Watson said the districts coronavirus response team has been meeting almost three times a week, and more recently, daily for the last three or four weeks.

Watson said the district will distribute older electronic devices for students who need them to use with the online curriculum, and that the district is working on alternate solutions for students without internet access.

While the district updated families, child care providers are still waiting on a directive and struggling to make the decision about whether they should close or stay open.

BriAnne Moline, the owner of Wild Wonders Early Learning, said she did not want to close her home-based facility, but as a pregnant mother, she has her own health concerns, in addition to concerns about the safety of her staff, and also her family, who live in the home that houses the program. Moline decided Tuesday to close by the end of the week.

Fort Courage Child Care, which normally provides care for about 70 children, also will close for two weeks, said the program's executive director Katie West. Similarly, the ASUM child care center on the University of Montana campus has closed. Kristal Burns, of Missoula Community School, said their facility closed in conjunction with public schools.

Some larger child care centers have opted to close down or cut back on the number of children they serve.

See more here:
Child care facilities question whether to remain open or close - The Missoulian

Tim Killian, a spokesman for Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., prepares to give a daily briefing to reporters on Wednesday. Ted S. Warren/AP hide caption

Tim Killian, a spokesman for Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., prepares to give a daily briefing to reporters on Wednesday.

It's been two weeks since the public learned about a deadly outbreak of coronavirus at Life Care Center of Kirkland a long-term care and nursing facility in Washington state and some families wait on edge over loved ones who remain there.

As of Friday afternoon, only about a third of the 120 residents who were living at the facility in mid-February remain. There are 25 people associated with Life Care who have died after being infected with coronavirus. Other residents are in the hospital.

As more nursing facilities in Washington report cases of coronavirus, the death toll at Life Care serves as an example of the vulnerability of the elderly in the growing pandemic.

"I can stay here"

Two years ago after suffering a minor stroke, June Liu had no interest in moving into a long-term care facility.

The now 93-year-old lived alone, rode the bus and shunned the use of a walker. But Liu's daughter Su Wilson says it didn't take long for Life Care Center of Kirkland to become her mother's home.

"She kept telling me they are very nice to me, they are good, I can stay here," Wilson says.

Wilson and her husband Arnie live 10 minutes away from the Kirkland facility.

Several times a week, she'd bring her mother over to their bustling home where chickens roam around the yard, to see her great-grandchildren. On Sundays, her mother would be ready at 9:30 a.m. for church.

"It's just like life had such joyful meaning to her," Wilson says. "I would always laugh and say, 'mother you are going to live longer than me.'"

Wilson holds her smartphone and scrolls through photos of her mother out with their family some taken just a few months ago.

"We went out to the Chinese restaurant, we were all eating together, the whole family," Wilson says with a smile.

Wilson can't make sense of how these happy routines could change so fast.

Last month, she and other families discovered coronavirus had begun to sweep through this suburban community on the banks of Lake Washington.

Wilson's mother and many others who lived and worked at Life Care eventually tested positive for the virus.

"As soon as she [found] out she's positive, she no longer [wanted] to talk on the phone," Wilson says. "It [was] hard to understand her on the phone... her voice [was] so weak."

Wilson worries her mother's health is deteriorating. While she believed the nurses were doing the best they could, her mother was isolated: stuck in a room, unable to visit with her family and only able to understand a little bit of English. Liu watched other residents being wheeled away on stretchers, unlikely to return.

"I think [she was] in shock and also to find out she's going to die," Wilson says. "I think she [knows] because she's clear."

Wilson finds herself in a heartrending predicament as her mother lingers at the facility until she's no longer contagious.

No hospital beds

Outside Life Care Center, neighbors wrap blue ribbons around pine trees and flowers frame the welcome sign.

Bridget Parkhill's 76-year-old mother, Susan Hailey, was living there during rehab after knee replacement.

Parkhill says her mother went to the hospital when her symptoms worsened and tested positive for the virus. Once she was stabilized, Hailey was then brought back to Life Care.

"The hospitals don't have any beds for people who don't have acute respiratory distress," Parkhill says.

Parkill and her sister, Carmen Gray, wait outside her mother's window in the cold to check on her.

"We're hoping that mom is strong and going to come out of this on the other side OK," Gray says.

