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Essex County

Essex County's Latest Articles

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Essex County COVID-19 testing sites for Oct. 30-Nov. 6
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Press Releases
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October 29, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the upcoming schedule of Coronavirus testing sites sponsored by Essex County. The tests are are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-877-8456. Upcoming testing locations are as follows: *Friday, October 30th, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark (Walk up appointments are available at this location.) *Monday, November 2nd, 4 to 6 p.m., Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, Archery Field, Cherry Lane, West Orange *Wednesday, November 4th, 4 to 6 p.m., Essex County Golf Center, 600 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland *Thursday, November 5th, 4 to 6 pm, Livingston Senior/Community Center, 204 Hillside Avenue, Livingston *Friday, November 6th, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark (Walk up appointments are available at this location.) *Additional dates will be announced. "Unfortunately, Essex County leads the state in the number of deaths caused by the Coronavirus. Our fight against this deadly disease is far from over and we must remain vigilant and aggressive to combat it. Testing is a critical tool that will tell us exactly how widespread the virus is and who has been infected. Whether you are exhibiting symptoms of the Coronavirus or not, we encourage residents to make an appointment and get tested," DiVincenzo said. "We want to make it as easy as possible for Essex residents to have access to testing. The Weequahic site has been hugely successful and offering other satellite testing sites will make getting tested more convenient," he added. "The primary focus of our county leadership during the Coronavirus pandemic has been keeping our residents healthy and safe. Establishing COVID-19 Satellite Testing Sites, and bringing testing access to different areas of Essex County, is an important step in protecting the health of our residents and our communities. Widespread testing is crucial to stopping the spread of the virus, and our Satellite Testing sites will be of significant help in this regard. I thank our County Administration, and our health professionals, for their hard work in implementing this latest COVID-19 testing initiative," Freeholder President Brendan Gill said. "Our COVID-19 testing site in Weequahic Park has successfully provided Essex County residents with local access to testing. Through the hard work of our County leadership, and our health professionals, our Satellite Testing Sites will now provide us with the ability to bring COVID-19 testing to multiple municipalities throughout the county. It is clear that expanding our testing capabilities is the proper course of action, and I thank and congratulate our leadership for their tireless work in putting this together. Lastly, I implore all of our residents to take advantage of the Satellite Testing Sites and get themselves tested," Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson said. Essex County residents with or without symptoms are encouraged to get tested. Residents age 8 years and older are welcome to get tested. Residents are encouraged to get retested if they have taken the swab or saliva tests 14 days ago or more and have received negative test results. Testing is provided free of charge; health insurance is not required. To make an appointment, residents should visit www.EssexCOVID.org or call 973-877-8456. They will be required to complete a short questionnaire. When finished, they will be provided with an appointment time and a confirmation number. Residents should bring the confirmation number with them. They are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Residents taking the COVID-19 saliva test should not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum 30 minutes prior to arrival.

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Essex County announces Strut Your Mutt Parade winners
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Press Releases
