Cranford Announces Drive-In Movies, And Dining On Alden Street

CRANFORD, NJ — The Cranford Township Committee passed measures this week to allow drive-in movies on weekends through mid-July, and to restrict cars from part of Alden Street so residents can dine outdoors there. The measures are an attempt to energize businesses and to give residents activities that allow for social distancing amid the coronavirus crisis.

Measures include:

• Drive-in movies: The Cranford Movie Theater was granted approval to use the Orange Avenue Pool parking lot on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights (Sunday rain days) as a drive-in movie venue. The outdoor movies will run through July 19, unless extended by resolution of the Township Committee. Look for more details here in the next few days.
• Expanded outdoor dining: The committee introduced an ordinance to permit restaurants and dining establishments to seek approval for temporary expanded outdoor dining areas to compensate for the reduction of tables due to social distancing. The Township took this action in anticipation of the state lifting the restrictions on outdoor dining. In addition, the ordinance established a Code Review Committee to expedite applications and ensure the seating areas meet safety standards. The ordinance will have a final hearing and possible passage on July 14.
• A portion of Alden Street will be closed to create a public plaza for outdoor dining. The street will be closed from North Union Avenue up to Municipal Parking Lot 11 (next to St. Michael's Church) every Thursday starting at 3 p.m. through Monday at 8 a.m. More details are coming soon.

Here is some updated coronavirus-related information about testing, statistics, businesses, schools, and how to get and give help in Cranford:

LOCAL CORONAVIRUS STATISTICS

• Mayor Patrick Giblin said Thursday that there have been 466 confirmed cases of Cranford residents with the virus, including six new cases in the past day of residents in long-term care facilities like rehabs.
• There have been 90 fatalities of residents, 13 in town and 77 in long-term care (see link below for numbers in various nursing homes).

LONG-TERM CARE

• New Jersey residents have become alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities, and have charged that the facilities are undercounting the numbers and not adequately protecting residents and staff. The state has faced questions for weeks from the press about how they will address the problems.
• There is now a state website with numbers for people at individual nursing homes.
• You can report immediate issues with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct that should be reported to the Attorney General, here.

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TESTING

• Gov. Phil Murphy is encouraging all residents to get tested, even if they do not have symptoms. The Union County Test Site at Kean University is open and free for all County residents. Call to confirm hours and other details. You can book an appointment online here or call 908-214-7107 or 908-373-5105.
• The drive-through center is also open to first responders statewide. To find out more about testing in Union County, click here.

SCHOOLS

• Cranford schools have been closed since mid-March. Gov. Phil Murphy has said New Jersey schools will be closed for the rest of the year. He is not sure yet about day camps and day cares.
• Cranford schools will close five calendar days earlier than originally intended.
• On April 14, after Spring Break ended, Cranford schools instituted new distance learning procedures and grading policies. READ MORE.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

• Cranford Patch has published a simple Open-or-Closed Directory for local businesses during the coronavirus shutdown. Dozens of submissions have come in. See the directory here.
• The Cranford Chamber of Commerce recently released a video, thanking those who shop local.
• Here's what you need to know about applying for unemployment and other benefits during coronavirus. MORE.
• Read more about coronavirus-related benefits, regulations, and programs for New Jersey small businesses and individuals here.
• Cranford property taxes are due on June 1. The original due date of May 1 was extended.

GIVING AND GETTING HELP

• There are many Cranford resources for seniors, the needy, the hungry, and those who need help for an emergency. If you need help, contact town officials or browse resources via the town website.
• Mayor Patrick Giblin has posted information about where to get tested, about not feeling isolated during social isolation, about domestic violence, unemployment benefits, and more in each nightly newsletter. To read examples of his nightly newsletters, click here or click here and sign up on the town website.
• Here is a story about the local branch of the Front Line Appreciation Group.

STATE TRENDS

• Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday that statewide, New Jersey had its highest coronavirus-related daily hospitalization number in a week: 365. He also said that 287 people who had the virus were released from the hospital that day. Murphy said it was rare to have more people entering the hospital than leaving in a given day.
• Murphy has been allowing certain types of businesses and facilities to reopen, but said any reopenings have to be done slowly and predicated on data, to avoid a new spike.
• Statewide, as of Thursday, the number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey had risen to 157,185, and 11,401 people have died. The number represented 1,261 new confirmed cases and 66 more deaths.
• On April 30, the death rate reached a peak in New Jersey, as 460 New Jerseyans lost their lives to the virus in 24 hours, or one person every three minutes. The number of new deaths then began to gradually decline.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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