A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR DOMINY:

Dear Wenonah Residents,

I send continued good health to you, your families, and your friends. As we continue the daily struggles of dealing with the impact of COVID-19, to our health, our economy, and our spirits, I find solace in the fact that Wenonah continues to support each other compassionately as neighbors who put community first.
I would like to send a special message of gratitude to all those on the front lines of this pandemic – nurses, doctors, and all health care workers. They are our friends, neighbors, and family. And they are our heroes.

We also owe our thanks to many in our community who have expressed an interest in volunteering to help those in need of assistance. If you are sheltering in your home and need help with errands or shopping, please don’t hesitate to send a message, and we will find you some assistance. Email WenonahCares@boroughofwenonah.com, or text or call (609) 961-1454.

In order to come through this, we all must work together and follow the guidelines which the State and the CDC have already ordered. First and foremost - stay home. If you must go out in public, practice social distancing and wear a mask.

Now, more than ever, is the time to be kind and compassionate. Wenonah is a wonderful and special place – we will manage this crisis together as one.

REMINDERS AND IMPORTANT UPDATES FROM THE BOROUGH OFFICE…

Water Bill Payments
In an effort to help alleviate some of the financial burden imposed by the COVID-19 outbreak, Council has passed Resolution 2020-43 authorizing a sixty (60) day extension of the payment due date for water bills. This means that residents can pay their water bill without penalty until May 31, 2020.

Pet Licenses
The pet licensing period has been extended through April 30, 2020. For details on licensing your pet(s) please visit the Borough website.

Scheduled Events
In the interest of our residents’ health and safety, and in compliance with the Executive Order made by Governor Murphy issuing that residents “Stay at Home”, we have made the decision to cancel or postpone the following upcoming Borough events:

• The Municipal Alliance Senior breakfast (April 9) has been postponed until further notice
• The Lion’s Club Easter Egg Hunt (April 11) has been cancelled
• The Borough-wide Yard Sale (April 25) has been postponed to Saturday, June 20
• Clean Communities Day (May 9) has been postponed until further notice

For events scheduled beyond this time frame, we will continue to assess the situation as it develops and consider guidance from state and local authorities to inform our decision.

Wenonah Lake
At this time, we are still planning for the Wenonah Lake to open the swimming program on May 23, 2020, and as such, the Lake grounds will be closed to the public beginning May 1 so that our Public Works team can begin preparations for the swimming program season. We will continue to monitor the situation and follow the guidance of local and state officials, and we will alert residents as soon as possible if the Lake swimming program opening date needs to change.

Trash, Recycling, and Yard Waste and Branch Collection
Please note that based on guidance from the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management, collection of containerized yard waste and branch pick up has been postponed until further notice. In reference to our shared services with Logan Township, non-automated services including bulk trash, extra trash, and extra recycling pick up have been suspended for an indefinite period. Normal trash and recycling collection will continue according to regular schedule at this time.
 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
The State is seeking donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for hospitals and healthcare workers. For more about how to donate, visit https://covid19.nj.gov/ppedonations
 
Personal Masks
Recent studies show that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. Therefore, health officials and the CDC are recommending residents cover their nose and mouth with cloth when leaving home for essential activities, including medical appointments, grocery shopping, and pharmacy visits.
You can find steps for how to make a face covering at home on the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/…/prevent…/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.

Face coverings do not have to be hospital grade and can include bandanas and fabric masks. Fabric face coverings should be washed frequently with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. It is critical to remember that covering your face alone is not enough to slow the spread of COVID-19. Residents must also continue to stay home, practice physical distancing, and wash hands frequently.
 
MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR COVID-19…

State of New Jersey
For the official state website about COVID-19, including messages from the Governor and state-wide resources and services, visit https://covid19.nj.gov/.

NJ 211
NJ 211 has been activated to help handle COVID-19 related calls from NJ residents. Call 211 or sign up for text alerts by texting NJCOVID to 898-211.

Wenonah Office of Emergency Management
If you have an immediate need for assistance or have any questions relating to the pandemic, please contact the Wenonah Office of Emergency Management at wenonahemergencymanagement@gmail.com.

Gloucester County NJ Office of Emergency Management
For resources and information from Gloucester County, visit http://www.gloucestercountynj.gov/alerts/default.asp.

Disaster Loan Assistance
The US Small Business Administration has implemented Disaster Loan Assistance. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll and other bills that can’t be paid because of disaster impact relating to COVID-19. For more information, visit their website https://www.sba.gov/.

Register Ready
The State of New Jersey has a state-wide registry for those with special needs called “Register Ready – New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters.” To access this program, visit the link https://www13.state.nj.us/SpecialNeeds/Signin?ReturnUrl=%2fSpecialNeeds%2f.

Volunteers Needed

New Jersey is in need of more volunteers to bolster medical ranks. So far, the state has had 3,611 brave individuals sign up to volunteer. For more information or to sign up, visit https://covid19.nj.gov/volunteer.