Pine Barrens Tribune March 21, 2020-March 27, 2020

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PANDEMIC PANDEMONIUM Governor Implements Aggressive Social Distancing Measures to Mitigate Spread of COVID-19 After Outbreak Arrives in NJ By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD—Municipal, county and state officials took unprecedented actions this past week to try and stop an outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, after cases of the deadly and highly-contagious virus were confirmed throughout New Jersey, including in Burlington County, and nearly tripled over the course of just a couple of days. The outbreak of COVID-19, believed to have originated in Wuhan, China in either November or December of last year, with reports that Chinese government officials initially tried to cover it up, which led to a quicker spread of the contagion globally, was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11. President Donald J. Trump, who declared a National Emergency last week, acknowledged on March 16 that the U.S. might be headed toward a recession after states like New Jersey implemented extensive social distancing measures earlier that day to “slow the spread of the Coronavirus,” including bans on public gatherings, mandatory business closings, mandatory school closings and a nighttime curfew. As the spread of the virus across the state and U.S. increased, and announcements of social distancing measures were made across the country, locals flocked to grocery stores, with a historic run on essentials. This led to bare shelves, checkout and entry lines wrapping around stores, hoarding, and retailers curtailing their hours to allow for restocking. A surreal scene not witnessed in our lifetimes also unfolded with dozens of locals wearing masks, and even gloves, while shopping. Trump warned this week that the crisis could last until July or August, and in the wake of the duress, uncertainty and closures, many local businesses reportedly began laying off workers,

cutting expenses and even questioned their stability to continue operations in the future. Workers were left questioning how they would pay their bills and feed their families, with local utilities temporarily suspending utility shutoffs until further notice. “At a moment in time when protecting residents’ health and safety is of paramount importance, and especially when many are following guidance to practice ‘social distancing’ and spend more time at home, we must ensure that utility services are maintained to all residents,” said Joseph L. Fiordaliso, NJBPU President. “Waiving utility service disconnects is a way we can look out for each other (and) ensure every resident’s well-being.” Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, in a teleconference with the media on March 15, a day before implementing the extensive social distancing measures statewide, warned that it was a “rapidly evolving situation.” The governor, last week, as the first cases in the state started to trickle in, declared a State of an Emergency and Public Health Emergency. “This is not a time to panic,” said Murphy on March 16 as he implemented the social distancing measures. “It is time for smart, intelligent, aggressive pro-action. Just as that is true, it is equally as true, this is not time for business as usual! The monic antidotes we get, everything on one end from bars you literally can’t get into over the weekend to not one single roll of toilet paper left in the entire state—we got to radically, dramatically and immediately reign in that behavior on both ends into a more equitable, reasonable and rational reality.” The Pinelands, an area known for recreation, has been adversely affected far beyond the business district, with even state campsites in local forests ordered shuttered. Unsettling sights also appeared on television, with local See PANDEMIC/ Page 6

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

A man wears a mask while shopping for groceries at the Acme Markets store in Medford Township.

INDEX COVID-19 Information �����4

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Medford Officials Break Ground for New Combination Municipal Building, Library

Saturday, March 21, 2020

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Your Favorite Diner Will Be Back When This Is Over! Photo By Michael Garofalo

Officials from Medford Township break ground at 51 Union St. on March 9 for a new, combination municipal building and public library complex. By Michael Garofalo Staff Writer

MEDFORD — Officials from Medford Township, along with key stakeholders, gathered at 51 Union St. on March 9 to ceremoniously break ground for a new, combination municipal building and public library complex to be erected at the site. The site was cleared and leveled as the township’s elected officials, staff and contractors visited the premises to celebrate the start of construction. The new facility is slated to open in spring 2021. “We are really happy that this project is coming together,” said Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson in an interview following the groundbreaking ceremony. The two-story, over 20,000-square-foot building now under construction will feature library facilities on its first floor, including a children’s library, a technology center and 102seat multi-purpose room. The building’s second floor will house the township’s municipal offices. The 51 Union St. site is close in proximity to both the Pinelands Branch Library and the township’s existing municipal offices, which each have space and parking constraints that will be addressed by the new complex. The 3.27-acre parcel was acquired by the township for $605,000 (including settlement fees) in 2018. The property is also home to the Jonathan Haines House, which was originally built in the 1760s and expanded in the 1820s, and is among the oldest buildings in Medford. The design of the new building will take a number of “architectural cues” from its historic neighbor, explained Brooks Garrison, of Garrison Architects, the project’s architect. The front of the new building will incorporate the Haines House’s dual chimney and covered entryway. Its brick façade will also match the color of the Haines House’s Flemish bond masonry. The building will also be designed with security in mind, Garrison explained, noting that the main entryway will be the only public entrance. The other three exterior doors will be locked and accessible only to employees with keycards. The combination library and municipal building will be set back roughly 300 feet from Union Street, which will place a sizable space between the new facility and the Haines House,

which sits closer to the road. “The integrity of the site will be maintained with the Haines House being prominent and the municipal building being the focal point at the end of a long driveway,” Garrison said. The Haines House will be preserved, according to Watson, but exact plans for its future use will likely not be determined until after the completion of the new facility. In addition to drawing on the local heritage of the Haines House, Watson explained that a major appeal of the new building’s location is its proximity to Medford Village. Watson said building the new facility in the village was a priority for the township, and that the Haines property was one of the few buildable lots in the area that could afford the necessary space. “I think it is going to be a great site for us,” Watson said. “It is close to downtown, but it is also within walking distance of Freedom Park, and the police station is very close. It is another thing that will tie our town together.” Watson said the township intends to add benches and other amenities around the building to create a “park-like atmosphere” where library visitors and municipal staff can enjoy the outdoors. The township, thus far, has allocated $6.5 million toward the project and hopes to receive additional funding from the state and county. Medford Township Council awarded an $8,194,000 contract for the construction of the new building to Arthur J. Ogren, Inc. last October. Council is currently in negotiations with the Burlington County Library System, which has agreed to contribute funding toward the library portion of the building. The township and county library also plan to seek grant funding for the project through the state’s Library Construction Bond Act, which was passed by voters via a ballot measure in 2017. The state began accepting applications this month for its first round of funding through the act, which authorizes $125 million in state bonds to provide grants for building and improving public libraries. “By the time it is all said and done, between the property and the cost of the building and professionals’ fees, it is about a $10 million project,” Watson said. “It would be nice, between the county and the state, to get maybe 25 percent of that, which would be half the cost of the library.”

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Saturday, March 21, 2020

NEED-TO-KNOW INFORMATION Towns Adjust Access to Municipal Services to Comply with Social Distancing Standards Public Bodies Meet to Shape Response, Others Cancel Government Meetings

By Andy Milone Staff Writer

Photo Provided

Evesham Township Police Chief Christopher Chew, Evesham Township Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Carl Bittenbender, Mayor Jacklyn Veasy and Evesham Township Manager Robert Corrales hold a briefing on March 18.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

EVESHAM—The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbrea k a nd resu lt i ng public healt h emergency, with mandatory social distancing requirements, has forced local municipalities to make substantial adjustments to municipal services and protocols. One Pinelands municipality, Evesham Township, even held a rare, spontaneous emergency meeting this week to discuss the township’s response to COVID-19. An “emergency” meeting of a public body is one that is held in “the absence of having sufficient time (48 hours) of providing adequate notice” to the public and the municipality’s legal newspapers because “the matters to be discussed are of such importance that a delay would likely result in substantial harm to public interest.” “Our township is facing an unprecedented challenge unlike any other in recent memory,” declared Mayor Jackyln Veasy after calling the meeting to order and council approving a resolution that allowed for the emergency mechanism in the Open Public Meetings Act (OPRA) to be utilized. “Overcoming this challenge is going to require every member of our community to work together to follow the guidelines issued by our leaders and health professionals on the local, county, state and national levels. Overcoming this challenge is going to require patience and a heightened level of responsibility from our residents, members

Pine Barrens Businesses Suffer, Try to Cope with Coronavirus and Distancing Measures

of our business community and employees.” As of press time, Evesham had two confirmed cases of Coronavirus. “The health and safety of everyone in Evesham is at stake,” Veasy contended, prior to the announcement from Burlington County that two residents had been diagnosed with the virus that has a higher than normal mortality rate. Fire Chief Carl Bittenbender announced during the emergency meeting that all public access to Evesham Township buildings, including the municipal building for meetings of public bodies, was “canceled” until further notice. Township facilities also affected include the Gibson House Community Center, the Blue Barn Recreation Center and the Evesham Department of Public Works Offices at 100 Sharp Road. Also included is the Indian Spring Golf Course. “Access will be restricted to only township employees,” said Bittenbender, who also serves as Evesham’s emergency management coordinator. Zane Clark, a spokesman for Evesham Township, noted that the closures do not reflect any specific belief from the township that visitors to any of these facilities would be exposed to COVID-19. A press release issued by Evesham Township noted that Evesham canceled the municipal meetings (zoning, council, planning) that were See STANDARDS/ Page 7

SOUTH A MPTON—Agg ressive social distancing measures implemented in New Jersey to mitigate further spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in New Jersey, including a decree by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy that all restaurant establishments, with or without a liquor or limited brewery license, are limited to offering delivery and/or take out-services only, is having significant adverse impacts on area businesses, along with the fear of contracting the virus. “It is killing businesses,” said Frank Caterina, owner of Upper Crust Pizza & Italian Restaurant in Tabernacle Township, on March 17, the first full-day the restrictions went into effect. “There is not a business that is immune to this. Everyone is getting whacked, and it is looking like it is going to be around for a while.” Caterina, as the clock neared 2 p.m., contended that his business had fulfilled five orders, as compared to the usual number, which is closer to 30. For other businesses, like the Red Lion Diner in Southampton Township, the Coronavirus pandemic was too much to handle, and the diner announced it was closing temporarily on March 18, and donating its perishable food to a local food bank. After attempting to still give diner employees hours to work, and customers the comfort food they desired through the option of delivery or take-out, owner Paul Tsiknakis told this newspaper in a phone interview on March 18 that it was a combination of concerns, including the well-being of diner employees, and a significant drop in the number of orders Wednesday, that led to the “tough decision” to close shop, resulting in 50 people being laid off. “We wanted to do take-out and delivery, but customers had the sniffles, and our employees were worried about being around them,” Tsiknakis said. “It got to the point where we decided we should take the advice of the government and have everyone stay home for a week or two.” I nitially, Tsi k na k is said that he and management had “hoped to at least break even” or “maybe lose a little bit of money,” but that the situation had gotten to the point where he became concerned about making payroll in the future. He added that all of the news conferences surrounding the virus appeared to be stressing people out.

