Belleville Post - May 2021

BELLEVILLE POST

ESSEXNEWSDAILY.COM

Yoga with blossoms

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Vaccines in Belleville

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MAY 2021

VOL. 35 NO. 49

Virtual session gives information about Essex–Hudson Greenway

By Amanda Valentovic Staff Writer Members of the Bloomfield Township Council and Essex County Board of County Commissioners held a meeting about the proposed Essex–Hudson Greenway project on April 14, updating residents about the 9-mile park that could run through Essex and Hudson counties. The park would be built on an unused freight train rail line owned by Norfolk Southern, which runs through eight towns: Bloomfield, Montclair, Glen Ridge, Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus and Jersey City. Partnering with the counties is the Open Space Institute, the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition, and the September 11 National Memorial Trail.

“All of these towns seem to not have enough green space,” County Commissioner Carlos Pomares said at the meeting. “The opportunity to preserve a little bit more is always a very welcome sight.

Not only will there be green space, but the ability to connect with other locations. If we don’t take the opportunity to jump on it now, it may not come around again.”

Essex and Hudson counties are among

Debra Kagan from the Open Space Institute speaks about the proposed Essex–Hudson Greenway project on April 14. the most populated counties in New Jersey; Debra Kagan of the NJBWC said there is currently nothing like the proposed park in either county.

“It creates this kind of opportunity to create a green public space where people

can not only bike and walk, but also can join their neighbors in a park space,” she said. “It would provide transportation alternatives, meaning this is a safe place to have biking and walking to commute See PROJECT, Page 3

Honoring Belleville establishes its first internet our veterans exchange safety zone, monitored by PD

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The township of Belleville has established a safe area for residents to complete purchases and swaps made through websites such as Craigslist and Recycler.

The area in front of Town Hall, 152 Washington Ave. in Belleville, has been designated as an internet exchange safety zone intended for residents to use to complete online transactions safely.

The walkway leading to the entrance of the Belleville Police Department and

Town Hall on the northside of the building will be monitored by cameras 24 hours a day.

“This is important because so many of us are making online purchases these days,” said Councilman Vinny Cozzarelli, who spearheaded the creation of the internet exchange safety zone. “This is a safe and convenient alternative to completing transactions with strangers at your front door.”

Signs have been posted on police head-

quarters to direct residents to the area. No appointment is necessary to use the meetup area.

“The members of the Belleville Police Department support this area because it’s just another way to keep the residents of Belleville safe,” police Chief Mark Minichini said. “We have seen this program work effectively in other municipalities, and we’re happy to offer it to our residents, too.”

2 — May 2021 — Belleville Post

Belleville’s first community garden takes root Belleville Township’s first community garden — where Jersey-fresh tomatoes, cool cucumbers and other delicious vegetables will soon sprout — has taken root at Fairway Park on Riverdale Avenue.

The 12 vegetable garden planters, each measuring 4 feet by 8 feet, will soon be available to Belleville residents on a firstcome, first-served basis for the 2021 growing season by online registration and a nominal fee.

The application and garden rules will

be posted soon on the township website, www.bellevillenj.org.

The community garden provides a local opportunity for residents who might not own land or have access to a plot of earth to grow their own vegetables.

“There has been a real boom in recent years of residents who have started their own backyard vegetable gardens,” Belleville Green Team coordinator Gabrielle Bennett-Meany said. “This gives See FAIRWAY, Page 26

Photos Courtesy of Belleville Township

Belleville Post — May 2021 — 3

Project to bring greenway to Belleville moves ahead (Continued from Page 1) not only within a town and between towns, but really from Montclair all the way to Jersey City. Being able to have biking when you don’t have access to a car is

an issue of equity for many people.”

Other benefits include links to the East Coast Greenway, the September 11 National Memorial Trail and the Morris Canal; environmental design to capture

Belleville Post in print again We’re back! The Belleville Post began printing in 1982, at which time it was a weekly newspaper. In 2016, the Post converted into an online-only monthly newspaper. This, however, is our first issue back in print and we will continue to grow the newspaper.

The Belleville Post, now back in print, will continue to be a monthly newspaper and will continue to share common pages with the Nutley Journal.

Our growth of course depends on our community. We would like to hear from you about upcoming events in Belleville and noteworthy individuals you believe should be featured; our staff can be contacted at editorial@thelocalsource.com.

And businesses looking to support our local newspaper can reach us at adservices@thelocalsource.com or call 908-686-7700, ext. 146.

rainwater runoff and mitigate flooding; and increased accessibility for people with disabilities. Kagan also said the greenway would give the counties the chance to preserve the wildlife along its 9 miles.

“There are a number of native plants, as well as invasive plants, along this whole corridor,” Kagan said. “This is giving us not only the opportunity to enhance the natural habitat, but to introduce new trees and tree coverage, as well as to restore natural habitat in a place where it’s been destroyed.

“There’s potential for Safe Routes to School, for recreation, for programming that the schools could use this space for,” she added. “It would be very accessible.”

No decisions have been made about the design of the park yet; the counties are first making sure the property isn’t sold to a private buyer. Both counties have

passed general resolutions in support of the project and discussions about funding packages are in progress with county and state officials.

The OSI signed a purchase and sale agreement with Norfolk Southern, which expires at the end of 2021. If a sale isn’t negotiated by then, the company can sell off the land in pieces. According to Dene Lee from the OSI, the organization has done several environmental and infrastructure studies in the last three years on the property.

“The purchase price is $65 million from Norfolk Southern, and we have this New Jersey budget cycle to put something together to consummate that sale,” Lee said at the meeting.

The full meeting can be viewed at www.facebook.com/bloomfieldtwpnj.

Yoga, cherry blossoms and community connection Cherry blossom–lined Mertz Avenue in Belleville was transformed into an open-air yoga studio for approximately 50 people who spent Wednesday afternoon, April 14, holding the lotus, the downward dog and other poses.

The “Street Yoga Under the Cherry Blossoms” event, led by yogi Michelle Petersen of Signature Fitness, was another sign that Belleville is beginning to return to life as usual. Council members Naomy De Pena and Vinny Cozzarelli, and

Board of Education member Gabrielle Bennett-Meany took part in the annual event, which was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 health crisis.

“This is just one of the most picturesque little streets in Belleville — the perfect example of why we are widely known as the Cherry Blossom Capital of America,” Mayor Michael Melham said. “This was a great way for residents to come out, stretch a bit and enjoy the spring beauty of Belleville.”

Photos Courtesy of Belleville Township

4 — May 2021 — Nutley Journal - Belleville Post

Essex County commissioners honor county’s youth On April 14, the Essex County Board of County Commissioners held its 2021 Essex County Celebrates Youth program virtually, via Zoom. The ceremony aims to acknowledge and encourage outstanding young people throughout Essex County.

County Commissioner President Wayne L. Richardson discussed the contributions of the county’s younger generation during the challenges of the past year and the need for everyone to move forward with their day-to-day lives while remaining vigilant in their actions to stop the spread of COVID-19.

This year, the board recognized three outstanding young students for their leadership and one youth organization: Elina Brahmandam, of Livingston; Jaylene Rivera, of Newark; Genesis Whitlock, of Montclair; and the Abbott Leadership Institute of Newark.

Elina, currently a fifth-grader at Harrison Elementary School in Livingston, was recognized for a variety of contributions, including working as an editor for “Girls Who STEAM,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, arts and math; training her peers and older high school–aged students on the basics of computer programming; and authoring a blog and publishing two books.

Jaylene, a fourth-grader at Roberto Clemente Elementary School in Newark, has been volunteering for the Latino Edification Multicultural Aid Center for the past year. Her duties include shelving items at the center’s food pantry; packaging bags of food for distribution; and packaging gloves and face masks for seniors, law enforcement personnel, people with respiratory problems and anyone else in need of these supplies.

Whitlock is a senior at Montclair High School and serves in a multitude of extracurricular capacities, including president of the MHS Student Coalition, presi-

dent of the Montclair NAACP Youth Council and student activist coordinator for Amnesty International; she is also the first student representative on Montclair’s Board of Education. Last summer, she organized a march of more than 6,000 community members to address racial inequities within the school system and assisted in drafting the Montclair districtwide anti-racism policy.

The Abbott Leadership Institute is an organization, led by Kaleena Berryman, that has been making a positive difference in the lives of Newark youth since 2002.

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The institute has empowered parents, students and educators with information about education policy, methods for civic engagement and leadership in school reform.

Accepting the commendation on their behalf was Mercy Wah, a senior at University High School and current peer mentor in the organization.

Minister Andrew Johnson from the St. Paul Baptist Church in Montclair delivered prayers during the occasion, and the audience was treated to the musical talents of siblings Mecadon, Zuri and Ava McCune.

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6 — May 2021 — Belleville Post

Photos Courtesy of Michael Perrone

Belleville Historical Society holds commemoration A traditional Chinese festival, Qingming, known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, was commemorated at the Chinese monument in the cemetery of the former Belleville Dutch Reformed Church, now Iglesia La Senda Antigua, on Saturday, April 17.

Fifty guests from New Jersey and New York gathered under sunny skies to remember the first Chinese immigrants on the East Coast of the United States, who died and were buried in Belleville and in what is today North Arlington.

