Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Take Flight Over NJ (PHOTOS, VIDEOS) Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Take Flight Over NJ (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Take Flight Over NJ (Photos, Videos) A formation of U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flew over New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut to salute first responders on the coronavirus frontlines Tuesday. The New York flyover began at the George Washington around noon and last for 40 minutes. The path was across all five New York City boroughs, Newark, Long Island, White Plains, NY and Stamford, CT. The Trenton and Philadelphia flyover began at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakenhurst at approximately 1:45 p.m. The path was over Trenton, a large part of the metro Philadelphia area and ended over Wilmingto…
Expect Mental Health Crisis For First Responders On Coronavirus Frontlines, NJ Physician Says Expect Mental Health Crisis For First Responders On Coronavirus Frontlines, NJ Physician Says
Expect Mental Health Crisis For First Responders On Coronavirus Frontlines, NJ Physician Says The COVID-19 crisis is putting first responders at a dangerously high risk for a variety of mental health problems, psychiatric experts say. And according to Daniel Finch -- Vice President of Population Health Strategies and Director of Psychiatric Urgent Care Services of CarePlus NJ -- the worst is yet to come. “Right now, it’s all about ‘survival mode,'" said Finch, who spent nearly eight years as an emergency psychiatry doctor at Hackensack University Medical Center.  "The adrenaline is flowing. Full energy and concentration is being put toward the care of patients. “Onc…
VIDEO: Paramus First Responders Hold Clapout For New Bridge Healthcare Heroes VIDEO: Paramus First Responders Hold Clapout For New Bridge Healthcare Heroes
Video: Paramus First Responders Hold Clapout For New Bridge Healthcare Heroes Healthcare heroes at New Bridge Medical Center got the recognition they deserve -- thanks to first responders in Paramus. Dozens of police officers, firefighters and EMS workers showed up outside the hospital Tuesday afternoon to honor the nurses, doctors and staff on the frontlines of the coronavirus battle Tuesday. Donning masks and holding encouraging signs, first responders sounded their sirens and flashed their lights at New Bridge exactly at 3 p.m. Fire Prevention Chief Kevin Sheehan presented the idea to emergency responders, who felt it was a great idea to show appreciation for the…
Urgent Care Center In Passaic County Offers COVID-19 Testing Urgent Care Center In Passaic County Offers COVID-19 Testing
Urgent Care Center In Passaic County Offers Covid-19 Testing Kinder Pediatric Urgent Care has begun conducting coronavirus tests for children, families, healthcare workers and first responders, among others, at their centers in Totowa and Union, the company announced Wednesday. Although Kinder is a walk-in urgent care provider for children, COVID-19 has changed priorities for everyone on the front lines. “How can we focus on just the children and ignore COVID-19 screening and testing for their families, caregivers, or essential workers in their communities?” asked Dr. Figen Altunkaya, a senior Kinder physician. All COVID-19 testing is done by appoin…
'Resilient Minds On Front Lines': NJ Webcast Gives Responders Critical Support During Pandemic 'Resilient Minds On Front Lines': NJ Webcast Gives Responders Critical Support During Pandemic
'Resilient Minds On Front Lines': NJ Webcast Gives Responders Critical Support During Pandemic As if the all the other dangers that first responders face aren't enough, doing so amid the coronavirus pandemic presents additional challenges that a New Jersey webcast launched Monday aims to address. The biggest challenge for law enforcement, for one, is "figuring out what the new normal is, how to protect yourself and how do we get you [the] resources now," state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said during the opening segment of "Resilient Minds on the Front Lines." Organizers are dedicated to providing "tools, knowledge, skills and instruction to assist in a time of need -- to "help…
'We Take Care Of Our Own': Port Authority Police Give Back To NJ Rookie's Family Bakery 'We Take Care Of Our Own': Port Authority Police Give Back To NJ Rookie's Family Bakery
'We Take Care Of Our Own': Port Authority Police Give Back To NJ Rookie's Family Bakery Times have gotten tough amid the coronavirus pandemic for a popular Union County bakery owned by the family of a Port Authority police rookie. So her colleagues decided to do something about it. This is their story. HEROES: While on duty recently at the Port Authority Police Department command at LaGuardia Airport, Sgt. Brian Vitale learned that rookie PAPD Officer Jessica Vaccaro’s family business -- Vaccaro’s Bakery in Clark -- was facing closure, like many other small businesses currently struggling to survive the economic ravages of COVID-19. Not only was this the long-successful busin…
