Category: Uncategorized

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday, Sept. 23, endorsed booster shots for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on the recommendations from a panel of advisers, but then overnight added one more the panel had rejected.

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.

EU removes US from safe travel list

The European Union recommended that its 27 nations reinstate restrictions on tourists from the U.S. because of rising coronavirus infections there.

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

The Senate’s top Democrat says federal law enforcement officials need to crack down on fake COVID-19 vaccination cards being sold online.

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

The FDA has approved an extra, third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems.

Fake COVID vaccine cards worry college officials

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?

COVID-19 breakthrough cases are rising, and now people want to know which vaccine offers the best protection from the coronavirus.

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.

Gov. Murphy mandates masks in schools

In a reversal of plans, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Aug. 6 a mandate for masks in schools for 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

Gov. Phil Murphy ran out of patience for protesters against the COVID-19 vaccine at a bill signing in Union City on Aug. 4.

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.

Moderna says vaccine 93% effective after 6 months

Moderna said its COVID vaccine has 93% efficacy six months after the second shot, according to a report released on Aug. 5.

Can I get ‘long COVID’ if I’m infected after getting vaccinated?

It’s unclear, but researchers are studying the chances of long-term symptoms developing in anyone who might get infected after vaccination.

What is the delta plus variant of COVID?

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

A popular restaurant in New Jersey closed its doors after 65 years of service.

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.

NJ mask guidance

Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli strongly recommended that both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents wear masks in indoor settings when there is increased risk.

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

The United States is in an “unnecessary predicament” of soaring COVID-19 cases fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the virulent delta variant, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert said on July 25.

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

Payments for the highly anticipated expanded child tax credits were being sent to families in the tri-state area, and the rest of the nation, for the first time in mid-July. While the additional money may be very helpful for some families across the economic spectrum, the overall tax credit situation is complicated.

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

The global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million in July as the crisis increasingly becomes a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.

99 percent of U.S. COVID deaths are unvaccinated people: Fauci

America’s top infectious disease expert says about 99.2% of recent COVID-19 deaths in the United States involved unvaccinated people. And Dr. Anthony Fauci says “it’s really sad and tragic that most all of these are avoidable and preventable.”

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.

Vaccine freebies

New York, New Jersey and several companies nationwide are offering incentives for those who get vaccinated, including free food and drinks.

Latest official indicators

As of Friday, there have been 1,014,968 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 24,773 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.

COVID-19 timeline: How novel coronavirus spread

Tips to protect yourself and others amid coronavirus outbreaks

On Tuesday, Sept. 21, Thomas Edison EnegySmart Charter School (TEECS) in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, celebrated Zero Emissions Day. This day was established in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2008 with the idea to give the world a break from fossil fuels and to raise awareness about the harm caused by carbon emissions. This was the perfect kickoff to TEECS’ monthly Green Day celebrations and a reminder to all of us the importance of reducing our carbon footprint. Green Team students made signs to display at morning drop off educating families about the importance of the day.

On Wednesday, Sept. 22, the Environmental Alliance Club (EAC) students spread awareness about the harmful effect of single-use plastic bottles on human health and the Earth. They made signs and displayed them outside during morning drop-off to educate our families.

On Saturday, Oct. 23, TEECS will continue our efforts by participating in a Beach Cleaning Event with Clean Ocean Action. Volunteers from TEECS’ families will meet at the Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch to spend the afternoon picking up trash and plastic to keep the oceans clean from debris.

Clean Ocean Action is a non-profit organization that works to protect the marine water quality in the New York Bight through extensive scientific analysis, public education, and resident activity endeavors as their core duty.

Plainfield High School

Congratulations to Dayana Caluna on winning her first round of the NJSIAA Girls State Singles Tennis Tournament.

Caluna defeated her rival 1-6, 6-1, (10-7) tiebreaker, on Saturday, Oct 2.

Caluna has become the first Lady Cardinal player to ever win a first round match in the State Singles tournament.