She worries the facility's staff are overstretched, and her mother isn't able to move around or bathe properly.

'We felt like it was a death sentence"

Life Care does not prohibit anyone from leaving, but families can't necessarily bring their loved ones home and run the risk of exposing others to the virus.

"There is nowhere else for these patients to go, it has been deemed that it's best to keep them on site and being treated here," says Timothy Killian, a public information liaison for Life Care Center of Kirkland.

Killian says local hospitals won't admit patients unless they have severe symptoms and other nursing home facilities are "unwilling" to take them because of their exposure to coronavirus.

And families aren't necessarily equipped to care for their relatives outside of the facility.

Laura Rightmyer says her family decided to pull her 93-year-old mother out of Life Care as the situation grew more dire.

"We felt like it was a death sentence for my mom... that her chances of getting it were obviously great," Rightmyer says.

Now her mother is living with her.

Rightmyer, who's a nurse practitioner, says she's doing better and doesn't appear to have the virus.

"I think we made the right decision for ourselves and for our mom," Rightmyer says.

Rightmyer says it's now proving difficult to find a doctor who will see her mother because she was associated with Life Care.

Su Wilson sends her mother homecooked meals and writes cards to cheer her up.

She hasn't been in the same room with her mother for more than three weeks.

"We worry about my mother, and I just feel like everybody [has] to die," Wilson says. "She [lived] a happy long life."

Wilson says she doesn't blame anyone.

"I just want to hold her hand," she says. "She's not frightened back in the loneliness."

Link:
Coronavirus Hit This Long-Term Care Facility Hard, But Moving Residents Isn't Easy - NPR

Say they did not have a mortgage and, after closing and moving costs, clear $480,000, which they invest in a portfolio divided equally between stocks and bonds. Their investments generate an inflation-adjusted $19,200 a year, based on a 4 percent distribution, so although they are spending more each year on rent, their annual cash flow rises by $7,200.

If this couple had a mortgage, the improvement in cash flow from renting could be even larger, Mr. Hopkins said. They eliminate the mortgage payments and other ownership costs and can invest the equity.

That is a huge benefit for someone who has less than an ideal amount of money saved up in retirement accounts and is likely relying heavily on Social Security, Mr. Hopkins said.

Retirees should also consider changes in the tax laws. Many home buyers who in the past would have deducted mortgage interest on a new home will be better off taking the standard deduction.

In 2020, married couples filing jointly can claim a standard deduction of $24,800, plus $1,300 for each spouse 65 and older. Congress also replaced the unlimited federal deduction for state and local taxes with a $10,000 annual cap. Residents in high-tax states, such as New York, Connecticut and California, are hit the hardest.

To help with a decision, retirees could ask a financial adviser to review the pros and cons of each option, and the impact on retirement savings and spending. Retirees can also use The New York Timess buy-versus-rent calculator to work out relative costs.

Heres how the calculator works: Say a retiree is thinking of moving to Charlotte, N.C., and has a choice between renting a recently advertised two-bedroom apartment or buying a similar one in the same building. The condo is priced at $349,000 while the monthly rent runs $1,650.

View original post here:
Youre Retired. Should You Rent or Buy Your Home? - The New York Times

Consumer healthcare company Reckitt Benckiser is among the FMCG giants working around the clock to ensure a constant supply of hygiene products to Australian retailers amid growing fears over global health pandemic, COVID-19.

In recent weeks, consumers have flooded supermarkets to stock up on healthcare product and household essentials, leaving shelves of most supermarkets stripped bare for hours on end.

Glenn Cochran, regional directorRBHealthANZ told Inside FMCG that the business is working globally to ensure supplies to retailers and end-consumers are impacted as little as possible during this volatile time.

We have seen an unprecedented increase in demand for a range of products since COVID-19 began, he said. We have also seendemand increase across otherRBHealthproducts including Dettol household cleaners and personal wash solutions, as well as Nurofen and Nurofen for Children products.

We areworking around the clock with our various global teams to provide Australians with hand hygiene and analgesic products.

Demand surged following therecommendation from the WorldHealthOrganisation(WHO)to practice good hand hygienebyfrequently washing hands using soap and water andbyusing an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, Cochran explained.

