MORRIS COUNTY — Stop & Shop is instituting store capacity limits, as well as one-way traffic in its grocery aisles at all New York City, Long Island and New Jersey stores. These changes are being made at Stop & Shop’s stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island as well.

Customer counts in each store will be limited to a specific number based upon the square footage of the store. Signs signifying the customer limit will be posted on store doors, and store managers will take regular customer counts to ensure proper capacity is maintained.

One-way grocery aisles also are being implemented to reinforce social distancing and improve traffic flow. Signs are being placed at each grocery aisle along with arrows on the floor directing traffic. Customers also will see signage to remind them to maintain six feet of distance from others in the store.

The one-way traffic and customer capacity limits are just two additional steps Stop & Shop is taking to help keep its associates and customers safe. Other measures include:

• Robust cleaning and sanitizing procedures at each store, including disinfecting high touchpoint areas throughout the day and closing all stores at 8:00 p.m. for additional cleaning and restocking.
• Providing associates with gloves, masks and hand sanitizer.
• Offering disinfecting wipes near the store entrance so customers can wipe down carriages, hand baskets, and ScanIt! devices before use.
• Installing clear plastic guards at registers for added protection.
• Whenever possible, opening only every other register lane to create further distancing between customers at checkout.
• Putting tape on the floors at each register so customers understand the six-foot distance they should keep from others.
• Providing special hours for customers 60+ every day to help reduce crowds and help ensure social distancing for those most vulnerable.
• Posting signs in the store that remind customers to stand at least six feet apart from others, plus other guidelines from the CDC like sneezing into your elbow and to enter the store if feeling sick.
• Modifying line queuing procedures at checkouts during busy periods to allow for proper social distancing.
• Utilizing in-store radio to reinforce social distancing messages.
• Closing deli counter service to help both customers and associates practice safe social distancing. Sliced meats and cheeses are available via our “Grab and Go” program and are sliced fresh daily.
• Suspending our self-service offerings including olive bars, wing bars, salad bars, hot bars, and coffee bars. This also includes pick-your-own bakery items like donuts and muffins as well as self-serve nuts and baking items. Pre-packaged options for all of these items are available in their place.
• Ceasing food sampling programs and all in-store events until further notice.

A neighborhood grocer for more than 100 years, today’s Stop & Shop is refreshed, re energized and inspired, delivering new conveniences for customers. Committed to helping its communities enjoy better food and better lives, Stop & Shop has a longstanding history of giving back to the neighborhoods it serves with a focus on fighting hunger and helping children to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is an Ahold Delhaize USA Company and employs nearly 60,000 associates and operates over 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. To learn more about Stop & Shop click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County has risen to 2449 and increase of 189 cases since last report from Tuesday, April 7.  (Click here to read previous article.)

The figures reflect open COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, not cases which have been closed, some cases which may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

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 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.

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.
• 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.

LIVINGSTON — It is a bit difficult at the moment for the Easter bunny to get everywhere, so Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney wanted to help out. At Saint Barnabas Medical Center, nurses, doctors and other health care workers have been selflessly prioritizing their patients’ health for weeks, and Rooney wanted to make sure they knew just how much they were appreciated this Easter Sunday.

On Monday, Rooney delivered 20 Easter baskets to the corporate office across the street from the hospital in Livingston – one for each COVID-19 unit at the hospital. The baskets will be delivered Easter morning and are filled with breakfast and protein bars, and of course Easter chocolates.

“While most of us stay safely at home to help prevent the spread of the virus, the pandemic has completely uprooted medical workers’ personal lives,” said Rooney (R-Bergen). “We can’t possibly tell them how important what they do means to us. We can only make simple gestures of thanks.”

Hospital workers at St. Barnabas have been sharing glimpses into their new normal on social media, showing professionalism and compassion, which inspired the assemblyman.

PARSIPPANY — The Becchi for Congress campaign is excited to announce that U.S. Marine Veteran Major Nick De Gregorio has joined the campaign to serve as the Chairman of Veterans For Becchi. The committee was formed with the joint goal of reaching out to local military personnel and families to learn and understand firsthand the problems and concerns our Veterans face, as well as, organizing support to elect Rosemary Becchi to Congress.

“We are honored that U.S. Marine Major Nick De Gregorio will serve as the Chairman of Veterans for Becchi. In just a short time, I have learned a great deal from Nick and his fellow Veterans in the 11th District and I am greatly appreciative of his support for my campaign. There is no question we have a lot of work to do to ensure Veterans have the access they have been promised to healthcare, education, and jobs. Taking care of those who put their lives on the line for our safety and freedom isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s a priority I will uphold in Congress,” said Rosemary Becchi.

