MORRIS COUNTY — United Way of Northern New Jersey is seeking help from volunteers and donations of new school supplies for its annual United Way Tools for School drive, which provides students with the basic tools needed to succeed in the classroom.

As students return to school in the fall, children will need basic school supplies. The drive typically seeks to benefit nearly 10,000 elementary and middle school children of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) workers and those in poverty throughout the northern New Jersey region.

United Way Tools for School aims to alleviate the budget strains on families struggling to afford the basics and who are now impacted by rising inflation.

“ALICE families and households in poverty were unable to make ends meet before the pandemic and continue to struggle as the cost-of-living skyrockets,” said Kiran Handa Gaudioso, CEO of United Way of Northern New Jersey. “The United Way Tools for School drive offers our community the opportunity to provide some much-needed financial relief to families while giving children the tools they need to succeed.”

Through a partnership between United Way and YouGiveGoods.com, donors can make an online purchase of needed supplies that will be delivered automatically to United Way or a partner school in the five counties served: Morris, Somerset, Suburban Essex, Sussex, and Warren. Donations can be made by clicking here.

Based on the needs expressed by local educators, United Way is collecting packed backpacks and the following school supplies: hand sanitizer, masks, backpacks, lunch boxes, binders, three-ring notebooks, book covers, filler paper, pocket folders, composition and spiral notebooks, index cards, calculators, pencils, pencil cases, pencil sharpeners, erasers, pens, highlighters, crayons, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, glue, tape, rulers, and scissors.

Donations of individual supplies and new, age-appropriate backpacks can also be made. In addition, school nurses have asked for personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, and kindergarten and first grade-aged children’s underwear and socks. Gift cards that can be used to purchase items such as shoes and clothing are also appreciated.

Last year, with the help of 65 volunteers, hundreds of backpacks and supplies valued at $54,000 were collected and distributed to 40 local schools and 10 nonprofit agencies throughout the northern New Jersey region.

For more information about making donations, holding a United Way Tools for School drive, or volunteering with sorting supplies, click here, email Sean.Hyland@UnitedWayNNJ.org, or call (973) 993-1160 x405.

*Suburban Essex County towns served by United Way of Northern New Jersey include the Caldwells, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Millburn-Short Hills, Montclair, Roseland, and Verona.

United Way of Northern New Jersey is a nonprofit organization fighting to improve life for families and individuals in our five-county footprint who are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) or in poverty. We believe that by securing racial and economic equity for ALICE we can improve life for all. We’re investing in ALICE’s future in the workplace, at home, and across the community. We do this through our initiatives that fill gaps in services, community partnerships, public policy work, and volunteer efforts. United Way of Northern New Jersey serves Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties as well as portions of suburban Essex County including the Caldwells, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Millburn-Short Hills, Montclair, Roseland, and Verona. To learn more, call (973) 993-1160 or click here.

PARSIPPANY — As many of you know, I left the state legislature at the end of the session in January 2022 after narrowly losing my primary. While, in hindsight, there were things I would do differently, I am not writing to you to look backward, rather, I am looking forward to the rest of 2022 and ahead into 2023. Elections are about the future, not the past. Not to mention, spending more time with my family and grandchildren has been a blessing.

We have important congressional and county elections this year and our focus as a party needs to be on stopping Joe Biden’s radical agenda of rising inflation, crime, and taxes. I, for one, look forward to working with both Tom Kean and Paul DeGroot on their campaigns for Congress in Morris County, as well as our slate for County Commissioner.

On a personal note, I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the number of people encouraging me to run for the legislature again in the “new” 26th District next year, where voters will be getting an opportunity to choose their representatives for the first time following the once-every-decade legislative redistricting that occurred earlier this year.

As of writing this letter, I am leaning strongly toward running, and look forward to speaking to many of you in the weeks and months ahead, while being sure not to distract attention from good Republicans on the ballot right now.