This event has been organized by the Belleville Historical Society and the United Chinese American Association of New Jersey for the past five years; the 2020 event was limited to three people due to the pandemic.

According to Belleville Historical Society President Michael Perrone, by the spring of 1871 — just one year after Belleville welcomed many Chinese immigrants to the town — two of those transplants had died.

“We built this monument so that Ah

Ling and Zing Sing, and the others who died and were buried here, 6,000 miles from home, would always be remembered,” Perrone said.

Margaret Lam, founder and co-chairperson of the UCAANJ, presented Lillian Ortiz, the church’s pastor, with a check for $25,000 to help with the repair of the church steeple. Also participating in the event were Englewood Cliffs Council President William Woo, who also serves as cochairperson of UCAANJ; Belleville Councilmen Steven Rovell and Vincent Coz-

zarelli; and Montclair Councilman Robert Russo. Tiesha Maranda presented a commendation from state Sen. Theresa Ruiz.

Those in attendance took the opportunity to speak out against the current wave of anti-Asian violence. Perrone said that in the 1800s the people of Belleville served as an example for all of America on acceptance and respect for all people and that the example they set in the 19th century should also serve as an example today.

The Chinese monument was built by the Belleville Historical Society in 2016.

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Partners for Peace to hold rock-decorating event An initiative created in Nutley several years ago called Partners in Peace promotes the importance of inclusion, peace and solidarity. As part of this movement, Nutley became the 223rd International City of Peace on Sept. 18, 2018. To celebrate this accomplishment, the Nutley community is working together to design a permanent sculpture installation to highlight the concept of unity and world peace.

The sculpture will be installed in Yanticaw Park. The individual letters of the word “unity” will be constructed from stone-filled gabion baskets. The word “peace” will be spelled out in glass mosaic

on the sides of each letter when viewed from the side angle. The tentative completion date and unveiling is fall 2021.

On Friday, May 7, from 1 to 4 p.m., Partners in Peace will begin creating “peace rocks” in Yanticaw Park. Community members are encouraged to attend and decorate a rock with a peace message to be added to the sculpture. The rain date is May 14.

For additional information, call 973284-4929, connect with Nutley Community Partners for Peace on social media, or send an email to nutleypeace rocks@gmail.com.

Photos Courtesy of Sandra Carella

Vincent Church Care Pantry supply drive continues The Vincent Church Care Pantry has distributed personal care items to those in need in the Nutley community for more than 25 years. Items are collected at the church, bagged for each family and distributed on the first Monday of the month from 4 to 6 p.m.

During the pandemic, the need has grown by 50 percent to more than 70 families each month. The shelves have become harder to stock due to the increased need,

the pandemic limitations of usual donors, the limited stock at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and difficulty purchasing items in bulk.

The following items are needed most: paper towels, toilet paper, household cleaners, laundry detergent, dish detergent, shampoo and deodorant. Many of these items cannot be purchased using an NJ SNAP card.

Donations can be dropped off in front of the left front

door of the church Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is located at 100 Vincent Place in Nutley, across from the Nutley Library. Monetary donations can be made by visiting the church website’s online donation page at www.vincentumc.org/onlinedonations and noting that the donation is for the Care Pantry or by mailing checks, also marked for the Care Pantry, made out and mailed to Vincent Church, 100 Vincent Place, Nutley, NJ 07110.

CDI in Nutley develops advanced COVID variants test Experts at the Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation in Nutley have developed a highthroughput test that can detect multiple variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in twoand-a-half hours, a major advance in tracking the virus and in treating patients.

The test can detect the known U.K., Brazil and South African variants, as well as others containing the key E484K mutation, which are gaining prominence as the virus evolves. The global health community is in a race to vaccinate as many people as possible as variants threaten to create new surges. The study, which was coauthored with scientists from the New York Genome Center, was published online in medRxiv.

“The Center for Discovery and Innovation is again leading the way in creating breakthroughs that will help defeat this pandemic,’’ HMH CEO Robert Garrett said. “The CDI was created for this purpose — to deliver effective solutions in real time that will benefit patients, our communities and well beyond.’’

The results likely indicate that variants are increasing in prevalence in hospitals and communities across New Jersey — and that mass vaccination is more impor-

tant than ever, since the vaccines remain effective against all forms of SARS-CoV-2 to date.

“Certain virus variants are concerning because they are resistant or less responsive to current first-line treatments involving monoclonal antibody cocktails,” said David Perlin, the chief scientific officer and senior vice president of the CDI. “Our rapid throughput test allows doctors to treat those with COVID-19 who have specific variants with more effective therapies.”

The CDI’s test, which assessed samples from New Jersey patients from December 2020 through February 2021, found the virus variants increasing in prominence.

Among 435 nasal swab samples at eight hospitals and other care sites across the Hackensack Meridian Health network, the E484K variant was found in 12 percent of all samples in February 2021. The N501Y variant followed in prevalence at 11 percent.

These findings are from a variety of care settings within Hackensack Meridian Health and located throughout the state of New Jersey. Since the variants were detected in multiple locations, it’s highly likely that the variants are going undetected in other parts of the state.

These “immune-escape” variants car-

rying the E484K mutation are also concerning because they have been linked in other countries with reinfection.

While the E484K mutation appears to make the virus resistant to certain treat-

ments, such as particular monoclonal antibodies, the major COVID-19 vaccines are still broadly effective against preventing severe disease. Vaccination is still key to beating COVID-19, according to Perlin.

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CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT

Suburban Essex Chamber of Commerce ~ Serving Bloomfield, Belleville and Glen Ridge Businesses ~

ATTENTION CLASS OF 2021 SENIORS! SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE FRIDAY, APRIL 30TH The Suburban Essex Chamber of Commerce Foundation is proudly awarding scholarships again this year. The recipients must be a graduating high school senior (private or public) and reside in the towns that we support; Bloomfield, Belleville and Glen Ridge. Applications can be found at the high school guidance office, chamber website www.suburbanessexchamber.com or you can contact Cecelia Polizzi or Donna Pietroiacovo at 973-748-2000 for a copy.

Scholarship Criteria: Financial need, fall attendance at a college, university, or vocational school, intention to pursue a career that is business oriented and extra-curricular/community activities.

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Photo Courtesy of Belleville

Township nurse Joann Marino Greiss passes out gift bags with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to Belleville residents who were given a ride to a COVID-19 vaccination center.

Belleville, EC programs help locals get vaccine Two programs are helping dozens of Belleville residents, including many seniors, who have been eagerly awaiting their COVID-19 vaccinations, get their shots.

The Belleville Health Department is administering shots in homebound seniors’ homes, while Essex County is providing door-to-door service to vaccine centers to other seniors who otherwise lack transportation.

“Both programs are providing crucial services to our residents, including our seniors,” Mayor Michael Melham said. “I want to thank County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. and Essex County for including Belleville in the bus program. We asked them to include Belleville in the program because we knew we had many seniors here who needed the service. Their generosity and the hard work of our township health department and the EMS members are keeping our residents safe and healthy as we persevere through the pandemic.”

The county’s pilot program picks up seniors in Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington, Newark and Orange, and takes them to a vaccination site set up at the Stephen N. Adubato Sr. Sports Complex in Newark. The bus then brings them home after they have gotten their shot.

The township’s home visit program is staffed by registered nurses Pat Hickey and Joann Marino Greiss, who work in the township’s health department. They travel

to the homes of residents who have signed up with the township to receive the shot.

Hickey and Greiss are escorted by members of the township’s EMS squad, who remain on standby in case residents have an immediate reaction to the vaccine.

“The seniors have been relieved to get the vaccinations,” Hickey said. “They greet us with smiles.… It feels great as a health care provider to be helping people stay healthy rather than treating them when they are sick.”

“This has been a tough time for many of us, but it has been very difficult on seniors over the past year,” Greiss said. “Early on, we knew that the risk of severe illness with COVID-19 increases in older adults.”

In addition to getting the vaccine, these township residents are also getting a small additional gift. Hickey said she used some of the CARES Act money the health department received to make small gift bags filled with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.

“We are proud of our health department and how it is literally going the extra mile to help our residents,” township manager Anthony Iacono said. “It is crucial that we continually search for ways to best serve our residents during this lingering pandemic.”

Residents can get more information by calling the township health department at 973-450-3389 or 973-450-3393.

Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 11

Essex CASA seeks advocates Each year, more than 2,100 children across Essex County are removed from their birth parents due to abuse, neglect or abandonment and their cases come before Family Court. Through CASA for Children of Essex County, citizens are trained and empowered as officers of the court to help these children and the judges hearing their cases.

CASA for Children of Essex County is currently seeking volunteers across the county to join the 223 advocates that currently serve 530 foster children in the county.

There are more than 1,000 foster children in Essex County who do not have a CASA advocate and are in need of one.

CASA volunteer advocates are appointed by family court judges to serve one child or sibling set at a time and their critical volunteer role is to: dedicate four hours per week, on

average; visit the child in their foster placement monthly; gain their trust as the “judge’s helper”; confirm their safety and well-being; identify any unmet needs of the child; visit their teachers and school to advocate for their unmet educational needs, if any; report to the judge monthly on the child’s well-being; and become part of a collaborative team serving the child within the child welfare system in Essex County.