With consumers growing increasingly anxious over the limited access to health products, Cochran said the company is doing its best to ensure fair distribution.

We are maintaining ongoing conversations throughout our supply chain toensure ongoing supply is shared equitably among retailers so that consumers have accessibility to the available stock, while weexpedite anincrease in production.

He also highlighted the importance of educating consumers on health and self-care during times like this.

RBHealths mission is to makeaccesstothe highest quality hygiene and wellnesssolutions for all Australiansa right not a privilege.Our goal is forRBHealthbrands, including Dettol, to use its brand footprint to educate consumers on self-care and we will continue to do so throughout this current situation and for the long term, he added.

Dettol runs a HealthyHabits school education initiative to teach kids good hygiene practices.

Bubs Australia has also applied additional measures to its supply chain for its infant formula product range such as Bubs Goat Milk formula and Bubs Organic Cow Milk formula to meet increased demand from parents who need to secure supplies for their babies.

We have greatly increased our capacity and are working to expand our inventory cover and meet the supply needs of our retail partners across both goat milk and organic grass-fed cows milk-based formula, moving to two shifts per day, with capacity to move to three shifts if required, said Carr.

The infant formula maker is working with retailers such as Coles, Woolworths, Big W and Chemist Warehouse to ensure the supply of Bubs Organic 365 days Grass Fed Infant Formula range and Bubs Australian Goat Milk infant formula range.

Carr said Bubs has extended free shipping offer for all orders of baby food and infant formula via their website.

As always, our first concern is for the health and safety of the Bubs Family. For our Bubs Corporate office, we have implemented arrangements to underpin business continuity and the continued health and well being of our people to the greatest extent possible in these testing times, Carrsaid.

Earlier this month, toilet paper manufacturers including Kimberly-Clark were the first to ramp up production to meet the surge in demand from panicked consumers.

Supermarkets were forced to suspend online services this week as shortages hampered their ability to fulfill orders.

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Reckitt Benckiser working 'around the clock' to maintain supply of hygiene products - Inside FMCG

I watched in horror as the half cup of uncooked Jasmine rice slipped from my hands and scattered across the carpet floor. The metal measuring cup ricocheted off the ground, projecting rice in every which way. This was my first attempt to prepare a Zen cuisine meal and, from a Zen perspective, I was having an abysmal start. My mind raced to my closet where my vacuum sat waiting and without hesitation my legs meandered to the corner. It was the quick and effortless solution. The uncooked rice that laid on the ground had already changed names, from food to trash. How did throwing away perfectly edible food become so natural to me?

That label-change is all too familiar in our consumerist world. The moment we dislike food or feel full, the excess is considered trash. The USDA reports that in the U.S., 30 to 40 percent of the food supply becomes food waste. Thats over $160 billion worth of wholesome food that could help feed the world is instead thrown out each year in the U.S. alone. Once again, we choose the quick and effortless solution to deal with our excess of food.

At that moment a quote from Instruction for the Tenzo, a Buddhist historical text I had been reading by Zen Master Dgen began to echo through my head.

Treat food as if they are your own eyeballs.

I acknowledge that the saying is both striking and quirky; however, it holds a short and powerful message. Food should be respected and cared for, not wasted. Uncooked rice that falls to the ground shouldnt become trash; it remains as food and something to be treasured. The root of this saying comes from Zen teachings; however my imagination at the time interpreted it more directly and flew to a mental image of a small suburban town of hazel-eyed residents being terrorized and sucked into the sky by a vacuum cleaner. I quickly shrugged it off. Maybe the thing I should be worried about is how I (and many others) have been conditioned to view excess food as trash.

I got down on my knees and began collecting the tiny eyeballs, piece by piece. I scanned the floor; my attention narrowed as I pinched and plucked from the tightly corded carpet. My movement became rhythmic and soothing. The experience reminded me of weeding. I once despised the task as my parents dragged me outside to the family garden to remove blades of grass from the mulchy soil. However, as I got older it became a practice I learned to appreciate. Both while weeding and rice collecting, I enjoyed slowly creating order out of chaos. Once again, the measuring cup was filled with rice.

