PARSIPPANY — The County of Morris has identified an additional 26 Parsippany residents presumptively tested positive for COVID-19, since it was last reported on Monday, April 6.

The number of presumptive positive cases in Parsippany-Troy Hills stands at 244 individuals. (This data is as of 4:58 p.m., Tuesday, April 7).

Morris County has a total of 2260 residents presumptively tested positive for COVID-19. This is an increase of 175 cases since Monday, April 6.

Please remember to continue the best practices of social distancing, washing your hands as often as possible, disinfecting any surfaces you may touch, and avoid touching your face. If you exhibit any symptoms of illness, please remember to consult your personal doctor immediately.

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.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.covid19.nj.gov or call 211.

For a complete breakdown of Morris County total presumptively tested positive cases, click here.

PARSIPPANY — Assemblyman Jay Webber didn’t hesitate to ask Gov. Phil Murphy to reverse his decision to close state parks and forests. He sent a letter to the governor shortly after the executive order was signed (Click here to read letter).

“We recognize the incredibly difficult challenges you face every day as our beloved State battles the COVID-19 crisis.  We have and remain supportive of you and your administration as we go through this trying time together,” wrote Webber. “Your decision to close our state and county parks, however, is wrong for public health and our state’s residents.”

Webber pointed out that Murphy has promoted fresh air and exercise to help people cope through the pandemic. The assemblyman noted that people have been diligent about social distancing, and that the state parks of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and even California remain open as they employ appropriate social distancing guidelines in those states.

“Respectfully, Governor, you should trust us more.  We are fully capable of making intelligent, common-sense, and responsible choices that permit us to both to meet our obligations to the fight against COVID-19 and use our state and county park resources for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being,” wrote Webber.

Webber has set up an online petition on GoPetition.com (Click here), and is urging members of the public opposed to the executive order to sign it.

PARSIPPANY — Members from Chinese Christian Church of New Jersey, 232 South Beverwyck Road, will be distributing “Surgical Masks” starting on Wednesday, April 8 through Saturday, April 11. They will be outside ShopRite, 808 Route 46, Arlington Shopping Center, to provide local residents with masks. Each day they will distribute 1,500 masks starting at 7:30 a.m. There is a limit of three per person.

The Church also donated to the following organizations

PARSIPPANY — The Fifth Grade Girl Scout Troop 96310 from Troy Hills School has been working on earning their bronze award.

They decided to help animals by collecting pet food and animal supplies. They ran a food collection fundraiser at their school and in their community.

The girls had planned to bring the items to St. Huberts in the coming months but with the quarantine the girls and leaders decided the food was needed sooner rather than later.

The Troop wasn’t able to get the items to St. Huberts and the Parsippany Animal Control and Shelter was contacted and it was arranged to drop off the items.

Parsippany Animal Control said “It will help us with our animals, our pets in foster homes, or with residents who are struggling.”

MORRIS COUNTY — During this unprecedented health care crisis, law enforcement officer members of the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey are on the front lines of danger on the street, behind bars, guarding transportation systems and in many other locations. The amazing heroes in this battle are the men and women working as nurses, doctors and medical personnel in hospitals. The Italian American Police Society of New Jersey is working to support these brave caretakers. We are providing cooked hot meals for hospital personnel to give them strength and comfort. This endeavor also helps to support in a small way local businesses that are struggling to survive.

We invite you to consider making a financial donation. All of these donations will be used to directly feed hospital personnel in areas needed in New Jersey. As always, we are proud to serve and protect New Jersey in various ways like this. We have always appreciated the generosity of our friends and supporters and thank you in advance for your help.

If you can help in any way with a monetary donation which will help feed these workers.

Click here for more information.

PARSIPPANY — The County of Morris has identified an additional 91 Parsippany residents presumptively tested positive for COVID-19, since it was last reported on Thursday, April 2.

The number of presumptive positive cases in Parsippany-Troy Hills stands at 218 individuals. (This data is as of 4:23 p.m., Monday, April 6).

Morris County has a total of 2085 residents presumptively tested positive for COVID-19. This is an increase of 828 cases since Thursday, April 2.

Please remember to continue the best practices of social distancing, washing your hands as often as possible, disinfecting any surfaces you may touch, and avoid touching your face. If you exhibit any symptoms of illness, please remember to consult your personal doctor immediately.

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.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.covid19.nj.gov or call 211.

For a complete breakdown of Morris County total presumptively tested positive cases, click here.

By Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com

A crisis is arguably the time when government is most needed, but the viral pandemic is making it impossible for many local governing bodies to meet in person and, importantly, in public.

Officials across the state, in municipalities large and small, are adapting by using technology to conduct business and keep people aware of their actions, sometimes without having to gather in one room and risk spreading COVID-19 among council members and the public.

“I think we witnessed an extraordinary amount of innovation in local government,” said Mike Cerra, assistant executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, who was chosen last Wednesday to lead the organization starting July 1. “Meetings are being held, usually through electronic means such as Facebook Live, Zoom, GoToMeeting and so forth. Residents are able to participate through telephonic or electronic means, and the agendas are being streamlined.”

Towns have gotten some help from Governor Phil Murphy and lawmakers in the form of a relaxation of certain deadlines and procedures while still making provision for public participation in actions, including budget adoption.

New local budget deadlines, public meeting rules

Last month, both houses passed as an emergency measure and Murphy quickly signed A-3851, which gives the head of the state Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) the power to change local budget deadlines, which are currently written in law, during a public health emergency. That happened days later, as DLGS gave municipalities and counties essentially another month to introduce and adopt their budgets. The new deadlines are April 28 to introduce a spending plan and May 30 to adopt it, or the first local meetings after those dates.

At the same time, another new law allows all public bodies, including councils, committees, commissions, authorities and others, to hold public meetings by telephone or online during a state of emergency. Such meetings still must be open to the public.

The state Assembly held its first remote meeting by teleconference on March 25, passing five bills dealing with the current state of emergency, including one that Murphy signed that same day that expands the temporary disability and family leave insurance programs to cover COVID-19.

Matt Hale, a councilman in Highland Park, said the council so far has held one meeting via conference call that included a public comment period. One person spoke, wanting “to make sure that the council was not listening to President Trump’s suggestion or hope that everything would be reopened by Easter,” Hale said. The council modified some of its normal actions due to the format.

“We were able to pass some normal, basically transactional resolutions, paying bills, allocating fund transfers, that kind of thing,” said Hale, a professor of political science and public affairs at Seton Hall University. “Our council normally has each councilmember give a special report on their particular area. However, to save time and confusion, we all simply sent our most important comments to the mayor and she made all the announcements and reports. The Mayor rightly focused the vast majority of her remarks on what our town emergency services are doing and making sure people were up to date on various state directives.”

While that process worked well, Hale said the next council meeting will be held using the Zoom video conferencing app.

“At that, people will be able to see each other and I expect that more people from the public will ‘attend,’” Hale added.

‘Keep our community afloat’

Jersey City chose Microsoft Teams, an electronic platform that allows up to 10,000 to join a remote meeting, for its first virtual council meeting on March 25. The platform allows for public comment through a chat function and also through an integrated real-time call-in system, although at least one person’s question was relayed via a call to the cell phone of City Clerk Sean Gallagher, who put the call on speakerphone and held his phone up to his computer screen. The city has established an email address, JCVCM@jcnj.org, for community members to send their name and phone number in advance to request to speak.

“We are committed to continuing our duty as a City Council by keeping our critical government functions moving forward amid this crisis,” said Council President Joyce Watterman. “We need to do whatever we can to keep our community afloat and also maintain as much normalcy as is possible. These virtual meetings will do exactly that.”

Still, the meeting did not go off without a hitch as it had to be restarted about 3½ minutes in after some people complained they could not access it. But then it proceeded with only Gallagher in his office and other council members in their homes, all able to be seen as they spoke to viewers.

Creating a new blueprint

Belleville Mayor Michael Melham said the township had an edge because it started live streaming council meetings after he took office two years ago to fulfill a pledge he made to improve transparency.

During their first meeting since the state of emergency, Melham and two other council members sat a safe distance from one another on the dais, with a fourth council member seated where the audience normally would sit, along with a few members of staff. Three other council members called in and were placed on speakerphone. The agenda was posted two days before the meeting, and people could send the clerk questions or comments; a few were read into the record.

“I believe people do want to see continuity of government, they do want to see us in the building and they do want to see us holding meetings, business as usual almost, but then we were also good examples of social distancing,” Melham said. “There’s really no blueprint on how to do it … I feel like we went above and beyond, actually.”

While lawmakers and Murphy made an effort to preserve open meetings during the current state of emergency, their action relating to the availability of public records diminished, at least on paper, the public’s ability to get records through the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) during this emergency.

Legislators passed and Murphy signed A-3849, which requires a public records custodian to “make a reasonable effort to respond” to a request for a government record within seven days or as soon as possible “as the circumstances permit” during a state of emergency. Typically, custodians are required to respond to a request within seven business days, although custodians at the state level, in particular, often ask for one or more extensions of time to fulfill a request. The law does not provide any concrete deadline by which a governmental body needs to respond to a request during an emergency.

John Paff, chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party’s Open Government Advocacy Project, who typically submits hundreds of public records requests a year, said the change ultimately may not make much of a difference in when or whether a person receives requested records.

“What matters most is the good faith of the custodian,” he said. “The seven business days deadline is illusory anyway, even during normal times, if you have a custodian whose heart is not corners with OPRA.”

‘A loophole to get around the law’

He noted that some records custodians wait until the last moment the law allows to answer a request and to ask for more time to provide the records and then might ask for several extensions. Should they not follow the spirit of the law, “a lot of mischief can be done if they use this as a loophole to get around the law,” Paff added.

CJ Griffin, a partner in the law firm Pashman Stein Walder Hayden who specializes in open public records issues, agreed.

“What I believe is that most agencies will do their best to try to reply to OPRA requests, although it may be a little slower than usual and certain categories of documents … may not be available until people can go back into physical work spaces,” Griffin said. “Those agencies that already routinely violate OPRA’s 7-day rule and take endless extensions, however, will view the new amendment as justification to essentially ignore OPRA. I am already seeing that with some problem agencies.”

Griffin said the revision is “particularly problematic” for reporters and the public who are trying to get information about the COVID-19 crisis.

“Transparency is an essential function of a democracy and in a time of crisis people need more information, not less,” Griffin said. “So, at a bare minimum, I hope that agencies will respond to COVID-19-related requests within the ordinary 7 days, if not sooner. People are desperate for information.”

Adapting day-to-day business

While the current crisis remains utmost in the minds of much of the population, some New Jerseyans still have other business they need to conduct with government — from renewing a dog license to paying a property-tax bill. Counties and municipalities are handling the day-to-day business of government the best they can, with many closing their offices to the general public except by appointment and keeping minimal staff in the buildings, while others work from home.

“We’re hearing of pausing scheduled renewals, rotating staff, drop boxes or slots for payments and documents, remote video building inspections, modified work rules for social distancing in offices,” said Cerra.

Melham said Belleville’s township hall is open for business, but closed to the public unless a person has an appointment or prior business to complete. A “skeleton crew” of workers is in the building while others work from home, with those working in the office or from home alternating in shifts. Workers who are older or have underlying health conditions that put them in a high-risk category for complications from the virus are not required to work in the office now.

“We are threading the needle between still being able to service the public, while keeping our employees and, by default, the residents, safe,” he said.

Similarly, Jersey City continues to maintain essential government functions to provide necessary services through minimal on-site staffing and remote work from home. No walk-in business is permitted, but people can conduct business at City Hall with an appointment.

“Simply put, there are bills to pay, licenses to issue and services to be delivered as the responsibilities of government must continue even while we are facing a crisis unlike any we have faced in this country in modern times,” said Mayor Steve Fulop. “Technologically the future is now, and we have to embrace it in order to become more efficient and keep government moving in the right direction.”

MORRIS COUNTY — As evidence continues to mount supporting the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) against the coronavirus, New Jersey remains behind the curve in its approach to treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

Numerous doctors have joined Senator Joe Pennacchio in his call to unshackle them, and allow doctors to treat patients and prescribe HCQ as both a treatment and early preventative against this virus.

“Minimally, the State should have secured HCQ pills and developed a distribution protocol,” said Senator Pennacchio.

Adding to that request, the Senator challenged the State Department of Health to immediately perform a “retrospective study” of people who have routinely taken HCQ as a drug therapy for other diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Such a study comparing this population of patients to an equal number of patients who have not been treated with HCQ would prove to be an early treatment protection against COVID-19.

Others such as Dr. Philip DeFina, PhD, a research scientist and former associate professor at New York University School of Medicine, agree with Senator Pennacchio.

“A retrospective analysis of people who are already taking HCQ as part of an ongoing treatment plan for ailments such as autoimmune disorders would be extremely informative data to assess whether or not these same people appear to have a decreased likelihood of contracting COVID-19.  Additionally, some first responders, military personnel and front-line healthcare workers who are already taking lower, prophylactic doses of HCQ would be an excellent source population for a scientifically valid retrospective study. Furthermore, doctor’s nationwide have been prescribing HCQ for compassionate use in patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. There has been some reporting that these outcomes are being tracked for potential studies, and they absolutely should be.”

“Relying on federal ‘guidance’ which seems to have their own issues about accepting HCQ is not enough. The State of New Jersey must immediately take a proactive approach,” concluded Senator Pennacchio.

PARSIPPANY — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, its toll grows exponentially, and the timeline to overcoming the novel coronavirus is uncertain. On the frontlines of this pandemic, in the middle of the chaos, stand a group of individuals whose heroism was not fully appreciated before this crisis –the first responders.

BAPS is located at 3 Entin Road.

Doctors, nurses, paramedics, public safety officers and others risk their lives on a daily basis to ensure the well-being of the public at large. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide Hindu organization, and the caretakers of six traditional stone mandirs (Hindu place of worship) in North America located in the greater metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and Toronto as well as Robbinsville, New Jersey, has decided to honor these brave individuals who now risk their health, more than ever before to stem the impact of COVID-19.

Starting on March 29, BAPS has been lighting these landmarks blue as a gesture of gratitude to those men and women working tirelessly in healthcare and public safety. Nilkanth Patel, a devotee at BAPS and a director of the organization’s humanitarian arm, BAPS Charities said, “BAPS Charities, for years, has had the good fortune of engaging healthcare professionals and first responders in some of our initiatives such as health fairs for the uninsured or underinsured, as well as our quarterly health awareness seminars. Through these activities, many of these professionals have become our friends and partners in community service.

Likewise, BAPS and BAPS Charities host events which require the collaboration with local agencies and officials –many of whom we have gotten to know well on a personal level.

During these times when our friends and brethren are risking their lives to literally save our families, we as an organization want them to know that we salute them.” In addition to lighting the mandirs blue, BAPS Charities has also donated over 18,000 N95 respiratory masks during the critical early days of the pandemic to some of the hardest hit hospital systems in New York, New Jersey, and Canada.

BAPS operates over 100 mandirs throughout North America and over 3,300 globally. Since early March, the organization has shut down all of its mandirs and stopped all in-person activities in response to COVID-19. Typically, children, adolescents, young professionals, as well as senior devotees partake in weekly spiritual assemblies on the premises. Understanding that many are looking for spiritual comfort and guidance during these unprecedented times, the organization is hosting weekly webcasts for each age group in order to provide a sense of spiritual continuity.His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS global spiritual leader and the inspirer of BAPS Charities’ humanitarian activities, has asked families to pray every morning and evening for the quick resolution to the COVID-19 pandemic and for the well-being of all who have been impacted by it.BAPS and BAPS Charities will provide the latest information and updates on their respective websites, www.baps.org and www.bapscharities.org.

PARSIPPANY — Rita A. Lacis, 61, Parsippany, was charged with violating the Governor’s executive emergency orders on Saturday, April 4, by the Rockaway Borough Police Department.

Rockaway Borough Police had given Lacis a warning after they learned that she was continuing to operate her dog grooming service. At that time, she claimed that she misunderstood the order requiring closure of all non-essential businesses.

She was charged when officer saw two customers drop off a dog a short time later.

A Facebook post on Saturday, April 4 at 2:01 p.m. stated “I want everyone to know, we wanted to keep open to provide you with whatever mind occupying entertainment we could during this trying time. Unfortunately with a heavy heart, we are being forced to close until further notice. Stay safe! Stay healthy and hope to see you all soon!”

Violations of the emergency orders constitute a disorderly persons offense carrying a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.  However, violators can potentially face criminal charges including second, third, and fourth degree indictable offenses.

Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation.  Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

During this uncertain and rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, we are encouraging all pet owners to have an emergency plan in place for their pets. This is critical if you become ill or require hospitalization. It is important to have someone you trust to take care of your pets to avoid them being taken to the animal shelter.

Your pet will be most comfortable in their own home or with someone they know. This will ensure the personalized care of your pet during a stressful time. Identify and contact ahead of time, a trusted family member, friend or pet sitter who can care for your pet if you become ill or are hospitalized.

Make sure pets are wearing proper identification (collar with ID tag and/or registered microchip).

Have extra food, supplies, and medication on hand. It would be beneficial to have written instructions on your pets feeding schedule, amount of food per serving, and veterinarian information.

Keep all animal vaccines up to date in the event boarding becomes necessary.

We hope everyone is staying healthy. Be well and hug your pets!

PARSIPPANY — Patty Bauk-Taylor started a collection of supplies for the heroes at Morristown Medical Center.

Thousands of little hotel shampoos, conditioners and soaps were collected in just a few short days.

Depasquale The Spa gave a generous donation of 2500 bottles of shampoo – amazing!

Patty said “My faith in humanity has truly been restored and everyone who donated should be proud of themselves, we made a difference today! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart ❤️.”

Click here for original article.

PARSIPPANY — Ava Grace Mazzarella was born on April 4, 2012 at 2:20 p.m. She weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20.5 inches. Happy Birthday Ava from your friends at Parsippany Focus.

Parsippany celebrated Ava’s birthday today with a “Drive By Birthday Party.”

PARSIPPANY— On Friday, April 3, the Township of Parsippany, in partnership with Bethel Church of Morristown’s Table of Hope hosted a Mobile Food Drop in the PAL parking lot.

Pastor Sidney Williams, volunteers from the Church, and members of the Township and local food bank placed bags of food into the trunks of over 70 vehicles, providing hundreds of meals to those who attended.

The Township will look to make the mobile food drop a more regular event taking place in Parsippany to support residents in need. For more information on upcoming mobile food drops, to donate, or to volunteer, please call (973) 263-7160.