Photo By Andy Milone

The Red Lion Diner in Southampton Township had a near empty parking lot during dinnertime on March 18, after announcing a temporary closure due to the Coronavirus pandemic. “If you saw how many people were going around the circle today … I have never seen it so dead in my life,” Tsiknakis said. Tsiknakis contended that the diner “will reemploy every, single one” of the people laid off and “return to full capacity” as soon as the emergency is over. The diner owner also made a plea to be heard through this newspaper that the “government needs to act quickly to figure out ways to help small businesses” during this difficult time. Tsiknakis is exploring options should the emergency continue beyond the next one or two weeks and advises locals to keep an eye on the diner’s social media pages. Red Lion Diner began the week trying to cope with no dine-in service at a building with a capacity to hold more than 200 people by instead offering curbside service and delivery for the first time ever. The local diner also offered 25 percent off any order as encouragement to taste food outside the comforts of home cooking. “We have been doing delivery ever since we had the outbreak,” said Manager Kosta Linardos on March 17. “We do not want people to be afraid to have the meals that they would usually come into the diner to eat.” Linardos was helping wherever he could, even delivering, during the afternoon of March 17, which was also St. Patrick’s Day—a holiday when the diner is typically busy fulfilling orders of Corned Beef and Cabbage. Linardos said the diner had filled some traditional holiday orders from its “loyal regulars in LeisureTowne,” an adult retirement community in Southampton. See COPE/ Page 17

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NEED-TO-KNOW INFORMATION Bass River, Medford Lakes May Elections to Be Held Solely via Vote-By-Mail Ballots By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—A May election for three seats on Medford Lakes Borough Council will be done through the mail only, as ordered by Governor Phil Murphy on March 19 due to the Novel Coronavirus outbreak.

Murphy signed an executive order ordering that all elections scheduled for May 12, both before and after the order takes effect, shall be conducted solely via vote-by-mail ballots. The governor contended that voting by mail, rather See ELECTIONS/ Page 12

Dependent of JBMDL Service Member Contracts Novel Coronavirus, Isolated JOI N T BA SE MC GU I R E - DI XLAKEHURST—The first known case of COVID-19 at Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst was confirmed Wednesday by U.S. Air Force officials. A dependent of a service member assigned to the Joint Base is currently undergoing evaluation and treatment following a positive Coronavirus test. The individual is in isolation at an off-base residence, according to Air Force officials. “Right now, we have one confirmed case of COVID-19,” said Col. Bridget Gigliotti, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst commander. “The safety of our service members, families and employees is our top priority. We will continue to work with our interagency partners to ensure we do everything we can to mitigate

the effects of COVID-19 and ensure everyone has the most up-to-date information on appropriate measures to prevent the potential spread of the virus.” Medical officials are performing contact tracing, and related information will be provided when available, according to Gigliotti. As of press time, the cur rent Health Protection Condition level for the Joint Base is “Bravo,” which reflects “the moderate disease threat posed by COVID-19” and “the risk of exposure to personnel.” The base, on March 17, announced a Public Health Emergency in line with county and state declarations. Base personnel should avoid handshaking, wipe common-use items, avoid risk areas and self-isolate as needed, according to the decree.

County Schools Move to Distance Learning After Health Official, Governor Shuts Them School Board Member Contends Opportunity Presents ‘Gift of Time’ to Teachers Drawing Strong Rebuke from Educators and Parents

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—A March 13 edict issued by Dr. Herbert Conaway, director of the Burlington County Health Department, closed all schools throughout Burlington County beginning on March 16, to be re-evaluated on April 17, after cases of the deadly and highlycontagious virus were confirmed throughout New Jersey, including in Burlington County. “After the Burlington County Coronavirus Taskforce further evaluated Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance for Implementation of Mitigation Strategies for Communities Regarding Local COVID-19 Transmission, strong actions must be taken to ensure the reduction of mass gatherings and community activities,” Conaway said. “The goal of this temporary closure is to slow the transmission within the county. These social distancing strategies, if followed, will reduce the risk of further transmission in our community.” Conaway’s decree was followed by another from Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, which “indefinitely” closed all public and private preschool, elementary and secondary schools,

along with institutions of higher education. “These are extraordinar y times, and educators throughout the state have been taking extraordinary measures to create plans for highquality home instruction, ensure food security for children who depend on free and reduced lunch, and provide services for all special needs students,” said New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet in a statement. “We understand that the closure can be a disruption for many parents, but we know nothing is more important than the safety of the 1.4 million children we serve.” The NJDOE told school districts, prior to the governor’s decree, that any school day impacted by a public health-related closure would count towards a requirement that schools be in session for 180 days, so long as its students have access to home instruction services. “We will be hosting our home instruction plan via online instruction, and other means, developed by our staff to meet the needs of our students,” wrote Lenape Regional High See COUNTY/ Page 7

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Saturday, March 21, 2020

PANDEMIC (Continued from Page 1)

news anchors forgoing the traditional routine of sitting next to each other on set, or distancing themselves far apart from each other. Over the course of just seven days, American and local life as we know it has changed dramatically, with Trump not ruling out ordering a potential mandatory quarantine declaration in hotspots across the nation. “We can’t allow the business as usual culture to continue,” Murphy said. “Clearly, as I said, this does not come without a price. It will come with a big economic price. We understand that, but if we do not act, the price will only be larger, both in humanity, as well as economically.” As of press time, New Jersey was in the topfive category for positive Coronavirus cases in the U.S., with 742 positive cases statewide, in comparison to only 98 COVID-19 cases in New Jersey on March 15. Nine deaths in the state, as of press time, have been attributed to the disease. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as of press time, the U.S. has over 10,000 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases with 150 deaths attributed to the disease. The first U.S. case of the coronavirus was identified in Washington state on Jan. 21. As of press time, more than 240,000 confirmed COVID -19 cases had been reported globally, according to John Hopkins University, with 9,843 deaths attributed to the disease. China (81,155/3,130), Italy (41,035/3,405) and Iran (18,407/1,284) led the way with cases and deaths, respectively. 84,962 people were confirmed to have recovered from COVID-19, as of press time, with the majority of the recovery statistics coming from China. As of press time, there have been 15 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Burlington County. The Burlington County Health Department announced the county’s first two positive cases on March 10. “The residents are a 62-year-old male and a 60-year-old female (husband and wife) with a history of travel to Italy,” said Nicholas Gangemi, a spokesman for Burlington County. “They are currently isolated at home with mild illness since March 4.” The man first became ill on March 4 and was seen by a healthcare provider that same day, according to Gangemi. “The Burlington County Health Department is working closely with these individuals to identify any potential close contacts and provide guidance for evaluation and testing as appropriate,” Gangemi said. It was later revealed the couple resides in Riverton and had recently returned from Italy. Two days after the first cases in the county, Freeholder Director Felicia Hopson announced that a Burlington County Coronavirus Task Force had been formed to “coordinate measures

Photo by Douglas D. Melegari

Photo by Douglas D. Melegari

Photo by Douglas D. Melegari

Shelves normally stocked with toilet paper and paper towels stood empty at Acme Markets in Medford on March 17.

Yogurt and other dairy products were hard to find last weekend at the ShopRite of Medford.

