WOODBRIDGE — When you hop off the New Jersey Turnpike and stop in at the Grover Cleveland Service Area, you may encounter a friendly, enthusiastic worker named Kimberly Imhoff, who said she loves interacting with customers and bringing a positive attitude to her job.
She is just one Garden State resident with a disability who has been helped in the navigation of the job market by Easterseals New Jersey, a connection made through the state’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
“I stock all the beverages, candy, and snacks, to make sure customers find what they need, and I also fold T-shirts and sweaters very nicely,” Imhoff said.
An Easterseals job coach assisted Imhoff with resume prep, the job search itself, and then the interview process, but community employment services and vocational training director Daniela Rivera said even with all that knowledge, it’s still a stigma-filled world for people with disabilities.
The fact that the Americans with Disabilities Act has been in place for more than 30 years hasn’t exactly solved accessibility or hiring issues, according to Rivera.
“Many of the opportunities that are available to people with disabilities, they’re entry-level positions with little opportunity for advancement,” she said.
Imhoff wants hiring managers to know that people with disabilities can do whatever they put their minds to, and would like more people like her to be given the chance to be in a work environment, to prove what they can achieve.
Their success will only lead to more job openings, plus better accessibility in the hiring process itself, Rivera said, especially for vision- or hearing-impaired candidates.
“As more businesses realize the benefits and importance of hiring people with disabilities, then more and better job opportunities would be emerging in the future,” Rivera said.
The advice that Imhoff wants to give to other New Jersey job seekers with disabilities is to be confident in themselves, and never give up.
“You can always do anything. Keep moving forward and you will definitely find the right job,” she said.
These are the 25 Best Places To Live in New Jersey
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New Jersey using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.
On the list, there’s a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
NEW JERSEY (WABC) — Monday marked the first day of a new vaccine mandate in New Jersey that says all state and school workers must be vaccinated or show proof of a negative test. Next month, the same mandate goes into effect for workers at child care facilities in the Garden State.
The staggered return for other departments will “make sure we can have a smooth testing rollout,” Gov. Phil Murphy said.
Unvaccinated state employees who return to work must test at least once a week, possibly more.
Murphy said “a very high percentage” of state employees are vaccinated, but was unable to say what percentage is returning to work unvaccinated.
The number of state workers has dropped by nearly 3,200 since before the pandemic, or about by 4%. State employees were originally scheduled to return to the office after Labor Day weekend, but Murphy pushed it back to Monday. State employees must wear masks while at work.
A group of employees filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday challenging the order. They say it violates “the liberty and privacy rights protected by the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
The mandates have become a major issue in the governor’s race.
The requirement that went in effect today means all state workers, as well as employees at all colleges, universities and schools – public or private – must show proof of vaccination or submit to weekly COVID testing.
“The testing piece, if you’re working from home, is not enforced until you come into the office,” Murphy said. “But we do expect folks to be vaccinated. And when they come in, if they’re not vaccinated for whatever reason, then they’re going to have to start doing the testing regime.”
“I’m fully vaccinated, so it’s like I feel like everyone should get vaccinated,” said college student Maariji Abaidullah. “I feel like there’s no real issue with getting vaccinated.”
Asked if the mandate will force more people to get vaccinated, Abaidullah added, “I mean, probably, yeah. It’s tedious getting COVID testing every week. It’s gonna get annoying.”
But Essex County employee Karina Silva, who is unvaccinated, told Eyewitness News it’s not annoying yet.
“If they want to get weekly testing because that’s what makes them happy… I’ve chosen to do weekly testing until I feel more comfortable about the vaccination,” she said.
Murphy says the tests must be done at least once or twice a week, but there’s nothing stopping employers from requiring them more frequently.
Weeks before New Jersey voters cast their ballots for governor, Murphy’s Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli says he disagrees with vaccine and mask mandates and will do away with them if elected.
