MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 219, which increases indoor capacity limits from 25 percent to 35 percent for several businesses, including food and beverage establishments and entertainment and recreational businesses, effective Friday, February 5 at 8:00 a.m.

The Executive Order also lifts the 10:00 p.m. curfew for in-person indoor restaurant service, however, local officials may continue to regulate the hours of operation of indoor restaurant service and indoor operations of other non-essential businesses after 8:00 p.m., as they have been able to since November 12. The prohibition on seating at indoor bar areas remains in effect.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, my Administration has used science, data, and facts to guide our decision-making process,” said Governor Murphy. “The downward trend of COVID-19 cases in our hospitals, coupled with the state’s decreasing rate of transmission, allows us to confidently expand our indoor capacity limits without leading to undue further stress on our health care systems. I am incredibly grateful to the millions of New Jerseyans who have been vigilant in practicing social distancing and wearing face coverings, and I urge everyone to continue their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

The Executive Order increases the following indoor capacity limits from 25 percent to 35 percent:

• Food or beverage establishments, including restaurants, cafeterias, private non-profit clubs, and food courts, with or without a liquor license, and bars;
• Entertainment and recreational businesses, including casinos and gyms; and
• Personal care services, including barbershops and nail salons.

The Order will also rescind the previous statewide requirement that food and beverage establishments close their indoor areas to in-person service between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. each day.  Casinos and any other retail, recreational, or entertainment business open to the public may also resume indoor food and beverage service during those hours.

Municipalities and counties will still be permitted to impose hours of operation restrictions on non-essential businesses between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. each day. This includes restrictions on dining in restaurants, although they cannot restrict takeout or delivery services. Municipalities and counties have been able to impose these hours restrictions since November 12 of last year, when Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 195.

Religious ceremonies or services, political activities, wedding ceremonies, funerals, and memorial services that are currently limited to 25 percent of the room’s capacity up to 150 people will now be limited to 35 percent of the room’s capacity up to 150 people. Performances at entertainment centers, including movie theaters and performing arts centers, and concert venues, will similarly be capped at 35 percent up to a maximum of 150 people.  Indoor meetings of addiction groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, will also be limited to 35 percent up to 150 individuals.

The Order will take effect on Friday, February 5 at 8:00 a.m.

A copy of Executive Order No. 219 can be downloaded by clicking here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County’s largest employer, Picatinny Arsenal, expects to receive a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines to innoculate employees next week, representatives said. “While we don’t yet know exactly when we will receive vaccinations, Picatinny Arsenal has received communications that indicate we will receive doses of vaccination sometime next week, representatives said.

There is approximately 6,000 personnel working at the arsenal, 5,000 of them civilians, 160 military, and about 1,000 contractors.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Retirees Education Association Philanthropic Fund, Inc. (MCREAPF) is offering six scholarships to Morris County residents who are attending and will be graduated from a public high school. This scholarship is for students who plan to pursue a career in education and who will be attending an approved four-year accredited college or university offering a Bachelor’s Degree with an education major.

The scholarships are for $2,000. The recipients will be sent $2,000. after the chairperson receives a copy of the first-semester transcript which indicates enrollment in the field of education and a successful academic record.

The deadline for the receipt of applications is Friday, April 30, 2021. Scholarship applications are available at your high school guidance office or click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — The state Education Department quietly sent a memo last week to school districts detailing its plans to require standardized tests this spring even while it could apply for a waiver from the Biden administration.

Assemblyman Brian Bergen says the state should think about the impact on students.

“There is a lot of agreement that the last thing students need is the stress of a standardized test,” said Bergen (R-Morris). “This school year has been extraordinarily difficult for children, parents, and teachers, and it shouldn’t become more difficult.”

Bergen has two school-age children and has seen first hand the challenges they are facing this year.

“The burden of this pandemic is falling squarely on the shoulders of our children,” continued Bergen. “We should be focused on getting them back to normalcy. That should include prioritizing teachers for vaccines and getting the school back to full-day in-person instruction. Standardized testing is an unnecessary distraction from the things that will work.”

The federal Education Department provided a waiver for testing last spring and has indicated that it will at least allow changes to states’ testing schedules.

“If New Jersey can apply for a waiver, Governor Murphy shouldn’t think twice about accepting it,” concluded Bergen.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris Habitat for Humanity announces its first-ever virtual Hearts & Hammers Gala on Thursday, February 25, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in lieu of an in-person event. The fun-filled evening will raise funds for the organization’s largest project to date — a 25-unit condominium complex planned for Randolph. Registration is free and open to the public.

Tune in to the live-streaming event to learn more about Morris Habitat’s mission to provide affordable housing as well as its impact on local communities. Attendees will hear directly from Habitat homeowner families who will share their stories, as well as honorees, volunteers, and sponsors who have helped make Morris Habitat’s life-changing work possible. The 16th annual celebration, hosted by Toni Yates of WABC-TV, will also feature new construction projects, plans for the future, prize giveaways, and ways people can get involved–even during the pandemic.

“This has been a very challenging year, and the pandemic has put a spotlight on just how important safe, decent and affordable housing really is,” said Morris Habitat for Humanity CEO, Blair Schleicher Wilson. “While we would rather be gathering in person, the virtual gala will allow people to help build homes without ever leaving home.”

Corporate sponsors are stepping up to lend support to Morris Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.  Major corporate sponsors to date include GAF, Bayer, Valley Bank, Lakeland Bank, and Schindler.

To learn more, register, or sponsor the virtual gala, click here or contact Stephanie Buonarota at (973) 349-7612.

Morris Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization committed to building homes, communities, and hope. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Morris Habitat builds new homes and provides home repair services to income-eligible families in Morris and Middlesex Counties as well as Fanwood, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Green Brook, North Plainfield, and Watchung. Since 1985, Morris Habitat has served more than 650 households through homeownership opportunities, home preservation, and international home building programs. Proceeds from the ReStore have helped to fund construction while diverting almost 5,800 tons of useable material from local landfills.  For more information click here or call (973) 891-1934.

MORRIS COUNTY — Superior Court Judge Berdote Byrne has ruled in favor of the Morris County Republican Committee (MCRC).