Newswise — What:Johns Hopkins Children’s Center is like a dog with two tails! The children’s hospital now has its first full-time facility dogs. The two dogs, Rosalina and Yoda, are part of the Child Life Department’s Paws for Healing Facility Dog Program funded by a $150,000 grant from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. The pair are expertly trained canines who work directly with pediatric patients during their clinic or hospital care. The dogs were carefully matched by the professionals at Canine Companions, who have bred, raised and trained service and facility dogs since 1975.
Before arriving at the Children’s Center, Rosalina, now almost 2 years old, and Yoda, who recently turned 2, underwent almost two years of training to be able to interact with patients on specific, individualized goals. Their handlers, Carrie Potter, senior child life specialist, and Molly Trippe-Gallagher, child life specialist III, also received specialized training.
This March, during National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week with Preservation Action, Preservation New Jersey took our message to Washington, D.C., meeting with representatives from across the state to ensure New Jersey’s historic places are protected, celebrated, and supported as we approach America’s 250th anniversary.Historic preservation is more than safeguarding buildings, it is about protecting the stories, culture, and character that define our communities. It fuels local economies, revitalizes downtowns, strengthens civic pride, and connects residents and visitors to the rich heritage that surrounds them. During Advocacy Week, our team highlighted why preservation matters not only for the past but for the present and future of New Jersey communities. Read Full Story
The GCFD is proud to announce the addition of two new probationary firefighters to the department.
Please join us in welcoming Mike Girgenti and Chris Dolson. Mike and Chris will be attending the Camden County Fire Academy for the next 12 weeks, followed by in-house training as they begin their careers with the GCFD.
We are excited to have them join our team and look forward to working alongside them as they begin their careers here with us.
The Gloucester City Public Works Department is hiring for a seasonal position of Laborer 1 at the Gloucester City Marina. This is a part-time position. The hourly rate is $15.92. Applicants must be a resident of Gloucester City and possess a valid New Jersey driver’s license. Those interested in this position may apply via email to: Tedesco@cityofgloucester.org, mail to PO Box 150, Gloucester City, NJ or go to 512 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, and fill out an application in-person. Deadline to apply for this position: April 9, 2026.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his supporters in the so-called Make America Healthy Again movement accomplished their long-sought goal of significantly revising the U.S. childhood immunization schedule.
The changed schedule no longer universally recommends that children be vaccinated against influenza, hepatitis A and B, RSV, rotavirus, and meningitis. Kennedy framed the changes as a way to restore choice and flexibility. But in reality, they remove a clear national standard and inject even more uncertainty into pediatric care at a critical moment.
It’s time for an honest assessment of how we arrived here — and what comes next for parents, children, and our entire public health system.
Consider the flu vaccine. This winter, influenza cases have surged nationwide. Yet HHS no longer recommends that all kids receive safe, generally effective flu shots.
The result has been predictable: lower vaccine uptake, more illness, and more avoidable suffering.
Or consider measles, one of the most contagious viruses in the world. In 2025, more than 2,000 confirmed measles cases were reported across over 40 states, the highest total in 33 years. Nearly all of these cases have been in unvaccinated individuals.
These outbreaks have forced quarantines, led to numerous missed school days, and disrupted families and workplaces alike. And they’ve led to major downstream costs: one review found a single measles case costs the healthcare system — and taxpayers — $43,000.
For decades, routine childhood immunizations have saved lives and billions of dollars in medical and societal costs. Weakening these programs does not enhance freedom. It redistributes risk, placing the greatest burden on children, the elderly, and the medically vulnerable.
Yet it would be incomplete, and dishonest, to tell this story without acknowledging how we got here. The erosion of trust in public health officials did not begin in 2025.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders too often communicated certainty when humility was needed, and urgency when explanation was required. Guidance changed, sometimes abruptly, without sufficient transparency. Parents who raised concerns about school closures, mandates, or rare vaccine injuries were frequently dismissed, rather than engaged.
