MORRIS COUNTY — Center for Evaluation and Counseling, Inc. receives grant from Investors Foundation to assist with the cost of providing telehealth services to the children and families they serve in the community.

Center for Evaluation and Counseling, Inc. (CEC) received a $1,000 grant from Investors Foundation, presented to CEC’s Executive Director, Margaret Pittaluga, at CEC’s Sparta office by Alp Akturk, Assistant Vice President at Investors Bank.

During these unprecedented times, CEC has set up telehealth to provide services virtually. The grant will help support the cost of equipment and platforms to maintain the program. Given the current restrictions on families in New Jersey as a result of the public health crisis, telehealth has become the new means to deliver our services. Virtual therapy and other services allow CEC to continue supporting the families they serve. “We are grateful to Investors Bank and Investors Foundation for recognizing the needs we face in serving our community.”

The Center for Evaluation and Counseling is a non-profit mental health agency with an innovative approach and unmatched results. We are advocates for children. We are a community of helping hands, rebuilding the lives of children who have suffered abuse and neglect. Our mission is to provide mental health services to individuals and families in need of a supportive and safe place, free from stigmas, to promote healing and a sense of personal well-being, and to create positive change. We are the experts that offer an innovative professional team to help solves problem in a unique way. To learn more about CEC, please visit our website by clicking here or follow the agency on Facebook – Center for Evaluation and Counseling, Inc., or on Instagram @cecparsippanyandsparta.

About Investors Bank
Investors Bank, headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, is a full-service community bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With over $27 billion in assets and a network of more than 150 retail branches, Investors Bank delivers personalized services and products tailored to the needs of its customers. Investors Bank’s services include complete deposit, loan, and cash management products for consumers and businesses. Investors Bank. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

About the Investors Foundation
Investors Bank created the Investors Foundation in 2005 to support the communities Investors Bank serves. Investors Foundation supports initiatives in the arts, youth development, health and human services, education, and affordable housing. The Investors Foundation works to improve the lives of its neighbors and communities across the bank’s footprint.

For more information click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblywoman Aura Dunn introduced legislation to extend the time to renew cosmetology and hairstyling licenses due to the impact the coronavirus has had on the industry.

“Hairstylists and cosmetologists are already struggling to work under the restrictions to their business caused by the coronavirus,” said Dunn (R-Morris). “Other licenses that expired during this public health crisis have been granted extensions and this industry should be given the same opportunity.”

Dunn’s bill (A4868) would extend the time to renew a license through the state Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling up to four months after the expiration of the public health emergency. Additionally, the renewal fee would be waived. The board requires that cosmetologists and hairstylists renew their licenses every two years.

“I am extremely grateful for Aura Dunn’s introduction of this bill. As a New Jersey salon owner for over 30 years, the shutdown devastated our industry in an unprecedented way,” said Lisa Luciano, owner of Salon Luce in Boonton. “The state board of cosmetology’s expectation that licenses be renewed during the shutdown demonstrates that they gave no thought to the individuals and businesses who were critically affected. This bill will make some headway in remedying that oversight by the state board.”

Gov. Phil Murphy forced more than 10,000 hair salons and barbershops to close between March 19 and June 22 affecting almost 80,000 licensed professionals.

“These employees lost months of wages due to shutdowns and after being permitted to reopen in June, they could only serve a few clients at a time because of capacity limits,” explained Dunn. “We need to allow those whose licenses have expired during the coronavirus to continue to work and earn money.”

In September, graduates of cosmetology schools who have been working under temporary permits were granted a one-year extension because of the suspension of practical examinations during the pandemic.

Dunn’s bill has been referred to the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee.

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS), which provides blood for local patients, is looking for a few good volunteers. The blood drive volunteer is an integral member of the team whose tasks include assisting donors with registration and/or at the refreshment area.

