Scott A. Coffina, prosecutor, Burlington County
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly everyone’s life over the past year. Perhaps no one was more impacted, however, than people confronting substance use disorder. The painful companions of the pandemic – job loss, financial hardship, fear for our health, isolation – present acute challenges to those with SUD. Each one represents an imposing roadblock to recovery.
Moreover, many in-person treatment programs shut down abruptly last spring, and healthy outlets such as recovery meetings, exercise and recreational facilities, and the fellowship and distraction of the workplace suddenly became unavailable to those in recovery.
It was predictable that fatal overdoses would increase with the upheaval caused by COVID-19, and statewide, they did, although not as much as feared. New Jersey lost 3,046 individuals to suspected overdoses in 2020, compared to 3,021 in 2019.
Community Bulletin Board: Criterion Sentinel (for April 28)
Keep Middlesex Moving has developed a transportation finder to help seniors find a ride to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
The tool allows users to see what transportation options are available at almost all of the 40-plus vaccination sites in Middlesex County.
The Middlesex County Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Mega-site, operated by RWJBarnabas Health, is seeking volunteers to assist in the efficiency of the registration and vaccination process and help visitors feel comfortable.
Volunteers of the mega-site, located at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison, will greet patients and visitors; perform temperature screenings; direct patients through various steps of the vaccination process; provide education materials; and assist with maintaining the registration area and supplying vaccination stations.
Community Bulletin Board: the Suburban (for April 28)
The First Presbyterian Church of Sayreville will hold a yard sale from 8 a.m. to noon May 15 in the church parking lot, 172 Main St., Sayreville, across from Borough Hall.
Keep Middlesex Moving has developed a transportation finder to help seniors find a ride to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
The tool allows users to see what transportation options are available at almost all of the 40-plus vaccination sites in Middlesex County.
The Middlesex County Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Mega-site, operated by RWJBarnabas Health, is seeking volunteers to assist in the efficiency of the registration and vaccination process and help visitors feel comfortable.
Community Bulletin Board: the Sentinel (for April 28) centraljersey.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from centraljersey.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
DiPietro-Sabatine was the accounting administrator for DRWC, a quasi-government organization that works to develop and manage Philadelphia s central waterfront between Oregon and Allegheny avenues.
She allegedly submitted phony bills in the names of legitimate vendors, then generated DRWC checks to pay for the bogus expenses between at least 2013 and November 2019, the U.S. Attorney s Office said.
DiPietro-Sabatine manipulated software to make herself the payee on the checks and forged the required signatures of the DRWC s president and vice president, it added.
DiPietro-Sabatine deposited the checks in her own bank accounts and allegedly withdrew at least $10,000 per month at casinos, and in many instances, made withdrawals in excess of $25,000, the complaint alleges.