That failure mattered. Trust, once lost, is difficult to regain. When institutions appear unwilling to listen, people seek answers elsewhere and look to those like Kennedy.
So, what comes next?
First, public health institutions must recommit to transparency and humility. That means acknowledging uncertainty, explaining risk honestly, and addressing vaccine safety concerns without defensiveness.
Then, we must empower parents, not shame them. Families should feel confident and comfortable asking questions and receiving answers they trust. That requires accessible, credible information about vaccine benefits, risks, and safety monitoring, delivered without jargon or judgment.
Finally, local healthcare providers must be supported. Physicians, nurses, and pharmacists are among the most trusted sources of health information, with surveys consistently showing that adults and parents place especially high trust in their personal clinicians for vaccine guidance. They need time, training, institutional backing, and public support to handle difficult, emotionally charged conversations about vaccines well.
As a former U.S. surgeon general, I have seen how quickly trust can erode, and how painstaking the work of rebuilding it can be. The difficult question America now faces is whether public health institutions can learn fast enough, adapt humbly enough, and speak clearly enough to win back the trust we’ve lost.
Dr. Jerome Adams served as the 20th U.S. Surgeon General during the first Trump administration (2017-21) and is a practicing anesthesiologist. This article originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star.
DNREC is set to begin the annual spring spraying of woodland pools to control aquatic immature (larval) mosquitoes as soon as Friday, March 20 – with the spring spray campaign carrying on as late as mid-April, weather permitting. Targeting larval mosquitoes limits the emergence of biting adult mosquitoes later in the spring coming from these habitats.
Property and mortgage fraud is a rapidly growing crime in the United States. It occurs when individuals use forged documents or impersonation to falsely claim ownership of a property. These scammers may attempt to sell the property, transfer the deed, or take out loans against the property without the real owner’s knowledge. In some cases, property fraud may not be discovered for years.
To help Camden County residents and property owners protect themselves from fraud, the Camden County Clerk’s Office offers the Property Alert Service, a free notification service that will notify you immediately whenever a document with your name (e.g. mortgage, deed, or lien) is recorded at the County Clerk’s Office.
“This free service is the first step in protecting your property,” said Clerk Pamela Lampitt. “By signing up for alerts, property owners can take a proactive role in safeguarding their most valuable assets, and respond quickly to suspicious activity.”
Please sign up today and protect your property from fraud. It’s quick, easy and free.
The court at Xfinity Mobile Arena has been transformed for the upcoming games.
The annual Men’s NCAA Division I college basketball tournament has made its way to Philadelphia this year, just in time for the 250th celebrations. First- and second- round games hosted by Saint Joseph’s University take place at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20 and 22.
Tickets are still available for both dates, with March 20 having two sessions for fans to join in on the excitement.
Not able to make it to the stadium? Check out a list of watch parties and deals across the city here.
Hop on over to Calabrese Memorial Park in Sicklerville for the annual Winslow Township Easter Egg Hunt! A fun-filled morning for local families and children.
When: Sat, Mar 21 (Rain date: Mar 28) | 10 AM SHARP – 11:30 AM
Location: PTLM. Daniel Calabrese Memorial Park North Central Avenue, Sicklerville NJ 08081
Today, I send my best wishes to Catholics and other Christians celebrating the Feast of Saint Joseph—the earthly father of Jesus Christ and one of the most revered figures in the Bible.
Saint Joseph was a model father, husband, and worker, as well as a living embodiment of Christian virtue. He spent his life working tirelessly, without accolades or recognition, to protect his family and raise the Son of God. Through every trial and tribulation, Saint Joseph led his family with dignity, strength, and moral courage. In the face of uncertainty and danger, time and again, he valiantly surrendered to God’s will with faith, fortitude, humility, and obedience—playing a central role in the life of Jesus Christ and the history of salvation.
