Mayor’s Community Update: June 24, 2022 – New Providence

2022-06-25 07:46:50 By : Ms. Jo Ren

Happy Juneteenth! Happy Pride Month! Here is a Catch Up of this Past Week in New Providence and Some of the Many Exciting Things Going On and Upcoming in our Community:

Happy Pride Month – New Providence proudly celebrates Pride in Our Community. Every person deserves the right to live their lives authentically and free from discrimination.

Congratulations to all our graduates! It’s been a great year and we wish all a great start and all the best on the next chapter of their lives!

Happy Official Start of Summer! Please prepare for a hot summer. Plan to stay cool, hydrated, and informed to prevent heat-related illness. bit.ly/2sklxsi

June is Pet-Preparedness-Month and is a great reminder to keep your pets safety in mind during the summer heat. If you are hot, they are too! Always have fresh water when you’re outside and keep them off the hot asphalt during walks. More: ready.gov/animals

July 3rd fireworks have been a longstanding tradition in NP and we wanted to bring them back to the borough again after a two year hiatus due to COVID. Please come join the celebration of our country’s Independence with our community. The fireworks will start about 9:30pm near South Street and should be visible from most locations within the borough, so grab your lawn chair or blankets and settle into your favorite viewing spot around town. (Please note: the roads will not be closed off for this event. This will only be a fireworks show this year). Bring the family and enjoy!

NPHS Track & Field Girls placed 1st in North 2 Group 2 State Sectional and our Boys placed 4th!  So much talent on display – Individual/Relay Champions included:  Girls 4 X 400 (Orchard, Ryan, Merrick & Espliallat), Girls 1600 (Merrick), Girls Pole Vault (Boyle) and Boys Pole Vault (Kornacki). Congratulations to all and for a great season!

Congratulations to our NPHS Baseball Team! NJSIAA North 2 Group 1 Sectional Champions!  They had a great season and we congratulate all! Way to Go Pioneers!

Thursday June 16th was MAURY FRYER DAY! We thank beloved PreSchool and Kindergarten educator Maury Fryer of New Providence Presbyterian Church for her 35 years of loyal service and good work with the children of our community. We gave her a proclamation in her honor. Friends, family, and members of the community surprised her with a huge clap out. We thank her for good service, congratulate her on her retirement, and wish her well in all her future endeavors.

Southgate was paved this week. We thank you for your patience during all the detours and disruptions.

2022 Summer Youth Police Academy sign ups have opened. This program runs July 11-15 for incoming 6th & 7th graders from 9am-3pm at the Municipal Building. The cost is $200 and includes a uniform and a water bottle. Register on Community Pass > 2022 Youth Summer with the Recreation Department. **30 person limit**

Come celebrate Race Unity Day this Saturday, June 25th in Centennial Park 1-4pm (rain-date June 26th)

➡️ For more info, visit: https://sites.google.com/view/raceunityday2022/home

➡️ RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/337776537717 Diversity in New Providence, NJ

If you are a Community Pool Member, please join them for Raft Night Saturday June 25th from 4:00-6:00pm.  Bring your own raft or purchase one on the day at the Snack Shack. Debbie’s snack shack will host a dinner special. To learn more or join the New Providence Community Pool please visit https://www.nppool.org/

Future Bulk Pickup: Zone 3 starts June 27th. See below for your zone, street and pick up week.

Utility Upgrades are continuing around the Borough. Please continue to expect some delays and detours. We continually communicate on our end with the utility companies to find out when/where they are coming and continually inform them of best times (least traffic disruption) and paving schedules etc. Despite our best efforts the utility companies unfortunately are often not always the best at keeping us informed when/where they will be working or for how long. Please be patient while this important work continues.

Access to some of the Borough’s online application forms will be temporarily unavailable from Friday July 1 through Monday July 4 for system upgrades and maintenance.  These forms include resident and non-resident parking permit applications, Vital Statistics applications, Dog/Cat License applications, OPRA Requests, and Facility Usage requests.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

https://www.newprov.org/2022/06/some-borough-online-application-forms-will-be-unavailable-july-1-4/

From the State of New Jersey:

From August 27th to September 5th, New Jersey will have a back-to-school sales tax holiday – cutting the cost on:

The library is closed Sundays in the summer (began June 19th).

Library book displays on the themes of Guys Read, Fiction Set in Italy, & Stranger Things await your perusal during the week!

