — or a booster shot — of their one-shot COVID vaccine was found to be 94% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 when given two months after the initial dose.
Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11
Pfizer said Monday, Sept. 20, its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.
Vaccine mandate for child care facilities
Gov. Phil Murphy said all child care workers and facility employees need to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1 or face regular weekly testing. As of Sept. 24, all employees, students and children in a facility’s care ages two and up will need to wear masks indoors, with limited exceptions.
Moderna vaccine is most effective against hospitalization from COVID-19: study
A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared how effective each of the three COVID-19 vaccines are in preventing hospitalization from the virus. The CDC reported that effectiveness was higher for the Moderna vaccine (93%) than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (88%) and the J&J vaccine (71%).
New Jersey surpassed as state with highest rate of COVID deaths
Mississippi has surpassed New Jersey as the state with the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., with roughly 1 of every 320 Mississippians having succumbed to the coronavirus.
COVID-19 is ‘getting better’ at becoming airborne virus
Recent COVID-19 variants are much more adept at airborne transmission than the original version of the coronavirus, according to a new study. University of Maryland researchers analyzed the Alpha variant first identified in the United Kingdom and discovered that carriers breathe out 43 to 100 times more infectious viral aerosols than those infected with the original strain.
COVID-19 variants significantly reduce protection of vaccines, prior infection: study
A new study confirms that vaccinations and even prior COVID-19 infection provide significantly less protection against newer variants. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University say in order to protect against the Alpha, Beta, and now Delta variants, these findings stress the importance of doubling down on both vaccinations and public health measures during the pandemic.
Mask debate moves from school boards to courtrooms
The rancorous debate over whether returning students should wear masks in the classroom has moved from school boards to courtrooms. In at least 14 states, lawsuits have been filed either for or against masks in schools. In some cases, normally rule-enforcing school administrators are finding themselves fighting state leaders in the name of keeping kids safe.
Supreme Court allows evictions to resume during pandemic
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is allowing evictions to resume across the United States, blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a temporary ban that was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. New Jersey’s statewide rent moratorium expires at the end of the year.
These foods are extra hard to find right now because of shortages, supply chain issues
Notice your grocery store shelves looking a little bare lately? You’re definitely not the only one. Supply chain issues have created shortages of highly specific ingredients.
‘It’s up to us’: Fauci says pandemic could possibly end by spring 2022
The nation’s top infectious disease expert believes the pandemic’s end is near as long as the U.S. follows the right protocols to contain COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci said he sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s only open if the country’s 80 million to 90 million unvaccinated people are convinced to get the shot.
Comirnaty: What’s the story behind the new Pfizer vaccine name?
Comirnaty, who? It’s the same exact mRNA vaccine Pfizer has been producing through the emergency use authorization, but now it’s being marketed under a new name.
Is an earache a new COVID-19 symptom?
Doctors say they’re seeing a new COVID-19 symptom in some patients. According to experts, an earache has been reported more frequently by those testing positive for COVID. Earaches can cause pain, a feeling of blockage and sometimes muffled hearing.
Johnson & Johnson: Vaccine booster provides ‘rapid, robust’ response
Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday, Aug. 25, announced new data the company said supports the use of its COVID vaccine as a booster shot for people previously vaccinated with their single-shot vaccine.
J&J said the new data showed that a booster shot of their vaccine generated a “rapid and robust increase in spike-binding antibodies, nine-fold higher than 28 days after the primary single-dose vaccination.”
NJ to require teachers, state workers be fully vaccinated
All school personnel and state workers in New Jersey will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday, Aug. 23.
Will COVID booster shot have the same side effects as the first two shots?
The Biden administration said Wednesday, Aug. 18, that COVID booster shots will soon be available, but how will the Sept. 20 rollout work, and what side effects should Americans expect?
Lambda and B.1.621: New COVID variants could be the worst yet, doctor warns
At least two new COVID-19 variants have hit the United States and they could be worse than the delta variant in their infectiousness and ability to stand up to vaccines, according to a top medical authority.
U.S. health officials call for booster shots for all to battle COVID-19
U.S. health officials recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. The announcement was made on Aug. 18.
Schumer calls for federal crackdown on fake vaccine cards
COVID claims more young victims as deaths climb yet again
The COVID-19 death toll has started soaring again as the delta variant tears through the nation’s unvaccinated population and fills up hospitals with patients, many of whom are younger than during earlier phases of the pandemic.
Concerts, outdoor events still risky as delta variant surges, experts say
Concerts and outdoor events are returning, and many are requiring proof of vaccination as part of new safety protocols designed to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. But while experts say being outdoors is less risky in general, they continue to recommend additional precautions for those visiting crowded outdoor venues.
