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NEW JERSEY All state employees will have the option to work from home as Gov. Phil Murphys office continues to enact measures aimed at promoting social distancing and stemming the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19.

And while that means tens of thousands will have the opportunity to stay home, an even more impactful measure the long-term shutdown of the states schools is imminent.

Murphy said he is prepared with 99% certainty to announce on Monday that schools will close their doors and switch to remote instruction. This would affect 1.4 million public school students and hundreds of thousands more in private schools.

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When asked by a reporter during this afternoons teleconference why he wasnt 100% sure, Murphy said, We have 210,000 kids in this state who rely on schools for food. Ive got to make sure every one of those kids gets a meal when this goes into effect. We have 259,000 kids in this state by survey who dont have a device or access to a device. We have significant child care realities, many of whom by the way overlap with healthcare workers.

He said he and members of his office are communicating with statewide stakeholders today and Monday to ensure a singular message and to ensure educators, parents and administrators have clear guidance and are prepared for the weeks ahead.

Murphys continued message of social distancing keeping six feet apart at all times comes a day after the state's second COVID-19-related death.

A 58-year-old woman who was being treated at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold has died after she had contact with a confirmed case, according to Judy Persichilli, the commissioner of the states Department of Health. Persichilli said that confirmed case had a connection with a confirmed case in Bergen County.

She announced that there are 31 new positive cases of coronavirus COVID-19 in the state. That brings the total in-state number to 98 (although the number reported on Saturday was 69, one case was on the list twice and one case overlapped with another state).

Of the new cases, seven were from Bergen County, six from Hudson, four each from Monmouth and Essex, three each in Passaic and Union and one each in Ocean, Burlington, Morris and Middlesex counties. The new cases range in age from 30 to 77, and 22 of the cases are men.

Persichilli stressed that everyone should avoid small and large gatherings and pointed to the measures taken by Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, who is calling for the 40,000 residents in his Bergen County town to self-quarantine.

Despite the pleas for social distancing, the Murphy administration seems resigned to the fact some will not heed his warning.

He requested on Sunday the federal government open a 60-day special enrollment period in New Jersey to allow uninsured and underinsured residents to enroll in health coverage through the federal health insurance exchange. This would allow more people access to testing and treatment, he said.

The Governors request was issued in a letter sent to U.S. Department Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma.

While I have coordinated across state agencies to take emergency action to facilitate access to screening, testing and access to care for the residents of New Jersey, more can be done to ensure every individual has access to appropriate health care during this crisis, Governor Murphy wrote. Therefore, as New Jersey transitions from a state-based exchange on the federal platform to a state-based exchange, I respectfully urge the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize a special enrollment period in New Jersey to allow individuals to access affordable health insurance options through the federal platform.

Murphy is also trying to anticipate the long-range effects social-distancing might have on businesses in New Jersey.

The state has established an online portal, cv.business.nj.gov, where the 86,000 or so small-businesses owners can find answers to question and concerns.

We know that this is an uncertain time for everybody, but in this case, for businesses and in particular small businesses, Murphy said. We implore them to continue to retain workers and allow workers who are sick to stay home. Not paying employees might keep employers from being able to fully benefit from anticipated settlement relief and keep their workers from using available state benefit like earned income credit and paid family leave.

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Gov. Murphy Announces State Employees Have Option to Work From Home - TAPinto.net

Watson said the districts coronavirus response team has been meeting almost three times a week, and more recently, daily for the last three or four weeks.

Watson said the district will distribute older electronic devices for students who need them to use with the online curriculum, and that the district is working on alternate solutions for students without internet access.

While the district updated families, child care providers are still waiting on a directive and struggling to make the decision about whether they should close or stay open.

BriAnne Moline, the owner of Wild Wonders Early Learning, said she did not want to close her home-based facility, but as a pregnant mother, she has her own health concerns, in addition to concerns about the safety of her staff, and also her family, who live in the home that houses the program. Moline decided Tuesday to close by the end of the week.