Prior to taking on the CASA volunteer’s roles and responsibilities, a CASA advocate must attend a 33-hour basic training program. The advocate partners with a CASA case supervisor who will help guide their work.

If citizens are interested in getting involved with CASA for Children of Essex County as an advocate, reach out to Volunteer Director Carol Costello at 973648-3351.

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American Legion 105 recognizes Vietnam War vets American Legion Post No. 105 on Washington Avenue in Belleville held a ceremony for National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29.

“The Vietnam War is a story of service members of different backgrounds, colors and creeds who came together to complete a daunting mission,” read the proclamation made by President Barack Obama in 2012 establishing National Vietnam War Veterans Day. “In one of the war’s most profound tragedies, many of these men and women came home to be shunned or neglected — to face treatment unbefitting their courage and a welcome unworthy of their example. We must never let this happen again.”

More than 2.7 million Americans were deployed to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, which officially lasted from Nov. 1, 1955, to April 30, 1975. The conflict resulted in 58,318 killed or missingin-action Americans.

“But today isn’t about statistics — it’s about giving those men and women what they deserved,” said Post 105 2nd Vice Cmdr. Scott Higgins, who gave the keynote speech.

Honoring those who made it back, American Legion Post 105 held a short commemoration on March 29. With more than 30 veterans and friends of Post 105 at the event, Cmdr. Joe Cobianchi called the remembrance to order with a salute to the flag, followed by Higgins’ speech, in which he discussed the negative public response to returning veterans.

“They weren’t greeted by people waving flags, parades, handshakes, hugs and kisses,” Higgins said. “And now, these brave soldiers, who went to war for their country … we wish to honor you and thank you.”

Belleville Historical Society President Mike Perrone took the podium following Higgins’ tribute, to talk about four flags.

The historical society had brought these flags to Maryland to fly on the Fort McHenry flagpole, which stands on the spot where Francis Scott Key was motivated to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

On Sept. 13 and 14, 1814, during the War of 1812, Major George Armistead raised a gigantic American flag to fly over Fort McHenry, as the British were attempting to besiege Baltimore. This sight inspired Key to write what became the United States’ national anthem.

“We feel honored to be able to go down to the fort, have our flags flown and pay our respects to Major Armistead,” Perrone said of the historical society’s trip to Fort McHenry.

The historical society then presented a flag to each of the veterans organizations present, in honor of all Vietnam veterans.

Cobianchi accepted the flag for American Legion Post 105, Post Cmdr. Darryl Root for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 493 in Nutley, Post Adjutant Henry Deltosto for Legion Post 70 in Nutley, and Post 105 Vice Cmdr. Walter LaBar on behalf of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22. A special 15-star flag was also presented to historian and author Anthony Buccino, who has written about Belleville residents who served in Vietnam.

After the event, Algieri’s Pizza in Belleville catered a reception, which concluded with a cake, decorated with a Vietnam Service Medal ribbon, made by Sons of the American Legion member Vinny Ferriole. The cake was cut by American Legion Essex County Cmdr. Terrence Scantlebury.

Above, Essex County Cmdr. Terrence Scantlebury cuts the cake, which can be seen better below right. Below left are Joe Cobianchi, left, and 1st Vice Cmdr. Walt LaBar.

At left, Belleville Historical Society President Mike Perrone speaks. Below are Cobianchi, left, and Perrone.

Photos Courtesy of Rusty Myers

Post 105 2nd Vice Cmdr. Scott Higgins gives the keynote address.

Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 13

BULLETIN BOARD Golf outing to support breast cancer survivors Nutley Thriving Survivors Inc. will hold its 17th annual golf outing on Monday, May 17, at Francis A. Byrne Golf Course in West Orange; lunch will follow at Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville.

Though last year’s outing was canceled, NTS continued to provide assistance and support to those fighting breast cancer. This outing is the organization’s major fundraising event. To register, visit www.nutleythrivingsurvivors.com.

The organization’s annual “Celebration Walk” will be held on Sunday, Oct. 3, beginning at John H. Walker Middle School in Nutley, and its “Celebration Brunch: will be on Sunday, Oct. 24, at the Glen Ridge Country Club. There is no charge for the brunch for survivors, or “thrivers,” as the organization calls them, and one guest of their choosing.

ESSEX COUNTY’S COLLECTION DAY

Household Hazardous Waste Free to all Essex County Residents Essex County residents must provide proof of residency at the site.

Saturday, May 1, 2021 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Essex County Fleet Management (Public Works) 99 W. Bradford Avenue, Cedar Grove, New Jersey

Relay for Life on May 21 The township of Nutley, through the Department of Parks and Recreation, will hold “Relay for Life of Nutley: Walk Through the Park” on Friday, May 21, from 8 to 10 p.m. at Memorial Park, aka the Mud Hole. Participants must remain socially distanced and are required to preregister at www.relayforlife.org/nutleynj.

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s largest annual fundraiser, with communities across the country taking part.

Rock Hunger IV is back Nutley Family Service Bureau’s live show Rock Hunger IV is back and will take place at the Old Canal Inn, 2 E. Passaic Ave. in Nutley, starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. The concert will feature The Attic, The Adventures of Matte Black, Drunk Uncles, The Sticky Wickets and The Porch Rockers. Sponsorships are available now.

Light fare, cash bar and chance for prizes will be available. All proceeds benefit NFSB programs, including the food pantry. To buy tickets, become a sponsor or make a donation, visit nutleyfamily.org/rock-hunger/.

Sponsor the VFW website Nutley Veterans of Foreign Wars Stuart E. Edgar Post 493 has launched a new website and is currently seeking site sponsorship. Sponsorship is tax deductible, as the VFW is a nonprofit organization.

Unlike most website sponsors, those who sponsor the Nutley VFW site will get more than just a banner ad; they will get a dedicated page on the website.

For more information, contact the Nutley VFW at 862-208-3911 or vfwpost493nutley@gmail.com.

Make sure news of your upcoming events is printed in the newspaper by sending an email with the pertinent information to editorial@thelocalsource.com.

For more information call 973-792-9060 or www.ecuanj.com

ITEMS ACCEPTED: Pesticides and Herbicides Paint thinners and solvents Oil based paints and stains Chemistry sets

Propane tanks (barbecue type) Pool chemicals Automotive fluids (antifreeze, motor oil, steering fluids, etc.)

Darkroom/ Photographic chemicals

Lithium and NiCad batteries Fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts Mercury and products containing mercury Gasoline/Kerosene

Household cleaning fluids Car batteries Fire extinguishers (home) Driveway sealer Aerosol spray paints

Empty Containers Explosives, Munitions, Ordnance or Reactive Materials

Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V)

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT: Latex paint Unlabeled or Unidentified Materials Asbestos

Regulated Medical Waste or Infectious Waste Commercial or Industrial Waste

Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

✔ Only one person per vehicle. ✔ Face mask mandatory. ✔ Do not exit vehicle. ✔ Display license (ID) through closed car window. ✔ Items for disposal to be placed in trunk. ✔ NO containers will be returned (gas cans, etc.)

Not for Commercial and Industrial Facilities.

“There are some materials that should be removed from our regular waste stream because of their hazardous nature. This collection day provides our residents a place to properly and safely dispose of contaminants, protecting our precious environment for future generations. I encourage residents of all of our communities to come out and participate.”

— Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive, the Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Essex County Utilities Authority

14 — May 2021 — Nutley Journal - Belleville Post

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John Halligan and Finn Kristian Schuemann, both of Nutley, earned the dean’s award with distinction from Colgate University, located in Hamilton, N.Y., for the fall 2020 semester. Both graduates of Saint Peter’s Prep, Halligan is majoring in anthropology and Schuemann is majoring in political science.

Belleville High School graduate Philann Idrovo earned the dean’s award for academic excellence; Idrovo is majoring in art and art history.

Students who received a term gradepoint average of 3.6 or higher while completing at least three courses for a conventional letter grade during the fall 2020 semester earned the dean’s award with distinction. Students who received a term grade-point average of 3.3 earned the dean’s award for academic excellence.

News from Lehigh Bridget Hall and Matthew Cugliari, both of Nutley, were named to the dean’s list at Lehigh University, located in Bethlehem, Pa., for the fall 2020 semester.

This status is granted to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses.

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Abdulrahman Mohamed, of Belleville, has received a scholarship to attend Berkeley College. Mohamed is a student at Al-Ghazaly Jr./Sr. High School in Wayne.

Each year, these scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who demonstrate a high level of achievement.

The scholarships are renewable, based on the recipient’s cumulative grade-point average at the end of each academic year and continued enrollment as a full-time student.

Donohoe wins award Thomas J. Donohoe II, of Nutley, is the 2020 recipient of the Stuart Craig Wood III Award at Ramapo College of New Jersey, located in Mahwah.

Donohoe is a senior theater major with a concentration in directing and stage management. He has served as stage man-

ager on the following Ramapo productions: “The Big Unknown 1.5,” “Baltimore” and “Stop Kiss.” He also received the National Award for Stage Management Excellence at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. When home in Nutley, he’s involved with Nutley Little Theatre, and Nutley Parks and Recreation.