For the last several weeks, I have reflected on the principles of Zen Buddhism. Zen philosophy emphasizes mindfulness, choosing to act thoughtfully and not impulsively, a life of meditation and reflection, acknowledging the interconnectedness between all forms of existence and living in simplicity and tranquility. These ideas may sound convoluted or foreign; however, they are applicable to how we treat unwanted food. Zen Buddhism asserts a holistic dogma of the world, stating that all actions and events are inherently connected. It is understood that the food on our plate is not only there to feed ourselves, but to feed all beings on Earth.

In Instruction for the Tenzo, Dgen describes the role of the Tenzo, which is the position of head cook. He claims that the Tenzo is the most important position held within the monastery and emphasizes the attention to detail and respect for food needed to perform the job. When explaining how to cook with varying ingredients, he says, your attitude towards things should not be contingent upon their quality.

We spend most of our lives preparing, washing, cooking, gathering and eating food. Food is a direct reflection on how we treat ourselves and the ecological impact of our daily lives. It is important to respect food in the same way we respect ourselves. When we waste or throw out food, it reveals the disconnect between ourselves and nature, the disconnect between us and the resources and labor needed to transport the food onto our plate. Zen philosophy challenges that disconnect and forces us to acknowledge that the food we waste could easily fill the stomach of another being in need.

I hope you reconsider the next time you have leftover food on your plate or when uncooked hazel-eyeballs cover your living room floor. Resist the dumpster and vacuum cleaner. The unused is not trash it is food. If we hope to create a future free from malnutrition, starvation and food insecurity, we first must look inward and cultivate that change from within ourselves. It begins with our food.

For students that want to discover more ways they can reduce their own food waste, please reach out to the Cornell Food Recovery Network via cornellfrn@gmail.com or on their website cornellfoodrecoverynetwork.com!

Danyeh Gutema is a junior in the College of Engineering. He can be reached at dlg96@cornell.edu.

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Food Ethics | Zen Instructions on How to Treat Your Eyeballs - Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun

Mark Musella, the Bergen County Prosecutor is interviewed at Bergen Prosecutor's Office in Hackensack. NorthJersey.com

When Fair Lawn police arrested "Elizabeth" on drug chargesin November 2018, she thought it meant another skipped court date, more unpaid fines and another warrant to haunt her.

The 27-year old fromOakland, whowas grantedan alias for this story to preserve her anonymity, had grown used to trouble. Addicted to opioids since age 17, her life over the followingdecade became a turnstile of arrests, rehab stays and stints on the street.

At that point I was numb to it, she said.

But this time, authorities gave her a different option: She couldenroll in apilot program that offered to drop the charges as long as she stuck with a treatment plan designedto fight her addiction.

Dubbed the "Fair Lawn Initiative," the year-old program is the first of its kind in New Jersey, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. Open to those arrested in the borough on low-level municipal charges, itconnects offenders with a patient navigator and recovery specialist who walkthem through how to get clean and stay there.

If the offender stays withprogram for six months, authorities expunge the charges. But they can also reinstate them if police arrest the person again.

Until now, that kind of localdiversion plan did not exist in New Jersey, the prosecutor's office said. But it's a big part of county prosecutor Mark Musella's plan to fight the stubbornly persistent opioid epidemic.

"The goal of this program is to save lives," Musella said in an interviewlast month.

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Thats critical in Bergen County, which saw 142 drug overdose deaths an average ofalmost three a week in 2019, Musella said. There were 662 reportedoverdoses last year, and police used the overdose reversal drug naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, 336 times.

Elizabethwas one of 20 low-level offenders to enrollin the Fair Lawn Initiative last June.Nine months later, she remains drug-free and is among 10 people who haveeither completed the program or are expected to do so,Musellasaid. The 50% success rate is roughly on par with statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that show between 40% and 60% of those in recovery relapse at some point.

But even those who fall out benefit, saidElsbethCrusius, Fair Lawn's municipal prosecutor.

"Not everyone is ready for treatment, but even the 50% who did not complete the program were educated by the counselors and given information about the resources available to them that they may have otherwise not known," she said.

For those who stick with it like Elizabeth treatment offers more hope than the court system, said Elizabeth Rebein, the prosecutor's spokeswoman.

"Without the diversion, she would have gone to Fair Lawn and gotten a fine and other penalties ... and where would she be?" asked Rebein. "She would be trying to pay that off. Instead her energy was spent on her recovery and trying to build her own life."

