A contingent of parents filed an ethics complaint with the state School Ethics Commissionagainst Nutley Board of Education President Charles Kucinski and called for his resignation.
Members of a parents’ advocacy group, who were unhappy with the district’s efforts to return their elementary-age students back to school full-time last year and sought to have the mask mandate relaxed, spoke at the Monday meeting, saying the request for Kucinski’s resignation comes from “concerning unethical behavior.”
The parents’ group recently filed an Open Public Records Act request, seeking communications among Kucinski, Superintendent Julie Glazer and a community member.
They became concerned, they said, when they received emails they said showed unethical actions, including calling community members who spoke out against Gov. Phil Murphy’s mask mandate for schools “loudmouths.”
While one parent spoke, a handful of the dozen parents standing around her wore shirts that had the word “loudmouth” on them.
At a previous meeting, the parents’ group spent three hours advocating for the board to write to Murphy to ask him to rescind the mask mandate. The board voted to send the letter, but later decided not to send it.
In a separate letter to a parent, Kucinski said the emails were being taken out of context and that “loudmouths” was “a poor choice of words.” He said people who came to the meeting in opposition to the mask mandate were “attempting to monopolize” the meeting and force their agenda.
In the letter, Kucinski said the board had received a number of calls and emails from parents in favor of the mask mandate.
The parents’ OPRA request revealed that a draft of the letter to Murphy was shared with another parent, who was allowed to view and edit the document while other parents had to wait for a meeting with the board, according to the ethics complaint provided to NorthJersey.com.
Kucinski did not respond to the group at the meeting, and he declined to provide comment.
Amy Kayda, who has two students in the district, said the group wants transparency and a “board of education that is truly advocating” for their children
“The ethics complaint was really a way for parents to say they’re not OK with this kind of behavior,” Kayda said.
In his letter, Kucinski said it can be frustrating when the same issue is brought up and there is no resolution to satisfy anyone, and said he would “never willfully disparage the opinions of others.”
This is not the first time the parents’ group has targetedKucinski. In June, they filed a letter of intent to the Essex County Clerk’s Office to recall Kucinski, and they say they are collecting signatures to reach the 25% of registered voters required to force a vote. Voters can recall any elected official after at least one year of service. Kucinski was reelected to the school board in 2019.
Kaitlyn Kanzler covers Essex County for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
The student returned to school on Monday, her lawyer, Robert L. Tarver, said. Her mother, Cassandra Wyatt, who also wears a hijab, appeared Thursday at a news conference arranged by Mr. Tarver but did not comment. She has told ABC-7 Eyewitness News that her daughter no longer wanted to wear a head scarf.
“The teacher put her hands on the child,” said Mr. Tarver, adding that another person in the classroom had recounted the story similarly. “It was not a hoodie. It was a hijab. I have seen the actual clothing.”
The same day, another parent complained that Ms. Herman threw a student’s drink in the trash, telling the child it “wasn’t water,” a permitted beverage, according to an email sent by the family and shared with Mr. Tarver.
The 493-student elementary school has the highest percentage of students of color in the district, which educates children from two neighboring commuter towns that are roughly 25 miles from Midtown Manhattan. About 56 percent of students at Seth Boyden are Black, 23 percent are white, nearly 4 percent are Latino, 2 percent are Asian and the rest identify as multiracial.
The school’s Parent Teacher Association is active and varied: There is both a vice president of diversity and equity and a vice president of happiness.
Seth Boyden has also been the focus of efforts to further desegregate the towns’ schools. The Black Parents Workshop, a local advocacy group, enlisted Mr. Tarver to file a federal lawsuit that accused the district of discriminating against students of color and allowing a wide achievement gap to persist between Black and white students. The lawsuit was settled last year and the district agreed to make changes.
Ms. Herman has taught in elementary schools for more than 30 years and often volunteered to teach at a Hebrew school, relatives said. A former student and parents of past students described her as warm and caring, signing off emails, “Together we can make the world a better place!”
NEW JERSEY — Below you will find the most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.