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October 28, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. welcomed dog owners and their pets to the Annual Essex County Strut Your Mutt Canine Costume Parades and Contests at the Essex County Brookdale Dog Park Bloomfield/Montclair and the Essex County Branch Brook Dog Park in Newark on Saturday, October 24th and Essex County Grover Cleveland Park in Caldwell/Essex Fells Sunday, October 25th. "Our Dog Parks have become popular places for dog owners to bring their pets, and our Canine Halloween Costume Parades are another opportunity for the public to enjoy our historic Park System," DiVincenzo said. "I am always amazed and impressed with the creativity of the costumes. Congratulations to the winners," he added. Strut Your Mutt is the County's annual Canine Halloween Costume Parade and Contest. Dog owners were invited to display their creativity and dress their canine pets in costumes. The parade was free and prizes were awarded to the winners in each category. Award winners at the Essex County Brookdale Dog Park Contest are as follows: Best in Show: Vanessa Montesano from Clifton and her dog Lunchbox, who was dressed as a "glamper," a glamorous camper. Cutest Costume: First place: Carlos Garzon from Clifton and his dog who was dressed as a prisoner. Second Place: Veronica Guzman from Bloomfield and her dog who was dressed as Tom Cruise from "Top Gun." Third Place: Bianca Lubanski from Clifton and her dog Teddy, who was dressed as a "pupkin" spice latte and "Starpups" barista. Most Creative Costume: First place: Lauren Zodel from Montclair and her dog who was dressed as a llama. Second Place: Tracy Hann from Bloomfield and her dogs Baxter, Bella, Cooper and Maggie who were dressed as a "Everybody Vote!" Third Place: Janine Liss from Fair Lawn and her dogs who were dressed as s'mores and a box of animal crackers. Best Dressed Group Costume: First place: Janine Osborne from Montclair and her dogs Willow, Maple and Hazel who were dressed as characters from "Toy Story." Second Place: Diana Francisco from Somerset and her dog Rocket who was dressed as a Build a Bear workshop. Third Place: Jason Cevallos from Belleville and his dogs Orson, Benny and Petunia who were dressed as Batman, Robin and the Joker. Award winners at the Essex County Branch Brook Dog Park Contest are as follows: Best in Show: Edmundo Chacon from Newark and his dogs Benji and Soya who were dressed as characters from "Harry Pawder." Cutest Costume: First Place: Ashley Wright from Newark and her dog Oreo, who was dressed as Snow White. Second Place: Carmen Rodriguez from Newark and her dog Gracie Jane who were dressed in poodle skirts. Third Place: Britney D'Oleo from Newark and her dog Jax who was dressed as a vampire. Most Creative Costume: First place: Mikaela Rigo from Newark and her dog Zoe who was dressed as a pinata. Second Place: Jackie Apicella from Belleville and her dog who was dressed as the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Third Place: Nancy Jimenez from Newark and her dog Mia who was dressed as a spider. Best Dressed Group Costume: First place: Katherine Guerrero from Ossining, N.Y., and her dog who was dressed as characters from the Muppet Show. Second Place: Adriana Zguro from Belleville and her dog Otto who were dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Third Place: Nicole Wallace from Montclair and her dog Rainbow who were dressed as unicorns. Award winners at the Essex County Grover Cleveland Park Contest are as follows: Best in Show: Rose Russo from North Caldwell and her dog Max who was dressed as two men carrying a box. Cutest Costume: First Place: Nancy Howley from West Caldwell and her dog Louie who was dressed as a pirate. Second Place: Shirley Chin from Caldwell and her dog Pip who was dressed as a Seniorita. Third Place: Michele Colacino from West Caldwell and her dog Ollie who was dressed as a baby sheep. Most Creative Costume: First place: Michael Bravata from Newton and his dog Candie who was dressed as a Phoenix. Second Place: Jessah Hogue from Roseland and her dog Humphrey who were dressed as a shark and victim. Third Place: Jean Cowan from Montclair and her dog Sally who was dressed as a cowboy. Best Dressed Group Costume: First Place: Joanna Sepe from West Caldwell and her dog Greta who were dressed as hot dogs with ketchup and mustard. Second Place: Joanne Rim from West Orange and her dogs Poppy and Redd who were dressed as Santa Claus and one of his reindeer. Third Place: Lori Ileya from Livingston and her dog Milo who were dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf. The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Essex County's five dog parks are located in Brookdale Park in Bloomfield/Montclair, South Mountain Reservation in Maplewood/Millburn, Hilltop Reservation in North Caldwell, Branch Brook Park in Newark and Watsessing Park in Bloomfield/East Orange.