NJ Coronavirus Cases Surge To 29,895, Murphy Orders Flags At Half-Mast For 646 Fatalities NJ Coronavirus Cases Surge To 29,895, Murphy Orders Flags At Half-Mast For 646 Fatalities
NJ Coronavirus Cases Surge To 29,895, Murphy Orders Flags At Half-Mast For 646 Fatalities New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy reported 113 more coronavirus-related deaths and 4,372 new cases, bringing the statewide total to 29,895 Friday. The governor ordered flags lowered to half-staff in order to honor the 646  residents killed by the virus, including Paterson-born jazz great Bucky Pizzarelli, Teaneck humanitarian Janice Preschel and Caldwell middle school principal James Brown. "This is a war," said Murphy, emphasizing the importance of social distancing.  "Wars like this are not won in one day one month or not even a few months." Of the 3,016 COVID-19 hospitalizations in New Jerse…
'Comfort Home': NJ First Responders Have House To Self-Quarantine Together 'Comfort Home': NJ First Responders Have House To Self-Quarantine Together
'Comfort Home': NJ First Responders Have House To Self-Quarantine Together First responders with the coronavirus in New Jersey who cannot self-quarantine at home will have a place to stay, thanks to firefighters and police in the city of Passaic. Work this weekend continued on "The Comfort Home," a four-bedroom residence on a dead end city street that organizers say will accommodate up to eight first responders at a time beginning April 6. The idea emerged as word spread of a city responder who couldn’t self-quarantine at home and had no other place to go. Enter Boy Scout Devin Pellot. Devin, 15, told his dad, Passaic Police Capt. Isabelino Pellot Jr., that may…
New Bergen COVID-19 Test Site For First Responders, Health Care Workers Only Opens Sunday New Bergen COVID-19 Test Site For First Responders, Health Care Workers Only Opens Sunday
New Bergen Covid-19 Test Site For First Responders, Health Care Workers Only Opens Sunday The first drive-thru coronavirus testing site in New Jersey dedicated solely to first responders and health care workers opens Sunday afternoon at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus. Only first responders and health care professionals who live or work in Bergen County will be tested at the site -- but only after they are screened first, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said. To be screened, Tedesco said, symptomatic first responders and health care workers must first: complete a brief survey located at https://www.newbridgehealth.org; see a Telehealth doctor; obtain a confirma…
COVID-19: Changes Coming To Paramus, Holmdel Testing Sites As Cases Shoot Above 6,800 COVID-19: Changes Coming To Paramus, Holmdel Testing Sites As Cases Shoot Above 6,800
Covid-19: Changes Coming To Paramus, Holmdel Testing Sites As Cases Shoot Above 6,800 Changes are coming to New Jersey's government-run coronavirus testing centers in Paramus and Holmdel. Starting on Saturday, March 28, the Bergen Community College and PNC Bank Arts Center testing centers will only accept symptomatic health care workers and first responders -- police, fire, and EMS. The general public will not be able to access these sites on Saturday. The following day, the testing sites will move to a new schedule, to be announced on covid19.nj.gov. The sites will collect 500 samples each day they are open. Beginning April 4, the  PNC Bank Arts Center site …
Fair Lawn Native's Distillery Swaps Spirits For Hand Sanitizers Fair Lawn Native's Distillery Swaps Spirits For Hand Sanitizers
Fair Lawn Native's Distillery Swaps Spirits For Hand Sanitizers Many businesses have had to substantially alter their day-to-day operations due to closures and restrictions amid the COVID-19 crisis, and breweries are no exception. Food and alcohol are still the main focus, but some breweries — including Asbury Park Distilling Co. — have halted their spirit production in favor of hand sanitizer. Founded by Fair Lawn native Andy Karas, APDC is offering two free 2-ounce bottles of its hand cleaner to “current retailers and restaurants who remain open to serve the community,” the company wrote in an Instagram post. “If you’re a current partner, please fee…
COMING: First Responders, Health Care Workers Get Priority At New Bergen COVID-19 Test Site COMING: First Responders, Health Care Workers Get Priority At New Bergen COVID-19 Test Site
Coming: First Responders, Health Care Workers Get Priority At New Bergen Covid-19 Test Site Bergen officials will open a new coronavirus test site for Bergen County residents only with priority given to first responders and health care workers, County Executive Jim Tedesco announced Tuesday. The site will begin operating this weekend and will be controlled by the county, in an effort to satisfy the huge demand for tests, he said. A location hasn't been specified yet. “The FEMA test site at Bergen Community College has had great success in testing over 1,000 individuals since opening last Friday," said Tedesco said, who also announced Tuesday that he was self-quarantining. “Provi…