MORRIS COUNTY — Vitalant – working in conjunction with its hospital partners – has launched a program to treat COVID-19 patients with blood plasma donated by individuals who have recovered from the disease. This blood component, known as “convalescent plasma,” contains antibodies that may provide seriously ill patients an extra boost in fighting the disease.

There currently are neither vaccines nor proven treatments for COVID-19, because the virus is so new. Although trials for a vaccine are underway, it is expected to be months before one is approved. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified and approved convalescent plasma treatment as an “emergency investigational new drug.” It is currently the only antibody treatment available to COVID-19 patients and, as such, is a promising new tool.

Vitalant is collecting convalescent plasma – by appointment only – at its locations in Montvale, Paramus, and Parsippany, NJ. Those interested in donating plasma are encouraged to apply through the Vitalant website Vitalant.org/covidfree. Additional details are available by calling 866-CV-PLSMA (866-287-5762).

“This is an example of the medical and research communities coming together to effect real change during this pandemic,” said Maria De Los Angeles Muñiz, MD, Medical Director at Vitalant’s Montvale, NJ location. “Convalescent plasma is a promising response tool for fighting COVID-19 in patients, and potentially for those working on the front lines.”
Eligibility criteria for convalescent plasma donors are:

• Prior diagnosis of COVID-19, documented by a laboratory test
• Complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days
• Meet all other current FDA donor eligibility requirements to donate plasma

Even for those who meet these requirements, additional tests may be required. In some instances, those who have recovered from COVID-19 may be able to donate, even if they did not have an initial laboratory test.

About Vitalant in New Jersey
A not-for-profit organization that supplies blood and blood products to hospitals in the NJ/NY region, Bergen County-based Vitalant (previously Community Blood Services) has been devoted to serving the community’s transfusion medicine needs since 1953. Donations of blood and blood products, umbilical cord blood, stem cells, and bone marrow help to join individuals, organizations, businesses, and entire communities together in partnership to help save lives.

MORRIS COUNTY — The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Central & Northern New Jersey chapter invites women business owners and professionals to two online business events, on Thursday, May 14 and May 28 at 4:00 p.m. The meetings will be held on Zoom and are free of charge. Details and links to online registration for both events are available by clicking here. Upon registering for the events, log-in information for the Zoom event will be sent via email.

• Thursday, May 14 – Patti Singer of Follow Me Social Media Consulting will present “Social Media in a Time of Social Distancing.” She will discuss the best channels for different businesses, invite attendees to think about their messaging, and review ways to use social media to stay connected with customers and prospects. Register by clicking here.
• Thursday, May 28 – Queirra Fenderson, PCC of the Ambition Studio, will present “Trusting Your Intuition in an Uncertain Time.” She will lead participants through an interactive exploration of how to shift away from seeking others’ approval to trusting one’s intuition when it comes to business growth, how to ask for and receive feedback to expand business impact, and identify the primary pivot to make in order to overcome business hurdles. Register by clicking here.

All events and information are on the chapter website by clicking here. NAWBO Central & Northern draws members from throughout 12 counties in the northern and central portions of the state and members also enjoy the benefits of belonging to the national organization, which is now in its 45th year.

In honor of the milestone, NAWBO is offering $45 off the registration fee for new members through May 31.

MORRIS COUNTY — To protect the health of its students and to allow them to better plan for moving forward with their college education, County College of Morris (CCM) is moving each of its five Summer Sessions to an online format this year. Registration is now open for both the summer and fall with classes starting as early as May 26. A decision regarding the format for Fall Semester classes has yet to be made.

“CCM is offering a full selection of online classes this summer, along with its fall programs and classes, to support students so they can stay on track to meet their academic and career goals,” says Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, CCM president. “We also are pleased to announce that CCM has received a generous amount of student support funding from the federal government as part of the CARES Act. These funds can be used for tuition for those who would like to pursue a college education but are faced with financial issues. The funds can also be used to address life challenges, such as food insecurities, housing issues and even car repairs, that could sideline a student’s progress.”

Summer Sessions – Keep Moving Forward

Summer Sessions are open to CCM students and visiting students from other colleges and universities. A total of five sessions are being offered:

o   Early 5 Week: May 26 – June 27
o   10 Week: June 1 – August 8
o   Late 5 Week: June 29 – August 1
o   7 Week: June 30 – August 15
o   3 Week: August 3 – August 22

 The Fall Semester – Prepare for Tomorrow

The Fall Semester at CCM begins on September 9. At CCM, students can select from 50 associate degrees and a wide range of certificate programs. In addition, the college holds more than 150 transfer agreements with four-year institutions across New Jersey and around the country to ease the process to earn a bachelor’s degree.