“The delta variant… like every other state… was tough on us and hit us hard like every other state,” said Murphy. “We’re among the most vaccinated states and have the lowest percentage of COVID patients in ICU units. It’s still with us, but I wouldn’t trade our hand with any other state.”
“I’m all about saving lives,” said Ciattarelli. “I never said the pandemic is easy. But I’m also about saving livelihoods. There are a number of inconsistencies, particularly for those on Main Street.”
And as is not the case with New York City’s mandate, there is a testing option in New Jersey.
And that’s one of the reasons the state’s teachers and administrator unions say they support the mandate.
“What we did appreciate and we worked with the governor’s office was to allow an opt-out option as opposed to a full across the board mandate,” said John Abeigon, Pres. Newark Teachers Union.
The teachers union in Newark said 85% of school staff has been vaccinated.
Did you know you can access fatal accident statistics for NJ online? I didn’t until earlier today. The New Jersey State Police’s website keeps track of the state’s fatal accidents each year and organizes it by county.
Before I break down which Ocean County roads have the most fatalities for 2021, I wanted to share that I also took a look at the total number of fatal accidents across all counties up to and including today, October 18th. Ocean County has the 6th highest number of fatal accidents with 32. The county with the highest fatal accident count is Camden County with 53.
Keep scrolling to find out which Ocean County roads are the deadliest as of today, October 18th, 2021. Do you drive on any of them?
The Deadliest Roads in Ocean County in 2021 According to the NJSP
Be careful! These Ocean County roads have the most fatal accidents as of October 18th 2021, according to the New Jersey State Police.
Keep Scrolling: These are the 20 Worst NJ towns to live in
Now check out the 25 Best Places To Live in New Jersey
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New Jersey using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.
On the list, there’s a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
A Belleville man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after he sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl in 2019, officials said.
Jose Santana, 60, will have to serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Santana was convicted of three counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. Santana was convicted in November 2019 and his sentencing had been scheduled for January 2020 but it was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The victim testified against Santana and said he forced her to watch child pornography in addition to being sexually assaulted, acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said. The girl was sexually assaulted multiple times when she was visiting Santana and his wife.
Child pornography was found on Santana’s computer when a search warrant was executed.
“Hopefully, this will give closure to the family and this little girl will be able to rest easy knowing her brave actions will prevent him from hurting her or anyone else in the future,” said Assistant Prosecutor Peter Polidoro.
Polidoro tried the case along with Assistant Prosecutor Tony Gutierrez.
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.
A New Jersey man has been sentenced to 35 years in state prison for making a 9-year-old girl watch child pornography while he sexually assaulted her.
Jose Santana, 60, of Belleville, had been convicted in November 2019 of three counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault and one count apiece of possession of child pornography and endangering the welfare of a child, but sentencing was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Santana has been jailed while awaiting sentencing, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, which announced the Friday sentencing on Monday.
Santana must serve 29 years and nine months of his sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.
The assaults took place more than once while the girl visited Santana and his wife at their home, authorities said.
“Hopefully, this will give closure to the family and this little girl will be able to rest easy knowing her brave actions will prevent him from hurting her or anyone else in the future,” said Assistant Prosecutor Peter C. Polidoro, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Tony Gutierrez.
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This week, United Community Corp. will hold two events in West Side Park, Newark. The nonprofit will host Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 21 and a Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Survivors Brunch on Sunday, Oct. 24.
The Hispanic Heritage Celebration will run from 2 to 6 p.m. and will feature food trucks, Latino and Hispanic music, a dance contest, a speech by Newark’s deputy mayor of community engagement Jacqueline Quiles, giveaways, services offered by UCC and its partners, and free groceries provided by Community FoodBank of New Jersey via UCC’s Champion House Food Pantry.
The Hispanic Heritage Celebration is sponsored by Pennoni, New Jersey Children’s Foundation, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, and Amerigroup.
“This event is very important because we want to show our community that everyone is involved and that everyone is important,” West Side Park office manager Christian Marsette said. “For us, it was very important to put together an event to honor Hispanic Heritage month. We want to make sure that everyone knows that they are part of our community and that we are here to support them.”