Following graduation, Donohoe hopes to pursue a professional career in theater and join the Actors’ Equity Association.

The Wood Award, named for a former theater professor, is presented each year to a graduating senior in theater who plans to attend graduate school or begin a career in professional theater.

Algieri completes intensive research project at WPI Anthony Algieri, of Nutley, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, located in Worcester, Mass., was a member of a student team that recently completed an intense research project titled “Assisting UIR in Attaining ABET Accreditation with Morocco Project Center.”

At WPI, all undergraduates are required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project that applies science and technology to address an important societal need or issue. Nearly 90 percent of students typically complete a project in collaboration with partners in communities across the country and around the world through the university’s 50-plus project centers.

PKP at Caldwell Amanda Weischedel and Elaine Zabriskie, both of Nutley, were recently initiated into Caldwell University chapter of the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, among the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor societies for all academic disciplines.

They are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.

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Belleville Post — May 2021 — 15

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16 — May 2021 — Belleville Post

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Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 17

AT THE LIBRARY Nutley Library is open Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive in Nutley, holds events for residents of all ages. For more information, visit nutleypubliclibrary.org or contact library@nutleynj.org.

Temporary hours of operation, which are subject to change according to the circumstances, are as follows: Contact-free pickup continues at the main entrance on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the building is open to the public for browsing and borrowing on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Order requests can be made online at nutley.bccls.org or by phone at 973-6670405, ext. 2604; systemwide hold service has resumed. Patrons must wear a mask and respect social-distancing rules when they arrive to pick up materials.

Teen Take and Make Kits available through May Take-and-make projects, being offered weekly through May, are perfect for crafters of all skill levels. Teens need register only once for all six weeks. Kits are available for pickup during contactless pickup and library browsing hours.

Videos on how to make the projects are posted on the Teen Services website on the Monday of each project week. This activity is for teens ages 12 to 18, in grades

six through 12.

Register at https://teenservices.nutleypubliclibrary.o rg/programs/.

tone will follow. This program is led by librarian Jeanne Sylvester. Online registration is required at www.nutleypubliclibrary.org/bestcolors.

Library events in May • “Reading Buddies,” Wednesdays, • “Virtual DISH!,” Monday, May 3, at 7 May 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 3:30 p.m. Readers p.m. For this Monday-night cookbook in grades K through 5 choose a book and club, members will choose, prepare and pair up with a teenaged buddy to practice present a dish. The club will meet online their reading and public speaking skills. to discuss the recipes and cooking tech- Sign up at youthservices.nutleypublicliniques, and share stories and culture. To brary.org to receive the Zoom link and register and for further information, visit password.

• Online story time, Fridays, May 7, 14 nutleypubliclibrary.org/dish-cookbookclub. Sponsored by the Friends of the Nut- and 21 at 10:30 a.m. This story time for children ages 2 to 5 includes stories, ley Public Library.

• “Babygarten” online storytime, Tues- music, yoga, crafts and more. Sign up at days, May 4, 11 and 18, at 10 a.m. Children youthservices.nutleypubliclibrary.org to ages 23 months and younger, along with receive Zoom link and password.

• “Take and Make Saturdays,” May 8, their caregivers, enjoy books, rhymes, songs and bounces in this online story 15 and 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pick up a time. Register at youthservices.nutley- craft project to do at home. One craft kit publiclibrary.org to receive the Zoom link per child, while supplies last. For all ages.

Kits can be reserved weekly at youthserand password.

• “Star Wars Take-and-Make Craft,” vices.nutleypubliclibrary.org. Sponsored Tuesday, May 4, at 11 a.m. Children of all by the Friends of the Nutley Public ages can stop by the Children’s Room and Library.

• “DIY Jewelry Making Club: Crystal pick up a Star Wars–themed craft for “May the Fourth.” One kit per child, while and Pearl Earrings,” Tuesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. In this virtual Zoom program, particsupplies last. No registration required.

• “The Best Colors for Your Skin’s ipants will learn the basics of jewelry Undertone,” Tuesday, May 4, at 7 p.m. In design, then, with virtual assistance, make this virtual Zoom program, participants their own jewelry. All supplies are includwill learn about skin tone and undertone, ed. Registration is very limited, and there and how to tell whether theirs is warm, may be a waiting list. Register online at cool or neutral. An illustrated discussion www.nutleypubliclibrary.org.

• “Techsplorers Club,” Saturday, May of the best wardrobe colors for each skin

15, at 3 p.m. Join Mr. L. and learn how to program a drone and work on hands-on projects. This in-person program will be held outside. For Nutley Public Library cardholders in grades 4-6. Register at youthservices.nutleypubliclibrary.org.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Nutley Public Library.

• Lego meetup, Thursday, May 20, at 3:30 p.m. LEGO fans meet up online and work on a basic building challenge using LEGO bricks available in their own homes. Recommended for grades K through 5. Sign up at youthservices.nutleypubliclibrary.org to receive the Zoom link and password.

• Author Barbara Davide, Thursday, May 20 at 7 p.m. Local author Barbara Davide holds a virtual meet and greet and book talk via Zoom to support the Friends of the Nutley Public Library. Davide is a Nutley resident and the author of “The Undoing of Walter Woodsworth.” The book, set locally, is available for purchase and can be borrowed from the Nutley Library. To register for this event, visit nutleypubliclibrary.org/davide/.

• “Hooked on Books” reading club, Monday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. Chat about a book, play games and just hang out in this virtual meet-up for students in grades 4-6. The book is “New Kid,” by Jerry Craft.

Participants should read the book prior to the meeting. Sign up at youthservices.nutleypubliclibrary.org to receive the Zoom link and password.

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18 — May 2021 — Belleville Post

Remembering Operation Desert Storm after 30 years American Legion Post 105 on Washington Avenue in Belleville held a ceremony and remembrance on Feb. 28, the 30th anniversary of the end of Operation Desert Storm.

“We need to remember this shining moment in history, so that future generations know the meaning of the words courage, honor, sacrifice and just plain old doing the right thing,” Post 105 2nd Vice Cmdr. Scott Higgins said.

Operation Desert Storm, the principal military operation carried out by U.N. forces in the Gulf War, was in its operational combat phase from Jan. 17, 1991, to February 28, 1991. It was preceded for five months by Operation Desert Shield, during which a coalition of 34 nations conducted a troop buildup in the region in anticipation of the war.

The catalyst for the war was the Iraqi invasion and takeover of neighboring Kuwait, based on Iraq President Saddam Hussein’s assertion that Kuwait should be reabsorbed into the Iraqi state. After negotiations that lasted the better part of a year, U.S. President George H.W. Bush announced in a televised address: “At this

hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.”

Post 105 2nd Vice Cmdr. Scott Higgins, himself a veteran of the Gulf War, organized a remembrance of the war and its killed-in-action servicemen. Higgins delivered a speech in front of an Operation Desert Storm commemorative flag, with a slideshow of wartime combat operations playing on a television behind him.

Following the ceremony — which was attended by members of the post, local veterans organizations and supporters of the American Legion — Sons of the American Legion member Vinny Ferriole and his wife, Lisa, catered the event, cooking up pasta fagioli for attendees. Food was donated by other members of the Post 105 family as well. Dessert was a cake, made

by Vinny Ferriole, featuring tanks and army figures.

One of the pillars of the American Legion is to foster Americanism and preserve the memory of those who have served; Post 105 remembers with pride the sacrifices of the Gulf War.

Above and at right, Post 105 Second Vice Commander Scott Higgins speaks about Operation Desert Storm, its importance and the service members who fought during the operation.

Photos Courtesy of Rusty Myers

Above left, an Operation Desert Storm commemorative flag hangs.

Above right and below, attendees enjoy the catered food.

SAL member Vinny Ferriole shows off the cake he made for the occasion.

Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 19

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20 — May 2021 — Belleville Post

New chief medical officer appointed at Clara Maass Frank Dos Santos, a seasoned physician executive with more than 24 years of experience, has been appointed chief medical officer at Clara Maass Medical Center, a facility of RWJBarnabas Health in Belleville.

“Dr. Dos Santos’ expertise in global health care and medical research is a perfect blend for our leadership team and for our community” said Mary Ellen Clyne, president and CEO of Clara Maass Medical Center.

“He has established an impressive, stellar career as a seasoned physician executive and has leveraged his knowledge of medicine in various ways that will be a tremendous benefit to all, and I look forward to working with him to move our strategic vision forward.”

Dos Santos was previously a clinical professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and part of Envision Physician Services as an Emergency Medicine EmBassador Travel Team physician. Previously, Dos Santos was the chief medical officer for New York Network Management.

Other leadership roles Dos Santos has held include having been chief medical officer of Navy Medicine East in Portsmouth, Va., where he was responsible for a global Department of Defense health care system encompassing four continents, 10 hospitals, eight outpatient clinics and one dental clinic. Additionally, Dos

Santos was a Navy and Marine Corps Emergency Medical Service leader for the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C., as well as a senior medical officer in the U.S. Navy serving in Al Taqaddum, Iraq. While serving in Naples, Italy, Dos Santos held two positions: chairperson of the Emergency Medicine Department for the U.S. Navy Hospital and head of the U.S. Navy Emergency Management Department. He was also department head of Aviation Medicine at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Sigonella, Italy, and a flight surgeon for the Naval Operational Medical Institute in Pensacola, Fla. Dos Santos earned a doctor of osteopathic medicine from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, a graduate degree in public health from Rutgers University and an undergraduate degree in biology from Kean University. He completed his internal medicine internship and emergency medicine residency at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, Calif., and a fellowship in emergency medical services and disaster medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center in New Brunswick.

