Murphy’s Law in the state of New Jersey declares that all faculty, students, and staff must wear face masks while in school. It requires them to adhere to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and the New Jersey Department of Health. Murphy’s Law also declares that those same teachers can party the night away indoors, maskless and without social distancing if the event includes Governor Phil Murphy and is without children. Murphy recommends that if you are unsure of the vaccination status of those around you, facemasks should be worn.
Murphy and the NJEA leadership of the Essex County Educators Association attended the Garden State Equality Ball at the Asbury Lanes, a popular music venue in Asbury Park.
In photos shared on various social media platforms, few, if any of the attendees at the indoor portion of the event were photographed wearing face masks.
“Our 2nd VP Chris Cannella along with our LGBTQ+ Committee Chair Micah Gary-Fryer enjoyed the Garden State Equality Ball last night along with NJEA leadership and staff,” the ECEA tweeted about their leadership’s attendance at the event.
We reached out to Governor Phil Murphy’s office and Garden State Equality and did not receive any immediate response.
Photo by Phil Murphy for governor 2021.
Our 2nd VP Chris Cannella along with our LGBTQ+ Committee Chair Micah Gary-Fryer enjoyed the Garden State Equality Ball last night along with NJEA leadership and staff. pic.twitter.com/GWqt7Ee4No
New Jersey now has its own fund devoted specifically to pediatric cancer research, with a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in September.
Another new law devotes $5 million to the fund to start things off.
Medical professionals are praising the move, suggesting the cause has been historically underfunded, compared to more common types of cancer such as breast or prostate cancer.
“The good news is that most children with cancer are cured, but to us in pediatrics, most is not good enough,” said Dr. Peter Cole, director of the pediatric hematology, oncology, and cellular therapies program at Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
One of the new laws makes it possible for taxpayers to contribute to pediatric cancer research through gross income tax returns.
According to Cole, cure rates from the past several decades prove the power of well-funded research in this area. A child diagnosed 50 years ago with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, for example, had a 10% or so chance of being alive five years later, Cole said. Today, a child with the same type of leukemia has nearly a 90% chance of being cured.
Cole said additional research is necessary in order to continue improving cure rates, and to improve treatments so that they cause fewer side effects in children.
“Even among the children who are being cured, the treatments themselves cause miserable acute toxicity and, in many cases, the treatment causes organ damage that is permanent,” Cole said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Jersey has the third highest rate of pediatric cancer in the nation.
ORANGE, NJ — Thankful for the great weather, the Orange Recreation Department and the Orange Historic Preservation Commission held their annual Tour de Parks Historic Bike Tour on Saturday, Oct. 2. In addition to the fitness and exercise benefits, participants enjoyed historical landmarks throughout the city’s parks.
According to Councilwoman Adrienne Wooten in an Oct. 4 interview, the bike tour “is a citywide event where we put the city’s rich history on display. The bike tour includes visits to a number of important sites which date back to the 18th century. The bike tour carried riders throughout all four wards of the 2.2-square-mile city.
“COVID-19 prevented the first scheduled tour (in 2019), but the last two years went well,” Wooten said. “About 50 bikers, hosts, historians and volunteers in bright orange shirts emblazoned with the Orange historic tour logo brightened up our streets as we kicked off the annual tour of historic places.”
Riders were able to partake in sightseeing and take in what the city of Orange had to offer, including historic landmarks at Orange Park; First Presbyterian Church and Cemetery on Main Street and Scotland Road; Orange Memorial Hospital Historic District at 180 S. Essex Ave.; Orange Railroad Station at 73 Lincoln Ave.; the U.S. Radium Corp. site at 412 Alden St., College Park; Metcalf Park; Valley Memorial Park; and more.
According to Wooten, the Metcalf family, for whom Metcalf Park is named, is one of the oldest families in the United States. The Valley Memorial Park site in the Valley Arts Districts was, according to Wooten, “once the industrial hub of this part of the county, known as the Orange Valley, and featured a variety of manufacturing facilities.”
Riders also saw the Berkeley Tennis Club, St. John Church and the Orange Fire Department.