UCC has partnered with the Essex County Department of Health to provide COVID-19 vaccines on-site. The first 25 people to be vaccinated will receive a gift card. At last month’s Health Fair, UCC and the Essex County Department of Health provided 20 people with vaccinations. Thus far in October, UCC has helped over 100 people get vaccinated in partnership with St. James Health. UCC’s outreach efforts are funded by Partners in Health.
“Thanks to Partners in Health, UCC has been able to assemble an outreach team that has been working tirelessly to spread the word about how, where and when people can be vaccinated,” said UCC director of Community Engagement Richard Greco. “We want to thank our partners, St. James Health and the Essex County Department of Health, because they are the ones on the front lines actually administering the vaccines.”
Sunday’s Survivors Brunch will run from 2 to 5 p.m. and was created in partnership with Beauty for Ashes, Girls; Live, Laugh and Love Inc., and Ruby’s Vision. The event, run in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is dedicated to Breast Cancer survivors and will also honor domestic violence survivors, too. The celebration will feature a brunch donated by Ideal’s Diner, a live band, a make-up class session, wigs, photos, a free makeup boutique, and guest speakers – cancer survivor Joyce Bryant, Allison Frison of Girls Live, Laugh and Love Inc., and Minister Valerie Seymoure of Beauty for Ashes. The event will conclude with a documentary.
“One of our partners, Girls; Live, Laugh and Love Inc., and our agency had plans to do some kind of event in the fall,” UCC director of Youth, Family & Senior Services Yucleidis Melendez said. “We had a lot of ideas but wanted something different and this was something that we have never done. We wanted to give back to those who battled cancer and domestic violence. The purpose of this event is to show survivors our love, appreciation and support.”
According to a statement released by UCC, “Pairing Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence was a crucial component in creating this event because it combined two issues that plague many women throughout the world.”
“The Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Survivors Brunch notes two very important experiences however as women we are painstakingly aware of the myriad of issues we may encounter,” UCC grant compliance manager Alena Minatee said. “This is a celebration of not only overcoming those experiences but also women’s empowerment through sharing knowledge, experience and resources.”
Those interested in volunteering at either event should contact UCC’s volunteer coordinator Rhonda Benton at Rhonda.benton@uccnewark.org. For more information about either event, contact info@uccnewark.org.
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce announced that five state legislators – three Democrats and two Republicans – will receive the Chamber’s biannual Legislator of the Year Award. The State Chamber further announced that William R. Hagaman Jr., managing partner and CEO of WithumSmith+Brown and Judith M. Persichilli, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, have been named the N.J. Chamber’s Business Advocates of the Year.
All seven are being honored by the Chamber for their overall support of the business community and for helping steer New Jersey through the pandemic. The N.J. Chamber selected the lawmakers based on their voting records, bill sponsorships and initiatives.
The honorees will be recognized at the New Jersey Chamber’s Legislative and Business Awards Reception on Oct. 20 at Bell Works in Holmdel beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The five recipients of the Legislator of the Year Awards are:
· Senator Vin Gopal (D-11 / Monmouth County)
· Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D-29 / Essex County)
· Senator Michael L. Testa, Jr. (R-1 / Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties)
· Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-16 / Hunterdon, Somerset and Mercer Counties)
· Assemblyman Christopher P. DePhillips (R-40 / Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic Counties)
The recipients of the N.J. Chamber’s Business Advocate of the Year Awards are:
· William R. Hagaman Jr., managing partner and CEO, WithumSmith+Brown
· Judith M. Persichilli, commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health
“The honorees were selected primarily because each has taken substantive action to help New Jersey’s economy persevere through one of the most difficult times in modern history,” said Tom Bracken, president and CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “Each has been proactive in their support for employers and employees, particularly in a time when there is no blueprint for action. The business community is fortunate to have individuals such as these navigating New Jersey through the pandemic and into a brighter future.”