In addition, she placed seventh in the Union County Tennis Tournament 1st singles flight on Thursday, Sept. 23. The Plainfield Girl Tennis Team placed ninth out of 18 teams overall.

Protect Me With 3+ Contest

The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health, on Tuesday, Oct. 5,  announced the launch of the 10th annual Protect Me With 3+ poster and video contest. The contest challenges NJ youth in middle and high school to raise awareness about the importance of adolescent immunizations including tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap), human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) and flu vaccines. Additionally, the contest has expanded to include entries for COVID-19 vaccination awareness.

“Educating students about the benefits of adolescent vaccination, especially COVID-19, can help prevent the spread of serious and potentially deadly diseases,” said Dr. Tina Tan, state epidemiologist and assistant c’ommissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health. “Teachers can incorporate the Protect Me With 3+ contest into their curriculum to help students learn more about vaccines in a fun and creative way.”

Starting on Tuesday, Oct. 5, middle school and high school students can participate in the contest by submitting a hand-drawn poster or an original computer-generated poster that integrates key facts about one of the adolescent vaccines listed above. High school students also have the option to submit a video up to 30 seconds long instead of a poster.

In addition to accepting posters via mail, the contest is also accepting poster and video submissions electronically at www.protectmewith3.com/submit. If a student is selected as a finalist, they will be provided with a pre-stamped envelope to mail their original poster. The judges will then select the top three winners in each category.

“Now more than ever, it’s important to raise awareness for youth immunization. The Protect Me With 3+ contest provides schools with a collaborative platform to teach students about the vaccines they need to stay healthy while nurturing team building team skills,” said Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty, president and CEO, of the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey. “The contest is also an excellent opportunity for parents to encourage their children’s creativity and instill strong health habits.”

The submission deadline is Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries in the video and poster categories, and the winning entries will be showcased during various statewide immunization awareness activities.

Additionally, students who submit entries by Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, will be entered into random drawings to win prizes courtesy of Protect Me With 3+ event sponsors. For more information about Protect Me With 3+ sponsorship opportunities, visit www.protectmewith3.com/sponsors.

The top five finalists in each of the three categories will be posted on www.protectmewith3.com for public voting in March. The winners will then be announced and honored at an awards ceremony in May.

NJ teachers are encouraged to make the Protect Me With 3+ contest a class project. As an added incentive, prizes will be awarded to the classrooms with the most eligible submissions in each of the three categories. For more information on lesson plans and interactive materials for schools, visit www.protectmewith3.com/schools.

Information regarding eligibility, video and poster submission guidelines, and contest rules can be found at www.protectmewith3.com.

Somerset County Vocational & Technical Schools

On Wednesday, Sept. 8, Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) began the first day of the 2021-2022 school year, welcoming all students back into the buildings for in-person instruction.

Continuing with, and enhancing upon, the changes from last year, SCVTHS has developed and prioritized cleaning and sanitizing procedures to reduce the spread of contagions. Each day, using EPA registered disinfectants, and EPA protocols, the buildings will be cleaned and disinfected. Plexiglas has been installed in classrooms throughout the school’s campus for improved student and staff safety. Additionally, high-use areas have been identified for extra cleanings. Hand sanitizer has been distributed to each classroom and sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the buildings. Face coverings or masks and adhering to the social distancing guidelines are mandatory for all students and staff.

SCVTHS has updated and installed additional signage throughout the campus to create further awareness of social distancing requirements. “One Way” signs have been placed on the hallway floors and posters have been posted throughout campus. Parents and guardians have been asked to adhere to the Governor’s advisories and attest daily to student temperature and symptom checks.

SCVTHS will continue to implement practices and protocols informed by experts. Practices will be informed by up-to-date information from the Governor’s office, NJ Department of Education, NJ Department of Health, the district’s local health officers, and the district’s medical professionals. The district’s original Restart and Recovery Plan addresses continuity of services by providing staff and students with devices (and WiFi hotspots, when needed) to provide access to instruction when remote instruction is deemed necessary. Staff, including counselors and nurses, have made accommodations so that services can be provided to both virtual and in-person students.  Social, emotional, mental health, and other needs, are being addressed through counseling by internal and external mental health clinicians.