Gov. Murphy gives NJ COVID update
Daily health indicators
New cases: 1,300 (Statewide total: 1,032,525)
Hospitalizations: 857
ICU: 217
Ventilators: 118
New deaths: 22 (Death toll: 25,018)
The statewide rate of transmission: 0.85
Vaccines administered: 12,171,606
Fully vaccinated: 6,000,003
When can you get a COVID booster shot? These are the rules for each vaccine
Confused by all the COVID booster shot updates? Here’s the status for each vaccine approved in the United States, and the rules that determine who can get one.
COVID vaccine mandate for state workers, teachers begins
Many state employees returned to in-person work on Monday, 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.
IRS sending October installment of child tax credit after delay in September
Families across the country are starting to receive their October child tax credit. The IRS says the program’s fourth monthly payment is already hitting Americans’ bank accounts after a technical issue last month caused delays for some recipients.
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.
Need to be vaccinated by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas? Here are the deadlines
People who want to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas are running out of time. Two of the three vaccines available in the U.S. require two doses spread weeks apart and a waiting period once the shots have been administered.
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.
US hits 700,000 COVID deaths just as cases begin to fall
The United States reached its latest heartbreaking pandemic milestone Friday, Oct. 1, eclipsing 700,000 deaths from COVID-19 just as the surge from the delta variant is starting to slow down and give overwhelmed hospitals some relief.
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 data 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.
Is it safe to trick-or-treat this Halloween? CDC weighs in
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Face the Nation that kids can trick-or-treat safely this year, adding, “If you’re able to be outdoors, absolutely.”
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.
Walensky disagreed and put that recommendation back in, noting that such a move aligns with an FDA booster authorization decision earlier this week.
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.
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.
U.S. panel backs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters only for 65 and over, high-risk
An influential federal advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots to most Americans, but it endorsed the extra shots for those who are 65 or older or run a high risk of severe disease.
COVID outbreaks in NJ schools
As of Wednesday, Sept. 15, there were six outbreaks in New Jersey schools, according to Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli. An outbreak is defined as at least three cases that are epidemiologically connected and not from the same household.
The cases are a mix of students and staff, Persichilli said. More information will be released on the state Health Department website in the coming days.
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.
NJ COVID hospitalizations top 1,000 for the first time since May: Gov. Murphy
For the first time since May, more than 1,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in New Jersey on Wednesday, Aug. 25, Gov. Phil Murphy said. There were 1,012 people hospitalized with COVID, 92 of whom were on ventilators, according to state Health Department data. The last time the state had more than 1,000 COVID hospitalizations was over three months ago on May 11, Murphy said.
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.
August child tax credit payments issued: Here’s why yours might be delayed
The second installment of expanded child tax credits was issued on Aug. 13 to millions of eligible families, but some payments will likely be delayed due to a technical glitch, the U.S. Department of Treasury said.
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.
NJ county opens COVID booster shot appointments
Health care officials in a northern New Jersey county began offering COVID-19 booster shots to qualified residents on Aug. 14. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said appointments for a third shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine were open at vaccination centers at Kmart in West Orange and Essex County College in Newark.
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 over the age of 12. 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.
COVID vaccines would be required for military under new plan
Members of the U.S. military would be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Sept. 15, under a plan announced by the Pentagon on Aug. 9 and endorsed by President Joe Biden.
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.
U.S. averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day as delta surges
The United States is now averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day, returning to a milestone last seen during the winter surge in yet another bleak reminder of how quickly the delta variant has spread through the country. The U.S. was averaging about 11,000 cases a day in late June. Now the number is 107,143.
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.
‘You have lost your minds’: Murphy lashes out at anti-vax protesters
Warning of more delta mutations, Fauci urges vaccinations
The White House COVID-19 response team said the delta variant continues to surge across the country. During a briefing on Aug. 5, Dr. Anthony Fauci called on Americans to take precautions to stop the virus from mutating. “The ultimate end game of all this is vaccination,” he said.
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
In a memo, Walmart announced that associates who work in multiple facilities, and associates of its campus office, will need 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
Doctors warn about slightly different symptoms with delta variant of COVID
As concern grows regarding the COVID-19 delta variant, health leaders are warning about somewhat different symptoms that come with it.