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Essex County COVID-19 testing sites for Oct. 23-30
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Press Releases
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October 23, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the upcoming schedule of Coronavirus testing sites sponsored by Essex County. The tests are are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-877-8456. Upcoming testing locations are as follows: * Friday, October 23rd, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark (Walk up appointments are available at this location.) * Tuesday, October 27th, 4 to 6 p.m., Essex County Branch Brook Park, Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Park Drive between Mill Street and Heller Parkway, Newark * Wednesday, October 28th, 4 to 6 p.m., Verona Community Pool, 257 Fairview Avenue, Verona * Thursday, October 29th, 4 to 6 p.m., IUOE Local 68, 14 Fairfield Place, West Caldwell * Friday, October 30th, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark (Walk up appointments are available at this location.) * Additional dates will be announced. "Unfortunately, Essex County leads the state in the number of deaths caused by the Coronavirus. Our fight against this deadly disease is far from over and we must remain vigilant and aggressive to combat it. Testing is a critical tool that will tell us exactly how widespread the virus is and who has been infected. Whether you are exhibiting symptoms of the Coronavirus or not, we encourage residents to make an appointment and get tested," DiVincenzo said. "We want to make it as easy as possible for Essex residents to have access to testing. The Weequahic site has been hugely successful and offering other satellite testing sites will make getting tested more convenient," he added. "The primary focus of our county leadership during the Coronavirus pandemic has been keeping our residents healthy and safe. Establishing COVID-19 Satellite Testing Sites, and bringing testing access to different areas of Essex County, is an important step in protecting the health of our residents and our communities. Widespread testing is crucial to stopping the spread of the virus, and our Satellite Testing sites will be of significant help in this regard. I thank our County Administration, and our health professionals, for their hard work in implementing this latest COVID-19 testing initiative," Freeholder President Brendan Gill said. "Our COVID-19 testing site in Weequahic Park has successfully provided Essex County residents with local access to testing. Through the hard work of our County leadership, and our health professionals, our Satellite Testing Sites will now provide us with the ability to bring COVID-19 testing to multiple municipalities throughout the county. It is clear that expanding our testing capabilities is the proper course of action, and I thank and congratulate our leadership for their tireless work in putting this together. Lastly, I implore all of our residents to take advantage of the Satellite Testing Sites and get themselves tested," Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson said. Essex County residents with or without symptoms are encouraged to get tested. Residents age 8 years and older are welcome to get tested. Residents are encouraged to get retested if they have taken the swab or saliva tests 14 days ago or more and have received negative test results. Testing is provided free of charge; health insurance is not required. To make an appointment, residents should visit www.EssexCOVID.org or call 973-877-8456. They will be required to complete a short questionnaire. When finished, they will be provided with an appointment time and a confirmation number. Residents should bring the confirmation number with them. They are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Residents taking the COVID-19 saliva test should not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum 30 minutes prior to arrival.

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Essex County’s Oct. 29 food distribution rescheduled for Nov. 2, will still be in Bloomfield
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Press Releases
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October 23, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., and the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, October 29th in the Bloomfield Public Library Parking Lot to help families negatively impacted by the Coronavirus. The 1,000 boxes of food that will be distributed are meant to benefit families who have been forced out of work and are not able to afford food. It will be held as follows: Date: Thursday, October 29, 2020 Time: 9 a.m. Place: Bloomfield Public Library Parking Lot State Street Bloomfield, NJ It will be held RAIN or SHINE. "The Coronavirus has forced an enormous amount of people out of work and created food insecurity among residents who now have limited income or no income at all. We are pleased to present this Emergency Food Distribution Event to help those who are in dire need," DiVincenzo said. "The Coronavirus has created uncertainty and unforeseen challenges for us all. We hope this emergency food distribution helps those families who are struggling," he said, adding that additional emergency food distribution events will be scheduled on a weekly basis. "The Coronavirus Pandemic has negatively affected our communities in a multitude of ways. Unfortunately, over the last few months, the number of Essex County residents requiring assistance to provide food for their families has increased. To that end, I am happy to join the County Administration in announcing that more food distribution events will be coming to different municipalities across the County. Providing service to our residents is something I take great pride in, and it is my hope the upcoming food distribution events will allow more Essex County residents in need to receive assistance," Gill said. "The Essex County Emergency Food Distribution Event that took place in Branch Brook Park at the end of April was a great success. We were able to hand out over 2,000 boxes of food to residents in need. Our goal is to duplicate that success in different towns across Essex County, and give all of our residents a chance to receive food in a location that is in close proximity to their community. I thank the County Administration for putting this plan in place, and I encourage all residents in need to participate over the next few months," Richardson said. Residents driving to the site should enter State Street from Broad Street and line up along the west side of State Street. Should the line reach Broad Street, vehicles should line up on the west side of Broad Street. No left turns will be allowed onto State Street. Residents driving to the site should stay in their vehicles with their windows rolled up and open their trunk when they reach the distribution site. Residents walking to the site should come to the front of Bloomfield Public Library at 90 Broad Street. Residents walking to the site must wear a face mask/covering and follow social distancing guidelines. It is recommended that residents walking to the site bring a cart; the boxes weigh about 40 pounds. Residents who are driving or walking are asked to not arrive to the site until 8 a.m. This is being done to allow for normal traffic flow through the area and prevent any traffic back-ups from being created. The emergency food boxes contain enough food to provide about 40 meals. They consist of a variety of non-perishable food such as oatmeal, rice, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, shelf stable milk and canned vegetables, chili, soup and ravioli. Items may vary based upon their availability. Only one emergency food box will be placed into a vehicle's trunk or given to each resident who walks to the site. Buses will not be allowed to enter.