See What’s Being Offered for Summer and Fall

To view available courses for both summer and fall click here. New students first need to apply to the college before registering for classes. Applications can be submitted by clicking here.

We’ve Got Your Back

“We know these are challenging times and we have made sure to provide multiple online services to assist our students to ensure their success,” says Jan Caffie, dean of Student Development and Enrollment Management. “While the CCM campus has remained closed, our student support services have been expanded to include enhancing The Academic Success Center.  [email protected] was created to provide students with individualized online assistance from updating them on the status of classes to connecting them to a student success specialist or counselor through phone and virtual meetings.”

Included among the other services the college is offering online are Academic Advisement, Online Tutoring, and Live Chats with Librarians. To learn more about those services click here.

An Education You Can Afford
Each year, CCM awards approximately $12 million in financial aid and scholarships to its students, allowing them to pursue a high-quality college education at an affordable price. To find out more click here.

Be Essential – Plan for a New Career
Along with its credit degree and certificate programs, CCM offers many professional development programs. Through its Center for Workforce Development, individuals looking to start a career, change a career, or advance in the career they are in can take advantage of one of many industry-recognized certificate programs. To learn more click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 133, reopening state parks and golf courses, and restoring the authority of county governments to determine whether county parks will be open or closed. The order takes effect at sunrise on Saturday, May 2.

“We understand that New Jerseyans want to get outside and get some fresh air as the weather warms up,” said Governor Murphy. “However, this should not serve as an open invitation to rush back to normalcy and break the necessary social distancing measures we’ve put in place. This approach will also bring New Jersey in line with our neighboring states, which will discourage residents from needlessly crossing state lines for recreation.”

State Parks and Forests:  The order allows State parks and forests to open to the public for passive recreation, including fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing, hiking, walking, running or jogging, biking, birding, and horseback riding.  Picnic areas, playgrounds, exercise stations and equipment, chartered watercraft services and rentals, swimming, pavilions, restrooms, and other buildings and facilities, such as visitor centers, interpretive centers, and interior historical sites, shall remain closed at this time. To limit physical interaction, the State parks and forests must implement reasonable restrictions that include:

• Limiting parking to 50% of maximum capacity and prohibiting parking in undesignated areas;
• Prohibiting picnics;
• Requiring social distancing to be practiced except with immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners; and
• Banning organized or contact activities or sports; and gatherings of any kind.

The order also recommends that people wear a cloth face covering while in public settings at the parks and forests where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

“More than ever, we know how important it is for the people of New Jersey to take a break from the ongoing self-quarantine and that there are few options for outdoor recreation,” said DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “Just as the decision to close parks and forests was not made lightly, the decision to reopen them has also been made with careful thought and consideration for the health and well-being of the public. We urge visitors to only visit their closest parks, keep their distance from others while outdoors, wear masks, and follow the guidelines established to protect public health.”

County Parks: The order opens county parks to the public, except any parks closed by the county prior to Executive Order No. 118 that required all county parks be closed (the county will now have the ability to reopen its parks if it chooses). This will treat county parks the same way as municipal parks – the locality gets to determine whether they are open or closed. County and municipal parks that remain open must abide by the restrictions placed on State parks in today’s Order.

All recreational campgrounds and transient campsites at campgrounds shall remain closed to the public. Residential campgrounds, including mobile home parks, condo sites, and existing/renewing 2020 yearly seasonal contract sites may remain open.  Counties and municipalities can also place restrictions on the ability of residential campgrounds, including mobile home parks, to accept new transient guests or seasonal tenants, as defined by Administrative Order Nos. 2020-08 and 2020-09.

Golf Courses: The order also opens golf courses so long as they adopt minimum social distancing policies that include:

• Extending tee times to sixteen minutes apart;>
• Limiting the use of golf carts to one person unless being shared by immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners;
• Requiring frequent, and after each use, sanitization of high-touch areas such as restroom facilities, range buckets, golf carts, and pushcarts;
• Restricting the touching of golf holes and flags;>
• Closing golf center buildings, pro shops, and other buildings and amenities;
• Removing bunker rakes and other furniture-like benches, water coolers, and ball washers from the course;
• Discontinuing club and equipment rentals;
• Prohibiting the use of caddies; and
• Limiting tee times to two players unless the foursome consists of immediate family, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners.

