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Essex County

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Essex County upcoming COVID-19 testing sites for August 3-7

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 4th, Bloomfield Town Hall Municipal Lot, 1 Municipal Plaza, Bloomfield * Thursday, August 6th, North Caldwell Fireman's Field Parking Lot, 131 Gould Avenue, North Caldwell * 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.

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Essex County food distribution announced for August 6

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders will present an Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, June 11th at St. Matthew AME Church in 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. It will be held as follows: Date: Thursday, August 6, 2020 Time: 9 a.m. Place: St. Matthew AME Church 336 Oakwood Avenue 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. Residents who are driving and want to take advantage of this free giveaway should enter the parking lot by making a left turn from Oakwood Avenue. Right turns from Oakwood Avenue will not be allowed. Residents waiting to enter the site should line up along Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park on the west side of Oakwood Avenue. Vehicles should approach from Central Avenue. Emergency food boxes also will be distributed to residents who walk up to the site. A walk up site will be at the corner of Oakwood Avenue and Clay Street in front of the church. 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. Volunteers will place one emergency food box into each vehicle. Buses will not be allowed to enter.

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Essex County plans caravan to promote U.S. Census

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that on Saturday, August 1st, Essex County will host a caravan to raise awareness about the US Census and motivate residents to complete their Census questionnaire. Essex County will be joined by a coalition of partners, including Secretary of State Tahisha Way. "Being counted in the Census is important because the Federal money we receive for schools, roads, hospitals and other programs is based on population numbers. Completing your Census questionnaire ensures you are counted and we are receiving the Federal support we deserve. We hope our caravan reminds you to complete the census and we look forward to seeing you share your pride in your community," DiVincenzo said. It will be held as follows: Date: Saturday, August 1, 2020 Times: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Places: Traveling through Newark, Irvington, Orange and East Orange The caravan will begin at the Essex County Hall of Records in Newark and pass by several Essex County parks, including Weequahic Park on Elizabeth Avenue, Irvington Park on Lyons Avenue, Ivy Hill Park on Mount Vernon Place, Vailsburg Park on South Orange Avenue, Monte Irvin Orange Park on Central Avenue, Watsessing Park on Glenwood Avenue and Independence Park on Oliver Street. The caravan will include a digital message board to provide information about the Census and where to complete it, a float that will have a DJ playing music and a mobile billboard. Census representatives and partners will engage pedestrians and caravan watchers, sharing information about the Census, encouraging people to complete their questionnaire and distributing free giveaways. Local elected officials and Census representatives have been invited to join the caravan. Nonprofit organizations have been invited to host various Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) events along the route. Information gathered from the Census helps direct hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding each year. These funds pay for important programs such as Medicaid, Section 8 Housing, school lunch programs, road repairs, healthcare, and so much more. Census results also determine how many seats in Congress each state gets. That is why local governments, nonprofits and businesses have partnered with the U.S. Census Bureau to boost self-response rates. These Census partners are making special efforts to connect with residents who are least likely to respond to the 2020 Census on their own. The self-response rate in Essex County is currently at 57 percent compared to 64.5 percent for the state.

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Essex County Turtle Back Zoo and Investors Bank announce partnership for official sponsorship of miniature train ride

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that on Saturday, August 1st, Essex County will host a caravan to raise awareness about the US Census and motivate residents to complete their Census questionnaire. Essex County will be joined by a coalition of partners, including Secretary of State Tahisha Way. "Being counted in the Census is important because the Federal money we receive for schools, roads, hospitals and other programs is based on population numbers. Completing your Census questionnaire ensures you are counted and we are receiving the Federal support we deserve. We hope our caravan reminds you to complete the census and we look forward to seeing you share your pride in your community," DiVincenzo said. It will be held as follows: Date: Saturday, August 1, 2020 Times: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Places: Traveling through Newark, Irvington, Orange and East Orange The caravan will begin at the Essex County Hall of Records in Newark and pass by several Essex County parks, including Weequahic Park on Elizabeth Avenue, Irvington Park on Lyons Avenue, Ivy Hill Park on Mount Vernon Place, Vailsburg Park on South Orange Avenue, Monte Irvin Orange Park on Central Avenue, Watsessing Park on Glenwood Avenue and Independence Park on Oliver Street. The caravan will include a digital message board to provide information about the Census and where to complete it, a float that will have a DJ playing music and a mobile billboard. Census representatives and partners will engage pedestrians and caravan watchers, sharing information about the Census, encouraging people to complete their questionnaire and distributing free giveaways. Local elected officials and Census representatives have been invited to join the caravan. Nonprofit organizations have been invited to host various Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) events along the route. Information gathered from the Census helps direct hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding each year. These funds pay for important programs such as Medicaid, Section 8 Housing, school lunch programs, road repairs, healthcare, and so much more. Census results also determine how many seats in Congress each state gets. That is why local governments, nonprofits and businesses have partnered with the U.S. Census Bureau to boost self-response rates. These Census partners are making special efforts to connect with residents who are least likely to respond to the 2020 Census on their own. The self-response rate in Essex County is currently at 57 percent compared to 64.5 percent for the state.

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Essex County senior citizen legacies writing contest winners announced

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the four winners and four honorable mention recipients of the 2020 Essex County Senior Citizen Legacies Writing Contest. Normally announced in May during Older Americans Month, the awards were delayed because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Essex County dedicates new Division of Family Assistance and Benefits headquarters

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. officially dedicated the new Essex County Division of Family Assistance and Benefits (formerly the Division of Welfare) at 320 and 321 University Avenue in Newark on Monday, July 27th. The 150,000 square feet of renovated office space provides employees and clients with modern and more welcoming accommodations. By acquiring the two buildings, Essex County will save about $6 million in annual lease payments.

Essex County announces COVID-19 testing sites for July 21-30

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.

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