Elie Honig, a former state and federal prosecutor who now headsthe Rutgers Institute for Secure Communities, called it an intriguing initiative that couldreduce recidivism.

"It seems like a fair deal," Honig said. "If you go into rehab and successfully complete it, and the charges are low-level and not violent, why not drop them? Itpushes people who have addiction problems toward getting treatment."

It also fits into the state'santi-opioid strategy of attacking drug mills, suing prescription drug companies and pushing those already addicted intotreatment centers instead of jail cells.

Gurbir Grewal, the state attorney general, started similar programs when he served as the Bergen County prosecutor from 2016 to 2018. Theyinclude Operation Helping Hand, whichsteers peoplearrested for buying heroin toward treatment,and the Heroin Addiction Recovery Team,which encourages users to turn in their drugs and seek help atselect police departments before they get arrested.

Fighting addiction: Bergen woman raises an army of volunteers for program to fight addiction among students

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Musella has built off that foundation, continuingHelping Hand operations and expandingthe recovery team to 10 police departments from three.

Grewal commended those efforts.

"In the minutes and hours that follow a drug possession arrest when users recognize they are at a crossroads we can give them the opportunity to choose the path of treatment and recovery," the attorney general said in a statement. "We have broken the cycle for hundreds of individuals already, and through programs like the one in Bergen County, we can save more."

The prosecutor's office developed the diversionprogram in 2018. Itpicked Fair Lawn for the trial run because the borough borders Paterson,a center for drug-dealing in the region, and often deals with the spillover effects, including overdoses. Musellafound willing partners in Fair Lawns police department and courts.

The defense counsel, municipal prosecutor or county prosecutor finds eligible offenders by looking foreither drug possession charges or other offenses that hintat a drug problem, like shoplifting, Rebein said.

When participants arrive in court, drug counselors are there tosteer them toward recovery programs. The court also appoints a public defenderas a legal advocate.

Defendantsspeak witha patient navigator andrecovery specialist fromThe Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources,part of the Paramus nonprofitChildren's Aid and Family Services.

The navigator, who files weekly reports with the court,builds aprogram thatcould involve detox, in-patient rehabilitation or out-patient care, Rebein said. The recoveryspecialist holds the persons hand through the process, supporting them when they need it most.

Elizabeth quit opioids just before joining, so her patient navigator skipped rehabilitation and set her up with John Paul Jurbala, a recovery specialist. The pair spoke constantly in-person, over the phone and through text messages. Jurbala even served as her temporary sponsor for Alcoholics Anonymous when she had no one else.

Jurbala said they didn't talk about drugs. They talked about life, about how to get along with her family, about the pregnancy she found out about months earlier while jailed on unrelated chargesin Riker's Island in New York City.

"It was crucial, it really was," Elizabeth said.I didnt know how to live. I didnt know how to be a functional person in society He was a big emotional support for me.

A pair of state grants worth about $162,000 pay for the program. The Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus provides beds and other services to those withno insurance.

Musella has already tweaked the programby telling police tooffer admission right after an arrest instead of weeks later in court.

"They're most vulnerable [then] they could die before they get to court," Musella said."The earlier we can connect them to treatment, the more likely the success.

The borough police department supports the initiative, said aspokesman, Sgt. Brian Metzler.

"All these people need help more than they need to be incarcerated," Metzler said. "Sometimes they just need somebody to direct them where to go. And that's where we come in."

Eventually, Musella would like to expand it to other towns.For Elizabeth, it's already had a life-changing impact.

She has been clean for a year and spends her days taking care of her now seven-month old daughter, she said. She became religious, and is thankful for the arrest that helped her slip addictions grip.

"It helped me change my ways," she said. "I definitely would say I'm grateful for the way things happened. Because I don't know what the other outcome would have been."

Steve Janoski covers law enforcement for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important newsabout those who safeguard your local community,please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email:janoski@northjersey.comTwitter:@stevejanoski

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After 142 overdose deaths, Bergen tests program to fight addiction with treatment, not jail - NorthJersey.com

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa., March 2, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) Mole and vole damage to lawns, trees and shrubs is common in Pennsylvania, but identifying the difference between the two can be confusing. Each of these two pests can cause mild to serious damage on a homeowners property, and late winter is when the effects are often seen. The experts at Giroud Tree and Lawn explain how to identify the difference between the two and what homeowners can do to reverse the damage.

