Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in Rockaway Borough, NJ for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments Rockaway Borough, NJ can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in Rockaway Borough, NJ, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933
Rockaway Township Fire Chief announces the closure of Rockaway EMS and migration to 24/7 hospital-based EMS services as the nation faces a first-responder shortage.-With mixed emotions, Rockaway Fire Chief Jim Russo announced effective December 31, 2022, that the Rockaway Township Volunteer EMS Division would close due to the shortage of first responders.With the closure of Rockaway’s EMS division, there will be a migration to 24/7 hospital-based EMS coverage for all of Rockaway To...
Rockaway Township Fire Chief announces the closure of Rockaway EMS and migration to 24/7 hospital-based EMS services as the nation faces a first-responder shortage.
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With mixed emotions, Rockaway Fire Chief Jim Russo announced effective December 31, 2022, that the Rockaway Township Volunteer EMS Division would close due to the shortage of first responders.
With the closure of Rockaway’s EMS division, there will be a migration to 24/7 hospital-based EMS coverage for all of Rockaway Township effective January 1, 2023. The shortage of members and continually increasing call volumes have made the volunteer division unsustainable.
“We felt it was in the best interest of the residents to allow the town to provide an alternative solution which could provide the necessary and needed service to the residents. This sadly is something that is not only occurring in our town but is a current crisis across the entire country both with paid and volunteer services.” - Jim Russo, Fire Department Chief
The Rockaway Township Fire Department is currently working with the Mayor and his Administrative team to bid on EMS service contracts for the Township. In the meantime, St. Clares EMS will continue to provide emergency medical services for Rockaway Township 24/7.
Since the early 1950s, the Rockaway Township Fire Department responded to all EMS calls in the town of Rockaway with all volunteer members, beginning with two ambulances (one in Hibernia Fire Company #1 and one in Mount Hope Fire Company #2).
As the town grew, additional fire stations were added throughout the town bringing us Marcella Company #3, Birchwood Company #4, and White Meadow Lake Company #5. Each station was equipped with fire apparatus and an ambulance, and the volunteers responded to all fire and EMS calls in their respective territories.
In 2006, Rockaway Township brought in St Clares EMS to cover day-time EMS calls due to increased demands and a lack of daytime volunteer availability.
In 2011, as EMS call volumes increased exponentially and membership decreased, the Rockaway Township Fire Department created an EMS Division. The EMS Division was split into two areas covering the North (Marcella and Hibernia) and the South (White Meadow, Mount Hope, and Birchwood) for night-time and weekend EMS response.
On July 1, 2011, at 6 pm, the EMS Division of the Rockaway Township Fire Department officially began with its first shift, which ensured fully staffed volunteer ambulances for all EMS calls with EMTs for all of the shifts covered, something which was not required by law but felt was needed by the EMS Division members.
Since then, increasing demands and decreasing membership shifted more responsibility to the hospital-based EMS to ensure adequate EMS coverage in the town of Rockaway.
On December 30, 2022, at 6 pm, the last shift of the EMS Division of the RTFD started, and the EMS Division of the Rockaway Township Fire Department officially ended at 5 am December 31st, 2022.
Over the past 10 ½ years, Rockaway EMS has seen members join, and members leave, all due to life and changes therein. They’ve also had members that started as EMTs and then moved on in life to become Nurses, Nursing Professors, ER Doctors, Physician Assistants, EMS Supervisors, Physical Therapists, and EMTs at various hospital-based services, and the list goes on, continuing their desire to be of service in the health care field.
“We are extremely proud of all our present and past members for all the time, dedication, and effort they gave to the residents and to the department and look forward to those EMS Only members who will remain on the Department to assist on calls with the Fire Division,” said Jim Russo, Fire Department Chief. We would like to thank the Fire Only members of the Department who assisted our Division through the years, and would also like to thank all the other agencies that have assisted us over the years, including Saint Clare's Health, Atlantic Mobile Health, Town of Dover Fire Department, Denville Volunteer Fire Department, Par-Troy EMS, Green Pond First Aid Squad, Morris County Office of Emergency Management, and others that we may be missing.”