The Lions’ Den: The Lions’ Den is a newly created reading area for seniors located near the art display at the New Providence Memorial Library. This senior reading area has two comfortable chairs specially designed for stability and ease of access, and two combination light/magnifying glass stanchions which allow for reading a whole page at one time with focused lighting and magnification of type face. The New Providence Lions Club along with the Friends of the New Providence Library donated funds to create this area for New Providence seniors.

This year’s Community Art Show theme is The Art of the Mask.  They have some wonderfully creative work featuring masks of all kinds. Please stop by to see the art! The Art of the Mask is on display for June and July.

Our New Providence Memorial Library needs your help to drive and develop their strategic plan. The strategic plan will be developed to guide the Library over the next three years. This is your opportunity to be heard and provide your thoughts and feedback.  Use the QR code to take the survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NPMLPartners.

Have you made the switch to the Libby app? It offers the best reading experience for all ages and has the same great content you love in the OverDrive app! Get in-app support with any questions you may have. https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/switchtolibby

Membership Drive is in full swing – please consider joining! https://newprovidencehistorical.com

The Historical Society is looking for Docents for the Salt Box Museum

The New Providence Historical Society is excited to announce the return of their FREE guided walking cemetery tours of the New Providence Presbyterian Church cemetery. Tours are currently scheduled for the following Saturdays – June 25th and July 16th at 1:30pm (Rain or Shine). Cemetery tours are conducted by society member, John Sponauer, who has been conducting research on specific grave sites for months. **All tours are limited to 20 persons. The tours will be approximately 30-45 minutes. Learn about the history of the cemetery, cemetery folklore, visit the final resting places of founding families, and the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers. To reserve your spot please send an email to NPcemeterytours@gmail.com. Indicate the date you wish to attend along with the size of your party. You will receive a confirmation email. ***You must email to reserve your spot*** Footing may be uneven in some areas, so suitable footwear recommended!

See website for full details:https://newprovidencehistorical.com

The New Providence Historical Society also puts out a newsletter called Turkey Tracks: http://newprovidencehistorical.files.wordpress.com/...

The NP Public Art Committee recently installed a new sculpture in Harmony Park (which is adjacent to Veterans Park on South Street) titled Green Sculpture by artist Richard Pitts. It is a beautiful addition to our town. Please go take a look!

The NP Public Art Committee recently honored and celebrated the lifework of Marjan Nirou Saniee and Artist Bob Hill

Our New Providence Recreation Department Department has many exciting upcoming activities! Read more: www.newprov.org/recreation.

Please keep up to date with Recreation Community Activities at www.newprov.org/community-events

Union County residents are advised that Union County’s free COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics at Downs Hall on the Kean University campus will close at the end of June. The testing and vaccination services will continue at other locations around the County. The last day for COVID-19 testing at Downs Hall will be Monday, June 27, 7:00am-12:00pm.  Testing will continue to be offered at the Union County clinic in the Warinanco Sports Center, located at 1 Park Drive in Warinanco Park, in Roselle.

The last day for vaccinations at Downs Hall will be Friday, June 24, 3:00pm-7:00pm.  Vaccinations will continue to be offered at the Warinanco Sports Center and at the Union County clinic at Plainfield High School, in Plainfield.

Home-bound residents can make an appointment to be vaccinated at home by calling the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-613-7829 during regular weekday business hours, or leave a call-back message after hours.

In addition, the Union County mobile vaccination and testing clinics will continue to visit various locations throughout the County.

For more information about Union County’s testing and vaccination services, including locations and hours of operation, visit www.ucnj.org/covid19.

Children Ages 5-11 Are Eligible for COVID-19 Booster Shots: https://www.newprov.org/…/children-ages-5-11-are…/

NPCOVID19 Borough Case Information – Support Services – Testing – Vaccine Information: www.newprov.org/case-statistics/#

From the Westfield Board of Health COVID Report for New Providence: https://www.newprov.org/…/westfield-board-of-health…/

COVID Dashboard: https://www.nj.gov/…/cd/topics/covid2019_dashboard.shtml.

CDC Booster Information: https://www.cdc.gov/…/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

Emergency Food Distribution for Union County residents in June to aid those affected by COVID-19: The food distributions are open to all Union County residents. Food will be distributed on a first-come, first- served basis and no registration is required. The events will take place rain or shine: https://wp.me/p4sLwl-p5E:

June 25th 1-4pm Race Unity Day In Centennial Park: Come celebrate the diversity within our community.