PHOTO CAPTION: Voles damage lawns as they carve out runways in the grass.

How to Identify Vole Damage on a Lawn

Voles, otherwise known as Meadow Mice, are small rodents with very active lifestyles in the winter. They live under dense shrubs and mulch and other hiding places like wood or rock piles. Voles eat grass, and in winter, the snow provides the perfect cover for voles to venture from their burrows in search of food without fear of predators.Homeowners can identify vole damage after snow melts by the telltale chiseled pathways through the lawn. Voles create these runways under the cover of snow where predators cant catch them.

How to Identify Mole Damage on a Lawn

Like voles, moles can do a lot of damage to a lawn. However, rather than pathways carved into the grass at the surface, moles tunnel underground andleave piles of soil that act as air ventsin their tunnels.

If you have a lawn that is really infested with moles, you can actually feel it as you walk across the grass, explains Giroud Lawn Care Technician, Paul Ruffenach. The ground will feel soft because the tunnels have been dug through under your feet.

Damage to Trees and Shrubs

Although lawn damage caused by voles and moles is very easy to see, what can often go unnoticed until its too late is damage to trees and shrubs. These invasive little creatures feast on the bark of certain trees and shrubs.

Both voles and moles will chew on the roots, trunks and branches of some shrubs because they are feeding on the starches and the sugars to stay alive in winter, explains Drew Slousky, ISA Certified Giroud Arborist and Vice President. If they chew the bark completely off, they could kill a shrub or a tree.

Single stemmed trees like Dogwoods and Crabapples will likely die if voles or moles have girdled the tree by eating the bark completely around the trunk. Multi-stemmed shrubs like Juniper, rhododendron, Viburnum, Euonymous (Burning Bush) and Azalea can survive. Professional pruning or fertilization will help with recovery.

How to Protect a Property from Mole and Vole Damage

Take away hiding spots! Moles and voles burrow under anything that may act as a cover in order to keep out of the watchful eyes of predators.Snow, underbrush and overgrown ground cover are all perfect hiding spots.

As the weather warms, mulch also becomes a great cover for them.Giroud always stresses the importance of never piling mulch against the trunk of a tree or shrubsbecause it can lead to girdling roots. Garden pests like moles and voles are just another reason why proper mulching is important. Creating a space for these rodents to burrow is an invitation for them to chew on the bark of trees and shrubs!

Check out this video from Giroud Arborist, Rob Nagy, which shows how he identified that a rodent was causing an ornamental holly to decline: https://youtu.be/8Ogfh-Yi6Mk

Take Action Now to Correct Mole and Vole Damage

The good news is most lawns, trees and shrubs will recover from minimal mole or vole damage. For lawns:

Getting on a great lawn care treatment and fertilization program is a step in the right direction because it will strengthen the grass roots and give the lawn a fighting chance against attacks from mole and vole damage and also other pests, insects and diseases!

If homeowners see signs of pest infestation on trees and shrubs, such as chewed trunks and branches, leaf dieback and discoloration, they should have them inspected by an ISA Certified Arborist who may recommend pruning out the damaged branches. Also, a deep root vitamin fertilizer treatment will strengthen the plant and aid in its recovery.

Giroud Tree and Lawn specializes in tree service, lawn care and mosquito and tick control programs that make customers love doing business with the company since 1974. Serving Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the company offers professional tree and lawn evaluation, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease control, fertilizing, stump removal, traditional and 100% organic lawn programs and mosquito and tick control. Giroud Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and have the knowledge and experience required to properly diagnose, treat and maintain trees and lawn health.

The company is Accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association and Better Business Bureau. The Giroud Treework for Charity program donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in the Companys service area.

For more information, visit the company website at http://www.giroudtree.com or call 215-682-7704.

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/8Ogfh-Yi6Mk

News Source: Giroud Tree and Lawn

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Giroud Tree and Lawn explains how to identify the difference between mole and vole damage on lawns, trees and shrubs - Send2Press Newswire

WEST TRENTON, NJ The first case of coronavirus in New Jersey has been discovered in Bergen County, although state officials are not announcing where in Bergen County.

