Coronavirus Updates

2,000 face masks donated by the Holmdel Chinese community

Editorial note – Please share and cross post this to family, friends and neighbors. See https://betterholmdel.wixsite.com/home for past postings. If you wish to receive this as an email directly, please send an email to betterholmdel@yahoo.com.]

March 30, 2020 – We hope that everybody is doing well and keeping safe.

By now, it should be abundantly clear that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) represents a clear and present danger. It is important that advice by health care officials should be listened to and followed, especially social distancing and washing your hands. Bergen County alone has more than 2,200 cases, more than 20 states at the time of writing. In the latest update, there are now 30 reported Holmdel cases (these are residents and do not include cases at the Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Hospital).

In these difficult times, we continue to be amazed and inspired by the goodness in humanity:

1. Personal Protective Equipment Drive

Holmdel Mayor Greg Buontempo launched a mission to collect personal protection equipment for our first responders and the Bayshore Medical Center. See link below for the news article in the Independent. So far, the responses have been fantastic. In particular, the Alliance of Chinese Americans at Holmdel has gathered and donated about 2,000 face masks (see picture above). In addition, the Alliance has also donated $1,000 each to the Holmdel First Aid Squad and Holmdel Police (Holmdel PBA #239). Anyone who wish to donate may contact the Mayor through email at mayor@holmdeltownship.com.

The Independent news article: https://centraljersey.com/2020/03/28/holmdel-residents-donating-items-to-assist-first-responders-medical-center/

Hazlet resident Robyn Badgley in front of her lawn sign.

2. Hazlet Woman Inspires the Public

As reported by the Asbury Park Press, Robyn Badgley, a Hazlet resident, has been providing inspiring messages on her front lawn. One of her recent signs reads “You are tested not to show your weakness – but to discover your STRENGTH.” This was followed by her latest sign that reads “The comeback is always stronger than the setback.” Badgley has struggled in her personal life but has risen above that to inspire many of her fellow residents. See link below for the article:

APP new article: https://www.app.com/story/news/local/values/2020/03/30/coronavirus-stress-hazlet-breast-cancer-survivor-robyn-badgley/2914747001/?fbclid=IwAR3ZgcSaL0yZ7kdtIaylWM0A2bqZ3kGqSFkIeWN-mKXJiAWfwpPNOd93qBE

3. Meals for Holmdel First Responders

Holmdel Township may be unique in that it has among the highest number of first responders in New Jersey. An estimate of about 540 individuals worked as first responders in Holmdel. This includes the Holmdel First Aid Squad, Holmdel Police, Holmdel OEM, doctors and nurses at the Bayshore Medical Hospital and the PNC Art Center coronavirus drive-through test center. Now, in joint efforts between Richard Corbo, the founder and CEO of Bell Market and Bell Works (and ICIMS and Guardian Life Insurance Company, among the tenants), meals will be donated daily and delivered to these 540 Holmdel first responders. The joint efforts have secured funding donations for the first week of meals, but they are looking for additional funding to continue these efforts. Please contact Mayor Buontempo at mayor@holmdeltownship.com if you wish to donate.

OTHER NEWS

Need A Job?

If you lost your job or have your hours reduced as a result of COVID-19, there are businesses in New Jersey that need thousands of workers for immediate hire. Businesses looking to hire include Instacart (grocery stores and food delivery), Amazon and Hackensack Meridian Health. For more details, see the link below for the official “New Jersey COVID-19 Jobs and Hiring Portal”.

https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2tdk3mpXCXrOtQNXDYAHv15WZNGD_HPI-xWQQNiEf-PcWA849i-xGo_fw

Local Holmdel Election

Unless changed by Congress, there is a presidential election in November as well as for other elected offices. In Holmdel, there are two seats for the Township Committee that will expire at the end of the year. Committeeman Dr. Rocco Pascucci has announced his retirement and will not run for re-election. Mayor Greg Buontempo has announced that he will be seeking re-election. In last week’s announcement, Mayor Buontempo will be joined by fellow Republican Ronald E. Emma as his running mate in the June 2nd Republican primary. Emma is a Holmdel resident for 13 years and a community volunteer and activist for a number of years. He currently serves as an alternate to the Holmdel Planning Board and, as a member of the Holmdel grassroots group FAST (Fire Action Safety Today), has been very vocal about public safety for Holmdel residents.

Support Holmdel Local Businesses

There are a number of Holmdel restaurants and small businesses that are open. The Township has compiled a guide to support these restaurants and local businesses. If possible, please support these local businesses. See the Holmdel Township website for more details: http://www.holmdeltownship-nj.com/

Holmdel Updates

Mayor Buontempo has been providing daily updates to residents. You can text “Holmdel" to 99411 to enroll in the CodeRED public safety alerts or register online at the Holmdel website which also includes an Alert Center with all the updates.