Biden weighs stiffer vaccine rules as delta variant spreads rapidly across U.S.
When the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. first began to slow, President Joe Biden backed incentives like million-dollar cash lotteries if that’s what it took to get shots in arms. But as new COVID infections soar, he’s testing a tougher approach.
Who doesn’t need the COVID-19 vaccine?
It has been eight months since the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered to health care workers nationwide. Since then, the vaccine has become available to anyone ages 5 and older. Experts explain the few instances in which a person would not qualify for, or should delay getting vaccinated.
Extra COVID shot OK’d for immunocompromised individuals
With more than 600 colleges and universities now requiring proof of COVID-19 inoculations, an online industry has sprung up offering fake vaccine cards.
What to do if you lose your COVID-19 vaccine card
Don’t worry if you’ve lost your COVID-19 vaccine card, there are several ways you can get it replaced. No matter where you got your shots, getting a replacement card is possible.
Will NJ reinstate a travel advisory?
Gov. Murphy said on Aug. 9, a new travel advisory is not off the table, but for now he encouraged mask wearing, which is mandatory in all airports and on flights, and other COVID safety protocols. “You gotta use your head,” he added.
Will NJ mandate masks indoors?
Despite CDC data showing New Jersey falls under its guidance to wear masks indoors, Gov. Murphy said he will not yet mandate face coverings but added, “we leave all options on the table.”
COVID transmission levels call for indoor masking under CDC guidelines
Indoor masking is advised in areas with COVID transmission rates considered “substantial” or “high” under recently updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Aug. 8, all of New Jersey falls under those categories.
How do you know if you have the delta variant of COVID-19?
So you’ve tested positive for COVID – but which COVID exactly? Is there a way to tell if you have the highly transmissible delta variant? There is a way to tell, but there’s not really a way for you to tell.
COVID breakthrough cases: Is one vaccine better than others?
Are kids more vulnerable to the delta variant of COVID-19?
Hospitals around the United States, especially in the South, are starting to fill back up again as the delta variant tears though the country. With previous waves of infection, we’ve been most worried about the elderly being vulnerable. Now, it’s younger people – even children – starting to show up in hospital beds.
NJ schools mask mandate: Teachers’ union backs, Republicans slam Murphy decision
New Jersey Republicans have largely trashed Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement on Aug 6 that masks will be required in all schools in the upcoming academic year.
NJ health care workers must be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19
Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Aug. 6 mandating that all workers in state and private health care facilities either be vaccinated for COVID-19 or tested for it twice a week.
50% of U.S. population is fully vaccinated, White House says
The United States reached a vaccination milestone on Aug. 6: 50% of the population, all ages, were fully vaccinated, the White House COVID-19 data director confirmed.
CDC says people who’ve had COVID should get shot or risk reinfection
Even people who have recovered from COVID-19 are urged to get vaccinated, especially as the extra-contagious delta variant surges — and a new study shows survivors who ignored that advice were more than twice as likely to get reinfected.
The latest surge in COVID-19 infections is fueled by the highly contagious delta variant first identified in India late last year. Now, a variation of that variant is beginning to generate headlines. Here’s what we know about the COVID sub-strain being called delta plus.
Vaccine mandate for state colleges?
Currently, some state colleges in New Jersey are mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for students and staff and some have made it optional. Murphy said a universal mandate “is certainly an option,” but for now individual universities can make their own call.
More ‘pain and suffering’ ahead as COVID cases rise, Fauci says
Dr. Anthony Fauci warned on Aug. 1 that more “pain and suffering” is on the horizon as COVID-19 cases climb again and officials plead with unvaccinated Americans to get their shots.
Walmart requiring COVID vaccination, masks for many employees
Walmart associates who work in multiple facilities, and associates of its campus office, needed to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. Walmart also required associates, including those fully vaccinated, to wear masks in its stores.
Iconic NJ restaurant The Fireplace closes after 65 years
The Fireplace, like many other restaurants across the country, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and temporarily shuttered its doors before reopening in May, when they implemented drive-thru, takeout and curbside pickup followed by indoor dining in October.
New delta variant research makes strong case for vaccination
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the delta variant is more dangerous and fast-spreading than first thought. The findings also made clear why efforts to get more people vaccinated are vital.
CDC data shows delta variant spreads as easily as chickenpox
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new information on July 30, saying the coronavirus delta variant can spread as easily as chickenpox.
Pfizer: COVID vaccine protective for at least 6 months
The effectiveness of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine wanes slightly over time but it remains strongly protective for at least six months after the second dose, according to company data released on July 28.