Shoppers were out of luck in finding toilet paper at the ShopRite of Medford on March 13.

appropriately” and “prepare for health hazards of COVID-19.” “The Burlington County Coronavirus Task Force will be led by Health Department Director Dr. Herb Conaway,” said Hopson on March 12. “Dr. Conaway is a practicing physician of internal medicine with more than twenty years of clinical experience. Dr. Conaway also serves as chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee in the New Jersey General Assembly.” The Coronavirus Task Force consists of several members of the Burlington County Health Department, Burlington County Public Safety Department and Burlington County Office of Emergency Management. There are also representatives on it from the freeholder’s office and Virtua Health. “Burlington County Health Department has been actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation since it emerged in early January,” Hopson said. “The task force will continue to work with all of its local partners on existing plans and control measures to prepare for further spread in Burlington County.” Conaway, at dinnertime on March 13, ordered the closure of all schools in Burlington County, to be re-evaluated no sooner than April 17 (see separate story). Following Conaway’s school pronouncement, Gangemi announced that it was determined that another person in the county tested positive for Coronavirus and had traveled to multiple locations throughout the county just before doing so. He labeled the case an instance of “community exposure by confirmed COVID-19 patient.” The person, according to Gangemi, visited Republik (formerly Molly McGuire) in North Arlington, Wildflowers Too Restaurant in Yardville, Springfield Golf Center in Mount Holly, Chesterfield Inn in Chesterfield, Winners Training Center in Mount Holly, and Rite Aid in Wrightstown. The visits occurred between March 6 and 10. “We are making this announcement so that

individuals who have visited these locations can be more alert for symptoms consistent with Coronavirus disease,” Gangemi said. “If you believe you were exposed, are experiencing mild symptoms and are medically stable, you can remain at home; but must self-isolate until you have been fever-free for 72 hours. This includes isolation from other people in your household. “If you are experiencing more severe symptoms or need further medical evaluation, please contact your primary care physician or emergency room. Do not arrive unannounced. If you are in need of urgent medical care, please call 911 and let the operator know you were exposed to Coronavirus so that medical staff can take the appropriate precautions.” The Burlington County Health Department announced two additional cases of COVID-19 on March 15, a 43-year-old man f rom Moorestown whose “method of exposure is currently under investigation” and a “travel associated case” involving a 63-year-old woman from Eastampton. “Contact tracing” resulted in the Burlington County Health Department determining that the two individuals diagnosed on March 15 attended public events in the county. The Eastampton woman attended 11:30 a.m. mass on March 8 at Sacred Heart Church in Mount Holly, while the man went to Moorestown High School’s Orchestra Concert. “Do not leave your home,” said Gangemi of anyone who might have been exposed and is experiencing symptoms not requiring hospitalization. “Make arrangements for delivery of essential services.” A senior source told the Pine Barrens Tribune newspaper on March 17 that Virtua Health, a local medical system, was treating a number of patients with symptoms consistent with the virus and are taking all the necessary precautions. That source added that, as it was understood, Virtua was still awaiting results for the majority of the tests sent out.

The Burlington County Health Department announced on March 18 that a 53-year-old man from Burlington Township, 35-year-old woman from Delanco, 20-year-old man from Evesham, a 29-year-old woman from Florence, a 61-yearold woman from Evesham and an 80-year-old man from Mount Laurel tested positive for COVID-19. A day later, the county health department announced that a 63-year-old woman from Bordentown, a 20-year-old woman from Mount Laurel, a 45-year-old woman from Tabernacle and an 85-year-old man from Mount Laurel had contracted the disease. County officials expected the number to potentially rise each day, with Gangemi telling the press to expect to receive an update on case numbers at 4 p.m. each weekday. Murphy, who said he was disgusted by pictures of crowded bars this past weekend, along with individuals sharing drinks despite the public health warnings, signed Executive Order No. 104 on March 16, implementing “aggressive social distancing measures” to “mitigate further spread of COVID-19” in New Jersey. “I had some friends reporting to me from restaurants in Asbury Park last night that were chockablock,” said Murphy prior to ordering establishments closed. “God knows we want a vibrant small business community, and we want restaurants and taverns and all that sort of stuff, but this isn’t the time. … I think we need to employ much more aggressive statewide action to make sure people are shaken from this business as usual. …This is not business as usual. Almost any expert here would tell you that the next seven to 14 days will define our country, and the shape of the curve (community isolation measures that keep the daily number of disease cases at a manageable level for medical providers and is reflected on a graph). He also announced a “regional approach”

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COUNTY

(Continued from Page 5) School District (LRHSD) Superintendent Carol Birnbohm in a letter to school parents. Birnbohm added that because many LRHSD staff members are utilizing “live-online delivery of instruction,” they would follow the district’s single-session day schedule in terms of availability. “During the period that the school and/ or building is closed, teachers will maintain communication with their students/classes to ensure continuity of the curriculum,” Birnbohm said. “Before students left school on Thursday, every teacher informed their students how to obtain instruction from them, and how students are to provide documents and assignments back to them.” T here are many different modes of communication that will be used “in order to ensure continuity of instruction,” according to Birnbohm, including Google Classroom, email and teachers’ webpages. She said teachers would provide feedback on turned in assignments throughout the school closure, as well as in-person upon returning to school. Birnbohm retweeted optimism on her public Twitter account that school would no longer be done remotely after Easter break. However, Burlington County Spokesman Nicholas Gangemi, in response to an unrelated question about parents and high school students offering to provide day care in their homes during the school closures, wrote, “high school students will continue to have assignments through the end of the year through distance learning.” “Students should be advised that this is not a snow day,” Gangemi said. “School instruction will continue through distance learning and expectations will remain the same, that time is devoted to studies. In this time, it is critical

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WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM that parents curb any mass student gatherings, for example: going to the mall, the movies, sleepovers, etc. The health and wellbeing of neighbors is at risk and the precautions should be treated as such.” The Pemberton Township School District also announced it would transition to a remote learning plan so that its students would receive education in their home setting via distance learning. “O n l i ne le a r n i ng pla n s h ave b e e n implemented for grades 6 through 12, and pre-K to 5th grade students will continue their learning with take-home instructional packets,” wrote Pemberton Township Schools Superintendent Tony Trongone to parents. The Pinelands Regional School District, which serves Burlington County students residing in Bass River Township, indicated it fell under the jurisdiction of the Ocean County officials since it is based in Little Egg Harbor Township. “At this time, our plan is to be closed for two weeks (March 16 to March 27), but it is possible that this closure will extend past that time,” wrote Pinelands Regional Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley, Pinelands Regional Assistant Superintendent Gina Frasca, Pinelands Regional Director of Curriculum and Instruction John Acampora and Pinelands Regional Director of Special Services Erin Lichtenwalner in a joint statement, prior to the governor’s decree. “More specific information will follow to give you guidance as we navigate through these unusual circumstances.” Murphy, in a March 17 press conference, recognized a number of directives being issued on the municipal and county levels regarding the Coronavirus emergency, which did not reflect continuity and contended that the state would have the ultimate say, and potentially override local decisions as it sees fit. See COUNTY/ Page 9

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regularly scheduled for this past week. “Evesham Township will continue to take all necessary steps to protect our residents and ensure their health and wellbeing,” Mayor Jaclyn Veasy said. “While we understand that the temporary closure of our facilities to members of the public may cause some inconvenience, we ultimately believe this decision is in is the best interest of our residents’ long-term health and safety. We thank all residents for their patience at this time.” Evesham Township employees will continue to report for their normal duties as scheduled, according to Clark. “I am asking the public to please do everything you can to make sure that you listen to what the governor’s directive said to make your lives safe and our officers’ lives safe,” said Evesham Police Chief Christopher Chew, promising that the police department is ready and will be seen at enhanced levels.” Chief Financial Of ficer Elizabeth J. Peddicord warned Evesham Township Council to “get ready” because “none of us of any idea of the financial ramifications, but they are going to be severe.” Top officials in Evesham held a press briefing the following day to update the town on the actions it was taking. “The Office of Emergency Management here in Evesham Township is functioning,” Bittenbender said. “Myself, the management team behind me, and a whole host of individuals here in Evesham are currently, collectively managing this public health emergency. We are using our knowledge to pool resources to best support the communities’ ability to make it through this emergency and recover from it.” Evesham’s response to the crisis was in stark contrast to Southampton Township’s initial response. The Southampton Township Committee, whose five members also comprise the Board of Health for Southampton, canceled a regularly scheduled meeting for March 17. “Our township meeting for tonight has been moved to next Tuesday at 5 p.m.,” wrote Mayor Michael Mikulski to this newspaper. This newspaper previously reported about a number of problems last year with Southampton Township’s response to a June 2019 flood. Officials, after the blunders, admitted on the record that the township’s emergency management office was not up to par and there were serious communication issues. Officials at the time vowed to fix the issues. However, it became apparent this week that the issues were continuing. A Nixle emergency notification sent by Southampton to residents this past weekend initially contained a broken link. “Nothing here to see folks,” wrote one resident on Southampton Township’s Facebook

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

♦ Page 7

page, which was linked to the Nixle message, while another replied, “So what is this telling us exactly?” A not he r Ni x le me s s a ge i s s ue d by Southampton contended that it was correcting one that was previously issued containing a wrong email address to contact Southampton officials. However, the correction message still contained a non-working email address. The Nixle message advised residents to email clerks@southamptonnj.org, whereas the municipal website tells residents to email ClerksOffice@SouthamptonNJ.org . “The previous message sent seems to have an error when accessing it; therefore, it is being sent again,” said another Nixle message issued to residents. Other Nixle messages advised residents that all Southampton Township offices are closed to the public and that office hours have been changed to 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Yet another Nixle message issued by the township contended that “the maximum resident occupancy” for the March 24 meeting will be limited to 16. “First come basis,” wrote township officials in the message. “No other admittance will be permitted once the maximum is reached.” The limit on residents who can attend the March 24 meeting was placed despite officials advertising that the first half hour of the meeting will be a budget meeting, or contain a discussion about the township’s budget. Pemberton Borough and Shamong Township canceled their governing body meetings until further notice. Medford Township, in a detailed press release, advised that the township’s administrative offices located at 17 North Main St. will be closed to the public starting March 17. “There is a large drop-box located on the front porch of the building to receive large items such as construction permits, plans, etc. that may be used during business hours,” said Township Clerk Katherine Burger. “There is a small drop-off box for payments located next to the rear entrance of the building that is checked a couple times per day and is available for dropoffs 24 hours a day. Anyone needing Registrar services are asked to contact the registrar in advance to make arrangements for records or appointments.” Medford residents were also encouraged to mail the township tax, water and sewer payments. Medford Township Council held its March 17 meeting as scheduled at 7 p.m. and encouraged the public to watch it online. Residents were welcomed to attend the meeting in person, however. Meetings of the Medford Tow nship Planning, Zoning and advisory boards are canceled through April 1, according to the press release. “The Public Works Yard will close on Monday, March 16 at 12 p.m.,” Burger said. “The yard will remain closed through Friday, March See STANDARDS/ Page 9

