New Law Responds To Attacks Against Doctors, Nurses

TRENTON – In response to increased attacks on health care workers in recent years, Governor Phil Murphy signed the ‘Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act’ to make it a criminal offense to intentionally threaten health care professionals or volunteers in an effort to intimidate them or interfere with their work. The act also establishes additional penalties against individuals who assault health care workers or volunteers.

Under the bill (A-3199), a person who knowingly and willfully makes, delivers, or sends a threat against health care workers covered by the act is guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by imprisonment of up to six months and/or a fine of up to $1,000. For individuals convicted of assault against the covered workers, this act allows them to be sentenced to an anger management course of up to 12 months and community service of up to 30 days.

“If there’s one thing the COVID-19 pandemic made abundantly clear, it is the essential role health care workers play in our society,” said

Holiday City Berkeley, Jamaica Boulevard/Barbados Drive, Berkeley Township, Ocean County, New Jersey may have aquatic pesticides applied on or between 8 May 2023 and 7 June 2023 for aquatic vegetation control with ClipperSC (flumioxazin), and/or Aquathol K (endothall), and/or Tribune (diquat dibromide) and/or CaptainXTR (copper), Cutrine Ultra (copper), Navigate (2,4-D), and/or ProcellaCOR EC (florpyrauxifen-benzl), and/or RenovateMAXG (2,4-D + triclopyr), and/or SonarOne (fluridone) by boat or ground equipment by Princeton Hydro, LLC (NJDEP #97186A), 1108 Old York Road, Ringoes NJ 08551. There may be an irrigation/watering restriction for up to 30-45 days following the application of SonarOne, Navigate, and Renovate MAXG. There may be a 3-45 day irrigation/watering restriction following the application of Tribune and ClipperSC. Upon request, the pesticide applicator or applicator business shall provide a resident with notification at least 12 hours prior to the application, except for Quarantine and Disease Vector Control only, when conditions necessitate pesticide applications sooner than that time. Emergency Information, contact NJ Poison Information and Education System 800-222-1222, National Pesticide Information Center 800-858-7378 for routine health inquiries, information about signs/symptoms of pesticide exposure, Pesticide Control Program 609-984-6666 “This number is for pesticide regulation information, pesticide complaints and health referrals”. Other information contact Tyler, Princeton Hydro, LLC, Senior Field Operations Manager 908-237-5660.

Governor Murphy. “Growing threats and attacks against these courageous heroes are unacceptable. We owe health care workers, including volunteers and employees in health care settings, our gratitude and respect. This law will provide greater protections for health care workers in our state to help deter both physical and verbal acts of violence against these professionals.”

“Protecting health care workers is essential to maintaining a strong and viable workforce and ensuring public health,” said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “Their tireless commitment to improving health care delivery and saving lives should be without the additional worry of their physical and mental well-being.”

The act applies to health care professionals, as well as any volunteer or employee of a health care professional or health care facility, while in the course of performing their official duties. Health care facilities and certain physicians will be required to display a written notice to notify the public that it is a crime to assault health care workers and volunteers, and is subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both.

Sponsors of the bill include Senator Troy Singleton and Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, as well as Senator Fred Madden and Assembly members Shavonda Sumter, Sadaf Jaffer, Lisa Swain, and Daniel Benson.

“Over the last three years, our nurses, doctors and health care professionals were on the frontline of the COVID pandemic – often putting their own health at risk,” said Senator Singleton. “Sadly, this figurative battlefield turned literal, with people physically assaulting these essential workers. This is simply unacceptable. This law will send a clear message that our health care workers must be treated with the respect, decency and civility they deserve.”

“We could not have gone through the past several years without the dedication of our frontline healthcare workers. They are truly heroes in this pandemic. Unfortunately, these frontline healthcare heroes have reported a dramatic increase in violent acts since 2020,” said Assembly Majority Leader Greenwald. “These repeated acts of violence against our health care heroes are simply unacceptable. This law will strengthen protections for these frontline workers by enhancing penalties and awareness about violence in the workplace.”