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Essex County Oct. 22 food distribution will be at Calvary Baptist Church in East Orange
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Press Releases
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October 16, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, East Orange Mayor Ted Green and the East Orange City Council will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, October 22nd at Calvary Baptist Church in East Orange to help families negatively impacted by the Coronavirus. The 1,000 boxes of food that will be distributed are meant to benefit families who have been forced out of work and are not able to afford food. Residents will receive one box of non-perishable food items. It will be held as follows: Date: Thursday, October 22, 2020 Time: 9 a.m. Place: Calvary Baptist Church 66 South Grove Street East Orange, NJ Enter the church parking lot from Winthrop Terrace. It will be held RAIN or SHINE. "The Coronavirus has forced an enormous amount of people out of work and created food insecurity among residents who now have limited income or no income at all. We are pleased to present this Emergency Food Distribution Event to help those who are in dire need," DiVincenzo said. "The Coronavirus has created uncertainty and unforeseen challenges for us all. We hope this emergency food distribution helps those families who are struggling," he said, adding that additional emergency food distribution events will be scheduled on a weekly basis. "The Coronavirus Pandemic has negatively affected our communities in a multitude of ways. Unfortunately, over the last few months, the number of Essex County residents requiring assistance to provide food for their families has increased. To that end, I am happy to join the County Administration in announcing that more food distribution events will be coming to different municipalities across the County. Providing service to our residents is something I take great pride in, and it is my hope the upcoming food distribution events will allow more Essex County residents in need to receive assistance," Gill said. "The Essex County Emergency Food Distribution Event that took place in Branch Brook Park at the end of April was a great success. We were able to hand out over 2,000 boxes of food to residents in need. Our goal is to duplicate that success in different towns across Essex County, and give all of our residents a chance to receive food in a location that is in close proximity to their community. I thank the County Administration for putting this plan in place, and I encourage all residents in need to participate over the next few months," Richardson said. Residents driving to the site should line up along South Grove Street before turning right onto Winthrop Terrace. Left turns from South Grove Street onto Winthrop Terrace will not be permitted. Residents driving to the site should stay in their vehicles with their windows rolled up and open their trunk when they reach the distribution site. A walk-up distribution will be held at the church entrance on Winthrop Terrace. Residents walking to the site should line up along Winthrop Terrace coming from South Grove Street. Residents walking to the site must wear a face mask/covering and follow social distancing guidelines. It is recommended that residents walking to the site bring a cart; the boxes weigh about 40 pounds. Residents who are driving or walking are asked to not arrive to the site until 8 a.m. This is being done to allow for normal traffic flow through the area and prevent any traffic back-ups from occurring. The box of non-perishable items contains enough food to provide about 40 meals. They consist of a variety of non-perishable food such as oatmeal, rice, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, shelf stable milk and canned vegetables, chili, soup and ravioli. Items may vary based upon their availability. Volunteers will place one emergency food box into each vehicle or to each walk up. Buses will not be allowed to enter.