My record in Trenton – and service to the Republican Party over the past decade – are a great source of pride, and I am eager to advance issues near and dear to my heart, such as:

• • Fighting to lower taxes, spending, and debt – all soaring under Governor Phil Murphy
  • Restoring parental control of the classroom and ending ‘woke’ school curriculum
  • Expanding domestic energy production, especially natural gas, to reduce prices
  • Protecting the unborn and blocking Phil Murphy’s extreme pro-abortion agenda
  • Defending gun rights to ensure law-abiding gun owners are not scapegoated
  • Fixing our election laws to ensure voting is fair, secure, trustworthy, and transparent
    Honoring our veterans and their families for their sacrifice and service to our country

I look forward to talking about these key issues with you over the next several months, while out on the campaign trail for our 2022 candidates. Together, we can build a stronger, more successful Republican Party that advances the conservative ideals we hold dear.

Please feel free to contact me at (973) 540-0762 or DeCroceForAssembly@gmail.com with any questions or to share your concerns and ideas with me.

MORRIS COUNTY — Hair loss is a common enough issue. However, it’s challenging to battle, especially at older ages, despite many types of hair care products claiming to cure it. For men, almost all hair loss results from male pattern baldness – also known as androgenetic alopecia – a genetic trait. It affects an estimated 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States. The good news is that it is a curable disease, for which most doctors prescribe Finasteride. 

What Is Finasteride?

Finasteride is an oral medication used to treat male pattern hair loss. It also treats enlarged prostate glands. The drug is primarily used when the scalp keeps losing hair constantly. Note that the drug is not proven to affect temple hair loss. It’s not given to females or kids as it can affect their hormonal balance. 

Finasteride is among 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, primarily known to treat hair loss or an enlarged prostate. Essentially, this medicine functions by restricting the body from producing a hormone that stops the scalp’s hair growth. 

How to Use Finasteride? 

It is important to remember that the exact usage of finasteride varies from case to case, so you’ll have to stick to the directions of the medical officer and the information on the prescription label. A doctor will prescribe you to take it once a day for a specified time period, always at the same time and with or without food. If you accidentally miss a dose, skip it instead of doubling your dosage for the following day. Remember that varying the dosage all by yourself may affect your prostate gland, so stick closely to the doctor’s prescription.

Treating hair loss is a lengthy procedure, as both hair loss and hair growth are time-consuming processes. You will be able to see the effects of finasteride from three months, with significant changes occurring around 12 months. If there has been no improvement, it’s better to discontinue using it as the chances for it to work in the future are not likely. 

Finasteride only slows down your hair loss when you use it, making it necessary to keep regular appointments with your doctor and consult them before any change, whether you want to discontinue it or vary the dosage. If you stop using it too early, you will probably lose any hair you grew during the treatment. 

Precautions

All medicines come with potential side effects. In case of any rashes, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, issues in vision, or a painful erection immediately reach out to a healthcare professional. Finasteride warning and precautions include strictly keeping the pills in the container they came in and storing them at room temperature away from excessive heat or moisture. Keep the medicine away from the reach of children and pets. In the case of consumption by a child, there can be severe consequences such as poisoning or extreme hormonal disbalances. 

Endnote

While common, hair loss is still a complex change. Medicine has evolved, creating many treatments and cures for hair loss, with Finasteride being among the most dominant options for men. If you’re worried about the excessive amount of hair loss, make an appointment with your go-to doctor to discuss the medical implications and treatment procedure for your issue.  

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/TeXSl0ONrdk 

PARSIPPANY —  There is a critical need for blood donations and so the Parsippany PAL is teaming with the New Jersey Blood Services to host a blood drive on Wednesday, July 6 at the PAL building.

You can still donate today until 2:30 p.m.

Everyone who donates blood will receive a voucher for two Mets tickets and a t-shirt.

The Parsippany PAL is located at 33 Baldwin Road.

PARSIPPANY — American Cancer Society is hosting the 26th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk of Parsippany on Sunday, October 23 at 4 Century Drive.

In prepration for the walk, they will be hosting a Kickoff Celebration on Thursday, August 4, at White Meadow Lake Country Club. Calling all past, current and prospective supporters — Join us to kick off Making Strides of Parsippany for 2022! You will have the opportunity to celebrate survivors, register for the Walk, network with other participants, win fun prizes, and be the first to hear all of the exciting plans we have for October 23.

Both events are free and open to the public!

Reservations are required for the kickoff event, by clicking here.

For more information or to register for the Walk, click here.