“The law provides important new protections for health care workers. These healthcare workers provide critical services for their patients,” said Cathleen Bennett, President & CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association. “Unfortunately, instead of showing appreciation and patience to healthcare workers, there has been an increase in workers being treated poorly. When that leads to violence, we must act to protect healthcare workers. With the enactment of this measure, Gov. Murphy, Senator Singleton and Majority Leader Greenwald send a strong message that the tireless efforts of healthcare workers are appreciated and valued.”

“Health care workers are five times more likely to be assaulted than any other workforce, adding to the many reasons healthcare workers are migrating out of the profession,” said Debbie White, HPAE President. “We applaud the Legislature and the Governor’s office for the passing of this bill into law – the Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act. It’s a step forward in taking reasonable measures to minimize our risks. It’s time to treat workplace violence in healthcare settings with the seriousness this crisis warrants. If our hospitals and nursing homes are unsafe for workers, they are unsafe for our patients too.”

A number of audience members related their personal stories the WWII hero.

Hero

Continued From Page 6 stories with the author. While he did not do so publicly during the event, Hill also knew Lomell personally, as well.

“I actually met him downtown,” Hill explained, “at a number of events, Memorial Day events. He was our Grand Marshall, and he was always a very humble guy. I used to see him at the Ocean County Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day celebrations they had.

The mayor and the town council of Toms River are even working to have a new VA outpatient clinic being built off Hooper Avenue named in Lomell’s honor, with resolutions already in place.

“[Lomell was] one of the pillars of the town,” said Hill. “He’s done a lot for the community.”

Preliminary indications are that the measure will pass and that Lomell’s name will be adopted for the clinic.

The Rev. Dr. J. Francis Watson, Pastor 40 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting, NJ 08759 Phone 732.350.0900 • Fax 732.350.0343

E-mail: christlutheranchurch2@verizon.net

Website: christlutheranwhiting.com

NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AUTHORITY –PROPOSED OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS, MILEPOST 80 TO 83, GARDEN STATE PARKWAY

Take notice that applications for a Freshwater Wetlands Individual Permit, Flood Hazard Area Individual Permit, Hardship Exception Request, and CAFRA/Waterfront Development/Coastal Wetlands Individual Permit, as well as Flood Hazard Area Verifications, will be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Land Resource Protection for the development described below:

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) is proposing to improve Garden State Parkway (GSP) from approximately Milepost 80 to 83 (including Interchange 80, 81, and 82/82A) by improving GSP geometrics to meet current NJTA design standards where feasible. Other proposed improvements include continuous auxiliary lanes to better accommodate queuing and weaves; Collector-Distributor (CD) roads (service roads) to physically separate local ramp traffic from the GSP through traffic; safety and operational improvements of GSP interchanges, ramps and adjoining State and local roadway networks. Additionally, improvements at Interchange 80 will include adding a new southbound entrance ramp to the GSP and northbound exit ramp to the local roadway network. The improvements will include reconstruction to approximately seven (7) bridges and several culvert pipes throughout the project area. Ancillary improvements will include replacement of guide rail, lighting, drainage system upgrades and overhead signing. Utility and NJTA Fiber Optic (ETC) relocations will be required at locations where proposed improvements conflict with these existing systems. Hardship Exception: The proposed project includes a hardship exception request for N.J.A.C. 7:13-11.3(2) due to the placement of fill in a floodway to construct the proposed improvements. There is no regulatory floodway derived for the project area; thus, NJDEP is considering the entire floodplain a floodway. Therefore, the proposed fill being placed to widen the roadway is technically considered fill in a floodway. No floodrelated adverse impacts will be created due to the proposed improvements and no adjacent properties will be impacted.

The complete permit application package can be reviewed at the municipal clerk’s office in the municipality in which the site subject to the application is located or by appointment at the Department’s Trenton Office. Either a 30-day public comment period or public hearing will be held on the application in the future. Individuals may request a public hearing on the application within 15 calendar days of the date of receiving this notice. Requests for a public hearing shall be sent to the Department at the address below and shall state the specific nature of the issues to be raised at the hearing:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Land Resource Protection P.O. Box 420, Code 501-02A

Trenton, New Jersey 08625

Girl Scouts Visit

Double Trouble State Park

the Nature Trail where they saw a crane and four turtles. They thank these young ladies and their leaders for driving all the way from Bucks County to learn about the former cedar and lumber industries, plus the ecology of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.