Additional details relating to the safety precautions and cleaning procedures taking place at Somerset County Vocational & Technical Schools can be found in the 2021-22 SCVTS Safe Reopening Plan, the 2021-2022 Road Forward Plan/School-Related Closure Preparedness Plan, and the Restart & Recovery Plan. These documents can be found on the district’s website at www.scvths.org.

READ: The good things students are doing in Central Jersey and beyond

READ: Education news from around the region

READ: College Connection: Advice from local expert columnist

Union Catholic Regional High School

Union Catholic’s Marcella Oliviero, who lives in Springfield, was recently named the Editor-In-Chief of The Prophet, UC’s student-run on-line magazine. and Adela Rakoski, who lives in Cranford, was named the Assistant Editor. 

Union County College

On Wednesday, Sept. 29, Union County College hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of a massive renovation of the Roy W. Smith Theater on the Cranford campus. The college’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin welcomed guests and noted how transformative this improved and modernized space will be for students. Present for the ceremony were Union County Commissioners Christopher Hudak, Bette Jane Kowalski, and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Union County College Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel, and Union County College Board of Board of Governors Chair Mary M. Zimmermann and Vice Chair Lawrence D. Bashe. After the ceremonial ribbon cutting, theater students entertained attendees with a brief performance in the new space. 

The comprehensive renovation of the theater included: complete redesign, new interior finishes and seating, new state of the art lighting upgrades, acoustical improvements, new IT, and audio-visual equipment. The theater now includes maple finish walls and ceiling panels, acoustical wall panels at the rear wall for reverberation control, LED lighting, new retractable theatrical lighting, and allocated ADA seating. The 10-month renovation began in June 2020 and was substantially completed in April 2021.

This project was made possible thanks to the Union County Board of County Commissioners’ approval of the college’s request for funding via the state’s Chapter 12 program.

“Our students deserve a space where they can perform and learn. This new multiuse venue will allow our theater arts majors to practice their craft with pride. The updated and modern space will allow the College to host speakers and events for the benefit of our students to enhance their educational experience,” said Union’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

For more information about Union County College, including the theater program, visit www.ucc.edu.

Also: From Monday, Sept. 27, through Friday, Oct. 1, a team of students from Union County College was invited to participate in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program (NCAS). Union students were part of a new cohort of only 84 students nationwide chosen for this engineering design competition after a selection process. Other institutions who had students invited to participate in the second NASA Career Simulation included: Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Cypress College, Essex County College, Lone Star College, Norwalk College, and Southwestern College.

During the week, students assumed the role of NASA employees and engaged in authentic learning by building an Autonomous Pop-Up Flat Folding Explorer Robots (A-PUFFERs), which is a rover to explore the moon’s terrain. Before starting their “new jobs” scholars applied for positions on a team and discovered which role they would assume for the week. By working together in their new roles, the students built a device to navigate over the lunar surface and had to develop a plan to communicate their discoveries.

The 11 Union students who participated in the program were Mark Farag, Charles Ibitamuno, Bryan Quintero, and Angel Soto Veras, all of Elizabeth; Jenny Altamirano and Luana Rampelotti, both of Hillside; Thomas Christo of Fanwood; George Stephens of Kenilworth; Ronald Canales of Plainfield; Christopher Solis of Springfield; and Diego Gomez of Union.

“We are so proud of our team of students who were chosen to participate in the NCAS program. The enthusiasm and excitement of the students has caused the entire STEM Division to have a new sense of commitment to our students,” said Union County College Interim Dean of STEM William Dunscombe.

Student and School news appears on Saturdays. Email: cnmetro@mycentraljersey.com

Carolyn Sampson is Executive Office Assistant for the Courier News, The Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com, and handles the weekly Student News page. 

The rules of replying:

• Be respectful. This is a space for friendly local discussions. No racist, discriminatory, vulgar or threatening language will be tolerated.
• Be transparent. Use your real name, and back up your claims.
• Keep it local and relevant. Make sure your replies stay on topic.
• Review the Patch Community Guidelines.