Page 8

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

PANDEMIC (Continued from Page 6)

to combatting the Coronavirus on a press teleconference call. He was joined with New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. “With all we are seeing in our state—and across our nation and around the world— the time for us to take our strongest, and most direct, actions to date to slow the spread of Coronavirus is now,” Murphy said. “I have said many times over the past several days that, in our state, we are going to get through this as one New Jersey family. But if we are all in this together, we must work with our neighboring states to act together. The work against Coronavirus isn’t just up to some of us, it is up to all of us.” Mu r phy’s d i rect ive closed all ba r s and restaurants “indefinitely” for eat-in services effective at 8 p.m. March 16. These establishments have only been allowed to open for takeout and delivery services. All pre-K through grade 12 schools (public, private, and parochial), and all colleges and universities, were ordered closed by the governor effective March 18, “until it is deemed by health officials to be safe for in-person classes to resume.” “We’ve worked closely to ensure that the overall educational and individual needs of students can be met during this closure, including appropriate home instruction and continued access to free and reduced meals,” Murphy said. The governor “strongly discouraged” all non-essential and non-emergency travel in New Jersey between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., beginning on March 16. In the morning call with reporters, the governor called it a curfew. “This will remain in effect for the foreseeable future,” Murphy said. “We want everyone to be home—and not out.” Essential businesses which are necessary for the public’s health, safety, and welfare—like supermarkets, pharmacies, medical offices, and gas stations have been allowed to remain open past 8 p.m. All movie theaters, gyms, casinos, and racetracks were entirely closed March 16 entirely by the governor “until it is deemed safe for their reopening.” “Online gaming will continue,” Murphy said. All other non-essential retail, recreational, and entertainment businesses have been forced to close each night after 8 p.m. “During daytime hours, these businesses may remain open if they limit their occupancy to no more than 50 persons and adhere to social distancing guidelines,” Murphy said. Murphy also banned gatherings of over 50 individuals, with advice later put out by the Trump administration to limit gatherings to less than 10 people. “In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, we must take aggressive and direct social distancing action to curtail non-essential activities in the state,” Murphy said. “Our paramount priority is to ‘flatten the curve’ of new cases, so we do not overwhelm our health care system and overload our health care professionals who are on the frontlines of the response. My administration continues to work closely with our communities, stakeholders, union representatives and business leaders to ensure that we all do our part to win the fight against the Novel Coronavirus and emerge stronger than ever.” Catherine R. McCabe, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced that the public may still access the state parks, forests, recreation areas and Wildlife Management Areas, including roads, parking areas, trails, lakes and other open space areas for “healthful passive recreation,” but that campgrounds, visitor centers, nature centers, restrooms and similar facilities at state parks, forests,

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM recreation areas, Wildlife Management Areas and historic sites are “closed until further notice” in order to “protect public health and safety as the state works to address COVID-19.” “Kee pi ng st ate - ow ned open spaces available to the public is important so people can continue to enjoy the healthful benefits of recreation and being outdoors,” Commissioner McCabe said. “We advise the public to practice social distancing while enjoying our open spaces.” McCabe added that given the lack of services for the public, entry fees normally collected by state parks will be waived. However, permits typically required, including, but not limited to mobile sport fishing permits are still necessary. “This approach will allow important access to outdoor activities such as walking to continue, while limiting potential exposure and spread of the virus,” she said. McCabe also announced that the NJDEP has postponed all upcoming events, programming and camping reservations in State Parks and Wildlife Management Areas through April 30. Refunds will be issued, she said, and events rescheduled at the appropriate time. Mu r p hy, o n M a r c h 17, sig n e d a n administrative order mandating the “indefinite closure” of all places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, family and children’s attractions. On March 18, Murphy hinted that additional social distancing measures were to come, contending there were some “holes” he would like to close. A day later, he ordered the closure of all personal-care businesses and social clubs which cannot comply with social distancing guidelines, until further notice, including barber shops, hair salons, spas, nail and eyelash salons and tattoo parlors. The first mandatory closures related to COVID-19 that had some impact on the area were announced by Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Tom Wolf. Wolf, on March 12, had ordered that all non-essential businesses and schools close in neighboring Montgomery County. Wolf ’s declaration was heavily televised in the Philadelphia media market, which Burlington County is a part of. Within hours, fearing that such orders would soon be applied to Burlington County, residents packed area grocery stores. Cases of water were a limited commodity, along with toilet paper, around 8:30 p.m. on March 12 at Murphy Fresh Foods in Tabernacle. Many shoppers had filled their shopping carts to the top with canned goods and paper products, among other items. Acme Markets store in Medford Township, normally desolate at 10 p.m. on a Thursday night, was bustling with a daytime crowd on March 12. This newspaper observed local elected officials stocking up on items, including Southampton Township Committeeman James F. Young Sr. By that time, the store’s toilet paper and paper towel aisle had been mostly emptied. There was also a steady late-night crowd at the ShopRite in Medford just before 11 p.m. on March 12. The toilet paper aisle was completely empty. A stocker inside the store remarked that a delivery usually arrives by 9 p.m., but the truck had not yet shown up. Other essentials, such as yogurts, cheeses and milk had limited availability. Upon this newspaper returning to the three stores on the morning of March 13, an “unprecedented volume” of people was observed. At the Medford Acme, checkout lines extended into the produce area and down the aisles at times. Numerous individuals, mostly the elderly, deemed most vulnerable to the Coronavirus, which can cause severe respiratory illnesses, were observed wearing masks. The largest See PANDEMIC/ Page 19

Saturday, March 21, 2020

CLUES ACROSS

1. As soon as possible 5. Gateway (Arabic) 8. Doctors’ group 11. Madder genus of plants 13. A team’s best pitcher 14. Ancient Greek sophist 15. Go up 16. Neither 17. Bolivian river 18. Manila hemp 20. Comedienne Gasteyer 21. British School 22. Human reproductive organs 25. Surrenders 30. Dog with long, silky coat and drooping ears 31. Sun up in New York 32. Lead alloy 33. Eastern Asian plant 38. Rapid deployment force (abbr.) 41. Japanese warrior 43. Festivity 45. Interruptions 47. Nonsense (slang) 49. Data mining methodology (abbr.)

50. Calvary sword 55. French river 56. Global business conference (abbr.) 57. Afflicted 59. Con man’s game 60. No (Scottish) 61. Jewish spiritual leader 62. Fish 63. Camera term (abbr.) 64. Impudence

CLUES DOWN

1. A continuous portion of a circle 2. Genus of seabirds 3. Infant’s dining accessory 4. Native Americans from Arizona 5. Popular fruit 6. Poisonous plant 7. Scolded 8. Assists 9. Hand (Spanish) 10. Amazon product identifying system (abbr.) 12. Basics 14. Cain and __ 19. Malaria 23. Indicates particular

shape 24. Respiratory disease 25. Central Standard Time 26. Imitate 27. Golf score 28. A place to lay your head 29. Three cards of the same suit 34. Not in 35. Human gene 36. Ancient Chinese philosophic concept 37. French river 39. Thinks up 40. Type of geological deposit 41. Helps little firms 42. Area units 44. A device to remove 45. Secret political clique 46. Polite interruption sound 47. Foundation 48. Clare Boothe __, American writer 51. Swiss river 52. Prejudice 53. Actor Idris 54. Resistance fighters 58. Speak disrespectfully of