Fort Courage Child Care, which normally provides care for about 70 children, also will close for two weeks, said the program's executive director Katie West. Similarly, the ASUM child care center on the University of Montana campus has closed. Kristal Burns, of Missoula Community School, said their facility closed in conjunction with public schools.

Some larger child care centers have opted to close down or cut back on the number of children they serve.

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Child care facilities question whether to remain open or close - The Missoulian

Tim Killian, a spokesman for Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., prepares to give a daily briefing to reporters on Wednesday. Ted S. Warren/AP hide caption

Tim Killian, a spokesman for Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., prepares to give a daily briefing to reporters on Wednesday.

It's been two weeks since the public learned about a deadly outbreak of coronavirus at Life Care Center of Kirkland a long-term care and nursing facility in Washington state and some families wait on edge over loved ones who remain there.

As of Friday afternoon, only about a third of the 120 residents who were living at the facility in mid-February remain. There are 25 people associated with Life Care who have died after being infected with coronavirus. Other residents are in the hospital.

As more nursing facilities in Washington report cases of coronavirus, the death toll at Life Care serves as an example of the vulnerability of the elderly in the growing pandemic.

"I can stay here"

Two years ago after suffering a minor stroke, June Liu had no interest in moving into a long-term care facility.

The now 93-year-old lived alone, rode the bus and shunned the use of a walker. But Liu's daughter Su Wilson says it didn't take long for Life Care Center of Kirkland to become her mother's home.

"She kept telling me they are very nice to me, they are good, I can stay here," Wilson says.

Wilson and her husband Arnie live 10 minutes away from the Kirkland facility.

Several times a week, she'd bring her mother over to their bustling home where chickens roam around the yard, to see her great-grandchildren. On Sundays, her mother would be ready at 9:30 a.m. for church.

"It's just like life had such joyful meaning to her," Wilson says. "I would always laugh and say, 'mother you are going to live longer than me.'"

Wilson holds her smartphone and scrolls through photos of her mother out with their family some taken just a few months ago.

"We went out to the Chinese restaurant, we were all eating together, the whole family," Wilson says with a smile.

Wilson can't make sense of how these happy routines could change so fast.

Last month, she and other families discovered coronavirus had begun to sweep through this suburban community on the banks of Lake Washington.

Wilson's mother and many others who lived and worked at Life Care eventually tested positive for the virus.

"As soon as she [found] out she's positive, she no longer [wanted] to talk on the phone," Wilson says. "It [was] hard to understand her on the phone... her voice [was] so weak."

Wilson worries her mother's health is deteriorating. While she believed the nurses were doing the best they could, her mother was isolated: stuck in a room, unable to visit with her family and only able to understand a little bit of English. Liu watched other residents being wheeled away on stretchers, unlikely to return.

"I think [she was] in shock and also to find out she's going to die," Wilson says. "I think she [knows] because she's clear."

Wilson finds herself in a heartrending predicament as her mother lingers at the facility until she's no longer contagious.

No hospital beds

Outside Life Care Center, neighbors wrap blue ribbons around pine trees and flowers frame the welcome sign.

Bridget Parkhill's 76-year-old mother, Susan Hailey, was living there during rehab after knee replacement.

Parkhill says her mother went to the hospital when her symptoms worsened and tested positive for the virus. Once she was stabilized, Hailey was then brought back to Life Care.

"The hospitals don't have any beds for people who don't have acute respiratory distress," Parkhill says.

Parkill and her sister, Carmen Gray, wait outside her mother's window in the cold to check on her.

"We're hoping that mom is strong and going to come out of this on the other side OK," Gray says.

She worries the facility's staff are overstretched, and her mother isn't able to move around or bathe properly.

'We felt like it was a death sentence"

Life Care does not prohibit anyone from leaving, but families can't necessarily bring their loved ones home and run the risk of exposing others to the virus.

"There is nowhere else for these patients to go, it has been deemed that it's best to keep them on site and being treated here," says Timothy Killian, a public information liaison for Life Care Center of Kirkland.

Killian says local hospitals won't admit patients unless they have severe symptoms and other nursing home facilities are "unwilling" to take them because of their exposure to coronavirus.