The next Brough Council Meeting is Tuesday June 28, 2022 7:30pm.

The Art of the Mask is on display for June and July at the New Providence Memorial Library. Please stop by to see the art!

The Friends of the New Providence Memorial Library will be hosting a community art show every summer. They would love as many New Providence  participants as possible.

The Next ‘Chat with the Mayor’ is Friday July 1st 6:30pm-8pm in the Lincoln Meeting Room Borough Hall.

The Borough will be hosting and sponsoring July 3rd FIREWORKS in celebration of our Country’s Independence 9:30pm.

Concerts in the Park return Thursdays in July! Summer Family Concerts: New Providence Business is proud to present three FREE summer concerts offering music and entertainment for the whole family.  The free concerts start at 7 PM and will also feature a magician to entertain the kids. Prestige Diner is generously donating free hot dogs that the NP Lions Club will cook and serve, and  Zita’s Homemade Ice Cream is generously donating free ice cream for all to enjoy.

The 2022 concert dates are: Thursday, July 14 – Asbury Fever Band

National Night Out, Concert and Fireworks – Tuesday, August 2nd: Sponsored by New Providence PBA Local 132 and the New Providence Business Community.  This event is at 7 PM at the New Providence High School.  National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. First responders including police, firefighters, and EMS display their equipment and interact with the community. This is an opportunity for the entire family to meet not only the people who serve and protect them, but also the local businesses and organizations that help our town thrive.

Our Annual Freecycle-Fest Event hosted by our Sustainability Committee will be held on September 17, 2022 (rain date Sept 18, 2022) at the New Providence Community Pool parking lot from 9am – 2pm. This is an opportunity to bring unwanted items to a central location in New Providence for “recycling” with other families. In the past this Freecycle Event has been held simultaneously with the Green Fair. However, the two events will be held on separate dates this year. Thank you to the Sustainability Committee for their good work on this for our community.

See Calendar for more Upcoming Community Events: http://www.mayoralmorgan.com/home/events-calendar/

Bulk Collection occurs once a year in June. Items must be placed at your curb by 2 AM on the designated Monday for your Zone. Please see the 2022 Calendar for details : https://www.newprov.org/…/2022-Annual-Calendar-most.... Check pages 3 and 4 of the calendar for bulk collection dates and street listings by zone. Check pages 13 and 15 for more information on bulk collection. Keep your items at the curb starting on your designated pick up date. Trucks will be around to collect as soon as they can. Read more: https://www.newprov.org/…/bulk-collection-pick-up-starts

Zone 1B – Monday, June 6: ACORN DR, BERGEN RD, BROOK HOLLOW LN, CENTRAL AVE #72- 240 both sides #254 – 502 even only, CHESTNUT HILL DR, CHESTNUT ST, CLUB DR, CLUB LN, COLONY CT, COUNTRYSIDE DR, CROSS WAY, DEERFIELD RD, DIANE CT, DIVISION AVE, DORR RD, ELM ST, ELMORE RD, FOREST RD, GALLINSON DR, GREENWOOD RD, GROVE TER, HICKORY PL, HILLSIDE TER, JOHNSON DR, KENDRICK RD, LAVINA CT, LIVINGSTON AVE #271 – 345 both sides, MAPLE ST #292 – 386 both sides, MOUNTAIN AVE East of South St, NORTHVIEW RD, OAKWOOD DR, OLD BROOK LN, OLD OAK DR, OLDWOOD DR, OVERHILL RD, SALEM RD, SEVEN OAKS DR, SOUTH ST #264-546 even only, STONERIDGE RD, TALL OAKS DR, THE FELLSWAY, VALLEY VIEW AVE, VERONA RD, WALNUT ST, WHITEWOOD DR, WOODCREST DR, WOODLAND RD