A participant in the Patient Safety Leadership Academy at John Hopkins Armstrong Institute in Laurel, Md., and the Chief Medical Officer Academy by the Joint Commission in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., Dos Santos has published many research studies.

Frank Dos Santos

Belleville woman shows support for organ donation Celebrated in April each year, National Donate Life Month features local, regional and national activities that encourage Americans to register as organ and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.

Kori Anderson, of Belleville, is just one of the many New Jerseyans who are sharing their personal connection to organ and tissue donation and transplantation to inspire others to register as donors.

Anderson is passionate about caring for the physical and mental health needs of her patients as a physician assistant and director of administration at North Jersey Health and Wellness in Paramus, Ramsey and Florham Park. She was recently honored by the American Health Council with the Best in Medicine Award for treating patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

While Anderson’s many accomplishments are the direct result of her boundless energy and ability to connect with her patients, she remains mindful of her own life-saving liver transplant and the generosity of her donor who gave her the gift of life.

“Organ donation gives others a second chance at life, and the selfless donor lives on through others. I’m living proof of that,” Anderson said. “Now I work every day to give that second chance to others, who are living with debilitating psychiatric illnesses that people lose their lives to every day.”

Anderson was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that damaged her liver when she was just 15 years old. She endured 15 years of a progressive disorder that included hospitalizations, physical pain and emotional trauma, until she underwent a successful liver transplant at age 30.

Photos Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network

Belleville’s Kori Anderson, above, is passionate about spreading awareness for organ and tissue donation, as she herself benefited from a liver transplant. At right is a string of beads with information about organ donation; Anderson and her family leave these messages in public areas, to help spread word of this life-saving act of kindness and selflessness.

“One of the things that really moved me to focus on psychiatry is because I understand there is a huge amount of trauma from chronic illness for people going through it and for their families as well,” Anderson said. “I want to always be there for patients and their families to help them cope. I’m blessed. I had the support of my husband, family and friends that helped me stay hopeful during the most difficult times.”

Anderson and her husband, Glenn Praschil, actively support NJ Sharing Network through volunteering and generous contributions to the foundation. Ander-

son’s parents, Bonnie and Rex Anderson, have also created some unique ways to honor their daughter’s donor and promote organ donation. Friends often gather at their home to craft bells on strings of colorful beads that are hung on park benches, in trees and on playground equipment around the country and world.

Attached to each string of beads and bells is a note that reads: “To the finder of this bell: This bell has been placed in memory of the greatest hero we will never know, my daughter Kori’s liver donor. 713-17. May the ringing of this bell inspire you to save the lives of eight others

through your organ donation.”

In New Jersey, there are nearly 4,000 residents currently waiting for a life-saving transplant, and one person in New Jersey dies every three days waiting for a transplant. Just one organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of more than 75 people. Transplantable organs include heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and intestine.

Transplantable tissue includes corneas, heart valves, skin grafts, bone grafts, ligament and tendons.

To learn more, visit www.njsharingnetwork.org.

Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 21

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22 — May 2021 — Nutley Journal - Belleville Post

RELIGION National Day of Prayer with Nutley clergy Thursday, May 6, is the National Day of Prayer. People of all faiths are invited that day to spend some special time in prayer for our world, our country and our leaders. The Nutley Clergy Fellowship will hold a short prayer service at noon in front of Nutley Town Hall, 1 Kennedy Drive. All are invited; masks will be required and social distancing observed.

Vincent United Methodist Church events

Photo Courtesy of Nutley Family Service Bureau

HONORING OUR VOLUNTEERS — April was National Volunteer Month, a whole month dedicated to celebrating volunteerism and honoring those who give so much of themselves to help others. At Nutley Family Service Bureau, the food pantry and thrift shop rely heavily on volunteers to support services to the Nutley community. ‘Volunteers gave over 12,000 hours of service to NFSB this past year,’ said Peg Conca, manager of the NFSB pantry and thrift shop. ‘Volunteers are the heart and soul of the pantry and the shop. We couldn’t do it without them.’

Vincent United Methodist Church, located at 100 Vincent Place in Nutley, has reopened for worship on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. The service will also be broadcast live each week on the church’s Facebook page and be available by call-in. There will be a health screening for all in-person attendees each week. In-person attendees must wear masks and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Children will be required to stay with their parents throughout their time in the building. Sunday School and nursery care are not currently available. There will be socially distanced seating in the sanctuary. Capacity will be limited to 70 people, with overflow seating using the Facebook livestream in Philhower Chapel.

Vincent Church will be having a grab-and-go ham dinner on Tuesday, May 11. Dinners — ham, macaroni and cheese, green beans, bread, and dessert — can be picked up at the church from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

To place an order, contact the church office at 973-667-5440.

The church will present “Proverbs: Pathways to Wisdom,” an online study group based on a book by Dominick S. Hernandez. It is being held via Zoom on Monday mornings at 9:30 a.m. The study will help participants make a deeper connection to the wisdom of Proverbs. To participate, contact the church office for more information.

The “Reflection” small group meets after church every week by video conference. The purpose is to reflect on the sermon and how to live out the message, and to be in fellowship with and pray for one another. The meeting is led by pastoral assistant Win Shin on Sundays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Zoom. Contact the church office for more information.

For additional information about Vincent Church, please visit www.vincentumc.org.

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Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 23

U.S. attorney affirms commitment to prosecuting hate crimes Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig and FBI Newark Field Division Special Agent in Charge George Crouch Jr. have reiterated federal law enforcement’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting all acts of bias-motivated violence and other deprivations of individuals’ civil rights, including crimes committed on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a March 30 press release.

“Some of the darkest hours that we have lived through recently as New Jersey residents have involved the horror of violence based on hate,” Honig said. “We have seen anti-Semitic violence in Jersey City and a gender- and race-based attack at the home of a federal judge. Now, we face a rising tide of hatred directed at

Asian Americans. New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the country, and this kind of hate should find no home here. We urge the community to report hate-based crimes to the FBI and to contact our office’s civil rights hotline with information about discrimination in housing, employment, education or public accommodations.”

“Hate crimes are not only an attack on an individual, but an entire community,” Crouch said. “Investigating these crimes is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We will work diligently with our law enforcement partners to protect the rights of all Americans.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey employs four assistant U.S. attorneys dedicated full-time to federal civil rights enforcement: three in the

‘New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the country, and this kind of hate should find no home here.’

— Rachael Honig Civil Rights Unit of the Civil Division, and one senior civil rights counsel in the Criminal Division. The office works closely in these matters with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. In the past several years, the office has brought multiple civil and criminal cases based on

federal civil rights laws and has been recognized by the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys with two Director’s Awards for its work in this area. These assistant U.S. attorneys also conduct frequent community outreach, including outreach focused on organizations serving women, people of color, religious groups and the LBGTQ community.

Honig and Crouch urged all New Jersey residents to report hate-based crimes to law enforcement. Members of the public who have a civil rights concern or complaint should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office through its civil rights hotline, which can be reached at 855-281-3339, or by filling out the form at https://www.justice.gov/usaonj/page/file/1073316/download. The FBI’s Newark Field Office can be reached at 973792-3000.

PSE&G urges everyone to follow safe digging practices — call 8-1-1 PSE&G, New Jersey’s largest utility, urges contractors, excavators and customers to call 8-1-1 before digging to help prevent natural gas emergencies. When an individual calls 8-1-1 to request a utility mark out, they must wait three business days for the utility companies to properly mark underground lines with paint and flags. The mark out will then remain valid for 45 business days.

“I cannot stress enough how important it is for homeowners and contractors to follow

the law in calling 8-1-1 prior to any kind of excavation. Especially at a time when we’re relying on important utilities to connect us and keep us safe at home, calling 8-1-1 is the only way to know which utilities are buried in your area so that you can dig safely,” said Mike Gaffney, senior director of gas operations at PSE&G. “You will be surprised how often damages occur from small homeowner projects like installing fences, mailboxes and planting trees. All of these avoidable damages result in safety-related hazards

and can lead to costly repairs, for which homeowners may be responsible. This also holds true for contractors that are excavating. When hiring a contractor, homeowners should ensure that the contractor is following the law and calling 8-1-1 prior to any excavation. It is the easiest way to ensure you are digging safely.”

Digging without knowledge of the location of underground utilities can result in serious injuries, utility disruption and costly repairs. In 2020, PSE&G responded

to 913 excavating damages — 756 gas and 157 electric. The best way to prevent excavating damage is to call 8-1-1 before beginning any digging project this spring and use caution around marked facilities.

Physical distancing continues to be an important tactic in fighting COVID-19, so PSE&G reminds the public that mark-out work is performed entirely outdoors and there is no need for any interaction between the technician and the person who called to request the mark out.