“Berkeley Tennis Club, founded in 1917, is nestled in the quiet residential neighborhood of Orange,” Wooten said, adding that St. John Church, at 94 Ridge St., “was founded in 1861, and the church was dedicated in 1869. It is one of the most beautiful churches in New Jersey.” The fire department was founded in 1872.
According to Wooten, this tour was especially needed following so much time indoors during lockdown.
“I feel that this year’s bike tour is especially needed because people have been locked down for over a year. This tour allowed us to relax and experience the sights, sounds and smells of our city. It was special this year because of the support we received from our stakeholders,” Wooten said.
Mayor Dwayne Warren spoke happily of the many children who participated in this year’s tour, learning the history of their city from deft presenters.
“Additionally, I am always fascinated by the level of detail that our historic presenters demonstrated. I was equally humbled by the high level of community partnership participation that was responsible for a generous reserve of bicycles, snacks, gear and bike safety resources,” Warren said Oct. 4.
Councilwoman Jamie Summers-Johnson also spoke of the children who participated in the event.
“This year’s historical bike tour was great because of the number of children that participated,” she said Oct. 4. “Many received free bicycles from PuroClean of Morristown. Seeing them obtain a new bike and get to try it out was a treat also. I also enjoyed hearing from the historical commission as they gave mini-presentations at every stop.”
It is the historical element that Warren finds so rewarding at this event.
“The best way for the community to appreciate the city is to be on the ground in touch with physical structures and places that make Orange historically significant,” Warren said. “As mayor, I am especially appreciative of the Orange Historic Preservation Commission and our historic presenters. I refer to Karen Wells as the ‘unofficial historian’ because she and her band of volunteers do the research and compile valuable gems of historical information that is interesting to all generations.”
Wooten agreed with Warren.
“This is important for residents of the community to take part in because it allows residents to explore the city in a different way. You can become more intimate with your surroundings as you become more familiar with the history of our city,” Wooten said.
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.
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 Saturday, there have been 1,016,546 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 24,793 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.
President Joe Biden listens during a meeting with business leaders at the White House on Oct. 6, 2021.
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A typical New Jersey family of four with one child and one infant in full-time day care would save an estimated $27,000 a year on child care costs under President Joe Biden’s proposed spending bill.
That’s more than the same family would receive in all but three states, according to the study by the House Education and Labor Committee.
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Are your kids (or grandkids) going to put on costumes…
Halloween costumes in search of kids. (Craig Allen photo)
…and head out in search of candy on Halloween this year?
Group photo-op with “Craig the Friendly Ghost” a few years ago. (NJ Prize Team photo)
On-going COVID-19 concerns make that (still) a valid question.
Pumpkins with personality. Or, pumpkins in costume. (Craig Allen photo)
And, while I admit that I haven’t seen as many pop-up “Halloween Stores” (again) this year, as in the past…Halloween is big business in New Jersey.
From the moment that you walk into the grocery store or department store…
I never knew that pumpkins could fly. (Craig Allen photo)
…you are greeted by the Halloween theme.
I mentioned candy, right? (Craig Allen photo)
And, retailers actually do have more than candy to entice you.
Got…candy? (Craig Allen photo)
I was just popping in for milk and breakfast cereal…
Look: REAL pumpkins. You give them “personality.” (Craig Allen photo)
…when I saw:
Make a GIANT cookie. (Craig Allen photo)
And, if one BIG cookie isn’t enough…
Make and bake ET’s favorite cookies for your little goblins. (Craig Allen photo)
…you can even “build” your Halloween:
You had me at chocolate. And, “E-Z” (Craig Allen photo)
And, while I’ll admit that I think Halloween candy before I think…
This is a great example of “thinking outside the box.” (Craig Allen photo)
…Halloween Cheeseballs, I like the creative, Halloween theme packaging.
Let’s continue…
I did say that I need cereal. (Craig Allen photo)
As I leave the cereal aisle…
These plates are…batty. (Craig Allen photo)
There are a few Halloween party essentials…
“Jack Skellington” and “The Great Pumpkin” in a cup. (Craig Allen photo)
And, “nick-nacks” to…
It’s “Hello Kitty” with a Halloween twist. (Craig Allen photo)
…set the mood.