Most unvaccinated Americans unlikely to get COVID-19 shots, new AP poll finds
A new poll shows that most Americans who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots. About 16% say they probably will get the vaccine.
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.
Gov. Murphy holds off on reinstating mask mandate
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says he’s not ready to reinstitute mask requirements, now or when schools are back in session in September. Murphy says he “is comfortable where we are” on mask mandates but is also closely monitoring developments.
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 a move expected to lift millions of families above the poverty baseline for the remainder of 2021. Should they become permanent?
Biden grapples with ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’
President Joe Biden is confronting the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for the summer backslide.
Child tax credit: When to expect payments, how it may impact tax returns
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 new study reveals hospitalized coronavirus patients who take statins are 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 it was premature to rule out a potential link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak, and he said he is asking China to be more transparent as scientists search for the origins of the coronavirus.
Wildfire smoke linked to increased COVID-19 risk, study says
A new study suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
What can I do if I didn’t get my child tax credit payment?
The official disbursement date for the first child tax credit payments from the Internal Revenue Service was July 15, but parents may not see the cash right away.
Delta now dominant COVID variant in New Jersey
The highly transmissible delta variant is now the dominant strain in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said on July 12. The governor urged New Jersey residents to get vaccinated against COVID if they haven’t already done so.
Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate
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.
Free health insurance included in stimulus benefits for unemployment recipients
Along with $1,400 stimulus checks and monthly child tax credit payments, the American Rescue Plan has another important benefit available to people who qualified for unemployment assistance this year: free health care.
Will one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine protect me?
Yes, but not nearly as much as if you had both doses. Experts recommend getting fully vaccinated, especially with the emergence of worrisome coronavirus mutations such as the delta variant first identified in India.
Workers enjoy the upper hand as companies scramble to hire
With the economy growing rapidly as it reopens from the pandemic, many employers are increasingly desperate to hire. Yet evidence suggests that as a group, the unemployed aren’t feeling the same urgency to take jobs.
As of Friday, there have been 1,032,525 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 25,018 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.
TRENTON – Poll results published Thursday show Republican gubernatorial challenger Jack Ciattarelli within 6 points of Gov. Phil Murphy among likely voters.
The Emerson College/PIX 11 poll conducted last Friday through Monday found Murphy at 50% and Ciattarelli at 44%. If undecided voters are allocated to the candidates to whom they’re leaning, Murphy is ahead by just 4 points.
The survey is the closest public poll released to date. Earlier polls showed Murphy with a double-digit advantage, until a Stockton University Poll done in mid- to late September that had the Democrat up by 9 points.
The poll finds voters more or less split on which candidate would best handle the COVID-19 recovery, with 52% choosing Murphy and 48% choosing Ciattarelli. By an 18-point margin, voters agree with Murphy’s vaccine mandates for staff in schools, child-care and healthcare.
Just over half of voters said taxes should be the first priority for the next governor, including three-fourths of Ciattarelli backers.
Emerson occasionally polls in New Jersey but not regularly. The political analysis website FiveThirtyEight in its pollster ratings gives Emerson an A- grade.
Four years ago, Emerson had Murphy ahead of Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno by 16 points in late October; Murphy won by 14 points. In 2018, Emerson showed U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez up by 5 points in late October, and he beat businessman Bob Hugin by 11 points.
Hugin is now state chairman for the Republican Party and said the poll shows this is “a very winnable race for Jack Ciattarelli.”
“Democrats know Murphy’s lead is rapidly evaporating or they wouldn’t be scheduling panicked, last-minute stops with Joe Biden,” Hugin said. “Phil Murphy is running scared and we look forward to making him one and done on Nov. 2.”
President Joe Biden is coming to New Jersey on Monday for appearances with Murphy. Officially, they are White House events to promote Biden’s spending bill being negotiated in Congress.
Each county in the state will have between three and 10 early voting locations, open daily for the 2021 general election from Oct. 23 through Oct. 31. The sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. except for Sundays, when they will close at 6 p.m.
