Weehawken could lose some school aid
Two weeks ago, Gov. Chris Christie declared New Jersey in a state of “fiscal emergency” and pledged to cut funding to schools and hospitals before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
Among cuts are $44 million to school districts in Hudson County. Some have gotten off easy and others have not.
He said that schools will have to dip into their surplus funds to finish the year. Many of the school districts suffered cuts that were equal to their surplus funds.
The biggest cut will be a proposed $29.3 million slice in the aid sent annually to the Union City School District, an amount equal to that city’s surplus.
Jersey City will lose approximately $3.5 million in aid, and North Bergen will lose about $2 million. Bayonne and West New York will not lose anything. A few districts will lose less than a million: Guttenberg may lose $816,301, Hoboken $669,521, Weehawken, $500,013, and Secaucus, $75,974.
Christie will present his budget for next year in March.
Child advocate volunteers needed
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is currently in need of child advocates, who represent the interests of abused and neglected children in court.
CASA works through trained community volunteers to insure that services and assistance are made available to children while helping them find safe and permanent homes.
An Information session regarding the program and the role of its volunteers will be held on Tuesday, March 9 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 901 at the Hudson County Administration Building at 595 Newark Ave., Jersey City.
Hudson County has more than 750 children in foster care, many of whom were removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
For more information, call (201) 795-9855, email mveenhof@hudsoncountycasa.org or visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
Seminar for those trying to quit smoking at Palisades
Palisades Medical Center will house a free quit-smoking seminar on March 9.
The event will be held at their location, 7600 River Rd. Free transportation to the event will arrive at 60th Street and Bergenline Avenue at 5:30 p.m. There will also be free parking.
The event will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Victor Marchione, MD, Director of the “I Quit Smoking Program” at PMC will be the featured speaker.
The program helps patients kick the habit. It is designed by progressions in the field of tobacco addiction and aggressively treats addition to ensure that quit rates are over 15 times the national average.
Space is limited. For more information call Nikki Mederos at (201) 854-5702.
PSE&G urges customers to apply for assistance
Heating assistance is available to help those being squeezed by the economy. PSE&G is urging its customers to see if they are eligible for help to pay their winter heating bills. Customers who have recently lost their job or have had their hours cut might qualify for assistance even if they never did before.
Individuals and families may apply, and applications will be accepted until April 30, 2010. Those who received LIHEAP benefits last year are reminded to complete the recertification application to ensure they receive benefits this year as well. PSE&G customers can pick up an application at one of PSE&G’s 16 customer service centers or at the P.A.C.O. PSE&G Jersey City Customer Service Center, 3 PATH Plaza, Jersey City from Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Applications and information about these programs are available on at www.pseg.com/help. Information can also be found by calling the LIHEAP Hot Line at (800) 510-3102, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Volunteers needed for blood drives
N J Blood Services, which supplies blood to 60 hospitals throughout the state, is in need of volunteers to work blood drives. The blood mobile volunteer is an integral member of the blood collection team whose task it is assist donors with registration, perform canteen duties and make appointments for their next donation. Volunteers should have the ability to relate to the public, be able to perform different jobs as needed and have the willingness to follow the rules. For additional information contact Manager of Community Relations Jan Zepka at (732) 616-8741 or rzepka@nybloodcenter.org.