Mayor’s Community Update: May 6, 2022

Published May 6, 2022

Welcome May and another great week in the Borough! Happy Small Business Week! We thank all our small businesses for their support of our community and encourage everyone to support local and SHOP NP! May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Our Diversity Committee and our Library have many exciting events and activities planned! May is also Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). Let us all take this time to recognize the indelible contributions Jewish Americans have made, and continue to make to our history, culture, arts, sciences, music and society.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month:

-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

-Crisis text line 741741

-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 today 5/6/22 6pm and every 1st and 3rd Friday: bit.ly/WarriorsWelcomeNJ.

Here are some resources available throughout the district:

-District Counseling Staff – https://docs.google.com/…/1Ui6qrGVFMAIaL6KdSvCN…/edit…

-Parent and Student Site – https://sites.google.com/…/social-and-emotional…

-School Counseling Websites – https://www.npsd.k12.nj.us/domain/738

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:

-Our new historical marker was installed in front of old Borough Hall (The Academy) on the corner of Academy Street and Springfield Ave. Many thanks to the good work of our Historical Society.

-Mee Lane Pedestrian Bridge and Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge are at long last officially OPEN! A special ribbon cutting was held to commemorate the occasion. We are pushing hard to have the Commerce Street Pedestrian Bridge installed soon. The three pedestrian bridges were washed out and very badly damaged during Hurricane Ida and had to be replaced. Supply chain issues hampered installation causing many hardships and inconveniences. The long awaited bridge installations have been very warmly welcomed, and have already been put to good use by walkers and bicyclists with the recent stretch of good weather. Read more https://www.tapinto.net/towns/new-providence/columns/new-providence-notables/articles/mee-lane-and-douglas-street-pedestrian-bridges-officially-open.

-Our Police hosted P.A.C.T. Community Day at the Municipal Building which included: Operation Take Back (receiving any unused or expired medications), Car Seat Installations (NP Residents only), Police Trading Card Signing, Blue Angel/Blue Guardian Program Information, Providing Gun Locks, and Fraud Protection Information. We thank them for their good service to our community.

-A New Quite Area in the Library is complete. Please go check out this lovely area with new paint, artwork, lighting, and chairs.

-A beautiful flowing Yoshino Cherry tree was planted on the right side of the library by the JCP Foundation to honor the memory of Julia Claire Prasad. The tree was donated by the Madden, Kowantz, McKnight, Rust, Jonny, Landsittel and Botvinis families. Julia was a beautiful young woman in our community taken from us too soon. This beautiful and generous tree donation is touching memorial to Julia and to all her knew her. Julia, the Prasad family, and their friends and neighbors are in our hearts and prayers.

-Library is developing a long-term strategic plan. They are looking for residents to participate in community engagement sessions to provide input and have a voice with this plan. Read more here and visit the library website for more details: newprovidencelibrary.org/strategic-plan-2022 newprovidencelibrary.org

-The 2022 Municipal budget was presented and adopted at the April 26th Council meeting: newprov.org/download/Budget%20-%20Municipal/2022-Budget-Presentation.pdf

-The New Providence School District (NPSD) budget was presented and approved by the Board of Education.

-We honored and remembered all who were lost in the Holocaust on April 27th for Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day. Let us always stand against antisemitism and hate so nothing like this ever happens again.

-We thanked all our amazing teachers this week for Teacher Appreciation Week who continue to educate, inspire, and enlighten!

-We thanked our New Providence Volunteer Fire Department on May 4th for International Firefighters Day. It truly takes a very special kind of person to willingly and voluntarily train to go into a burning building to save lives. It’s a calling and a blessing. We are so thankful and grateful to our incredible New Providence Volunteer Fire Department for all they do to help keep our community safe, and thank all brave firefighters for putting their lives on line for us.

-NJ Bag Ban went into effect on May 4th. Read more https://www.tapinto.net/towns/new-providence/sections/government/articles/the-bag-ban-is-starting-wednesday-may-4-what-does-that-mean-for-new-providence-residents.