Disney World requires masks indoors regardless of vaccination status
Beginning July 30, Disney World required all visitors ages 2 and older to wear a face covering while indoors as well as in Disney buses, the monorail and the Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status.
CDC mask guidance: Vaccinated people should wear face coverings in public indoor settings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging.
U.S. headed in ‘wrong direction’ on COVID-19, Fauci says
Is asking about someone’s COVID vaccine status a HIPAA violation?
HIPAA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 during a time when medical records were being computerized. It was created to simplify the administration of health insurance and to prevent unauthorized access to peoples’ medical histories.
In fact, HIPAA doesn’t block anyone from asking another person about their health status, according to Alan Meisel, law professor and bioethics expert at the University of Pittsburgh.
Child tax credit checks: Will they become permanent?
The parents of an estimated 60 million American children began receiving child tax credit payments from the IRS in mid-July in a move expected to lift millions of families above the poverty baseline for the remainder of 2021. Should they become permanent?
‘Pandemic of the unvaccinated’
President Joe Biden was forced to confront the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for a summer backslide.
Common cholesterol drugs may significantly reduce risk of death from COVID-19: study
Statins, a common medication for lowering cholesterol, may be saving lives among patients with COVID-19. A study revealed hospitalized coronavirus patients who took statins were much less likely to die from the illness.
WHO chief says it was ‘premature’ to rule out COVID lab leak
The head of the World Health Organization acknowledged on July 15, 2021, that it was premature to rule out a potential link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak.
Wildfire smoke linked to increased COVID-19 risk, study says
A study released in July 2021 suggested that exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate
The global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million on July 7, 2021, as the crisis increasingly became a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.
Unvaccinated made up 99% of US COVID deaths in July 2021
There’s more to the worker shortage than pandemic unemployment, experts say
The workforce shortage is a combination of several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift in the economy, and changes in the workforce demographics, experts say.
Latest official indicators
As of Friday, there have been 1,920,207 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 30,320 lab-confirmed COVID-19 deaths, according to the state Health Department.
Montclair, NJ – On Monday, April 11, 2022 The Montclair Foundation Board of Trustees elected five new board members for a three-year term: Township of Montclair Councilman-at-large Peter Yacobellis, Annette Strickland, Betty Murphy, Jeanie Givens and Marisabel Raymond.
Peter Yacobellis served in the administrations of two New York Governors, and as Chief of Staff for both the Marketing and Human Resources divisions at American Express. In his time working for the State of New York, Peter helped pass a property tax cap, marriage equality, and gun control legislation. He also ran the New York rent stabilization office and the Hurricane Sandy command center. In his time at American Express, among other things, Peter helped lead the Small Business Saturday and Shop Small teams. In addition to serving on The Montclair Foundation Board, Peter serves on the Boards of the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, and the PSEG Sustainability Institute. He is a member of the League of Women Voters, NAACP, Rotary Club, Montclair Film and UNICO and serves as the President of Out Montclair.
Annette Strickland has had a distinguished career in public service and philanthropy. She recently retired as Executive Director at The Schumann Fund, for New Jersey, a private foundation that invests in the areas of early childhood development, vulnerable children, public policy within the State of New Jersey, and community based social service organizations in Essex County, New Jersey. Ms. Strickland is a member of the Essex County Model Court (an initiative of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges), the Essex County Human Services Advisory Council, and has been deeply involved in state and local efforts to reform New Jersey’s child welfare system. Before coming to the Schumann Fund in 1992, Ms. Strickland served in state and county government as Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Energy, and as director of community relations for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. She is a certified early childhood teacher and holds a BA (cum laude) in Child Study from Tufts University.
Betty Murphy was President and Managing Member of ReGenesis LLC for 40 years with her co-founder business partner, Jim Smith. Their company was honored with a Top 25 NJ Businesses award. A dedicated and active supporter of numerous community and non-profit organizations, Betty was the North Essex Chamber’s 2009 Community Leader of the Year; NJ Women Business Owners (NJWBO) Business Woman of the Year; received Working Woman’s Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, and was president of Bnai Keshet Synagogue. Betty currently serves on the NY Advisory Board for Little Kids Rock, and she is the Membership Chair for the NJ Jewish Women’s Foundation. Betty also worked as a longtime volunteer and advisor to Dress for Success and has served on event committees for the Montclair Art Museum, Van Vleck House & Gardens and Shine Global. Betty is also on several committees in The Montclair Garden Club.