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Saturday, March 21, 2020

COUNTY

(Continued from Page 7) McCooley, on March 18, wrote to parents that the tentative date for Pinelands Regional to reopen had been moved to April 20. “As you are well aware, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate in our area,” McCooley said. “To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff, students, and community, the Little Egg Harbor and Pinelands School Districts will remain closed through spring recess.” Birnbohm tweeted that over 200 breakfast and lunch baskets departed one of the Lenape Regional High District’s campuses to be delivered to LRHSD families. “Food distribution ensures that students can maintain a sense of normalcy while they learn from home,” wrote the NJDOE in retweeting Birnbohm’s tweet. “Thank you for all of your hard work!” Pemberton Township Schools have, so far, made free breakfast and lunch available to all of its students during the school closure. Bagged, take-home meals are scheduled to be dispersed to its students Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., at Busansky Elementary School, Denbo Elementary School, Stackhouse Elementary School, Pemberton Early Childhood Education Center and the Nesbit Center for the duration of the school closure. “Families driving to the site are asked to stay in their vehicles as staff members bring the meals to them, and walkers are asked to go to the glass vestibule in the main lobby to pick up their meals,” Trongone said. “Names are required to receive the meals, and staff members will sign in all recipients. To aid in efficiency, we will distribute both breakfast and lunch meals at the same time.” The Pinelands Regional School District

has made “bagged meals” available to all of its students each day between 10:30 a.m. and noon at Pinelands Regional High School, in the front foyer area. The meal program is expected to continue until the school closure ends, except during the week of the previously planned spring break. Administrators had arranged for delivery of the meals, but that plan changed after a case of Coronavirus was confirmed in Little Egg Harbor. Similar meal programs and distance learning arrangements have been made by local elementary and middle school districts. One of those districts, the Tabernacle Township School District, reported that 12 of its students received lunches through the Free and Reduced Lunch Program and that nearly 80 students required a computer to be able to participate in online learning. Members of the Tabernacle Board of Education, one of the first school boards to meet since the governor’s decree, questioned on March 16 how students and teachers would be held accountable through remote learning. Tabernacle Board of Education Member Dr. Megan Jones replied that principals and assistant principals have the capability to drop into the virtual classrooms and monitor “who is going in and who is going out.” Tabernacle Interim Superintendent Thomas P. Christensen said teachers are also required to maintain a log of their activities. Brian Lepsis, also a member of the Tabernacle Township Board of Education and chair of its finance committee, said the closing of school is presenting teachers with a “gift of time” where they are going to have “more time and more bandwidth” to do things because “a lot of other stuff went away.” “I think it (the closing of school and Coronavirus) has affected us all,” Lepsis said. “We are probably feeling the effect at See COUNTY/ Page 13

STANDARDS (Continued from Page 7)

27. The Saturday yard hours and shredding event scheduled for March 21 has been canceled. We will add another Saturday event in April or May to make up for this closing.” The Medford Senior Center, according to the press release, is closed until “an undetermined date.” Tabernacle Township Committeeman Robert C. Sunbury Jr., who is also the township’s Emergency Management Coordinator, provided an update regarding the township’s ongoing efforts to prepare for the impact of Novel Coronavirus at a March 9 meeting. “We are working with the county on COV I D -19 mak ing su re that we have appropriate resources for the Fire Company to respond and are getting updates almost on a daily basis,” Sunbury said. T he Taber nacle Tow nship Of fice of Emergency Management has been using its Facebook page to share information on safety precautions, Sunbury said, adding that his office encourages residents to “Be Prepared, Not Scared.” “We are taking this thing seriously,” Sunbury said. “We are hoping we are not going to have a major impact, but we’ll be prepared if we do.” As of March 17, all Tabernacle Township offices are closed to the public until further notice. Bass River, Pemberton and Shamong townships, along with Medford Lakes Borough, have also closed municipal offices to the public. Woodland Township was one of the first municipalities in the area to announce that “entrance doors (to the municipal building) will be locked” until further notice. “Woodland OEM and the Woodland Township Committee are following all guidance and recommendations from the CDC

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and the County Board of Health in regards to the COVID-19,” wrote Woodland Township officials on the municipality’s website last weekend. “At this time, our municipality is at a low risk, but we need to take precautions and prepare for the worse.” Woodland officials recommend that residents call 609-726-1700 before going to the municipal building, or transact all business by phone or email as much as possible. “There is a drop-box at the back of the building to drop off building per mits, tax payments or dog license fees,” wrote Woodland Township officials. “When you enter the building, please use hand sanitizer. The Woodland Township Committee Meetings will continue to be held on the 4th Wednesday of each month beginning at 7 p.m., with remote audio access for the public for the time being.” In Pemberton Township, the long-awaited grand opening of the new Presidential Lakes firehouse was postponed until further notice. The Pemberton Township Volunteer Fire Company, like other fire companies in the area, also pleaded with the public to be forthcoming about any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 if calling 911 for emergency assistance. “Please keep our responders in mind when calling 911,” Pemberton fire officials wrote. “We need to protect our crews so that they will be able to continue to meet the emergency needs of the community. … There have been entire fire companies (outside of Pemberton) quarantined after they have responded to quarantined homes, because they were not alerted before entering. Those first responders are now unavailable to help anyone for at least 14 days. “Our department is 100 percent volunteer, and we cannot afford to have this happen. We do not want to take it (the virus) home to our families, or risk compromising the safet y of ou r com mu n it y when t here are prevention procedures to implement.”

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Saturday, March 21, 2020

SHAWNEE

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MEDFORD—A pair of employees at Shawnee High School in Medford Township have been recognized for wanting the best for local kids and providing local students with the tools they need for today and tomorrow. Katelynn Woll, a social studies teacher, has been named the school’s Teacher of the Year, while Janae Zechman, of the Counseling Department at Shawnee, has been named the school’s Educational Services Provider of the Year. “We are so proud to announce Mrs. Woll as our Teacher of the Year because she truly believes in creating a studentcentered learning environment in her classroom,” said Principal Matthew Campbell. “Students know that they are free to take academic risks as they engage in the learning process. Outside the classroom, Mrs. Woll is excellent at making sure the students are able to experience a well-rounded high school journey as co-advisor of the National Honors Society (NHS) and the Class of 2020. “Mrs. Zechman has captured the respect of her peers as she has taken the lead on helping us at Shawnee address the needs of our students’ both academically and emotionally. Through her role as a counselor and serving on several committees, she is helping Shawnee become better equipped to ensure that every student feels safe and secure in our building.” Woll, with ten years of experience in teaching at Shawnee, has coached and advised numerous sports and clubs, including Girls’ Soccer, Girls’ Basketball, Class Council and the National Honor Society. She also recently earned her baccalaureate in Holocaust Studies and Reducing Prejudices. She plans to use her knowledge gained through the program to implement professional development for both students and staff. “Hearing my name get called for Teacher of the Year at our faculty reception was an incredibly humbling honor,” Woll said. “I felt immense pride and joy, while simultaneously wanting to thank all of the

people who surrounded me. I can’t tell you what an amazing group of people I work with on a daily basis and all of my success has been built on a foundation of outstanding educators that came before me and currently work alongside of me.” Woll told this newspaper that she knew from her junior year of high school that she had a calling in history education and her dream job “would be to land right back here in the Lenape Regional High School District.” “I had a wonderf ul educational experience as a student in the district (Cherokee graduate) and as I watched history change before my eyes with the tragic events of 9/11, I jumped right into a declared major,” Woll said. “I also tremendously enjoyed working with children and knew I would love to get involved in coaching and extracurricular activities one day.” Woll noted that the students in the Shawnee community are “truly some of the most hardworking and nicest kids you’ll ever meet” and that they amaze her every day. “I am beyond grateful for landing the dream job!” Woll declared. Zechman, with 18 years of experience at Shawnee, ten as a teacher in Health and Physical Education and eight as a school counselor, currently serves on numerous school committees, including Student of the Month, 504, VOICES and Strategic Planning. She also serves at the school’s scholarship chairperson. “I am honored and fortunate to be a school counselor and to have the opportunity to work with Shawnee st udent s a nd a ma zi ng colleag ues on a daily basis,” Zechman told this newspaper. In addition to counseling and her committee roles at Shawnee, Zechman was a Class Council advisor and coached both Girls’ Lacrosse and Girls’ Soccer, and after winning a Girls’ Lacrosse state title, she was named the “2013 New Jersey High School Coach of the Year.” “As principal of Shawnee, I am so appreciative that we have such outstanding professional leaders working with our students,” Campbell said.

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Saturday, March 21, 2020

The Mouth:

Gateway to Your Health Metal Allergies Can Impact Your Gums Nickel allergies disproportionately affect women because they are more likely to come in repeated contact Dr. Richard Weber with the silvery-white lustrous metal (with a slight golden tinge) due to inexpensive jewelry often containing it. A likely indicator of being allergic to Nickel is a skin reaction that occurs while wearing earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc. It is not the type of reaction that typically causes major medical issues, but it may be causing an issue in your mouth! There are several dental materials which contain nickel, including crowns/caps and the metal used for a removable partial denture. If you have a crown with Nickel, it is typically in contact with your gums. This can result in constant inflammation. No matter how much brushing and flossing you do, if you are allergic, the gums around crowns appear red or purplish, bleed very easily and are tender. The symptoms mentioned can also be from an improper fit of the crown, or improper cleaning of the teeth, so discuss an allergy possibility with your

ELECTIONS (Continued from Page 5)

than at a polling place, will ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote without risking their health and safety. “Governor Murphy and I fully respect that elections are the foundation of our democracy, but we will not allow our citizens to be put in harm’s way as the COVID-19 pandemic escalates,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who also serves as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. 722 borough voters had favored last year moving borough council elections to November, while 445 voters disapproved of doing so. The question of moving the date of Medford Lakes elections had been posed to voters through a non-binding ballot question that appeared on last November’s ballot. Medford Lakes Council had the ultimate say through an ordinance as a result of the question being non-binding, and voted 3-2 against the will of the majority of voters, leading to recent backlash that votes do not count in Medford Lakes. A May 12 election for three seats on Bass River Township’s Board of Commissioners will also be subject to the governor’s decree. “The actions we are taking today protect our voters, election workers, and election security,”