Look inside The Avenue at American Dream
The American Dream mega mall in the Meadowlands is opening a deluxe boutique wing that promises to be a must-see experience, and not just for the luxury designer brands.
Union County is the only county in the entire northeast U.S. as of Wednesday where COVID-19 transmission rates are considered low enough that masks are optional by CDC standards.
The low risk designation is based on a seven-day rolling average charted by the Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC currently designates 2,656 counties in the U.S. as high, 361 as substantial and 148 for moderate community transmission.
Union County is one of only 52 counties nationwide — and the only in-state — rated low.
Essex County was right behind, with a transmission rate considered moderate, also making masks optional, while the rest of the state was considered masks recommended, due to substantial or high transmission rates.
All of New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania also remained at substantial or high transmission rates, as mapped by the New York Times.
“The low transmission designation is a remarkable achievement that validates all of the hard work and extra precautions we have taken since the beginning of the outbreak, including vigorous guidelines on wearing masks,” Union County Commissioner Board Chairman Alexander Mirabella said in a written release late Thursday.
“However, the data can change from one day to the next, and Union County is not an island. The fact that so few other jurisdictions have achieved the low risk status demonstrates how important it is for everyone to step up and get their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible. Vaccination is the only sure way to reduce the risk of death and long term health impacts from this devastating virus,” he also said.
Union County was the first county in-state to set up a free mass testing site for COVID-19 in March 2020, on the campus of Kean University in Union Township. It has operated continuously since then, currently on a walk-up basis.
Once COVID-19 vaccines first gained FDA approval on an emergency basis, Union County was among the first counties to have doses available at a mass vaccination site, also at Kean University as of January.
New Jersey continues to recommend mask wearing statewide, with no actual mandate for the general population, other than on public transportation and for school staff and students, as based on CDC guidance.
For the week ending Oct. 16, the statewide COVID-19 Activity Level Report for a third straight week showed the four-county Central East region that includes Union County at high transmission.
Essex is among the four counties in the state’s North East region, which has been at moderate transmission level since late April.
As of Thursday, there were 501,169 fully vaccinated people in Essex County, according to state data, while 588,405 people received at least one dose.
In Union County, there were 362,482 fully vaccinated people, while 416,571 people had received at least one vaccine dose.
Businesses and individuals may continue such precautions as masks and social distance, despite the encouraging CDC transmission data, county officials said.
Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?
Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.
Early voting locations in each NJ county
Each county in the state will have between three and 10 early voting locations, open daily for the 2021 general election from Oct. 23 through Oct. 31. The sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. except for Sundays, when they will close at 6 p.m.
Red flags for someone who claims to be from New Jersey
As more and more businesses in New Jersey force people to get the COVID vaccine in order to work, more and more people are resenting being forced to take the shot.
We discussed this on my New Jersey 101.5 show and I put up a Twitter poll.
Your job is your job and it shouldn’t force you to take the jab. Some will say that you don’t have to work there but so far, the government has not mandated everyone get the vaccine but they’re doing everything possible to make your life difficult if you don’t.
I believe that if your job requires you to get a COVID vaccine and you get sick from the shot, then the company that mandated you get it should be held liable. But let’s take it a step further.
I had someone call into my show with a great point. What if someone who doesn’t want to get the jab does so only for work and then is let go for non-disciplinary reasons like say downsizing. Now they’re left with something in their body that they don’t want and only took to stay employed and then end up out of work.
I say if businesses are going to force you to take a vaccine that you don’t really want in your body, then they should be responsible to keep you employed for at least three years. If it’s a good working relationship then it should be no problem, if it’s not then both sides shouldn’t be in it in the first place.
This could make for great union negotiations. If management is asking the employees to do something, then they need to put something up. say job security.
So far, the government has not mandated everyone get the vaccine but they’re doing everything possible to make your life difficult if you don’t. It’s the individual businesses that are forcing employees to take the shot. \The least they could do is keep you employed if you do.
Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?
Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.
Early voting locations in each NJ county
Each county in the state will have between three and 10 early voting locations, open daily for the 2021 general election from Oct. 23 through Oct. 31. The sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. except for Sundays, when they will close at 6 p.m.