And families aren't necessarily equipped to care for their relatives outside of the facility.

Laura Rightmyer says her family decided to pull her 93-year-old mother out of Life Care as the situation grew more dire.

"We felt like it was a death sentence for my mom... that her chances of getting it were obviously great," Rightmyer says.

Now her mother is living with her.

Rightmyer, who's a nurse practitioner, says she's doing better and doesn't appear to have the virus.

"I think we made the right decision for ourselves and for our mom," Rightmyer says.

Rightmyer says it's now proving difficult to find a doctor who will see her mother because she was associated with Life Care.

Su Wilson sends her mother homecooked meals and writes cards to cheer her up.

She hasn't been in the same room with her mother for more than three weeks.

"We worry about my mother, and I just feel like everybody [has] to die," Wilson says. "She [lived] a happy long life."

Wilson says she doesn't blame anyone.

"I just want to hold her hand," she says. "She's not frightened back in the loneliness."

Link:
Coronavirus Hit This Long-Term Care Facility Hard, But Moving Residents Isn't Easy - NPR

Say they did not have a mortgage and, after closing and moving costs, clear $480,000, which they invest in a portfolio divided equally between stocks and bonds. Their investments generate an inflation-adjusted $19,200 a year, based on a 4 percent distribution, so although they are spending more each year on rent, their annual cash flow rises by $7,200.

If this couple had a mortgage, the improvement in cash flow from renting could be even larger, Mr. Hopkins said. They eliminate the mortgage payments and other ownership costs and can invest the equity.

That is a huge benefit for someone who has less than an ideal amount of money saved up in retirement accounts and is likely relying heavily on Social Security, Mr. Hopkins said.

Retirees should also consider changes in the tax laws. Many home buyers who in the past would have deducted mortgage interest on a new home will be better off taking the standard deduction.

In 2020, married couples filing jointly can claim a standard deduction of $24,800, plus $1,300 for each spouse 65 and older. Congress also replaced the unlimited federal deduction for state and local taxes with a $10,000 annual cap. Residents in high-tax states, such as New York, Connecticut and California, are hit the hardest.

To help with a decision, retirees could ask a financial adviser to review the pros and cons of each option, and the impact on retirement savings and spending. Retirees can also use The New York Timess buy-versus-rent calculator to work out relative costs.

Heres how the calculator works: Say a retiree is thinking of moving to Charlotte, N.C., and has a choice between renting a recently advertised two-bedroom apartment or buying a similar one in the same building. The condo is priced at $349,000 while the monthly rent runs $1,650.

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Youre Retired. Should You Rent or Buy Your Home? - The New York Times

Consumer healthcare company Reckitt Benckiser is among the FMCG giants working around the clock to ensure a constant supply of hygiene products to Australian retailers amid growing fears over global health pandemic, COVID-19.

In recent weeks, consumers have flooded supermarkets to stock up on healthcare product and household essentials, leaving shelves of most supermarkets stripped bare for hours on end.

Glenn Cochran, regional directorRBHealthANZ told Inside FMCG that the business is working globally to ensure supplies to retailers and end-consumers are impacted as little as possible during this volatile time.

We have seen an unprecedented increase in demand for a range of products since COVID-19 began, he said. We have also seendemand increase across otherRBHealthproducts including Dettol household cleaners and personal wash solutions, as well as Nurofen and Nurofen for Children products.

We areworking around the clock with our various global teams to provide Australians with hand hygiene and analgesic products.

Demand surged following therecommendation from the WorldHealthOrganisation(WHO)to practice good hand hygienebyfrequently washing hands using soap and water andbyusing an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, Cochran explained.

With consumers growing increasingly anxious over the limited access to health products, Cochran said the company is doing its best to ensure fair distribution.

We are maintaining ongoing conversations throughout our supply chain toensure ongoing supply is shared equitably among retailers so that consumers have accessibility to the available stock, while weexpedite anincrease in production.

He also highlighted the importance of educating consumers on health and self-care during times like this.