Green Pond EMS will continue to operate with their volunteers within Green Pond, supported by hospital-based EMS as needed.
Want to help out? Become a firefighter or EMT!
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ROCKAWAY BOROUGH — Years of planning and $2 million later, borough officials are celebrating the completion of the Parks Lake project.The lake, also known as Fox Pond, is used by residents of Rockaway Borough and Rockway Township, but the renovations were completed only on the borough side, as the municipalities didn't see eye to eye on how to pay for the dredging portion of the project, the removal of sediment and debris from the bottom of the lake"For the past seven years we've been trying to sock aw...
ROCKAWAY BOROUGH — Years of planning and $2 million later, borough officials are celebrating the completion of the Parks Lake project.
The lake, also known as Fox Pond, is used by residents of Rockaway Borough and Rockway Township, but the renovations were completed only on the borough side, as the municipalities didn't see eye to eye on how to pay for the dredging portion of the project, the removal of sediment and debris from the bottom of the lake
"For the past seven years we've been trying to sock away money for this project," said borough Mayor Tom Mulligan. "At this time, Rockaway Township had other prioritization, so they didn't participate in the dredging of the lake."
Borough officials closed out the project last Friday with an estimated cost of $2 million. Work included replacement of the dam, dredging the Rockaway Borough side of the lake and extending the beach area. The walking path by the dam and the beach was also repaved.
Rockaway Township Mayor Mike Puzio said they expect renovations and improvements on their side of the lake to happen by next year. They are currently drafting up plans with township engineers.
" I had to make some tough choices in terms of what the residents were going to get the most use out of," Puzio said. "We are planning on doing our section [of Park Lake], our gazebo side and improving the landscape."
Residents in the area use Parks Lake for swimming and fishing, and it includes a 0.7-mile walkway around the lake. More than 10 years ago, the state's Department of Environmental Protection informed the municipality that the dam needed to be replaced, Mulligan said.
"So we've had over 10 years of planning, reengineering, property acquisition," Mulligan added. "We were putting money in our budget every year to cover, pretty much, the cost of this project."
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The Rockaway Township side of the lake includes a gazebo and needs renovations, according to the DEP. In February 2020, borough officials asked the neighboring township to financially contribute to the dredging. Township officials told them they had other financial priorities, officials said.
"We were hoping to have the opportunity to dredge with them, since we had all the permits in place," Mulligan said.
DEP permits were obtained and they were “a considerable expense” for the borough. The permit to lower the lake's water was valid between Aug. 31 and Sept. 31.
The two municipalities split costs for other shared services, including garbage and snow removal and portable toilet rentals for the lake. Officials from both municipalities have been meeting since 2018 to discuss the project. The renovation portion of the project lasted almost a year. Mulligan said there was a lot of frustration from residents and households along the area who were not able to use it.
"But since we're done, they're all smiles," Mulligan added.
With the Parks Lake project completed, the borough will focus on residential and business construction, including a 72-unit senior housing project on West Main Street.
Jessie Gomez is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com and NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
If you or even your kids are into dinosaurs, you’ll love this dinosaur safari coming to New Jersey this summer.LuminoCity is a company that “creates unforgettable and immersive experiences”. They base their attraction on light and imagination.They have put on plenty of festivals all with different themes like Winter Fantasy, Wild Adventure, and Sweet Dreamand this time, they are bringing a Dinosaur Safari to life....
If you or even your kids are into dinosaurs, you’ll love this dinosaur safari coming to New Jersey this summer.
LuminoCity is a company that “creates unforgettable and immersive experiences”. They base their attraction on light and imagination.
They have put on plenty of festivals all with different themes like Winter Fantasy, Wild Adventure, and Sweet Dream
and this time, they are bringing a Dinosaur Safari to life.