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24 — May 2021 — Belleville Post

Grewal directive on prison terms for nonviolent drug crimes Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal issued a statewide directive to law enforcement on April 19, instructing prosecutors to waive mandatory parole disqualifiers — commonly known as mandatory minimum prison terms — for nonviolent drug offenses.

Directive 2021-4 addresses both current and past cases. Going forward, it directs prosecutors to waive the mandatory minimum terms associated with any nonviolent drug offense under New Jersey law. In addition, when requested by an individual who remains in prison solely because of a mandatory minimum term for a nonviolent drug offense, prosecutors will file a joint application to rescind the mandatory period of parole ineligibility, so that, in effect, the individual’s modified sentence will be as if no mandatory minimum had been imposed.

The directive achieves — to the greatest extent possible under current law — the 2019 recommendation of Gov. Phil Murphy’s Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission, which called for, with broad consensus, the elimination of all mandatory minimum terms for nonviolent drug crimes.

“We cannot stand by and ignore the unjust and racially disparate impact of these mandatory minimum terms on nonviolent drug offenders — primarily young persons of color,” Murphy said. “It’s been well over a year since the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission

unanimously concluded that these mandatory minimums must be eliminated, and still justice is delayed and denied.

We are through with waiting. My decision to return the bill on my desk to reflect the commission’s recommendations is made substantially easier because of Attorney General Grewal’s strong action to stop these unfair prison sentences.”

“It’s been nearly two years since I first joined with all 21 of our state’s county prosecutors to call for an end to mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug crimes,” Grewal said. “It’s been more than a year since the governor’s bipartisan commission made the same recommendation. And yet New Jerseyans still remain behind bars for unnecessarily long drug sentences. This outdated policy is hurting

our residents, and it’s disproportionately affecting our young men of color. We can wait no longer. It’s time to act.”

Under the directive, prosecutors remain authorized to seek periods of additional parole ineligibility in nonviolent drug cases when warranted to protect public safety based on the specific facts of the case. State law authorizes a judge at sentencing to impose a discretionary period of parole ineligibility for any crime if the judge is convinced that the aggravating factors in the case substantially outweigh the mitigating factors. The directive allows prosecutors to continue to seek discretionary periods of parole ineligibility and incorporate them into plea agreements where appropriate.

Similarly, the directive allows prosecu-

tors to seek the continued incarceration of inmates who present a significant public safety risk. While prosecutors must file a joint application to modify the sentence of any inmate who remains in prison solely because of a mandatory minimum term imposed for a nonviolent drug offense, they can seek imposition of a discretionary period of parole ineligibility when the sentence is modified, if appropriate, which may result in continued incarceration. To ensure such requests are made rarely and in a consistent manner, prosecutors will consult with the director of the Division of Criminal Justice in such cases.

Prosecutors must meet the same standards in court that would have applied at the initial sentencing if there had been no mandatory minimum term.

Belleville students invited to apply for Testa Scholar-Athlete Scholarship

The family of Thomas A. Testa — a longtime Belleville High School science teacher, head football coach and track coach — is now accepting applications for the annual ScholarAthlete Scholarship established in Testa’s memory in 1999.

Graduating Belleville High School candidates must plan to pursue a college course of study in the science, engineering or mathematics fields, or declare a major with a strong connection to these disciplines.

The candidate must possess scholastic, athletic achieve-

ment — meaning a minimum of one varsity letter senior year, or junior year for any senior sport season canceled due to COVID-19 — and good character. The $500 scholarship must be applied to the cost of a postsecondary education.

The recipient of this award wiApplications are available at the Belleville High School Student Personnel Services Department. The application submission deadline is April 30.

The scholarship will be announced at the Belleville High School Senior Awards Night in June.

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Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 25

Newspaper’s policy on letters and columns The Nutley Journal and Belleville Post newspapers welcome submissions from their readers. Letters to the editor or opinion pieces on any subject will be considered for publication.

The newspapers reserve the right to edit all submissions for length, content and style. Writers must include their name, address and daytime telephone number for verification.

Letters must not be longer than 300 words. Longer pieces must be arranged in advance with the editor. Responses to response letters will not be printed.

The newspapers accept letters to the editor and guest columns via email at essexcty@thelocalsource.com.

Letters received must be on topics of interest, preferably in response to content that appeared in the newspapers. Writers are asked not to include lengthy lists of people and organizations they wish to thank.

The editor will make necessary grammatical corrections to the text of the letter. Although the writer’s style will be maintained, certain changes may be made in the interest of clarity.

Avoid COVID-19 vaccine scams

As COVID-19 vaccine distribution continues, here are some signs of potentially being scammed: being asked to pay out-of-pocket to get the vaccine; being asked to pay to put one’s name on a vaccine waiting list; being advertised for the vaccine through social media platforms, email, telephone calls, online or from unsolicited/unknown sources; and being offered to buy or be shipped doses of the vaccine for payment.

Do not give out personal information to unknown sources. Immediately report possible COVID-19–related fraud to the Office of the Inspector General at 800-447-8477 or tips.hhs.gov; the FBI at 800-225-5324 or ic3.gov; or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at 800-633-4227.

IN MEMORIAM • AMADOR – Lucilia, of Nutley, formerly of Portugal; March 28. Vice president of Credit at Safra National Bank, N.Y. Wife, mother, sister, grandmother, 56.

• CALLEO – Helen, of Nutley; March 30. Mother, sister, grandmother and greatgrandmother, 89.

• CALNAN – Edward Joseph, of New York City, formerly of Nutley; April 4. Engineer, business owner, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, 87.

• CASIELLO – Jennie, of Nutley; March 31. Widow, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, 91.

• DEMARCO – Rose M., of Venice, Fla., formerly of Nutley and Mantoloking; March 11. Enjoyed cooking. Wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, 93.

• ELENESKI – Joseph J. Jr., of Matawan, formerly of Harrison, Belleville and Nutley; April 14. Retired Passaic police officer. Widower, brother, uncle, 68.

• GERACI – Mary E., of Nutley, formerly of Orange; March 20. Retired from the Home Depot in Clifton after 26 years. Widow, mother, 77.

• GREENGROVE – Robert, of Nutley; April 13. Retired mechanical engineer, model train enthusiast. Husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, 91.

• HORAN – Marion E., of Nutley; April 9. Sister, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, aunt, 93.

• IMHOFF – Roy K., of Nutley, formerly of Stowe, Ohio; April 4. Veterinarian.

Built and ran Nutley Animal Hospital. Widower, father, grandfather, 88.

• KUNST – Mary Angela, of Bloomfield, formerly of Nutley and Glen Ridge; April 11. Director of nursing, Winifred B. Baldwin School of Nursing, Orange. Sister, 91.

• PAPASIDERO – Michelle Ann, of Nutley, formerly of Belleville; Aug. 27, 2015.

Medical biller. Enjoyed her house on the bay in Ortley Beach. Sister, aunt. Was 59.

• POLITI – Michael, of Nutley; March 30. Corporate counsel, retired executive vice president, DCIP in Rockaway. Husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, 53.

• REMOLINA – George, of Ormond Beach, Fla., formerly of Nutley; March 29.

Jeweler. Founded George semolina Designs Inc. Husband, father, grandfather, 68.

• RUANE-ADAMS – Helen Mary, of Bradenton, Fla., formerly of Newark, Nutley; March 21. Teacher, retired from PSE&G. Wife, mother, sister, grandmother, 80.

• SALERNO – Marion C., of Panther Valley, formerly of Irvington and Nutley; March 12. Widow, mother, sister, aunt, grand aunt, 83.

In Memoriam is a feature compiled by the news staff from various sources. We also provide the opportunity for families and funeral directors to publish a more extensive, special notice about their loved one called an obituary. These notices are published on our website immediately and then in the next edition of this newspaper. To place a paid obituary send an email to obits@thelocalsource.com or fax to 908-688-0401. Family and friends’ submissions must include sender’s name, address, phone and the name of the funeral home. Call 908-686-7850 for assistance.

26 — May 2021 — Belleville Post

Photos Courtesy of Belleville Township

Fairway Park welcomes town community garden (Continued from Page 2) people access to fresh, nutrient-rich food and helps them save money on produce that would otherwise be purchased at the supermarket. The community garden is perfect for residents who don’t have the opportunity to start their own.”

The Green Team’s Vinny Cozzarelli, a member of the Township Council, noted that gardening has other health benefits.

“Many people find that digging in the ground and planting seeds and tending to their gardens is a great way

to relax and relieve stress,” he said. “We are happy to bring this new, healthy hobby to more Belleville residents.”

The new community garden area will also offer opportunities to educate residents of all ages about a variety of gardening topics and sustainability.

Mayor Michael Melham said a future expansion of the Fairway Park community garden is already being planned, and the town is looking for other gardening locations.

“I applaud the Green Team’s efforts,” Melham said.

“The community garden is the sort of amenity we will

continue to add to not only make Belleville an even better place to live, but a greener one, too.”

The members of Belleville Boy Scout Troop 350 played a huge role in the creation of the community garden. They helped build the planters and filled them with soil. Participating in such a community project helps the Scouts advance in rank and obtain a community service award.

Members of Belleville’s Department of Public Works also did some site work to lay the foundations for the project, which is funded through a grant.

What do you do with a blue hydrangea?

There are some tunes that stick in your head, sometimes for weeks. That happened to me recently with the old sea chantey “Drunken Sailor.” The song isn’t as common as it was a generation or two ago, possibly owing to its bawdy lyrics, but it is still widely known. The first verse goes as follows: “What will we do with a drunken sailor? / What will we do with a drunken sailor? / What will we do with a drunken sailor? / Early in the morning!”

The refrain, which punctuates the numerous verses, is: “Way hey and up she rises / Way hey and up she rises / Way hey and up she rises / Early in the morning!”

The song was coursing through my brain last weekend when I was out in the garden and facing an annual chore that I never relish — pruning the three big blue hydrangeas along the boundary fence.

I love the blue hydrangeas, which are the old-fashioned, “Nikko blue” mophead variety. They were also my late husband’s favorite. In early summer, when the shrubs adorn themselves with scores of sky-blue flowerheads, they are glorious. They are much less alluring in spring, when they are bristling with dead wood and the remnants

THE GARDENER’S APPRENTICE

BY ELISABETH GINSBURG

of last year’s blossoms. To start the hydrangeas’ metamorphosis from pitiful to beautiful, you have to do spring pruning.

As I was applying my loppers to the first shrub, it occurred to me that “What will we do with a drunken sailor” has the same number of syllables as “What will we do with a blue hydrangea?” The old sea chantey transformed itself into a horticultural anthem: “What will we do with a blue hydrangea? / What will we do with a blue hydrangea? / What will we do with a blue hydrangea? / Early in the springtime! / Way, hey and up it rises / Way hey and up it rises / Way hey and up it rises / Early in the springtime!”

The syllables worked and so did I, lopping away with a much lighter heart. As I grabbed the dead wood out of the plants’ centers and lopped it off, a second verse formed in my mind, starting with, “Trim dead wood with a trusty lopper.” This made the dead wood procedure go much faster.

“Nikko blue” hydrangeas bloom on old wood, meaning that the previous season’s growth produces the current season’s flowers. If you trim off the nascent buds on an old-fashioned hydrangea in the spring, you will eliminate blooms for the year. Another verse formed in my mind: “Watch for buds as you cut the branches.”

Singing that as I went about the task may have annoyed the neighbors, who were setting up for a barbecue on the other side of the fence, but it reminded me of that crucial hydrangea caveat. I was helped by the fact that, right now, it is easy to tell the fresh green buds from the old dead wood and last fall’s desiccated flower remnants.

After the three hydrangeas were pruned and cleaned up, it was time to rake away the winter debris that covered the ground around them. Another verse came to mind: “Rake the base to remove detritus.” I had to repeat the new verse numerous times before all of that detritus was gone, but the job went faster because of it.

Spring gardening also means renewing mulch applications. Once the ground

around my hydrangeas was clear, it was time to lug the many bags of cedar mulch necessary to cover the area around the bases of the plants. I like cedar because it smells wonderful, degrades slowly and deters both weeds and pests. I don’t particularly like lugging the bags, but in the absence of burly helpers, the chore falls to me. I made it easier with one last verse: “Mulch the ground with a coat of wood chips.”

The best part of any onerous gardening chore is relaxing once it is finished. Lugging the bags of mulch made it necessary to do that relaxing with a heating pad on my back.

As the ache abated, I adapted the last verse of “Drunken Sailor” to suit the occasion: “That’s what you do with a blue hydrangea! / That’s what you do with a blue hydrangea! / That’s what you do with a blue hydrangea! / Early in the springtime!”

Elisabeth Ginsburg, a resident of Glen Ridge, is a frequent contributor to Worrall Community Newspapers. The writer archives past columns at www.gardenersapprentice.com.

Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 27

Blood shortage in NJ, donors and volunteer drive sites needed New Jersey Blood Services recently announced a blood shortage in the region, one year after the region was the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic. Before COVID19, donors could stop by community blood drives at convenient locations such as high schools, colleges and offices. It has been one year since these types of locations had to cancel their blood drives due to COVID-19, and few have been able to resume these lifesaving events.

NJBS currently has a 4.2-day supply of blood, which is well below what is needed by area hospitals. New Jersey’s health care system requires 1,500 donations each

day to treat patients, ranging from trauma victims to newborn babies and their mothers to cancer patients.

Donors with type O and type B blood are especially needed, as NJBS currently has only a one- to two-day supply of these blood types.

“With thousands getting vaccinated each day, we are thrilled to watch our state recover from this catastrophic year,” said Andrea Cefarelli, senior executive director at New Jersey Blood Services. “As New Jersey bounces back in strides this spring, we need everyone to make an appointment and donate blood to help save lives. While

the end of the pandemic is near, our struggle to fight for those in need continues.”

NJBS is taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms.

Additional information on donor eligibility and COVID19 precautions is available at https://nybc.org/donateblood/covid-19-and-blood-donation-copy/. Donations are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 800-933-2566 or visiting www.nybc.org/.

Prism Capital Partners moves HQ to ON3 campus

Photo Courtesy of Nutley Family Service Bureau

ROTARY STOCKS FOOD PANTRY — Nutley Rotary, a longtime Nutley Family Service Bureau Food Pantry community partner, donates 15 cartons of nonperishable items, including oatmeal, soups, rice and beans, to stock the pantry’s shelves. From left are pantry manager Peg Conca; NFSB President Mike Padilla; Rotarians John Monaco, Dorothy Huey and Maria Hamlin; and NFSB Executive Director Katherine Carmichael.

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Prism Capital Partners has relocated its headquarters to 310 Kingsland St. at ON3, the commercial real estate owner/operator’s 116-acre flagship redevelopment spanning Nutley and Clifton. Prism’s move from 200 Metro Blvd., where the firm has operated since 2019, makes way for Eisai Inc.; the pharmaceutical company signed a full-building commitment for the 15-story LEED Gold tower last summer.

“Our move reflects Prism’s flexibility and our support of the progress and growth of ON3,” Prism principal partner Edwin Cohen said. “We are committed to keeping our unified operations here and remaining part of everyday life within this vibrant, evolving community.”

Prism’s new home at 310 Kingsland St., a former conference center building, has been built out by the firm’s in-house construction team. Cohen added that the long-term plan is to design and develop a stand-alone Prism headquarters building on the ON3 campus.

Eisai Inc.’s lease of 200 Metro Blvd. marked New Jersey’s largest office lease in 2020. The transaction brought ON3’s 1.45 million square feet of existing office and R&D/lab product to 100-percent occupancy. Eisai will relocate its New Jersey–based headquarters from Woodcliff Lake to ON3, with plans to transfer up to 1,200 of its corporate staff and research and development team by late 2021.

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28 — May 2021 — Nutley Journal - Belleville Post

Town employees take part in National Walking Day Nicole Netzke was enjoying the sunsplashed afternoon as she strolled down Washington Avenue.

“It’s just great to get out and enjoy the beautiful day and get some exercise,” said Netzke, who works in the construction code department in Belleville. “The past year, with COVID-19 and all, we’ve been cooped up. It’s a great idea to get out and walk for a while.”

Netzke was one of approximately 35 township employees from various departments who took part in Belleville’s celebration of National Walking Day on April 7.

Spearheaded by Councilman Vinny Cozzarelli, the event invited township employees to push themselves away from their desks and gather in front of Town Hall. Members of the Belleville Police Department acted as chaperones for the group, which walked about a mile to Signature Fitness on Cortlandt Street. Using yoga mats lined up outside the gym, several township employees participated in a 20-minute yoga session by Signature Fitness’ Ann Maggio. After sampling some healthy snacks, the employees set a course back for Town Hall. Although a shuttle was available to drive them back, the majority of township workers decided to walk back.

“Setting aside 30 minutes or an hour to be active and stay healthy is always a great investment of time,” Cozzarelli said. “This initiative was designed to get people up, get them outside, get them moving and help them literally take the first steps toward creating healthier habits.”

National Walking Day is held on the first Wednesday of every April to celebrate the easiest way to be the healthiest version of you. Walking for 30 to 60 minutes each day has often been cited as a great way to stay healthy and fend off diabetes, cancer

and heart disease. Walking has also been shown to boost mood and increase concentration and creativity — all of which leads to more productivity at work or school.

“Events like the National Walking Day are more important now than ever,” Melham said. “So many of us have had our lives greatly interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year. We can start taking steps to getting back to a healthy, active lifestyle.”

The long walk also fostered camaraderie among Belleville workers.

“You have people here from the tax collector’s department, from the police department, from the clerk’s office and other parts of the township,” township manager Anthony Iacono said. “They may not necessarily interact on a regular basis.

This was a fun, positive way to bring them together.”

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BROOKDALE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, 1350 Broad Street, Bloomfield, 973-338-8536.

We are a church that preaches and teaches the Bible. We invite you to join us in worship on Sundays at 10:30 am. Children’s Bible activities for ages 4 through 5th grade (called BCC Kids Church) are provided. Worship services can also be seen live online on YouTube and Facebook and via our website at www.brookdalechristian.com.