The golf course may impose additional restrictions as necessary to limit person-to-person interactions. The order also recommends but does not order, that employees, players, and other individuals on the golf course wear cloth face coverings while on the golf course. Additionally, the order clarifies that miniature golf courses and driving ranges must remain closed.

Click here to download Executive Order 103.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Park Commission will have a partial reopening of its 38 distinct park facilities on Saturday thanks to an order issued today by Gov. Phil Murphy, who reopened state parks and allowed county parks to also reopen, but only if they can allow for proper social distancing.

In Morris County, many trails and grounds of county parks managed by the Morris County Park Commission will reopen, including all four county golf courses.

“The Morris County Park Commission understands the importance of providing access to your parks but is also responsible for the safety of park staff and patrons along with the stewardship responsibility of protecting the natural, cultural and historic resources under its care,” said Park Commission Executive Director Dave Helmer.

Please do your best when accessing these important resources to respect your fellow park visitor and park resources you are enjoying,” he added.

(Parks & Trails may be closed for periods of time for park maintenance and park project purposes without announcement.)

PARKS & FACILITIES REMAINING CLOSED:

All parks, grounds, and trails will be opened (but may have reduced parking) except for:

• Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center parking lot, grounds, and trails will be closed. Due to the nature of the trail system including a raised boardwalk, narrow trails, and sensitive natural environment, it is difficult to maintain a six-foot distance between trail users;
• Central Park of Morris County-Ice Pond/Disc Golf Course parking area will be closed but the trails will remain open;
• Seaton Hackney Stables will reopen in the near future once a standard operating procedure is developed by the concessionaire for the county’s equestrian facility;
• Lee’s Marina will maintain its current operational parameters that can be found at www.morrisparks.net enough overflow parking as available at that time the Commission will consider allowing a maximum of 25 prepaid daily launches per day;

CLOSED

Frelinghuysen Arboretum except for the Community Gardens;

Willowwood Arboretum;

Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center and Gardens;

Fosterfields Living Historical Farm;

Historic Speedwell;

Cooper Mill although parking area will remain open for trail access;

Mahlon Dickerson Reservation campgrounds;

Lewis Morris County Park;

Mennen Sports Arena.

All public buildings & restrooms, playgrounds, athletic fields & play areas, picnic shelters/tents remain closed.

All programs, permits, and events remain canceled at this time through May 31, 2020.

Please Practice Social Distancing at County Parks and on Trails

While the Commission is delighted to be allowed to let park patrons have access to their parks again, patrons must understand there are restrictions in place and social distancing is required to visit Morris County parks, facilities, and trails.

To allow various parks and trails to remain open for passive recreation, patrons are asked to follow proper CDC protocol and behavior modifications, including but not limited to:

• Recommended use of face-covering;
• Only park in designated parking areas, do not park on roadsides;
• Refrain from using parks or trails if you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
• Follow CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to and during the use of parks or trails;
• Understand that public restrooms are not available but some sites may have portable restrooms (please bring personal sanitary supplies for yourself);
• While on trails, warn other users of your presence, and step aside to let others pass;
• Observe CDC’s minimum recommended social distancing of 6 feet from other individuals at all times. If this is not possible, users should find an alternate location or depart that space.

Continue to consult local and state health management websites, including the Morris County Office of Health Management website for information, on COVID-19.

MORRIS COUNTY —  Morris County has risen to 5226 presumptively tested positive cases an increase of 82 cases since last reported on Tuesday, April 28. A total of 387 deaths have been reported in Morris County. In New Jersey a total of 116,264 presumptively tested positive cases with a total of 6,770 deaths.

The County of Morris, in partnership with Atlantic Health, is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the County College of Morris, Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869, in parking lot 1. Testing is scheduled beginning at 9:00 a.m. and is for Morris County residents only. There is no fee for the test.

To sign up for an appointment online click here for details.

Morris County COVID-19 Cases

Note: Case numbers are updated in the afternoons on Monday-Friday. For statewide numbers, visit the State of NJ COVID-19 Dashboard.

