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Essex County

Essex County's Latest Articles

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Essex County COVID-19 testing sites Oct. 1-9

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: * Thursday, October 1st, 4 to 6 p.m., Westville Avenue Pool, 293 Westville Avenue, West Caldwell * 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, NJ * 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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Essex County announces Senior Art Show winners

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. congratulated 33 Essex County artists who received awards in the 2020 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show. This year's contest was conducted virtually because of the Coronavirus. Winning entries can be viewed by visiting https://www.artworkarchive.com/rooms/essexcountyparksandrecreation/3bb954. "We are proud to have been able to conduct this year's Senior Art Show virtually, which enabled us to highlight the creativity of our senior artists. The talent displayed by our senior artists is truly amazing and the artwork is inspiring," DiVincenzo said. "Essex County has a thriving fine arts community and our Senior Art Show allows our older artists, both professionals and non-professionals, with an opportunity to display their work. This is an excellent event for us to promote the arts and inspire our residents to use their talents," he added. Artists, and the awards they received, are as follows: Bloomfield * Irma Perez received first place in the non-professional watercolor category for "Sunflowers." Cedar Grove * Jane Ballinger received second place in the professional watercolor category for "The Falls." * Rich Hanifan received second place in the non-professional drawing category for "Spring House." * Roseanne Martin received second place in the non-professional watercolor category for "By the Sea." * Marie Matarazzo received first place in the non-professional drawing category for "Mother with Baby." * Bill Oswald received first place in the non-professional sculpture category for "Watcher of the Woods." East Orange * Winifred Boss received first place in the professional acrylic category for "Enchanted Forest." * Carol Jenkins received second place in the professional mixed media category for "Chaotic Calm." * Lester James Johnson received second place in the professional sculpture category for "Balls in a Cage 2." Fairfield * Marion Jones received an honorable mention in the professional watercolor category for "Verona Paddle Boats." * Robert Szpila received first place in the professional photography category for "Presby." Livingston * Richard DiGiovanna received second place in the professional pastel category for "Livingston Marsh." * Eleanor Halpern received an honorable mention in the non-professional watercolor category for "Untitled." * Joan Speare received first place in the non-professional oil category for "Orchids in the Wild." * Angela Wang received second place in the non-professional oil category for "Snorkeling in Galapagos." Maplewood * Peter Astor received second place in the non-professional acrylic category for "Undertow." * Mary Franklin received first place in the non-professional acrylic category for "Hope." * Nikki Pusin received first place in the professional sculpture category for "Quurtle." * Arlene Silva received second place in the non-professional mixed media category for "The Wedding." * Jill Vondervor received first place in the professional watercolor category for "Atlantic City." Millburn * Maya Bloom received first place in the professional craft category for "French Textile and Lavender." Montclair * Sharron Allen received first place in the non-professional craft category for "Wall Hanging Bowl." * Miriam Sampson received first place in the non-professional photography category for "Abstraction." Parsippany * Chas Palminteri received first place in the professional pastel category for "David." Roseland * Maria Lupo received first place in the professional mixed media category for "Prophet's Dream." South Orange * Gail Gardella received second place in the professional oil category for "The Flower Station." * Annette Kushen received first place in the professional digital category for "Untitled." Verona * Claudia Arici received first place in the non-professional mixed media category for "Heaven on Earth." West Caldwell * Christine Elvin received first place in the professional oil category for "Road Last Taken." * Lynne Palmer received second place in the professional acrylic category for "Peony Power." West Orange * Noah Chivian received second place in the non-professional photography category for "Copenhagen." * Sue Silberner received second place in the non-professional pastel category for "Springtime in Verona." * Steve Wien received first place in the non-professional pastel category for "Still Life with Avocados." The Essex County Senior Art Show and Exhibit was open to all professional and non-professional artists ages 60 and older. Artwork was judged on originality, composition, style, quality and creativity. Seniors whose artwork was awarded first place are automatically entered into the NJ Senior Citizens Art Show. 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, two miniature golf courses, golf driving range, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.

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Essex County plans household hazardous waste collection in Cedar Grove Oct. 1-3

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. encourages Essex County residents to participate in the Essex County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, sponsored by the County of Essex and the Essex County Utilities Authority. The event was expanded to three days because of the Jewish holiday Sukkot and due to the fact that it was cancelled in the spring due to the Coronavirus pandemic. It will be held as follows: Dates and Times: Thursday, October 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, October 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, October 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Place: Essex County Public Works Department 99 West Bradford Avenue Cedar Grove, NJ "There are some materials that should be removed from our regular waste stream because of their hazardous nature. This collection day provides our residents a place to properly and safely dispose of contaminants, protecting our precious environment for future generations," DiVincenzo said. "Our collection days are very popular and I am so glad our residents understand the importance of recycling. I encourage everyone to participate in our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day," he added. Materials being collected at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day include pesticides and herbicides, paint thinners and solvents, oil-based paints and stains, chemistry sets, barbecue propane tanks, pool chemicals, automotive fluids such as antifreeze, motor oil and steering fluid, darkroom and photographic chemicals, lithium and NiCad batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts, mercury and products containing mercury, gasoline and kerosene, household cleaning fluids, car batteries, home fire extinguishers, driveway sealer and aerosol spray paints. All containers must be five gallons or smaller or 10 pounds or lighter. Items not being collected include latex paint (which can be dried and disposed of with regular waste), unlabeled or unidentifiable materials, asbestos, regulated medical or infectious waste, commercial or industrial waste, empty containers, explosives, munitions, ordnance or highly reactive materials, household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V), smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Under DiVincenzo's leadership, the County's collection program has been expanded to include household hazardous waste, old computers and electronic equipment, used tires and paper shredding. In addition, the collection days are held in the spring and fall. The Essex County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is for Essex County residents only. Residents are not charged when they bring materials, but they must provide proof of residency at the site. Commercial businesses may not drop off materials. For more information, please call the Essex County Utilities Authority at 973-792-9060 or visit www.ecuanj.com.