No medical background necessary. Volunteers should be outgoing to provide friendly customer service and be able to perform tasks as needed. Must have transportation.  All training is provided including additional precautions for the safety of our team and blood donors.

For additional information call or text Sharon Zetts, Manager, NJBS Volunteer Services at (732) 850-8906, Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To apply online as a blood drive volunteer click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio welcomed word that the United States Department of Justice is actively investigating the COVID tragedies inside state-run veterans’ homes, and emphasized the need for the Senate to conduct its own inquiry.

According to published reports, in announcing the launch of a civil rights investigation the feds cited the state’s lack of cooperation with an earlier analysis and concerns about the quality of care at veterans’ facilities.

“It is unfortunate that it has come down to this, that the federal government is looking into the state’s troubling incompetency. At least somebody is listening,” said Pennacchio. “Along with colleagues in the Senate Republican Caucus, I have been saying all along that the Administration’s lack of transparency was troubling and unacceptable. We now know that they were not forthcoming with federal investigators.

“I am pleased that it appears the feds were listening when we called for their involvement in letters back in June and again on September 3, but this is no substitute for the Senate Select Committee with subpoena power we have been calling for since May. These are state-run nursing homes, and state policy put the residents and healthcare workers at risk,” Pennacchio said.

Reliable estimates, and numbers cited by the DOJ in announcing the investigation, show that almost 200 residents died from COVID at two veterans’ homes operated by the New Jersey.

“One of every three residents in the homes in Paramus and the Menlo Park facility in Edison lost their lives,” Pennacchio said. “Yet the Democrats in Trenton have consistently circled the wagons to protect the administration. Republican efforts to convene a select committee to review the impact of state policy and the decisions that may have contributed to the loss of life have been stymied at every turn as the whitewash continues.”

On Tuesday, it was revealed that another resident at the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home has tested positive for the virus. Sixty residents are awaiting results from their tests, according to NorthJersey.com.

In the first wave of COVID, 89 residents died at this one facility, and more than 200 residents and workers were infected.

“This is what we wanted to avoid, and if the Senate convened our committee in May when we first called for it, I am convinced nursing homes would be better prepared for new cases this winter,” Pennacchio said. “It is imperative that we hear from testimony from the insiders who know where the system failed, and know who failed the system.

“Every week that passes without a Senate investigation only makes it more difficult to prevent large-scale loss of life in our veterans’ homes and in nursing homes across the state where more than 7,100 vulnerable seniors were lost,” said Pennacchio.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Clerk Ann F. Grossi, Esq. advises that “The Morris County Clerk’s Office has received many calls from voters intending to cast their vote on a voting machine on Election Day.” This message clarifies what to expect at the polling location.

On August 14, 2020, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 177, stipulating that the 2020 General Election be conducted exclusively by mail-in-ballot, which included additional stipulations on how the election will be run.

Based upon this Executive Order, a limited number of polling locations will be open on Election Day. Each polling location will house an American with Disabilities compliant audio voting device. “This means that only voters having a qualifying disability, such as impaired vision, and/or conditions that affect a voters’ ability to write and fill out a ballot, etc., will qualify to vote on the machine. All other voters will not qualify,” said Clerk Grossi.

Voters who choose to vote at their polling location and do not qualify to vote on the voting mechanism may do so in the following ways:

1. Voters may personally deposit their completed mail-in-ballot package at their polling location. (May not deliver others.)

2. Voters who do not bring their completed mail-in ballot package with them to the polling location, may vote on a paper Provisional Ballot.

3. Provisional Ballots are counted after all vote by mail ballots are counted as they must be verified and checked against mail-in ballots received by the Board of Elections.

The Board of Elections is a separate and independent agency from the County Clerk’s Office responsible for receiving, verifying, and counting all paper ballots, polling locations, poll workers, and voting machines.

Click here or visit the Facebook page facebook.com/morriscountyclerk and Twitter account twitter.com/morrisctyclerk for updates and frequently asked questions pertaining to the 2020 General Election.