Zone 1A – Monday, June 13: BALDWIN DR, BRIER CT, CANDLEWOOD DR, CHANLON RD, CLARENDON CT, COLCHESTER RD, DARBY CT, EGGERS CT, ELIZABETH CT, ETHAN DR, FARM GATE RD, FLORAL AVE, FOLEY PL, FOLEY SQ, FOX RUN, FROST LN, GERARD CT, GLENSIDE RD, HAMPSHIRE RD, HANSELL RD, HATHAWAY DR, KNOLLWOOD DR, MARTINS LA, MOUNTAIN AVE West of South St, MURRAY HILL APTS, MURRAY HILL FARMS CONDOS, MURRAY HILL MANOR CONDOS, MURRAY HILL SQ. CONDOS (bulk only), NASSAU PL, PENWOOD DR, POSSUM WAY, PRINCETON DR, ROSE AVE, RYDER WAY, SAGAMORE DR, SOUTHGATE @ MH CONDOS, SOUTHGATE RD SOUTH ST #259 – 489 odd only, SULFRIAN RD, SURREY LN, TIMOTHY FIELD RD, UNION AVE From RR tracks to Mountain Ave, WARNER PL, WESTERLY AVE, YARMOUTH DR

Zone 2 – Monday, June 20: ALISON CT, ARBORS AT MURRAY HILL, ARDSLEY CT, ASPEN CT, BADGLEY DR ,BALCOLM RD, BARBERRY LN, BEECH ST, BRADFORD ST, BROMLEY CT, BROOKSIDE DR, CAMERON RD, CENTRAL AVE #305 – 499 odd only #534 – 950 even only, COLONIAWAY, COLUMBUS AVE, COMMERCE DR, CONSTANCE RD, CRANE CIRCLE, CREST RD, DELWICK LN, DEVON PL, DOUGLAS ST, DUNLAP ST, EAST SECOND ST, EAST FOURTH ST, EAST THIRD ST, EIGHTH ST, FAIRMOUNT RD, FAIRVIEW AVE, FIFTH ST, FIRST ST – both portions, FOURTH ST, GALES DR, GLENBROOK RD, GRANT AVE, HAWTHORNE DR, HEATHER CT, HICKSON DR, HIGH ST, HILLARY PL, JAMES ST, JONES DR, KLINE BLVD, KLINE PL, LIVINGSTON AVE From Springfield Ave to Central Ave, MAPLE ST #16 – 191 both sides, MARION AVE, MIDVALE DR, MILL POND RD, MORRIS AVE, NP GARDEN APTS, PEARL ST, PIONEER DR, PLEASANTVIEW AVE, POTTER ST, PRIMROSE DR, PROVIDENCE ST, RICHLAND DR, SECOND ST, SHELLY DR, SIXTH ST, SOUTH ST From Springfield Ave to Central Ave – both sides, SPRING ST SPRINGFIELD AVE #806—1296 #1700—1818, THIRD ST, THOMAS ST, UNION AVE From Springfield Ave to RR tracks, WEST FOURTH STREET, WESTVIEW AVE, WILBER ST, WILLIAM ST, WILLOW ST, WOODRUFF CT

Zone 3 – Monday, June 27: ACADEMY ST, ALDEN RD, ASHWOOD RD, BIRCH PL, BROOK RD, CENTRAL AVE From 783-937 odd only, CENTRAL AVE From Springfield Ave to Chatham Line, CHARNWOOD RD, CLEMENT RD, CLINTON AVE, CODDINGTON DR, COMMONWEALTH AVE, CRESCENT DR, DELAWARE AVE, DOGWOOD LA, EARL PL, EDGEWOOD AVE, EDWARD CT, ELKWOOD AVE, ETMORE PL, EVERGREEN AVE, GEORGE RD, GORDON PL, HEDDEN PL, HOLMES AVE, HOLMES OVAL N, HOLMES OVAL S, INWOOD RD, JANE RD, LANCASTER CT, LAUREL DR, LINCOLN LN, MADISON AVE, MAGNOLIA DR, MEADOW CT, MEE LA, MOREHOUSE PL, NEWCOMB DR, OSBORNE AVE, OXBOW DR, PARK PL, PASSAIC ST, PEWTER LA, PINE CT, PINE WAY, PITNEY AVE, PITTSFORD WAY, PORTER PL, RADCLIFFE DR, RIDGE DR, RIDGEVIEW AVE, ROESSNER PL, RUNNYMEDE PKWY, SALT BROOK RD, SCHINDLER PL, SHERWOOD DR, SLOPE DR, SPRING GARDENS APTS., SPRINGFIELD AVE #851-1823 and #1308 – 1682, STANLEY RD, TERRACE RD, VALENTINE RD, VISTA LN, WALKER DR, WALTON AVE, WELLINGS RD, WESLEY CT, WHITMAN DR, WOODBINE CIRCLE

Mental Health Awareness: New Providence Cares About Your Mental Wellness

The New Providence Mental Health Advocacy and Education Committee is spearheaded by Council President Nadine Geoffroy and Councilwoman Lisa McKnight. The committee mission statement: “The goal of the committee is to reduce the stigma of mental health within the community by promoting understanding through education, advocacy, raising awareness and connecting people to resources to get them hope and help.”

