Borough Newsletter - August 2020

August 2020

Hello!

Here's the latest information about things going on in the Borough of Oakland this month, assembled and produced by the volunteers on the Oakland Communications Commission's Newsletter Committee.

Top Stories

(Left to Right): Councilman Robert Knapp, Borough Administrator Richard Kunze, Fire Marshall John Wittekind, FM Global Representative John Antola Jr., Mayor Linda H. Schwager, Council President Lew Levy, and Fire Chief Vincent Dies

Borough of Oakland to Bolster Fire Prevention Efforts with FM Global Grant

OAKLAND, N.J.—The Borough of Oakland has received a $3,000.00 Fire Prevention Grant from FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers.

FM Global representative John Antola Jr. presented the award to Mayor Schwager and the Borough of Oakland. The award will be used to assist with fire prevention activities to help educate the community and reduce the number of fires.

Because fire continues to be the leading cause of property damage worldwide, during the past 40 years FM Global has contributed millions of dollars in fire prevention grants to fire service organizations around the globe. Locally, the company has awarded grants to a number of New Jersey-based organizations.

“At FM Global, we strongly believe the majority of property damage is preventable, not inevitable,” said Michael Spaziani, assistant vice president – manager of the fire prevention grant program. “Far too often, inadequate budgets prevent those organizations working to prevent fire from being as proactive as they would like to be. With additional financial support, grant recipients are actively helping to improve property risk in the communities they serve.”

Through its Fire Prevention Grant Program, FM Global awards grants to fire departments—as well as national, state, regional, local and community organizations worldwide—that best demonstrate a need for funding, where dollars can have the most demonstrable impact on preventing fire, or mitigating the damage it can quickly cause.

To learn more about FM Global’s Fire Prevention Grant Program and other resources for the fire service, please visit www.fmglobal.com/fireservice.

Read the full story here

Mayor Schwager's Message

Transparency in our local government and keeping Oakland residents informed is one of the most important goals of my administration.

Our website is kept up-to-date with important information and provides a directory of resources. Oakland website is www.oakland-N.J.org .

Go to the website to sign up for my daily email messages. Also on the website, go to Swift Reach to add your telephone number to receive my telephone messages.

During this time in our lives it is so important to be informed regularly Thank you to Elizabeth and Michael for their hard work helping to deliver our news.

Stay safe. Stay well.

Mayor Linda H. Schwager

Read the full message click here

COVID-19 Information HUB

COVID-19: Mental Health Assistance is Available — Don’t Deal with Pandemic Stresses on Your Own

Help is Available. Don’t Go It Alone!

Mental health experts say that everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.

If you are concerned about your mental health or the mental health of someone you care about, please reach out for assistance. Talk to a family member, or reach out to call centers that are available to help.

Oakland residents feeling the emotional and mental toll of CIVID-19 can call 1-866-202-HELP (4357), for free, confidential support. Calls to NJMentalHealthCares will be answered by live trained specialists 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

Also, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services or SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 provides 24/7, 365-day-a- year crisis counseling and support.

COVID-19: State to Expand Job Services — Remotely — at One Stop Centers Starting Aug. 10

Services for Job Searches, Training, Career Services

The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development plans to offer a full suite of online and telephone employment services through its One-Stop Centers beginning on Aug. 10.

Comprehensive support for unemployed customers will be offered online and through a series of call centers, which are expanding their capacity. However, in-person service will not be available at this time due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns for customers and employees.

“It is important that One Stop Career Centers resume their role to offer much-needed workforce services,” said state Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “But we must restart carefully, to maximize our impact to those wishing to start or change careers, while the health and safety of our customers and staff remains paramount.”

Read the full release here

Your Monthly Garbage & Recycling Cheat Sheet

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. Should your yard waste not be collected, it is most likely due to COVID-19 staffing issues with the hauler, and we advise that you please leave out the yard waste on the curb and the hauler will return during the week to collect. Check the Borough Website for updates. If your yard waste was not collected, please leave out at the curb and the hauler will be back during the week.

Electronics: August 5 & 19

Paper: August 12 & 26

Commingled: August 5 & 19

Household Appliances/Metal: August 13

Metal Collection has been changed to the 2nd Thursday of the month for the remainder of 2020. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Trash: Mon & Thurs garbage collection on the South side of town. Tues & Fri garbage collection on the North side of town.

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.

View the Recycling Newsletter Here

First Responders Flash Briefing

Message from the Oakland Police Department:

Fireworks:

A reminder to residents that certain fireworks are illegal. If the fireworks are aerial or explode, they are illegal. Sparklers and fountain type fireworks which can be purchased in stores in NJ, are legal. Residents who use or possess illegal fireworks are in violation of New Jersey criminal law and can be subject to fines and/or jail time.

So far this summer, multiple Oakland residents have been cited for the use and/or possession of illegal fireworks. Moving forward, officers will be strictly enforcing the laws pertaining to the use and possession of illegal fireworks. Thank you and be safe.