(NEWARK, NJ) — The City of Newark will join with other organizations to host the annual 18-mile Newark Bike Tour on Sunday, October 24, starting at 11:00am, at Mulberry Commons in downtown Newark, to raise awareness of domestic violence and funds for the Shani Baraka Women’s Center. The ride is FREE and open to the public, but advance registration is required to address crowd size and COVID-19 restrictions.
“Domestic violence is one of the most significant social and public health crises our society faces,” Mayor Baraka said. “The annual Newark Bike Tour will raise awareness of the need for action against this violence and encourage our residents to take that action, while also providing them with an opportunity to enjoy a pleasant and healthy bicycle ride in our neighborhoods.”
The ride will be held in two levels: a five-mile family loop circling through the Ironbound, followed by a 13-mile voluntary route that will take cyclists through many Newark neighborhoods and some of the city’s parks, including Weequahic and Branch Brook. The ride will return to Mulberry Commons at 2:00pm.
Online registration and further information are available here.
The tour is designed to show riders a variety of areas of the state’s largest city, and to demonstrate residents’ growing support for cycling as transportation and recreation that is healthful, safe, sustainable, environmentally friendly, and affordable. This year’s tour will also raise awareness for the Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center and men’s health initiatives.
“Dick’s Sporting Goods is extremely proud to support Newark’s Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence Bike Event. We thank Newark for including us in this important cause and we truly hope these efforts, in concert with the Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center, increase awareness and help put an end to domestic violence,” said Jeffrey Gold, Store Manager of Dick’s Sporting Goods’ East Hanover, New Jersey, location.
The Mayor’s Book Club is donating the book, Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies to the first 100 registrants of the domestic violence bike ride for a later book study. The author, Resmaa Menakem, discusses the impact of racial, hіѕtоrіc, fаmіlіаl, and personal trauma, and teaches body-based рrасtісеѕ to overcome.
The City has joined with RBG Cyclist, Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Believe in Newark Foundation, Brick City Bike Collective, the Mayor’s Book Club, the Essex County Surrogate’s Court, Newark Beth Israel, the Newark Community Cycling Center, South Ward Promise Neighborhood, the Mayor’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery, Bike 4 Life, Sisters United Bike Club, and other organizations to create this event.
At 31 years of age, Shani Isis Makeda Jones Baraka left an indelible mark on all who knew her. She was a teacher, an activist for the LGBTQ+ Community and Women’s Rights who also helped to lead the Malcolm X Shabazz High School Girls Basketball Team to its first Tournament of Champions Title.
The Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center was opened in 2017 to provide Newark women of all ages with a one-stop holistic resource center to provide comprehensive services to meet the needs of women and their families in crisis and transition. The center’s goal is to provide support, care, protection, and empowerment for women of all ages by the City of Newark and its partner agencies.
This 12,000 square-foot building houses the Department of Public Safety Special Victims Unit and Domestic Violence Response Team at the center. Also included are walk-in services for mental health counseling, grief, trauma and loss support groups and individual counseling, employment and training counseling and referrals, and support services from the Newark LBGTQ Commission. Community partners provide services such as Wynona’s House child abuse and neglect programs; SAVE of Essex County Rape Crisis Center; RZ The Flags HIV testing and counseling; the NJ Association of Black Psychologists; Planned Parenthood, and Mind Over Matter youth mentoring program with 1980s Hip Hop Icon Roxanne Shante. The center also houses a pain management specialist from Mt. Prospect Health Center that provides chiropractic and stress relief services, and FREE health screenings for residents.
Photo Courtesy of Essex County Essex County recently dedicated the playground in Cedar Grove Park as the Thomas J. Tucci Sr. Playground. Attending the unveiling are, from left, state Sen. M Teresa Ruiz; Port Authority of NY & NJ board Chairperson Kevin O’Toole; Tucci Sr.’s children Tom Tucci, Michele Pucci, Cathie Soriano, Mauro Tucci and Gerard Tucci; Assemblyman Ralph Caputo; and Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr.
CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. recently dedicated the playground in Cedar Grove Park as the Thomas J. Tucci Sr. Playground. Tucci was a Cedar Grove resident who had a lifetime of involvement promoting youth recreation activities and upgrading public athletic facilities.
“Mr. Tucci was a role model and father figure for many of the children in Newark when I was growing up and was very influential in my life. He was a champion for youth recreation and was continually lobbying for improved fields,” DiVincenzo said. “When he moved to Cedar Grove, he continued his involvement in the community and remained dedicated to creating safe recreation opportunities for youth. Naming the playground in Cedar Grove Park (after him) is a fitting honor and will bring recognition to his life’s work.”
Tucci died in 1999. He is the father of Cedar Grove township manager Thomas Tucci Jr. and Nutley Mayor Mauro Tucci.
“This dedication means so much to me and my family. My father’s passion in life was helping people. When he was coaching, he was not just teaching his players about the game; he was teaching them about values and teamwork. He left his legacy in all the programs he ran and fields that he lobbied to improve. My father was the greatest to me, but it feels even better when other people acknowledge it,” Tucci Jr. said.
“I have known the Tucci family for so many years. I believe Tom would be overwhelmed by this honor. He was like a father to all of us and was one of the greatest human beings,” Port Authority of New York & New Jersey board Chairperson Kevin O’Toole said.
A bronze plaque and wooden sign were placed at the entrance to the playground. The bronze plaque reads, “Thomas J. Tucci Sr. worked for Charms Candy in Newark for 33 years and at the Essex County Police Academy for 25 years, but his real passion was providing children with meaningful and safe recreation opportunities. As a founder and member of the Cedar Grove Youth Advisory Commission, Mr. Tucci developed programs, activities and athletic teams that kept children active, taught them sportsmanship and fostered leadership skills. Seeing the need for improved recreation programs, Tom became one of the founders of the Branch Brook Little League, president of the Newark Pop Warner Football Program and president of the Sacred Heart PTO. In the 1980s, he lobbied county officials to give the first-ever facelift to the athletic fields in the Branch Brook Park Middle Division. His spirit and legacy can be seen every spring when thousands of boys and girls run the bases on their ‘field of dreams.’ To recognize Mr. Tucci’s many contributions and his lifelong purpose of providing children with opportunities and places to learn, grow and have fun, we are pleased to dedicate the playground in Essex County Cedar Grove Park in his honor.”
Photo Courtesy of Essex County Essex County recently dedicated the playground in Cedar Grove Park as the Thomas J. Tucci Sr. Playground. Attending the unveiling are, from left, state Sen. M Teresa Ruiz; Port Authority of NY & NJ board Chairperson Kevin O’Toole; Tucci Sr.’s children Tom Tucci, Michele Pucci, Cathie Soriano, Mauro Tucci and Gerard Tucci; Assemblyman Ralph Caputo; and Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr.
CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. recently dedicated the playground in Cedar Grove Park as the Thomas J. Tucci Sr. Playground. Tucci was a Cedar Grove resident who had a lifetime of involvement promoting youth recreation activities and upgrading public athletic facilities.
“Mr. Tucci was a role model and father figure for many of the children in Newark when I was growing up and was very influential in my life. He was a champion for youth recreation and was continually lobbying for improved fields,” DiVincenzo said. “When he moved to Cedar Grove, he continued his involvement in the community and remained dedicated to creating safe recreation opportunities for youth. Naming the playground in Cedar Grove Park (after him) is a fitting honor and will bring recognition to his life’s work.”
Tucci died in 1999. He is the father of Cedar Grove township manager Thomas Tucci Jr. and Nutley Mayor Mauro Tucci.
“This dedication means so much to me and my family. My father’s passion in life was helping people. When he was coaching, he was not just teaching his players about the game; he was teaching them about values and teamwork. He left his legacy in all the programs he ran and fields that he lobbied to improve. My father was the greatest to me, but it feels even better when other people acknowledge it,” Tucci Jr. said.
“I have known the Tucci family for so many years. I believe Tom would be overwhelmed by this honor. He was like a father to all of us and was one of the greatest human beings,” Port Authority of New York & New Jersey board Chairperson Kevin O’Toole said.