RBHealths mission is to makeaccesstothe highest quality hygiene and wellnesssolutions for all Australiansa right not a privilege.Our goal is forRBHealthbrands, including Dettol, to use its brand footprint to educate consumers on self-care and we will continue to do so throughout this current situation and for the long term, he added.

Dettol runs a HealthyHabits school education initiative to teach kids good hygiene practices.

Bubs Australia has also applied additional measures to its supply chain for its infant formula product range such as Bubs Goat Milk formula and Bubs Organic Cow Milk formula to meet increased demand from parents who need to secure supplies for their babies.

We have greatly increased our capacity and are working to expand our inventory cover and meet the supply needs of our retail partners across both goat milk and organic grass-fed cows milk-based formula, moving to two shifts per day, with capacity to move to three shifts if required, said Carr.

The infant formula maker is working with retailers such as Coles, Woolworths, Big W and Chemist Warehouse to ensure the supply of Bubs Organic 365 days Grass Fed Infant Formula range and Bubs Australian Goat Milk infant formula range.

Carr said Bubs has extended free shipping offer for all orders of baby food and infant formula via their website.

As always, our first concern is for the health and safety of the Bubs Family. For our Bubs Corporate office, we have implemented arrangements to underpin business continuity and the continued health and well being of our people to the greatest extent possible in these testing times, Carrsaid.

Earlier this month, toilet paper manufacturers including Kimberly-Clark were the first to ramp up production to meet the surge in demand from panicked consumers.

Supermarkets were forced to suspend online services this week as shortages hampered their ability to fulfill orders.

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Reckitt Benckiser working 'around the clock' to maintain supply of hygiene products - Inside FMCG

I watched in horror as the half cup of uncooked Jasmine rice slipped from my hands and scattered across the carpet floor. The metal measuring cup ricocheted off the ground, projecting rice in every which way. This was my first attempt to prepare a Zen cuisine meal and, from a Zen perspective, I was having an abysmal start. My mind raced to my closet where my vacuum sat waiting and without hesitation my legs meandered to the corner. It was the quick and effortless solution. The uncooked rice that laid on the ground had already changed names, from food to trash. How did throwing away perfectly edible food become so natural to me?

That label-change is all too familiar in our consumerist world. The moment we dislike food or feel full, the excess is considered trash. The USDA reports that in the U.S., 30 to 40 percent of the food supply becomes food waste. Thats over $160 billion worth of wholesome food that could help feed the world is instead thrown out each year in the U.S. alone. Once again, we choose the quick and effortless solution to deal with our excess of food.

At that moment a quote from Instruction for the Tenzo, a Buddhist historical text I had been reading by Zen Master Dgen began to echo through my head.

Treat food as if they are your own eyeballs.

I acknowledge that the saying is both striking and quirky; however, it holds a short and powerful message. Food should be respected and cared for, not wasted. Uncooked rice that falls to the ground shouldnt become trash; it remains as food and something to be treasured. The root of this saying comes from Zen teachings; however my imagination at the time interpreted it more directly and flew to a mental image of a small suburban town of hazel-eyed residents being terrorized and sucked into the sky by a vacuum cleaner. I quickly shrugged it off. Maybe the thing I should be worried about is how I (and many others) have been conditioned to view excess food as trash.

I got down on my knees and began collecting the tiny eyeballs, piece by piece. I scanned the floor; my attention narrowed as I pinched and plucked from the tightly corded carpet. My movement became rhythmic and soothing. The experience reminded me of weeding. I once despised the task as my parents dragged me outside to the family garden to remove blades of grass from the mulchy soil. However, as I got older it became a practice I learned to appreciate. Both while weeding and rice collecting, I enjoyed slowly creating order out of chaos. Once again, the measuring cup was filled with rice.