Governor Phil Murphy, Acting Governor Sheila Oliver, and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli made the announcement on Wednesday evening, March 4, calling it the first presumptive positive case of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, in New Jersey.

The individual, a male in his 30s, is hospitalized in Bergen County and has been hospitalized since March 3.

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My Administration is working aggressively to keep residents safe and contain the spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey, Murphy said.We take this situation very seriously and have been preparing for this for weeks. I urge residents to remain calm and use resources from the New Jersey Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control to prepare and prevent the spread of infection. Safeguarding the publics health is one of my highest priorities and my Administration is prepared to respond swiftly to any additional positive cases of COVID-19 here in New Jersey.

Our Administration has been coordinatingacross all levels of government, and with our federal partners, to ensure that we are active and engaged with preparedness and response plan,said Acting Governor Oliver.We urge all New Jersey residents to follow guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement regarding the first New Jersey case:

I am monitoring this presumptive positive case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Bergen County, and I continue to be in close contact with hospital officials and local and state leaders on the matter. Im continuing to work with North Jersey hospitals, health facilities, and communities, and Ive offered support of whatever they need to treat patients afflicted with this virus and to help make sure this outbreak is contained. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan emergency legislation to immediately address the coronavirus outbreak and help keep North Jersey families safe. This bill provides emergency funding for a robust response to the crisis, including support for state and local health agencies, and vaccine and treatment development. The Senate is expected to vote on this legislation in coming days.

The presumptive positive result came from a sample tested by the New Jersey Department of Health at the New Jersey Public Health Environmental Laboratories(PHEL)and is now being submitted to the CDC for confirmatory testing. State and local public health authorities are proceeding with the public health investigation and response activities as if this was a confirmed case.The hospital is working closely with the Department of Health and continues to follow all infectious disease protocols. Working with the local health department, the New Jersey Department of Health is tracing close contacts of this individual and is taking appropriate public health actions. The investigation is underway and more information will be released when it becomes available.

Any case of novel coronavirus in our state is concerning, however most New Jersey residents are at very low risk of contracting COVID-19,said New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli.The Department is working closely with the CDC and local health officials to respond to this case and is monitoring the evolving situation across the nation.

The New Jersey Department of Health has been working to prepare for and respond to the evolving novel coronavirus since early January. The Department shared state and CDC guidance with hospitals, local health officials, K-12 schools, universities and businesses; established a novel coronaviruswebpage; partnered with the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) to open a call center (1-800-222-1222) for the public; hosted stakeholder teleconferences; and continues coordinating state efforts weekly with the New Jersey Coronavirus Task Force chaired by Commissioner Persichilli.

To date, the 24/7 NJPIES hotline (1-800-222-1222) has received more than1,195calls from the public and can accommodate callers in multiple languages.

Clickherefor more information on novel coronavirus.

Read more from the original source:
First Case of Coronavirus Discovered in Bergen County, NJ - TAPinto.net

Published: 3/4/2020 5:33:42 PM

Smoking Cessation: Led by Tim Sweeney, tobacco treatment specialist. Meets Mondays, 6 to 7 p.m. Athol Hospitals cafeteria.

Food Pantry: The community food pantry is open the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The pantry is in the basement of Dickinson Memorial Library, 115 Main St.

The Cellar Closet at Central Congregational Church of Orange, 95 South Main St., will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers have been accepting and arranging clothing for women, men and children, along with jewelry and accessories, shoes and household items. All items are reasonably priced and special sales are offered occasionally. For information, call 978-544-6895 or email orangecongregationalchurch@gmail.com.

Arms Academy Reunion: The Reunion Committee for the Arms Academy Alumni Association will meet Tuesday at 2 p.m. to continue planning the June 27 all-class reunion. The meeting will take place at the Shelburne Historical Society, 33 Severence St. All Arms alumni who can lend a hand in planning the June reunion are urged to attend. Questions may be directed to Muriel (Bolduc) Zraunig, president, by phone at 413-773-3855 or 413-522-3167, or by email mzraunig@comcast.net.

