six month report:
essex county
​covid-19 age breakdown

TIMELINE: March, 2020
​New Jersey Closes DOWN

Commentary from West Essex Now
Mar. 14, 2020

🔺 SOCIAL DISTANCING OR WE BECOME ITALY
This is not a practice, not a drill. We are all in this together or we are all going to very soon start suffering together. Schools and towns aren't closed so that everyone else can gather together elsewhere.

In order to make sure that everyone is well-informed and that everyone makes excellent decisions, I haven't slept in three days. The news I report is only getting worse, not better.

My reporting is not to frighten anyone, not to panic anyone - but anyone ignoring the obvious Pandemic Crisis facts and going out in our community with no precautions jeopardizes all of our health. No one in this West Essex community should be endangering the health of anyone else.

Parents: you are in charge of your children. Right now, students should be at home and not with each other and Parents you need to set the example of healthy behavior.

Everyone has been given numerous reasons to stay at home, or at work (at a safe distance from others), or run very quick last minute errands.
▪️  Restaurants Deliver
▪️  Stores Deliver and some have parking lot pickup
▪️  We can all keep in touch remotely, and we need to.

Please start taking this Pandemic Crisis seriously or I am truly worried about what I will have to start reporting for West Essex.
​
Thank you sincerely.

from Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.:

​“The coronavirus is a real and imminent threat to the public health of not only our county but of our country. We are taking all steps necessary to help prevent the spread of this virus; one of these actions is limiting places the public can congregate and promoting social distancing.

​These actions are not taken lightly and are done after consultation with the Essex County Public Health Officer and following guidelines from the NJ Department of Health and CDC. We all must be aware that our individual actions can have a tremendous impact on how fast the coronavirus is spread and we must all do our part. Please realize we are taking these steps in an abundance of caution."

TIMELINE: APRIL, 2020
​essex county SUFFERS

IMAGE: Johns Hopkins University March 26,2020

Governor Phil Murphy
Apr. 3, 2020

"One of those we have lost is James Brown, the Principal… And there’s James, God bless him, with his family. James was the Principal of the Grover Cleveland Middle School in Caldwell, and the accolades – and if you don’t take my word for it, go online. The accolades being posted in his memory by the members of the community tell just how deeply respected and loved he was. He leaves behind his wife Sherry, to his right, as you can see his three children, and an entire school community who loved him dearly. And James was only 48 years old...God rest his soul.

I know that there is nothing we can say to truly dull the pain that the Brown family...and every family who has lost a loved one to COVID-19 is feeling right now. But we can make them know that we are thinking about them through our actions. And so, to that end I am signing an executive order today directing that all flags across New Jersey be lowered to half-staff effective immediately and indefinitely to honor those we have lost and those that we will lose. And we will lose more, sadly, as a result of this pandemic.
 
This is one of the greatest tragedies to ever hit our state and our nation indeed, and we must have a constant and visible memorial of the tremendous personal toll COVID-19 is having on our communities. And since families at this time cannot even hold funerals for their lost loved ones, this is a way – a small way but I think an important way we can make sure that their loss is not forgotten."

TIMELINE: MAY, 2020
​THE ROAD BACK BEGINS

TIMELINE: JUNE, 2020
​ESSEX HOPES FOR NORMALCY

TIMELINE: JULY, 2020
ESSEX ATTEMPTS SUMMER

TIMELINE: AUGUST, 2020
ESSEX is stressed

TIMELINE: SEPTEMBER, 2020
HOPING FOR THE BEST

essex county all ages

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases All Ages

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases All Ages

Governor Phil Murphy
​
"These are not abstract numbers. These are our Family, our Friends, our Neighbors. All of us. We are in this together and we mourn together."

age 0 to 17

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 0 to 17

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 0 to 17

age 18 to 29

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 18 to 29

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 18 to 29

age 30 to 49

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 30 to 49

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 30 to 49

age 50 to 64

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 50 to 64

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 50 to 64

age 65 to 79

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 65 to 79

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 65 to 79

age 80+

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 80+

Essex County NJ Covid-19 Cases Age 80+

Degnan Park, West Orange IMAGE: Mitch Cohen

essex county distributing $3.15 Million Grants for municipal park improvements

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.:

​“I am pleased to partner with our municipalities and the Trust Fund to modernize athletic fields, create skate parks, upgrade community pool infrastructure, restore public gardens, build playgrounds, stabilize waterways and acquire open space, to name just a few of the projects funded by this program through the years. These improvements have kept our parks up to date and enabled our open spaces to meet the changing needs and growing demands of our residents. When the 2020 application process for the Local Aid Program began last year, the Coronavirus was not even on our radar. Now, as restrictions are being lifted and we return to a new normal, our parks and recreation spaces will have an even greater role than before. Families breaking free of stay-at-home orders will be looking for outlets and the construction contracts that will be awarded will help jumpstart the economy and create jobs, just as we did with the program in 2009 after the Great Recession."

“Preservation of this land for passive recreation and a community center
fulfills a promise we made in 2007
to minimize development on the old hospital complex.
Essex County is one of the most densely populated counties
on the East Coast and creating 77 acres of open space will maintain the suburban character of Cedar Grove, provide additional recreation opportunities and enhance residents’ quality of life,” DiVincenzo said. 

“One of the main features of the Park will be the Essex County Robert J. O’Toole Community Center, named for retired Mayor and Councilman Robert J. O’Toole. Mr. O’Toole has served his community for half a century and was a staunch advocate for limiting development on the property.
​We can think of no more appropriate person after whom to name the building."

“I am really humbled and honored by all this.
I want to thank the County Executive for his promise of creating
​a new park in Cedar Grove and for following through to ensure it happens.
This is a great honor,” Robert O’Toole said. ​

“My family and I are deeply honored to have the new
community center in Cedar Grove named after our father, Robert O’Toole.
Ever since moving his young family to Cedar Grove in 1962,
my father has devoted his life to service to our town.
We are deeply proud that his contributions to our beloved hometown will forever be immortalized on our new community center,” said Senator O’Toole. 

​“The preservation of open space is important to an area as developed as Essex County and Cedar Grove. We hope that individuals and families come here and enjoy this park,” Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin said. 
“I also want to pay my respects to Robert O’Toole.
When you look at him and his family, and their contributions to their township, county and state, naming this building after him is a fitting honor." 

“You can see the great example of serving the community
that Mr. O’Toole instilled in his family,”
NJ State Senator and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.
“The 77-acre park preserves critical open space in a suburban neighborhood."

“This is a great and well-deserved tribute to Mr. O’Toole,
​who has been a great civic leader in Cedar Grove for many years,”
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said. 
“Preserving this land as open space will benefit generations to come."

“It is with pride and pleasure that the Board of Freeholders
partners with the County Executive on projects such as this.
The creation of open space and protecting the environment
are important issues and this park is an example of different
levels of government working together for the betterment of the community,”
said Freeholder Vice President Brendan Gill.

“Our Essex County parks have become sanctuaries.
They are important because people need tranquil places where they can
escape and relax,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.
“Mr. O’Toole has served his country honorably in the military
​and through his community service to the township and the county."

“Mr. O’Toole has truly left his mark on our community
and his name certainly has become synonymous with community service,”
Cedar Grove Mayor Joseph Chiusolo said.
“This community center will become the pulse of Cedar Grove
and it is a well-deserved honor for Mr. O’Toole,” added the Mayor,
who was joined by Cedar Grove Councilmen
​Romeo Longo, Peter Tanella and Harry Kumburis. 

​Essex County Cedar Grove Park is the fifth new park to be added to the Essex County Park System since 2007. The 11-acre Essex County Kip’s Castle Park in Montclair and Verona was preserved in 2007, the 10-acre Presby Memorial Iris Gardens was preserved in 2009, the 2.7-acre Essex County Veterans Memorial Park in the Essex County Government Complex in Newark was opened in 2009 and the 12.3-acre Essex County Riverfront Park was created in 2012. 

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, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.

“As elected leaders, it is our responsibility
to promote projects that stimulate economic development,
job creation and quality of life, " DiVincenzo's letter read.
"We believe the development of a casino in Newark or Essex County
is an undertaking that will spur the continued revitalization and
strengthen the stability of the County and the state’s largest city.
We request that you consider Newark and Essex
as a possible location for a casino in Northern New Jersey."

“A casino also will help continue to transform Newark
and Essex County into a destination,” the letter read.
“With the Prudential Center, NJPAC, Newark Museum, Symphony Hall and WBGO already established in the Downtown,
we already have the cultural infrastructure in place to attract diverse crowds
for athletic events, concerts and entertainment shows.
In fact, while recently I attended an ice show featuring characters from “Frozen” with my granddaughter at The Prudential Center,
it made me feel proud that I was able to enjoy such a high-quality event
right here in Newark and Essex County."

“The development of a casino most definitely will put people back to work. Despite the economic recovery on Wall Street, Newark and Essex County continue to have among the highest rates of unemployment," DiVincenzo stated. "A project of this magnitude most definitely will create
numerous construction jobs, but it will also create hundreds of permanent jobs. Establishing new, recurring streams of revenue will help the city
overcome its financial difficulties and contribute to our economic stability,” 

Credit: Glen Frieson

Credit: Glen Frieson

Credit: Glen Frieson

“The center room of the Verona Park Boathouse was such an under-utilized area because it was so dark and isolated," DiVincenzo explained.
"Adding new windows and installing the French doors
brings more light into the room and makes that section of the building
more inviting and available for additional activities."

Credit: Glen Frieson

Credit: Glen Frieson

Credit: Glen Frieson

“On behalf of Verona, we’d like to thank the County Executive
for what he’s done in Verona Park and in all the parks throughout the county. The upgrades make us all proud,” said Verona Councilman Frank Sapienza.

Credit: Glen Frieson

“We are tremendously happy that this building was renovated,
it will make visits to the park much more enjoyable for the public,”
Verona Park Conservancy President James McGregor said.
“We appreciate the attention the County has given
to make Verona Park such a beautiful place
and the way they have stood behind us through the years."

Further Information Essex County  County Executive: Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. 465 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd Newark, NJ 07102 973-621-4400 Website

Credit: Glen Frieson

Credit: Glen Frieson

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Credit: Glen Frieson

Credit: Glen Frieson

“Our programs are expanding rapidly,” Spencer said. 
"We had one education building and last week we opened our second.
We had one parking deck and today we are starting to build our second. The parking facility is definitely needed."

Credit: Glen Frieson

“With Turtle Back Zoo as our anchor and new attractions
like the paddle boating and 1.7-mile walking path at the Orange Reservoir,
our Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex has become
a regional destination for people seeking leisure,
recreation and educational activities,” DiVincenzo said. 

“It’s a great feeling to see all the people who come here.
I am truly amazed at what has happened here because of the vision of Joe DiVincenzo,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.
“For the next several months while construction is occurring it will be a challenge, but our officers are up to the challenge. It’s worth it."

Credit: Glen Frieson

"Building this parking structure is a massive undertaking 
that will create disruptions and worsen a parking situation that is already bad. We ask for the public’s understanding and patience
while we work to improve our parking accommodations,”
the county executive said.