Reply to this articleReply

The rules of replying:

• Be respectful. This is a space for friendly local discussions. No racist, discriminatory, vulgar or threatening language will be tolerated.
• Be transparent. Use your real name, and back up your claims.
• Keep it local and relevant. Make sure your replies stay on topic.
• Review the Patch Community Guidelines.

Reply to this articleReply

The rules of replying:

• Be respectful. This is a space for friendly local discussions. No racist, discriminatory, vulgar or threatening language will be tolerated.
• Be transparent. Use your real name, and back up your claims.
• Keep it local and relevant. Make sure your replies stay on topic.
• Review the Patch Community Guidelines.

Reply to this articleReply

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Biden administration’s “border czar,” sampled goods at a New Jersey bakery on Friday — while other White House officials met with their Mexican counterparts in a bid to get a handle on the ongoing illegal immigration crisis.

Harris was in the Garden State to promote President Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending bill and push COVID-19 vaccinations when she made the pit stop in Newark.

The president tapped Harris on March 24 to be the point person on the administration’s talks with Mexico and Central American countries about slowing the tide of illegal immigrants crossing the US border.

“When she speaks, she speaks for me,” Biden said at the time. “Doesn’t have to check with me. She knows what she’s doing, and I hope we can move this along.”

However, with the exception of a rocky visit to Mexico and Guatemala in early June and a brief trip to El Paso at the end of the same month, Harris has largely avoided the issue in public — leaving Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as the face of the administration’s immigration policies.

Mayorkas, and Attorney General Merrick Garland, were among the group of high-level US officials led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken who met with Mexican officials Friday.

Blinken met with that country’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, before leading the rest of the delegation in a pow-wow with other Mexican officials, led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard.

Blinken, speaking at a news conference with Ebrard, called the discussions “productive” and explained that the group had focused on three main issues related to the US, Mexico and their shared border. Those issues were: The health and safety of each country’s citizens; combatting the trafficking of drugs, arms and humans; and collaborating on stopping money laundering and working together to investigate and prosecute organized criminal activity.

The secretary of state said he wanted the US and Mexico to work together at not only “modernizing law enforcement, but also strengthening public health, the rule of law and broad-based economic opportunity.”

The visit came as the Washington Examiner reported that US officials are tracking roughly 20,000 Haitian migrants who have gathered in Colombia and are believed to be preparing to dash for the border.

Even in New Jersey, Harris couldn’t escape the immigration issue entirely.

Approximately 30 illegal immigrants and students demonstrated outside the child care center Harris visited in Little Falls, where she pushed the massive social spending bill backed by the White House and left-wing Democrats, NJ.com reported.

The protesters called for the VP to support a path to citizenship in the proposed legislation. A pair of attempts by Senate Democrats to add such language have been rejected by the chamber’s parliamentarian.

“As an essential health care worker during the pandemic, I put my life at risk every day to help keep a health clinic open,” protest organizer Mariana Velasquez told the outlet. “But I fear being separated from my children. New Jersey is my home.”

After leaving the child care center, Harris toured a COVID-19 vaccination site at Essex County College before stopping at Tonnie’s Minis bake shop at the suggestion of Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a former mayor of Newark.

According to NJ.com, Harris bought some red velvet cupcakes and slices of carrot cake, pineapple coconut cake, and sponge cake with chocolate icing. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy opted to go with four cupcakes, while noted vegan Booker opted not to indulge.

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In 1919, the pop-up toaster and shortwave radio had just been invented; the name Dorothy was included among the most popular choices for baby girls; the Treaty of Versailles was signed in Paris ending World War I; the first rotary-dial telephone was introduced to the American public; the 18th Amendment authorizing Prohibition went into effect; the U.S. Congress approved the 19th Amendment guaranteeing suffrage to women; and, on Oct. 7 of that same year, Dorothy Turner was born in Crawfordville, Ga., to Bishop and Luella Turner. 