For the last several weeks, I have reflected on the principles of Zen Buddhism. Zen philosophy emphasizes mindfulness, choosing to act thoughtfully and not impulsively, a life of meditation and reflection, acknowledging the interconnectedness between all forms of existence and living in simplicity and tranquility. These ideas may sound convoluted or foreign; however, they are applicable to how we treat unwanted food. Zen Buddhism asserts a holistic dogma of the world, stating that all actions and events are inherently connected. It is understood that the food on our plate is not only there to feed ourselves, but to feed all beings on Earth.

In Instruction for the Tenzo, Dgen describes the role of the Tenzo, which is the position of head cook. He claims that the Tenzo is the most important position held within the monastery and emphasizes the attention to detail and respect for food needed to perform the job. When explaining how to cook with varying ingredients, he says, your attitude towards things should not be contingent upon their quality.

We spend most of our lives preparing, washing, cooking, gathering and eating food. Food is a direct reflection on how we treat ourselves and the ecological impact of our daily lives. It is important to respect food in the same way we respect ourselves. When we waste or throw out food, it reveals the disconnect between ourselves and nature, the disconnect between us and the resources and labor needed to transport the food onto our plate. Zen philosophy challenges that disconnect and forces us to acknowledge that the food we waste could easily fill the stomach of another being in need.

I hope you reconsider the next time you have leftover food on your plate or when uncooked hazel-eyeballs cover your living room floor. Resist the dumpster and vacuum cleaner. The unused is not trash it is food. If we hope to create a future free from malnutrition, starvation and food insecurity, we first must look inward and cultivate that change from within ourselves. It begins with our food.

For students that want to discover more ways they can reduce their own food waste, please reach out to the Cornell Food Recovery Network via cornellfrn@gmail.com or on their website cornellfoodrecoverynetwork.com!

Danyeh Gutema is a junior in the College of Engineering. He can be reached at dlg96@cornell.edu.

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Food Ethics | Zen Instructions on How to Treat Your Eyeballs - Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun

Hardwood floor installation can take anywhere from a few days to more than two weeks, depending on demolition, wood type, the condition of your subfloor, total square footage of the project, and installation method. Demolition is necessary if you have existing flooring you want to replace with hardwood floors. New-construction homes do not require this step, as the subfloor is primed and ready for floor installation. During demolition, the flooring crew may find that your subfloor has damaged wood, uneven surfaces or other problems that must be addressed before the new wood can be laid down. Crews may charge on an hourly rate for subfloor repair, and the work can take a few hours to several days, depending on whats hiding underneath your floor. The wood for your new floor generally arrives a few days before any work begins. This allows the wood to acclimate to the relative humidity in your house, which prevents it from shrinking or expanding after installation and causing gaps or buckling. The actual wood installation may take several days or more, depending on the size of your home and what type of custom cutting and designs are desired. If your flooring is not prefinished, the unfinished wood must then be sanded and stained in the home to treat and protect your new investment. Typically, stain takes a full day to dry, and multiple coats are applied. Baseboards and trim must also be installed. With all these variables at play, you can see why its important for a wood installation pro to provide an estimate only after seeing your home.

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The 10 Best Hardwood Floor Installers in Jacksonville, FL 2020

Dana Sparks @danamsparks

MondayMar16,2020at6:04AM

Volunteer coaches for KIDSPORTS programs left their mark on the new Civic Park facility under construction in south Eugene.

The coaches signed the cement foundations last week where the foundation of the facilitys ground floor courts wood flooring will be installed next month. It served to honor the volunteer coaches and their efforts in making local programs possible.

The ground floor of the facility, off Amazon Parkway between East 19th and East 24th avenues, hosts four middle school-size basketball courts which can convert to two NCAA-size courts and be used for volleyball, pickleball, badminton, wrestling, futsal and more, according to a news release from Eugene Civic Alliance.

Between now and the June 6 grand opening, a variety of projects must be completed: finishing the field house interiors, laying the gym floors, landscape work, final paving, finishing construction of the ticket booth, setting up bleacher seating and other projects, according to Carly Demanett, Eugene Civic Alliance media and communications director.

Phase one construction costs equal $30 million with $5.5 million still left to raise. The project remains on schedule.

Eugene Civic Alliance anticipates having the keys in hand by May 21.