Burlington County RSVP offers FREE training to become a volunteer coach for A Matter of Balance! dentist before having your old crowns removed. Fortunately, the dental profession is moving toward using crown materials that do not contain any metal at all! This provides several benefits (including no “black lines” as I discussed in the previous column). Metal partial dentures still cause an issue in dentistry because there is not a great alternative. There are metal free partial dentures, but it is not possible to add new teeth to them. This means if you lose another tooth, you must remake the whole partial denture at fullcost. Given the evolution of dentistry, the future is bright, but always mention to your dentist if you have any metal allergies.

said Secretary of State Tahesha Way. “These upcoming local elections on May 12 will be conducted exclusively using vote by mail, which will reduce the potential risk to health and safety, while ensuring that every New Jersey voter has fair and free access to the ballot box. As we continue to face this public health crisis, our team at the Division of Elections is working every day with our local, county, state and federal partners to protect New Jersey voters and our democracy.” Prior to the governor’s order, Burlington County Clerk Joanne Schwartz suggested in a press release that residents vote by mail, instead of voting in person at the polls on Election Day. “Voting by mail ensures all residents can vote without traveling to a polling lo cat ion i n a safe a nd se cu re way,” Schwa r t z said. “T h is will allow t hat the election process continue without interruption.” Encouraging voters to vote by mail, according to Schwartz, is also in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guideline to minimize direct contact with other people and reduce crowd size at polling locations. “I have always been advocating for vote by mail, but now it is ever more important due to the recent public health concerns,” Schwartz said.

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(Continued from Page 9) home, and in our workplaces. I have got 80 plus employees, I sent them all home last week. I dispersed of them by and large. We presented this to them as the ‘gift of time.’ “So right now, due to circumstances outside of our control, you have been given the gift of time to do all of this stuff, whereas before you might have said, ‘Oh, I wish I had more time to do this.’ So, we have lists of projects and lists of things to accomplish and stuff that always falls below the whirlwind in the day-to-day fires that we fight. I would love it if we can do the same thing here. We have a whole bunch of very talented people that are going to be bored quite frankly. Some are going to take on different levels of doing home instruction. If we can help them help us with things we would love to see, and love to do, and never quite find the time to do during the day to day operations, I think that would be appreciated.” Lepsis contended that teachers, still getting full pay during the shutdown, now have extra time to do curriculum writing, whereas before the Tabernacle district had to pay them extra hours to complete the task. “I hope we can push certain things forward in the district so that when we all come back here on April 20, knock on wood, not later I hope, we took advantage of this four or five week break to really get a lot done that you may otherwise not get the time to have done when you have got 678 kids running around your feet, who are spilling stuff, spreading germs and doing everything else.” Lepsis’ take on the closing of schools,

♦ Page 13

however, was met with a strong rebuke by teachers and parents, including Jones, forcing the Moorestown CEO to later say his com ments were “either ill-advised or ill-received,” though he continued to hold his ground for the remainder of the board meeting. “I am going to say as a teacher, who is in the thick of this, I am working my butt off ten t i mes ha rder t ha n when I a m i n the classroom,” Jones said. “Tr ying to manage (from home), helping all of those kids, reaching out online and helping them individually—it is hard to understand in some ways—but for most teachers right now, their workload has just shot up as they are trying to keep it engaging and different and all those things. It is not extra time. It is that much more work. Aides are in the classroom (and are now not there).” Another teacher, Stephen Cramer, became somewhat distraught as he described how he dedicated evenings since last Wednesday and the entire weekend to prepare for the on l i ne lea r n i ng, i nclud i ng re cord i ng YouTube videos of lessons for students. “I started the day at 7:30 a.m. …and I didn’t get up from my dining room table until 4 o’clock this afternoon when my wife said, ‘We got to go for a walk, you have been sitting there all day and your legs are bound to be falling asleep,” Cramer said. “I got handed my lunch and I didn’t take my lunch. I didn’t take my prep, my 15-minutes of being duty-free, because I did the right thing for my kids.” Cramer added that “he k nows it is not a vacation” and after one day of remote learning he is “super excited” to come back into the classroom “where quite frankly my job is easier.”

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Page 14

♦

OPINION

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, March 21, 2020 SOCIAL MEDIA

GUEST COMMENTARY

Finally, We Have Done What America Has Expected of Us to Fight COVID-19 I voted, on early Saturday morning, to support an additional $8.3 billion funding supplemental bill to help prepare America for the Coronavirus pandemic. The bill includes: • Free Coronavirus testing for every individual when it is deemed medically necessary. • Paid emergency leave, with two weeks of paid sick leave, and up to three months of paid family and medical leave. • Increased Medicaid spending to support state, local, tribal and territorial governments to fight the virus. • Ensuring the stability of nutritional assistance for SNAP recipients, students, seniors and food banks. In addition to the legislation, the President Donald J. Trump administration declared a National Emergency and announced that testing kits and respiratory masks would be made available. The steps it will be taking include: • $50 billion for states, territories and localities to fight the disease. • Drive-up testing for Coronavirus.

Van Drew

Congressman • Funding for test development for Coronavirus. • Ability for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to give doctors, hospitals and health care providers the ability to provide tele-health to places in need. Finally, we have done what America expected of us. This legislation is a step towards making sure we are as prepared as a nation for this epidemic as we can be. While this is just the beginning of our response, we must remain vigilant and focused on defeating this virus. I will do everything in my power to ensure that happens. Congressman Jeff Van Drew represents New Jersey’s Second Congressional District, which includes Washington and Bass River townships in Burlington County, far Southern Ocean County and Atlantic County.

Helping Americans During Virus Outbreak As We Stand at the Precipice of Recession On early Saturday morning, I voted in favor of passing H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a bill that provides bold action to protect those most vulnerable to the Coronavirus outbreak. Earlier this month, I voted in favor of passing emergency funding to help respond to the outbreak crisis. Information about the funding passed in the supplemental package can be found on my website. Of those funds, $14 million has already gone to help contain the outbreak in New Jersey. The help provided in this bill directly addresses the concerns that I have heard from health experts, business leaders and so many others in our community trying to immediately contain this outbreak. This bill doesn’t solve everything; we still need more testing kits, more medical supplies, and a greater public awareness to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. We also need to recognize that these measures are only meant to stabilize the economic shocks so many American families will feel during this crisis. We stand at the precipice of a recession that would have a massive impact on working New Jerseyans. We need to make sure everything is done to learn from the lessons of the past and put their economic health first. In the past weeks, I and my office have coordinated

Kim

Congressman communications with leaders from major hospital systems, health departments and senior communities across Ocean and Burlington counties to hear their concerns about the Coronavirus and ensure they have the resources and support needed to keep us safe. I also was joined by colleagues in the New Jersey delegation in calling for the CDC to address testing delays, which have slowed the state’s response to the outbreak. Kim, who represents New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the House of Representatives, is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, where he serves the Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and as a member of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities. Kim also sits on the House Committee on Small Business. Prior to serving in Congress, Kim served in Afghanistan as a strategic advisor to Generals David Petraeus and John Allen.

SOUND OFF Please comment on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Twitter: @PineBarrensNews with the hashtag #SoundOff or Facebook: www.facebook.com/pinebarrenstribune.

(Re: Millions in Cuts, 9% Tax Levy Increase Proposed to Offset School Funding Cuts to Pemberton Schools)

My income doesn’t go up, it is stagnant. If the schools need to cut spending, then so be it. Test scores are horrendous and the number of pupils has decreased over the years, but the costs keep going up. ~Karen Bryant

(Re: Shamong’s EMS Squad Is the Latest Such Volunteer Organization to Face the Prospect of Heavy Fines for Not Following Every Rule)

I was very grateful for their timely response when my husband and I needed them a few weeks ago. ~Elaine Marsden Meyer

(Re: Lenape Region Districts Hold Community Forum to Discuss State Aid Cuts and Encourage Activism)

If people would stop voting for Democrats, regardless of what their unions tell them, this would not happen. Democrats do nothing for any taxpayers. They cater to the illegals and the welfare vote. ~Heather Moran McGarvey

Distribution Area Mt. Holly 08060

LETTER

Medford

08068

08015 | 08733 08757 | 08759

08068 | 08064 |08015

08055

Southampton

neighbors in the bringing of food and other necessities, or even making a phone call so they will not feel so isolated. It is also demonstrated by the social media “virtual friends,” who may never have even met one another in person, but reach out to each other when they hear of a need, even if they may be only able to assist in a tangible sense. Just the aura of well being that comes from knowing that there are folks who hear you, see you and care about you, and one another’s loved ones, makes a difference. In the end, it is challenges like the one we are facing right now on a global-level that remind us how important it is to flex our innate kindness, charity, empathy and compassion muscles to allow us to reset both our goals and outlooks. In the end, we are all one people, living on this one planet. We can, and need to, rise to the occasion. Laura Beverage Medford, New Jersey

How to Send Items to the Editor: letters@pinebarrenstribune.com, put “Letter” in the subject line. Letters submitted to the Pine Barrens Tribune must include the name, address and phone number of the writer. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and taste. Because of space limitations, letters should be 150 words or less. Due to the volume of letters received, we cannot guarantee every one will be printed.