Jeanie Givens worked for 10 years in clinical research at Hoffman La Roche. A life-long resident of the greater Montclair area, Jeanie has immersed herself in raising her “brood of boys” and in volunteering for her church, youth sports, public schools and various clubs. She has served on the Van Vleck Management Committee for numerous years, bringing her extraordinary decorating talents (and her friends) to The Foundation’s fund-raising events. In June Jeanie will assume leadership of the Management Committee and will become Vice Chair of The Montclair Foundation Board of Trustees.
Marisabel Raymond has been actively involved with the Montclair Foundation for over 20 years. She served as President of the Van Vleck Management Board from 2001 to 2007 and spearheaded The Montclair Foundation’s capital campaign in 2015. She currently serves as Chair of The Foundation’s Education Committee. Marisabel served as President of the Junior League of Montclair-Newark and served in many other board and community positions. Before that, Marisabel chaired a senior citizen’s arts project at the Montclair Art Museum and a project at Newark Beth Israel Hospital and, for three years, she was a member of Kids on the Block handicapped puppet troupe. She has served in each of the League’s show houses since 1985. She is also a frequent guest speaker at League-sponsored training programs. She holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She taught in the New York City and Boston public schools and was on the faculty of Kean University in New Jersey and Antioch College in Massachusetts.
Board Chair Emer Featherstone stated: “We are extraordinarily pleased to welcome such a talented and committed cohort to The Montclair Foundation Board of Trustees. Each person brings a wealth of experience and acumen to our governing body and we are honored to have them join our ranks.”
FAIRFIELD — Three people aboard a small business jet were uninjured when it ran off the end of the Essex County Airport runway after landing around 2:41 p.m. on Easter Sunday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and police.
The occupants, including the owner, who is from Bernardsville, and the pilot and second in command, were trying to get out of the plane when police arrived at the scene, Fairfield police said in a statement.
As the plane was attempting to land, strong crosswinds prevented the aircraft from touching down soon enough, according to a preliminary investigation by Fairfield police. The plane briefly hit the runway, then grass, before landing in a drainage brook.
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The white Cessna Citation aircraft was lying in a grassy area at the southern end of the airport Sunday, and close to a dozen police vehicles, ambulances and firetrucks from Fairfield, West Caldwell, the West Essex First Aid Squad and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office were lined up behind the plane. A strong smell of fuel wafted through the surrounding area.
At 5:45 p.m., the plane was still emitting jet fuel into the brook. First responders called in the Nutley Fire Department’s hazardous materials unit to help the Fairfield Fire Department contain the spill.
The FAA said it is investigating the incident. Fairfield police notified the National Transportation Safety Board of the crash.
Ashley Balcerzak is a reporter covering affordable housing and its intersection of how we live in New Jersey. For unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
GLOUCESTER — A pair of officers was injured trying to arrest a disorderly man after he threw a bottle at a passing car, according to police.
36-year-old Robert Allen faces two charges including obstruction of justice and resisting arrest. Allen was released after his arrest with a pending court date “in accordance with NJ Bail Reform,” police said.
It started with the thrown bottle Friday morning, according to police. A driver passing by the La Cascata townhomes called the cops at around 8:30 a.m. to report that the bottle hit his car.
The victim gave a description to dispatch. As an officer responded to the call, he spotted a man matching that description near the Sunoco Gas Station on Blackwood Clementon Road.
But when told to stop, police said the man, identified as Allen, continued walking and seemingly ignored the order. Then he took off running into the Sunoco.
Once inside the gas station, Allen tried getting behind the checkout counter, according to police. The officer followed him inside.
As the attempted arrest unfolded, Allen began “wrestling” with the officer to get away, police said. It took other officers arriving to help to take the suspected bottle thrower into custody.
Two officers were injured in the scuffle and treated at the scene.
NJ county fairs make a comeback: Check out the schedule for 2022
UPDATED 4/10: A current list of county fairs happening across the Garden State for 2022. From rides, food, animals, and hot air balloons, each county fair has something unique to offer.
(Fairs are listed in geographical order from South NJ to North NJ)
How the world saw New Jersey — 1940s to 1980s
This is how New Jersey saw the world from 1940-to 1980. All these photos are from AP and Getty publications, meaning they were used in a magazine or newspaper. There has been plenty of inventions and history made in New Jersey. Check the photos below.
Every NJ city and town’s municipal tax bill, ranked
A little less than 30 cents of every $1 in property taxes charged in New Jersey support municipal services provided by cities, towns, townships, boroughs and villages. Statewide, the average municipal-only tax bill in 2021 was $2,725, but that varied widely from more than $13,000 in Tavistock to nothing in three townships. In addition to $9.22 billion in municipal purpose taxes, special taxing districts that in some places provide municipal services such as fire protection, garbage collection or economic development levied $323.8 million in 2021.