The committee has several objectives and projects including lawn signs promoting mental health awareness. The committee also partnered with the high school and handed out green ribbons to students. The borough poles were decorated with the green ribbons in recognition of Mental Health Awareness during the month of May. For more information please contact Nadine Geoffroy at ngeoffroy@newprov.org.

If you need help please call 866.202.HELP (4357) for free & anonymous emotional support 8am-8pm

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Available 24 hours 800-273-8255

On July 16th, 988 will become the national dialing code for people experiencing a mental health crisis. By dialing 9-8-8, you can be connected to suicide prevention and health crisis counselors 24/7.  To learn more about the 988 system in NJ, please watch this presentation created by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuKhq-VPVjU

Veterans are invited to a bi-monthly, veteran-run peer support & discussion group, Warriors Welcome. This group is no-cost, confidential and a judgment-free zone. They meet every 1st and 3rd Friday: bit.ly/WarriorsWelcomeNJ.

Virtual Muslim Mental Health community group meets Sundays 7pm. Join for a discussion of mental health concerns, wellness goals, and more. Newcomers welcome! bit.ly/MuslimGroupNJ

Borough Council Meetings: youtube.com/channel/UCZzCgFvlBgpSfW-JEVRMXsA

Borough Contact Information and Action Line: www.newprov.org/citizen-action-line

New Providence (Mailed) Calendar: https://www.newprov.org/…/2022-Annual-Calendar-most...

NPHS Athletics Calendar: http://www.sites.google.com/…/nphs…/athletic-schedule...

NPTV Schedule: www.sites.google.com/npsdnj.org/cook-nptv/nptv-schedule

Public Works: newprov.org/department-of-public-works

Recycle Coach: newprov.org/recycle-coach

Senior Citizen Bus: Transportation (with pick up at your home) is available for residents 55+ to ShopRite every Tuesday morning at 8am. Please call the Center at (908) 665-0046 by Monday morning to sign up or for more information.

Smart911 Community Alert System: newprov.org/2022/04/register-today-for-smart-911

Turkey Tracks Newsletter of the New Providence Historical Society: http://newprovidencehistorical.files.wordpress.com/...

Missed an update? Mayor’s Community Updates can be found on the Borough website and at http://www.mayoralmorgan.com/…/community-updates...

Keep informed with Borough information:

Please feel free to contact me anytime about any issue. Your concerns are my concerns. We are here to serve you. We are a team effort here in NP!  Thank you to our outstanding Borough Council, our dedicated administration, employees and staff, our selfless volunteers, and to all of you for making our community such an incredible place. Please be sure to support all our wonderful local establishments and SHOP NP! Have a great weekend and week ahead! We are Pioneer Strong!

Due to inclement weather, New Providence court on 2/20/19 has been cancelled.

The Downtown Improvement District Annual Meeting scheduled for 2/20/19 has been cancelled.

Borough offices will be closing at 1 PM.

Recycling days will be changing in January to alternating sides of the Borough (previously the entire Borough was on the same schedule).  Below are the upcoming January dates for your reference:

East Side – South Street to Summit Line (includes South St even numbered houses & Passaic Street odd numbered houses)

West Side – South Street to Berkeley Heights Line (includes South St odd numbered houses & Passaic street even numbered houses)

Borough phone lines are currently out of order.  Verizon has been notified and is working to correct the issue.  In the interim, please use the Contact Us forms if you need assistance.

Union County has launched Recycle Coach, a free app designed to help make recycling and solid waste information more accessible to County residents and engage the public in the principles of “Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.”

Recycle Coach provides accurate, up-to-date information on Union County’s recycling events, as well as local recycling schedules in a handy, user-friendly mobile format.

Check out the new Recycle Coach for detailed  recycling information and a downloadable app!

A major fiber optics cut has affected telephone service throughout New Jersey.  The borough phone circuits are currently inoperable.  Crews are working on fixing the issue.  In the interim, if you need to contact the borough, please use the Contact Us forms.  We apologize of any inconvenience.