Fast-forward 100 years to Maplewood, October 2019, when family, friends and local officials, amid a host of legislative proclamations, gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of Dorothy Turner Pownes, just missing the 2020 COVID pandemic shutdown. Fast-forward again to Oct. 7, 2021, when Pownes turned 102 years young.

As a child, Pownes relocated to Pittsburgh, Pa., circa 1923, upon her father’s graduation from Morehouse College. He was hired to open the National Benefit Insurance Agency, a proud beacon of black achievement and enterprise in the early decades of the 20th century, despite the harsh constraints of Jim Crow. Pownes would graduate from Schenley High School, and later work for the Bell Telephone Co. In 1944, she answered an ad and passed the federal exam for a position at the Office of Dependency Benefits, relocating to New Jersey and settling in South Orange. 

Soon after, she met the love of her life and future husband, Jacob Pownes. Following his call to service in World War II, Dorothy and Jacob Pownes were married in South Orange on Oct. 14, 1945, by the Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan, former minister of First Baptist Church in South Orange; founder of Opportunities Industrialization Centers in Philadelphia, Pa.; and a leader in the dismantling of South Africa’s system of Apartheid. The Pownes and their son, Jeffrey, resided in their first home on Second Street before moving to Maplewood in 1972, sharing many happy memories in the twin towns. Dorothy Pownes was also a member of Union Baptist Church in Orange, briefly, before returning to her home church, First Baptist Church in South Orange. 

At 102, Dorothy Pownes continues to be a trailblazer and living legend, committed to service, civil rights, and political and community activism. Highlights of her life include: being the first black saleswoman at Kresge department store; employment by the RCA Complaint Office and Travelers Insurance; successful career with the Essex County Welfare Board, from where she retired as a supervisor in 1987, during which time she was recognized by the Essex County freeholders as an “outstanding employee”; being a Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and holding a range of offices with the Womens’ Guild; being co-founder and leader in the establishment the Girl Scouts Brownie troops at First Baptist in the 1950s; membership and leadership with national and international organizations, such as The Church Women United, serving as president from 1990 until recently, and organizer of the World Day of Prayer, World Community Day and World Friendship Day, and recipient of the Most Valiant Woman of the Year Award; being a charter member and co-founder of the South Orange Fair Housing Association and the South Orange Civic Organization, both precursors to the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race; being a lifelong member of the NAACP; participation in voter rights activism, including benign the first black volunteer on the Board of Elections; being the subject of a Yale University doctoral dissertation on social justice in diverse communities; and being named the 2009 Living Legend in honor of the 120th anniversary of FBCSO. 

Dorothy Pownes, affectionately called “Aunt Dotty,” recently received centenarian recognition on a jar of Smuckers strawberry jam. Even at age 102, Dorothy Pownes remains a role model; culture keeper; civil rights advocate; avid viewer of “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune”; daily reader of three newspapers; loving matriarch; vibrant conversationalist; and a beloved living legacy to more than five generations of immediate and extended family members and friends.

  First Baptist Church of South Orange

Welcome to POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration. With Allie Bice.

Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Tina

“Her portfolio is trash.”

That’s what BAKARI SELLERS, one of the most public and vocal defenders of Vice President KAMALA HARRIS, thinks of the slate of policy issues she’s been assigned to address.

Speaking as part of a panel for Politics & Prose earlier this week moderated by theGrio’s APRIL RYAN, Sellers knocked President JOE BIDEN for not utilizing Harris properly, and for giving her “a portfolio that’s not meant for [her] to succeed.”

That portfolio is full of issues that, given the political realities, are difficult to tackle — the two biggest being shoring up federal voting rights (which she asked for) and curtailing the number of immigrants coming to the southern border from Northern Triangle countries by fixing the root causes of migration. The fact that one of Harris’ most public allies was saying, essentially, that Biden saddled her with it raises the obvious question: Was he sanctioned to do so?

In an interview, Sellers was very clear his comments weren’t a form of backdoor complaining from the VP’s office, and emphasized that he hadn’t talked to her office before he made them.