Extreme Heat:

With the record temperatures in July and more heat to come, residents should make sure that they and their loved ones stay cool and stay safe. Here are a few tips from the American Red Cross.

Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or local news stations for critical updates related to the weather.
Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
Eat small meals and eat more often.
Avoid extreme temperature changes.
Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
Postpone outdoor games and activities.
Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.
Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors.
Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat.

If anyone is concerned about their condition or the condition of another Oakland resident due to the heat or another reason, feel free to contact the Oakland Police Department at (201)337-6171. An officer will stop by the house and check on the resident to ensure they are safe and healthy.

Emergencies- 9-1-1

Non-emergencies- (201) 337-6171

Chief Keith Sanzari

Project Medicine Drop

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:

medical waste
syringes

Oakland Volunteer Fire Department

Oakland Fire Department

Become a Member!

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 our Chiefs.

at the Hiawatha Blvd firehouse.

Oakland Public Library

Oakland Public Library Open to Public:

The Library remains open! With that, there are some rules we all need to abide by:

All patrons who wish to enter must wear a mask.
Curbside pickup will continue for the foreseeable future.
No furniture may be brought into the library.
A self-check application will soon be available for smart devices.
Social distancing of 6 feet will be observed,
1 on 1 interaction with the staff will not be available in person

Curbside Pick- Up :

Please call the Library at 201-337-3742 #7002 or email oaklcirc@bccls.org to place your Adult Department or Children's Department requests.

OPLNJ can put together a selection of materials, just make sure we are aware of your preferences. Please include your name and phone number on all messages. Returned materials will be quarantined for 3 weeks and will remain on your card until the staff can check them in. Not to worry as It is a Fine Free Summer at the Library! (This does not include lost or damaged books)

Summer Reading is up and running! Congratulations to Ruth, Trudy and Lauren for each winning prizes. You can still become part of Summer Reading, just sign up over the phone: 201-337-3742 #2 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ."> oaklcirc@oakland.bccls.org .

Let us know the titles of the books you have read this summer. The titles will be submitted for the weekly drawings. The next prize is a KINDLE Paperwhite e-Reader; and the Grand Prize is a $100 gift card to the Oakland Restaurant of your choosing. Children's Summer Reading has a great event this month. Along with our virtual Story Times. Join Miss Barbara for Story Time and Ms. Debbie for Tots Library Club the information and how to access the virtual story hours is listed below.

Please remember that the Oakland Library is doing a Food Drive for the Ponds Food Pantry. Please place your unexpired, non-perishable items in the shopping cart in front of the OPL Bulletin Board.

We all are looking forward to seeing you at the Library.

Oakland Senior Center

Update from the Oakland Senior Center:

We are continuing to add classes back into our schedule in a mix of in person, zoom only, and hybrid options, Please see the calendar for more details. If anyone would like to attend an in person class, they are asked to call or email the senior center to register in advance. If they would like to be added to our email list to receive the Zoom links for online classes they can reach out to us as well at (201) 405-7731 or seniors@oakland-nj.org .

Games and puzzles are available to check out and bring home. They can come by the center by appointment to pick things up. All items borrowed will be quarantined for 7 days and/or sanitized upon return.

We are beginning a new program in August. Through the county’s Division of Senior Services, we will be offering private appointments for anyone who needs assistance with navigating Medicare through SHIP (State Health Insurance Program) with a state certified counselor. These appointments will be offered the second Monday of every month beginning in August and set up in a private space in the senior center socially distanced. Appointments will begin at 9:30am and run up to 45 minutes. They are on a first come first serve basis and will roll into the next month if they fill. If anyone is interested in learning more or setting up an appointment, they can contact myself at the Senior Center at (201) 405-7731.

As a reminder: We are in the office Monday-Friday and available to help connect anyone who needs resources for seniors including but not limited to food, transportation, Medicare and health care. They can reach us at (201) 405-7731 or seniors@oakland-nj.org .

Community Announcements

Recreation Commission

Oakland Recreation is hosting TGA Lacrosse Camps this summer. Registration is open until August 1, 2020.

Recreation Commission

Oakland Recreation is hosting TGA Cheerleading Camps this summer. Registration is open until August 1, 2020.

Recreation Commission

Oakland Recreation is hosting TGA Assorted Camps this summer. Registration is open until August 1, 2020.

Communications Commission

"This Week in Oakland" Archives:

Episode 12 (Finale)

Episode 11

Episode 10

Episode 9

Episode 8

Episode 7

Episode 6

Episode 5

Episode 4

Episode 3

Episode 2

Episode 1

Communications Commission

The Oakland Communications Commission has a vacancy for a Commissioner slot. To those interested and to learn more about the position, please email occ@oakland-nj.org. Opportunities include TV Production, Bulletin Board, and Borough Newsletter.

Communications Commission

The Oakland Communications Commission has a vacancy for the position of Secretary. The position includes preparation of meeting agenda and taking meeting minutes/notes. To those interested, please contact the OCC at OCC@oakland-nj.org.