MORRIS COUNTY — On Monday Governor Phil Murphy announced that we should expect to see children wearing masks at school in the fall. Assemblyman Brian Bergen called the announcement a “joke.”

In a session of the state Assembly on May 20, Bergen put Democrats on notice to start doing their jobs and stop acting as the governor’s “lapdog.”

“I think the governor is dreaming if he plans to have the unilateral authority to mask our children in schools this fall,” said Bergen (R-Morris). “If he does have that much authority, and our state Legislature is still sitting on their hands, I would be shocked. I mean, how long can Democrats in the legislature tolerate being completely irrelevant?”

Bergen introduced legislation to rein in the governor’s executive order authority. His bill (A4147) would require legislative oversight and would force all executive orders to expire after 14 days without an extension granted by the Legislature. It has been brought up for votes three times in the Assembly and twice in the Senate, each time voted down by the Democrats.

“Let’s be clear, if the governor is still acting unilaterally in the fall, then there is no one else to blame besides the Assembly and Senate Democrats. More specifically, the leadership in both houses.”

Bergen has also indicated he is tired of those responsible hiding behind their party.

“It’s time we name the individuals who are making these bad decisions and hold them directly accountable. Enough of the generalizations. We know who they are and we need to hold their feet to the fire at every opportunity.”

MORRIS COUNTY — The announcement that masks will not be required indoors comes about a week after Murphy rejected similar mask guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, saying he wanted “more time on the clock” for people to get vaccinated.

Businesses can still require masks:

-Murphy said businesses and entities overseeing indoor spaces may continue to require face masks for employees, customers, and/or guests

Masks will also still be required in:

-Health care settings, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters

-On airplanes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation

-In transportation hubs such as airports and stations

-Public-facing state offices, such as NJ MVC agencies

-Worksites that are closed to the public, including warehousing and manufacturing facilities

-Child care centers and facilities

Those who are not fully vaccinated are still “strongly encouraged” to follow CDC guidance and wear a face mask in any indoor setting.

“Please be responsible and do the right thing – for your own safety and your community’s safety,” Murphy said.

Also on Friday, the state is lifting the requirement for maintaining six feet at all indoor and outdoor businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, gyms, and casinos.

Also on Friday, May 28:

-Requirement for maintaining six feet of social distancing in indoor and outdoor settings will be lifted, but businesses can still require social distancing if they choose

-Prohibition on dance floors at bars and restaurants will be lifted

-Prohibition on ordering and eating/drinking while standing at bars and restaurants will be lifted

Effective June 4:

-State will remove all indoor gathering limits.

-State will also lift the 30% limit on large indoor venues with a fixed seating capacity of 1,000 or greater.

“The steps we’ve announced today are the clearest signs of our commitment to carefully and deliberately reopening our state,” Murphy said. “We continue to trend in the right direction with every indicator and our vaccination numbers have increased dramatically over the last two weeks.”

-Youth summer camps

-Public, private, or parochial preschool program premises

-Elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools

Nearly 4.1 million New Jersey residents have been vaccinated. That’s nearly half of the state’s population.

MORRIS COUNTY — In honor of Veteran’s Appreciation Month, Jersey 1st has partnered with Backpacks for Life to host a “virtual” supplies drive for veterans in need. “We are thrilled to support the mission of Backpacks for life and help Veterans as they transition from military life to civilian life. We learned about the difficulties that veterans face today- and especially throughout the pandemic from Backpacks for life Founders Alexa Modero and Brett D’Alessandro when they joined us Jersey 1st TV and shared their mission. We are honored to help our veterans- one backpack at a time” said Rosemary Becchi, President and Founder of Jersey 1st.

See the full Jersey 1st / Backpacks for life interview by clicking here.

Backpack For Life’s Mission is to provide unique and personalized support to homeless and at-risk veterans currently struggling to reintegrate into civilian life. Whether it’s supplying a backpack filled with daily essentials or providing guidance through their mentorship program, there is nothing they won’t do for our veterans, military spouses, and family members.

The supplies drive will run through the end of May. All goods ordered online will be delivered to Backpacks For Life after the drive ends.

Jersey 1st is a non-profit committed to identifying, educating, and advocating for economic and social policies that put the interests of New Jersey families and businesses first.

For more information on Backpacks for Life click here.

Click here to donate to the drive click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — An armed Wharton man was arrested Saturday in Morris Township on weapons and aggravated assault charges, stemming from alleged incidents this month in Dover and Rockaway Township, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Steven Retana, 21, had a handgun when he was apprehended at a residence on Lindsley Drive, according to Acting Prosecutor Robert Carroll.