“Rosemary Becchi is the voice our Veterans need in Washington,” said De Gregorio. “Veterans are not a mere campaign talking point to her. From the first moment I spoke with Rosemary, it was clear that her mission is to find solutions to the chronic problems our Veterans face every day. As a nine-year Marine Corps infantry officer with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, I know Rosemary is the person I want fighting for Veterans. Her intelligence, tenacity, and experience is sorely needed. It is an honor to work on behalf of Rosemary and the Becchi for Congress campaign.”

If you are a Veteran looking for more information about Rosemary Becchi or would like to join Veterans for Becchi, click here or email [email protected]

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 120, postponing primary elections on Tuesday, June 2 to Tuesday, July 7 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This includes primaries for President, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, the 25th District of the New Jersey Legislature, and county and municipal elections, as well as county committee elections.

Last month, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order No. 105, which delayed certain elections set to take place in March and April until May 12. (Click here for copy of Executive Order No. 120)

“Preserving basic functions of our democracy is critical in this unprecedented time,” said Governor Murphy. “Citizens exercising their right to vote should not have to risk their safety and the safety of others in order to make their voices heard. Postponing our primary elections is a difficult, yet necessary, choice to ensure that our citizens can partake in their civic duty of voting.”

“Governor Murphy’s decision to move New Jersey’s primary election to July 7, 2020 will provide our state, county, and local election officials with the time we need to prepare for a free, fair, and safe election for New Jersey voters.” said Secretary of State Tahesha Way.

The Order also states that all deadlines for meeting statutory requirements for a primary election that are currently scheduled to occur after April 11 will be calculated using the July 7, primary election date. This would not affect any deadlines that 1) have already passed, such as the filing deadline for candidate petitions for the primary election, or 2) will pass prior to April 11. The only exception is the deadline for change of party affiliation declaration forms to be filed, which is currently scheduled for April 8 and will move to May 13.

Additionally, independent candidate petitions will be due by 4:00 p.m. on July 7, 2020, and the electronic signature and submission requirements that were set forth in Executive Order No. 105 for primary candidates will be extended to these independent candidate petitions.
Election rules have been modified during prior emergencies, including by Governor Kean in 1982 during a severe winter storm and by the Christie Administration in 2012 in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

PARSIPPANY — Liquid Church Responds to COVID-19 Pandemic by Distributing Easter Baskets Filled With Toilet Paper, Sanitizers, Food, Baby Supplies, and Household Essentials To Neighbors-In-Need.

Liquid Church, one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing churches, has partnered with Convoy Of Hope, a disaster relief ministry, to get emergency supplies to families in crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A tractor-trailer shipment with 26,000 pounds of relief supplies arrived just in time for distribution on Easter Weekend. Emergency Relief Kits in the form of Easter Baskets and Easter Boxes will be available for Saturday pickup and Easter Sunday delivery.

“Here in New Jersey we find ourselves in the epicenter of this pandemic, but we want to spread hope faster than COVID-19,” said Tim Lucas, lead pastor and founder of Liquid Church. “That’s why we’ve created Emergency Relief Kits in the form of Easter Baskets. Traditional Easter baskets would be filled with chocolate bunnies and jellybeans, but our baskets are packed with crucial essentials – toilet paper, disinfecting wipes, non-perishable food, and relief supplies that can help families impacted by this crisis.”

Liquid Church has turned its facility at 299 Webro Road, Parsippany,  into a storehouse with pallets of supplies filling the warehouse and lining the halls. Boxes of diapers, wipes, bleach, toilet paper, paper towels, hygiene kits, bottled water, spaghetti and sauce, cereals, and much more are piled high. A small team of Liquid Church staff are organizing those essential items to create Easter Baskets and Boxes of supplies to meet the needs of families of various sizes.

Any member of the community impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and in need of an Emergency Relief Kit is welcome to receive supplies as part of the Easter Weekend Outreach. The first step is going online by clicking here, where individuals can submit an “Emergency Relief Request.” They can then pick up their Relief Kit on Saturday between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Liquid Church.

“On Saturday people can drive-up in their car, we’ll drop the basket or box of supplies in their trunk, and then they drive-off. No muss, no fuss, and no contact. On Easter, we celebrate how Jesus sacrificed himself to love and serve us, so it’s a blessing to serve our community this way,” added Lucas. “For senior citizens or those quarantined at home we have a special plan in place. Our team will make doorstep deliveries on Easter Sunday. We want our vulnerable neighbors to know that God sees them, so we’ll deliver hope right to their doorstep!”

While Liquid Church works to meet the physical needs of the community with its Easter Weekend Outreach, the non-denominational Christian Church will also work to meet the spiritual needs of its neighbors by livestreaming 13 Easter Services via Church Online on April 10 to April 12.