Profiles of Legislator of the Year Award Recipients
Sen. Vin Gopal, the majority conference leader, has been a strong advocate for the business community throughout the pandemic. He sponsored several bill packages that became law, providing funding and accommodations that businesses needed to continue to operate. The Chamber supported additional bills, sponsored by Gopal, that were signed in to law, including S-3115, which modifies the process for minors to obtain working certificates and S-2508, which revises the law concerning notaries and notarial acts, and authorizes electronic signatures. Gopal knows first-hand what it’s like to be a business owner, as he owns and operates small businesses in Monmouth County. Further, he has experience promoting economic development, serving on the Board of the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce and formerly serving as president of the Hazlet Township Business Owners Association.
Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, president pro tempore, is chair of the Senate Education Committee and a member of both the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Higher Education Committee. She has been a strong advocate for improvements in education and workforce development. In the last legislative session, she sponsored a package of bills to promote and enhance apprenticeship opportunities – many of the bills were signed into law. During the recent budget process, Ruiz was instrumental in securing funding for child care revitalization, as well as the State Chamber Foundation’s Jobs for America’s Graduates program. The State Chamber supported the following bills, sponsored by Ruiz, which became law: S-3993, the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020, which creates tax incentives, financing, and grant programs for businesses that grow in New Jersey; S-3990 appropriates $100 million to DCA for purpose of studying and providing grants and technical assistance to licensed and registered child care providers; and S-973 requires the state Labor Department commissioner to establish apprenticeship mentoring program for women, minorities and people with disabilities.
Sen. Michael L. Testa Jr. has been a vocal member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, advocating for transparency and fiscal responsibility in government. After the COVID-19 Emergency Bond Act was enacted, Testa led the charge in challenging the constitutionality of borrowing almost $10 billion without voter approval. As a representative of the First Legislative District, one of the key areas of tourism in our state, he fought for the struggling businesses that had been affected by the pandemic. Like many legislators, Testa led a business recovery tour, encouraging residents to visit the small businesses in his district. The State Chamber supported S-2290, sponsored by Testa, that permits corporations to hold shareholder meetings in part or solely by means of remote communication during state of emergency.
Assemblyman Roy Freiman meets regularly with industry stakeholders, including the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the economy and how to improve New Jersey’s business climate. In March, Freiman recognized women community and business leaders in his district, in honor of Women’s History Month. The State Chamber supported the following bills, sponsored by Freiman, which became law: A-5706, which appropriates $20 million to the NJEDA to support food and beverage establishments impacted by the pandemic; A-5246, which expands opportunities for restaurants, bars, distilleries, and breweries to provide outdoor dining, and permits certain sales at seasonal farm markets in response to the public health emergency; A-4589, which extends the time period during which seasonal retail consumption license holders may sell alcoholic beverages, in light of the pandemic; A-5863, which appropriates $100 million to the DCA for studying and providing grants and technical assistance to licensed and registered child care providers; and A-5443, which makes $25 million in federal funds available to the NJEDA to support microbusinesses.
Assemblyman Christopher P. DePhillips, deputy republican leader, recently partnered with a fellow legislator to launch AnchorNJ, a statewide coalition of leaders from state institutions using their collective knowledge to help local economies recover from the pandemic. The State Chamber is pleased to be part of this group. Last year, TechUnited:NJ recognized Assemblyman DePhillips as its 2020 Legislative Champion of the Year. In 2019, Assemblyman DePhillips was a prime sponsor of the New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act, which was signed into law. The State Chamber has also supported the following bills from this session, sponsored by DePhillips: A-109 provides assistance to business accelerators and incubators and the startup businesses located within those business accelerators and incubators; A-115 repeals a surtax imposed on certain businesses; and A-3756 supports activities of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program. In addition to his public service, DePhillips is vice president and general counsel for Porzio Life Sciences LLC.
Profiles of the Business Advocate of the Year Award Recipients
William R. Hagaman Jr. is managing partner and CEO of WithumSmith+Brown, the 25th largest accounting, tax and advisory firm in the country. Hagaman has been a champion for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the N.J. Chamber Foundation and the business community at large – and he has come up big during the pandemic. By offering a professional virtual platform, his firm Withum partnered with the State Chamber at the very beginning of the pandemic to provide informational webinars for members of the business community struggling during the pandemic. Additionally, Hagaman led by example by contributing much needed funding to the Chamber Foundation’s ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates – NJ’ program and encouraged fellow Chamber Board members to join the efforts, resulting in more than $100,000 raised. That ensured the continuation of the Chamber Foundation program. This earned Bill and Withum the National Network Leadership Award in December from the national JAG program.
Judith M. Persichilli, was appointed commissioner of the Department of Health in August 2019, mere months before the pandemic struck. The commissioner’s strong response to the pandemic earned her the title “The Woman Who Needs No Introduction” from the governor. She and her team have done an outstanding job coordinating with federal, state and local stakeholders to secure the necessary resources to get New Jersey through the pandemic. With the help of her leadership, the economy was able to safely reopen, and New Jersey reached its original goal of vaccinating 70 percent of eligible adults by June 30. Most recently, the commissioner and the Department of Health partnered with the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and local and regional chambers to boost vaccination efforts. Prior to state service, Persichilli served as the acting CEO of University Hospital in Newark.
To this point, the governor’s race in New Jersey — while not drawing even one-tenth of the media attention as the race a few hundred miles south in Virginia — has been about everything other than the real-world circumstances of the Garden State’s millions of residents.
The debased multi-billion-dollar slugfest between Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli has been all about what’s wrong with these two privileged candidates, and not at all about the huge percentage of the electorate both parties have failed for generations.
Between the millions in taxpayer money and the millions from outside national groups, this high-priced non-therapeutic mud bath is mired in a fixation on the past of two white guys. There’s been very little discussion of the future of this state, which for the past year and a half has suffered through a mass death event that has inordinately affected poor people of color. They are most often the “essential workers” in one of the richest states in the nation, where many white residents had the luxury of “sheltering in place” in sprawling suburban homes.
We’ve known about these brutal race-based inequities for decades. After the 1967 civil disturbance in Newark, the Lilley Report, commissioned by then Gov. Richard J. Hughes, noted the connections between poverty and race-based health care disparities and outcomes in the state’s largest city.
Among the statistics the report laid out to describe Newark’s endemic poverty: The city had the highest maternal and infant mortality rate in the nation and the highest rate of tuberculosis infection, and ranked ninth out of 302 American cities in severity of air pollution.
A half-century after that report, the COVID pandemic has driven home the enduring nature of those same race-based economic and health care disparities, which continue to define Newark, our state and the entire nation.
In the decades since, we have systematically undercounted the number of New Jersey residents struggling in the margins of poverty, in a state with one of the highest costs of living. According to a report released in July by the Legal Services of New Jersey’s Poverty Research Institute, the federal measure we use to determine the number of people in poverty undercounted that population by more than two million.
Under that official measure, informed by an outdated one-size-fits-all federal formula, a family of four is only poor if they make less than $21,000 a year, which means that just 800,000 New Jersey residents are poor.
Researchers at the Poverty Research Institute found that in 2019 a two-bedroom apartment in New Jersey averaged $17,316 a year — about $1,450 a month — which would claim nearly 85% of that poverty-level family’s $21,000 in wages.
“They would be left with $3,275 annually, or $273 a month, to meet other essential needs like food, transportation, health care and taxes, according to the researchers,” the Asbury Park Press reported when the report was released.
Calculating the actual cost of living in New Jersey, the advocacy group calculated the poverty-level survival wage for a family of three would be $70,372 a year. Under that more realistic calculation, at least three million New Jersey residents struggle financially week to week to make ends meet amid the pandemic.
If democracy is supposed to be an effective exercise in self-determination, it needs to be one of honest self-reflection about the socioeconomic conditions of people who live in a state currently mulling its leadership options.