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Essex County Food Distribution to be held at Temple Rock in Newark on October 15
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Press Releases
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October 12, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Temple Rock of My Salvation A/G in Newark will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, October 15th at Temple Rock of My Salvation A/G in Newark to help families negatively impacted by the Coronavirus. The 1,000 boxes of food that will be distributed are meant to benefit families who have been forced out of work and are not able to afford food. Residents will receive one box of non-perishable food items. It will be held as follows: Date: Thursday, October 15, 2020 Time: 9 a.m. Place: Temple Rock of My Salvation A/G 88-90 Verona Avenue Newark, NJ Enter the church parking lot on Verona Avenue. It will be held RAIN or SHINE. "The Coronavirus has forced an enormous amount of people out of work and created food insecurity among residents who now have limited income or no income at all. We are pleased to present this Emergency Food Distribution Event to help those who are in dire need," DiVincenzo said. "The Coronavirus has created uncertainty and unforeseen challenges for us all. We hope this emergency food distribution helps those families who are struggling," he said, adding that additional emergency food distribution events will be scheduled on a weekly basis. "The Coronavirus Pandemic has negatively affected our communities in a multitude of ways. Unfortunately, over the last few months, the number of Essex County residents requiring assistance to provide food for their families has increased. To that end, I am happy to join the County Administration in announcing that more food distribution events will be coming to different municipalities across the County. Providing service to our residents is something I take great pride in, and it is my hope the upcoming food distribution events will allow more Essex County residents in need to receive assistance," Gill said. "The Essex County Emergency Food Distribution Event that took place in Branch Brook Park at the end of April was a great success. We were able to hand out over 2,000 boxes of food to residents in need. Our goal is to duplicate that success in different towns across Essex County, and give all of our residents a chance to receive food in a location that is in close proximity to their community. I thank the County Administration for putting this plan in place, and I encourage all residents in need to participate over the next few months," Richardson said. Residents driving to the site should line up along Verona Avenue before turning northbound on Summer Avenue and then westbound on Mill Street into Branch Brook Park. Left turns from Verona Avenue into the parking lot will not be allowed. Residents driving to the site should stay in their vehicles with their windows rolled up and open their trunk when they reach the distribution site. Residents walking to the site should come to a walk-up location on Verona Avenue. The line should form back to Broadway. Residents walking to the site must wear a face mask/covering and follow social distancing guidelines. It is recommended that residents walking to the site bring a cart; the boxes weigh about 40 pounds. Residents who are driving or walking are asked to not arrive to the site until 8 a.m. This is being done to allow for normal traffic flow through the area and prevent any traffic back-ups from occurring. The box of non-perishable items contains enough food to provide about 40 meals. They consist of a variety of non-perishable food such as oatmeal, rice, fruit, peanut butter, jelly, shelf stable milk and canned vegetables, chili, soup and ravioli. Items may vary based upon their availability. Volunteers will place one emergency food box into each vehicle or to each walk up. Buses will not be allowed to enter.

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Essex County’s COVID-19 testing sites for Oct. 9-16
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Press Releases
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October 9, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the upcoming schedule of Coronavirus testing sites sponsored by Essex County. The tests are are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-877-8456. Upcoming testing locations are as follows: * Friday, October 9th, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark (Walk up appointments are available at this location.) * Tuesday, October 13th, 4 to 6 p.m., St. Matthew AME Church, 336 Oakwood Avenue, Orange * Wednesday, October 14th, 4 to 6 p.m., Glen Ridge Country Club, 555 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge * Thursday, October 15th, 4 to 6 p.m., Bloomfield College, 225 Liberty Street, Bloomfield * Friday, October 16th, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark (Walk up appointments are available at this location.) * Additional dates will be announced. "Unfortunately, Essex County leads the state in the number of deaths caused by the Coronavirus. Our fight against this deadly disease is far from over and we must remain vigilant and aggressive to combat it. Testing is a critical tool that will tell us exactly how widespread the virus is and who has been infected. Whether you are exhibiting symptoms of the Coronavirus or not, we encourage residents to make an appointment and get tested," DiVincenzo said. "We want to make it as easy as possible for Essex residents to have access to testing. The Weequahic site has been hugely successful and offering other satellite testing sites will make getting tested more convenient," he added. "The primary focus of our county leadership during the Coronavirus pandemic has been keeping our residents healthy and safe. Establishing COVID-19 Satellite Testing Sites, and bringing testing access to different areas of Essex County, is an important step in protecting the health of our residents and our communities. Widespread testing is crucial to stopping the spread of the virus, and our Satellite Testing sites will be of significant help in this regard. I thank our County Administration, and our health professionals, for their hard work in implementing this latest COVID-19 testing initiative," Freeholder President Brendan Gill said. "Our COVID-19 testing site in Weequahic Park has successfully provided Essex County residents with local access to testing. Through the hard work of our County leadership, and our health professionals, our Satellite Testing Sites will now provide us with the ability to bring COVID-19 testing to multiple municipalities throughout the county. It is clear that expanding our testing capabilities is the proper course of action, and I thank and congratulate our leadership for their tireless work in putting this together. Lastly, I implore all of our residents to take advantage of the Satellite Testing Sites and get themselves tested," Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson said. Essex County residents with or without symptoms are encouraged to get tested. Residents age 8 years and older are welcome to get tested. Residents are encouraged to get retested if they have taken the swab or saliva tests 14 days ago or more and have received negative test results. Testing is provided free of charge; health insurance is not required. To make an appointment, residents should visit www.EssexCOVID.org or call 973-877-8456. They will be required to complete a short questionnaire. When finished, they will be provided with an appointment time and a confirmation number. Residents should bring the confirmation number with them. They are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Residents taking the COVID-19 saliva test should not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum 30 minutes prior to arrival.

