Effective April 15, 2006, indoor public places and workplaces across the State will be smoke free. New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act ensures that workers have a safe workplace and that all nonsmokers, including children and senior citizens, can breathe smoke-free air in the public places they visit.

For more information please go to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services "Smoke-Free Air" website at:
" http://nj.gov/health/ctcp/smokefree/index.shtml"

Below are links to documents, prepared by the State and Federal Governments, regarding Pandemic Influenza and Health Emergency Planning:

"Pandemic Influenza Planning: A guide for individuals and families"

"New Jersey: A Public Health Guide to Emergency Planning"

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INFORMATION ON FOOD ALLERGIES

Ask Before You Eat!–that's the advice New Jersey's Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and researchers at Rutgers University's Food Policy Institute and Department of Nutritional Sciences are giving those with food allergies. This simple step could save their lives!

In 2005 the New Jersey Legislature directed the NJDHSS to conduct the Ask Before You Eat! campaign to help protect New Jersey's residents from the dangers of food allergies. The goal is to help everyone – friends, neighbors, and restaurants – understand why it is so important for people with food allergies to avoid foods that trigger allergic reactions.

To achieve this goal, the Ask Before You Eat! campaign has created fact sheets for New Jersey's restaurants with advice on how to serve enjoyable and safe meals to customers with food allergies. This website also serves as a resource for restaurant owners and families with (or without) food allergies to learn to Ask Before You Eat!

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO: www.foodallergy.rutgers.edu OR CALL THE TOWNSHIP OF HANOVER HEALTH DEPARTMENT (DR. DOROTHY ZUFALL, HEALTH EDUCATOR) AT 973-515-6641.

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Put It In Writing
What You Need To Know About Living Wills

The Township of Hanover Health Department will present the program, “Put It in Writing – What You Need to Know about Living Wills” upon request.

Living Wills, along with a trusted person to make decisions, allow a patient to determine what and how much medical care will be provided for him/her. Participants will look at what has been learned from the Schiavo case and will determine what is best for them.

The program will be made available to organizations in the Township of Hanover. To request a program for an organization, please call (973) 515-6641.

Other Health Seminars: Is your group or organization need a speaker on a health topic? Subjects include:

“Mind Aerobics – Jump Start Your Memory”

“What’s Bugging You? Tick-Borne Diseases”

“Matters of the Heart – Keeping Your Heart in the Best Shape”

“What Color are Your Glasses? – The Positive Power of Optimism” and others

A limited number of presentations will be available throughout the year and will be limited to meetings in the Township of Hanover. For more information, please leave a message at 973-515-6641.

“Parenting our Parents” and care giving of older relatives/spouses is becoming widespread. If there is a sufficient need in the Township of Hanover, a support group may be arranged. For information/interest, please leave a message at 973-515-6641.

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CLINICS: Information regarding our programs is published periodically in the Hanover Eagle and Regional Weekly News and the Tuesday's edition of the Daily Record's Health Happenings section. Clinic information is also provided through the Health Department’s voice mail system by dialing (973) 428-2484 and then pressing option 1. Updated clinic information will be posted on the Township of Hanover’s web site.

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CHILD HEALTH CONFERENCE: The Township of Hanover Health Department has contracted with Morristown Health Department to provide Child Health Services to the residents of Hanover Township. This service consists of vaccinations and periodic "well-baby" examinations by a physician. This service is available to the children (5 years of age and younger) of residents who are uninsured or whose health insurance does not cover this activity. This service is provided free of charge. Residents who are interested in this program should contact the Township of Hanover Health Department at 973-515-6668 and ask for the Public Health Nurse.

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BLOOD PRESSURE: The Township of Hanover Health Department will be offering a monthly Blood Pressure Screening Clinic the first Wednesday of each month (September through June) from 1:30 to 3:15 PM in the Main Meeting Room of the Municipal Building, 1000 Rt. 10, Whippany. All residents over the age of 18 years are welcome to attend.

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PROTECT THE WHIPPANY RIVER WATERSHED: Rivers, lakes and ponds could be severely polluted by the improper use of lawn fertilizers and pesticides. Fertilizers and pesticides could get washed into water bodies with stormwater runoff and could possibly cause fish kills. They could also cause excessive aquatic plant and algae growth which is unsightly and will cause the waterbody to fill up quickly with sediments. Have your soil tested before you apply fertilizer, your lawn may not need it. Contact the Morris County Cooperative Extension Service (973-285-8300) for more information on soil testing and pest control. The cost for soil testing is usually $10.00.

Do not dump anything into storm drains since they are directly connected to our rivers and lakes. Also, please pick up and dispose of your pet waste. Pet waste will contaminate stormwater which eventually reaches and effects the sanitary quality of our rivers, lakes and streams.

Over the past 10 years the Whippany River has greatly improved. Let's protect and improve our valuable water resources (i.e. Whippany River and Bee Meadow Ponds) by properly using fertilizers and pesticides and by picking up after our pets.