Retana was apprehended on Saturday, May 22, in Morris Township after an investigation into multiple incidents involving the use and possession of a handgun. The initial investigation started after a report that Retana allegedly threatened and pointed a handgun at an individual in Dover on or about May 10. Authorities were once again investigating Retana for a similar incident that occurred on the evening of May 21, in Rockaway Township. In this incident, Retana was again suspected of making threats and pointing a handgun at another person. At the time of his arrest, Retana was found to be in possession of a handgun. The defendant was apprehended on Saturday, May 22 at a residence on Lindsley Drive in Morris Township.

Retana was charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, two counts of Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose, two counts of Aggravated Assault, for allegedly pointing a firearm, and two counts of Terroristic Threats, along with additional counts of Certain Persons Not to Possess Firearms, all stemming from the May 10 and May 21 incidents. The defendant was transferred to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance.

Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation.  Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling and Deputy Surrogate Chris Luongo presented plaques to Caesar and Deanna DePaço in recognition of the DePaço’s generous donations, both personally and through their business Summit Nutritionals International, to the Police Unity Tour.

The DePaços are long-standing supporters of law enforcement, having donated dozens of police K-9s to departments throughout New Jersey, Florida, and elsewhere. In addition, the DePaço’s have donated beds, food, and other supplies in an effort to support law enforcement officers in their efforts to serve and protect the public.

Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling will be riding in the annual Police Unity Tour, currently scheduled to take place in October 2021 after being canceled last year and rescheduled from May to October 2021. Darling has publicly supported law enforcement for years and is a member of the 200 Club of Morris County and IAPSNJ (Italian American Police Society of NJ), and past contributor to the Blue Magazine and Blue Magazine Radio.

According to the Police Unity Tour website, in 1997, Florham Park Police Officer Patrick Montuore conceived of a four-day, 310 mile, bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington, DC to raise public awareness about law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, and to ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten. Montuore’s vision is now known as the Police Unity Tour. The secondary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial.

MORRIS COUNTY — With COVID-19 vaccination numbers increasing, coronavirus cases decreasing and indoor capacity restrictions set to be lifted on May 19, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn introduced a resolution urging the governor to reopen all Labor Department facilities to in-person services.

Labor Department offices and one-stop career centers have been closed for in-person business since last March when the first coronavirus public health emergency was issued.

“Even prior to the pandemic, the career centers have been operating with dated equipment and few caseworkers,” said Dunn (R-Morris). “The coronavirus was the unexpected crisis that made us realize that our unemployment system is inadequate, antiquated and failing to serve those most in need.”

Dunn’s resolution (AR253) also calls on the Labor Department to fully staff all public-facing offices at all times.

In March this year, Dunn visited a shuttered one-stop career center in Randolph.

“Speaking with a security guard, I learned that dozens of people come each day in hopes of receiving relief, only to be turned away,” said Dunn. “While we have all become more accustomed to virtual connectivity, this is not how I believe a bricks-and-mortar career center, a taxpayer-funded facility, should work.”

Since August 10 of last year, the state’s career centers moved all of the unemployment services online and over the phone.

“Virtual services may not be as accessible for elderly clients, low-income clients, or clients with disabilities,” added Dunn. “Additionally, there are still claimants who are being denied payments, because they cannot get in touch with someone at the Labor Department to rectify the issue. In-person services would solve a multitude of problems and promote more effective communication.”

Since last March, the state has received more than 2.1 million applications for unemployment benefits and distributed more than $28 billion to Garden State workers.

MORRIS COUNTY — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker presented a commendation to Detective Supervisor Spence Osaigbovo for his efforts in helping a distraught individual in crisis, on Monday, May 17.

On April 23, 2021, Detective Supervisor Osaigbovo was contacted by a distraught, former victim, who advised the officer that she had just ingested pills in an effort to take her own life. Detective Supervisor Osaigbovo talked to the individual over the phone, keeping her calm and obtaining crucial information to ascertain her location. Detective Supervisor Osaigbovo successfully determined her location and the appropriate agency was dispatched.

Detective Supervisor Osaigbovo is being commended for his commitment to duty, ability to remain calm, and recognize the importance of dealing with individuals with mental health issues.

Acting Prosecutor Carroll said, “We commend Det. Supervisor Osaigbovo for literally preserving the life of a person in need under very challenging circumstances. His effort and skill in continuing his life-saving dialogue with the subject yet keeping his focus on identifying the location where help could be sent is an outstanding example of excellence in policing.”