Your author, in costume. (NJ Prize Team photo)
And, now that I’m in the “spirit”…
One bag will do. Only a handful of kids have come to the door in the last few years. (Craig Allen photo)
…and I have my candy…
I left this “candy” in the store. (Craig Allen photo)
…I can’t help but think that some of this Halloween “cheer” will be…
Here. (Craig Allen photo)
…in the “Reduced Price For Quick Sale” bin, on Monday, November 1st.
Haunted Hayrides and Attractions in New Jersey for 2021
After the hayride, go see the “Great Pumpkin.”
Best NJ corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides for 2021
Whether you’re searching for your own “great pumpkin” this fall, or just to navigate a fun corn maze and eat some cider donuts, the Garden State has you covered.
In each region of New Jersey, farms are offering a large range of fall festivities and attractions — here’s a roundup.
There are lots of FUN things to do in Jersey this month.
Fall street fairs & family events happening in NJ
A full list of fun, family events happening this fall around the Garden State
The Maplewood Township Committee approves an interpretive statement to provide to voters to explain the upcoming turf referendum at its Sept. 9 meeting.
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A referendum asking residents to approve installing artificial turf on the field in DeHart Park will be on the ballot in November in Maplewood, after a petition circulated by residents was certified by Township Clerk Liz Fritzen this summer and by the county in September. The committee voted 4-1 to approve a bond ordinance for the turf at its July 6 meeting, setting in motion a $1,923,750 bond. The project’s total cost would be $2,025,000 for the turf and a 9-1-1 dispatch console; Committeewoman Nancy Adams cast the only opposing vote.
Residents who opposed installing the turf for environmental reasons circulated a petition to add the bond to the ballot; more than 1,000 registered voters signed it. The question will ask whether the township should appropriate the funds for the project. Voters will choose either “yes” or “no.”
At the Sept. 9 meeting, the committee unanimously approved an interpretive statement that will be provided to voters with their ballots explaining the referendum.
“If the referendum passes, the Township Committee will move forward with designing the artificial turf athletic field through continued discussions with the community and then going out to bid for the construction of the field,” the statement reads. “If the referendum does not pass, the Township Committee will discuss with the community other measures to improve the field at DeHart Park.”
There was confusion about whether or not the question would make it onto the ballot; Adams said at the meeting that the committee was not made aware of an Aug. 27 deadline to submit a petition to the county to add the referendum. Township attorney Roger Desiderio said that Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin assured the town that the deadline was for nonbinding referendums; the DeHart referendum is binding. The referendum is included on the Maplewood mail-in ballot sent to the News-Record by Durkin.
Maplewood would have had to hold a special election on the topic of installing artificial turf if the measure had not made the ballot.
“After conversations with Mr. Durkin and his research, we were never in jeopardy of this not being on in this election,” Desiderio said at the meeting. “There were no mistakes made with regard to this particular referendum.”
Desiderio told the committee there would not need to be a special meeting to approve the interpretive statement, but there was still confusion on what the special meeting would have been about. Committeeman Vic DeLuca said the town could have been clearer about the process.
“We’re under a spotlight on this,” he said at the meeting. “We could have been a little more proactive in our messaging externally. I felt a little bit that we were always behind the eight ball on this one. The good thing is that we can get it on for November and we came to an agreement on an interpretive statement, but I felt that we were always playing catch up on this. For public confidence in our ability to run government and to honor the wishes of the people, we’ve got to be better, I think.”
At the July meeting, residents were split on whether or not they believe the field should have artificial turf or natural grass. Coaches and parents of children who play sports were generally in favor of it, saying that rain renders the grass field unplayable and wreaks havoc on game schedules.
“I can tell you without hesitation that we never would have been able to grow the league to its current size without access to Underhill Field and the safe, all-weather playing surface it provides,” Bryan Umiker, a co-founder of the SOMA Flag Football league, said at the July meeting. “The sports fields in Maplewood and South Orange form an interconnected ecosystem. When one field is closed for rain, there is a domino effect that impacts every other youth sport taking place at the same time. I can’t overstate how beneficial it will be to all youth sports in our towns to convert DeHart to an all-weather surface.”
But at the same meeting, Genoa Warner, a resident and environmental toxicologist who teaches at NJIT and lives near DeHart in the Hilton neighborhood, said the rubber and plastic that turf fields are made of contain chemicals that are hazardous to health.
“Chemicals that are hazardous for our children are present in turf. So in exchange for what many people believe to be the superior properties of artificial turf, we need to decide what level of risk we’re willing to accept on behalf of our children, our neighborhood environment and future generations. I hope we can find another solution besides putting more plastic into one of our community green spaces,” Warner said, adding that manufacturers sometimes sow doubt about scientific studies in order to keep selling their products. “However, there are very few studies that have assessed any associations in health effects in humans following exposure to artificial turf in particular.”
BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Jane Califf and Ted Glick have taken a couple of trips to Delaware this year.
The Bloomfield couple was arrested along with 13 other seniors outside JPMorgan Chase’s credit card headquarters in Wilmington, Del., in June, while protesting climate change in front of the country’s largest bank investor in fossil fuel projects. They went back to Delaware last week for their court date only to find out it was delayed to later this month. But the second trip wasn’t a total waste: The group led a youth and seniors march to President Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington to deliver letters and drawings from children asking him to protect their future.
“He’s such a family man. His grandchildren are always around,” Califf said of Biden in a phone interview with The Independent Press on Oct. 1. “He’s made strong climate statements. When you read it, it’s great, but he’s not implementing it.”
The idea for the initial protest came from Beyond Extreme Energy, a climate activist organization Glick co-founded, and the group traveled from Biden’s birthplace of Scranton, Pa., to Wilmington to rally. They started directly outside the building but realized that they weren’t going to be noticed much. So they dragged rocking chairs into the street and sat in them, displaying signs asking for a climate emergency to be declared.
“There’s an image of older people sitting in rocking chairs and staring into space or watching TV,” Califf said about the group’s choice of seating. “We communicated with the cops the whole time. We went out into the street; we did it carefully, when there was a red light.”
The protestors didn’t block off the street enough to stop traffic, but police in Wilmington wouldn’t let them stay. They weren’t unkind, according to Califf, and she suspects that was because she and the other members of the group are older and mostly white. Some were handcuffed, and they were all taken to jail before being released a few hours later and given a court date.
But the arrests are not deterring anyone. This wasn’t the first time anyone arrested in Delaware had protested. Oftentimes, though, they’re not holding rallies that are exclusive to senior citizens. Young people leading climate change demonstrations have gotten much more attention.
“Usually, we’re mixed in with everyone else,” Califf said. “That’s why we thought of the rocking chairs. We’re in our 60s, 70s and 80s, and we’re very peppy. Why don’t we take advantage of this? Why don’t we flip the image?”
On the second trip to Delaware, they joined forces with some young people. High school teachers and students joined their march to Biden’s house, stopping before they reached their destination to give speeches.
“We passed by schools and a lot of teens joined us,” Califf said. “The main speakers were teenagers. They were so smart and dedicated.”
The Secret Service agents at the Biden home wouldn’t accept the box of letters and artwork, so it will be sent to the White House in the hopes of reaching the president that way. The elder protesters will be in Washington, D.C., soon anyway, to protest outside the White House and the Capitol.
All of it is an effort for more action toward stopping irreversible climate catastrophe. In 2020, a Forbes article ranked JPMorgan Chase as the No. 1 contributor to the fossil fuel industry. The bank invested $268 billion in gas, coal and oil firms from 2016 to 2020, according to a Banking on Climate Change report.
“It’s a David and Goliath fight,” Califf said. “The fossil fuel industry is powerful. They shouldn’t make more profits. But solar and wind are becoming more common, and we cannot give up. We elders won’t give up.”
She and Glick have a young grandson, and most of the other senior protestors have grandchildren as well.
“We’re going to be creative because 98 percent of us have grandchildren,” Califf said. “We want them to have a future, and they won’t if this extreme weather continues.”
