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Hanover Township Collects 5,000 Pounds of Food to Donate to Interfaith Food Pantry

By
Frank Cahill
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HANOVER TOWNSHIP —The Township wants to take this opportunity to thank all of our residents and members of the public who showed a tremendous outpouring of love and support for those in need by participating in the Saturday, May 9 food drive.

A total of 5,000 pounds of perishable and non-perishable food items were collected and delivered to the Interfaith Food Pantry include monetary donations. We could not have done this without your generosity and support.

Team Hanover Thank You As We Are All In It Together!

If you could not come on Saturday, the Township has a bin in the vestibule of the Municipal Building to accept additional donations of non-perishable items.

Citing Nursing Home Deaths, Pennacchio Renews Call for Senate Select Oversight Committee on Pandemic

By
Frank Cahill
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Senator Joseph Pennacchio. File Photo

MORRIS COUNTY — Recent reports show that 50 percent of all New Jersey COVID-19 deaths have occurred in the state’s long-term care facilities, which has prompted New Jersey State Senator Joe Pennacchio to once again call for an immediate investigation by a Senate Select Oversight Committee.

“We have learned that 4,800 poor souls lost their lives in New Jersey’s long-term care facilities,” said Senator Pennacchio (R-26).  “These facilities fall under the direct regulatory oversight of the State of New Jersey’s Department of Health.  It makes no sense to order those facilities to accept all patients, regardless of whether they were COVID-19 infected, and impose a ban on virus testing on patients entering those facilities, yet the department did exactly that. Ultimately, it wound up adding to the devastation these long-term nursing homes have experienced.”

The Senator today introduced a resolution that would establish a bipartisan Senate Select Committee on the Executive Branch’s Response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We must do our due diligence as elected state representatives to question and evaluate the Administration’s response, and we must do it immediately,” emphasized Pennacchio.

The bipartisan committee, with six members from the Senate, would investigate the cause and effects of the pandemic on New Jersey’s people and its economy, and the administration’s handling of those events. Committee would develop strategies to improve state response to future outbreaks and other statewide emergencies.

“I stand ready to contribute to a Senate Select Oversight Committee and suggest we begin as soon as possible,” said Pennacchio, citing the United States Senate, and the Governor’s daily briefings as exampled of elected officials be able to meet during the crisis.”

This weekend, NJ.com published a piece citing the state’s COVID-19 dashboard that indicated 4,825 of the State’s fatalities occurred in nursing homes, nearly 50% of the total deaths statewide.

New Jersey’s long-term care facilities are home to 61,000 vulnerable seniors, or 0.67 percent of the state’s 9 million population, yet they account for half of New Jersey’s coronavirus deaths.  The Garden State leads all states in the nation in nursing home fatalities.  Florida with a population of 22 million people has experienced 1/10 the nursing home deaths.

Mountain Lakes Virtual Borough Council Meeting

By
Frank Cahill
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MOUNTAIN LAKES — In following the current State of Emergency, the regularly scheduled Borough Council meeting scheduled for May 11, 2020 will be held online only at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom Webinar.

Using Zoom will allow for live discussion much like you would see in person during our regular in-person meetings.  We will be providing the opportunity for public comment during those times indicated on the agenda. To request a chance to speak during the meeting, please use the link below to join the meeting by computer and raise your virtual hand if you wish to speak. If you do join by computer, please type in your first and last name to identify who you are, and we strongly recommend you join the audio by phone.

Click here to view the agenda.

Below is the information to access the Zoom Webinar.

Topic: Borough Council Meeting – May 11, 2020 7:30 p.m.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://zoom.us/j/208487754

Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +13126266799,,208487754# or +19292056099,,208487754#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1
312 626 6799
929 205 6099
346 248 7799
669 900 6833
253 215 8782
301 715 8592

Webinar ID: 208 487 754
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/asprsaaaI

A Message from East Hanover Mayor Joe Pannullo

By
Frank Cahill
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Mayor Joseph Pannullo

EAST HANOVER — Please be advised the East Hanover Health Department has informed us that since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, East Hanover has had 124 confirmed cases. Of the 124 cases, 102 cases are closed meaning that all appropriate protocols were taken; the isolation period is over and completed according to the NJ State Department of Health guidelines. There are still 10 open cases and 4 of the 10 are hospitalized. The remaining 6 cases remain home quarantined. Sadly, we report that there have been 12 fatalities in East Hanover due to the coronavirus.

We ask that you pray for those who have the virus and to pray for those families that have lost their loved ones.

We ask that you patronize our local businesses by using technology to make your purchases online as well as patronize our restaurants by using their takeout and delivery services.