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Essex County COVID-19 testing sites for Sept. 21-25

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 21st, 4 to 6 p.m., Belleville High School, 100 Passaic Avenue, Belleville * Tuesday, September 22nd, 4 to 6 p.m., Verona Community Pool, 257 Fairview Avenue, Verona * Thursday, September 24th, 4 to 6 p.m., Millburn Commuter Lot, 188 Glen Avenue, Millburn * Friday, September 25th, 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 leaf collection schedule for those living on county roads

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced Essex County's 2019 Leaf Collection Schedule for County Roads. Residents whose properties are on County Roads may place their leaves in biodegradable bags or sweep the loose leaves into piles at the curb. To organize leaf collection on County roads, Essex County is divided into four sectors. There will be three pickups in each section of the County. DiVincenzo has asked residents on County roads to check the county leaf collection schedule and coordinate their fall cleanup activities with the County. Leaves should be swept to the curb or placed in biodegradable bags at the curb no more than seven days before the scheduled pickup time. In addition, residents are asked to pile leaves at least 10 feet from a storm drain. The following schedule lists the four sectors, the municipalities included in each section and the collection times when leaves will be picked up in each section. * Section I: (Cedar Grove, Millburn and West Orange) Monday, October 26th to Friday, October 30th; Monday, November 23rd to Friday, November 27th; and Monday, December 21st to Friday, December 25th. * Section II: (South Orange and Maplewood) Monday, November 2nd to Friday, November 6th; Monday, November 30th to Friday, December 4th; and Monday, December 28th to Friday, January 1, 2021. * Section III: (Belleville and East Orange) Monday, November 9th to Friday, November 13th; Monday, December 7th to Friday, December 11th; and Monday, January 4, 2021, to Friday, January 8, 2021 (The last pick up will be made only if it is needed). * Section IV: (Irvington, Newark and Orange) Tuesday, November 16th to Friday, November 20th; Monday, December 14th to Friday, December 18th; and Monday, January 11, 2021 to Friday, January 15, 2021 (The last pick up will be made only if it is needed). Essex County has entered into shared services agreements with Bloomfield, Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Montclair, North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona and West Caldwell. In these municipalities, the local Department of Public Works will collect leaves on County roads. If your property is located on a County road in one of these towns, please consult your municipal Public Works Department for more information or to obtain a schedule. Residents who have questions about the leaf collection schedule may call the Essex County Department of Public Works at 973-226-8500, Ext. 0.

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Essex County Sept. 24 food distribution to be held at Independence Park in Newark

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, September 24th in Essex County Independence Park 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. This is the second time the Essex County Emergency Food Distribution will be held in Independence Park; the first time was two months ago on July 30th. It will be held as follows: Date: Thursday, September 24, 2020 Time: 9 a.m. Place: Essex County Independence Park Van Buren Street Newark, NJ The park is located between Oliver Street and Walnut Street in Newark's Ironbound. 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. The Food Distribution in Independence Park is entirely for walk ups. Since the boxes weigh about 35 pounds, residents are encouraged to bring a shopping cart with them. Residents should enter the park from Van Buren Street across from East Side High School. Residents are required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing; anyone not wearing a face covering will not be allowed to enter the park. In addition, residents are asked to not arrive to the site until 8 a.m. Residents will receive one box per family. 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.

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Essex County’s upcoming COVID-19 testing sites for Sept. 14-18

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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Essex County September 17 food distribution event will be at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Newark

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Greater Friendship Baptist Church in Newark and Zion Hill Baptist Church in Newark will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, September 17th at Zion Hill Baptist Church 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, September 17, 2020 Time: 9 a.m. Place: Zion Hill Baptist Church 152 Osborne Terrace Newark, NJ The drive up distribution will be held in the church parking lot on Hawthorne Avenue. The walk up distribution will be held in front of the church on Osborne 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 enter the church parking lot on Hawthorne Avenue. Left turns from Hawthorne Avenue into the parking lot will not be allowed. Residents waiting to enter the lot should line up along Hawthorne Avenue before turning right into the parking lot. 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 the sidewalk in front of the church on Osborne Terrace. 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 Correctional Facility Task Force schedules public hearings to discuss medical issues at correctional facilities

The Essex County Correctional Facility Civilian Task Force has completed its training and has scheduled three public hearings concerning health and medical practices at the Correctional Facility. During the hearings, testimony about administrative practices and policy, incarcerated persons’ relevant experiences and expert best practices will be gathered.

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September 10 Essex County food distribution event will be at Payne School in Newark

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., and the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, September 10th at the Essex County Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology 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 and one box of fresh produce. It will be held as follows: Date: Thursday, September 10, 2020 Time: 9 a.m. Place: Essex County Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology 498-544 West Market Street Enter South 11th Street at the rear of school via Gould Avenue Newark, 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 South 11th Street via Gould Avenue. Left turns from Gould Avenue onto South 11th Street will not be allowed. Residents waiting to enter the lot should line up along Sussex Avenue/Gould Avenue before turning right onto South 11th 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 a walk-up location on the sidewalk in front of the Payne School on 9th Avenue. 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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