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Essex County’s COVID-19 testing sites for Oct. 2-9
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Press Releases
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October 2, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the upcoming schedule of Coronavirus testing sites sponsored by Essex County. The tests are are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-877-8456. Upcoming testing locations are as follows: *Friday, October 2nd, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark (Walk up appointments are available at this location.) *Tuesday, October 6th, 4 to 6 p.m., North Caldwell Recreation, 141 Gould Avenue, North Caldwell *Wednesday, October 7th, 4 to 6 p.m., Calvary Evangelical Free Church, 450 Fells Road, Essex Fells *Thursday, October 8th, 4 to 6 p.m., Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, Archery Field, Cherry Lane, West Orange *Friday, October 9th, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark (Walk up appointments are available at this location.) *Additional dates will be announced. "Unfortunately, Essex County leads the state in the number of deaths caused by the Coronavirus. Our fight against this deadly disease is far from over and we must remain vigilant and aggressive to combat it. Testing is a critical tool that will tell us exactly how widespread the virus is and who has been infected. Whether you are exhibiting symptoms of the Coronavirus or not, we encourage residents to make an appointment and get tested," DiVincenzo said. "We want to make it as easy as possible for Essex residents to have access to testing. The Weequahic site has been hugely successful and offering other satellite testing sites will make getting tested more convenient," he added. "The primary focus of our county leadership during the Coronavirus pandemic has been keeping our residents healthy and safe. Establishing COVID-19 Satellite Testing Sites, and bringing testing access to different areas of Essex County, is an important step in protecting the health of our residents and our communities. Widespread testing is crucial to stopping the spread of the virus, and our Satellite Testing sites will be of significant help in this regard. I thank our County Administration, and our health professionals, for their hard work in implementing this latest COVID-19 testing initiative," Freeholder President Brendan Gill said. "Our COVID-19 testing site in Weequahic Park has successfully provided Essex County residents with local access to testing. Through the hard work of our County leadership, and our health professionals, our Satellite Testing Sites will now provide us with the ability to bring COVID-19 testing to multiple municipalities throughout the county. It is clear that expanding our testing capabilities is the proper course of action, and I thank and congratulate our leadership for their tireless work in putting this together. Lastly, I implore all of our residents to take advantage of the Satellite Testing Sites and get themselves tested," Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson said. Essex County residents with or without symptoms are encouraged to get tested. Residents age 8 years and older are welcome to get tested. Residents are encouraged to get retested if they have taken the swab or saliva tests 14 days ago or more and have received negative test results. Testing is provided free of charge; health insurance is not required. To make an appointment, residents should visit www.EssexCOVID.org or call 973-877-8456. They will be required to complete a short questionnaire. When finished, they will be provided with an appointment time and a confirmation number. Residents should bring the confirmation number with them. They are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Residents taking the COVID-19 saliva test should not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum 30 minutes prior to arrival.