Please, if at all possible, stay at home. If you must go out, please wear a mask and practice safe social distancing. This is the most critical period of this virus. Please be smart and safe. The life you may save may be your own or your family or friends.

I would also like to thank all of our first responders; they are all doing a great job. We also ask that all residents who wish to express their appreciation of our first responders, please at 7:00 p.m. every Monday evening come out your front door and either give a round of applause or thank the responders in your own way and express your appreciation for their bravery and service for being on the front line.

I remind you that our parks are open for walking, jogging, and biking. Tennis courts will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day with the following rules to be followed: East Hanover residents only, Singles play meaning only 2 players per court, social distancing rules must be followed, and the wearing of masks and gloves are suggested.

For additional information regarding the coronavirus, call the NJ COVID-19 Information Public Call Center at 1-800-962-1253 or Call NJ 211 or text NJCOVID to 898-211 to receive text information and to stay informed.

To receive live text assistance, residents can text their zip code to 898-211.

The NJ Department of Human Services operates a toll-free “warm line,” which is a resource for people seeking mental health services – (877) 294-HELP (4357).

If you have any questions, please call me on my cell at (973) 418-5859. Thank you.

Mayor Joseph Pannullo

East Hanover – WHERE HOPE IS NOT CANCELLED

By
Frank Cahill
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CCM School of Liberal Arts Launches “quar-ART-ine”

By
Frank Cahill
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A painting created during the pandemic by Todd Doney, professor of fine arts at County College of Morris, based on a photo he took of the Great Swamp this past November

MORRIS COUNTY — The School of Liberal Arts at County College of Morris (CCM) has launched “quar-ART-ine,” a virtual platform featuring the artistic works of professors and students created during or inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The “quar-ART-ine” website, can be found by clicking here, is designed to feature a wide range of creative works, from poetry and painting, to photography and pottery, to dance and music, to design and more.

“The intent of “quar-ART-ine” is to provide people with some enjoyment during this very difficult time, to highlight the creativity that exists at CCM and to show how our faculty guides students in developing their talents,” says Dr. Margaret Ball, dean of the School of Liberal Arts.

Each week, a different academic program in the School of Liberal Arts will be highlighted on the website and featured on CCM’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts. Currently on the site are several poetry readings and poems in recognition of national poetry month that took place in April and videos from professors from a number of creative disciplines.

Upcoming are submissions from the departments of Art and Design, Communication, English and Philosophy, and Music, Performing Arts, and Music Technologies. Check back each week to see what is featured.

To learn more about the School of Liberal Arts at CCM click here. To apply to CCM for the Summer and Fall semesters click here.

A poem written by and digital image created by Keith Smith, professor of fine arts at County College of Morris

Dept. of Education Guidelines For Virtual Graduation Celebrations

By
Frank Cahill
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MORRIS COUNTY — On March 16, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 104 implementing aggressive social distancing measures to mitigate further spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey.

Among other directives, Governor Murphy’s Executive Order indefinitely closed all public, private and parochial preschools and elementary and secondary schools to students beginning on March 18, 2020.

Executive Order No. 107 signed on March 21, 2020, prohibits gatherings of individuals for parties, celebrations, and other social events, which includes all in-person graduation ceremonies (see also letter to the education community and Administrative Order No. 2020-12 from Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, State Director of Emergency Management).

Since the Executive Orders will remain in effect until further notice, only virtual graduation ceremonies can be planned at this time. We recognize that this sudden disruption to the normal operating procedures could be jarring for school communities at all levels. The resilience and adaptivity required to thrive in the face of unprecedented situations are characteristics embodied by the Class of 2020. Recognizing that high school graduation is certainly a milestone for students and families, the Department has compiled tips and suggestions for holding virtual graduation ceremonies and related celebratory activities to honor this year’s graduating class while ensuring the health and safety of the school community during the COVID-19 emergency.

Virtual Celebrations

• Virtual Graduation Ceremonies offer a number of ways to celebrate this year’s graduating class. From airing graduation messages on local network stations to designing virtual graduations on gaming platforms, virtual graduations offer districts an opportunity to involve the community in planning and facilitating a memorable ceremony. Below are some ideas for hosting a virtual ceremony:
• Stream your ceremony on your district website or on another streaming service that includes prerecorded speeches or messages
• Consider reaching out to celebrities or public figures to record speeches or messages for seniors in your school district
• If resources allow, your district may consider developing a virtual reality graduation, where within a virtual graduation environment, student avatars participate in a graduation ceremony
• Schools can also consider asking members of the graduating class to take a leading role in the graduation ceremony. Senior students can be asked in advance to send video messages wearing their cap and gown and/or other regalia. During the virtual ceremony, students and their families will hear prerecorded messages from speakers, edited together in the flow of a traditional graduation ceremony, and students’ names, as well as messages, will be announced with their photo displayed.