■ OCEAN COUNTY

08088

Woodland

Tabernacle

Evesham

08088 | 08019

08088

08053

Medford Lakes Borough 08055

■ ATLANTIC COUNTY

Barnegat

08005 | 08050

Shamong 08088

rd

08005 | 08008 08050 | 08092

Washington 08224 | 08087 08215

Bass River

08224 | 08087

Eagleswood Hammonton

08050 | 08092

Mullica

08037 | 08215 | 08217

Tuckerton 08087

08215

We Need to Rise to the Occasion

■ BURLINGTON COUNTY

Manchester

Pemberton

Egg Harbor City

EDITOR

We are dealing with one of the worst of times in our nation’s history with the Coronavirus pandemic, a plummeting stock market, forced social distancing and even self-quarantining in some cases. We have had runs on hand soap and sanitizers, nonperishable food, water and even toilet paper. And, yes…there are always the opportunists out there who are taking advantage by both hoarding and price gouging these needed products, further exacerbating the desperation of people as we try and cope with the uncertainty and outright fear in some instances. These people represent the worst of humanity. However, we also see the best of humanity in times like this, too. It is shown in the food store by the unrequested sharing of an essential item with someone else struggling to find just one of that particular item. It is in the offers of assistance by neighbors to housebound or immune-compromised

08071

08048

08037 | 08089

TO THE

Pemberton Borough

Springfield

Lumberton

Little Egg Harbor 08005 | 08087

P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, New Jersey 08088 Phone: 609-801-2392 • Fax: 609-801-2395 Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.pinebarrenstribune.com ADMINISTRATION Publisher..........................dmelegari@pinebarrenstribune.com NEWS News Tips................................news@pinebarrenstribune.com Editors....................................letters@pinebarrenstribune.com ADVERTISING Place An Ad.............................sales@pinebarrenstribune.com CIRCULATION The Pine Barrens Tribune is published every Saturday. This newspaper is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any part is not permitted by mechanical or electronic means without the expressed written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to revise or reject any advertisement. No liability shall be attached to the Publisher for interruption of publication or limitation of size and/or number of pages due to shortage of material, failure of transportation, flood, f ire, severe weather, winter weather, riots, strikes, acts of God, or other causes beyond his or her control. It is our policy to promptly correct errors. If you believe that you see a mistake, please call (609) 801-2392. © 2020 Pine Barrens Tribune

Saturday, March 21, 2020

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WORSHIP GUIDE

♦ Page 15

Trinity Episcopal Church

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First Baptist Church COME VISIT! We would love to meet you! Rev. John Vars, Pastor 39 Main Street Vincentown, NJ 08088

Let It Be

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”­— Proverbs 19:21 NIV

T

here is an old Yiddish proverb, “Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht” which translates roughly to “Man plans and God laughs,” meaning that despite our best-laid plans, life is unpredictable. So many things can conspire to upset our plans that it is almost always best to have a plan B ready, and the mindset that no matter what may happen, we will accept things with equanimity. Think of how often a traffic jam or a detour upsets our plans to be somewhere on time. How often have you been certain that your plans for something at work or a proposal to friends would be accepted only to have them tell you they have other plans? As the stoic philosophers were constantly telling

Sunday School..................................9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Service .......................11 a.m. Cross Roads Youth Group - Sundays .......5 p.m. Bible Study - Wednesdays .................6:30 p.m. Prayer Fellowship - Wednesdays ........7:15 p.m. Adult Choir Practice - Wednesdays ....7:30 p.m.

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us, there are very few things about which we have complete control, and about the things which we have no control we should not worry. The things over which we have control are our opinions, our judgements, and to some extent, our desires. Consider that we live in a world where the processes of nature are beyond our control, where the billions of people who inhabit the earth are also beyond our control, and where even our own bodies are to a large extent subject to external forces and natural processes. We should try to control the things which we can, and about all the rest we should bow our head and say “thy will be done.”

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COPE

(Continued from Page 4) “We are trying to help them (LeisureTowne residents) as much as we can, because they are the ones at high risk,” Linardos said. Typically, the diner would have eight servers, three or four cooks, and three dish-washers working on St. Patrick’s Day, but this year, the diner had just four employees working, including Linardos.

609.801.2392

“It has been unusual,” Linardos said. “It has been sad to see. We just have to pull through in order to help our community.” Businesses are trying to remain positive and supportive of each other as they continue to gather updates on the situation. Murphy’s edict also limited gatherings of all people to 50 persons or fewer, with limited exceptions. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) called on public gatherings to be limited to less than 10 people for the next 15 days. All casinos, concert venues, nightclubs, racetracks, gyms, fitness centers

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and classes, movie theaters, and performing arts centers have also been shuttered under the governor’s order. Caterina posted a heartfelt letter on Facebook on March 14 to let customers know that his business has their back during these difficult times. “Please know, we, at Upper Crust Pizza, are here for you, whether to deliver an order and leave it on the door, or prepare your favorite meal and have you come pick it up while you wait in the convenience of your car,” Caterina wrote. “Whatever we can do to make you feel safe and

comfortable, we shall do.” Omar Stinney, owner of Drills for Skills (DFS) Sport Training Oasis in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township, had to close his small gym at 8 p.m. on March 16, due to the stateissued mandate. He remained positive, despite his client base of nearly 50 not having access to his training facility. “Our hearts go out to everyone that is impacted directly and indirectly,” he said. “This is no joke. See COPE/ Page 18

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Page 18

♦

JOB BOARD

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Become Active on Social Media While social media can be a great tool to connect your friends and loved ones, don’t underestimate the benefits that it provides in a job search. According to the Harvard Business Review, about 75 percent of employers actively research candidates online. When you take advantage of your social profiles, you can paint a professional image once your name enters a hiring manager’s search bar. Before customizing your online persona to enhance your job hunt, research the professional profiles of others in the industry. You can get a feel for the types of articles they are sharing to gain insight into current trends in the company. Pay attention to the language they use and attempt to connect with them to enhance your professional network.

Show Your Interest in an Industry

When using social media, make sure to alter your profile to show your interest in entering a field. List monumental work milestones you have achieved and how your experience can benefit the growth goals of your target companies.

COPE

(Continued from Page 17) It is real. However, it is the law of polarity. There is a flip side of the coin to everything.” After Murphy also ordered all schools to close on March 18 until further notice, Stinney advocated for kids to stay active, despite being kept inside their homes in most cases. The local gym is hosting online fitness classes for the time being. It is also attempting to add a new program that will help inspire movement through goal-oriented competition. Local kids and teenagers, from the safety and convenience of their homes, can team up to participate in the DFS Sports Bracket Tournament online using a fitness tracking belt, and compete to beat the exercise scores of their opponents. “They are not walking to classes,” he said. “They are not taking gym classes. They are not practicing with their teams. They are not playing. Their physical activity has decreased. We know the benefits of moving. Motion is lotion, literally. Let us help them move while they are safe at home. Let us help them stay active, pain-free, mobile and happy.” Beauty Nails in Medford Township had one of its worst days on record on March 16 with only four people showing up for scheduled appointments. On an average week day, the nail salon averages 25 appointments. At some point, the nail salon expected to close, but was awaiting direction from a landlord. “It (closure) won’t be good,” said Owner Peter Duong through translator and Manager Mai Truong. “This is the only income for all of us, whether it be the owner, or a technician. It is really going to be hard for us. We have to live and make money.” Scott Kentrus, general manager of The Original Lakes Appliance & TV in Medford Township, said on March 17 that foot traffic at the store had dropped by about 50 percent as customers are not flocking through his doors for products and services “not essential to the future” in light of the pandemic. As a result, he said, his store is only drawing revenue from repairs and replacements, or an

CDL

A good practice is to fill your feed with interesting posts about your industry of interest. You can further impress hiring managers through their research by creating content about niche challenges they face and your solutions. It can also be beneficial to host your own website where you release weekly blogs regarding the field. Don’t forget to share your stories among various social media outlets to gain a broader audience.

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already initiated project. “We are a business that provides products and services not immediately impacted by the pandemic,” he said. “Someone’s washer isn’t going to stop working because of this.” Kentrus contended that he will be cutting work shifts in half due to the reduced traffic and in an effort to adhere to federal recommendations of keeping gatherings to less than 10. “We can do our part, and some of us can work from home,” he said. Jerry Ferranti, owner of Family Pizza, located in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township, which has 12 tables for dine-in seating, anticipated a drop in lunchtime business with a likely decline in township employees, first responders and construction workers patronizing the business during the crisis. However, the pizzeria’s primary stream of revenue is delivery and take-out, which remains available, though Ferranti noted that his establishment is still taking a hit by losing out on the traditional, big $50 orders for sporting events, such as the March Madness College Basketball Tournament, which has been canceled. “It has been OK for now, but I am not sure how it is going to be weeks from now,” Ferranti said. “It has not really kicked in yet.” The pizzeria plans to stay open; however, dooms day would come for Ferranti and his three sons who run the place if there was ever a state-issued mandate ordering everyone to self-quarantine at all times. Food would lose its freshness and begin to spoil, Ferranti said. “We cannot afford to lose any days,” he said. “Any closure is going to hurt.” Like Ferranti, Caterina noted what could become of Upper Crust Pizza in the short-term, if businesses were to be asked to shut down entirely for the benefit of the long-term. “It would cripple us,” he said. “There is no insurance to cover us for this.” P re side nt Don ald J. Tr u mp a nd h is administration have proposed a number of stimulus packages, though the details and effects such measures would have on the economy remained unclear as of press time. “How much red tape are we going to have to go through?” Caterina said. “That is going to be the reality.”

