Health Department

*For H1N1 Shots Please Contact Carol Miller at 973-361-8444x2715*

The Borough of Wharton Health Department provides many services to the residents of Wharton at reduced rates, such as: referrals for reduced childhood immunizations, female and male cancer screenings, flu shots, and blood pressure screenings. To receive information on these programs please contact the Borough Nurse, Carol Miller, RN BSN, at 361-8444 ext. 2715. The Public Health Nurse now has new hours. Tues., Wed., and Thurs. from 9-3:30. She is available to Wharton residents in her office during those times or she is available to make house calls to homebound residents. Feel free to call her if you have any health related concerns. The Health Dept. holds screenings through out the year, so check back here to see what's coming up next

Upcoming screenings from the Public Health Nurse- Please call her to sign up

Upcoming Programs

Oral Cancer Screening
An Exercise Program for People with Arthritis

For flu information click here and here.

Proper Disposal of Syringes used at home to St. Clare's Hospital

Syringes should NEVER be thrown out in your regular household garbage!

1. All Participants must be registered with the program prior to delivering syringes or receiving containers.

2. After the first delivery, only hospital issued containers will be accepted.

3. Syringes may be dropped off at Dover, Denville, or Sussex hospitals. The procedure for each location is as follows:

DOVER- Enter through Lobby entrance, and stop at the information desk, a volunteer will assist you with your initial registration.

DENVILLE- Enter through Lobby entrance, and stop at the information desk, a volunteer will assist you with your initial registration.

SUSSEX- ENter through the Main entrance, and stop at the information desk and request the Housekeeping Supervisor to be paged. A Housekeeping representative will meet you at that location.

4. In you are currently registered and wish to change your drop-off location just let them know.

5. Containers may NOT be dropped off without a representative from Saint Clare's Health System accepting them.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Phyllis Sperry at 973-989-3054

How to Dispose of Unused Medications

DO NOT FLUSH unused medications and DO NOT POUR them down a sink or drain

Be proactive and dispose of unused medications in household trash. When discarding unused medications, ensure you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects:

1. Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid (pill, liquid capsule, etc.) crush it or add water to dissolve it.

2. Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee ground (or any material that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat) to the plastic bag.

3. Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash.

4. Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them away.

Go to the following website for further information www.smarxtdisposal.net

Why you may be seeing bats in the winter and early spring

1. A malady previously unseen in New Jersey known as White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is besetting local populations of bats in our area.
2. First discovered last year (2008) in northern NY State, bats in NJ were apparently unaffected. However we are now seeing it in NJ.
3. White Nose Syndrome facts are;
a. Bats are starving (depleting winter fat reserves faster than normal); causing bats to arouse from hibernation prematurely so as to exit protected roost sites in search of food (flying insects).
b. Obviously winter season inhibits nearly all flying insect activity, thus prey is unavailable and weakened bats simply succumb to exposure and malnutrition.
c. Bats tend to die within 0.25-0.5 mile from winter roost sites; however the NJDEP reports that bats may be traveling as far as 2 miles in a desperate attempt to forage for food.
4. Personal Precautions Key points are:
a. Do NOT touch/contact live or dead bats with bare hands, skin; even though there is no evidence of WNS transmissibility to humans. However no bats should ever be touched due to the risk of rabies.
b. Inspect outdoor areas where pets and children may venture to minimize their exposure to dead/dying bats.
5. Wharton Procedures:
a. Report all dead/dying bats observed during the day to the Wharton or Roxbury Health Department immediately. Wharton 973-361-8444x2722- Roxbury 973-448-2028
b. During non-business hours report all bats that are in your house to the Wharton Police Department.

DISCARDING DEAD BATS: Due to the danger of rabies in the bats and the concern of cross (or interstate) contamination of WNS via garbage waste stream please contact the Health Department if a dead/dying bat is observed.

ALL PAPERWORK MUST BE IN ENGLISH
1. Bring in proof of Wharton residence.
(Rental Lease or Tax Bill)
2. Proof of age for both the bride and groom.
(birth certificate) (must be translated into English)
3. If divorced – bring divorce papers.
(must be translated into English)
4. Both the bride and groom have to come in to fill out paperwork.
5. Bring a witness with them (Must be 18 years or older)
6. No blood test required.
7. Fee - $28.00
8. The application will be held for 72 hours.
9. License good for 30 days from date of issue.
10. Name of Parents - Maiden name of mothers.
11. State/Country where both parents were born.
12. Name & address of person performing marriage.
13. Town where the marriage will be performed and intended date of ceremony.
14. Social Security #’s for both bride and groom.

Marriage License Application. Please be aware that you must still both come in and sign as well as your witness in front of the registrar.

Please call Registrar Patty Craven at 973-361-844x2710 if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment for a marriage license.

Any person who owns, keeps or harbors a dog over the age of six months, shall within ten days after he obtains possession of such dog/cat, apply for a license tag "and annually thereafter". This shall be done in the month of January. Wharton offers a free rabies vaccination clinic generally the first Saturday in February (check your borough calendar for exact dates). You may get your license renewed at this clinic for no late fee. A delinquent fee of $5.00 per month per animal shall be added to a dog/cat renewal license, for license's issued five (5) working days after the current year's free rabies clinic. When applying for a license, please bring proof of current rabies vaccination and proof that the dog or cat is neutered or spayed, we cannot issue a license without a proof of rabies vaccination

No person shall engage in the business of selling food or drink or both in the Borough without first obtaining a license from the Board of Health. All licenses must be renewed no later than December 31 of the current year, effective January 1 of the proceeding year. The fees for Food and Drink Licenses are as follows:

B. Retail Food Establishment
1) Less than 2000 square feet…………….$150.00
2) 2000-5000 square feet…………………$200.00
(3) Over 5000 square feet………………...$400.00

1) Less than 200 square feet……………..$200.00
2) 2000-5000 square feet………………...$400.00
3) Over 5000 square feet………………...$500.00

1) Less than 2000 square feet…………….$100.00
2) 2000-5000 square feet…………………$200.00
3) Over 5000 square feet…………………$300.00

All such licensed establishments shall be kept clean at all times. The Board of Health may, for good and sufficient reason, revoke any license, provided that the licensee or licensees shall have been given or afforded opportunity to be heard and permitted to show cause why such action should not be taken.

Every retail food establishment shall be required to have at least one employee designated as a “Food Service Manager” (FSM). The FSM will have completed the “Food handlers Course” offered by the Wharton Health Department or a similar course approved by the Wharton Health Department. The FSM certification shall be posted onsite in a conspicuous place. The FSM shall complete a re-certification course every three (3) years. All employees shall complete the “Food Handlers Course” given by the Wharton Health Department at the earliest possibility. Food establishments that do not prepare or serve potentially hazardous foods onsite are exempt from these requirements.

For more information about Food and Drink Licenses and other Health Inspections please contact the Borough Sanitarian at 973-361-8444x2722.