A Message from Mayor Mahr

Earlier today, the state reported another 2,633 COVID-19 positive test results, bringing the statewide total to 118,652. Union County currently has a total of 12,578 confirmed cases and the Westfield Regional Board of Health reports that as of today our total in Fanwood remains at 69 confirmed cases.

I’d like to provide a quick update on the Census.  Fanwoodians are doing great with a response rate of 72% – significantly higher than the national rate from 2010 – and I encourage everyone who has not yet file to do so now.  If we can achieve a 100% response rate we can expect federal and state policies to address our needs.

I also want to thank all Fanwoodians for being so diligent in adhering to the stay-at-home orders of the state. It’s because of your efforts that we are slowing the spread of the virus and, in doing so, helping our healthcare community. Thank you so much for all you do.

If you are having issues getting your unemployment benefits sorted out, or are having a food emergency I urge you to reach out to me directly at mayor@fanwoodnj.org.  We are here to help.

– Mayor Colleen Mahr

DO YOU KNOW A FANWOOD HERO?

Has someone in your life gone above and beyond to serve others during this crisis? Please continue to email me (mayor@fanwoodnj.org) with photos and stories about our front line heroes. We want to publicly acknowledge their sacrifice and dedication!

An Important Message from Union County and Atlantic Medical System

 

Indications are that Northern New Jersey appears to be past the peak, with a current patient load at Overlook of 537 patients, at the peak, there were 840 patients.

With the 2nd largest hospitalized population in the nation, Union county ranks fourth in the state, with over 12,000 cases.

They have found that 80% of patients with COVID don’t experience a huge medical event – in fact, some have zero symptoms; the 20% who do get sick get very sick – and 30-35% of these 20% end up in critical care and the majority of this group ends up on ventilators.

Testing is the next hurdle and unfortunately, the notion that if you want a test you get a test is not true, although they are available at point-of-care. Medical officials  continue to predict that Fall and Winter 2020 are going to be tough, and encourage people to:

  • Follow current practices for hand washing, mask-wearing, and social distancing
  • Control what you can by getting a flu shot
  • Seek care if you need it. It is safe to go to the ER and/or dial 911. Hospitals are safe.

An Important Message from the Fanwood Police Department

Grandparent scams have been around for a long time. However, scammers are coming up with a new twist based on the coronavirus. COVID-19 grandparent scams are playing on the fears many people have right now, that they might lose a loved one.

Who Is It Targeting: Phone and email users.

What Is It: A grandparent scam is a phishing scam that claims your family member is in trouble.

What Are They After: Scammers are posing as grandchildren who claim they are sick and need money to pay their hospital bills or a loved one is in prison and needs to be bailed out. The information is easily gleaned from social media accounts, giving the caller a name that the person knows to use in their scam. In the current times of the coronavirus, COVID-19 grandparent scams can be particularly compelling.

How You Can Avoid It:

  • Never make a payment over the phone to anyone you do not know or were not expecting to hear from.
  • Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is.
  • If you receive a call like one of these, say that you have to go to the store or bank to secure the money and have them call you back; during that time contact Fanwood Police Department at (908) 322-5000.

Long Term Care Reporting Available

Understanding the need for the public to receive accurate up to date information on long term care facilities (LTCF), today the Westfield Regional Health Department shared with us a new portal that has been created by the NJ Department of Health concerning COVID 19 and LTCF.

NJ DOH now mandates that all long term care facilities publish information about their facility to the online portal by 2 pm every day. This information will then be used to populate information on the state website.  If you are looking for information specific to the LTCFs this may be helpful. Here is the link to the new portal.

NEW HOURS FOR THE UNION COUNTY COVID-19 DRIVE-THRU TEST CENTER

Effective today, the hours of operation at the testing site at Kean University will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information please visit https://ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/testing-center/ or call (908) 214-7107.

Virtual Food Drive Needs Support

The Fanwood Community Foundation (FCF) has launched a virtual food drive to help local food banks. The FCF will match these virtual donations up to $2,020 but would love to surpass that goal!

The FCF has been supporting the community through donations from local donors – individuals, families, and businesses. The FCF provides these public-spirited donors with a vehicle for using their gifts in the best possible way now and in the future, thereby providing for inevitable change.

The Foundation uses a portion of the income from these invested donations to provide grants and support to the local community, as the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. The FCF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization making your donations tax-deductible.

To make a donation, visit https://cfbnj.org/event/fanwood-community-foundation-virtual-food-drive/.

Fanwood Recreation Goes Virtual

Fanwood Recreation is adding more programs to its Spring ONLINE schedule!

Beginning this coming Wednesday, April 29, children ages 11–15 can register for the 3-session Babysitting Certification program.

Also beginning this coming Wednesday and Thursday, Fanwood Recreation offers these 6-session academic enrichment programs: K–2nd Grade Reading, English Essay Writing Class (grades 5–12), and Study Skills Class (grades 6–12).

For more information about and to register for all these programs, please go to fanwoodrecreation.org.