“My only point was if you’re going to task her with voting rights, then the president needs to be passionate in his push to narrow the filibuster,” Sellers said. “The work she’s doing on it is amazing. No doubt. But the ultimate success comes from the president actually taking on the very real issue of the filibuster.”

West Wing Playbook asked around to see if Sellers’ comments were causing any friction internally. They’re not … for now. “The Vice President appreciates the faith the President has in her and her ability to tackle tough assignments,” Harris’ Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told POLITICO.

Still, as far as D.C. parlance goes, it’s rare for a surrogate to take such complaints public. Indeed, we had trouble thinking of a past time when such a prominent ally of a sitting Vice President openly complained about the work the president had handed him.

But Sellers does love to speak his mind. He is one of the most recognizable Democratic pundits on TV. In 2006, he became the youngest African American elected official in the country as a member of the South Carolina legislature. During the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, his much sought after endorsement went to Harris. He was later chosen as a co-chair for the Harris campaign and continues to be one of her most vocal defenders.

Sellers says his frustration lies in what he sees as a larger under-utilization of Harris as the administration looks to sell its “Build Back Better” agenda — trillions of dollars worth of spending on infrastructure and domestic programs packaged in two pieces of legislation currently being debated in Congress.

A White House official pushed back on Sellers’ characterization of Harris’ portfolio as quixotic. “The most pressing issues confronting our country are what make it to the vice president and the president. The easy things don’t make it there,” they said. “Vice President Harris is taking on pressing issues no different than the vice presidents before her.”

And aides note that the vice president has been on the road multiple times promoting aspects of the two bills. On Friday, Harris was in New Jersey pitching the child care provisions that are expected to be included in the Democrat-only bill the party is looking to pass via budget reconciliation. “Our nation is strongest when everyone is able to participate. This is fundamentally what the issue is about when it comes to working parents,” Harris said during a roundtable.

On voting rights, Harris has spent months conducting meetings with key stakeholders and amplifying the work of groups like the Texas Democrats who came to D.C. to delay a vote on a restrictive state law. But with almost zero appetite from Senate Republicans to support federal voting rights legislation, it’s not going anywhere unless the chamber’s 50 Democrats decide to overhaul filibuster rules. And that’s not happening, at least anytime soon.

After Sellers’ “trash” comment went public, he received some blowback from Harris fans on Twitter who were concerned he wasn’t helping her cause. But he says he’s not going to stop. “People want to punish me for being critical or being opinionated but I don’t care,” Sellers said.

“One of the things the vice president has done is be a team player. I know those questions were always looming when she was nominated [as Biden’s vice president] but she’s been nothing but a team player. My advocacy is that it goes both ways,” Sellers said

PROGRAMMING NOTE: West Wing Playbook will not publish on Monday Oct. 11. We’ll be back on our normal schedule on Tuesday Oct. 12. We hope absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Do you work in the Biden administration? Are you in touch with the White House? Are you JEANNIE RANGEL, associate director of the social secretary?

We want to hear from you — and we’ll keep you anonymous: [email protected].

Or if you want to stay really anonymous send us a tip through SecureDrop, Signal, Telegram, or Whatsapp here.

This one is courtesy of CHARLES BROLL — which president had the most children?

(Answer at the bottom.)

Every Friday, we’ll feature a cartoon of the week — this one is courtesy of ROB ROGERS. Our very own MATT WUERKER also publishes a selection of cartoons from all over the country. View the cartoon carousel here.

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: Chief of staff RON KLAIN and rapid response director MIKE GWIN both shared NEIL IRWIN’s story from The New York Times with the sunny headline, “The New Jobs Numbers Are Pretty Good, Actually,” and a lede that read, “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

Klain took out this part of the story: “The story of the economy in the second half of 2021 remains one of steady expansion … more rapid than other recent recoveries. It is being held back by supply constraints and … the Delta variant. But the direction is clear, consistent and positive.”