• No Overnights/Local • No Log Books • Competitive Hourly Pay

Call (856) 777-2199

FIND US ONLINE We Put the Latest News and a Whole Lot More at Your Fingertips. www.pinebarrenstribune.com @PineBarrensNews Facebook.com/PineBarrensTribune To Advertise Call: 609-801-2392

Pool Cleaners

Are you recently retired or not pursuing college? Then this is the job for you! Executive Pools is searching for weekly pool cleaners! Must be able lift at least 60 lbs. Need mobile phone w/internet, must be responsible and able to work on your own. Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation to/from our shop is required. Shop is located near the firehouse in Chatsworth, NJ. $15/hour.

Email interest and resumes to Alexis at Alexis.executivepoolsnj@gmail.com

!

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FROM PAGE 8

Saturday, March 21, 2020

MARKETPLACE

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

TO ADVERTISE CALL OR EMAIL

609-801-2392 • SALES@PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM DEADLINE: TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

♦ Page 19

12

$ AD RATES AS LOW AS

95 PER WEEK

AWNINGS

ESTATE SALE

FURNITURE REPAIR

INSURANCE

ATLANTIC AWNINGS professional installations. Residential/commercial. Retractable awnings, window awnings, retractable and stationary canopies, recovers, repairs, take downs, re-hangs and washing. Fully insured. FREE ESTIMATES. 609-618-2420. LIC#131VH06758700, atlanticawningcompany.com.

ESTATE SALE, CHEAP AND NEGOTIABLE. 17 pieces of Ashley Furniture (twin bed, two full beds, living room furniture, lampshades, table for 12, Mahogany China cabinet, two painted portraits, etc.) If interested, please call Wilhalmina anytime at 856-580-3508.

Adam’s Furniture Restoration, LLC. Fully insured. Furniture repair, kitchen cabinet refinishing, touch-ups, and in-home services. 856-979-6210. Visit www.facebook.com/ adamsfurnres .

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PROPER COVERAGE. DON’T ASSUME. GET PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, DEAL WITH AN INDEPENDENT AGENT. O’NEAL INSURANCE AGENCY, 1614 ROUTE 206, TABERNACLE, NEW JERSEY, 08088. PHONE NUMBER: 1-609-268-2158.

HAULING

LOST & FOUND

AUTOMOBILES

Matco Professional Mechanics Toolbox. Large, excellent condition. Roller baring drawers. $800, tools extra. Call 856-313-6103.

Bill’s Odd Jobs and Light Hauling. Attics, basements, and garages cleaned. General yard clean up and removal of sheds, decks and old fencing, and more! Call 1-609-268-5227.

Adopted from Popcorn Park: looking for three dogs, Miniature Pinschers named Taz, Rusty and Henry. Please call 732-796-3572 or 908670-1173. Reward for return.

Household appliances. Televisions, furniture, etc. for disposal or transport. Garage, yard and gutter cleanups and gutter cleaning. Free estimates. Call Bob at 609-880-3789.

YARD CLEAN UP

Cash Paid for Your Car. Looking to buy better than junk cars. Call 1-866-261-5277. We come to you.

PANDEMIC (Continued from Page 8)

concentration of shoppers wearing masks were seen purchasing items at the store’s deli, or at the checkout line. Some also wore gloves. The demand for goods was so high at the ShopRite stores owned by the Ravitz family, including the ShopRite of Marlton, that a “Ravitz ShopRite Coronavirus 2020 Update” Facebook group was started online. Jason Ravitz, co-owner of the stores, has spent the last week efficiently communicating the timing of store deliveries and product availability to area residents in the group. Ravitz has received high praise for his updates. Similar packed store scenes emerged at area wholesale stores, including the Costco in Mount Laurel, which reportedly had lines of people just waiting to get inside the store. Walmart, Wegmans and Stop & Shop were among area stores that reduced nighttime hours to allow for restocking of shelves. Prior to Friday night, the last few rolls of toilet paper this newspaper could find in the local area were being sold at the Dollar General and Family Dollar stores just outside Pemberton Borough. Some individuals were seen removing more than three bundles at a time of toilet paper from the shelves. Several stores have since had to establish purchasing limits on toilet paper. “As previously announced, most stores have adjusted their hours to 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. to enable our associates to spend more time unloading deliveries, stocking shelves—and to take some time for rest,” said Gordon Reid, president of Stop & Shop. “Please note that our stores receive deliveries throughout the day, so our shelves will be replenished for shoppers at all hours. And, we have implemented added cleaning and sanitation effor ts, which will continue throughout the day at all stores.” Stop & Shop, which serves the Browns Mills and Whiting areas of the Pinelands with its Whiting-based store, began opening earlier on March 19, indefinitely, in order to service only customers who are age 60 and over. People ages 60 and up who take advantage of this time will be asked to use a designated entrance. Store associates, according to Reid, do reserve the right to ask customers to leave if they are not a member of this age group.

FOR SALE

Three-piece Victorian living room set (including couch and two chairs). Asking $1,000. Call 609-654-8881.

“We are making the decision to offer this every day of the week to allow for community members in this age category to shop in a less crowded environment, which better enables social distancing,” Reid said. “They will also be shopping prior to any other customers entering.” Some ShopRite stores, by March 17, had suspended refunds and returns “due to concerns with food safety” and “overall ability to keep stores as clean as possible.” A raincheck policy had also been suspended “as product variety and availability” was said to be completely out of the stores’ control. With many businesses closing their doors, either by mandate or involuntarily, the New Jersey Department of Labor was reportedly i nu nd at e d m a ny que st ion s rega rd i ng earned sick time, leave benefits and how t hey may relat e t o t he Coronav i r u s. T he de pa r t me nt ha d set up a spe cial webpage on March 16, but this newspaper found that it had apparently temporarily crashed by the early mor ning hours of March 17, presumably due to high-volume. Murphy later admitted the site had crashed. “This site can’t be reached,” read a message on the site at 1:16 a.m. on March 17. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin raised the possibility with Republican senators that U.S. unemployment could rise to 20 percent without government intervention because of the impact of the Coronavirus, according to Bloomberg News. Both local Congressmen Andy Kim (DNJ-03) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02) voted in favor of passing H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The bill provides Coronavirus testing for every individual if it is deemed medically necessary, paid emergency leave with two weeks of paid sick leave, and up to three months of paid family and medical leave. The bill also increased Medicaid spending to support state, local, tribal and territorial governments to fight the virus and ensures the stability of nutritional assistance for SNAP recipients, students, seniors and food banks. Trump signed the bill into law. A survey conducted by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) found that 93 percent of members who responded either are already negatively impacted by the Coronavirus health crisis or anticipate being negatively impacted in the near future.

Spring clean-ups! Branches and leaves, mulching and shrub trimming, complete lawn maintenance service. Call 856-6561839.

Photo by Edwin J. Torres/ Governor’s Office

Democratic Governor Phil Murphy and Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli prior to holding a Coronavirus briefing at the New Jersey Regional Operations & Intelligence Center, in Ewing, on March 13. At the same time, most respondents say they will need to cut costs due to Coronavirusrelated hardships, including a reduction of staff, hours, benefits and other remedies, according to the organization. Members also described in detail their most critical issues, showing a vast number of impacts from businesses from varying industries. “The concerns of our members are extremely clear during this unprecedented time,” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka. “They are highly concerned about the overall stability of their businesses and the welfare of their employees.” The state Senate is currently scheduled to meet March 23 to consider its response to the crisis. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney outlined an economic relief plan over the weekend that includes a sales tax and payroll tax holiday, according to the NJBIA. “In no uncertain terms, many of our members are telling us both directly and through our polling that they have serious concerns about the stability and solvency of their operations, both in the short-term and the long-term, due to the overall response of the Coronavirus,” said Siekerka in a written statement referring to the Senate plan. Murphy on March 19 enacted a moratorium on removing people from their homes due to evictions or foreclosures. “No renter or homeowner can be evicted until further notice,” he said. All driver licenses, non-driver IDs, vehicle registrations, and inspection stickers expiring

before May 31 have been extended by two months. The Department of Motor Vehicles has also been closed by Murphy until further notice. There has been a small group of individuals dismissive of the warnings over COVID-19, contending that Murphy was “overacting,” purposefully taking measures to disrupt what was otherwise a good economy that Trump had been taking credit for, or giving in to a “hoax.” Murphy, both on March 16 and 17, forcefully pushed back. “There are some people who think this is ‘fake news’” Murphy said. “Our friends, the Russians, I am sure are feeding that notion. This is not ‘fake news.’ This is real! On behalf of all of us, if we don’t have this right, and we are not accurate about this, it is on me. This is real! Stop believing folks who say this is not real! “There is another bigger group of people who believe they are impenetrable—that this is not going to affect them—they are the fitness and picture of good health. I would just say to each and every one of you out there: this is a challenge for each of us.” Murphy added that there are number of people with COVID-19, particularly the young, who have presented asymptomatic and “unwittingly” could pass it to their grandparents and parents. “We have got to put an end to this business as usual,” Murphy said. “So, to the folks who think this isn’t real, trust me it is real. It is on me if we prove this otherwise. To those who think it can’t affect them, I am here to tell you it can!”

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WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, March 21, 2020

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