-May 5th was the National Day of Awareness For Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons marking the first day of the National Week of Action for MMIW. Our Diversity Committee shared with us that violence against Native American women has been a national crisis: In 2017 more than 5,700 reports of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls were recorded, according to the National Crime Information Center. Those impacted by the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons remain in our hearts and minds.

-We celebrated Cinco de Mayo, the fifth of May, which is a commemoration of the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican war. We honor and celebrate the rich Mexican culture and heritage in our community.

– Paving work continued all around the Borough this past week with great progress. Please keep checking the Borough website at newprov.org for updates and changes. During the paving operation you will need to have your car out of your driveway before they start. Please have any garbage or recycling out the night before work is scheduled on your road and it will be picked up before they start working on your road at 7am. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and cooperation while this important work is done. If you have questions, please call 908-665-1076.

– 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.

– Grass, brush, and garden debris will be collected in separate garbage cans without lids borough-wide on MONDAYS through Dec 12th.

– Our Memorial Day Parade will be back in-person along Springfield Ave on Monday May 30th 10am in cooperation with the American Legion Post #433. For more details or if your group is interested in marching this year please email recdept@newprov.us or call (908)464-4430.

Diversity:

– In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, New Providence Recreation Department and the New Providence Diversity Committee invite you for FREE Qi gong classes. Appropriate for all levels. Registration is required via CommunityPass at www.newprov.org/recreation. Please call the Recreation Department with any questions and for more details (908) 464-4430.

-The New Providence Memorial Library is celebrating Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month throughout the month of May with book displays and a screening of “Go Back to China”, a 2019 SWSX Film Festival selection with an Asian-American director/writer/producer and Asian-American actors, on Tuesday, May 10 at 1 PM. An optional discussion of the film will follow around 2:30 PM.You may also browse books in the library collection online: https://www.newprovidencelibrary.org/…/asian-american…

-Our Diversity in New Providence, NJ Committee has a very special AAPI Cultural Event planned: Asian Intergenerational Day program to strengthen the bond between high school volunteers and Asian American seniors on Saturday May 21st 9am-11am at Szechuan Delight 598 Central Ave. Please RSVP to cdai23@newarka.edu. They are also posting daily on their social media pages sharing some of the many historical and interesting facts about the many AAPI influences including cultural food, and, fitness and wellness culture, including yoga, martial arts, and acupuncture.

In partnership with the City of Summit, Summit Free Public Library Chinese Club, Summit YMCA,Berkley Heights Diversity Council, and Springfield Unity Project, our Diversity in New Providence Committee will be hosting a FREE AAPI EVENT on Saturday May 21st 3pm-7pm at the Village Green located at 356 Broad Street in Summit. This event will also include a Holi Celebration. Everyone is invited to attend to celebrate and learn about AAPI culture. If you would like to set up a display at the event please contact David Guida at dguidajr@cityofsummit.org

Recreation:

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

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

– The Borough will be hosting and sponsoring a July 3rd celebration! This is a return to our great tradition of family and fun to celebrate our country’s Independence. Stay tuned for details!

NPCOVID19 Update:

Community Level has been updated to MEDIUM. Read more https://www.newprov.org/2022/05/npcovid19-update-may-6-2022-our-community-level-has-just-been-updated-to-medium/

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

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

Keep informed with Borough information:

Website – newprov.org

Facebook – @newprovnj

Twitter – @newprovnj

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 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! Wishing all our mothers, and mother-figures in our life a very Happy Mother’s Day! We are Pioneer Strong!

– Mayor Al Morgan

Posted in Al's Community Updates

Mayor’s Community Update: May 6, 2022

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:

Diversity:

Recreation:

NPCOVID19 Update:

Mayor and Council in a Minute:

Borough Council Meetings:

NPTV Schedule:

Smart911 Community Alert System:

New Providence (Mailed) Calendar:

Borough Contact Information and Action Line:

Public Works:

Recycle Coach:

Turkey Tracks Newsletter of the New Providence Historical Society:

NPHS Athletics Calendar:

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS: