Trying Times: the Pandemic Hits Oakland, Sickening Some Residents and Bringing Out Remarkable Acts of Charity and Support
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In these trying times, as the coronavirus pandemic has upended life for everyone, heartwarming actions by Oakland residents and first responders have brought much-needed feelings of support and uplifting moments.
When Mayor Linda Schwager--who has been sending
daily emails
about the number of residents who’ve tested positive, and resources residents can turn to, among other things—let residents know that because of the quarantine many of our seniors needed help getting groceries, prescriptions, and supplies, our community responded with an outpouring.
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Oakland residents helping spread positivity during this difficult time by displaying rainbows in their windows
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Arielle Preciado, the director of senior services for the borough, was inundated with calls and emails from people eager to help.
“Many seniors in the community, as they try to stay inside and maintain social distancing…have needed assistance with obtaining these supplies,” Preciado said.
Scores of Oakland residents reached out to Preciado.
“I’ve had people offer to take up collections, restaurants offering to donate food, individuals offering to help with setting up this volunteer programs. I’ve had high school students with cars offering to help while they are out of school, people offering to drop off home cooked meals, or even just to call and chat with people.”
She has been heartened by the response.
“Oakland is an amazing community where the residents are really there to help each other,” she said. “There has been amazing support from the community in so many ways.”
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I write a message every month to inform our residents about the events and programs scheduled in our town. However, at this time, for the safety of everyone, we have cancelled events and programs until further notice.
Our municipal buildings are closed to the public but our municipal employees and all elected officials are working behind the closed doors. The telephones are connecting to personnel who can answer your questions. We have drop boxes in the lobby of the municipal building.
We are keeping you informed with daily messages via email, Facebook and twitter. Our Borough website has information about each department, boards and commissions, and businesses.
www.oakland-nj.org
.
I record a reverse 911 with updates involving our town. If you are not receiving the calls, go to the website, click on "swift reach" and follow the instructions.
Stay home and stay safe.
Until next time,
Mayor Linda Schwager
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Support Oakland Restaurants
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The Borough of Oakland is maintaining a poster of Restaurants in Oakland currently offering take out and/or delivery at this time, as well as their current business hours. Let's support our restaurants!
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Support Oakland Businesses
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The Borough of Oakland has created a new page on the website which allows Oakland businesses to post their contact info, offerings and the steps people can take to help them the most at this time. We hope that you will help us share this and help keep our amazing local business community strong during this time.
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Your Monthly Garbage & Recycling Cheat Sheet
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Yard Waste:
This service begins Monday, April 6, 2020 or Tuesday, April 7, 2020 and ends Monday, December 7, 2020 or Tuesday, December 8, 2020. There is no yard waste collection during the winter months. Yard waste is never permitted in the household garbage collection. Do not put any yard waste in plastic bags.
Electronics:
Cancelled
Paper:
April 8 & 22
Commingled:
April 1, 15, 29
Household Appliances/Metal:
Cancelled
Trash:
Mon & Thurs garbage collection on the South side of town. Tues & Fri garbage collection on the North side of town.
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Recycling Information
Garbage and Recycling barrels must be placed at the curb prior to 5:00am on the day of your scheduled collection. Please note that it is unlawful to place garbage, recyclables, or yard waste at curbside earlier than 4:00pm prior to the day of collection. All empty barrels need to be removed from the curb before 9:00pm on collection day. Please retrieve your empty cans from curbside as soon as possible.
Oakland residents have year round garbage collection twice per week based on your side of town. In the case of a holiday, pickup is skipped until the next regularly scheduled garbage collection day. Monday and Thursday garbage collection on the South side (see Streets) Tuesday and Friday garbage collection on the North side
Both sides of town have a Recyclables collection every Wednesday. Paper/ Cardboard or Commingled (bottles, cans, containers) are collected on alternate weeks. Please check the enclosed dates for which material goes out on a particular day. Residents must properly separate recyclables into two separate containers for collection or they cannot be picked up and will be left at the curb.
Food and drink cartons can be recycled with commingled. Our hauler accepts clean food and beverage cartons. For best recycling results, do not flatten the cartons.
Christmas Trees are collected during the month of January on a random basis. Please remove any lights, plastic bags, decorations, and tree stands before putting out to the curb for the DPW to collect.
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The Borough of Oakland is hosting a FREE Shredding Event on Saturday May 2, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Borough Hall, One Municipal Plaza, Oakland, NJ 07436. This event is still on schedule to take place. Should the event be cancelled due to Coronavirus, the public will be notified.
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First Responders Flash
Briefing
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Message from the Oakland Police Department:
We, the Oakland Police Department, understand there may be a lot of anxiety these days due to the COVID-19 situation. The pandemic has added to everyone’s level of stress and uncertainty. Please know that the Oakland Police Department has adjusted our operations to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Officers are continuing to respond to all calls for service; however, they may be doing it a bit differently.
·
Officers will be handling certain report requests and other matters via telephone; therefore, anyone who needs to file a report or has a pending issue that needs to be addressed, can call the department and the communication will be completed by phone.
- The Oakland PD lobby is open for all emergencies; however, for non-emergencies, please call or use the intercom system outside of the front door.
- Our community outreach programs have been suspended until further notice.
- Officers are still responding to residences but may keep their distance from you and ask you to speak with them outside.
Have the confidence in us to know that we will always be here in your time of need.
We urge you to continue social distancing practices and stay home. If you have to leave your home for essentials, please refer to the NJ Governor’s Executive Order for restrictions:
Oakland residents have been great since this pandemic began by enduring this unprecedented time with great fortitude, resilience & compassion. Let’s continue to work together and help each other (while still maintaining social distancing) to get through this difficult situation. If anyone needs anything, give us a call.
Emergencies- 9-1-1
Non-emergencies- (201) 337-6171
Chief Keith Sanzari
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Project Medicine Drop is still active at this time.
Project Medicine Drop is an initiative involving the installation of "prescription drug drop boxes" at participating New Jersey police departments.
The Oakland Police Department keeps the locked metal box inside our lobby with the “Project Medicine Drop” logo clearly visible and recognizable.
Project Medicine Drop allows the public to dispose of unused and expired prescription medications safely, securely, and anonymously. The opportunity is available seven days a week, 365 days a year.
If you are disposing of medication we ask that you follow this procedure:
- We do not accept loose medication and request it be placed in a Ziploc bag.
- Deposit the sealed Ziploc bag into our drop box
We CANNOT and DO NOT accept:
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Oakland Fire Department
Become a Member!
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The Oakland Fire Department is always looking for additional volunteer firefighters to protect the lives and property of our neighbors in Oakland. Our department has been serving the residents of Oakland for over 100 years (1909). The Oakland Fire Department is all volunteer. We operate from two firehouses, Company 1 at the Yawpo Ave firehouse and Company.
To become a member of the Oakland Fire Department you must be at least 16 years old, be a US Citizen, be in good physical condition, be a legal resident of Oakland for a minimum of six months and have not been convicted of a felony. Once accepted, you will need to complete an 18 week Basic Firefighters course, Firefighter I, at the Bergen County Fire Academy in Mahwah.
For more information and a membership application, come to the Yawpo Ave firehouse any Monday night at 7:00 PM and ask to speak to one of the our Chiefs.
at the Hiawatha Blvd firehouse.
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Message from Oakland First Aid Squad
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The Oakland First Aid Squad does not perform flu or COVID-19 testing.
Being brought to the hospital via ambulance does not guarantee that you will arrive at the hospital quicker, and it does not guarantee that you will be seen
more quickly at the Hospital. Treatment order is determined by need; the most critically ill will receive care first.
If you have fever, cough, chills, mildness shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, runny nose, or around someone exhibiting these symptoms, contact your doctor for medical advice. If your doctor recommends that you be evaluated in the hospital, first attempt to have a family member drive you. Care for these complaints cannot be provided by EMS.
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ONLY call 9-1-1 for life threatening emergencies. Examples include chest pain, allergic reactions, suspected stroke, significant difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, seizures, serious burns, uncontrollable bleeding, serious accidents, and overdose/poisonings.
If you call 9-1-1, you will be asked screening questions. Please answer ALL screening questions truthfully. This will ensure EMS take necessary precautions.
Introduction of EMS crews and members of the Police Department into your home will inherently disrupt your effort to self-quarantine/self-isolate/socially distance yourself. Please take this risk seriously.
Due to national shortages, we are quickly running out of medical supplies and are IN NEED of donations for:
- N95 masks
- PAPR and CAPR systems
- Surgical/procedure masks
- Goggles
- Nitrile gloves
- Fluid resistant gowns
- Tyvek suits
If you are a dentist or other medical professional whose office has closed, please consider donating a portion of your supplies to help your neighbors. Supplies can be dropped off at the Oakland First Aid Squad 24 hours a day. Arrangements can be made for pickup. You will be provided with a donation letter and recognition.
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Message from the Oakland Public Library:
As the Oakland Public Library remains closed during this difficult time, we would just like to remind all of our residents that your digital library is open 24/7. Library card holders can access and download e-books, digital audiobooks, TV shows, movies, graphic novels, and more all from wherever they have an internet connection through Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy & RB Digital. In addition, anyone looking to learn new skills or brush up on anything can log into LyndaPro for free and get professional instruction. We can't wait to reopen, and as soon as we know when we'll be letting all of our patrons know. Don't have a library card but would like to borrow econtent? Not a problem. Email
havel@oakland.bccls.org
and we will get you a card.
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Lynda
is a leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Oakland Public Library cardholders
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now have access to the lynda.com video library of engaging, top-quality courses taught by recognized industry experts. With tutorials in five languages, lynda.com is a global platform for success.
Sign in with
your
OAKLAND library card and 4-digit pin at:
https://www.lynda.com/portal/sip?org=oakland.bccls.org
The link is also available on the Library's
website.
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Assistance for Seniors:
During this time of maintaining social distancing, the Borough has identified options available to seniors to safely obtain food, supplies, and prescriptions.
Shoprite of Oakland offers Shop from Home services to all seniors for a small fee. Seniors can call in their order and Shoprite staff will do the food shopping for you. You can either drive up to pick up your groceries from the front without ever having to leave your car, or have them delivered to your door. For more information, please call Shoprite at (201) 337-3900.
Stop & Shop offers special Senior shopping hours prior to opening daily from 6:00-7:30am
Market Basket offers special Senior shopping hours every Sunday, Tuesday, and Fridays, 6:30 a.m. until opening.
If any of these options do not meet your needs, we are still offering our volunteer matching with members of the community. Please call the Senior Center at (201) 405-7731 or email at
seniors@oakland-nj.org
for assistance.
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The next scheduled Recreation Commission Meeting is April 27, 2020. If there is a lift of emergency by federal, state, or local governments prior, the commission will schedule an emergency meeting to address the issues regarding Oakland parks and Recreation Programs. At this time, all of Oakland's parks remain closed.
The Recreation Commission still holds out hope for baseball, softball, tennis, and lacrosse seasons for Oakland's youth. As well as possibly still running, albeit later in the spring. In the next couple of weeks decisions will be made, but at this time there is no rush.
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Football, cheer, lacrosse, and soccer sign-ups are still available online at www.oaklandrec.org. Summer camp registration and counselor interviews will be announced as soon as the emergency is lifted. If you have any questions you would like answered, please contact Recreation Chairman Mike Guadagnino at recreation@oakland-NJ.org.