“Although people are social distancing, we don’t want them to relationally distance. In this pandemic, people are hungry for hope and community. The beauty of technology is that we can still connect with people virtually and livestream a message of hope right into their living room. On a typical Sunday, we’d have 5,000 people attend our church in person, but last week we had 20,000 people attend Church Online. I expect even more people to livestream our Easter Weekend services on their laptops, TVs, and smartphones,” said Lucas. “In my message, I’ll encourage everybody to choose faith over fear, peace over panic, and worship over worry. As people of faith, we believe that even when our world feels uncertain, God is still in control.”

Liquid Church is offering 13 live services on Easter weekend. The service will include inspiring music, a hope-filled message, plus the opportunity to participate in a live chat and receive live prayer from Liquid’s pastors. Liquid Church Online can be found by clicking here.

To learn more about Liquid’s Emergency Easter Baskets and Relief Kits by clicking here. To view Liquid Church’s services online click here. For Easter Weekend service times click here.

Liquid Church is one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing Christian churches. Officially launched in 2007 by Lead Pastor Tim Lucas, the church’s vision is to “Saturate the State with the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” with seven campuses in Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Somerset, and Union Counties. Each week, over 5,000 people experience Liquid Church’s worship services in New Jersey and around the globe through Church Online. As part of its global outreach, Liquid provides clean drinking water to those in need, with hundreds of completed wells in Africa and Central America. Liquid Church’s innovative approaches to outreach and ministry have been spotlighted by CNN, FOX News, and TIME magazine. For more information, visit www.LiquidChurch.com.

MORRIS COUNTY — In an email to Senator Joe Pennacchio’s district office, a constituent related the frustrations and fears of her friend who after conferring with a telemed doctor, went to the emergency room with symptoms of COVID-19. With no test, New Jersey does not allow the patient access to antiviral therapy (hydroxychloroquine).

The patient was sent home to “fight it out,” the email said.

“It is heartbreaking. People are ‘begging’ for help,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “No one should ever have to beg for their government to allow their doctors treat them.

“I felt so helpless,” said the Senator.

The letter-writer implored the Senator to “Please help us! We in NJ are desperate.”

Under the Governor’s executive order, hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine may be prescribed and dispensed for treatment of COVID-19 outside of a hospital only if supported by a positive test result.

“The Administration must stop procrastinating, waiting for test results, and delaying possible life-saving medication. The State needs to stop interfering with the doctors and let them treat patients with the tools that are available today,” Pennacchio said.

There has been growing support across the globe for the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to treat the virus and control the pandemic. The list of successes that doctors have treating with HCQ continues to grow.

“People are learning about the positive results patients are getting from hydroxychloroquine. Understandably, they want to try this medication when they get sick,” Pennacchio said.

“The idea of requiring patients to have a full-blown case of coronavirus and get tested before doctors can treat them with the medication of the doctor’s choosing is absurd and dangerous. The State must unshackle doctors and allow them to use the tools they presently have to treat their patients,” the Senator concluded.

MORRIS COUNTY — Say hello to this handsome charmer, Billie! He is a 12-year old Beagle weighing 35 pounds. Billie is a gentle soul with so much love to give. He will be your loyal companion through thick and thin!

Billie was dumped by his owners at an overcrowded inner city municipal shelter. He was lost and sad in the shelter with an uncertain future ahead. Since being rescued and staying with his foster family, Billie has embraced his inner puppy and has blossomed into a whole new dog!

Despite his age, he is active and loves to play! Stuffed toys are Billie’s favorite! He carries them around the house and proudly shows off his collection. He will play chase with his foster siblings and always wants to be where the action is. He does tire more quickly than his younger companions but uses his quality nap time to recharge.

He is a happy-go-lucky boy who never stops smiling! His mouth will open wide and his wrinkles bunch up to make a picture perfect smile. He does a “happy dance” when he gets excited- typically when he wants to play or he is about to get a treat!

Billie LOVES food and is very treat motivated! Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Billie has already learned sit while being in foster home and will happily learn more.

He enjoys relaxing in his crate and sleeps in it during the night. He walks well on a leash and does great in the car! As long as he is by your side, he is a happy camper!

Billie does great with other dogs. He wouldn’t mind having a canine friend in his forever home to play with! He would do fine in a home with kids above the age of 10. Billie is primarily house trained but will have an occasional accident if he is not let outside in time.

Despite his rough journey, Billie is incredibly sweet and loving. He is hoping to find a family who he can spend the rest of his golden years with!

If you are interested in adopting Billie, please fill out an application by clicking here.

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