But there has been nowhere near enough attention to how our state’s long standing racial disparities in health care and wealth inequality have helped drive its per-capita COVID death count to the highest in the world — until we were recently eclipsed by Mississippi.
As the pandemic appears to ease, we need to discuss how best to support the families of the 27,000 people who have died in New Jersey, many of them health care professionals, first responders, civil servants, transit workers and retail personnel who were exposed to the virus as a direct consequence of their commitment to serve our communities.
There are well over one million people in our state who have survived an infection with this virus, which we still know relatively little about. A substantial portion of these people are either essential workers or their family members. Based on preliminary health studies, we have reason to believe that as many as one in four of these people will suffer long-term consequences of varying severity — the long-lasting aftereffects of a virus that has now killed more Americans than the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918-1921.
Many of these families who are the arms and legs of our essential workforce are undocumented immigrants, and even now have to look over their shoulders in fear — not just of the virus, but of our cruel and dysfunctional immigration system.
We know that this pandemic was particularly hard on women, who have lost perhaps a generation of economic progress because two million of them were pushed out of the workforce to help educate their children at home, too often while caring for a loved one afflicted with the virus.
Under our current system, their families will be economically deprived in the short term, and they themselves will also feel it later, when they reach retirement age and their lost earnings will be reflected in anemic Social Security payments.
Even as we dealt with the pandemic, New Jersey and New York were hit with the unprecedented drenching rains brought by Tropical Storm Ida, itself an artifact of climate change. Many of those who died in our region were living in substandard basement apartments in urban immigrant neighborhoods.
As we look forward to the holidays, the financial press is filled with reporting on how our inadequate transportation infrastructure is driving price inflation: Consumer demand is returning, but we don’t have the capacity to move the goods they’re ordering. By every measure, we remain a “Stuck Nation.”
President Biden’s $3.5 trillion Build Back Better agenda seeks to offer a 21st-century version of the New Deal advanced by Franklin D. Roosevelt advanced. It includes a long overdue realignment of our system of taxation, which has promoted global wealth accumulation by a tiny handful of billionaires.
Thanks to the ongoing obstructionism of Republican insurrectionists and Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema, who remain captive to big donors, this lifeline — which aims to address so much of what’s upside down in America — is in big trouble.
Most of the news media coverage of this issue has focused on entirely on Democratic infighting and on whether Biden can deliver on their ambitious agenda, and not why it’s about our collective survival.
One stellar exception was the interview that WNBC’s Brian Thompson conducted with Vice President Kamala Harris during her recent visit to New Jersey, partly as a boost to Gov. Murphy’s campaign.
“Let’s be clear, the Build Back Better agenda is about helping families and helping working people in America,” Harris said, describing those people as those “who for too long have been trying to get through the end of the month without really the kind of help they need.” The vice president also made clear that the child care issue isn’t just about greater convenience and flexibility for working mothers and families, as crucial as that is: “It’s about saying, let’s bring down the cost of child care but also pay child care workers their value and pay what they deserve when it comes to their profession.”
Harris’ language suggests that the Biden team understands where we are, a year and a half into this once-in-a-century health crisis. “If this pandemic did nothing,” Harris told Thompson, “it certainly highlighted the importance of all working people being able to stay home and take care of sick family members and not compromise their ability to pay their rent to do it.”
It would have been useful if such questions had ever come up in last week’s gubernatorial debate between Murphy and Ciattarelli — for example, if they’d been asked about addressing climate change, perhaps the most important element of the Build Back Better package.
“The climate crisis is real,” Harris said. “It is something that has been highlighted every day when you look at the hurricanes, you look at floods, you look at California wildfires. New Jersey has been extraordinarily damaged by these extreme climate conditions and we need to invest in a number of things that will not only mitigate the harm but allow for adaptation and allow us to reduce the damage to our atmosphere that is contributing to these extreme weather conditions. That includes investing in the jobs that are about creating a clean energy economy.”
“That’s a very big part of our Build Back Better approach—understanding we have to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels,” the vice president continued. “There’s no question about it. It is the thing that will allow our planet to live longer and we as a species to live longer. It’s that basic.”
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.
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 Sunday, there have been 1,026,591 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 24,922 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.
Riding a bike is more than a childhood milestone. It develops a sense of balance, strengthens muscles, fosters an appreciation for the outdoors, and makes for wonderful family bonding time. Luckily for New Jersey families, there are tons of family-friendly bike paths throughout the state, from the Kittatinny Mountains to the Jersey Shore.
This popular park features five miles of paved trails. You can connect to the Patriots’ Path (below) if you want to extend your ride, or stop at the playground located at the South Street end of the trails.
At around three miles, this trail is perfect for young riders. The trail follows the former Caldwell Branch railway on the old Erie-Lackawanna Railroad and meanders over a trestle that crosses the Peckman River.
Crossing through six Bergen County towns, this bike path is approximately six miles in length. Also known as the Wild Duck Pond (Ridgewood), its easy course is extremely family-friendly.
One-part history, one-part exercise, Patriots’ Path is a 30-mile route that runs from East Hanover to Allamuchy Mountain State Park. Check the map for beginner trails, including a paved section near Speedwell Lake.
With more than eight miles of rugged mountain bike trails available, Kittatinny Valley State Park is a favorite of mountain bikers. The 27-mile Paulinskill Valley Trail, which starts in Sparta, runs through Sussex County’s beautiful countryside.
This awesome 3.5-mile trail has 12 access points stretching from Metuchen to Woodbridge. The 10-foot wide path meanders near parks, shopping areas, and farmers markets. Note that some access points only have stairs to enter, so check the map if that’s a concern.
Columbia Trail’s off-road biking route travels through the woods along the Raritan River for 15 miles. The trail is mostly in shade, which makes it a comfortable trip on a warm day.
Twelve miles of paved and gravel lanes wind through the gorgeous grounds of Duke Farms, a historic estate featuring gardens and undeveloped natural habitats. It’s an easy, relaxing ride with plenty of opportunities to stop and smell the roses. They also offer a bike-share program!
The historic towpath along the main canal from Trenton’s Bakers Basin Road to New Brunswick has a natural surface for biking, making for a great family adventure.
The two miles of paved paths in this park are perfect for NJ families. Stop to enjoy the park’s great playgrounds, mini golf, gardens, dog park, and paddleboats.
This beautiful park has 15 miles of trails in the heart of some famous Revolutionary War historical sites. Ride on the two-mile bike loop, or try walking the green trail, which connects to a pedestrian bridge that travels over the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
Bicycling on the boardwalk is limited during the summer months, but in most other seasons, cyclists are free to ride at any time of day. This 2.5-mile stretch of boardwalk offers stunning ocean views, plus easy access to shops and restaurants when you’re ready to take a break.
The Sandy Hook bike path runs the length of the peninsula and features a picturesque lighthouse, military installations, and views of the bay and the beach. Its flat surface makes for a fun, easy ride.
Cooper River Park is huge, stretching through Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, and Haddon Township. There are two riverside bike paths: a 3.8-mile loop (Cuthbert to Route 130) and a 1.35-mile trail (Cuthbert to Grove Street). While you’re at the park, enjoy mini golf, the sculpture garden, river fishing, and more.
The Pinelands is home to several popular bike paths. From flat, paved rides to bumpy off-roading trails, this area has many offerings for the cycling enthusiast. For a family-friendly bike ride, try the Pine Barrens River Ramble, an easy 42.6-mile loop with no hills that can be shortened to a more manageable length.
Looking for more? The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) publishes several bicycle tour guides, including the Old Mine Road Ride in Sussex County and Essex County’s Washington Rock and Roll Tour. These detailed guides are valuable resources if you want to explore the world through a cyclist’s eyes.
Originally published 2012, this piece has since been updated.
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