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Backyard Composter Bins are available for purchase at the Oakland Department of Public Works, 63 Oak Street, Oakland, NJ 07436 during normal business hours Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The composter is available at a discounted price to Oakland Residents at $60.00.
Questions, email recycle@oakland-nj.or (201) 337-8104.
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Sustainable Oakland Green Team
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The Sustainable Oakland Green Team Crayon and Marker Program is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis. Notification will be made once the program is active again.
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Sustainable Oakland Green Team
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The Oakland Sustainable Jersey Green Team is always seeking new volunteers. To those that may be interested, or would like to learn more, please email "greenteam@oakland-nj.org" for more information.
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Sustainable Oakland Green Team
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The Sustainable Oakland Green Team is collecting plastic film and styrofoam at the Oakland First Aid Squad, 285 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ 07436.
Plastic Film:
Accepted:
- EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)
Not Accepted:
- XPS (Extruded Polystyrene)
- Packing Peanuts
- No food containers
Plastic Film:
- Produce and bread bags
- Ice bags
- Cereal Box Liners
- Bubble wrap
- Amazon Poly Mailers
- USPS Flat Rate Mailers
- Case Overlap
- Ziploc Bags
- Grocery Bags
- Plastic Bags
- Newspaper sleeves
Help us earn a FREE Community Bench!
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Sustainable Oakland Green Team
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The Sustainable Oakland Green Team would like to remind residents to please not idle their car! It saves gas, it saves the planet, and it makes us healthier.
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Sustainable Oakland Green Team
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The Oakland Environmental Commission presents "Battery Recycling" at the Borough Hall, 1 Municipal Plaza, Oakland, NJ 07436.
Place in Plastic Box:
- Single Use Batteries
- AA, AAA, C, D, Watch, and Hearing Aid Batteries.
Place in Cardboard Box:
- Rechargeable Batteries
- AA, AAA, C, D, 9 Volt, Tool Batteries, Cell Phones.
Collection is for Oakland NJ Residents ONLY. No commercial businesses.
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2020 Census Facts & Information
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TODAY April 1, 2020 is C
ensus Day
in NJ! We hope everyone is practicing social distancing, and we thank you for that! But now we need your help more than ever to get the word out about the importance of filling out the
#2020Census
. Visit
CENSUS.NJ.GOV
to find helpful information to share with your network. Don’t forget to
#FillitOut
!
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- 2020 Census advertising campaign begins in early 2020
- March 16-23 – USCB Mailing #1 sent to homes
- March 20-27 – USCB Mailing #2 sent to non-respondents
- March 30-April 6 – USCB Mailing #3 – a postcard – sent to non-respondents
- March – USCB Service-based enumeration begins (for transitory locations like RV parks and campgrounds, tent cities, marinas, hotels)
- March – USCB Group quarters enumeration begins (for those living in group quarters like dorms, nursing homes, etc. and for the homeless)
- April 1, 2020 – NATIONAL CENSUS DAY!
- Early April-Late July – USCB Non-response follow-up (NRFU)
- April 12-19 – USCB Mailing #4 – letter & paper questionnaire sent to those who have not yet responded
- April 23-30 – USCB Mailing #5 – It’s not too late! postcard
- CCCs urge households who do not respond to cooperate with census takers
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Follow the Borough of Oakland on Twitter and Facebook!
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Want to join the Newsletter Committee?
Learn more about the Oakland Communications Commission? Provide feedback?
Click below and learn more about what we do and how you can be involved.
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Mayor Linda H. Schwager
Council Members
Lew Levy - Council President
John Biale, Robert Knapp, Pat Pignatelli, Russell Talamini, Grant Van Eck
Chairman Ryan Schwertfeger
Vice Chairwoman Elizabeth Llorente
Jim Barry, Alex McVeigh, Andrea Levy
Junior Member: Benjamin Good
Patricia Carrera (Alt.), Salma Shamy (Alt. 2)
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(c) 2020 Oakland Communications Commission
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Borough of Oakland, New Jersey
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