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: The New York Times’ BEN CASSELMAN’s assessment of the jobs numbers, which was not quite so optimistic. “The latest coronavirus wave led to a second straight month of disappointing job growth in September, as Americans avoided restaurants and travel and were reluctant to rejoin the work force,” went his lede.

The White House tried to tout the lower unemployment rate of 4.8 percent but Casselman reported “that was partly a result of people leaving the labor force entirely — a sign that public health fears and other disruptions from Covid are still keeping people from looking for work.”

WEDDING BELLS: Deputy Press Secretary CHRIS MEAGHER had to wear a “Groom To Be” sash at the press briefing today ahead of his wedding next weekend.

CALLISTA GINGRICH’S REPLACEMENT — Biden, the second Catholic president in U.S. history, will nominate former Indiana Democratic Sen. JOE DONNELLY to be his ambassador to the Vatican. Donnelly was one of five new ambassador nominees the White House announced this afternoon.

EPA HIRE: ROD SNYDER, president of Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, has been appointed to serve as a senior adviser for agriculture under EPA administrator MICHAEL REGAN, Snyder announced. Snyder’s company promoted sustainability for commodity crop farms.

TRUMP RECORDS FAIR GAME — Biden will not invoke executive privilege to shield an initial set of records from DONALD TRUMP’s White House that’s being sought by congressional investigators probing the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, NICHOLAS WU, KYLE CHENEY and BETSY WOODRUFF SWAN report.

“After my consultations with the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice, President Biden has determined than an assertion of executive privilege is not in the best interests of the United States, and therefore is not justified as to any of the Documents,” White House Counsel DANA REMUS wrote in a letter to Archivist of the United States DAVID FERRIERO.

Biden’s uneven jobs recovery underscored by labor report (POLITICO’s Rebecca Rainey and Megan Cassella)

Is Biden’s legislative agenda popular? Yes but Democrats may not be (Vox’s Andrew Prokop)

Latino members of Biden’s Cabinet defend policies on Covid, immigration (NBC’s Suzanne Gamboa)

Biden signed the HAVANA Act of 2021 and K-12 Cybersecurity Act of 2021 into law this morning before delivering remarks on the latest jobs report.

He later joined national climate adviser GINA McCARTHY, Interior Secretary DEB HAALAND and Council on Environmental Quality Chair BRENDA MALLORY to speak about the administration’s initiative to restore national monuments and conservation areas in Utah and New England.

He heads to Wilmington, Del. this evening, where he’ll spend the weekend.

She was in Newark, N.J., where she participated in a roundtable conversation on child care at the Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University. She also toured a vaccination site at Essex County College and made an unscheduled stop with Gov. PHIL MURPHY and Sen. CORY BOOKER at Tommie’s Minis, a cake and cupcake shop in Newark, where she bought some red velvet cupcakes and slices of carrot. pineapple coconut, and sponge cake with chocolate icing. Harris returned to D.C. later in the afternoon.

With three kids, White House deputy chief of staff JEN O’MALLEY DILLON (aka JOD) not only handles presidential matters, but also things like helping her daughters earn the latest Girl Scout badge.

But this year’s Girl Scout cookie season caught her off guard: “I hadn’t realized you have to sell a certain amount of cookies in order for them to get a badge — you have to sell something like 150 boxes to get a badge,” she told Insider’s ADAM WREN in September.

JOD admitted that White House chief of staff RON KLAIN came to the rescue.

“Later that day, Ron sent me a note on his personal email and asked for the girls’ link, because he had overheard the conversation and wanted to make sure to buy cookies,” she said.

Klain pressed to help even more, telling her: “You have two daughters, you have to send me the other one, too. I have to buy cookies from both girls.”

Thin Mints or bust!

JOHN TYLER fathered the most children — 15 kids over two marriages.

AND A CALL OUT — A big thanks to Charles (again!) for sending over this question! Do you have a harder trivia question about the presidency? Send us your best one and we may use it: [email protected].

We want your trivia, but we also want your feedback. What should we be covering in this newsletter that we’re not? What are we getting wrong? Please let us know.

Edited by Emily Cadei