Community Recognition

Communities across the country have shown their support by making a special effort to recognize the Class of 2020. Some examples include posting banners with students’ senior pictures around the school community, listing the names of graduates in the local newspaper, and creating yard signs for all students to post.

• Some communities have secured digital billboards to publicize and celebrate the Class of 2020. The digital billboards display the students’ names and personalized messages developed by school staff and students.
• We encourage school districts to coordinate any recognition efforts with various community stakeholders.

We welcome you to share your virtual graduation celebration or related activities by using the hashtag #NJGrad2020 on social media.

Open Letter From a Whippany Park Parent to the Board of Education

By
Frank Cahill
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Whippany Park High School

Good Evening:

I just got off the Zoom version of the Board of Education meeting.  I’m embarrassed to admit that it was the first HPBOE meeting I’ve attended during the four years my son and daughter have been at WPHS.

My name is James Carlson-Zyats, Sr. You were kind enough to allow me to speak briefly during tonight’s meeting.  Thank you.

The lack of a traditional ceremony clearly affects all those associated with the graduating class of 2020… students, family, friends, teachers, and administration. You had to bear the unfortunate burden of delivering the disappointing, but inevitable, news of the cancellation/postponement of end of year activities. There is no way that the news was going to be well received. It was heartbreaking and I’m sure it was upsetting for all of you to have to craft the message to deliver it.

This is the only high school graduation my family is going to experience, as both of my children were set to walk the stage this year. Graduation commencement had a very special meaning for my wife and I as BOTH of our children were slated to be a part of the graduation program. My son, James Jr, is the current WPHS SGA President. My daughter, Sydney, is the WPHS 2020 Salutatorian. For their accomplishments and recognition, I thank the teachers that kept them engaged in their classes, the coaches that challenged and encouraged them on the soccer fields and running tracks, and the administration that kept the hallways safe, secure and enjoyable for the past 4 years (I’m sure their own hard work and dedication had something to do with it as well). I was pleased to see that an alternate plan was immediately available to deliver a safe graduation commencement. It was clear to me that you had a number of scenarios ready depending on the Governor’s comments. It was also obvious to me that all of you have been working on developing alternate plans for some time, depending on the parameters of the Governor’s guidelines. Thank you.

When we (parents, students, friends, and family) look back on the previous four years that our children spent at Whippany Park, we are not going to wallow in the loss of their traditional commencement ceremony. We are going to celebrate now and for years to come the academic honors, social growth, and athletic achievements they earned.

This graduation brings with it an opportunity to have a memorable celebration that may even spur new traditions. It will be interesting to see how students and parents will ultimately respond after the initial grief of a canceled ceremony passes.

I love the idea of a “parade of cars” driving about town to have neighbors, friends, and family cheer the Class of 2020. It’s safe, socially distant and a wonderful way to send them off. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is repeated for future graduating classes. I think that’s something that can be easily done (even with a grassroots effort if the Board is not 100% comfortable with it) in addition to the plans you have set forth.  I have no doubt you will give the idea its due consideration. There are two parents of graduating seniors that sit on the Hanover Township Committee that I’m sure can assist in having the powers that be in town get on board with the idea.

With that said, I know that all of you will continue to work diligently to give our students the send-off that’s worthy of their achievements. Please know you are appreciated.

Thank you for your time tonight. Specifically, thank your patience in the face of frustrated parents that asked questions you already answered, parents and students that insinuated that you weren’t supporting or fighting for them, and those that arrogantly assumed you were not acting in the best interest of our students. Whippany (Hanover Township) is a great place to raise a family. Our schools are a big reason for that. Keep doing what you’re doing and know the silent majority are rooting for you and appreciate your hard work.

Sincerely,
James Carlson-Zyats, Sr.
WPHS Class of ’86

An Open Letter from Superintendent of Schools Maria C. Carrell

By
Frank Cahill
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0
Hanover Park School District serves Hanover Park High School and Whippany Park High School

Dear Hanover Park Regional High School District School Community,

First and foremost, I would like to thank the Board of Education, administrative team, faculty, staff, students, and parents for their unwavering support during these most difficult times. The COVID-19 pandemic has put additional stress on all of our lives and has greatly impacted all of us in very personal ways. Please know that we will continue to work together to overcome these obstacles and look forward to re-opening the Hanover Park Regional High School District in the near future.