Serendipity Shop: Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Congregational Church basement. Mens, womens and childrens clothing, shoes and sneakers. Most items $1. Mens suits and all coats, $3. Womens suits, $2. Donations accepted. Proceeds to benefit the church. 413-665-2890.

Franklin Area Survival Center: 96 Fourth St., 413-863-9549. The thrift store, which is open to the public and helps finance the food pantry, is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The food pantry is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In an emergency, such as a fire or flood, the center will supply needed clothing, linens and food to help the disaster victims.

Helpful Programs at LifePath: LifePath provides assistance with light homemaking, home-delivered meals, personal care and adaptive equipment. Caregivers can take a break to de-stress with LifePaths respite services. In addition, the Consumer Directed Care Program allows elders in need to select their own caregiver perhaps a friend, neighbor or even a family member who can be paid through this program (excludes spouses). For more information, email info@lifepathma.org or call 413-773-5555 or 978-544-2259. Read more at lifepathma.org.

Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE): SHINE counselors are volunteers who provide free, unbiased health insurance information, education, and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and adults with disabilities to help people figure out what their best health insurance options are based on their unique needs. Contact a SHINE counselor at LifePath at 413-773-555 or 978-544-2259. Email info@lifepathma.org or learn more at lifepathma.org.

Vigil for Racial Justice Every Saturday, 9 to 10 a.m., on the Greenfield Common. Bring your own sign or use one of ours. For more information: email@racialjusticerising.org.

Eventide Singers: Offering songs of hope and healing for seriously or terminally ill people, their families and caregivers. The service is offered in homes, hospitals and care facilities, without charge. The music can be selected in response to spiritual preference. For more information, visit eventidesingers.com or call Marcia Schuhle at 413-774-2335 or Joe Toritto at 413-774-5828.

Straight Spouse Support: One-on-one support for straight individuals currently or once married to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender partners. Confidential helpline at 413-625-6636 or email jcmalinski48@gmail.com.

Help the Blind: Your car, truck or camper may be worth more as a donation than a trade-in. Call the Massachusetts Association for the Blind at 888-613-2777 for details. Old lawn mowers are also accepted. Donations are tax-deductible and towing is free. Proceeds benefit blind and vision-impaired people in Massachusetts. Alternatively, email Barbara Sciannameo at barbaras@mabcommunity.org.

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Originally posted here:
Talk of the Towns: March 5, 2020 - The Recorder

Q. I am devastated by the rule changes to Inherited IRAs. My husband and I have dedicated our working lives to leave sizable legacies to our daughters and their families. With the accelerated distribution requirements, they will end up with huge tax liabilities and our hopes for their futures severely diminished. What can we do to work around this new law?

Saver

A. Youre correct in saying that the SECURE Act changed the treatment of inherited IRA distributions.

Non-spouse beneficiaries must now that the funds out within 10 years, and yes, the funds will take a tax hit.

Theres no real workaround to change how inherited IRAs will be treated under the new law, but there are some strategies that can help a little.

First, talk to your beneficiaries about the 10-year distribution window, Nicholas Scheibner, a certified financial planner with Baron Financial Group in Fair Lawn.

Beneficiaries dont have to take funds out every year, so they can work with their tax planners to determine the smartest time to take the distributions. They could take it all out in the final year, thereby allowing the funds inside the account to grow tax-deferred.

Next, you should talk to your advisors about Roth IRA conversions, Scheibner said.

He said a Roth IRA is a great estate planning tool as any distributions from the accounts will be tax-free.

Once you retire, you may find yourself in a lower tax bracket. This is especially true if you retire before age 72, and before Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are required, Scheibner said. There may be a window of time where you can maximize the Roth-conversion strategy, before your taxable income potentially goes up due to RMDs.

Finally, you should look at which accounts you use now to fund your own retirement needs.

The SECURE Act did not affect non-retirement accounts, which means the step-up in basis rule still applies for appreciated securities in a brokerage account, he said.

If your main goal is to pass on assets to your children in the most tax-efficient way, bequeathing investments with a large capital gain allows your children to inherit those investments with a date-of-death-cost basis, he said. If you are currently using a brokerage account to fund your retirement goals, work with your advisors to analyze the option of using a portion of your IRA instead.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.

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Can we get around the SECURE Act rules for inherited IRAs? - NJ.com