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Volunteer coaches leave their mark on new KIDSPORTS facility - The Register-Guard

SAINT PETERSBURG, Fla. This weekend, many of us will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day with lots of green, but you can save lots of green on new flooring, too. Freshen up your home with free installation on new floors from 50Floor through the month of March. Take advantage of this deal for as many rooms as you choose. It all starts with a free, no pressure, in-home design consultation, where the experts will bring samples to you so you can make sure you make the best decision for your space. On installation day, let 50Floor do all of the work for you quickly, professionally and efficiently. They can get the job done in as little as one day. For more information, go to 50floor.com or call 877-50Floor. Mention 'Great Day' for an extra $100 off your order.

Tune into Great Day Live weekdays from 9 to 10 a.m. on WTSP-TV.

Hosts Kendall Kirkham and Java Ingram bring you the latest in what everyones talking about, from trending stories, lifestyle and entertainment news, buzz-worthy, pop culture moments, and all things fun and exciting happening around Tampa Bay.

Whether its people making a difference, talented artists and musicians, delicious food, fun activities to do and make with the family, lovable animals, entertaining events and big names coming to town, weve got you covered. We hope to bring you a wealth of information to live your best life and start your morning right!

Like us on Facebook at @greatdaylivetampabay or on Instagram at @greatdaylivetampabay.

If you have an interesting segment idea, send an email to mrancourt@wtsp.com

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Save lots of green on new floors - WTSP.com

The shadows are about to lengthen across suburbia. Property owners are to be granted new rights to install extra storeys on housing blocks without planning permission in a government push to boost homeownership that appears likely to provoke furious neighbourhood debates.

The scheme, which will begin this summer, is expected to transform the skyline of residential areas as owners are allowed to build upwards by two storeys without their designs being policed by planners.

Critics say the new right, announced on Thursday by the housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, as a bold and creative measure, risks a new generation of substandard homes and raising tensions between neighbours.

Building upwards currently requires planning consent, which involves checks on how well designs fit with nearby homes and the potential overshadowing of neighbours properties.

The new right will deliver new and bigger homes and increase density in line with local character and make the most of local infrastructure, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said.

It will apply to purpose-built blocks of flats rather than individual houses, a ministry official said.

Max Titchmarsh, a London-based architect who has researched ways to add housing above commercial buildings, said it could be a total car crash.

Developers wont need to make the units compliant with the national planning policy framework and you will get undersized homes, he said. There will be no screening for quality.

The Labour MP Helen Hayes said it would be a repeat of the unmitigated disaster for many communities that was the result, in her view, of a similar permitted development right to turn office blocks into homes.

The job of planning is to balance competing concerns and make sure outcomes reflect the common good, she said, warning a building free-for-all could cause tensions.

Jenrick announced the scheme as part of a suite of measures aimed at solving the housing crisis, which included a consultation on allowing developers to demolish vacant commercial and residential blocks and replace them with housing without planning consent.

'The housing delivery system is broken, not the planning system'

He also announced early plans for a new town near Cambridge as part of scheme for four large new housing developments in an arc between Oxford and Cambridge, a long-planned development corridor.

District councils voiced significant concerns that the new permitted development right for building upwards would allow developers to avoid paying what they owe for local infrastructure and for local affordable homes.

Mark Crane, the District Councils Network lead member for stronger economies, said: Districts continue to grant nine in 10 planning permissions, while tens of thousands of homes with planning permission remain unbuilt the housing delivery system is broken, not the planning system.

David Renard, planning spokesman for the Local Government Association, said the government should not take away more of the powers councils and communities need over planning.

He said the planning system protected communities so they can ensure new developments are environmentally friendly, safe, supported by the right infrastructure and include affordable homes.

The ministry said it would also introduce a renters reform bill that would abolish landlords right to evict tenants on a no fault basis, and promised a much-delayed social housing white paper, previously promised after the Grenfell Tower disaster to ensure that residents in social homes are treated with dignity and respect.

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Flat block owners to get right to add floors with no permission needed - The Guardian