Special to TAPinto. This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

It’s the latest survey of school board members, administrators and educators on pandemic’s effects

Much has been said about a ...

TRENTON - Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) Acting Commissioner Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan on Friday announced “The Road Forward,” a series of coordinated policy initiatives that dramatically expand the Administration’s efforts to identify and address the academic and mental health impacts of COVID-19 on New Jersey students and ...

CLARK, NJ - Parts of Madison Hill Road remain closed on Wednesday morning after a dump truck flipped shortly after 6:00 a.m. according to Fire Chief Frank Cerasa. The truck's load was strewn across the roadway, leading Clark Police to close the road to traffic while clean up took place. 

Cerasa said the area of the accident was very icy, so the FD was awaiting salt trucks from the ...

CLARK, NJ – Ronaldo Godwin, 43, of Newark has been charged with second-degree death by auto and second-degree witness tampering in connection with a fatal Parkway crash on Monday according to Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo.

Godwin, is in custody and has been criminally charged with causing a two-vehicle collision on the Garden State Parkway earlier this week that resulted in ...

Updated at 7:45 p.m. Feb. 24

WESTFIELD, NJ — The town of Westfield is considering a proposal that would allow a wireless service company to build a cell tower at an athletic field complex adjacent to Clark in exchange for it also installing additional parking, bathrooms and other amenities there.

Councilman Mark Parmelee presented the plan at Tuesday’s town ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Gov. Phil Murphy provided during his COVID press briefing on Wednesday some positive news about testing sites and vaccinations. He said the 1,758,979 total vaccine doses (1,192,364 first doses, and 566,441 second doses) have been administered as of this morning.  He also was proud that New Jersey has been able to distribute vaccine more equitably than other ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his annual budget address on Tuesday by outlining a Fiscal Year 2022 Budget (FY2022) that includes investments to help New Jersey emerge from the pandemic stronger, fairer, and more resilient.

The governor said that he was proud to unveil this budget, which makes a full pension payment for the first time in more than a quarter of a ...

CLARK, NJ – Now, more than ever, the Clark Volunteer Emergency Squad (CVES) is in need of residents to help continue its mission to serve the community.

The CVES is seeking cadets for its 16- to 18-year-old program and EMT members ages 18 and older. Drivers are also needed and a valid New Jersey license and safe driving record is required. All training is provided by CVES.

To learn ...

UNION COUNTY, NJ — As of Sunday, 1.34 million COVID-19 vaccine shots had been administered in New Jersey through hospitals, pharmacies, community health centers, government-run clinics and state run “mega-sites,” New Jersey's COVID-19 dashboard shows.

Those shots included 984,737 first doses and 355,862 second doses, according to the state data, which shows that in ...

CAMDEN - Supermarket employees have always been frontline heroes during all periods of crisis. In the face of natural disasters, and now even global pandemics, supermarket employees keep communities nourished and supplied.

That is why the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) is joining the Food Marketing Institute to celebrate Supermarket Employee Day on February 22. Supermarket Employee Day is ...

RARITAN VALLEY, NJ -- The Raritan Valley Line Mayors’ Alliance is cheering the news from Washington about the long-delayed Gateway Hudson River tunnel project. The Biden Administration has reversed a policy by former President Trump that did not allow either New York or New Jersey to use loans borrowed from the federal government as part of each state’s funding commitment to the ...

CLARK, NJ – An army of volunteers hits the internet daily on a quest to find COVID-19 vaccinations. What makes these individuals “vaccine angels” has everything to do with them booking appointments for complete strangers.

“I got started with the process when I spoke with my 82-year-old neighbor, and she told me she was having trouble making an appointment,” said ...

DENVILLE, NJ -- Motherhood was one of the greatest joys for Debra Kaufman. Her pregnancy resulted in her son Bryan, now in his 30s. Her pregnancy at the time resulted in preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system. In many cases, it negatively impacts the liver and kidneys. Preeclampsia ultimately ...

CLARK, NJ - The Arthur L. Johnson Girls' Soccer Team worked on a community service project together recently.   Together they created over 200 snack bags to help Elijah's Promise in New Brunswick.  

The organization serves hot meals and snack bags to a vast population, including veterans, homeless, and families who have struggled during the pandemic.

According to ...

NEW JERSEY -- Gov. Phil Murphy today announced that he has eased some restrictions on the number of spectators that can attend high school and other youth sporting events both indoors and outdoors.

"I want to start with an announcement that I know many athletes and many moms and dads have been waiting for. I'm signing an Executive Order today, effective immediately by the way, to ...

CLARK, NJ - Many people took to social media in 2020 showing off their latest culinary creations crafted during time spent closer to home. Cooking starts with the basics and the Clark Recreation Department offers a class to teach the youngest members of the community where to start in the kitchen too.

According to Ralph Bernardo, the Little Chefs class offered on Monday afternoons by ...

CLARK, NJ - While most people were looking forward to the holiday season, Clark resident Nick DeLoretto checked into the hospital to begin a minimum seven-week series of treatments for Myelodysplastic Syndrome.   During that time, DeLoretto visited his family from the window of his hospital room as they gathered on the street below according to his wife Darcy.

“We’d wave ...

You created your wish list, ordered some or all of the seeds you will need, and they are beginning to arrive.  Make the most of your investment with a bit of planning.

Starting seeds at the proper time, indoors or directly in the garden, ensures a good start to the growing season. Check the back of the seed packet for planting times and directions. Consult your local Extension ...

Treat that someone special in your life to a floral Valentine. You will have them smiling within seconds and feeling happier throughout the week ahead.

Ensure your gift of cut flowers will look its best and provide many days of enjoyment with proper selection and care. You will also enjoy a bit of floral relief when taking time to select the freshest flowers possible. 

A whiff of ...

COLONIA, NJ - Mijo’s Pizzeria is featuring heart-shaped pizza just in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Spend time with your sweetheart enjoying a freshly baked and topped pizza of your choice.   Then top it off with a dessert pizza covered with Nutella, bananas, and strawberries.  

Pre-ordering is highly recommended for Valentine weekend so be sure to ...

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Jewish festival of Purim is almost here, which means it’s time for hamantaschen! 

The traditional triangle-shaped cookies have a reputation of being a little dry, but Shannon Sarna, cookbook author and editor of The Nosher, swears by the recipe below.

The South Orange mom of three said her children love getting creative while helping ...

NEW JERSEY — Raise a glass! Thursday, Feb. 18, is National Drink Wine Day.

New Jersey oenophiles have plenty to celebrate, including more than 60 wineries right here in the Garden State.

Wine has been made in New Jersey since before the American Revolution, but thanks to changes in state laws that made winemaking more feasible as a business here, it’s during the last two decades ...

NEW JERSEY — The pandemic has not only provided people with a want to learn, as many scroll through TikTok and Instagram to see the latest buzzy recipe; but it also shed light on the need to learn to cook. With uncertainty clouding the future, many began to feel that a recipe repertoire consisting of toast and cereal would not cut it in the months ahead.

A Bloomberg report ...

NEWARK, NJ — Months after signing expansive environmental justice legislative, Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday vowed New Jersey would put its money where its mouth is - investing over $130 million in clean transportation projects.

Murphy, who spoke about more green initiatives during a press conference this morning, also signed an executive order creating a climate action office and the New ...