In addition, we offer Bible Studies on Sunday mornings at 9:00 and on Thursday evenings at 7:00. You can participate in either one of these classes -or both- through Zoom by calling the church to get placed on the Zoom call list.

There are several other opportunities throughout the week involving prayer, study, and community for all age levels. Brookdale is a loving and caring congregation under the leadership of Pastor Love Saquing and Pastor Jim Treffinger. Our mission is to be a Family Growing Together in God.

LIVINGFAITH CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY 25 New Street, Nutley, 973 661-0105 www.LFAITH.org Pastor S.P. Ciotola Free welcome gift bag for first time visitors Experience the Passion of Church again: – Passionate Bible Teaching – Exciting Music&Worship Sunday 10:45am – Worship and Teaching – Faith Kids ages 6-12 – Nursery provided Wednesday 6:30pm – Bible Studies – Faith Kids ages 6-12

To add your House of Worship or make copy changes Email us: Adservices@thelocalsource.com

Photos Courtesy of Belleville Township

Top, approximately a dozen Belleville employees take part in a 20-minute yoga session. Above, municipal employees from various departments gather in front of Town Hall before commencing their walk on National Walking Day, April 7. Below, Mayor Michael Melham takes a photo as he walks with Belleville employees.

Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 29

Smart meters to save money, energy here in New Jersey PSE&G received approval on Jan. 7 from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to invest approximately $700 million during the next four years to provide its 2.3 million electric customers with smart meters. The decision clears the way for the largest installation of smart meter technology in New Jersey history.

Smart meters are the foundation of PSE&G’s Energy Cloud–Advanced Metering Infrastructure effort, which will create an integrated, two-way communications network between electric customers and the utility. This network will enable automatic, near real-time meter reading — virtually eliminating estimated utility bills, providing more efficient response to outages and allowing customers to make more informed decisions about their energy usage.

“This is a vital step toward achieving a smarter and cleaner energy future for New Jersey,” PSE&G President Dave Daly said. “Smart meters provide the real-time communications necessary to better serve our customers and will provide electric customers with valuable information about their energy consumption. Smart meters and the supporting communications network can help expedite electric service restorations when severe weather strikes, help customers increase their home energy savings and improve service quality.

“A smart meter network is essential to PSEG’s Powering Progress vision for a future in which we help our customers use less energy, ensure that the energy they do use is cleaner and deliver that energy more reliably than ever,” Daly said.

The implementation of a smart meter network is another step toward achieving Gov. Phil Murphy’s clean energy vision for New Jersey. The improved communications will lead to fewer truck dispatches and other efficiencies that are expected to reduce PSE&G’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 2,800 metric tons per year.

PSE&G is committed to working with its union partners and all of its employees on the transition to smart meters, which will occur over several years.

For more information on AMI and smart meters, visit psegpoweringprogress.com/energy-cloud/.

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CALL US AT

908-686-7850

ESSEX COUNTY’S RECYCLING DAY

Computer & Electronics Free to all Essex County Residents Essex County residents must provide proof of residency at the site.

Saturday, May 15, 2021 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Essex County Fleet Management (Public Works) 99 W. Bradford Avenue, Cedar Grove, New Jersey For more information call 973-792-9060 or www.ecuanj.com

ITEMS ACCEPTED: WE WILL NOT ACCEPT:

C Computers Monitors Printers Fax Machines

Scanners Telecom Equipment Speakers Televisions

Keyboards Main Frames VCRs Stereos

DVD Players Toasters Irons Old Cellular Telephones

Smoke Detectors, Carbon Monoxide Alarms

✔ Only one person per vehicle. ✔ Face mask mandatory. ✔ Do not exit vehicle. ✔ Display license (ID) through closed car window. ✔ Items for disposal to be placed in trunk. ✔ No containers or boxes will be returned.

Commercial and Large Quantity Users May Not Drop Off Items.

“Recycling computer hardware and electronic devices helps remove lead and other dangerous chemicals from our waste stream, which is important for us and our children. With your participation, we can do our part to protect the environment.” — Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive, the Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Essex County Utilities Authority

30 — May 2021 — Nutley Journal - Belleville Post

Super Essex Conference announces division teams Nutley’s Nicole Case takes top honors in the American Girls Division with game high of 215

The Super Essex Conference has announced its final bowling standings and all-conference teams for the season.

In the American Girls Division, Nutley High School took the lead with 62 points for and 8 points against, followed by Irvington High School at 56-14, Montclair High School at 35-35, Bloomfield High School at 31-39, Mount Saint Dominic Academy at 13-57 and Belleville High School at 5-54.

In the American Girls Division, Nut-

ley’s Nicole Case was the top player with a game high of 215 and a series high of 518.

Making the American Girls Division first team are Nutley’s Case with a game average of 150, Angelica Duffy with 137 and Julianne Carson with 128; Belleville’s Jada Martinez with 132; Irvington’s Rebeka Nunez with 131, Yatabou Njie with 122 and Anna Boayke with 121; Bloomfield’s Keyana Coley-Rice with 130; and Montclair’s Abigail Price with 125. Making the second team are Montclair’s Georgia

A Tribute to the Heroes of Memorial Day We proudly salute the brave men and women who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. With courage and conviction, these heroes have protected America’s freedom through the generations, and we are forever grateful to them.

Aishton with 115, Hazel Aiello with 108 and Alyssa Phillips with 104; Nutley’s Tatyana Salazar with 112; MSDA’s Alex Cruz with 111 and Kaitlyn H’Ladik with 105; Bloomfield’s Jennifer Cleary with 108 and Fatima Villagran with 104; and Irvington’s Reedgie Jean-Louis with 104.

In the American Boys Division, Bloomfield High School took the lead with 68 points for and 2 points against, followed

by Nutley High School at 54-16, Irvington High School at 42-28, Montclair High School at 30-40, Eagle Academy of Newark at 7-63 and Belleville High School at 2-68.

In the American Boys Division, Eagle Academy’s Chris Padro was the top player with a game high of 254 and a series high of 725; Nutley’s Jordan Zarro was also

recognized for having a game high of 254, tying with Padro. Making the American Boys Division first team are Bloomfield’s Chris Paccione with a game average of 204, Gabe Farabaugh with 183 and Eric Pabon with 170; Eagle Academy’s Padro with 199; Montclair’s Tal Burns with 187 and Aidan Walker with 161; Nutley’s Gianni Feraco and Jordan Zarro, both with 187; and Belleville’s Matthew Cardone with 179. Making the second team are Irvington’s Oladimejl Adejowable with 160, Ziquan Brown with 159, Carl Edouard with 157 and Ibukun Arotiba with 146; Nutley’s Kalvin Wong with 155; Bloomfield’s Biaggio DiGiano with 155; Eagle Academy’s Miotshwa Mafu with 150; and Montclair’s Danny Walker with 135 and Jayden Robinson with 125.

On Memorial Day, we once again pay our respects to America’s fallen soldiers. We pray for their families, and we honor their memories with gratitude and humility. We remember that freedom is not free.

To all who have served and continue to serve our country...

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File Photo

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Nutley Journal - Belleville Post — May 2021 — 31

Photo Courtesy of Doug Allen

Photo Courtesy of Gene Nann

ALL-AROUND ATHLETE — Nutley resident Patricia Columbia-Walsh, a junior at Montclair Kimberley Academy, is excelling in both girls basketball and lacrosse for the Cougars, having earned Super Essex Conference–Colonial Division second-team honors this past winter in hoops and returning this spring as a starting midfielder for the MKA lax ladies, who were a 2019 Essex County Tournament runner-up.

New housing resource to help New Jersey residents The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey has launched a new free resource for renters, landlords and homeowners who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. With support from the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund and the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the network has launched a new website, a tollfree number and a text alert system.

“Families on the verge of losing their home are feeling overwhelmed and often have no idea where to turn or what options are available,” said Staci Berger, president and CEO of the network.

“COVID-19 has created incredible financial burdens on our residents and our communities. Any number of evictions, but especially evictions of this magnitude, will have devastating impacts on households, the community, the economy, and state and local government budgets.”

Through the website www.housinghelpnj.org, residents will be able to send questions and concerns through an online form or call a toll-free number to be connected to a certified housing counselor or other helpful resources. The site will cover all the latest housing news and information specific to renters, landlords and homeowners. Answers to questions such as “Can I be evicted from my home?” and “What if I can’t pay my utility bills?” can be found on the new site, which also has a resource library with guides for food, housing, clothing, health care, legal, financial and many other services.

“Through Housing Help NJ, housing counselors will be able to help residents protect themselves during this crisis and refer those who need legal help to our partners at Volunteer Lawyers for Jus-

tice,” said Sharon Barker, vice president and chief operating officer of the network.

“The moratorium on evictions and foreclosures will be coming to an end sooner than later, and we hope to ward off a crisis by helping these families understand their

rights and navigate a complex system. We are glad to be able to help.”

These nonprofits providing housing counseling services, and in some cases mediation, are all certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Devel-

opment: New Jersey Citizen Action, La Casa de Don Pedro, Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling, Parkside Business and Community in Partnership, St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society, the Waterfront Project, and the Affordable Housing Alliance.

32 — May 2021 — Belleville Post

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