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Income-eligible Essex County residents can apply for emergency rental assistance from Oct. 2-23
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Press Releases
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October 2, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that Essex County has set aside $5.5 million to create the Essex County Coronavirus Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The program will provide a grant to help income-eligible residents pay their rent during the Coronavirus pandemic who are experiencing homelessness. Applications can be made by visiting: https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/essexcountynj/participant There is a limited time to submit applications; the website will be open from October 2nd to October 23rd. "The economic impact of the coronavirus has made it difficult for some households to maintain their housing during the pandemic. Our Emergency Rental Assistance Program will help eligible residents pay up to six months of their rent and help them quickly exit homelessness during these uncertain times and benefits landlords who will receive rental payments so they can pay for property taxes and other expenses," DiVincenzo said. "The leadership of our county has implemented programs and initiatives, in a multitude of areas, to assist Essex County residents throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, we aim to provide financial relief that will assist in keeping families together and in their homes during this unprecedented time," Freeholder President Brendan Gill said. "The possibility of county residents losing their homes due to financial losses brought on by the coronavirus pandemic is a pressing concern. I am proud of the success of our Food Distribution Events and COVID-19 Satellite testing locations, and I am confident our Emergency Rental Assistance Program will be just as impactful in helping residents stay in their homes," Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson said. Residents can apply for up to six (6) months of rental assistance. When they visit https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/essexcountynj/participant, residents will be asked to complete a short questionnaire and will be required to demonstrate why they are unable to pay their rent or provide proof of an impending eviction. Residents also must provide documentation of household income to confirm they meet certain income eligibility guidelines established by the Federal government. The willing participation of the landlord is necessary for the application and the landlord must verify he or she will accept payment from Essex County. Residents and landlords also must affirm that funding assistance has not been received from other sources that would create a duplication of benefits. When an application is approved, the payment will be made directly to the landlord. Essex County is funding the Coronavirus Emergency Rental Assistance Program with grants from the Community Development Block Grant and Emergency Solutions Grant programs. Essex County already has an established program to assist homeowners who are having difficulty meeting their mortgage obligations. If a homeowner needs assistance, they can contact the East Orange Community Development Corporation at 973-266-5315 or the Montclair Salvation Army at 973-744-3312.

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Essex County Upcoming COVID Testing Sites
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Press Releases
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September 25, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the upcoming schedule of Coronavirus testing sites sponsored by Essex County. The tests are are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-877-8456. Upcoming testing locations are as follows: * Monday, September 14th, 4 to 6 p.m., Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange * Tuesday, September 15th, 4 to 6 p.m., American Little League Field, Reinheimer Park, 40 Bloomfield Ave., Nutley * Thursday, September 17th, 4 to 6 p.m., Essex County Airport, 27 Wright Way, Building M, Fairfield * Friday, September 18th, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark (Walk up appointments are available at this location.) * Additional dates will be announced. "Unfortunately, Essex County leads the state in the number of deaths caused by the Coronavirus. Our fight against this deadly disease is far from over and we must remain vigilant and aggressive to combat it. Testing is a critical tool that will tell us exactly how widespread the virus is and who has been infected. Whether you are exhibiting symptoms of the Coronavirus or not, we encourage residents to make an appointment and get tested," DiVincenzo said. "We want to make it as easy as possible for Essex residents to have access to testing. The Weequahic site has been hugely successful and offering other satellite testing sites will make getting tested more convenient," he added. "The primary focus of our county leadership during the Coronavirus pandemic has been keeping our residents healthy and safe. Establishing COVID-19 Satellite Testing Sites, and bringing testing access to different areas of Essex County, is an important step in protecting the health of our residents and our communities. Widespread testing is crucial to stopping the spread of the virus, and our Satellite Testing sites will be of significant help in this regard. I thank our County Administration, and our health professionals, for their hard work in implementing this latest COVID-19 testing initiative," Freeholder President Brendan Gill said. "Our COVID-19 testing site in Weequahic Park has successfully provided Essex County residents with local access to testing. Through the hard work of our County leadership, and our health professionals, our Satellite Testing Sites will now provide us with the ability to bring COVID-19 testing to multiple municipalities throughout the county. It is clear that expanding our testing capabilities is the proper course of action, and I thank and congratulate our leadership for their tireless work in putting this together. Lastly, I implore all of our residents to take advantage of the Satellite Testing Sites and get themselves tested," Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson said. Essex County residents with or without symptoms are encouraged to get tested. Residents age 13 and older are welcome to get tested. Residents are encouraged to get retested if they have taken the swab or saliva tests 14 days ago or more and have received negative test results. Testing is provided free of charge; health insurance is not required. To make an appointment, residents should visit www.EssexCOVID.org or call 973-877-8456. They will be required to complete a short questionnaire. When finished, they will be provided with an appointment time and a confirmation number. Residents should bring the confirmation number with them. They are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Residents taking the COVID-19 saliva test should not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum 30 minutes prior to arrival.

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