Author

Essex County

Essex County's Latest Articles

||
Essex County to hold remote September 11th memorial ceremony
By
●
Press Releases
●
September 8, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the annual "Essex County Remembers," a solemn ceremony at the Essex County Eagle Rock September 11th Memorial that will mark the 19th anniversary of the tragedies in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania, will be held remotely and live streamed on the Essex County website and social media channels. Eagle Rock Reservation will be closed to the public from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. while the ceremony is being held. The ceremony will be live streamed beginning at 8 a.m. on Essex County's website at www.essexcountynj.org and Facebook at "Joseph N DiVincenzo Jr" and "Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr." Unfortunately, the reservation will be closed to the public while the ceremony is being held. "After the attacks, people spontaneously came to Eagle Rock Reservation to view the tragedy unfold at the Twin Towers and leave cards, letters, photos and flowers in an impromptu memorial in honor of their loved ones. I knew immediately that this was the natural location for a memorial because of the public attraction to this site and the unparalleled view of the World Trade Center from the lookout area," DiVincenzo said. "Our September 11th Memorial is a special place for people to come for solace and comfort because of its unique location and its powerful message of peace and hope," he noted. "The events of September 11th changed our lives, just as the Coronavirus. Even though we are still living with this pandemic, it is important that we continue to remember those who lost their lives," DiVincenzo said. A brief program with family members who lost a loved one in the tragedies, elected officials and clergy members from diverse religious faiths will be held at 8 a.m. Memorial wreaths will be laid at the monument and a new American flag will be raised. A string quartet will perform reverent selections of music at the memorial site after the ceremony until 2 p.m. The Essex County Eagle Rock September 11th Memorial was dedicated in October 2002, just over a year after the attacks. Its many elements pay tribute to the men and women, police officers, firefighters and other first responders who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, in Pennsylvania and aboard the four airplanes that crashed that day. It was the only 9/11 memorial to list all 3,000 victims' names until 2011 when the World Trade Center Memorial was dedicated. In 2009, the Essex County 9/11 Memorial was expanded to include a monument honoring the 33 flight crew members aboard the four airplanes that crashed. In 2011, a 7,400-pound steel and concrete artifact from the World Trade Center foundation was installed at the site and a bronze plaque was dedicated to honor emergency medical technicians who responded to Ground Zero and those who provided aid to people returning from New York across the Hudson River. In 2016, the Essex County Search and Rescue Dog Statue was dedicated at the site to commemorate the role that dogs had in the search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center and Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks.

||
Essex County to host emergency food distribution on August 27 in West Orange
By
●
Press Releases
●
August 24, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and The Life Christian Church in West Orange will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, August 27th at The Life Christian Church in West 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. In addition to one box of non-perishable food items, residents will receive one box of fresh produce. It will be held as follows: Date: Thursday, August 27, 2020 Time: 11 a.m. (new time) Place: The Life Christian Church 747 Northfield Avenue West Orange, 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. Life Christian Church is located at 747 Northfield Avenue, which is accessible from Vizcaya Boulevard. Residents should line up on the northern side of Northfield Avenue before turning right onto Vizcaya Boulevard. Left turns onto Vizcaya Boulevard 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. Residents are asked to not arrive to the site until 9 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 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. Only one emergency food box and one box of produce 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.

||
Essex County COVID-19 testing locations for August 24-28
By
●
Press Releases
●
August 24, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that Essex County is expanding its COVID-19 testing initiative to include satellite testing sites throughout the County in addition to continuing to operate its drive through testing center in Weequahic Park. The tests are by appointment only and are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-877-8456. "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. Satellite Testing will be held at the following locations: * Tuesday, August 25th, 4 to 6 p.m., 85 Livingston Avenue, Roseland, NJ (the parking lot is accessible off ADP Boulevard) * Wednesday, August 26th, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Essex County Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology, 498-544 West Market St., Newark, NJ (testing behind the school on South 11th Street) * Additional dates will be announced. The Weequahic Park testing site will be held on Mondays from 2 to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Additional dates will be added. 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.

||
Essex County has AAA bond rating reaffirmed by Moody’s
By
●
Press Releases
●
August 17, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that Moody's Investors Service has reaffirmed Essex County's Aaa rating with a stable outlook in a review released on Thursday, August 13th. "When it became apparent back in January that the Coronavirus would be a reality in our lives, we began planning not only for a public health emergency but also started preparing for the financial impact. Despite the added pressures created by the pandemic, Moody's affirming our Aaa rating demonstrates their continued confidence in Essex County's fiscal strength," DiVincenzo said. Since the pandemic started, DiVincenzo and his fiscal management staff have met individually with every Department Director and Constitutional Officer to review their budgets to get a clear picture of both current needs in 2020 and fiscal projection for 2021. In addition, a hiring freeze was initiated with the only exception being to hire essential employees. The three-page report states that the Aaa rating reflects Essex County's "large, diverse tax base, strong finances, favorable location, and modest leverage." It further states that despite being hit hard, the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic do not appear to have any effect on the County's financial strength. "The county has been amongst the harder it by the pandemic. Favorably, the county is getting various reimbursements and has received CARES Act funds. Management expects to lose modest amounts of non-property tax revenues, as a result, reserves may decline slightly. This is not expected to have any material impact on the county's overall financial strength," it states. "The stable outlook reflects our expectations that the county's finances and economy will remain strong despite the added pressure from the pandemic," it states. Essex County earned the Aaa bond rating from Moody's in August 2018. It is the first time Essex has every had a Aaa bond rating. When DiVincenzo took office in 2003, Essex County had a bond rating just above junk bond status. While strengthening Essex County's fiscal position, DiVincenzo has stabilized tax increases. The 2020 budget included just a 0.5 percent property tax increase, well below the 2.0 percent cap limit mandated by the state and the second consecutive year the increase was held to 0.5 percent. In addition, over the last eight years, Essex County has held the increase in property taxes to about 1.37 percent, which is under the state cap of 2.0 percent.