A bronze plaque and wooden sign were placed at the entrance to the playground. The bronze plaque reads, “Thomas J. Tucci Sr. worked for Charms Candy in Newark for 33 years and at the Essex County Police Academy for 25 years, but his real passion was providing children with meaningful and safe recreation opportunities. As a founder and member of the Cedar Grove Youth Advisory Commission, Mr. Tucci developed programs, activities and athletic teams that kept children active, taught them sportsmanship and fostered leadership skills. Seeing the need for improved recreation programs, Tom became one of the founders of the Branch Brook Little League, president of the Newark Pop Warner Football Program and president of the Sacred Heart PTO. In the 1980s, he lobbied county officials to give the first-ever facelift to the athletic fields in the Branch Brook Park Middle Division. His spirit and legacy can be seen every spring when thousands of boys and girls run the bases on their ‘field of dreams.’ To recognize Mr. Tucci’s many contributions and his lifelong purpose of providing children with opportunities and places to learn, grow and have fun, we are pleased to dedicate the playground in Essex County Cedar Grove Park in his honor.”
Because of the pandemic lockdowns and limits, tourism spending in New Jersey took a big hit in 2020, but merchants down the shore enjoyed a great bounce-back this summer.
During a Shoreview presentation at Stockton University on Thursday, Lori Pepenella, the CEO of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, said visitors flocked to the region in June, July and August.
“We were able to capture near capacity all summer, we did bring back events, modified so they were safe, but they were met with enthusiasm,” she said.
She said the shore region benefitted from not having as much competition with air travel, with more people staying closer to home.
Larry Sieg, the CEO of Meet AC, noted there was a lot of live entertainment down the shore this summer, and that attracted a younger demographic that was more comfortable going out and attending events.
Michael Busler, a professor of business studies and finance at Stockton said there’s no hard data yet but “most of the businesses I’ve talked to told me that 2021’s summer season was about 10% higher in revenue than 2019, so I don’t want to compare it to 2020 because it was bad.”
According to data from the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, 116 million Garden State visitors spent $46.4 billion in 2019, on lodging, food and beverage, retail, recreation and transportation. In 2020, the total was about $27 billion.
Busler said it’s significant to note most Jersey Shore merchants said revenue could have been significantly higher, but “practically every business told me that they had a very difficult time attracting enough labor to keep their business open for the number of hours that they wanted to keep them open.”
Jane Bokunewicz, Jamie Hoagland, Larry Sieg, Lori Pepenella, Michael Busler. (Photo by Diane D’Amico/Stockton University)
He said another factor that constrained profits was supply chain disruptions.
“Homebuilders had some trouble getting materials. A number of restaurants I talked to told me they had trouble getting some of the things they normally get. Seafood seemed to be a little bit of a problem for some of the restaurants,” he said.
Anther issue mentioned was less than ideal weather on several weekends during the summer.
Jane Bokunewicz, the faculty director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism in the Stockton University School of Business, said while more vehicles traveled on the Atlantic City Expressway in June of this year than in 2019, the number of casino employees in AC this past summer was about 5,000 below 2019 levels.
Busler said this change may become permanent because with the ongoing labor shortage “companies had to learn how to get more done with fewer people, they saw that they could do that so I doubt they’re going to bring all these people back.”
Sieg noted COVID looks like it will be with us in some form for quite a while.
“Businesses are going to have to really get proactive in accepting digital payment, digital wallets, whether it’s Apple pay, Google Pay, Venmo, whatever means it is,” he said. “I think we’re going to continue to see more and more businesses require mandatory vaccination.”
Pepenella said businesses in the coming weeks and months will need to be more flexible with things like cancellation policies, and increase their use of technology to meet consumer demand.
You can contact reporter David Matthau at David.Matthau@townsquaremedia.com.
Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?
Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.
Early voting locations in each NJ county
Each county in the state will have between three and 10 early voting locations, open daily for the 2021 general election from Oct. 23 through Oct. 31. The sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. except for Sundays, when they will close at 6 p.m.