Governor Murphy outlined decisions related to the closure of all New Jersey Public Schools through June 30, 2020. That being said, the Hanover Park Regional High School District Board of Education, administrative team, and faculty have been working diligently to devise plans related to end of year events. The following is an outline of how we will accomplish these important tasks for our students:

      • Final Exams have been canceled for the 2019-2020 school year. Students will receive an exemption from all final exams. As per our school calendar, the last day of instruction will be June 22, 2020.
      • All athletics and extracurricular activities/events are canceled for the 2019-2020 school year. The district will continue to monitor events to determine the start dates for the Fall 2020 athletic season and extracurricular activities.
      • All students who need to retrieve personal belongings will be able to register for a specific 15-minute time slot from May 26 through May 29. Registration time slots will be sent to students prior to May 26 via email and will be posted on the high schools’ websites. Upon entering campus, only students are permitted, must practice social distancing, and wear masks.
      • Underclassmen Awards will be sent home to students/parents via email from your building principal.
      • Senior Awards will be broadcasted at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 15 via email link. In late May, parents will receive an email advising them that their senior student will be receiving an award. A video link will be sent to identified parents/students at 7:00 p.m. on June 15 highlighting the awards achieved for each individual student. Senior Awards will be picked up the weeks of June 22 or June 29 according to the information listed below.

    National and New Jersey District of Character Caring – Citizenship – Fairness – Respect – Responsibility – Trustworthiness

    • Senior Proms have been canceled. PTO/Project Graduation committees may potentially
      develop alternative events this summer for the Class of 2020.
    • Graduations for the Classes of 2020 will be done via virtual format in the following manner:
    • Caps/gowns will be picked up in a structured, grab and go format the week of May 26 using the front circle. Building Principals will be in touch with senior students and parents via email regarding this process. Assigned registration time slots for caps/gowns will be sent via email and posted on the high schools’ websites.
    • Graduation time slots will take place the week of June 1, 2020. These assigned time slots will be allocated in late May, sent via email, and posted on the high schools’ websites. During their assigned time slot the week of June 1, individual students will be able to enter the auditorium in cap and gown with up to two (2) guests and receive a diploma cover. Diplomas will be sent following the ceremony broadcasts via regular mail. A videographer and photographer will be onsite to capture each student’s procession. A final graduation video will be broadcasted via YouTube on their regularly scheduled graduation times:
    • Whippany Park High School – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25 – Hanover Park High School – 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26
    • Additional specific information related to graduation will be coming via email from your building principals shortly.
    • Senior students who need to return school items (textbooks, athletic equipment, etc.), obtain their yearbook, and collect senior awards will be able to register for a 15-minute time slot the weeks of June 22 and June 29. Registration links will be sent to the Senior Class via email and posted on the high schools’ websites prior to those dates and will be posted on the high schools’ websites. Upon entering campus, students must practice social distancing and wear masks upon entry.
    • Underclassmen students who need to return school items will be able to drop off their items on Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24. Tents and tables will be set up in the main parking lots for collection between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Yearbook distribution for underclassmen will be determined at a point over the summer. In keeping the health and safety of our students and staff of utmost importance, these are extenuating circumstances that have caused us to make these difficult decisions. We will continue to monitor events as they present to determine protocols for a summer or fall reopening.

Thank you again for your continued support. I wish you continued health and congratulate our Class of 2020.

Sincerely,
Maria C. Carrell
Superintendent of Schools
(973) 887-0320
[email protected]

Freeholder Board “Remote” Meeting to be held on May 13

By
Frank Cahill
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0
Commissioner Deborah Smith, Chair of the Commissioners’ Budget Committee

MORRIS COUNTY — Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the need for social distancing and avoiding group gatherings, the Morris County Board of Freeholders will meet on Wednesday evening, May 13, via telephone conference calls.

The Freeholder Board will hold a work session at 6:00 p.m., followed by a 7:00 p.m. regular public meeting. Public comment is only allowed at the 7:00 p.m. session.

The Freeholder Board held similar phone-in sessions for its public meetings on March 25, April 6, and April 22.

“It is vitally important for county government to continue operating during this crisis, not just to deal with COVID-19 but to continue with all of our important programs, from home delivery of meals to seniors and disabled residents to paving our roads and maintaining our bridges,” said Freeholder Director Deborah Smith.

“But we also have to continue to be vigilant when it comes to social distancing and public gatherings. So, we invite you to listen in to our meetings and to comment to us on issues of importance to yourself and your communities,” she added.

Residents are invited to call into the May 13 meetings, at 6:00 p.m. and again at 7:00 p.m.:

Call: 1-201-546-5293
Guest Passcode: 439862

Residents are asked to mute their phones as they listen, and to speak only during the public comment period during the 7:00 p.m. public meeting. Please try to “line up” politely with other callers during the comment period. It would be much appreciated.

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