||
Essex County COVID-19 testing locations for August 17-21
By
●
Press Releases
●
August 17, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that Essex County is expanding its COVID-19 testing initiative to include satellite testing sites throughout the County in addition to continuing to operate its drive through testing center in Weequahic Park. The tests are by appointment only and are being offered to Essex County residents free of charge. To make an appointment, please visit www.EssexCovid.org or call 973-877-8456. "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. Satellite Testing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the following locations: * Tuesday, August 18th, Essex County Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Newark, NJ (located between Mill Street & Heller Parkway) * Thursday, August 20th, Egan Field, 15 Oak Lane, Essex Fells * Additional dates will be announced. The Weequahic Park testing site will be held on Mondays from 2 to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Additional dates will be added. 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.

||
Essex County to host emergency food distribution on August 20 at Bloomfield library
By
●
Press Releases
●
August 17, 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, August 20th 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, August 20, 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.

||
Essex County food distribution at St. James AME in Newark to be held August 13
By
●
Press Releases
●
August 9, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Rev. Ronald Slaughter, Senior Pastor of St. James AME Church in Newark, will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, August 13th at St. James AME 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. It will be held as follows: Date: Thursday, August 13, 2020 Time:9 a.m. Place: St. James AME Church 588 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. 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. The food distribution will occur in front of the church on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Residents who are driving should line up on Court Street before making a right turn onto Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Emergency food boxes also will be distributed to residents who walk up to the site. The walk-up site will be in front of the church. Resident who are walking should line up on the sidewalk in front of the church and then down Court Street. 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. The emergency food boxes will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. When residents arrive at the site, they are being asked to keep their windows rolled up and to open their trunk. 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.

||
Essex County announces virtual senior citizens art show and contest
By
●
Press Releases
●
August 6, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. invites all non-professional and professional senior citizen artists residing in Essex County to participate in the 2020 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show and Exhibition. Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, this year's competition will be held virtually. The deadline to submit artwork is Monday, August 24th. "Essex County has a thriving arts community and our Senior Art Show enables our older residents, both professionals and non-professionals, to display their original creations where everyone can see them," DiVincenzo said. "This is an excellent means for us to promote the arts and inspire our residents to use their talents. I encourage our seniors to submit their work and invite our residents to visit the Art Show," he added. Senior citizens must be at least 60 years old and a resident of Essex County to participate. Senior citizens will be considered as professional artists if they meet at least two of the following conditions: have sold their art through commercial channels including craft fairs; have shown their artwork in exhibits, galleries, museums, craft shows for two or more years; have had their work selected in two or more juried art or craft shows; have received two or more awards for their work; or have a professional membership in an artist's or craft person's guild or association. Seniors with non-professional status do not meet at least two of the above criteria. Awards will be presented in the following categories, without exceptions: acrylic painting, craft, digital, mixed media and collage, oil painting, pastel, print, photography, sculpture, watercolor painting and works on paper. First place winners will be eligible to participate in the New Jersey Senior Art Contest. Seniors can submit two entries of original artwork that were completed within the last three years. Artwork must be matted, mounted or framed, with screw eyes and wire attached. Photographs of all artwork should be emailed to jmatthews@parks.essexcountynj.org by Monday, August 24th. Approved submissions will be shared on the 2020 Virtual Senior Citizens Juried Art Contest and Exhibition website from Monday, August 31st through Wednesday, September 2nd. All photographs of the artwork must be clearly labeled with the following information: the artist's name, address, title of work, medium, date created, size, professional or non-professional status, and approximate value of the painting. For more information or to obtain an application, please visit www.essexcountynj.org or contact Jackie Matthews at 973-735-6228 or jmatthews@parks.essexcountynj.org. 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 announces restoration of Riverbank Park Community Center
By
●
Press Releases
●
August 4, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Monday, August 3rd that the project to restore and modernize the Essex County Riverbank Park Community Center has been completed. A focal point for recreation and academic enrichment before the pandemic, the one-story building was severely damaged by a fire in 2018.

||
Essex County announces Butterly Tent Safari opening
By
●
Press Releases
●
July 31, 2020

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the Butterfly Tent Safari at the Essex County Environmental Center will be held from Monday, August 3rd to Friday, August 14th. The Butterfly Tent Safari will feature live butterflies and a butterfly take-away craft for all ages making it a great experience for families to enjoy. The usual program has been modified to promote social distancing and visitors are required to wear face coverings. "Our Butterfly Tent Safari at the Essex County Environmental Center is an interactive experience of live butterflies that is great for families and everyone who wants to enjoy and observe the native butterflies," said DiVincenzo. "This is a great summer activity to experience feeding the butterflies or simply enjoy their beauty and their delicate nature," he added. The Butterfly Tent Safari will be open Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. from Monday, August 3rd through Friday, August 14th. To make a reservation to visit the Butterfly Tent Safari, please call the Essex County Environmental Center at 973-228-8776. Walk-ins will not be accommodated. Visitors will be able to walk inside of the tent and enjoy the company of the live native butterflies up close. Once inside the tent, visitors will be able to feed the butterflies and interact with them while enjoying their beauty and gentle nature. Visitors will also be able to make butterfly crafts that they can take home to share with friends and family. There is a suggested donation of $3 dollars per person to the Essex County Parks Foundation. Wearing face covering and practicing social distancing are required.

Helpful local newsletters for Essex County and N.J.

Close the CTA

Sign up for free local or state newsletters to access resources, events, and information to help you navigate life in the Garden State.