The figures reflect COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, some cases which may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

Please note the following limitations and provisos related to the data above:

• COVID-19-related deaths are not included in this data. Visit the State of NJ COVID-19 Dashboard for a summary of death totals.
• Pursuant to HIPAA, specific identifying health information of persons testing positive or who have passed due to the virus will not be released.
• Data reflects COVID-19 positive cases on dates and times indicated; some cases may be pending and are not yet entered.
• Data may not include cases with incomplete or incorrect street addresses or PO boxes. Such cases require additional investigation by local health officials.
• Figures do not include persons under quarantine/isolation due to exposure and who have not tested positive.
• The numbers, especially higher numbers, do not necessarily reflect community spread in a specific town. Various factors may be related to high numbers, such as increased testing and facilities with high-risk populations.
• This data should not be used to gauge if heightened precautions are needed in specific towns. Social distancing, hand hygiene, and preventive steps must be followed at all times regardless of the number of cases in a municipality.

MORRIS COUNTY — The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced that recipients of federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to the self-employed, independent contractors and others who are not usually eligible for unemployment insurance benefits will start being notified of their PUA eligibility today, and the Department will begin making payments Friday.

PUA is a new program authorized by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide unemployment benefits to workers not eligible for regular unemployment. In addition to people who are self-employed or independent contractors, this includes those who do not have enough recent earnings to receive regular unemployment benefits.

Workers in this group, who have applied for regular unemployment and been denied, do not have to do anything further. The Department will start reaching out today and will start processing payments this week.

“The Department has worked hard over the past month to get this program up and running despite the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, and it is now available,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “While it will take time to determine eligibility for everyone who seeks PUA benefits, the process has begun to get billions of additional dollars into the wallets of eligible self-employed workers.”

In one month’s time, the NJ Department of Labor team created the infrastructure to implement this new federal program — to determine eligibility, protect confidential personal information, prevent fraud, and issue payments.

Claimants must certify for these benefits online each week. The certification schedule — based on Social Security number — can be found by clicking here.

Claimants will receive payments retroactive to when they filed their unemployment claim. However, they must certify their PUA claim for each week they are claiming benefits, even if they previously certified their regular unemployment claim for the same week. In other words, PUA claims are processed separately from regular unemployment claims, therefore certifying information must be completed separately.

The initial group of PUA-eligible claimants will be notified today of their time slot to certify for benefits on Friday. They will receive payment on Tuesday, May 5.

Workers who certify for benefits on Friday will also receive a separate $600 supplemental payment as part of the CARES Act for each week they were eligible for PUA since March 29. Those who certify after Friday will receive the CARES Act supplements the following week.
Claimants instructed to certify for PUA Friday, Saturday or Sunday will receive payment on Tuesday. Those who certify on Monday or later will receive payment two business days after they certify.

Workers who are eligible for PUA, but for whom available wage records are incomplete, will be issued weekly PUA payments for the minimum amount of $231, plus the separate $600 weekly supplemental benefit, once they certify for benefits according to the schedule. These workers will be contacted separately to update their income information, and any necessary adjustment to their weekly benefit rate will be made based on the updated income information they provide.

Here is what New Jersey’s self-employed workers, independent contractors and others who may be eligible for PUA need to know:

1. The first step to receiving PUA is to apply for state unemployment benefits here — myunemployment.nj.gov — and be denied.
2. If you have already applied for state unemployment, you do not need to do anything else right now.
3. If you have not applied for state unemployment benefits yet, instructions for self-employed, independent contractors, and others not eligible for regular unemployment can be found by clicking here.
4. If you already applied but did not follow the instructions outlined above, don’t worry. Your application will still be reviewed for PUA eligibility.
5. If you have not heard from us, there is no reason to call or email.
Look for more information in your mail or email inbox.

PUA claims will be backdated to the date you first became eligible, so you won’t lose any benefits. The first week of potential eligibility is the week ending February 8, 2020.

You may be required to produce income records for 2018 and 2019.

Additional information, including answers to many frequently asked questions, can be found by clicking here.

Hundreds of thousands of workers have become unemployed, furloughed, or had their hours reduced have filed for unemployment benefits since the COVID-19 pandemic hit New Jersey in mid-March. Despite the rapid influx of claims, New Jersey has dispersed more than $1 billion in unemployment benefits to more than 550,000 people.

By BettyLou DeCroce

The worst of the coronavirus virus will eventually pass and we will begin to resume more normal routines.  What we have experienced from the pandemic, however, will influence our lives and our perceptions for years to come; and not just in negative ways.

One of the things we learned from social distancing is that people matter more in our lives than we thought. When it’s difficult or impossible to see friends and family, the role they play in our lives becomes greater than we imagined.

Being confined to our neighborhoods has its drawbacks and frustrations, but it has also opened up for many of us new opportunities to meet people who live only a few hundred feet away. The young couple with the toddlers, the retired gentlemen across the street, the young woman who walks the dog each morning; they have all gone from being strangers to new fixtures in our lives.

And because of the coronavirus we are also coming to appreciate people who carry out important jobs who were often anonymous to us. The mail carriers, the UPS driver, the man behind the fish counter at the supermarket and the cashier who rings up our groceries are no longer nameless bodies that we take for granted. They are important to our lives

However, among the most dedicated group keeping our towns and counties running somewhat normally are our educators — the teachers, principals, administrators, aides, and support workers. They live under the same social distancing constraints that we do while continuing to do the important job of helping our children learn.

School closures have impacted nearly 55 million public school students nationwide, according to data from Education Week. That’s a lot of children and young adults who need a creative approach to education.

Now that virtual is the new normal, educators have to create unique approaches to help students understand what are often abstract concepts. In the classroom educators have tools available to them that they don’t have in their living room or den, which is now their remote classroom. In a classroom, the educators have personal contact that can spot the perplexed child and help him or her work to develop a greater understanding of a subject or a concept. That’s missing now.

Showing their ingenuity educators are using homemade videos and other tools they are devising to teach young students basic math concepts like addition and subtraction as well as more advanced subjects like history and chemistry.

Complicating effective distance teaching is the makeup of many families. It’s not only kids that need the computer, but also mom and dad –  many of whom are working from home. Further complicating the distance learning objective is that — even in homes with more than one computer –- children of different ages need to log on to their daily instructions. They all can’t do it at the same time. Recognizing the logistical realities some educators are pre-recording their class lessons to be played back when computer access at home is available.

And while putting a lot of time and creativity into making sure our children are still learning, the average teacher is contending with his or her own children at home. Are they getting fed? Are they doing their lessons? Are they being entertained? Did one of them just bolt out the door, where is he going?

We are all living lives we could not have imagined a few short months ago. What was unimportant or taken for granted in January is a lot more critical to us now. One thing we can never take for granted, however, is the important role that educators play in our lives. While we are at work, pursuing our goals, educators are shaping and preparing the lives of those most precious to us – our children.

National Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated in New Jersey from May 4 to May 8. This year let’s show an extra special measure of gratitude for our educators who are answering the call to duty in an extraordinary time of crisis. 

BettyLou DeCroce is a member of the NJ General Assembly and represents people in Morris, Essex and Passaic Counties

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi and the Morris County Board of Freeholders offer their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Matthew Stehr, a young but veteran employee in the Morris County Clerk’s Office who passed away Sunday due to illness related to COVID-19. A Denville resident, he was just 38 years old.

“I and the entire staff of the County Clerk’s Office are saddened and shocked at the loss of our friend and colleague Matt Stehr,” said County Clerk Ann Grossi. “We are reeling at the passing of such a young and vibrant man, one who was so integral to what we do here. He already is so greatly missed.”

“Our entire county government community is deeply saddened by this loss, especially of such a young man who was loved and admired by his colleagues,” said Morris County Freeholder Director Deborah Smith. “On behalf of all Morris County residents, we offer our hearts and prayers to Matt’s family and friends.”

Matt Stehr joined the County Clerk’s Office in 2002 and had been an Assistant Supervisor in the County Clerk’s Registry Department. He recently was awarded certification from New Jersey Civil Service Commission for successfully completing the Supervisory Training Empowering Performance NJ STEP Program.

County Clerk Grossi said Matt had been an exemplary employee who was willing to take on the toughest of tasks, such as the complete reorganization of the County Clerk’s map room and the labor-intensive cataloging and extensive organizing of county real estate records and historic documents.

She also noted that Matt was willing to step up and volunteer for various projects, recalling his “genuine enthusiasm” while promoting the County Clerk’s Office at the annual Morristown Fall Festival.

“Matt had a keen respect for preservation and history, which was certainly a benefit to our office and the public,” said Grossi. “But, as importantly, I and the staff will always remember Matt’s smile, enthusiasm, and spirit. Our prayers are with you.”