Dino Safari will take place from June 10 to July 9 at Rockaway Townsquare.
The lighting festival will feature a Volcanic Extinction where each light display tells a story.
Illuminated Prehistoric Wonders, Roaring Dinosaurs Come to Life where you’ll come across “40 lifelike dinosaurs that move, roar, and tower as high as 46 feet.”
Also a dinosaur bouncy castle, dinosaur speedway, and caterpillar express train.
You can book a daytime ticket (from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) or a nighttime ticket (from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
The address is 301 Mount Hope Ave in Rockaway, NJ at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall in the JC Penny parking lot.
Click HERE for more information.
The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5's Morning Show Producer Kristen. Any opinions expressed are her own.
Questions, corrections, or comments? Send Producer Kristen an email at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram.
ROCKAWAY, NJ — A brand-new retail marijuana dispensary in Rockaway has officially opened for business, making it the first legal recreational marijuana dispensary in all of Morris County.Kind Kush staged its grand opening earlier this month on Aug. 19 in the Rockaway Borough shopping center off of Route 46, which is anchored by Tractor Supply Co., after its preliminary soft launch in late July.The dispensary received final approval from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission on July 18. "The wait was stressful...
ROCKAWAY, NJ — A brand-new retail marijuana dispensary in Rockaway has officially opened for business, making it the first legal recreational marijuana dispensary in all of Morris County.
Kind Kush staged its grand opening earlier this month on Aug. 19 in the Rockaway Borough shopping center off of Route 46, which is anchored by Tractor Supply Co., after its preliminary soft launch in late July.
The dispensary received final approval from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission on July 18. "The wait was stressful, but we can finally say that we made it, and like we’ve said before, we’re beyond excited to meet you all in-person," Kind Kush officials said.
According to the dispensary's website, packaged goods include cannabis supplied in natural flower-bud form, pre-rolled joints, edibles, vape cartridges, as well as accessories such as lighters, rolling paper and grinders.
Customers must be at least 21 years old and may purchase no more than one ounce at a time.
Prices on their website range from $55 for 3.5 grams of pure indica, $38.67 for a five-pack of pre-rolls, and $30–$40 for edibles.
The dispensary is open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Sundays.
For more information, visit kindkushdispensary.com or email [email protected] or call 973-586-9333.
Although Kind Kush is the county's first recreational dispensary, nearby communities are close behind, with the most anticipated coming to Morristown in the near future.
The business will be housed in a two-story building on Ridgedale Avenue, making it Morristown's first cannabis dispensary. The initial decision and plan presentation occurred last month, but the final approval came on March 23.
Uma Flowers will be located at the former Sam's Automotive Repair location, 102 Ridgedale Avenue.
The land is currently owned by the neighboring Morris Brick and Stone Co., which will lease it to Uma Flowers to run the cannabis business.
The store's debut date was not specified during the plan's presentation, but the dispensary will sell both recreational and medicinal marijuana.
Tejal and Priyanka Patel, the sisters-in-law behind Uma Flowers, told the Morristown planning board that they had worked in public health and medicine before launching the cannabis company around a year ago.
The dispensary will initially be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
In 2021, New Jersey became the 13th state in the nation to legalize marijuana, joining states like California, Colorado, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts where marijuana is legal. The move came after a majority of New Jersey voters (more than 70 percent) supported legalizing marijuana, via a change to the state's constitution.
Adults 21 and older have the legal right to consume cannabis in New Jersey. They must smoke in private spaces. However, landlords may prohibit weed consumption on their property.
Know the laws when it comes to cannabis. Find out more from the state's FAQ page on recreational use.
ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — Some teachers and district employees are concerned about the district's decision to reopen schools with in-person learning on Tuesday, Sept. 8, amid the COVID pandemic. Their union representatives said the district is taking risks with students and staff that surrounding districts have decided to avoid.Chief among the concerns is lunchtime, when students will be taking off their masks to eat in areas with poor air flow and little time for cleaning, said officials with the Rockaway Township Educ...
ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — Some teachers and district employees are concerned about the district's decision to reopen schools with in-person learning on Tuesday, Sept. 8, amid the COVID pandemic. Their union representatives said the district is taking risks with students and staff that surrounding districts have decided to avoid.
Chief among the concerns is lunchtime, when students will be taking off their masks to eat in areas with poor air flow and little time for cleaning, said officials with the Rockaway Township Education Association.
Some other districts opted for half-day schedules because of the risks that lunch presents.
The Rockaway Township decision to have students eat lunch in the school buildings "requires students to take off their masks for a period of time, which increases the transmission rate,” education association Co-president Tara VanOrden said at the Aug. 26 Board of Education meeting.
Of 263 members who responded to a survey, 88% said they were concerned about the reopening of the schools in person, said Brian Adams, the education association's co-president, whose group is a local affiliate of the National Education Association. It includes 470 district employees.
The employees, who include teachers, assistants and custodians, see masks taken off during lunch as a weakness in the district’s back-to-school plan. It’s a problem compounded by a lack of cleaning staff, a lack of time to clean, and poor air circulation and filtration, among other concerns, Adams and VanOrden said at the recent board meeting.
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Superintendent Peter Turnamian said the district's HVAC systems are fully functional and “far ahead of many other districts in being able to ensure proper humidity and temperature levels as well as air flow,” including in cafeteria spaces, “thereby addressing the concerns that were raised" by the union.
“To further address the concerns raised we adjusted duty assignments to increase the level of supervision during all lunch periods which will further ensure proper social distancing is maintained," Turnamian said in an email. "Furthermore, working in partnership with the RTEA the district doubled the amount of custodial staff in each school building during lunch periods to ensure proper sanitation will be maintained throughout the school day.”
So far, the state has approved reopening plans for 545 school districts, charter schools and private schools, Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press briefing on Wednesday. Of those, 328 were hybrid plans with some online and some in-person learning, 150 were completely remote learning until a designated time later to go to in-person, 50 were completely in-person, and 17 were some combination of those options across schools within a district.
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Rockaway Township union officials have said there’s still not enough time or personnel to clean the district’s five elementary schools and one middle school after meals. They also argued that being able to adjust temperature, humidity levels and air flow doesn’t eliminate the risk. The district’s systems are unable to accommodate higher filter efficiency — the kind of filters recommended by the CDC with respect to coronavirus, the union officials said.
“Ultimately, our district’s ventilation system is not able to provide the necessary filtration according to the CDC to protect students and staff from the virus," Adams said. "Is this inadequacy really a risk that we are willing to take?”
Other Morris County school districts have decided to forgo full days in order to avoid lunch periods. By the Rockaway Township union’s count, 75% of Morris County districts deemed lunchtime “an unnecessary risk,” VanOrden said, noting that Morris Hills Regional, Denville and Rockaway Borough have implemented half-day schedules.
Each of the Rockaway Township district schools will present its own challenges, union leaders said. For instance, Copeland Middle School students will be eating in the cafeteria broken up into two cohorts, which will reduce the student population by 50% for the sake of social distancing. Students will be spread out, according to guidelines. But there are no windows in the space. These students will be changing classes every 30 to 50 minutes, and the district will rely on custodial staff to clean after lunches, and teachers and assistants to clean between classes while also supervising the students to ensure that social distancing occurs in the halls, VanOrden said.
Elementary school students will eat in their classrooms, where they will spend most of the day. Teachers and assistants will be responsible for cleaning these spaces, Adams said.
Turnamian would not answer direct questions about custodial staff.
Resident Rick Sedivec said he is keeping an open mind, but watching cautiously.
“Indoor dining was approved as of Friday in New Jersey, but outdoor activity is considered lower risk of exposure," Sedivec said. "In school I expect a safe place for our children — teachers, too — to eat. It is too early to know if the indoor eating guidelines are effective.”
Gene Myers is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
